Teaching Revelation in Youth Ministry
Students always listen more carefully when you teach about end times and Revelation. But it’s overwhelming to know the best way to teach on a topic that so highly debated. There are a wide range of valid Christian interpretations within each of our churches, so many youth workers are tempted to remain silent out of respect (or fear?) for others’ convictions. But in reality, this leaves teenagers confused and feeling like they aren’t allowed to talk about it.
Here are a few principles to help you teach Revelation and eschatology in your ministry.
Stick with the Bible
Teach the Bible, not your theological convictions. That’s a good principle to always keep in mind. This is especially true when it comes to teaching about creation and eschatology. These two topics have such a wide-range of valid Christian interpretations that it’s easy to teach those viewpoints more than we actually teach the biblical text. Let’s be men and women who open the Scriptures, read it with our youth, and keep pointing them back to what God’s Word says. If we do that, there will be certain interpretations we think are important that may not get put front-and-center. But if it’s not front-and-center in the text then it shouldn’t be that way in our message.
Youth pastor theologians aren’t theology professors who are “practicing” on teenagers until they attain a faculty job at a university. We are youth pastors who embrace theological reflection in our mission to disciple teenagers. Our commitment is to Scripture more than to any theological camp or writer. Above all else, we teach the Bible.
Focus on What is Clear
Not everything in the Bible is clear and easy to understand. It’s ok to admit that to your students. But the big idea is clear: God wins, and Christians who endure in faith share that victory with him. Despite all the interpretations that are genuinely different, the Christian teaching on eschatology is built around the following truths.
Jesus is currently enthroned in glory, and he will return to judge the living and the dead.
There are and there will be false teachers who seek to lead Christians astray. Despite their apparent success, their judgment will come.
Faithful Christians will endure persecution, but their endurance will be worth it.
Christians will reign with Christ in the New Heavens and New Earth for all eternity, where everything that has been corrupted by sin will be made right.
As you teach these truths, resist the temptation to be minimalistic or glib. Sometimes Christians joking say, “I’m a ‘panmillennial,’ because it’ll all pan out in the end.” Avoid these types of jokes that perpetuate the impression that studying eschatology is unimportant. Set a faithful example of taking Revelation and the end times seriously, without becoming either obsessed or cynical. Afterall, Christian hope is tethered to Christ’s return and the future fulfillment of the gospel’s promises.
Acknowledge What’s Unclear
Teaching Revelation in youth group, a Bible study, and a smaller discipleship group should look different and have varying degrees of depth. Discern the appropriate level of nuance for the setting in which you’re teaching. It would be overwhelming to select a passage from Revelation, present a summary of every viewpoint, highlight the big idea, draw out the gospel implications, and then meaningfully apply it to teenagers’ daily lives. Teenagers are smarter than some skeptics give them credit for - but that task is so difficult and complicated very very few youth pastors are equipped to do it well week-after-week. Fill their cup, and teach them God’s Word in a way that’s appropriate for the setting.
Revelation has so many alternative interpretations for a reason. It’s a highly symbolic style of writing and can be confusing. Ignoring or downplaying that won’t serve anyone well. Overlooking elements that are confusing or emotionally-loaded will only stoke students’ imaginations and leave them with unresolved questions. Even if you don’t have time to address these questions, they should be acknowledged by something as simple as, “I wish I could get into this question, but it’d take too much time and isn’t the main point of this passage. I’m happy to talk with you about it afterwards if you’d like.” Honor the text by acknowledging what’s unclear or confusing, but if you do this at every turn then you’ll get bogged down and overwhelm your students.
Admit What You Don’t Know
To some degree, you probably shouldn’t teach a passage until you are confident you have a basic understanding of its meaning. So, don’t rush into teaching Revelation too early in your ministry - even if students are clamoring for it. Study and be well-prepared, or find someone else who can teach the series with you. However, many more youth workers avoid teaching on Revelation and eschatology because they’re overwhelmed or afraid of stoking controversy.
It’s ok to simply admit what you’re still learning and are undecided on some important questions. That may actually be quite relieving to students - you don’t need to know everything to have confidence in the big things. After all, even the best biblical scholars change their interpretations. It’s a good thing to develop a humble confidence and a teachable spirit towards the Word of God.
Give Them Hope (not fear)
God’s justice was a great comfort to those whose lives were in danger. I believe one of the reasons Revelation breeds fear in so many Christians today is because we’ve never experienced the danger and fear of the early church. Hearing about God’s judgment and wrath feels more like a threat than a rescue. But for the early Christians, it was a rescue plan. It meant that even if persecutors didn’t face it here on earth, they’d face divine justice when Jesus returns. Revelation was a message to say, “Hold on. Don’t give up. Yes, you may die - but those who kill you will not escape judgment. Everything you’re enduring will be worth it!”
Revelation was written to Christians who were hunted down, arrested, burned alive, and fed to wild beasts for entertainment. They were wondering if “filling up the afflictions of Christ” was worth it. Their persecution was more than cultural marginalization and mockery, but actual and physical danger. The message of Revelation emphasizes overcoming persecutors by trusting in the Lamb who was slain and resurrected to come and judge the beasts and false prophets, thereby establishing peace for those who endure.
The book of Revelation and the study of eschatology should not breed fear, but hope. It should not inspire anxiety, but peace. The gospel is true and every promise will be fulfilled - sin and death will be utterly defeated, and the children of God will live in his presence with perfect peace. This is very good news.
