Vox Podcast With Mike Erre

Revelation - Part Twenty Seven: Smoke on the Water. Today, Mike and Tim discuss the concept of the lake of fire and its symbolism in the book of Revelation. Merry Christmas!!! What are the origins of this imagery in the Old Testament, particularly in the stories of Sodom and Gomorrah? Does the lake of fire represent destruction rather than eternal conscious torment? What is Hell??? Does the text really advocate for an eternity of torment and separation for "unbelievers?" - The lake of fire in Revelation represents destruction rather than eternal conscious torment. - The imagery of burning sulfur and smoke rising is borrowed from the Old Testament, particularly the stories of Sodom and Gomorrah. - Being left outside the city symbolizes exclusion from the New Jerusalem and the consequences of practicing vices associated with empire. - Understanding the symbolic nature of these images is crucial for interpreting the book of Revelation. Revelation challenges us to ask hard questions and reckon with our complicity

Practicing the Way. Today, Mike and Tim are joined by old friend John Mark Comer, to discuss his new book and non profit, 'Practicing the Way.' Why “apprentice” instead of disciple? Are we are all being formed by someone or something? Is spiritual formation not so much a Christian thing or even a religious thing, but a human thing? How is community integral to spiritual formation? How is the practice of community far more than church attendance? How does suffering play into all of this? You can learn more about John Mark's work here: practicingtheway.org/ As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Always feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram. We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV. Learn more about the Voxology Podcast Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodc

Don'y skip the banter! Some important news in the front section! Revelation - Part Twenty Six: The Lake of Fire. We're coming to the end of this ridiculously long series on the book of Revelation. Today, it's the two final battles, judgments and the Lake of fire... What do the final battles represent? Is this when God comes back swingin? Is it the bloody finale so many have dreamt of and still advocate for from the pulpit? Why two? When does this happen? What is the Lake of Fire? Is it Hell? Will people burn there forever? What OT references are needed to understand? Mike and Tim also spend some time discussing the next 'Nonference' this coming summer as well as a few listener emails. Tim's new single can be heard here or on any streaming services: SPOTIFY As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram. We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV. Learn more ab

The God Who Hides. What happens when I don’t feel presence? Why are desert times necessary in my relationship with God – I don’t need them in my other relationships... Why does God seem absent when I need him most? Why does he seem distant? Why does God allow us to feel his absence when we know he is not absent? When you are praying, it is bouncing off the ceiling; read the bible, it is dust… The bible calls this the “hiddenness of God”... 12 different times in OT – he hid his face from his people (9 times in the Psalms) – there is the idea of a God you can’t hide in one sense, but in another sense he at times veils himself from his people: Why, LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? (Ps. 10:1) How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? (Ps. 13:1) Awake, Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever. Why do you hide your face and forget our misery and oppression? (Ps. 44:23-24) As always, we encourage and would

The Only Way Out is Through. Mike and Tim spend some time unpacking a couple listener emails that deal with hopelessness and worship. This prompts Mike to revisit Walter Bruggeman’s typology: a. Psalms can be roughly grouped this way, and the flow of human life characteristically is located either in the actual experience of one of these settings, or is in the movement from one to another. b. This is not a formula, or rigid divide of categories; some Psalms do not seem to fit and some seem to have all 3 points. - Psalms of orientation (guaranteed creation) -- life is good (Psalm 145) - Psalms of disorientation (songs of disarray) – life hurts (Psalm 13) - Psalms of reorientation (songs of surprising new life) – there is hope in the darkness (Psalm 30) As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Always feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram. Learn more about the ⁠Voxology Podcast⁠: www.voxologypodcast.com Subscribe o

The God Who Disappoints Everyone. - What's up with the resurgence of the Social Gospel in America? Article HERE - A gospel Grammy Nominee won't stop singing on a plane, because maybe the Lord wants her to? How does this correlate to Christian Nationism? What is, what Tim calls, a sense of 'Divine Entitlement?' - Lament. Disappointment. Wisdom. Everything is Meaningless. How have people throughout history dealt with a God who disappoints? How does John the Baptist play into this? As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Always feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram. Learn more about the ⁠Voxology Podcast⁠: www.voxologypodcast.com Subscribe on ⁠iTunes⁠ or ⁠Spotify⁠ Support the Voxology Podcast on ⁠Patreon⁠ The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: ⁠Voxology Radio⁠ Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on ⁠Facebook⁠ Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre Music in this episode by ⁠Tim

Revelation Part Twenty Five: Babylon, Continued. Rome becomes Babylon. In this vision, john as blended together words and images from every single OT passage about the downfall of ancient Babylon, Tyre, and Edom. (Isa. 13, 23, 34, 47; Jer. 50-51; Eze. 26-27). John’s showing how Rome is simply the newest version of the OT archetype of humanity in rebellion against God. They come together and form nations that exalt their own economic and military security into a false God. This isn’t something limited to the past or the future. It’a a portrait of the human condition throughout history. And "Babylons" will come and go leading up the day when Jesus returns to replace Babylon with his kingdom. But how will Jesus’ kingdom come? And it's amazing!! Every single Old Testament passage from the prophets about the fall of Babylon gets quoted in those chapters of Revelation about the fall of Babylon. The questions Mike references: - Am I safe here? - Am I confident here? - Do I belong here? - Am I worth loving? - Am I wo

Revelation - Part Twenty Four: Babylon. Who was Babylon? What is Babylon? What threat does it offer? What are/were the warnings against and why? How do we relate to Babylon today? How do we subvert? How do repent/reorient? What are the warning signs that we are following into Babylonian ways of life and Empire? Babylon stands as a both an ancient and modern temptation. As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Always feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram. We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV. Learn more about the Voxology Podcast Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

Revelation - Part Twenty Three: The Beast. The Dragon. The Beast. Who are these creatures? What do they represent? What is their role in all of this? What do we learn in Daniel? What is our part to play? So much to unpack and unlearn from our wrong readings of the book. As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram. We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV. Learn more about the Voxology Podcast Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

VOXOLOGY Rerun. Two years ago, we had on the incomparable Kaitlyn Schiess to discuss Mike Flanagan's "Midnight Mass," streaming on Netflix. Full SPOILER WARNING, we talk about the whole series. Midnight Mass is a horror show on Netflix that deals with some heavy theological ideas and has a heavy commentary on Christianity and religion. Kaitlyn, Mike and Tim dive in and pick at themes of grace, prayer, communion and more as revealed in the show. It's a fun conversation as we enter into the Halloween season. As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Always feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram. We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV. Learn more about the Voxology Podcast Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook Follow Mike on Twitt

Revelation - Part Twenty Two: The Talking Snake. Dragons and Leviathans and snakes, oh my! Today we talk about the history and working context of the talking snake in the Garden and how it informs the Dragon in Revelation. What was the working understanding of that Garden scene? How were snakes seen? How do Seraphim and Cherubim work into it? The Stephen Colbert and Anderson Cooper conversation can be seen here: COLBERT As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Always feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram. We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV. Learn more about the Voxology Podcast Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford Instagram &a

You hear us calling, Abba Father. Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Father, we lift up all those who have lost family and loved ones, whose lives have been upended and destroyed. We grieve and lament with them. God, might you meet them in their pain, meet them in their need. God, would you show us how to intervene, how to love in a time of hate, how to be peace makers in a time of war and death. Father, we pray for those who have been taken from their families, that they would be released. That you would meet them in their despair and bring hope and safety and restoration. Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Father, we ask that you would soften the hearts of our leaders and clear their eyes, that they might advocate for humanities flourishing, not it’s destruction. Lord, give them courage and discernment to make hard decisions in the face of adversity and greed that restore humanity to those they may see as the other. Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your king

Revelation - Part Twenty One: The Church As Witness. From Daniel to John. Daniel is bound up in the scroll John eats it. Two witnesses as lampstands, which is reference to churches and calling back to Deuteronomy. Martyrs risen from the dead. What is the role of the Church if not raptured? Things are getting weird! First, Mike and Tim discuss the horror in Israel and Gaza. As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Always feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram. We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV. Learn more about the Voxology Podcast Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

The Academy of Jesus. Today, Mike and Tim are joined by Pastor! Mentor! Organizer! Advocate! Entrepreneur! Mr. Dave Gibbons! Dave has so many irons in the fire and stays perpetually curious and open to the Spirit's move. How does he discern God's voice from his own? What has he learned? Where has he seen the spirit move? What practices has he changed over time? As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Always feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram. We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV. Learn more about the Voxology Podcast Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

Revelation - Part Twenty: Captured by Rapture. One aspect of the content of Revelation that needs to be stressed once again is that, there is no rapture in the book of Revelation (It is supposedly narrated at 4:1, the introduction to the book’s central vision). The book of Revelation clearly teaches, and calls on its readers to pray for, the return of Christ. It is not the second coming of Christ that is absent from Revelation but the alleged rapture of the Church by Christ in a kind of secret prequel to the real second coming. How has it become so convoluted? Where did these ideas like Left Behind come from? How did they get so off course? Pre/Post Tribulation? The Millennium?? First, Mike and Tim read a listener email asking for clarification. When reading the imprecatory Psalms, is the desire to see our enemies' destruction a godly attitude? Should we be 'joining' in with the martyrs and call for God's judgment to rain down on those who do evil? As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursu

Revelation - Part Nineteen: Thunderstruck. Seals & Trumpets & Bowls, Oh My! These will serve like nesting dolls as they harken back and comment on current events. Last episode we saw the OT Days of the Lord references. Now we see what John was commenting on in his own time. God’s warning judgments through the seals and trumpets did not generate repentance among the nations, just like the exodus plagues only hardened Pharaoh's heart. But the lamb, he conquered his enemies by loving them, dying for them and now the message of the Lamb's scroll reveals the mission of his army, the church. God’s kingdom will be revealed when the nations see the church imitating the loving sacrifice of the lamb. Not killing their enemies, but dying for them. It is God’s mercy shown through Jesus’ followers that will bring the nations to repentance. and this surprising claim is the message of the open scroll that John has placed at the exact center of the entire book. God’s love gives rise to his judgement; God’s judgment i

IMPORTANT EPISODE! Revelation - Part Eighteen: The Day of the Lord. Understanding the 'Day of the Lord' is key to unlocking so much in the book of Revelation. What was the Day of the Lord? What was it in the OT? How did it connect to Passover? How did Jesus and Peter and Paul reference it? And HOW DOES REVELATION USE IT AND SPEAK OF IT'S COMING??? What do we do with all the violence when we are told of a peaceful and loving God? What is the purpose of the Day of the Lord???? As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Always feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram. We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV. Learn more about the Voxology Podcast Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre Mus

Revelation Part Seventeen: The Lion & The Lamb. Today we spend some more time in chapter 5 of Revelation, focusing on the imagery around the Lamb who sits on the throne. What language is parodied language of the time? Whose blood is on the lamb? How has that been co opted to support religious violence? What is it actually advocating for? What does this show us about old testament violence and the stumbling block of God supporting and purporting said violence? How do we reconcile victory through defeat and how does it inform our faith and daily lives? As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Always feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram. We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV. Learn more about the Voxology Podcast Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodca

Revelation - Part Sixeteen: Worship is Political. Today, we look at aspects of Revelation chapters 4 and 5 that deal with worship. How is worship political? How is it counter cultural? How is it an act of resistance? What is John commenting on? How were his words a response to political posturing and worship of state? How do we exist as members of society, but as participants in the Kingdom of God?? What imagery from the OT is john referencing and why? Mike and Tim first respond to push back on the conversation around Christian therapists. What were they trying to articulate about how you find a therapist and were they wrong? As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Always feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram. We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV. Learn more about the Voxology Podcast Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon The Voxology Spotify channel

Revelation - Part Fifteen: The Throne at the Center of the Universe. Epic title. Back to Revelation and a look into the Emperor Domitian, who reigned from 81-96. When Domitian (81-96 AD) became emperor there was significant change in the demand for deification. Domitian was obsessed with his own (and his brother Titus' and father Vespasian's) deity. Augustus once explicitly forbade his fellow citizens to address him with the title “Lord.” He did not want to be master of slaves, but first citizen of the empire. But Domitian ignored his forefather and followed in the ways of Nero….He did not wish to be a citizen among his fellow citizens, but a superhuman being in charge of the destiny of humanity. Coins of the era call Domitian the father of the gods... Domitian insisted on being called "Lord and God" whenever he was mentioned or addressed. How does John address this? What are we to take away? First, Tim shares some troubled times with how our language and words can incite violence against the LGBTQ community