Expedition 44

This is a recording of a 4 week class Dr. Matt is teaching on the letter of Revelation at The Point (www.gotothepoint.com). What lenses do you read Revelation with? Revelation 1:1The letter of Revelation is the revelation of Jesus Christ, not a revelation of fear and speculation about the the end of the world.Interpretive Assumptions and MistakesAssumption #1: Revelation is primarily about the “end times”.Assumption #2: What Revelation reveals is a chronological roadmap of the future. Assumption #3: Revelation is about us.How to avoid interpretive mistakes…Step 1: Consider the literary contextGenreEpistle (Rev 1:4, 1:11; Rev 2-3)The Bible (and Revelation) was not written to us, but it was written for us. Prophecy (Rev 1:3, Rev 19:10)17% of the time the words “prophecy”, “prophesy”, or “to prophesy” are used, the verses are in the context of a prediction. (Often about judgement events that will come if people don’t repent)83% of the time the words “prophecy”, “prophesy”, and “to prophesy” refer to something else besides prediction. Prophecy does 3 things… It reveals: Who God isWhat God desiresWhat God demands from His peopleApocalypse There are 404 verses in Revelation which contain over 800 Old Testament allusions. So, we must understand the Old Testament to interpret Revelation correctly. Apocalyptic genre is like a political cartoon. It is the writing of oppressed people under the foot of the empire. Apocalypses are overtly political and are meant to critique to governments of this world and call God’s people to faithful allegiance to the kingdom of God. Step 2: Know the historical context Struggle and Conflict in Revelation: Kingdom of God vs. Kingdom of Satan, Jesus followers vs. unbelieving Jews, Empire vs. The Church, Truth vs. liesTeam Lamb or Team Dragon?Revelation 1Jesus reveals God to us Jesus reveals us to usYou don’t just read Revelation, it reads you!Revelation will reveal the God you worship or your cultural assumptions about God. We become like the god(s) we worshipLet Jesus unveil God and His character to us (The Jesus of Revelation shouldn’t look different than the Jesus of the gospels or the Sermon on the Mount)7 Churches (Revelation 2-3)Summary:As a letter, Revelation was written to seven real churches, which implies that its message was understandable to its original readers. As an apocalypse, Revelation uses symbolic language to reveal a God’s-eye perspective for the encouragement of Christians living in Caesar’s empire. And as a prophecy, Revelation warns the churches against idolatry (Rev 2:14–15). This makes sense given how idols and temples peppered the Asian landscape.Revelation encourages Christians to remain faithful in trials (Rev 2:10, 13). It’s no wonder that Revelation would include this, as the threat of persecution was constant.Revelation tells the story of how Satan has inspired an evil, beastly kingdom but that one day the Lamb will rescue the world from it (Rev 12–13; 17–22). That such a story is included is not at all surprising given that the message of the idolatrous empire was etched on every official document and ingrained on every temple.Revelation identifies two groups of people who have been marked out as either Lamb people or Beast people (Rev 7; 13–14). This makes perfect sense because, in the first century, there was only one choice: pledge loyalty to either Christ or Caesar.

Dr. Will Ryan and Dr. Matt are back! In this episode we discuss an article we wrote on expedition 44's website about what the Bible tells us about the fall of spiritual beings, specifically in the Genesis 1-3 narrative. read the article here: https://expedition44.com/2025/05/02/did-satan-and-the-other-spiritual-beings-fall/

Today Dr. Will Ryan and Dr. Matt talk with Dr. John Walton about his new book which expands on The Lost World of Genesis and The Lost World of Adam and Eve. Buy the Book: https://a.co/d/dnA0ylPDescription:Updating and expanding upon his previous work on origins, this riveting volume from John H. Walton marks the eighth entry in his bestselling Lost World Series, which has sold more than 125,000 copies.For over a decade, John Walton's books The Lost World of Genesis One and The Lost World of Adam and Eve have shaped readers' understanding of the ancient Near Eastern world and its implications for modern scientific origins debates. But more than simply engaging the creation/evolution debate, these works explored questions related to interpretation of Genesis through ancient eyes, the theological purpose of a seven-day creation account, the historicity of Adam and Eve, and the history of interpretation of the creative narratives.In New Explorations in the Lost World of Genesis, Walton provides comprehensive and timely updates on the latest developments and research, including:a summary of positions addressed in his previous books on originsnew insights, clarifications, and illustrations based on current scholarshipanswers to frequently asked questionsEngaging the latest scholarship as well as questions that his proponents and critics alike have raised, New Explorations in the Lost World of Genesis provides a relevant update that will benefit students, professors, and pastors as they continue to explore questions of origins and their implications for the Christian life

In this episode we continue our conversations with Dr. John Walton on his book The Lost World of Torah. Description:Our handling of what we call biblical law veers between controversy and neglect.On the one hand, controversy arises when Old Testament laws seem either odd beyond comprehension (not eating lobster) or positively reprehensible (executing children). On the other, neglect results when we consider the law obsolete, no longer carrying any normative power (tassels on clothing, making sacrifices). Even readers who do attempt to make use of the Old Testament "law" often find it either irrelevant, hopelessly laden with "thou shalt nots," or simply so confusing that they throw up their hands in despair. Despite these extremes, people continue to propose moral principles from these laws as "the biblical view" and to garner proof texts to resolve issues that arise in society. The result is that both Christians and skeptics regularly abuse the Torah, and its true message often lies unheard.Walton and Walton offer in The Lost World of the Torah a restorative vision of the ancient genre of instruction for wisdomthat makes up a significant portion of the Old Testament. In the ancient Near East, order was achieved through the wisdom of those who governed society. The objective of torah was to teach the Israelites to be wise about the kind of order needed to receive the blessings of God’s favor and presence within the context of the covenant. Here readers will find fresh insight on this fundamental genre of the Old Testament canon.The books in the Lost World Series follow the pattern set by Bible scholar John H. Walton, bringing a fresh, close reading of the Hebrew text and knowledge of ancient Near Eastern literature to an accessible discussion of the biblical topic at hand using a series of logic-based propositions.Buy the book: https://a.co/d/dzWtMFN

In this episode we interview Frank Viola about his new book The Untold Story of the New Testament Church (Revised and Expanded). Bio:Frank is a bestselling author, speaker, podcaster, and blogger. He helps serious followers of Jesus know their Lord more deeply so they can experience real transformation and make a lasting impact. His blog – frankviola.org – is regularly ranked in the top 5 of all Christian blogs on the Web and his podcast – Christ is All – has ranked #1 in Canada and #2 in the USA on Apple Podcasts. He and his conversation partners also host The Insurgence Podcast.About the Book:Experience the New Testament Like Never BeforeOne famous scholar said that reading the New Testament letters is like hearing one end of a phone conversation. The Untold Story of the New Testament Church (Revised and Expanded) reconstructs the other end so you can understand virtually every word.Seamlessly weaving the narrative of Acts with the Epistles, you’ll discover a coherent story enriched by intriguing details of first-century life. This unique and innovative presentation of the New Testament unlocks its epic story in a way that will leave you breathless and equipped to understand the Bible like never before.Though it’s non-fiction, this masterpiece reads like a cinematic experience that will captivate your heart by putting you in the center of the drama. Drawing on the best of contemporary scholarship, Frank Viola includes background information about the people, cities, and places that are mentioned throughout the New Testament, all in an engaging narrative.As you dive into this riveting volume, you will:Gain an intimate glimpse into the lives of apostles Peter, James, John, Paul, and their colleagues.Uncover the events that inspired each New Testament letter, shedding new light on every line from Romans to Revelation.Meet the key figures who shaped the world, like Priscilla, Apollos, Lydia, Luke, John Mark, Phoebe, Aristarchus, and Epaphras.Witness the dynamic tumult of first-century churches, individuals, and events as they unfold vividly before you.Prepare to be ushered into the living, breathing atmosphere of the first century so you can uncover the hidden riches contained in God’s Word.Buy the Book: https://a.co/d/cgKpHh6Book Website: www.theuntoldstory.net

Dr. Will Ryan and Dr. Matt kick off a series of interviews with Dr. John Walton on his Lost World book series. Today we talk about The Lost World of Scripture. Buy the book: https://a.co/d/2Kpd397 From John H. Walton, and D. Brent Sandy comes a detailed look at the origins of scriptural authority in ancient oral cultures and how they inform our understanding of the Old and New Testaments today. Stemming from questions about scriptural inerrancy, inspiration and oral transmission of ideas, The Lost World of Scripture examines the process by which the Bible has come to be what it is today. From the reasons why specific words were used to convey certain ideas to how oral tradition impacted the transmission of biblical texts, the authors seek to uncover how these issues might affect our current doctrine on the authority of Scripture. "In this book we are exploring ways God chose to reveal his word in light of discoveries about ancient literary culture," write Walton and Sandy. "Our specific objective is to understand better how both the Old and New Testaments were spoken, written and passed on, especially with an eye to possible implications for the Bible?s inspiration and authority." The books in the Lost World Series follow the pattern set by Bible scholar John H. Walton, bringing a fresh, close reading of the Hebrew text and knowledge of ancient Near Eastern literature to an accessible discussion of the biblical topic at hand using a series of logic-based propositions.

In this episode Dr. Ryan and Dr. Matt talk with Caleb Campbell about Christian Nationalism and his book Disarming Leviathan: Loving your Christian Nationalist Neighbor. Bio: Caleb Campbell has been a pastor at Desert Springs Bible Church in Phoenix, Arizona, since 2006 and lead pastor since 2015. He is a doctoral student at Fuller Theological Seminary and serves as the regional director for the Surge Network. About the Book: Pastor Caleb Campbell has watched as Christian nationalism has taken over large swaths of the United States. And he's suffered the relational fallout of standing against it, both in his community and his church. While it's possible to be both a Christian and hold Christian nationalist ideas, Christian nationalism itself is an un-Christian worldview, rooted in ideas about power, race, and property that are irreconcilable with Christian faith. Campbell has come to see himself as a missionary to Christian nationalists, reaching out to them with the love and freedom of Jesus Christ. In Disarming Leviathan, Campbell equips Christians to minister to their Christian nationalist neighbors. He introduces the basics of Christian nationalism and explores the reasons so many people are attracted to it. He also addresses a variety of American Christian nationalist talking points and offers questions and responses that humbly subvert these claims and cultivate deeper, heart-level conversations. Christian nationalism is an established feature of the American landscape. Disarming Leviathan can help prepare us to confront it with compassion and hospitality, and with the truth of the good news of Jesus. Buy the book: https://a.co/d/ji4sASh

Dr. Will Ryan and Dr. Matt have a conversation with Peter Enns about inerrancy, Biblical studies, apologetics, faith, and certainty. Bio Dr. Enns is a biblical scholar who teaches and writes on Old Testament, New Testament, Second Temple Judaism, and the intersection of biblical studies and contemporary Christian faith. Peter Enns (Ph.D., Harvard University) is Abram S. Clemens professor of biblical studies at Eastern University in St. Davids, Pennsylvania. He has written numerous books, including The Bible Tells Me So, The Sin of Certainty, and How the Bible Actually Works. Dr. Enns co-hosts the podcast the Bible For Normal People… the only God ordained podcast on the internet.