Revelation Revealed: Leo De Siqueira on Context, Covenant, and Jesus Beyond the Fear

Have you ever wondered if the Book of Revelation has been misunderstood for generations—or if we’ve been reading it with the wrong lens altogether? In this engaging episode of Seek Go Create, Tim Winders sits down with Revelation scholar and author Leo De Siqueira to challenge fear-based interpretations and explore the true context of Revelation. Together, they unpack the clash of covenants, the pivotal events of the first century, and why understanding early church history could transform how you see the Bible's most mysterious book. If you've felt intimidated, confused, or even disillusioned by Revelation, this episode will open your eyes to a hopeful and restorative message hiding in plain sight.

"It's unfair to just dissect a book of the Bible and argue to defend it—there's a huge narrative in play with a lot of mystery." - Leo De Siqueira

Access all show and episode resources HERE

About Our Guest:

Leo De Siqueira is a theologian, linguist, and author recognized for his deep scholarship on the Book of Revelation. Approaching scripture through the lens of Aramaic—the language of Jesus—and situating his interpretations in first-century historical context, Leo uncovers a hopeful and victorious message that challenges traditional, fear-based readings of Revelation. With four books to his name, including a detailed series on Revelation, Leo’s work is extensively researched and footnoted, blending academic rigor with accessibility. His insights offer listeners a fresh perspective grounded in history, original language, and a broad understanding of God’s restorative narrative.

Reasons to Listen:

1. Discover a Fresh Perspective on Revelation: Leo De Siqueira unpacks the historical and cultural context of the first century, challenging the fear-based interpretations many grew up with and revealing a more hopeful, restorative message.
2. Unravel Overlapping Covenants: Learn about the fascinating 40-year period when both the Mosaic and New Covenants were active—an insight that completely reshapes how we understand biblical prophecy and the New Testament’s urgency.
3. Get Real Answers with Historical Evidence: The episode dives deep into overlooked historical facts, including firsthand accounts (like Josephus) of the destruction of Jerusalem, and connects them to prophecies—raising new questions about what Revelation really meant to its original audience.

Episode Resources & Action Steps:

Sure! Here are the resources and action steps mentioned during this episode of Seek Go Create with Leo De Siqueira:

Resources Mentioned:

1. Books by Leo De Siqueira: Specifically, “Revelation: Dawn of This Age” (the first book in his Revelation series). Tim also refers to Leo’s other books that explore early church history and the historical context of Revelation.
2. Book: "Rethinking the Dates of the New Testament" by Jonathan Bernier: This book is directly mentioned as a valuable resource for understanding the early dating of New Testament writings and is recommended by both Leo and Tim.
3. Writings of Early Church Historians & Fathers

• Josephus' historical accounts (especially surrounding the events of AD 70),
• Eusebius' "Church Histories"
• General encouragement to look at early church fathers (disciples of the disciples) for a clearer message on early Christianity.

Action Steps for Listeners:

1. Reframe How You Approach Revelation: Start with an open mind—focus on God’s love story and the bigger context, rather than just dissecting end-times symbols or current events. Ask foundational questions like, “What was God’s intent?” and “Who was the Book of Revelation originally written to?”
2. Research the First-Century Historical Context: Read up on the history and events of the first century, especially the Jewish-Roman wars and the destruction of the temple in AD 70, using resources like Josephus and other referenced sources. Understanding this context will help you better interpret the book of Revelation and related scriptures.
3. Explore Early Church Writings: Seek out the writings of early church fathers and historians to gain a less modern-filtered and more authentic understanding of New Testament teachings. Leo encourages checking out these sources to realign your perspective with that of early followers of Jesus.

Key Lessons:

1. Context Matters Deeply for Understanding Revelation: The episode highlights the importance of understanding who Revelation was written to, when it was written, and the historical context of the first century. This foundation changes how we interpret the text and moves us away from fear-based interpretations.
2. The Overlap of Two Covenants: Leo explains the unique 40-year window (from 30 AD to 70 AD) during which both the Mosaic (Law-based) and New Covenant (in Christ) overlapped. This historical nuance is crucial for grasping much of the tension and urgency found in the New Testament.
3. Restoration Is the Central Biblical Theme: Throughout the Bible, and especially in the prophetic books, the message consistently moves toward restoration and reconciliation, not just judgment or fear. This offers a more hopeful and holistic way to read Revelation.
4. The First-Century Setting Informs the “End Times” Language: Many “end times” warnings in the New Testament were speaking to real, urgent events about to unfold in the first century—most notably, the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD—rather than to distant future generations.
5. Learning from Early Church Fathers Can Clarify Our Perspective: Leo encourages listeners to consult the writings of the earliest followers of Jesus (disciples of the disciples), as these are historically closer to the source and less influenced by later doctrinal shifts, helping us return to a purer understanding of the text.

Episode Highlights:

00:48 Welcome to Revelation Revealed

01:50 Guest Introduction: Leo de Sequeira

04:28 Discussing the Book of Revelation

15:18 Understanding the First Century Context

24:41 The Cross for All Time

25:37 Pauline Theology and the Law

26:48 Urgency in the New Testament

29:01 Historical Context of AD 70

34:55 Prophecies of Jesus and Revelation

45:36 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Episodes

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