Rapture Drill: Reframing Revelation, the End Times, and our Weird Obsession with the Apocalypse
15 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 5 years ago - ★★★★ - 72 ratingsRapture Drill is a podcast dedicated to reframing Revelation, the End Times, and our weird obsession with the apocalypse. This show is curated by Kurt Willems and available online at TheologyCurator.com/RaptureDrill. It is part of the Theology Curator resource network.
If you're ready to leave behind Left Behind: we get it.
If you’ve been traumatized by doom-and-gloom preaching: let us bring you a good old-fashioned dose of hope. Together, we’ll explore the New Testament passages about the so-called “End,” in intelligent and humanizing ways.
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Episodes
Revealing Jesus (A Revelation During the 1st Century) | S2 E6
January 17, 2019 16:41 - 19 minutes - 343 MB VideoSubscribe via iTunes or Google Season 2 | Episode 6 In this final episode of season two, we look at how the last book of the Bible must be situated during the first century. This is the longest of the videos because it is crammed full of contextual information about the book of Revelation. These episodes are the first several videos in a course called: Revealing Jesus. They can be listened to without video (especially if you are driving!) or can be utilized for the visual content as we...
Revealing Jesus (A Revelation against the Empire) | S2 E5
December 27, 2018 11:30 - 15 minutes - 366 MB VideoSubscribe via iTunes or Google Season 2 | Episode 5 The last book of the bible is against the empire, in its spiritual and physical manifestations. John's apocalyptic letter confronts the arrogance of Rome and summons Christ-followers into allegiance to the Lamb alone. These episodes are the first several videos in a course called: Revealing Jesus. They can be listened to without video (especially if you are driving!) or can be utilized for the visual content as well. The full version ...
Revealing Jesus (A Revelation for the Church) | S2 E4
December 18, 2018 11:00 - 12 minutes - 284 MB VideoSubscribe via iTunes or Google Season 2 | Episode 4 The last book of the Bible is a letter written to seven churches in the first century. These churches are not symbolic of the various scenarios and players in an end times drama, but were real communities facing real challenges in a real time and place. These episodes are the first several videos in a course called: Revealing Jesus. They can be listened to without video (especially if you are driving!) or can be utilized for the visua...
Revealing Jesus (A Revelation to John) | S2 E3
December 17, 2018 11:00 - 12 minutes - 294 MB VideoSubscribe via iTunes or Google Season 2 | Episode 3 Who was John? What world did he step into and why should that shape our understanding of Revelation? Many believe that he was John the disciple of Jesus. However, evidence seems to point in a different direction. What we do know, however, is that Jesus used him in a powerful way. The last book of the Bible is a revelation to John! These episodes are the first several videos in a course called: Revealing Jesus. They can be listened to ...
Revealing Jesus (A Revelation of Jesus) | S2 E2
December 11, 2018 11:15 - 12 minutes - 285 MB VideoSubscribe via iTunes or Google Season 2 | Episode 2 How does Revelation "Reveal Jesus?" The opening line of the book makes a compelling claim: "A Revelation of Jesus Christ." This is the purpose of the last book of the Bible, but we often struggle to understand how the Jesus of the Gospels is anything like the image of him we see in Revelation. When we step into the ancient world, these struggles start to resolve. These episodes are the first several videos in a course called: Revealin...
Revealing Jesus in Revelation (Introduction) | S2 E1
December 10, 2018 10:30 - 10 minutes - 250 MB VideoSubscribe via iTunes or Google Season 2 | Episode 1 In this first episode of season two, Kurt Willems frames the unique video formatting of the next several episodes. These episodes are the first several videos in a course he created, called Revealing Jesus. They can be listened to without video (especially if you are driving!) or can be utilized for the visual content as well. The full version of Revealing Jesus is available for pre-order at: https://theologycurator.com/revelation. H...
666 | S1 E8 (EP-8)
June 27, 2018 17:02 - 38 minutes - 53.3 MBSubscribe via iTunes or Google Season 1, Episode 8 (Spring Season, 2018) In this episode, Kurt explores the mysterious and infamous number in the bible: 666. It is the topic of horror films and turn-or-burn preachers alike. But what did it mean in the first century? What significance does it have for us today or in the future? Time to get our so-called anti-christ conversation on... hurry, assemble the Tribulation Force! Here’s a free resource: Revelation Cheat Sheet, pdf! GIVE THE S...
1 Dragon and 2 Beasts | S1 E7 (EP-7)
June 18, 2018 14:06 - 44 minutes - 61 MBSubscribe via iTunes or Google Season 1, Episode 7 (Spring Season, 2018) In this episode, Kurt continues to look at Revelation in broad sweeps. Specifically, he looks at the 'dragon' (devil) and the two 'beasts' who show up in popular conversation about Revelation. Who are they for John and his audience? You might be surprised that the beasts are likely not some future deceivers. Here’s a free resource: Revelation Cheat Sheet, pdf! GIVE THE SHOW SOME LOVE 1) If you would be so kin...
Lowercase gods, 7 Churches, & Worship | S1 E6 (EP-6)
May 15, 2018 18:03 - 56 minutes - 77.4 MBSubscribe via iTunes or Google Season 1, Episode 6 (Spring Season, 2018) In this episode, Kurt Willems explores the imperial cult, the gods of the Roman Empire, and how they influence the 7 cities in Revelation. The followers of Jesus have to navigate how to give the slaughtered Lamb their full allegiance, when the forces around them seek to take captive their imaginations. Worship anchors them either in the ideology of Rome or in the way of Jesus. Here’s a free resource: Revelation Ch...
Resistance and Hope in Revelation | S1 E5 (EP-5)
April 26, 2018 10:00 - 48 minutes - 66.3 MBSubscribe via iTunes or Google Season 1, Episode 5 (Spring Season, 2018) In this episode, Kurt Willems looks at Revelation through its broad themes and genre. It is apocalyptic literature and must be read as such. It is a book of resistance and hope in the midst of oppression. Civil religion wants our imagination; this allegiance of the mind belong only to the Slaughtered Lamb. Here’s a free resource: Revelation Cheat Sheet, pdf! GIVE THE SHOW SOME LOVE 1) If you would be so kind t...
Cosmic Signs Don't Signal a Rapture (Unless People Disappear Next Week) | S1 E4 (EP-4)
April 19, 2018 17:16 - 40 minutes - 55.6 MBSubscribe via iTunes or Google Season 1, Episode 4 (Spring Season, 2018) In this episode, Kurt Willems talks about a self-proclaimed "Christian Numerologist" and multi-failed rapture predictor, David Meade. The conspiracy theories continue to abound, especially when it comes to using numbers and constellations in the sky to predict a rapture. But here's the deal: apocalyptic language doesn't function like that in the Hebrew Scriptures or when the New Testament utilizes it. Here’s a fr...
John was a Refugee (backstory of Revelation's author) | S1 E3 (EP-3)
April 12, 2018 20:21 - 30 minutes - 41.8 MBSubscribe via iTunes or Google Season 1, Episode 3 (Spring Season, 2018) In this episode, Kurt Willems considers the real life of John, the author of the book of Revelation. It is quite plausible that John was a refugee in a literal sense. He was part of a Jewish group of Jesus followers in Jerusalem, who were forced to flee for their lives to Asia Minor when Rome came in and eventually destroyed Jerusalem. What would this backstory mean for John, now 20-something years after the dramati...
The N.T. Wright Episode | S1 E2 (EP-2)
April 12, 2018 20:02 - 29 minutes - 40.7 MBSubscribe via iTunes or Google Season 1, Episode 2 (Spring Season, 2018) In this episode, Kurt Willems chats briefly with N.T. Wright about Revelation. Kurt spends significant time discussing Wright's work on 'new creation' and attempts to frame any conversation of the so-called 'end times' around that theme. Here’s a free resource: Revelation Cheat Sheet, pdf! GIVE THE SHOW SOME LOVE 1) If you would be so kind to hop on iTunes (or your feed of choice) and leave Rapture Drill a re...
Preparing for the End | S1 E1 (EP-1)
April 12, 2018 19:38 - 30 minutes - 42 MBSubscribe via iTunes or Google Season 1, Episode 1 (Spring Season, 2018) In this first episode of Rapture Drill, Kurt Willems introduces the motivations for a show like this. Why do we need a podcast that is devoted to such a controversial and confusing topic? What is a "rapture drill" anyway? Why do so many people feel the need to prepare for the end? Yep, we need to answer the 'why' before we get into the 'what.' Here's a free resource: Revelation Cheat Sheet, pdf! GIVE THE SHOW SO...
Intro Teaser with N.T. Wright (Rapture Drill)
March 26, 2018 20:43 - 7 minutes - 10.5 MBThis is a brief introduction to Rapture Drill, prior to the first episode dropping. I share a quick clip of N.T. Wright, from a conversation we had recently and frame out some of the things to expect from the podcast as a whole. Support Rapture Drill here: https://patreon.com/kurtwillems