John is saying that Jesus is there with them, alive and speaking, and they should hear him speaking as the one true ruler of the world, the Lord of lords! They should declare allegiance to him, walk in the way of the Lamb, and resist the dragon by refusing to walk in the way of Babylon. Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett

A glorious morning today. Great to be out on the bike along Yarrie Lake Rd #Narrabri #cycling #biketooter

Calling someone 666 requires imagination—as well as flexibility. That number can be used for any of the anti-God beastly powers that design strategies for death and destruction. Like Babylon, 666 does not point to one person at one future moment in history but to all political tyrants who have the powers to establish the way of the dragon and oppress Team Lamb. Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett

These speculators were all wrong, and they’ve all been wrong because they lack the kind of imagination a faithful reading of Revelation requires, wanting to reduce everything to literal predictions. But as we have seen, we should not look for one, single end-time wild thing. Instead, dissident disciples should discern the dragon behind the wild things of every age, including our own day. Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett

Dissident disciples are the first to realise they are in a battle—not with flesh and blood, but with the principalities and powers that snake their way into the seven churches. Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett

Loving the cooler weather! I rode out to Bunnings and around the edge of town and down to Riverbend Estate. #cycling #Narrabri #Biketooter

Arrogance begins at the top of the empire, or rather, the system rewards the arrogant and lines up everyone else in a hierarchy of status. Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett

Those who saw the power and glory and reach of Babylon (=Rome) were stunned—everyone except the dissidents, the oppressed, the slaves, those captured, and the poor. In other words, most everyone! Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett

Dissidents rightly perceive opulence for what it really is: showy disdain for the normal way of life, followed by the rest of the population. It is a showcase of rampant indulgence, with lustful desire and conspicuous consumerism on full display. Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett