LINCOLN - In talking about Revelation, the final book of the Bible, seminary teacher Robert Lowery frequently quotes Martin Luther.

According to Lowery, Luther said, "If Christ were coming tomorrow, I'd plant my garden today."

The quote beckons people to avoid obsessing on how current and future events fit into Revelation.

Internet sites overflow with writings on Bible prophesies and how today's events present their fulfillment. Volumes of books match Middle East developments with the Second Coming of Christ and predict a Rapture or Secret Rapture - that is, the sweeping of all true Christians into heaven to spare them the warfare that is to precede the Second Coming.

Lowery and his students offer something quite different.

Lowery's new textbook is titled "Revelation's Rhapsody: Listing the Lyrics of the Lamb; How to Read the Book of Revelation." It is devoid of predictions, and its cover is dominated by a photograph of a symphony instead of the eerie images of Armageddon that typically accompany such discussions.

It isn't that the teacher discards signs, evil and the potential of a Second Coming of Christ. Lowery states he is sure Jesus is the Messiah (the Christ), he resurrected, ascended into heaven and will come again to judge, vanquish evil and reward the faithful.

And the Second Coming of Christ could indeed happen very soon, even tomorrow, he added.

It's just that Lowery intends to plant the garden today.

On a recent Wednesday at Lincoln Christian Seminary, students in his Revelation class - among them senior and associate church pastors - talked about a different function for the book. Examples of students' comments:

• Matt Martin: Revelation should "inspire God's people to do what they're supposed to do."

• Tony Billingsley: "The word of God is about living today."

Go to the Internet and discussions of Revelation often start with current Middle East politics and predictions for the future. Go to this class, and the discussion begins with events 1,900 years ago.

Context: 95 A.D.

As is common among Christians, Lowery identifies the writer of Revelation as the Apostle John, disciple of Jesus and writer of the Gospel of John and three letters, or Bible epistles: 1 John, 2 John and 3 John. Christian history says the Apostle wrote Revelation while in his 80s or 90s, in about 95 A.D.

It often is said that the book is written specifically for these modern times, but Lowery, the students and the passages themselves say otherwise. While teacher and students see application for Revelation for all generations, the writing is addressed directly to seven churches in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) roughly 60 years after the crucifixion.

Rich with symbolism, in a style called apocalyptic writing, it speaks of a dragon, two beasts allied with the dragon and a Lamb.

Lowery and his students suggest that John isn't being cryptic, as he seems to the modern reader. Rather, they say, he is writing for his listeners - most of them illiterate and hearing it read to them - by using allusions to Hebrew Scripture and analogies they would readily understand.

So, a starting point for the class is understanding how Revelation fits into 95 A.D. - not today's world. In class, that is Revelation's "context."

The students learn to use analogies when explaining that concept. Shane Wood gave an example. Suppose a newspaper headline reads, "Indians slay Tigers." That headline in the Sports section would connote an entirely different meaning than the same headline on an international news page. The reader would grasp the context by the section in which the headline appeared, he noted.

Given context, some of John's symbolism carries no mystery at all, said Lowery. He concludes that "dragon" means Satan, "Babylon" means anti-Christian government, the "Lamb" means sacrifice and represents Jesus and two beasts refers to two primary anti-Christian forces of John's last days: Roman government persecution and the seduction of society.

Two beasts

Church history - and Revelation - speaks of Christians living in pagan-dominated land being tempted, urged and coerced to participate in rituals such as having sex with prostitutes in pagan temples and offering food in sacrifice to pagan gods. In addition, Rome pursued an imperial cult in which the emperor was worshipped as a god.

John relays a vision and messages given by Jesus to the seven churches - words of both encouragement to believers and scolding to those who succumbed to the beasts; a call to faith without compromise; a warning that churches that remain faithful will be persecuted by the world. But John also promises heavenly reward for those who persevere despite the persecution. Lowery identifies the theme of Revelation as hope.

Given that context and bringing it forward today, Christians can easily find application, and they are encouraged by the class to do so.

Student Nicole Gale, in a conversation the week after the class session, said the book in modern times can relate to modern persecution of Christians in nations such as China and Afghanistan. Perhaps Christians would feel greater persecution in the United States, she added, were they not so prone to compromise in a society where immorality often is tolerated and celebrated.

In formerly Communist European nations, where Lowery teaches when the seminary is on break, the students make the Babylon connection readily, the teacher said.

Mark of the beast: 666

An enduring debate concerns Revelation 13:18: "This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666." (NIV translation)

One interpretation is that the evil one is Caesar Nero, a Christian oppressor in the first century A.D. whose name can be translated into the number 666.

It is argued that 666 also may symbolize future Neros - many over history. It also is argued that 666 might represent an unholy trinity. The book is full of sevens to symbolize completeness. Six could symbolize the incomplete power of evil.

Lowery leans to 666 being a code for Nero and those like him. Regardless of interpretation, he said, one practical application for today is to be wise in recognizing evil.

A jazzy structure

Lowery also emphasizes attention to John's writing style.

A common error, said Lowery, is reading the text as a continuing narrative. He argues that the book is more art form than narration - more a jazz song than a simple melody. That means repetition, with new elements inserted but with existing themes reiterated.

If he is correct, the reader who takes the book as a chronological narrative will mistakenly interpret a repetition as yet another event.

Lowery asked his students to provide reasons for repetition. Answers:

• Brent Montgomery: It is a literary device.

• Wood: "Repetition is a master teacher."

Lowery agreed with both students, noting the "groove, so to speak" of a captivating style. But with most of Revelation's original hearers receiving the message orally, because they could not read, Lowery presumes the repetition was a device to help them absorb Revelation's teachings.

Conversely, he hopes his book encourages those who can read the passages to do so.

He is disturbed by what he considers overzealous reading and interpretation of the Book of Revelation, but he also warns of "an unhealthy disinterest" among Bible-reading Christians.

While he intends to write a commentary on Revelation in the future, "Revelation's Rhapsody" is meant as a guide for anyone interested in delving into the Bible's final 22 chapters.

Lyrics of the Lamb

• The book: "Revelation's Rhapsody: Listening to the Lyrics of the Lamb; How to Read the Book of Revelation."

• The writer: Robert Lowery is dean of Lincoln College Seminary. His credentials include a master's of divinity, master's of theology and a PhD in New Testament. He has been on the faculty at Lincoln since 1975. He also teaches in Eastern Europe as an adjunct professor for TCM International.

• The blog site: www.rlowery.com; the site promises an engaging debate without personal or slanderous attack against the writer or other participants.

• Book available at: www.logos.com (in electronic form only); Mr. Books at Lincoln Christian College and Seminary; and popular Web book retailers.