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Revelation - A Bible Book Often Avoided

MMB 7-1-2024

I have an app on my phone that reminds me of my daily Scripture reading so I can complete reading the Bible in one year. That completion date for me was yesterday June 30, 2024. The app I use suggests three chapters a day except for Sunday which is five chapter readings.

I completed an inspiring read through the Book of Revelation yesterday. Many avoid Revelation because of its many "Sevens" that appear confusing. Seven Angels, Seven Bowls, Seven trumpets, Seven Scrolls ... they're there. Then there are descriptions of certain creatures with multiple heads and faces and horns which can shock anyone. But Revelation mostly explains the confusing terms as you read on. You can't give up. You can't fear the terminology. You can't avoid those unknowns because they are soon revealed. 

I've decided to re-read the Book. I've done two years of reading through the Bible and I will take a break from that now. But I won't stop reading Scripture. I do journal my reading of three and five chapters but it's not an indepth notation. My re-read of Revelation will be a chapter a day. And I will journal with more depth. I will also use a couple of versions in the reading. My Bible Reading during '23-'24 was in the NLT (New Living Translation). I am choosing the ESV (English Standard Version) and the LSB (Legacy Standard Bible, which is an upgrade from the trusted NASB 2020). The New American Standard is a version I've used since a teenager. While at Bible College I learned Greek and how to translate it into English. My own translating work was almost word for word what was found in the NASB. That intrigued me. Let me say that the word "NEW" usually implies there's an old. And there is. The ASV 1901 was the original. It used the word "Jehovah" in its Old Testament translation. NASB began in 1959 and was completed in 1971. Then updated in '77, '95 and 2020. In those four translations the "Jehovah" reverted back to LORD (all capitals). The new Legacy Standard Bible follows the same translation rules as it's predecessors but chose the term "Yahweh" where the 1901 ASV had "Jehovah".

I no longer have a copy of the NASB and the LSB is not yet available in the bundle I really want. So I'm using life.church's (Pastor Craig Groeschel) YouVersion app (sometimes just called Bible). 

Just so you know, I used the on-line Bible Gateway to read through the Bible in a year. And further, I do have copies of NLT as well as ESV Bibles. Even multiple copies. Those were the two versions I used most often in teaching and preaching very recently. (And occasionally the New King James Version). 

So my new reading adventure begins today. My journal will be full with exciting insights from the Holy Spirit. I'm sure I'll share some of those insights with you. 

Nothing to fear ... much to learn.

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