Scaring the Hell Out of Them
Word From Wiese
September 9, 2026
I’ll never forget it.
My first autumn serving here in Georgia, COS received a flyer advertising a special haunted house. Throughout my ministry, quite often it’s been fun around Halloween to take a group and endure a lighthearted scare or two. But reading closer, we were shocked to realize the company featured a walk through a hellish landscape where participants heard the testimonies of Hades-bound and tortured souls warning the living to avoid their fate. This evangelical Christian-sponsored experience was designed to literally “scare the hell” out of young people. Sounds like they also offered opportunities to repent on site and be baptized. Ugh.
Of course, movie blockbusters often feature wars, earthquakes, dragons, beasts, fire falling from heaven, people disappearing, and the whole world going up in flames. But it’s sad realizing many Christians endure those same stories when they show up for church or bible studies!
That brings us to the fourth and final dangerous lens we have been considering in our Better Ways to Read the Bible series: the apocalypse lens.
The problem is not that the Bible talks about the end of things.
It certainly does. The problem comes when we read Revelation as though its primary purpose were to frighten us, help us predict the future, or convince us that God is eventually going to destroy everyone who isn’t on the right side.
That picture of God doesn’t look much like Jesus. The popular “Left Behind” version of the end times became widespread in American Christianity only in the last couple of centuries. (The COS library contained at least two full sets of the Left Behind series, donated I’m sure by well-meaning souls.) It often treats the strange images of Revelation (dragons, beasts, battles, fire) as though they were literal descriptions of future events. But Revelation was written in a very different time and place, and it is filled with imagery drawn from the Old Testament and the world of its original readers.
The word apocalypse itself simply means unveiling or revealing. Revelation isn’t primarily revealing a secret timetable of the end of the world. It is revealing what is really happening in the world and showing God’s people how to remain faithful to Jesus in the midst of the Roman empire built on violence, fear, greed, and power.
In other words, Revelation isn’t telling Christians to figure out exactly when the world will end.
It is calling Christians to live differently right now. I like how author Zach Lambert reminds us of the distinction John, the author of Revelation,” was trying to make for his fellow Christians struggling to endure the challenges of Roman power:
Rome said, “Power comes through violence.” Jesus says, “Love your enemies.” Rome said, “The greatest are those who rule over others.” Jesus says, “The greatest among you will be your servant.” Rome said, “Protect yourself and your own.” Jesus says, “Love your neighbor. Revelation calls us to choose the way of Jesus over the way of empire.
And what is the ultimate message of Revelation?
Hope. The Bible doesn’t end with God abandoning creation. It ends with God coming to dwell among us: “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.” (Rev. 21) Then comes one of the most beautiful promises in all of Scripture: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.” (Rev. 21:3-4) And God says, “I am making everything new.” (Rev. 21:5)
Notice what God does. God doesn’t throw creation away. God restores it. God doesn’t give up on humanity. God keeps coming toward us. The story that begins with God walking with humanity in the garden ends with God dwelling with humanity in a renewed creation.
That’s a very different story from “it’s all gonna burn anyway.” Yes, reading Revelation through the Jesus lens offers a much better story than a fear and vengeance. That means today, we don’t need to live frightened about the future. We don’t need to spend our lives trying to identify who the beast is or predicting when Jesus will return.
Instead, we can ask better questions, like Where is Jesus bringing healing, justice, peace, and flourishing? And how can I join him?
I absolutely love how, in John the Revelator’s vision, the gates of the new Jerusalem are never shut.
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” The invitation is always open.
So, as we finish our four-week journey through Better Ways to Read the Bible, perhaps the best lens of all is the one that brings everything back to Jesus. Not fear. Not revenge. Not destruction.
But Jesus. And a Jesus lens which promises, “God is making everything new.”
I’ll take that lens. Hope to see you Sunday!
Questions for Reflection
- What is one way the “apocalypse lens” can cause Christians to live out of fear rather than hope?
- Where do you see Jesus bringing healing, justice, peace, or flourishing…and how might you join him there?
In Christ’s hope,
Pastor Fritz
Let us pray:
Gracious God, thank you that the story of Scripture ends not with destruction, but with your promise to make all things new. Help us take off the lenses of fear, revenge, and despair and see the world through Jesus. Give us courage to resist what is harmful, compassion to join your work of healing, and hope to trust that your love will ultimately have the last word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
