My Strange Bible: How To Interpret Apocalyptic Literature For All Its Worth.

In this episode Skyler interviews Dr. Shane Wood on one of the most particular literature in the Bible know as Apocalyptic. Many wrongly understand this genre as short hand for prediction of the end of the world. However, Shane helps us understand what it actually does and how reading it that way side steps what God intends to do inside of people.  Shane is a New Testament scholar who earned his Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh on Revelation and currently teaches New Testament Studies at Ozark Christian College where he is the Associate Academic Dean at Ozark Christian College.

Shane Wood
Garden City Project: Online Class on Revelation
Blue Letter Bible
Next Level Revelation (Free Course)
Revelation's Rhapsody (Book)
Breaking the Code (Book)
Commentary on Revelation (Book)

Highlights on Apocalyptic Literature

• Apocalyptic literature is a group of texts that are communicating transcendent realities, (things beyond our senses) often communicated by otherworldly beings (e.g. angels), that are heavily laden with symbolism that emerges out of a time of perceived or real persecution.
• The goal is to reveal clearly who God is through exaggerated images.
• Apocalyptic texts are intentionally designed to communicate truth at the emotive side of humanity. This allows us to be challenged and transformed at the deepest part of ourselves. And it invites us to place ourselves into the redemptive story of the Bible.
• Fun Fact: only 17% of all prophetic words and phrases are predictive in nature.