The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)

Episode: Day 359: John's Apocalypse (2025)

Date: December 25, 2025
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz | Podcast: Ascension Presents

Episode Overview

Day 359 ushers listeners into the dramatic final week of the “Bible in a Year” journey, digging into the opening chapters of the Book of Revelation—traditionally called “John’s Apocalypse”—and concluding St. Paul’s second letter to Timothy. Fr. Mike offers both scriptural readings and powerful reflections, focusing on the themes of perseverance, spiritual vigilance, and rekindling our first love for God. He explores the historical context, symbolism, and sacramental resonance in Revelation while drawing out deeply personal and pastoral insights from Paul’s closing words to Timothy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Closure of 2 Timothy: The Faithful Fight and Human Frailty

• Loneliness and Desertion in Ministry

  • Paul’s poignant farewell to Timothy is marked by the ache of abandonment: “For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me...” (58:30). Fr. Mike highlights the reality that even those closest to us in faith can falter or leave; our anchor is Christ’s unwavering faithfulness.
    • “[Paul is] just, you can hear the ache in his voice... We just pray that we’re not the ones who betray.” (59:00)
  • Paul’s mercy is underscored as he prays for his deserters: “May it not be charged against them.” (2 Timothy 4:16)

• Perseverance & the Value of a Good Ending

  • Fr. Mike draws on Paul’s famous words: “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)
    • “God, please let that be me. Let me not fall away from you. Let me not abandon you, ever, ever. And if I do, bring me back...” (60:30)

• Authority and Role of Scripture

  • All Scripture is “inspired by God and profitable for teaching… training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16); Fr. Mike ties this to the journey listeners have made through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.

2. Revelation: Context, Symbolism, and the Message to the Churches

• Historical Dating and Purpose of Revelation

  • Fr. Mike explores the two scholarly theories about when Revelation was written:
    • The “late date” during Domitian’s reign (90s AD)
    • The “early date,” prior to 70 AD, during Nero’s persecution and before the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple
  • Preference for early date:
    • Link between 666 and Nero Caesar (Nero’s name in Hebrew numerology; 01:04:20)
    • Jesus’ prophecy about the end times happening within a generation—fulfilled symbolically in the Temple’s destruction.

• Genre and Themes

  • “A lot like Daniel… Apocalyptic literature… a lot of symbolism.”
  • Symbolic Numbers:
    • 7: Covenant, Sabbath
    • 10: Power, but not unlimited (“long lasting, but not lasting forever")
    • 12: Fullness, completeness

• Revelation as Liturgical and Sacramental

  • “This is about strengthening the body of Christ, strengthening the church via the worship that happens at the Mass.” (01:07:00)
  • Revelation “isn’t just about the future, or about the ‘Rapture’... [it’s] largely about worship.”

3. John’s Vision: The Majesty of Christ

• Encountered Glory and Holy Fear

  • John’s response to Christ’s vision: “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead.” (Revelation 1:17)
    • Fr. Mike: “This is John the beloved…If anyone could boast… it’d be John. But… ‘I fell at his feet as though dead.’” (01:10:00)
  • Draws parallel for modern believers regarding reverence, especially in the Mass and Eucharistic adoration.
    • “Sometimes we’re so blah… Even pray, call upon the Lord and just, meh… Lukewarm to me.” (01:13:20)

• Christ’s Reassuring Love

  • “He laid his right hand upon me, saying, ‘Fear not, I am the first and the last... I died, and behold, I am alive forevermore...’” (Revelation 1:17-18)

4. Messages to the Seven Churches: Warning and Hope

• Spiritual Lukewarmness and First Love

  • Laodicea: “You are neither cold nor hot… because you are lukewarm, I will spew you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:15-16)

    • Fr. Mike challenges listeners to ignite zeal and not be “lukewarm” in their relationship with God.

  • Ephesus: Faithful orthodoxy but lost love—“But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember… Repent and do the works you did at first.” (Revelation 2:4-5)

    • “[Ephesus] is doing great… but we’re not just about doing the right things or believing the right things. It’s about loving the one who lived, suffered, died and rose from the dead for us. It’s about love.” (01:17:30)
    • “It is easy to fall in love. It is hard to stay in love. But Jesus is calling us back to that.” (01:19:30)

• Individual Promises & Intimacy with Christ

  • “To him who conquers, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the paradise of God.” (Revelation 2:7)
  • “To him who conquers, I will give some of the hidden manna…” (Revelation 2:17)
  • Fr. Mike connects these promises to the Eucharist: “I grant to eat of the tree of life. Here it is, the Eucharist.”
  • Profound intimacy: “I will give him a white stone with a new name written on the stone, which no one knows except him who receives it.” (Revelation 2:17/01:21:00)
    • “Here in eternity… Jesus will give you a new name… only known between you and Him.” (01:21:10)

5. Final Encouragements

• The journey to read through Scripture is not just about “starting well” but “finishing well.”
• Call for personal renewal: Not merely to do or believe rightly, but to love passionately and persevere with hope, even through suffering or loneliness.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Abandonment and Mercy:
  “At my first defense, no one took my part. All deserted me. May it not be charged against them, but the Lord stood by me and gave me strength.” (2 Timothy 4:16-17 – discussed at 59:50)

• On the Heart of Revelation:
  “This is not a book… just about future stuff…it’s about strengthening the body of Christ…through the worship that happens in the Mass.” (01:07:00)

• On Lukewarm Faith:
  “I would rather that you would be cold or hot. But because you’re lukewarm, I will vomit you out of my mouth. How many of us, we approach the Lord’s presence…so blah…lukewarm to me.” (01:13:40)

• On Personal Intimacy with God:
  “That name is only known between you and him… Does God love everyone? If he loves everyone, then I’m not special. And here Jesus is declaring, No, I have a special… unique love for you.” (01:21:10)

Important Timestamps (MM:SS)

• 00:04-03:00: Introduction & readings set up
• 58:00-62:00: Reflection on Paul’s loneliness, perseverance, and mercy in 2 Timothy
• 64:00-68:00: Dating and context of Revelation; importance of Temple destruction
• 70:00-74:00: Revelation’s liturgical focus and symbolism discussion
• 75:00-78:00: Vision of Christ; John’s fear and reverence
• 78:00-82:00: Reflection on lukewarmness (“Laodicea”) and loss of first love (“Ephesus”)
• 83:00-85:00: On the promises to “him who conquers”; Eucharistic and personal resonance

Tone and Language

Fr. Mike’s delivery blends scholarly insight with pastoral care and personal challenge. He oscillates between lighthearted encouragement (“Let go of your pride…just subscribe, come on. Just kidding...”), direct scriptural meditation, and practical, honest reflection—often returning to themes of love, endurance, and spiritual seriousness.

Summary

Day 359 is a stirring invitation to finish the year—and the Christian race—well. Drawing heavily on Paul’s last testament and John’s apocalyptic vision, Fr. Mike brings out the urgency and beauty of faithfulness, the comfort of God’s personal love, and the call to wholehearted, Mass-centered worship. With deep scriptural connections and raw honesty, listeners are prompted to persevere, guard against lukewarmness, and to fall in love with Jesus anew, trusting that, even in moments of loneliness and trial, the Lord stands close.