August 22, 2010

“The rule of Christ has begun”

Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords.  In chapter 5 He holds the title deed to all creation and God the Father rules through Him.  If a good King is on the throne why do the righteous suffer?

John explains that Jesus is sovereign over suffering and disasters.  Suffering does not occur randomly or by chance.  When Christ breaks the seals, suffering occurs.  Suffering is part of the process of establishing the rule of Christ.  Suffering purifies the righteous and punishes the wicked.  Just as Christ’s sufferings preceded His resurrection, so our suffering precedes the victory if we are faithful and overcome.

John 16:33  In the world you have tribulation.

Acts 14:22  Before we enter heaven we will pass through tribulation.

Mark 13:5-37

Many assume the first 4 seals occur sequentially, one after another.  But a closer reading suggests they are simultaneous.  When 1:8 says “they” were given power over a fourth of the earth, he is referring to the 4 horsemen as a group.  We will see that the 4 bowls and the 4 trumpets are parallel but different.

Ezek 14:12-23, Zech 6:5-8, and Jesus’ Olivet discourse about the end times suggest simultaneous sufferings.  Throughout history deceitful leaders have caused civil unrest which leads to famine which leads to death.  How does it change our understanding if the first 4 seals are broken at the same time?  There is no time line.

The purpose of trials is to punish the idolaters and purify the righteous remnant by testing their faith.  Leviticus 26:18-28 warns of 4 judgments to idolaters.  Matt 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 warn the disciples of deception, wars, strife, earthquakes, famines, persecutions, and cosmic changes.  These 4 horsemen were released when Christ was seated on the throne and opened the 4 seals.

In the midst of chaos and uncontrollable situations, Jesus always says, “Fear not.”  If you are hurting because you have been misunderstood, if you are suffering a tragedy or disaster, if you have to die for your faith, it may seem that satan is in control.  It may look like the world is in chaos.  But Christ is still on the throne.  When the beginning of the End comes to Oregon, we need to remember that the crucified Lamb of God is in control.  Catastrophes are not a sign of God’s absence.

REV 6:1‑2  There are 6 seals in this chapter.  We will find the 7th seal in chapter 8.  The 7th seal will introduce the 7 trumpets and the 7th or last trumpet will introduce the 7 bowls of God’s wrath.

Here John is describing the first broken seal.  There is a loud authoritative voice; (maybe sounding a little like the thunder of horses hoofs) calling a horseman that is like the authoritative voice of God in 4:5.  John does not tell us which creature begins the calling.  We are not told where the horses come from or the way they go.  Zechariah tells us that.

These horses come only after the throne attendants call them.  The call is made only after the Lamb breaks the seal.  These events are ordered and rapid, but not chaotic.  The beginning of the end is initiated from a worship service in the presence of God, not an angry argument with satan.

The sealed scroll reminds us that God controls the time for this call to come.  The horse suggests swift activity.  God’s judgment will come quickly.  Horses normally suggested war.  They were usually the property of kings.

But this first horse is white.  The rider has no arrows.  His conquest is peaceful.  The crown he wears is the laurel leaves of Rome, a victor’s crown not a jeweled royal crown.  This horse is given full authority to conquer with no limits.  The next 3 horsemen have limits.  His bow is a sign of authoritative power.  A broken bow would suggest powerlessness.

The paradox of this rider is that it is a bloodless military victory.  That means there have been some traitors and spies.  That means that brother has been against brother and child against parent.

Some believe this 1st horse is the gospel being preached to all nations.  The white horse would represent righteousness and the conquests are moral victories and great revivals.  Some would add that the rider is Christ himself because he has just been identified as the overcomer and conqueror in chapter 5.  And in Rev 19:11 Christ is said to be on a white horse.  White usually describes the holiness of God or the saints.  (14 times in Revelation)

But the context of these four horses suggests that this first rider is not good, but bad.  He is a deceiver.  He is a false prophet.  He is like the final anti‑christ and his rise to power.  He carries no sword or arrows and promotes disarmament.  He calls for peace.  He says if we follow him, nobody will get hurt.  Everyone will like him.

History has revealed many such false prophets and anti‑christs.  The cause of evil can be made to look like good.  Satan can appear as an angel of light.  This horse looks like the white horse that Christ rides on in chapter 19, but it is instead part of God’s judgment on a corrupt world.  God gives evil men their desire for power through peace.  They reap what their hearts sow (2 Pet 2:12).  But it becomes a curse when men get their desires, not God’s.

The Christian should not be deceived.  Christ never promised to bring peace on this earth, but peace in our heart.  In the world there is a horseman telling people what they want to hear.  Don’t be deceived; by their fruits you will know them.  When someone says it doesn’t hurt anyone so it must be OK, be careful.  When someone says it is OK if they are both consenting adults, be careful.  When someone says that guilt is caused by your family and cultural taboos, be careful.  Or they say you need to loosen up a bit, be careful.  When someone says, “if it feels good do it,” be careful.  When someone says, 10 million people can’t be wrong, be careful.  If you allow other people to set your laws and become your god, you will have to trust them in the judgment.  If you do your own thing now, you will be on your own at the judgment too.

Jesus told us that many would come saying “Peace, peace.”  This 1st horseman represents those deceivers that God uses to purify the faithful and judge the wicked.  This rider on a white horse will promote the attitude of compromise, white lies, white sins, and white wash jobs.  His activities will look good on the outside, no blood is shed, but evil is in his heart.  Mutual consent will not make it right.  God will judge sin by letting the wages of those doing wrong, be the fruit of their labors (2 Peter 2:13).  They are their own gods, a law unto themselves.

REV 6:3‑4  The white horse conquerors by deceit.  The consequences of every war are the next 3 horses.  The red horse has power to take peace from the whole earth.  God gives him power.  God permits him to cause calamity.  This is a worldwide situation.  This time Oregon will be involved.

He has a short sacrificial sword, but does not have to use it.  When men become their own gods, when peace and harmony are removed, men begin killing each other.  This is civil war: brother against brother, friend against friend, neighbor against neighbor.  There will be massive bloodshed, not of war, but of murder.  The sword in verse 8 is a war sword.  This sword is used by murderers.

When there is disharmony between people, each begins to read evil motives into the others actions.  Without peace there is bitterness, mistrust, and jealousy.  Anger erupts when my perceived rights are violated and murder is close at hand.  When I am insecure, I assume everyone is against me.

Farmers won’t be planting crops because they could not keep the neighbors out of the garden or vigilantes would take everything for their ‘good’ cause.

REV 6:5‑6  The 3rd horse is black.  When civil war is widespread, famine and hardship is close at hand.  The Jewish way to emphasize scarcity was to “eat bread by weight”.  To sell food by weight rather than measure was a sign of scarcity.  Someone burned your crops, so you burned his crops.  People get too busy protecting themselves.  They have no time to care for crops.

Some have suggested that the scales mean excessive taxation or unjust tax collectors.

Whatever the cause, the result will be that a day’s wage will buy enough good food for one person for a day or enough barley to feed 3 people.  This is about 10 times the normal price.  The olive trees and grapes do not need much care so they still produce oil and wine.

This is interesting.  Oil and wine were considered luxuries.  They represent the comforts of life.  This may mean that the rich won’t have any trouble buying food, or it could mean that people will have plenty of the luxuries, but not the necessities.  Everyone will have the latest technology, but no food or water.  Even today, many people on welfare have nice cars, homes, and color TVs.  What will happen when welfare is gone?  What will happen when those who lose their job, get nothing?  What will happen when all benefits are cancelled?  What happens when your pension is cut off?  What happens when the government collapses?

Some writers say the red horse represented the martyrs in the church and the black horse the Christians who lost their job because they refused to make a sacrifice to Caesar.

I don’t think John is making a distinction here between Christian and non‑Christian.  Unjust killing, famine, and economic hardship affect Christians and non-Christians alike.  The people of the whole earth are affected.  Many Christians are still dying of starvation.

REV 6:7‑8  The pale yellow‑green horse is the color of death and given a name.  He is also given limited authority.  Hades/hell follows him.  Wicked men that are slain are gathered by Hell.

When peace is gone, civil war follows.  Famine follows war.  Rats and plague follow famine.  Animals get braver, wilder, and fiercer. There is rioting and looting and death.  25% of the earth will die.  That will be 150 times as many as Hitler killed.  The overall impression will be that chaos is king.  But that impression will be false.  Christians will have to live by faith and not sight.

The woes of the horsemen affect both righteous and unrighteous like the first plagues in Exodus.  The suffering of the cross was redemptive and judicial: one thief went to Paradise with Jesus, the other went to hell.  God used wicked kings to purify His people Israel.

As with Christ the apparent defeat of Christians is their spiritual victory, if they do not compromise their faith in the midst of suffering and persecution.  God can use suffering for good.

This 4th seal reaches to the borders of things invisible.  The 5th seal takes us into the invisible world.  It reveals the church at worship in heaven.

REV 6:9‑11  Praise God!  Those who die in Christ, still live!  While Hell gathered his dead, the Christians found a place of rest just outside the Throne room, close to the presence of God.  They continue to see history from God’s point of view, but still sing a time question.  The songs  of Revelation summarize the themes of the preceding events.  Christians were being persecuted in John’s time.

The opening of this seal reveals a human response to suffering.  These had taken up their cross and followed Jesus.  Their blood had been poured on the Altar of Incense.  Their souls were secure under the altar.

The song of martyrs is often my song.  “Hurry up Lord.”  How long are you going to wait for justice to reign supreme?  Lord I want Your reputation to be corrected.  Lord demonstrate Your holiness and bring justice.  Lord I want to be understood.  How long will you wait before they understand that my heart was right and they persecuted me unjustly?  I know in my head that God is in control and that He can intervene at any time, but my heart often cries, “hurry up a little.”

The cry is not a cry for revenge but for understanding.  The martyrs want God to make clear to the world why they chose to die rather than deny faith in Jesus.

We often get impatient for healing.  We get impatient for people to change.  We get impatient for circumstances to change.  We get impatient for comfort.  We get impatient to be understood.

The answer is still the same, “In His time.”  Just like he tells the martyrs, He tells us, “Be patient until my plan is completed.”  God is in control.  The persecutors will someday see the righteous for who they really are.

Note the words:  LORD ‑ absolute owner;  HOLY ‑ God wants to clean things up.  He’s into recycling;  TRUE ‑ won’t be unjust or make any mistakes;  JUDGING ‑ Court is in session.

This preliminary hearing gave these Christians white robes.  But they were sequestered and told to wait because the plan of God is not completed yet.  There are still believers willing to die for their faith.  God has a complete group in mind.  He wants to give all a chance.  He is not willing that any should perish.

REV 6:12‑17  After the song of martyrs is sung, the 6th seal is broken and John sees the mounting tribulations.  In chapter 5 there was a crescendo of praise; in 6 there is a crescendo of tribulation.  The only other time creation flees the presence of God is the final judgment scene mentioned in 20:11.  The parallel indicates that these verses depict the final judgment.  In the beginning Adam and Eve tried to get away from God.  In the end sinful man will try to flee from God.

The forces of nature are loosed with the 6th seal and 6 objects of nature are mentioned, then 6 classes of frightened people are mentioned.  This seal brings a massive earthquake and a solar and lunar eclipse, which seems to affect the stars, which in turn puts a hole in the atmosphere.

Six events occur.  Six classes of people are mentioned.  This is the 6^th seal.  Six is the number of man.  He was created on the 6^th day.  The 6^th seal brings judgment to man.  God will vindicate His reputation at the final judgment.  The people of the world will be asking, “Who can stand?”

For the Jew the ultimate chaos was a world of falling stars.  The proof and guarantee of God’s faithfulness was seen in nature and the heavens.  Take away the heavens and the light and there is chaos.  We use the phrase, “When all hell breaks loose.”

When the 6th seal is opened, all the satellites will fall.  All TV, commerce, communication and transportation will be terminated.  The heavens will be opened.  There will be one big hole in the sky.   Radio waves cannot be bounced around the atmosphere.  All of our trucks, ships and planes will be grounded without locators.

The heavens will be rolled back as a torn scroll.  It will be noisy.  Men may be able to see spiritual reality with physical eyes.  With the sky ripped open the sun will no longer be a friend.  Ultraviolet rays will burn the flesh.  Men will desire caves.

Verse 14 describes musical mountains and God is playing the tune.  The smug composure of man will be gone.  Self‑security will be shattered.  Men’s logic will dissolve.  Man will stand vulnerable before his Maker.  But rather than confessing his sin and repenting, most will try to run away from God.  Rather than pleading for mercy and grace, they will find it easier to commit suicide.

The rich will be powerless.  The beginning of the end will be obvious to everyone.

God has not changed.  He judged sin in the Garden of Eden.  He judges sin today.  He will judge all sin at the end.  The good news is that if we confess our sin He will forgive us our sin and remember it no more.  By faith in Jesus Christ we can stand blameless in the presence of God.

I don’t know who the deceiving white horses are today.  Don’t follow every fast talker.  Seek Jesus and Him only.  False christs promise peace, but deliver famine and death.  Make a choice right now to follow Jesus.  It will not be easy.  You will suffer but know real peace, now and forever.

If you want peace and protection throughout the last days don’t be deceived.  Make sure your relationship with God is up to date.  Jesus came, died, and rose again, just as the Scripture said He would.  By believing that in your heart, and committing your life to follow Him, God will forgive your sins and you will be able to stand in the last days.

Who can stand (6:17)?  Chapter 7 says, he who has the Holy Spirit in his heart.  Believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit.  The Phoenician letter for the word “seal” is “T” or a cross.

How long O Lord?  Time is in God’s control.  He’s waiting for more to come to repentance.  The suffering you are experiencing is purifying you in preparation for eternity or punishing you and calling you to repentance to save you from hell.  God is on the throne and cares for you.

Have you seen any rapture yet in Revelation?

John 16:33  “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.

August 15, 2010

“The Great Crescendo of Praise”

John believed that in the midst of suffering, the best thing to do is look to God.  Get a view of reality from God’s point of view.  He’s the conductor of your life.  Before any symphony all the instruments tune to a standard pitch.  Our lives are in chaos until we tune to a standard pitch.  Listen and follow the conductor of the symphony.  The conductor can bring the best out of you.  Only He sees the whole picture.  He has the full score.

John was worshipping in the spirit on the Lord’s Day.  He had just finished writing letters to 7 churches.  He probably thought he was finished.  Maybe he was wondering about sitting with Jesus (3:21) on His throne and how that relates to God sitting on His throne.

Rev 4:1

Chapters 4-5 repeat at least 14 phrases from Daniel 7 and has common words from Ezekiel 1-2, 9, 28 and Isaiah 6.  Evil kings will come, but they are powerless before the Almighty.  A major lesson from this chapter is that reality contains more than meets the eye and God rules over all.

John sees a door standing open in heaven.  God opens the door to Truth and spiritual reality.  God has provided access into His presence.  God has opened the door so we can know and love Him.

He hears a familiar voice (1:10) like a trumpet.  John obeys the voice of Jesus.  There was no debate.  The voice says there is more to come.  Keep your heart tuned.

God knew that before we can understand the visions in Revelation, we need to spend some time in the throne room.  Before we can understand the events in our lives, we need to spend some time with God.  A door is open into the very presence of God to help us understand life.

4:1  Jesus invites us to come into His presence.

Come Thou Almighty King

Come into His presence

Enter His gates

We Bring the Sacrifice of Praise

Rev 4:2-8 All at once John found himself in the Spirit again (1:10).  Time is irrelevant.  God can lift us out of our harsh rocky islands.  No matter where you are in your spiritual journey or physical circumstances Jesus is knocking and inviting you to come to Him.

Notice what John sees first.  The center of all is the throne.  The throne is mentioned 47 times in Revelation, 17 of those in Chapters 4-5.  A true perspective of history has a throne, an absolute in the center, above and over all.  As we read Revelation, our attention is always brought back to the throne.  There is a throne over Caesar’s throne.  God’s throne is the center from which everything has its source and to which everything will ultimately return.  There is a standard.  There is a moral tuning fork that offers harmony in our world.  Sin is a rejection of the standard that God has established.  Sin robs us of harmony.  Sin is turning your back to the conductor of Creation.

All eyes are on Him who sits on the throne.  He is seated!  He is undisturbed by any conflict.  He is not pacing the floor, tweeting on the phone, shouting loud commands, adjusting His monitors.  He sits undisturbed with authority, dominion, and control.

Rev 4:3 The next 6 verses describe what John saw, then he tells us what he heard.

How would you describe God?  John does not suggest any shape or form.  He describes Him as light.  There is little beauty without light.  God is like the light of jasper (diamond) and a red carnelian (sardius).  The red light reminds us that we see Him only through the blood.  Then around the throne was a circle or rainbow of emerald green.  Green was the color of mercy and life.  John sees no form, only brilliance and beauty.  John does not see walls, ceilings, floors, pillars, people, fixtures, or flowers

Rev. 4:4 The 24 elders or ministers of God represent the 12 tribes of the O.T. and the 12 disciples of the NT  They represent the whole Church, all the saints, and all God’s people of all time.  King David divided the priestly descendants of Aaron into 24 groups.  Each family group had different functions in the Temple.  This was the royal priesthood or kingdom of priests in the O.T.

The 24 elders represent all believers, the royal priesthood clothed in white garments of righteousness with golden crowns.  The robes are priestly; the crowns are rewards.  These are victor’s crowns won in competition or war.  These 24 represent the ones who have finished their course triumphantly.  They don’t have kingly crowns, but Olympic gold metals.

Rev. 4:5 The focus comes back to the throne.  Lightening, voices, and thunders are similar to God’s presence at Sinai.  Have you felt the vibration of heavenly thunders?  It means peace to the pure and rest to the righteous, but wrath to the wicked.  God communicates His power.  We do not discover God by our cleverness, but God makes Himself known.  And the majesty of His presence is peace to the Christian.  Like the thundering waves of the sea, there is rest in the rhythms of God’s grace.

7 lamps again represent the Holy Spirit in completeness and fullness.  Fire illuminates so the eye can see and purifies so the heart can see.  Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would teach us all things.  He will purify our hearts by faith so we can see God more clearly.

The number 7 symbolizes perfection or completion.  Nothing can be added because nothing is lacking.  We have already seen 7 churches, candlesticks, stars, angels, and spirits.  We will see 7 seals, trumpets, bowls, horns, eyes, thunders, heads, crowns, mountains, 7 beatitudes, 7 times that prophecy, keep, and patience are mentioned in the book.

4:6 John sees clearly and what he sees is like a sea of glass as clear as crystal.  Clear glass in ancient days was as precious as gold.  The Egyptians during the construction of the pyramids invented glass.  Legend says that when the Queen of Sheba came to visit Solomon she picked up her skirt as she approached the throne because the floor was thick glass that looked like water.  Many kings had moats around their thrones and controlled access with small bridges.

The stormy sea also represented evil.  Evil powers are now silent.  The sea in 15:2-4 will be replaced by the river of life in 22:1.

In John’s vision the sea of glass is solid because God is approachable.  Jesus has provided access to God.  He has calmed the chaos of the sea.  The honor and privilege of coming to God is very precious, more precious than gold.  John does not run up to shake God’s hand and have a friendly chat.  God is worthy of our respect and reverence.  To come to God, we walk on something that is very costly and very precious.

The crystal sea was between John and the throne.  In the center and around the throne were 4 living creatures like cherubim full of eyes.  They are watchful and all seeing.  The number 4 often represented the world with 4 directions of the compass and the 4 winds.

Rev 4:7 These living creatures represent all God’s creation.  Let all that hath breath, praise the Lord.  Let the rocks cry out and the trees clap their hands.  All life is improved by praise.  These creatures are the closest to the Throne and they are the worship leaders.

Numbers 2 gives the instructions of how the children of Israel were to camp in the wilderness.  The tribes immediately around the Tabernacle had the banners of the lion, the young ox, the man, and the eagle.  These flags were their symbols of protection and point of identity.

4:8 Here John does not tell us what they were doing with their wings, but it suggests complete mobility.  They could go anywhere, do anything and they chose to be near the Throne.  John is really impressed with the eyes.  They know what is going on throughout the earth.  They know what is happening in hell.  They know what is happening in heaven and they praise God.

Let’s learn from these heavenly creatures.  They never grow weary of ceaseless repetition of praises.  Let’s come closer to God and say HOLY!  Praise God for who He is.  A quartet sings.

O Worship the King

Holy, Holy, Holy

Holy Ground

Rev 4:9-10

The action is all spontaneous and coordinated.

They worship by casting their crowns before Him.  Their crown was a prize or a sign of great achievement and merit.  But in the presence of God, all my good works, all my awards, all my achievements, and all my honors will become uncomfortable for me to carry.  I need to return all glory to God.

Rev 4:11 He alone is worthy.  This phrase, “Worthy Art Thou” was a chant used when the Roman Emperor rode in a triumphal procession on his white horse with all the trumpets, singers, pageantry, and pomp that we have today with the queen of England.  In contrast to that and in defiance to the Romans, John saw the King of kings on the throne and heard a quartet sing, “Holy, Holy, Holy” then the choir of 24 joins in to sing, “Worthy Art Thou, our Lord and our God”.

I Worship You Almighty God

Rev 5:1-8

“In His right hand” reminds us of strength, comfort, and security.  The right hand is a common metaphor signifying power, authority, and a place of refuge and protection.  All time is in God’s hands.  No one can take it from Him.  God is still seated and in control.  The things that must take place are in God’s control.  He alone knows the future.  This is the beginning of the end for Satan.

“The scroll” is a significant object.  It symbolizes much more than just a book (codex).  Besides the Scriptures and sacred writings, scrolls with seals were common forms for business transactions and legal documents.  This scroll could be a message, a will, or a deed.  The writing on the back could be a summary of the contents, it could suggest complete or comprehensive like ‘seven’, or it could be a reflection of Moses’ 2 tablets of stone that were written on the front and back side.

1. A sealed scroll could be an important message.  If someone very important were sending a message to another very high official he would write out his message and seal the scroll at that point.  If there was more paper left, he might add some instructions to the lieutenant or the official’s executive secretary and seal it at that point.  If there was room, he may add some instructions to the runner or doorman or mail clerk and seal the message again at that point.  A document with 7 seals would mean it had to be going to a very high ranking official because he would have to have 6 levels of command under him.  There were severe penalties for tampering with the mail by breaking someone else’s seal.  A person had to be worthy or authorized to break the seals.

2. A scroll could also be a will.  According to Roman law, 6 witnesses had to sign a will and the 7th seal could be the owner.  The will could not be opened unless all of the 6 or their representatives were present to break their own seal and confirm that it had not been tampered with.

The original owner of the world is now alive and can claim His inheritance as a son of Adam (man).  No other member of Adam’s family has been or is worthy or able to reclaim the inheritance.  Jesus is the 2nd Adam.  He is worthy.  We call it the Old Testament and New Testament.  Jesus is both the executor and living heir of the promise.

3. This scroll in God’s hand could also represent a title deed to property.  Deed were made in duplicate.  The open copy was for public records.  The owner kept the sealed copy.  One to 7 strings were tied around the scroll with a seal placed on each knot.  The witnesses or their representative who sealed the document had to be present to settle any property disputes.

In Daniel 6:18 the king sealed the lion’s den with his seal.  That meant no one could open it without the king being present.  When Jesus was buried, the tomb was sealed and could not be opened by man without permission.

In some mystery religions, a seal was used to prevent access to the gods except at the designated times.  The pagan priest would put a seal over the mouth of their idol so that he would not speak without the priest being there.  No one could hear from his god except the priest.  The pagan festivals would often begin when the priest broke the seal on their god’s mouth.  Then after their worship the seal was replaced.

I think the scroll that God holds is most like a title deed.  At creation, God put man in charge of all things, but the original owner passed his copy of the deed to Satan.  Man sold his birthright for a bowl of porridge.  This deed and courtroom setting suggests a property dispute.  And if anyone legally representing the original family was found able to buy it back, the seals would be broken, the original will be read and the verbal claims of Satan will be thrown out of court.  There will be a new heaven and a new earth.

Satan has been claiming dominion of the world.  There has been a dispute and court is now in session.  Adam, by disobeying God, had given his copy of the deed to Satan.  Satan has been claiming the world as his own.  He had the deed and if there were no heirs, the world was his.  But God has the original sealed copy.  There is a living heir.  The final year of Jubilee has come.

A STRONG angel with a LOUD voice challenges all creatures in the universe.  “Who can fulfill God’s requirements of justice?”  Who is worthy to reclaim this planet for God?

Rev 5:3 There is no answer to this universal call.  The long‑disputed title deed is now available for redemption.  Where are the big names?  Pick any name.  There is no name great enough to step forward to the throne.  Satan is nowhere to be found.

Rev 5:4 John began to weep.  In the silence following the loud solo challenge, John’s heart was broken.  If the scroll is not opened Satan’s claims could still be heard, there would be injustice for God’s children in a wicked world.  There would be no salvation for the faithful and no judgment for the wicked.  Satan would continue to strut and boast.  This is a dramatic moment of the turning point of all history.

The angel was calling for someone to claim the title deed back from Satan.  He may have been making this call every Jubilee year since the sin of Adam.

Jubilee was supposed to be every 7 7’s of years.  Jubilee was the year of celebration following 7 Sabbath years.  Every 7th year was a sabbatical year; a year of rest intended to benefit the land, the laborers, the animals, and strangers (Lev 25:4‑6).  The Jubilee year was the year after 7 Sabbath years.  This was the year when all slaves were freed and all property returned to the original family.  All property disputes were settled.  Seven sevens meant freedom to all.

Jewish land always remained with the original families.  Even if I sold you my land and gave you a deed you could only use that land until the year of jubilee.  Unless of course you killed my family and me and left no heir to make a claim in court, you could continue to use the land.  Satan did that.  He killed all the sons of Adam.  But the sinless one was resurrected from the dead.  Now a strong Angel is calling Satan to court in heaven.

Jubilee was God’s plan to prohibit corporate conglomerates from gobbling up all the land and making everyone slaves to the large landholders.  The year of Jubilee was good news to the poor, the blind, the captives, and the downtrodden.  This was the favorable year of the Lord that Jesus announced (Is 61; Lk 4).  It was not good news to the rich large landholders.  It is not good news to Satan, but it is good news for the family of God.

5:6 When John finished weeping, he looked and expected to see a lion, but he saw a lamb.  The Lamb is standing as if slain.  The Greek could imply that the Lamb appears with a wounded neck as if he was still being offered.  He still lives as the perfect sacrifice for all men for all time.  He is still our sacrifice and still comes to us in ways we do not expect to see Him.  He does not always fit our molds.

Another paradox is the word for lamb.  This is not the normal word for a farm animal, but more of a family pet.  This lamb is little, meek, mild, helpless, but has 7 horns that suggest complete power.  It also has 7 eyes that suggest complete knowledge.

5:7 The Lamb came and took the scroll out of the hand of God.  Can you feel the silent drama?  There is the silence of anticipation.  God gives Jesus the title deed to the world and all history.  God remains seated on the throne, but will govern the world through the Lamb.  The qualifications of the Lamb to take the scroll and break its seals are acceptable to the one on the throne.  The future is now in Christ’s hand.

This verse is the climax of this present drama.  If you were making a video you would slow the action down and in the solemn stillness while all creation waited to see who would claim the title deed of the universe.  The Lamb claims all that Adam lost to Satan in the garden.  The world is not Satan’s.  Jesus is the rightful heir.  Satan claimed rulership, but he is strangely silent and absent during this drama.  He offered Jesus the kingdoms of this world, but it was a paper promise.

As soon as Jesus takes the scroll there is a remarkable burst of praise and adoration.  The tension breaks.  The drama has climaxed.  A 28 voice choir begins the praise.

5:8 The group around the throne fell down before the Lamb.  It is an act of submission to a supreme authority.

The golden bowls of incense express the preciousness of prayer.  Like incense our prayers rise to heaven as a sweet fragrance of love.  Our prayers are answered in God’s time.  Prayers are a form of sacrifice.  These bowls are full.  Now it is time to praise.

5:9 The quartet and choir sing a new song.  In heaven there is joy because Satan is defeated.  His claim of ownership has proved to be hot air and bluff.

We Bow Down

Jesus, Name Above all names

His Name is Wonderful

Hallelujah, Praise the Lamb

Rev 5:11 It seems like the people that live closest to the Lord, sing the most praises.  In 5:9‑10 we sang a new song because Jesus did 3 things:  He died for us, He redeemed us, and He gave us authority as his body, the church.

Now in Rev 5:11, when one choir stops, another begins.  This one has an incalculable number of angels.  These angels cannot sing about redemption, because they have never sinned, but they can sing about the majesty of Jesus and God the Father.  Even though the numbers are increasing, they sing as one voice.  Can you imagine this large choir singing with one voice?  John heard the words clearly; the voice is singular.  Here is majesty.  When you hear a big choir and can understand every word clearly, that means everyone is in harmony with the conductor.  A single voice indicates unity and harmony of emotion and purpose with the Conductor.

Are we willing to sing this song?  “Jesus you are worthy to receive all my power, all my riches, all my wisdom, all my strength, all my honor, glory and blessing.”  When I hear myself saying something like, “I have my right”, or “I deserve a break today”, at that point I remember that I need to give all my rights to Jesus again and remember it is not me living, but Christ in me.

Thou Art Worthy

Worthy is the Lamb

Worthy, You are Worthy

I Exalt Thee

Rev 5:13 The crescendo continues in praise to God and the Lamb.  In chapter 4 we sang 2 songs to God.  In chapter 5 we sang 2 songs to the Lamb.  Now we conclude with a song to both the One on the Throne and the Lamb.  The living, the dead, the 28 voice choir, the angels, plus every created thing join in the singing. The rocks and hills cry out.  All that hath breath and even that which doesn’t will praise the Lord.  The universal dimension of this scene is breathtaking.  Everything will acknowledge the worth of the Lamb, even those who crucified Him.

I have been on the mountain top and heard the mountains and the wind praise the Lord.  I have been by the sea and have heard the rocks clap their hands.  I have seen the trees wave their praise and heard the aspens give a gentle applause.

Our God and our Lord are praised as one.  This song is literally: THE blessing and THE honor and THE glory and THE dominion.  Identifying each item adds emphasis to the praise.

All creation is singing.  Worship is spontaneous in the presence of God.  This song of praise is throbbing throughout the universe.

To Him Who Sits on the Throne

Majesty

We will glorify

Rev 5:14

After the spectacular, John’s attention goes back to the throne and those closest to the throne are still singing, “Amen”.  As the curtain of this vision of heaven closes, the Amens keep echoing in John’s heart.  The 4 were the 1^st to praise and they give the final Amen.  May God’s praises keep echoing in your heart.  May your eyes stay on the Conductor and your heart stay tuned to sing God’s praise.

O Come Let us Adore Him

Alleluiah

Hallelujah, Praise the Lamb

“Just like Us”

August 8, 2010

Jesus has promised us a blessing if we read, hear, and heed the words of this revelation.  It was not written in any secret code, but 4 times John says he was “in the Spirit” which tells us he was looking at the churches and the world from heaven’s point of view.  He was in God’s space and time, which is less than a split second and more than a thousand years.  Be careful when you are tempted to identify time periods with the 7 churches and the seals.

Pretend you can fly and see like an eagle.  You are flying high above Portland.  In a split second you see buildings, streets, trees, mice, cats, dogs, cars, trucks, trains, emergency vehicles, people, etc.  You see crashes that have happened and some that will happen soon.  You see people praying and people sinning.  Pretend you can also hear all the noises and can smell all the smells.  You hear some people scheming to cheat and some planning to help the helpless.  Now you are told to write down everything that went through your mind.  Where would you start?  How would you link everything together so your readers would feel what you felt?

Sometimes the best way to express reality accurately is with symbols, poetry, or music.  We may do well to listen to Revelation like you do a classic piece of music.  Don’t analyze each note.  Rather listen through the earphones of Jesus.  Listen to what it tells you about God.  He has not changed since John wrote this letter from Jesus.  That’s why it applied to John’s day and applies to our day too.  I applies to churches and individuals.  God has not changed.  Know God.

Reading Revelation may be like me receiving a copy of a letter that my mom wrote to my brother.  The letter is helpful to me because it tells me what is concerning my mom regarding my brother.  It tells me about my mom.  I will appreciate more of what is written between the lines if I know what my brother is doing or going through that precipitated my mom writing to him.  I would learn how mom would talk to me if I were in the same situation.  This is written to reveal Jesus Christ Son of God.

If our situation is similar to the situation in Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea we know that Jesus is telling us the same thing he told them.  We serve a God that does not change.  What He was concerned about in John’s day is no different than His concerns today.  What God wanted them to be is no different than what He wants us to be.

3:1-6 The old city of Sardis was a fortress‑like city built on a broad precipitous rock ridge 1000 feet above the plain below with land sloping up on only one side.  It was historically well known for its wealth.  The largest known ancient synagogue was in Sardis.  There were some wealthy Jews in Sardis.  An early king, Croesus, was legendary for his wealth like Bill Gates today.  His name was in fables of wealth and overconfidence.  They had taken gold out of the river for centuries.  Silver and gold coins were first minted here before the time of Joshua.  The art of dyeing wool was invented here.  They knew about soiled clothes.  During the time of Daniel it was one of the most powerful cities of the ancient world.

In spite of its almost impregnable location, Sardis was overcome by Cyrus the Great in 546 BC.  A popular saying in that day for doing the impossible was to capture Sardis.  We say “till Hell freezes over.”  They said, “till Sardis is conquered.”

On the 14th day of the siege, Cyrus made a proclamation that he would give a reward to the first man who climbed to the top of the wall.  Hyroeades, noticed where guards seldom walked by because it was impregnable.  He happened to see a Lydian soldier descend the cliff after a helmet that had rolled down.  Maybe this end of the wall was the lunch room or smoking bench for the guards.  He found the trail and talked some other Persians into following him.  When they reached the top they found that part of the wall completely unguarded.  They went in and opened the front gates.  The Sardians had thought themselves too safe to need a guard.

That is not the end of the story.  300 years later Alexander the Great made Sardis part of his Greek kingdom.  When Alexander died there were many of his generals claiming power.  Antiochus was appointed ruler of the area in which Sardis stood.  For a year Antiochus tried to conquer the city.  Then a soldier named Lagoras did the same thing that Hyroeades had done 300 years earlier.  At night with a band of agile men they climbed the steep cliffs and once again Sardis fell because no one was watching.  The city had not learned its lesson.

The church at Sardis comes under the most severe denunciation of the 7.  It had become like the city around it.  It was forgetting the past.  They were just living for today.  It had been 300 years.

The church was getting no external persecution.  It was a popular place to be.  People all around talked about the splendor of her worship services.  This was a super crystal cathedral.  It had a great reputation for being alive.  Their attendance was good.  Their meetings made you feel good.  Everyone was content.  But they were not seeking God because they did not need God.  They had no problems.  There was no heresy in the church.  They had become like the world.  Their music was like the world.  Their dress was like the world.  Their speech was like the world.  When you looked at them, you could not tell they were Christians.

So what does Jesus say to a dying church?  Wake up, remember, repent, return, watch.

3:2  Keep on becoming awake.  This is a command.  You people are sleeping and nearly dead.  Wake up and don’t believe your reputation.  Be on guard to outside influences.  Watch is the most common command in the NT.

3:3  Keep on remembering (present imperative).  Spiritual death creeps up on a church like a determined soldier creeps up on a city.  When one is preoccupied with his own affairs he does not see the deadly nature of the time.

Make a decision to turn your mind around at once (aorist imperative) repent and wake up!

3:4  A few people had stood against the majority.  They have not been walking through the manure pile.  Jesus walks with them.  They have eternal security.  God looks at a corrupt world, a sinful society, and a dead church and sees the righteous.

It is possible to be true and faithful in the worst of situations.  God sees the minority.  The minority can please God: a teen at school, a Christian at work.  Who but God would look for one righteous among thousands of sinners?  Like Lot in the OT.

3:7-13 This letter is similar to the 2^nd letter to Smyrna.  Both receive no blame, only praise.  Both suffered from those who called themselves Jews and were not, both received some persecution, both are assured that the opposition is satanic, and both are promised a crown.

Philadelphia was founded to spread the Greek language, culture, and glories to the eastern world.   They were to be missionaries.  They were given an open door of opportunity.  Philadelphia was called the gateway to the East.

However, the early settlers made one mistake.  They saw the rich soil, the lush vegetation, the tall trees, and decided to build the city on a cluster of small hills.  What they did not see was a fault line underground.  In the big quake of 17 AD they suffered severe damage.

The city tried to be like Athens.  The spirit of the city was cosmopolitan.  They were open to the Christian religion as one among the many.  They were devoted to many gods, but the one on their coins was Bacchus (Roman) or Dionysius (Greek) the god of wine.  It was a rich vine-growing valley.  Their economy was agriculturally based.  In addition to the large vineyards they had large textile and leather industries.  They enjoyed festivals and celebrations.

The spirit of the city is reflected in the attitudes of the church.  It was a city of brotherly love.  Many cultures were represented in the church.  It was not a strong church, but they were faithful.  Their problems were from the extremists.  They were not anti-culture, but they were pro-Jesus.

Jesus introduced Himself as the true.  He is not the ‘little Athens’ pretending to be the original Athens.  He is the original and real God.

Jesus holds the key to the Kingdom of God, the New Jerusalem, not the Jewish leaders.  He has full authority.  Earthquakes do not shake His kingdom.

I have placed before the church an open door.  You have an open door to share salvation to all nations.  Jesus has given you the skills and abilities and calls you to be a faithful steward as you walk in the open door.  For every door, Jesus holds the key.

Philadelphia has a door that God has opened.  But Laodicea has a door that the church has closed.  We’ll see that contrast in the next letter.

If you are faithful, there is a door of opportunity open before you.

3:9  Jesus knows you have critics.  Critics cannot shut the door.  The Jews had a promise in Isaiah 60:14 that Jesus now applies to the church.  The Jewish population was convinced that they were the people of God.  But Jesus says the Church is now the Israel of God.  The Jewish nation has forfeited their privilege by disbelief.  They claim to be Jews, but they are liars.  They were Jews in the flesh, but not in spirit.  The Jews were no longer stewards.  Like Shebna in Isaiah 22:15-22, they were set aside and another was given the keys to proclaim the glories of the kingdom of God to the world.

3:10  Since you have kept, I will also keep.  What a promise!  The one who keeps will be kept.

3:12  We can dwell in God’s temple without fear.  It is not built on a fault line.

We will wear the label, “This person belongs to God”.  And our label will also have our address.  Our citizenship is in heaven.  We only have a visitors visa for this world.

3:14-22 Laodicea was founded in 250 BC by Antiochus, a Roman governor, and named after his wife.  It became an important city because it was on the main road between Ephesus, the Far East and Jerusalem.  It was 100 miles due east of Ephesus.  It had a large horse race track and 3 amphitheatres.

It could never be a military stronghold because they had no drinking water in the city.  Their drinking water came 6 miles from the springs in Colossae through a 3’ stone aqueduct.  That made the city vulnerable to attack.  Anyone could cut off its water supply.  Because they were helpless militarily, the Laodiceans became great diplomats.  They were easy going, pliable, irresolute, tolerant, broad minded, and quick to compromise.  They could talk themselves out any trouble.

Laodicea was located halfway between Hierapolis, the biggest hot spring resort of Asia and Colossae, known for its cold springs.  The white sulfur and lime encrusted terraces of Hierapolis were visible from Laodicea.

Laodicea was a banking centre and one of the wealthy cities in the world at that time.  In fact when a big earthquake destroyed this city in 60 AD, the leaders refused financial assistance from Rome.  They wanted to do it themselves.  They were independent and proud of it.

Laodicea was known for its garment industry.  Black wool was a major export.  By clever breeding of sheep they produced valuable soft glossy violet‑black wool.  It had a factory that mass-produced tunics made from this wool.  So they could offer quality garments at reasonable prices.

Laodicea had a large medical centre.  They mass‑produced an eye salve known and used throughout the Roman world and sold a miracle mud from the hot springs.

3:14  Jesus introduces Himself as the Amen, the Witness, and the beginner.  In 3 words Jesus establishes eternal credibility.  “The Amen” was a title used by God (Is 65:16) that means, “so be it”.  When Jesus speaks, so it is.  Jesus was a reliable witness of God’s message.  What He says, happens.  He is the beginner of all things, preexistent to creation and time.

He does not try to impress the Laodiceans by introducing Himself as rich.  He does not say He owns the cattle on a thousand hills.  He does not say that streets in His city are paved with gold.  He does not talk about the size of His estate or the number of cars He has or the number of clubs He belongs to.  To this church He is the Amen, faithful witness, ruler of creation.

“I know you are neither hot nor cold.”  You have lost your hunger and thirst for righteousness.  You are making me sick with your indifference, complacence, and apathy toward the things of God.

3:17  Like the city this church was proud of their wealth and self‑sufficiency.  They did not know they were very poor.  They were proud and did not know they were really naked.  Their black wool cloaks did not cover their spiritual nakedness.  The works they did were offensive to God.

Jesus said, “The Phrygian eye salve that you have made your money on, has caused your blindness.  You have rationalized and deceived yourself into believing your own evaluation of yourself.”  They could say God gave them the resources to build their beautiful church.  God had prospered them and they were thankful God loved them.  They must be doing something right.  Look at how much God had given them.  Their view of themselves is not accurate.  A hypocrite knows he is one thing and pretends to be something else.  These people really believed they were spiritually wealthy.  They did not know they were wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked.  They were worse than hypocrites.  They lived in a make believe world of dead works.

3:18  There is hope.  Jesus has quality clothes and eye salve.

3:19  Repent.  Jesus is correcting the church because He loves them.  He commands them to repent (in one decisive act; aorist imperative) and make it their practice to continue to live zealously for the Lord (present imperative).

3:20  Listen and open.  You have shut Jesus outside of your life but He is waiting to come in and be Lord of All.  You must open the door that lukewarmness has closed.  This is a conditional appeal to the church and applies to each individual.  Jesus asks permission to enter and re-establish fellowship.  He will not force himself on your will.  You think He’s in your heart already?  Is Jesus Lord of your life or is He knocking?

Supper was the main meal of the day.  It was a leisurely time of fellowship, not a quick bite to eat.

3:21‑22  The letter concludes with a promise of real honor and status.  Christ overcame by way of the cross and this sets the pattern for His followers.  What looked like Christ’s defeat was in fact his victory.  We have victory in Jesus in a way that surprises the world.

Cultural accommodation and compromise are still a major sin in the church.  The spirit of the city can invade the church.  Prosperity and physical ease have silenced the call to commitment.

It is interesting that both churches that had no enemies were the worst off spiritually.  Those churches that were having the most persecution received the greatest complements.

The church in Laodicea was a ‘good’ church.  There was no immorality among the members, no false teachers, no persecution, no problems, but they were lukewarm.  They had riches, and suffered the fate of many that prosper.  They were thankful that God was blessing them.  They were thankful that God was allowing them to succeed.  They were very gracious and proper Christians.

Our church has the same temptations today.  We are tempted to leave Jesus out of our lives.  Have you turned down the noises in your life so you can hear Him knocking?

The lesson seems very obvious.  A church is in danger of becoming like the culture it lives in.  A church is in danger of going with the flow.  A church can make God sick by being lukewarm.  Numbers are only a sign of worldly success.  God’s success criteria are the fruit of the Spirit.  If you have no active love for God and others, you taste terrible to God.

There is hope for the bitterest tasting lukewarm church.  Jesus stands at the door of our hearts and explains why He is knocking.  Do you hear His voice?  Do you want to hear His voice?

Revelation 2:8-28

“Endurance is not Tolerance”

August 1, 2010

Monday evening I watched part of a program that was talking about Revelation 13.  I think it was called End Times ministries.  It was very interesting and entertaining.  The speaker was identifying the 7 heads of the beast that was coming out of the sea.  It was interesting to me that he never once considered what this verse meant to John when he wrote it.  Or what it has meant to the church for the last 2,000 years.  He quoted Daniel to confirm what the symbolism means to us.  The speaker assumed that it was written for us today and the important thing was what it means to us.  That is partly true, but it is a little arrogant and takes some of the focus off of God.

Today I want to read the letters to 3 churches in chapter 2.  Pay attention to the description of Jesus, the good things the churches were doing, the sins they were committing, and the certainty of righteous judgment to come.  In Acts we learned that the basis of Christian belief is the resurrection.  If there is no resurrection there is no judgment.

2:8-11  The name Smyrna comes from the word myrrh, one of the spices used in the burial of Christ.  It was a fragrant spice, but had to be crushed and beaten in order to release its full fragrance and perfume.  The Christians were being crushed and persecuted.  How do you smell when you are crushed?

Jesus introduces Himself as the divine sovereign over history.  He knows the economic suffering they are experiencing and also the spiritual wealth they are sharing with others.

Smyrna was a proud patriotic city that had been chosen to build a temple to the Roman emperor.  In A.D. 26, Tiberias chose Smyrna to build a temple in his honor.  There was a competition among several cities like there is today between cities wanting to host the Olympics.  The temple became a tourist attraction.  Everyone was supposed to burn incense to Caesar once a year and say “Caesar is Lord”.  After making your statement you would get a certificate of compliance.  You could use this to buy food or get a job.  Something like a union card.  The Jews were exempt from this requirement.  The law to declare Caesar as lord was not regularly enforced unless a neighbor complained.  The Jews complained and slandered the Christians.  Their slander demonstrated that they were false Jews and a synagogue of satan as the prophet Isaiah had said 800 years earlier.

Jesus said, “Do not be afraid.  This is a test for 10 days like Daniel and his 3 friends.  They refused to eat food dedicated to idols also.”  They would not eat at the king’s table and give loyalty to him above all others.  Don’t give allegiance to the trade guild deities or participate in their festivals.  Be faithful and you will receive the crown of life, which is paradise or heaven.

Above the city was a hill ringed with at least 6 temples and monuments.  Picture a seaport city with a large land locked harbor that was easy to defend.  Coming from the sea these temples looked like a crown over the city.  Ships would enter through a narrow mouth and their first sight was the white temples on the hill connected by a street of gold, referred to as the Crown of Smyrna.

Polycarp probably read this letter from John.  He became pastor of the church in Smyrna in 115.

He was a respected leader in the city for 40 years, but a thorn in the flesh for the Jews.  On Saturday, February 23rd, 155 he was martyred.  “It was the time of the Superbowl or public games; the city was crowded; the crowds were excited.  Suddenly the shout went up: “Away with the atheists; let Polycarp be searched for.”  Polycarp could have escaped; but already he had had a dream in which he saw the pillow under his head burning with fire, and he had awakened to tell his disciples, “I must be burnt alive.”  They came to arrest him. He ordered that those who had come for him should be given a meal, and provided with all they wished, while he asked for himself the privilege of one last hour in prayer.  Not even the police captain wished to see Polycarp die.  On the brief journey to the city, he pled with the old man: “What harm is it to say, ‘Caesar is Lord’ and to offer sacrifice and to be saved?”  Even the soldier knew that sacrifices did not help anything, so how could it hurt?  But Polycarp was adamant that for him only Jesus Christ was Lord.

When he entered the arena, the proconsul gave him the choice of cursing the name of Christ and making sacrifice to Caesar or death. “Eighty and six years have I served Him and He has done me no wrong.  How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?”  The proconsul threatened him with burning, and Polycarp replied; “You threaten me with the fire that burns for a time, and is quickly quenched, for you do not know the fire which awaits the wicked in the judgment to come and in everlasting punishment.  Why are you waiting?”  In spite of the appeals of even the persecutors Polycarp remained immovable.

So the crowds came flocking with faggots from the workshops and from the baths, and the Jews, even though it was their Sabbath, and even though they were breaking the Sabbath law by carrying such burdens, they were foremost in the clamor and foremost in bringing wood for the fire.  They were so religious they broke their rules of religion being religious.  They were going to bind him to the stake, but at his request didn’t.

The 1^st death is separation from the physical.  The 2^nd death is separation from God.  Overcomers are immune to the 2^nd death.  Nothing can separate us from the love of God.

The words of Jesus to this church have no criticism, only complements and a covenant.  The format of the letter is similar to the one to Ephesus: Jesus introduces Himself in a way that lets them know that He knows and cares. Then He commends them, cautions them, and finally made a covenant with them.

2:12-17  Pergamum was the provincial capital of Roman Asia, 68 miles north of Smyrna.  It had been a capital city for different rulers for over 400 years.  It was 15 miles inland on a large river like the Willamette.  It was not on any of the great roads, but it was a large and well known city.  Built on a hill, many public buildings enjoyed a view of the sea.  The temple of Asklepios was the nearest thing the ancient world had to our present idea of a hospital.  Asklepios was the god of healing and its symbol was the serpent.  The serpent was used as a decorative symbol throughout this city.

Pergamum had a large library.  Over 200,000 volumes made it the second largest library in the world only exceeded by Alexandria, Egypt.  In the 3rd century B.C. the city decided to make the library even greater.  They bribed the librarian at Alexandria, to come.  Ptolemy of Egypt heard about it and promptly imprisoned Aristophanes and by way of retaliation he put an embargo on the export of papyrus to Pergamum.  Papyrus is like our brown paper, made from the pith of a very large bulrush which grows beside the Nile.  The pith was cut into strips, pressed into sheets, and smoothed to make papyrus.

Now instead of becoming the greatest library, they could not even get paper.  The scholars of Pergamum invented parchment or vellum, which is made of the skins of beasts, smoothed and polished.  It ended up being the better writing material and within a couple hundred years replaced papyrus. The word parchment is derived from the word Pergamum, made in Pergamum.

Christ identifies Himself as a threatening judge.  Like the Christians of Smyrna, they have been faithful and witnessing to their faith in Christ.  The throne of Satan could be the imperial temples, the altar of Zeus, the administrative bench or court house, the Asklepios temple, evil influence over the city, the hill on which the city was built.  Satan had power in this city.  The city referred to itself as the “temple warden” of the temple dedicated to Caesar worship.  Earthly power was persecuting the Christians.  The word of Christ is more powerful than Satan.  His word will judge the city.

Nevertheless, the church is tolerating a group of compromisers.  The problem is opposite that in Ephesus.  The Christians in Pergamum were allowing internal compromise.  Numbers 22-25 tell the story of Balaam.  He claimed to be a prophet of God.  He talked like a prophet of God.  He thought he was a prophet of God.  But he was dumber than his donkey.  He gave deceitful council that led to the worship of idols.

People attending church, teaching Bible classes, and thinking they are doing good, can be teaching falsehood.  Refusal to participate in trade guild festivals could result in economic and social ostracism.  Therefore there was much pressure to compromise.  They were enticing Christians to participate in idol feasts.  Balaam became proverbial for the false teacher who for money encourages believers to compromise.  They would say that adultery was OK.  Homosexuality is not really a sin.  Marriage is unnecessary.

Like the Nicolaitans, they tried to say you can believe God in your heart and then what you do physically does not matter.

The Bible says, “Your sins will find you out.”  God will not put up with those who turn their back on Him.  Repent means to turn around.

Like the Ephesians, the Christians in Pergamum have their own sin to overcome.  If they overcome their sin of tolerance and execute discipline on both false groups, Christ promises an inheritance.

The hidden manna is far better than any idol feast menu.  Manna was complete nourishment for the children of Israel.  Jews believe the Ark was hidden with manna in it by Jeremiah and will be found when the Messiah comes.  To enjoy the hidden manna means to enjoy the presence of Messiah.  The manna is Jesus, the Bread from heaven, the Bread of life.  For the Christian He has bread to eat that the world knows nothing about.  He has a hidden peace that this world cannot understand.  The banquet with Jesus will be greater and more satisfying than any political fund raiser.  Do you know the satisfaction of Jesus’ presence?

Ephesus had the tree of life.  Smyrna had the crown of life.  Pergamum receives the bread of life at the marriage supper of the Lamb.

They also receive a white stone with a new name written on it.  This may refer to several things.  The white stones were on the breastplate of the high priest who has honor and dignity in the holy place of God.

Or it may be a certificate of compliance to buy bread without money (Isaiah 55).  It may be God’s equivalent to a union card, diploma, Visa card, or membership card.  A white stone was used in the initiation rites into the cult of Asklepios.  Like an M.D. degree certificate?  It was your online PhD.

Or it could be a banquet invitation.

Or it may refer to the practice of juries voting by casting white or black stones into an urn.  If there was one more white stone, the defender was acquitted or pardoned.  Jesus may be saying that He gives the final vote on your life.  He has the tie‑breaker.

Or the white stone may be the one that winners received at the public games.  Their name was written on the stone like a trophy and it gave them the right to public support for the rest of their lives.

Or the white stone could mean a combination of these and refer to a change in character.  Jesus makes us holy, white, beautiful, durable, and everlasting.  Maybe we are the white stone and Jesus gives us life.

Or it may refer to the stone of friendship.  When special friends made a vow to each other they would use a white piece of wood, bone, ivory, or stone.  They would break it and write a name on the friend’s piece.

There are 2 words for new in the NT.  The “new” used here is the one that means a new nature, not a recent or younger model.  You may get a new car, but the word used here for new name is new in the sense of a new method of transportation, a neutral gravitational solar teletransport capsule.  Now that would be new!  (Eph 4:24 vs. 2:15; 2 C 5:17; Rev 5:9; 3:12; 21:1, 2, 5)  The new name you receive is not just different from the name you have now, but a new kind of name.  It’s a new way to be identified.

18-29  The longest letter is sent to the church in the smallest city.  The city of Thyatira was the least spectacular of the 7 churches.  It was a roadside town between Pergamum and Sardis.  Everyone went through Thyatira to go to someplace else.

There were no hills around to defend the city, but there was a small Roman garrison there to slow down any armies that might be going to more important places.  They did not worship Caesar here.  There were very few temples.

Thyatira was a commercial center.  They had enjoyed peace for 200 years. There were more trade guilds here than any other Asian city.  They had unions for wool workers, linen workers, dyers, leather workers, tanners, potters, bakers, slave dealers, bronze smiths, robe workers, and others we do not know about.  Every industry seemed to have its own union god.  It was a city of businessmen, salesmen, and hard workers.  Lydia was a seller of dye from here.  The dye was made from the madder root that grew well in this valley.

Here was the problem for the church.  How far can Christians compromise with the world?  When do we stop being all things to all men?  It was like you trying to be a dairyman without belonging to the coop or the Grange.  If you failed and they succeeded it was because you did not worship their god.  If their business had a down turn it was because their god was angry at you.  You could be blamed for everything.

Jesus reveals Himself to this church as the Son of God, not the god of the sun (Zeus had lightning bolts).  His eyes are like fire and penetrate the motives of the heart.  He is a Divine judge.

Like the “son of God” protected the 3 friends of Daniel in the furnace so today this ‘son of God” protects the faithful.  It is OK to trust Jesus for economic welfare.

2:19  Jesus knows.  He gives much more praise than blame.  They had love for God, the poor, the distressed.  They held true to the grace they had received.  Their love resulted in ministry to many.  Their faith resulted in perseverance in well doing.

2:20  The problem is that they tolerate a wicked group or an influential woman.  Like Pergamum they were tolerant to a group of false teachers or wicked woman.  Look closely at what this woman was doing.  She is encouraging compromise for economic reasons.  She said something like, “The union gods really have no power.  It is all superstition.  You can do what the world is doing as long as you keep your heart right.”  She may have thought she was teaching truth.

She took it upon herself to teach everyone what she believed and how it was a reasonable improvement on the plain gospel.  Those who follow her teaching become part of the idolatrous world system.  It is this economic world view that is condemned.

The result of her teaching and seduction was that Christians would commit immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols with their bodies and keep their hearts right.  What does that mean?

1.  They were seeking something beside God.  You commit immorality by seeking your own desires rather than seeking God.  You become your own god.

2. They were being casual to sin.  They were not taking sin seriously. They were not realizing the danger of playing with Ouija boards, séances, tarot cards, palm reading, astrology, meditation, altered states of consciousness.  They were playing in Satan’s toy box.

2:24  There were some faithful not tricked into believing they had to “come to know by experience” the deep things of Satan.  Some have stayed true.  These believe there are some things you do not need to know.  There are some things you do not need to see or hear.  There are some places you do not need to go.  There are some books you do not need to read.

It is not just how you die that makes you an overcomer.  It is how you live.  A life of faith is victory.  We can be victorious while suffering earthly defeat.

2:28  “The star, that of the morning” is Jesus Himself.  The star was a metaphor for a king and was associated with the messianic reign.

God’s repentant church will be like The Morning Star.  As each one honors God by living a holy life, we as a church will be a brilliant light set on a hill for all to see.  Let us let our light so shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father which is in heaven.  Be loving, but do not tolerate sin.  Stand steadfast for the good.

Amos 6:6 seems to describe our world today and maybe some churches.

“Woe to those addicted to feeling good—life without pain!

Woe to those obsessed with looking good—life without wrinkles!”

“Ephesus, don’t stop loving”

July 25, 2010

What do you suppose it means when a church loses it’s first love?  New churches start with a zealous enthusiasm to be witnesses.

This letter is written to Christians as a  Church.  To become a Christian we simply repent of our sin and choose to follow Jesus.  Our decision is preceeded by the Holy Spirit convicting us of our sin and helping us believe that Jesus became a sacrifice so God could forgive us of our sin.  When we repent God forgives us and we are adopted into the family of God.

The church at Ephesus had been a bright light, but was becoming a dim wick.  If we are not getting along with each other, then our witness to our neighbors has very little effect.  Our wick may be getting dim.  If we are not loving the people in the church, the Lord will not trust us with any new people.  Without love there are no meaningful relationships and that is a violation of the Great Commandment.

John the apostle may have been the pastor of the Ephesian church, but was in a prison camp on a rocky island called Patmos.  One Sunday morning he was given a revelation from Jesus Christ and was loudly commanded to write most of this vision down and send it to 7 churches.  He was in the Spirit.  That means he was seeing the world from God’s point of view.

John expects his readers to understand what he is writing.  He is not trying to hide anything, but we do not understand all the symbolism that the first century Christians understood.  For example their sword was symbolically similar to our judges gavel.  Dresses with high waistlines were common with leaders, not expectant mothers.

We probably would understand the book better if our pastor was exiled, if we were being persecuted, if we had seen friends tortured to death for their faith, if our family had suffered loss.  When things are going well our spiritual eyesight seems to dim.

The number 7 occurs 54 times in Revelation and suggests unity in diversity, perfection, and completion.  The 7 churches symbolically represent all the churches in every age.  To each church there is a direct, personal message.  These letters to the churches are like a preface to the rest of the book.  If we do not understand these letters we will not understand the rest of the book.

Think about the importance of what is happening.  The local church is important.  Before Jesus gave John some spiritual truths, He spoke personally to the churches.  Before all the battles, seals, trumpets, and bowls Jesus gives His first attention to the Church.  He wants the Church to know He cares. In the rhythms of God’s grace the church has different needs at various times.  As we look at these 7 churches we will see our church as it has been, as it is, and as it can be.

CONTEXT OF THE CITY ‑ EPHESUS

Ephesus was the biggest Farmer’s market of Asia, the light of Asia, and the vanity fair of Asia.  It was one of the 3 great commercial cities in the eastern Mediterranean with Alexandria in Egypt and Antioch in Syria.

It was located in a valley about 3 miles from the sea on the Cayster River.  It was the transportation junction by land and water between the east and west.  Because they cut all the trees off the hill sides to build and rebuild the great temple for Diana (Roman), Artemis (greek), Croesus (Lydian) they were already having trouble in the first century keeping the channel open.  Today 20 miles of silt have separated it from the sea.  Its magnificent harbor is a marsh.

But at the time this letter was written, the Temple of Diana was one of the 7 wonders of the world.  It was originally built on an island in the harbor, but even by the time this letter was written it was no longer an island but a part of the city.  It was 425x220x60 high, over 2 acres, with 127 marble columns, 36 of which were gilded with gold.  Because it was so secure, it was used for the central banking of that world.

As a religious center this Temple would compare to the Vatican, Jerusalem, or Mecca today.  It was also a center of magical arts and some mystery religions.  They sold lucky charms called Ephesian letters.  Many worshippers and tourists made pilgrimages to this Temple.

The temple of Diana was also used as a museum and included the best art of the day.  This temple was declared a sanctuary for criminals.  No one could be arrested within a bow shot of the Temple so the housing around the Temple became occupied by those people.

Diana was the fertility goddess and several hundred prostitutes were always available.  The idol of their worship was probably a meteorite.

In addition to this world renown temple Ephesus had a large amphitheater which would seat nearly 50,000.  From the amphitheater to the harbor was a marble street 36 feet wide and 500 meters long.

Ephesus also had 6 temples to Roman emperors and was the foremost center of imperial worship.

In this city Paul or Pricilla and Aquilla planted a Christian church.  In a city seeking pleasure, is a congregation seeking God.  In a city inventing ways to sin, is a holy people.  How can you live a holy life in a city like this?  Jesus sends a letter to this church and 6 others.  These letters are sent to Christians.  The introduction of each letter, its theme, its promises, are related to the whole book of Revelation.

The historical situation of each church and the O.T. phrases used in each letter mutually interpret one another.  John was commanded to write 2 times in Chapter 1 and we are reading what he wrote.  These are words from Jesus, not John.

Although each letter is addressed to a particular situation of a particular church, it is relevant for the needs of all 7 and sent to all 7 which symbolically means these letters apply to all churches of all time.

The condition of the churches is presented in the literary form of a chiasm, an arch.  The 1^st and 7^th are in danger of losing their identity as a Church.  The 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th churches are compromising.  The 2^nd and 6^th letters are written to churches who are faithful and loyal to Christ’s name.

The keystone focus suggests the Christian church is perceived as being in poor condition.  At the center of the arch, the center of the middle letter is the statement that all the churches will know that Christ is judge. (2:23)  There is a resurrection and judgment.

All the letters deal generally with the issue of witnessing for Christ.  Churches are exhorted to strengthen their witness.  There is nothing in these letters about church buildings or organization, but ministry. What is Jesus saying to us?  It is all about Him.  It is His story not mine.

CHRIST INTRODUCES HIMSELF ‑ 2:1

The previous verse tells us that these 7 stars are messengers, leaders, prevailing spirits, or pastors of the 7 lampstands which are churches.

(controls)  Jesus reveals Himself as the one holding the church leaders in His hands.  The word for holding κρατων suggests complete control.  Jesus does not hold just the corner or just the handle, He holds the whole thing.  All the messengers of the gospel are held in Jesus’ right hand.  Not like you hold a briefcase, but like you hold a baby.  Not like you hold a horse, but like you hold a coin or ring.

The church in Ephesus may have been concerned for their pastor’s safety and condition, but John writes that in Christ there is safety and security for those that are still shining and letting the light of Truth and knowledge shine.  Jesus is holding them.

(cares) Not only is Jesus the one who holds, but the one who walks περιπατων among the churches.  He is concerned about the churches.  Jesus had promised to be with us till the end and that is what He is doing.  It is not just his standing presence, but his activity on our behalf.  He is caring for us today.  He walks among us.  The unseen presence of Jesus is in this place.

(knows) Jesus holds, Jesus walks, and Jesus knows.  The word for know is Οιδα which suggests a complete knowledge of the facts.  Jesus says, “I know your works, deeds, or your life style.”  These works εργα are seen as a complete whole, everything you do.  Jesus knows our church. Jesus knows us because He cares and walks among us.  He knows how we are living.

CHRIST COMPLEMENTS THE CHURCH ‑ 2:2, 3, 6

In verse 2 Jesus complements them for their effort/labor, their endurance, and their testing of false teachers.  Then in verse 6 He complements them for hating the works of the Nicolaitans.  Let me just comment briefly on those 4 things.

Their effort/labor was a work and toil past the point of sweat to exhaustion.  They were all out for Christ, and as you will note in the last phrase in verse 3, they have not grown weary.  Tired in obedience, but not tired of obedience.

The 2^nd compliment was their endurance.  Their endurance was steadfast.  The kind that turns suffering into grace and glory.  According to verse 3, the endurance was for Jesus’s sake.  They could endure suffering, but not wicked people.  The wicked are described as false brothers or false apostles.  They claimed to be sent by God.  They claimed to have divine authority, but the church did not endure these people.

The 3^rd compliment was their testing.  Their testing of every quack, beggar, charlatan, wolf in sheeps clothing was not easy, but as verse 3 says, they persevered.  It is not easy to test the teachings of smooth talkers.  You get tired of trying to correct people who see no need to change.  The Ephesians had revealed the false ‘apostles’ as liars.  The church had watched these who claimed to be special people and found that their words did not match their behavior.  They did not do what they said they would do.  They did not live like they told others they should live.

The 4^th compliment is their hatred of false teaching (v 6).  The Nicolaitans were a group of false Christians.  They were a separate group within the church claiming to be part of the church.  We don’t know much about them because their teaching did not last long.  Νικο means victory/conquer and λαιτων means people.  Maybe they controlled people or used positive thinking to trick people.  One tradition suggests these may have been Antinomian Gnostics.  They claimed that if your heart or spirit was right it does not matter what your body does.  They believe in a dicotomy which says the flesh is bad anyway and cannot be redeemed till we get to heaven, so indulge the flesh, but keep your heart right with God.  These may have been Christians who enjoyed banqueting with the politicians in the imperial temples.  They did not think it would hurt anything to honor the emperor by burning incense to his statue, take a toast to the emperor’s health, eating meat sacrificed to idols, or watching the fertility cult performances.  They had freedom in Christ.  Their hearts were right with God.  They were mature Christians and to them all things were pure.  Didn’t Paul say to the pure all things are pure?

It is amazing how our theology reflects our culture.  A lot of alcoholics know the Bible says that a little wine is good for the stomach, but none know the context.  Our emphasis today on individual rights is more cultural than Christian.  False Christians were looking for a way that would make it easier for them to live in the world. They were not prepared to be different.  They had not taken the letter of the Jerusalem church seriously (Acts 15).  It did not mean anything to say a prayer to another god, idols were dead anyway.  It did not make any difference to offer insence to a pagan god.  It kept you from loosing your job. “You have to feed your family don’t you?”  They felt you had to compromise a little or you could not go to any parties.  You could not go to any banquets.  You could not get ahead.  It was OK to compromise.  You could cheat on your taxes.  The gov’t doesn’t need your money.

The early church had struggled over the gospel’s effect on the Gentiles.  In Acts 15 the church leaders wrote that all believers were to avoid food sacrificed to idols and sexual imorality.  The Nicolaitans ignored that letter and apparently did both.

Christ complements the church for hating the works of this group.  Do we hate evil?  To hate evil is a virtue and grace.  God is pleased when you are shocked by evil.  Does sin shock you?  I find myself more shocked by a tital wave or a forest fire than the lotto, the casino, or social drinking, which kills more lives.

Jesus introduced himself as the one who holds, walks, and knows.  He complements the church for toil, patience, testing, and hating evil.

CHRIST CORRECTS THE CHURCH ‑ 2:4

But you have left your first love.  According to Paul’s letter to the Ephesians (1:15), they had been a loving church, but now 40 years later, they lacked love.  The desire for orthodoxy and sound teaching had dulled their heart of love.  Good works and pure doctrine are inadequate substitutes for mutual love.  Without love we cease to be the church.  The Ephesians had stopped witnessing to their neighbors.

The greek wording suggests that their first kind of love they chose to leave.  They sent it away.  At a point in time they made a choice to stop loving.  The first enthusiasm is now gone.  The love for the brotherhood is now gone.  They still love, but not with the intensity they did at first.  This is a serious defect.  They did not see their own lack of love.

Do you suppose that heresy hunting had made them sour and rigid?  Do you suppose that criticism had killed their desire to love?  Your doctrine may be right, your orthodoxy may be right, but it may destroy love.  You may be doing everything quite properly.  You may live by every rule you know, but if you have not love it profiteth you nothing.  “If I have not love, I am nothing.”  Orthodoxy without love is dead.  Orthodoxy and criticism kill the church.  We need more lovers that hate sin.  You hate the deeds of those who do evil.

CHRIST COMMANDS THE CHURCH ‑ 2:5

Here are 3 penetrating commands.  These are 3 imperatives to restore love in your heart.  These commands are written to the church, but we can apply them to our lives.

1. Remember.  This is a present imperative and means to keep on remembering.  Don’t forget for a second.  Reflect and ponder about what your life used to be.  Was life better when you first became a Christian?  Remember.  Continue to be mindful.  Do you want your love back?

2. Repent.  This is an aorist imperative that suggests you do it now.  Make a radical change in your lifestyle before God right now.  Don’t blame others.  It was your choice to send love away.  It was your choice to stop loving.  It must be your choice to want it back. The word repent here is a command to do it now.  Don’t wait.  If you want love, repent of your sin right now.  Change your mind.  Turn around.  Make a clean break with your current way of life.

3. Do the works you used to do.  There is no true repentance until your life style is different.  Repent and do good.

Jesus says, “I am coming and will remove your lampstand unless you repent.”  Our options are limited.  We either love one another as we have been commanded or Jesus will come and close down the church.  The phrase I will come to thee is future middle which reminds us that Jesus decides for himself when this will occur.

CHRIST COVENANTS WITH THE CHURCH ‑ 2:7

He that hath an ear.  How many people do you know that do not have ears?  But does our church have ears for God’s word?  This promise is for us.  Are we listening?  This letter is for us.  Let’s be still and listen.

Hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  Jesus promised that His Spirit would come to remind us and teach us His words.  The Spirit of Jesus is talking.

To everyone that conquers/overcomes.  The word overcomes νικωντι is the word we get Niki from.  It means victory.  Victory does not come to one who gives up.  Victory does not come to one who has it easy.  Victory does not come to one who has all the answers.  To have a victory, there must be a conflict.  It will never be easy to live a Christian life in this world.  We are aliens.  We are different.  That causes conflicts, but if we endure there is victory.

The overcomers have the same victory that Christ had on the cross, the victory that transforms tribulation into dignity and strength.  The overcomers are in Christ.

To everyone and every church that overcomes, Jesus promises 2 things: the perfect food and the perfect experience.  What was the world offering them?  Many kinds of food and drink that would not satisfy.  Many kinds of pleasures that give no satisfaction tomorrow.  The food and pleasure the world offers does not satisfy very long.  Jesus said, “He who comes to Me will never thirst.”  The Jews believed that when the Messiah comes, the world will again be like the Garden of Eden.  Jesus offers complete and lasting pleasure.

Jesus promises a banquet feast at the tree of life.  The tree represents life as it was intended to be lived.  The decorative wooden dowels on which the Torah scroll is rolled are called “trees of life”.  The original tree of life was left in the Garden of Eden in Gen 3:22.  It symbolizes the life that man was created to live, life with God.  What Adam lost, Jesus will restore. Jesus gives what satisfies longer than the moment.  Christ is the source of life and all good gifts.

Jesus promises paradise.  The word paradise means park, garden, a beautiful garden of peace and rest, a garden of Eden restored, heaven itself.  Jesus promised the thief on the cross a life in paradise.  He told His disciples He was going away to prepare a place.  I think He’s preparing me a garden instead of a mansion just over the hilltop.

Maybe today for you it seems like nobody cares, Jesus wants to come and reveal Himself as the holder, walker and knower.  That is a comfort to the righteous, but dreadful to the wicked.

Maybe you have been so right you were wrong.  Maybe you have become critical and lost your first love.

Maybe you have come to realize that you are living more and more like the world around you and you want to have your first love restored.  Remember, Repent, and Do Good.

Maybe you wonder if all the inconvenience is worth it.  Is it a struggle being different?  The overcomers will be rewarded.

Jesus knows just what you need.  He loves you.  Have you forgotten?  Dr. E.Stanley Jones tells of a girl who, frustrated by the city, entered a house of prostitution.  Learning of her daughter’s plight, the mother desperately sought to rescue her.  Not having her child’s address, she left a photo of herself in each house of ill fame she could find.  One day, the daughter saw on a mantle in a reception room a familiar picture, it was the likeness of her first love.  Beneath were the words, “come home, I love you.”  Jesus has left a picture of Himself with a note attached.  “Come home.  I love you.”

Join us this Sunday (July 25) to see an update and slideshow on Starfish Ministries latest Philippines mission trip!

“Greetings from Jesus”

July 18, 2010

John introduced himself as a bond‑servant who received a gift of God from an angel.  God’s gift is the revelation of Jesus Christ (vs 1).  What follows is the written form of that gift from God.

The popular literature of that day that included visions and symbols and verbal cartoons about the last days were also called revelations or apocalyptic writings.  They were politically controversial and the writer never gave his real name.  John is making it clear right up front that his writing may have some similarities with popular apocalyptic writings, but his Revelation is different from the others.  His is more like the prophets’ writings that call men to repentance.  His is an open letter to 7 churches that he knew well.

John begins with a style of greeting that was common in letters of that day.  Last week we noticed that this letter is an uncovering, a showing and a sign post.  It is a letter of comfort for those who are suffering.  Verses 4‑8 describe the exalted Jesus with physical eyes and 9‑20 describe Jesus with spiritual eyes.  Throughout the routines of life it is wise to keep our eyes on Jesus.

1:4 This greeting is not written to the Baptists, the Lutherans, the Nazarenes, or Catholics.   It is addressed to 7 local churches in the Roman area of Asia.  There were other churches near these churches, but John chose to identify these 7.  The people in these churches knew John.  He writes with authority.  Maybe he wrote to these 7 because these cities are postal centers.  The order of their mention was a mail route.  I believe they also represent all churches of all time.  These churches are like churches found in every age.  They had typical temptations that are common in every age in all churches.

The local church is important to John and Jesus.  The vision that John has in this first chapter does not transport him to heaven.  Instead he is in the Spirit and sees what is happening on the earth from God’s point of view.  He sees Jesus walking among the churches.

With this letter, John prays that grace and peace would be theirs from God the Father, the Spirit and the Son.  Grace was the normal Greek greeting and peace was the Hebrew greeting.  Christians used both.  But it was unusual to identify the Trinity as the source of grace and peace.  This is a majestic elaboration of the normal Christian greeting.

Notice how he describes the Trinity.  He begins with God.  God the Father is present in time, was before time and will be after time.  Everything is present with God.  He is identified as “the One who is”.  This was a common Greek title for deity.  The phrase is used in Revelation 4 times (1:4,8; 11:17; 16:5).  The ultimate source of this letter is the One who is.  God is absolute, does not change, and is not dependent on time or place, past or future.

The Spirit is 7 because He is varigated in His manifestations buy complete for the 7 churches and every church for all time.  There is unity in diversity.

The Spirit is before God’s throne.  The word ‘throne’ occurs 46 times in this book and related words like authority, power, rule, king, kingdom, occur 75 times.  The majesty of deity is always before us.

Rev 1:5  Jesus is given 3 titles.  Jesus was the faithful witness for God.  He spoke only the words that God told Him to speak.  Jesus is faithful and we are called to be faithful.

He was the first born of the dead never to die again.  He was the first of a new group of people.  He is the precedent and forerunner.  He was first in time and also first in importance.

Jesus is thus “the ruler of the kings of the earth.”  What the devil had promised Jesus in the wilderness temptation and could never have given Him, Jesus accomplished for Himself by the suffering of the Cross and the power of the resurrection.

The 3 titles for Jesus suggest His earthly life, His resurrection, and His exalted place in heaven.

The last half of verse 5 begins a doxology, a verbal praise. Normally doxologies are directed to God, but in Revelation there are 3 doxologies directed to Jesus.  This is the first. (5:13; 7:10)

This doxology tells us how we should say the doxology.  All valid praise will include the facts precipitating the praise.  When we say “Praise the Lord”, we usually add in our hearts “for what He has done”.  Just to repeat the words “praise the Lord” or “praise you Jesus” is like Hindus or Moslems repeating mantras.  The repetition of words has only emotional and psychological value.  They do not honor God.

So why do we praise Jesus?  He loves us in the present tense.  To Him who loves us we give praise.

He loves us today and released us in the past from our sins by His blood.  This second verb is past tense.  It suggests a completed act done in the past.  He has released us in the past.  We were held captive to sin, the guilt of sin, and the penalty of sin.  The cross and resurrection have broken the power of sin and death.  We have been released from our sins by His blood.  This is a free gift of forgiveness that you can accept by faith.  God is our new owner.

Rev 1:6 Jesus has made us to be a kingdom of priests or both a kingdom and priests to His Father.  The NT does not teach that each Christian is a priest or that any individual should be a priest.  The word priest is always used in the plural form in Revelation.  What it says is that each group of Christians is a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a kingdom of priests.  The Christians we worship with are called as a group to offer spiritual sacrifices and praise to God.

To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen.  There are 12 forever and evers and 10 Amens in this letter.  The word Amen is often translated verily, verily.  It means, so be it.  Let it be so. Truly, truly.

Rev 1:7  One of the themes in Revelation is that Jesus is coming.  That is not a future tense, but a present tense.  Jesus is coming.  It is like saying, “We are eating and breathing.”  The process is already in motion.  Jesus is coming.

Look here, listen, pay attention.  (look or behold occurs 26 times in Revelation) He’s coming “with the clouds” is similar to Dan 7:13.  God’s presence was often associated with a cloud not a clock.

Every eye will see Him.  This is interesting because this was before surveillance cameras and satellites.  The Jewish writers said only those in Jerusalem would see the coming of the Messiah.  We tend to limit God with our logic.  Christian scholars had trouble with this too.  Some suggested the seeing of Christ would not happen at once, but would be like the sunrise.  As the world turns, all will see Him.  The Bible says, “All will see Him.”  Not only at a point in time, but it will include those of every age and every nation who were indifferent to Jesus or willfully pierced His side.  They will mourn, but it will be the remorse of being caught, not the remorse of repentance.

Rev. 1:8  This could be Jesus or God Himself speaking.  I think Jesus.  He is eternal like the Father.  All time is present with Him.  He is the Almighty because there is no higher name and He is coming again.  If this is God speaking, He only speaks one other time in this letter.  In 21:5ff He claims to be the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end.  The title is used again of Christ in 22:13.  I think this is Jesus telling John who He really is.  For a while He took on the form of man and lived among us, but He has always been greater than John ever imagined.

The Alpha and Omega are not just the beginning and the end, but also everything in between.

The Almighty is a title that is used only 12 times in the NT and 9 of those are in Revelation.  Nothing lies outside the Almighty’s control and care.

Now in the rest of the chapter we have a description of Jesus through spiritual eyes.  In Rev 1:9 again John makes it clear who is writing.  He is a brother and fellow‑participant (συγκοινωνὸς ).

Our brotherhood in verse 9 extends to 3 interdependent areas.  The grammar tells us that tribulation, kingdom, and perseverance should be interpreted together and they mutually interpret one another.

John is identifying himself as a brother, a co‑partaker in (1) the tribulation and pressure they were experiencing.  Even as part of God’s kingdom, we will have tribulation.  We are to be more than conquerors through him who loved us.  The meek really do inherit the earth.

John also claims to be a fellow‑participant of (2) the kingdom.  We have a common national allegiance.  We are ruled by the same King.  Our equality extends to our home country, citizenship, and inheritance.  This is not a Greek utopia, but a kingdom with tribulation and perseverance.

The third point of equality is (3) persevering.  This word for endurance or patience is not the passive kind of fatalism that folds its hands and says whatever will be will be. This endurance is a spirit of courage and conquest.  This endurance transforms tribulation into dignity and strength.  Our world tempts us to compromise in many ways.  Persevere and resist temptation.  We win by persevering, holding on.

Rev 1:10  John was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day.  He was experiencing God’s presence.  He was loosed from the paradigm of this earth.  He hears with spiritual ears.  He sees with spiritual eyes.  He is liberated from time and space.  Notice that John was on the island of Patmos and in the Spirit.  He was in tribulation and in the Spirit.  No matter where you are or what you are suffering, you can know the presence of God.  In this physical world we can hear God.

Man’s prisons may be doorways into heaven.  Freedom is in Christ not a physical place.   Maybe sometimes we do not see too well with our spiritual eyes because life is too cushy.  Maybe if we were exiled on a rocky island 10 miles long and 4 miles wide we would hear God a little better.

The wording in 10-11 has similarities to Ezekiel 2, 3, 11, 43.

John was in the Spirit enjoying a mountain top experience.  He may have been looking across the ocean toward Asia.  Then suddenly someone shouts from behind him, “Write down what you see!”  The grammar here is unusual.  It is like some of the sayings we have when we shout, “You all hear?”  or “Hey, you listen up”.

The trumpet spoke on Mt Sinai.   The trumpet sounded the beginning of temple worship.  It announced the living water at the festival of Tabernacles.  The trumpet announces the year of Jubilee.  The trumpet will announce Christ’s return.  How does a trumpet sound?  It is clear, distinct, loud, startling, penetrating.

Rev 1:11  John is commanded to write what he sees.  The command to write occurs 12 times in Revelation.  He received a divine command to tell the whole story to all the churches.  Writing this book was not his idea.  It was not an apocalyptic dream induced with drugs or chants.

Rev 1:12  John turned to see the voice and what he saw was overwhelmingly brilliant and made him squint.  John sees the voice.  What does the word of God look like in a vision?  John sees the Living Word.  First his eyes went to the 7 golden lamp stands in a circle.  This reminded him of the candlestick of pure gold in the Tabernacle, but different.  That candlestick had one stand and 7 branches.  These candlesticks are individual distinct stands without lights.  Churches are not united in a physical way, but in the presence of Christ.  Verse 20 tells us the lamp stands are the 7 churches.  God’s presence is among the golden lamp stands.  The Holy Spirit is the oil.  Christ is the Light that the lamp stands live in and reflect His Light.

The gold suggests they belong to God and are precious and costly.  The 7 suggests unity in diversity.  These were representing all churches of all time.  The lack of a flame is a reminder that churches exist in the Light, but we are not the Light.  The Living Word is our light.  He is walking among us.  Jesus had told the disciples they were to be lights in a dark place, but that is not the emphasis here.  This is talking about the source of our light and strength.

Rev 1:13  Jesus is seen now with spiritual eyes.  The description of Jesus is similar to Daniel 7, 10 and the transfiguration story.  In heaven Jesus still looks like man.  He did not get rid of all human features when He ascended to heaven.

His clothing reveals His character.  The robe reaching to the feet with a high waist line was worn by kings, priests, and judges.  The royalty, righteousness, and holiness of Jesus are seen in His long robe.  The golden girdle was one requirement of the high priest.  Jesus lives in heaven to provide us access to God.  He has opened the way for all of us to enter into the presence of God.

Rev 1:14  His hair is white suggesting dignity, respect, honor, status, and the wisdom of the ages. Being white like wool reminds us again that He came as a lamb.  Sheep don’t have white wool, but lambs do.  He is a priest and the Lamb of God like the Ancient of Days.

His eyes were like a flame of fire.  This is not the glow of an oil lamp, but the intensity of a roaring fire.  This is our equivalent of penetrating search lights.  His eyes were all seeing.  He knows all because He sees all.  He sees all the churches of all time.  His eyes are warm and penetrating.

Rev 1:15  His feet were pure, stable, and swift.  Fired in a furnace suggests moral purity.  They reflect the beauty of righteousness and holiness.  You can tell a lot about a person by the way he walks and where he walks.  Bronze was a symbol of judgment.  This describes a sacrificial walk.  The altar of sacrifice was made of bronze.  It may also suggest the fiery furnace.

Now His voice is compared to the sound of many rushing and cascading waters.  John is probably hearing something greater than the mighty rolling sea beating against the jagged rocks of his island of exile.  What John hears is a Majestic voice from heaven.

That means that the sound of His voice is powerful, overwhelming, penetrating.  It can be soothing or terrifying.  If you are in a rubber raft near the shore, it is a sound of terror.  If you are in a warm cabin (in Christ) overlooking the sea, crashing waves are a soothing rhythm of peace.

Rev 1:16  You can follow the movements of John’s eyes as he described the robe, the belt, the head, the eyes, the feet, the voice, and now he notices the right hand.  In His right hand He held 7 stars.  The right arm is the symbol of power, control, protection, and security.  Verse 20 tells us the 7 stars are the angels of the 7 churches.  Some commentators think these are the pastors of the churches that Jesus gives power to.  Some feel they are the guardian angels of the churches.  Others identify them as the prevailing spirits of the churches.  Jesus was holding these stars with a powerful grip.

Out of His mouth comes a powerful word (Heb 4:12).  It is just and effective against all the enemies.  His weapon is His Word of Love.  It will never loose its power. I am not ashamed of the gospel.  It is the power of God unto Salvation.  The sword is similar to our judge’s gavel in symbolic meaning.

And His face was too bright to behold.  The beauty of His presence is able to purge His churches.  The light purifies.  The light of His presence is the only light the lamp stands have.

Rev 1:17 John took one glimpse at His face, recognized the true nature of his Master and was overwhelmed.  Did John remember sitting next to Him at the Last Supper?

Was it Jesus’ love that John felt?  Was it the touch of a friend?  When John saw Jesus with spiritual eyes, He was compelled to worship.  Then Jesus touched him.  He knew the love and comfort of the touch of Jesus.

If John was this overwhelmed by the sight of Jesus real nature, how will it be for those who do not know Jesus and have failed to give Him honor?

Then Jesus said, “Do not be afraid”.  He had said these words many times before.  Now John was hearing the comfort of a familiar voice.  When fear fills our hearts, Jesus lays His hand on us and says, “Do not be afraid”.  It was His right hand.  That was a symbol of strength and power, with the touch of love.  It’s like being held and resting in the arms of your Father.

Now Jesus tells John plainly who He is.  While Jesus walked on earth, He did not use these titles for Himself.  These were titles that the Jews reserved for God the Father.  Now Jesus takes these titles for Himself.  Just like the Father, He is alpha and omega. There is no time with Him.  Everything is present.  He is self‑existing, uncaused.  He is life itself.  He is the Living One; we are the dying ones.  His essential nature is life.  He possesses life.

He has the power over the power of death.  He has power over the place of death.  Jews said that Hades was the place where souls of the unrighteous went after death.  The righteous went to Abraham’s bosom.  Wearing large keys was a mark of status and authority.  It could mean, people enter death through many different doors.  Jesus has a key for all of them.

The self‑existing Christ emptied Himself and gave His life to God in death to receive it back from the Father.  He entrusted Himself to His Father.  Now all power has been given to Him in heaven and earth and in life and in death and in Hades.  Jesus can go anywhere and do anything.

Rev 1:19‑20  John is commanded to write.  The things John writes are not intended to be pictures on a wall, but pictures in our minds and hearts.  They were never intended to be drawn or put on a chart.  The Greeks and our western mind would try to paint them.  The Jew was more concerned that the visible symbol might suggest a distortion of truth.  Jews would not draw pictures for fear that they may become an idol.  John is not giving us a chronological outline, but some things will be revealed now and some later.

The word mystery means that only the initiate will understand what is said.  The outsider cannot understand.  You need to be a Christian to understand the Bible.  If you are not a Christian you are trying to read someone else’s mail.

Our words are symbols.  We think we understand English, but we do not know what ‘my shout’ means or footpath, stuffed (broken), singlet, jumper, dummy (pacifier), spanner, dustie, rubbish, rat bag, chooks.

The 7 stars and lamp stands were not common symbols that all his readers would understand so John gave his readers the meaning.  The stars represent power and responsibility.  They are lights only in darkness.  Does this mean the pastor/leader can only shine in the darkness?  Do our lights quit showing when we come together and Christ walks among us?  Let your light so shine that men may see your good works and glorify your Father.  Churches become unseen when the real Light is present.  Christ is seen in a loving church.  The church is the light bearer.  The churches are important to Jesus.  Before all the vision of battles, seals, trumpets, and the wrath of God, we are given a picture that Jesus cares for us.  When the problems come, remember Jesus cares.

Jesus is alive.  He is moving among His churches throughout the world.  Each church has available the power of His right hand to give light in the darkness where each is placed.

I’m so glad that when I am occasionally overwhelmed with the majesty of His presence or just everyday circumstances, the touch and voice of Jesus are there.  We belong to Him and He cares for us.

If we really see Jesus, like John saw Him in 1:17 we will fall at His feet and worship.

Let’s open our spiritual eyes and see the world full of God’s glory.

Revelation 1:1‑3

“The Apocalypse Begins”

The story in Revelation begins in Genesis (2:9; 3:22).  God’s plan for man is life, but man’s life is not within himself.  Man did not create himself.  Life is a gift from God and the quality of man’s life is subject to his relationship with God.  The Tree of Life, God’s gift in the Garden of Eden was fulfilled in Jesus Christ and later in Revelation we find the Tree of Life again available to those who respect God and walk in obedience (22:19).

I had a Bible teacher years ago who said that Revelation is at the end of the Bible for a reason.  If you understand the rest of it, Revelation is easy to understand.  He went on to say that there is a lot in Revelation we can understand.  Pay attention to what you do understand and don’t speculate about the unknown.  So in the days ahead I hope to focus on the things we can be sure of in Revelation.

Rev. 1:1 This word apocalypse/revelation literally means to take the cover off.  The Greeks used it for finding a spring of water that was hidden underground and is now revealed.  Taking the cover off reveals the living water that we saw the evidence for, but did not see clearly.  It was also used for undressing.  It could mean to unveil or take a curtain off something.  Many writers discuss the word for apocalypse.  But there are 3 words in this 1^st verse that can mean to uncover or reveal.

The fact that there are 3 synonyms tells us this book is different than all the other literature that at first glance appears similar to apocalyptic writings.  This book or letter reflects the creativity of John and Jesus Christ not just some symbolic second hand speculation of some vague vision.

Creativity is the heart of God.  God created you with a creative song in your heart.  What you sing indicates your proximity to the heart of God.

This book of Revelation will teach us the songs of heaven that angels and the saints are singing.  Our lives are to be songs of praise.  But Satan doesn’t want you to be in tune with the heart of God.  He does not want you to sing God’s song in harmony.  He wants discord.  He wants broken strings.  He wants broken instruments.  He destroys the song of God.

If we were to base our economic system on creative stewardship rather than consuming, we would become a choir living in harmony as God planned.

We need a Revelation to enjoy the living water and the music.  We need our eyes opened to see all things new.  God invites us to come and dine, drink and sing.

This word apocalypse is used 17 other times in the NT.  To the Christian it meant an uncovering of God, a manifestation of God, or a better understanding of God.  The revelation was also the coming or appearing of Jesus Christ.  What we are about to read is an uncovering of God.  How much of God can we understand?  How much of God do we want to understand (Dan 10:12)?

Notice in verse 1 that this writing is a gift that God gave “to show.”  God wants us to see Truth.  It’s a  “deiksai” revelation or a showing of a gift.  This is a special showing.  God wants us to have and understand something.  We serve a giving God that wants to be understood.  This is the second word in this verse that suggests an uncovering or understanding.  This word is used again in 4:1; 17:1; 21:1; 22:1,6,8.  It It is translated as to point out, show, make known (1Tim 6:15; 1 Cor 12:31) or to explain or prove.  In Acts 10:28 Peter says, “God has shown me that I should not call any man unclean.”

“What must soon take place” suggests a moral necessity arising from the nature of God.  Because of who God is, it is necessary that what we are about to read must take place soon.  Nothing that is going to happen is controled by man.  History is not a haphazard sequence of unrelated events.  It must happen because of the laws God put into place.

The third word in this verse that can also mean to uncover or reveal is “eseemanen”. The verb is translated “he made known.”  It is used 3 times in John’s gospel when Jesus predicted His death (12:33; 18:32; 21:19).  The root word means sign post (Acts 11:28).  “seemeion”  the noun can also mean a personal distinguishing mark like a signature or a foot print (Matt 26:48; Lk 2:12; Rom 4:11).  It can be a warning (Matt 12:39; 16:4).  It is the evidence of someone making a mark.  Jesus himself is the sign (Mk 13:4; Lk 21:7, 11, 25; Acts 2:19; Rev 12:1; Matt 24:24).  In this letter God has given us some signs, foot prints, some videos, and some uncoverings.  How has God made Himself known to you?

Don’t expect a literal presentation.  A sign post points to the real thing.  Revelation is a symbolic video or signing type of communication.  The sign posts, showings, or uncoverings are the mediums used to communicate reality.  John is trying to record a live event of visions on a paper scroll.  These visions are revelations of God and how He works.

The Jews asked for signs (1 C 1:22), but they were looking for signs of conquest and triumph not signs of love.  Our expectations control what we see.  Signs can be pointers.  You can miss the trail if you are looking for one kind of sign, but a different one is given.  Signs are prominent, visible, maybe an omen.  Thunder and lightning were considered signs or voices from Zeus.

Jesus made it know by sending his angel to his servant.  Angels are referred to 67 times in Revelation.  The ‘servant’ as a title for a man of God or people of God occurs 14 times.

1:2 The Revelation is different from the other writings of that time.  All other Jewish and Christian apocalyptic or revelation writings were pseudonymous.  The writers did not reveal their true identity.  This apocalyse tells us 4 times that the writer is John.  Because its style was similar to apocalyptic literature of that day it would be natural to assume that John is a pseudonym.  But Christian tradition has universally identified John the apostle as the writer.

In 1:9 John identifies himself as one suffering with them.  When the problems are great, when you feel like you want to give up, when nobody seems to care, when the burden gets too heavy, John thinks we need this revelation.  He wrote this for us.  We need to see God.  We need a fresh glimpse into heaven.

This book has 404 verses and 265 of those (2/3) contain references to the Jewish Bible that we call the OT.  So to understand the book we need to know what apocalypse meant to the Jews.  Apocalyptic literature grew out of despair as the Jews sought for hope.  Jewish history was a catalogue of disasters and it became clear that no human deliverer could rescue them.  Many apocalyptic books were written between the OT and the NT.  John clarified that his writing was more than an apocalyptic uncovering.  It was a showing and a signing.  This letter is intended to be different.  It is not the apocalypse of the apocalypse.  It does not pretend to reveal how the Revelation will be revealed in the future.  It is written to reveal God through Jesus Christ in the now.

The popular apocalyptic literature was basically pessimistic.  In it the world is totally evil, could not be reformed, but needed to be remade. The golden age would come, but only after a great tribulation. Apocalyptic literature was never intended to be preached, only studied and read, not to be heard.  It was often written in code.  Symbols were common.  Words were spelled backwards.  Numbers replaced letters.  It has not been easy to translate some of the Dead Sea scrolls.  This Revelation is different.  It was meant to be read aloud.

Revelation clearly claims to be a book of prophecy (1:3; 22:7, 10, 18, 19).  Prophetic writings are not apocalyptic.  The prophets wanted to see justice in this world.  They called men to serve and obey God in the present world.  If men would repent, God would bless them in this age.  The prophet was the optimist.  He talked about the present age.  He mentioned the age to come, and the Day of the Lord between them, but these were only mentioned as a warning to call men to repentance today, not as a message of future hope.  The apocalyptic literature was ethically passive.  It did not care if you were good or bad in the present time.  Revelation calls the sinner to repent now.  It calls for a moral choice now.

Apocalyptic literature talked about the sin of the present age, the terrors of the Day of the Lord, and the blessings of the Golden Age.  These writings are composed of dreams and visions of the end, which means it had to use symbols and word pictures to express things that physical eyes have not seen.  The more the Jews suffered, the more they dreamed.  But if their conquerors understood their dreams and their hope in a conquering Messiah, they could have been interpreted as subversive or revolutionary. So their writings were written in code and the author never signed his real name.

The Revelation of John is different.  It is signed; it is positive. The coming of Christ is not a mystery to be revealed in wrath, but it is a fact that has been revealed in love.  This apocalypse did not begin in the mind of man, but in the heart of God.  In apocalyptic writings the climactic event was still future.  But in Revelation the slain Lamb has already gained the victory.  The climactic event has already occurred.  And there is also another big event coming.

Jesus is now seated in heaven at the Father’s right hand.  He has sent His Spirit to help our spirit know the realtiy of His presence with us, among us, and in us.  Jesus is revealed by His Spirit in the church, in the world, in judgment and in the new world.

There is a lot in Revelation that I do not understand.  If I understood everything, I wouldn’t need you or God.  However there is much we can learn if we read and heed.  The number 7 occurs 54 times in this book. Seven is the number of completion, perfection, fulness.  Seven is the combination of 3 and 4.  Three represents the Trinity and four represents the world with 4 winds, 4 points of the compass, 4 elements, 4 seasons, etc.  When God the 3, comes to earth the 4, we have the completion of seven and fulness of time.

The 7th day was set aside as holy because it was a covenant between the world and the Trinity.  Revelation is the book of sevens because it is the book of the fulness of everything of which it treats.  Whatever has the number 7 in God’s reckoning, is full, complete, with nothing to be added because nothing is left out.  There are 7 beatitudes in Revelation and 7 times John says, “every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (5:9; 7:9; 10:11; 11:9; 13:7; 14:6; 17:5), 7 churches, 7 seals, 7 trumpets, 7 signs, 7 bowls, 7 last things.

This is the revelation about Jesus Christ and it is the revelation about God that Jesus Christ brings. (Rev 1:1)  It was probably not all written in one sitting.

There are 4 traditional ways of interpreting this book.  1) The preterist says it is history and poetry that applied to the time it was written.  It is a political cartoon for that time.  All the symbols and types refer to people and events at that time.  2) The historicist says it is a series of prophecies of progressive world history.  It is God’s plan for the ages.  3) The futurist says it is prophecy pertaining to the end time and there are several variations on the timing of the millennium.  Are the 7 seals, 7 trumpets, and 7 bowls to be understood in seasonal time (kairo) or chronological (crono) time?  For the futurist all events relate to the 2^nd coming except the 7 churches.  4) The idealist says it is a spiritual, symbolic, or poetic book with no literal meaning.  My basic assumption is that the author wrote this book for his own day in a way that they would find comfort and encouragement.  He was not writing something to put in a time capsule.  When we understand what it meant to them we can make many applications to our lives.  God’s will and ways have not changed.  I believe the full meaning of all Scripture will be fulfilled when Jesus returns.

God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, wants to be understood. Throughout history He has revealed Himself in ways that He expected man to understand.  He wanted to be understood so badly that He sent His only Son so that we might understand His love.  He wanted the first readers to understand just as He wants us to understand.

This book has often been the sandbox of theologians who have built elaborate castles to prove their own opinions.

One author I read feels the book is divided into 7 parallel sections.  The first 3 sections deal with the second coming struggle from earths point of view.  The last 4 sections progressively take a higher view.  He said there is a spiralling progress in intensity, but each section ends with a note of Christ’s Second Coming.  It is a view of the earth as we spiral upward.

Another author says that chapter 1 is a summary of the whole book. and the rest is a series of historical events.  Another writer says that chapters 4 and 5 contain a survey of the plan of God for all mankind.  Many writers put the book in a time line even though time is irrelevant with God and in heaven where time does not exist.  John says he was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day not in the future.

Revelation begins with God.  He is the source of all Truth.  He desires to communicate with man that history is not haphazard.  History is His story.  God wants you to know that He is in control and things must happen as He has determined.  Some things must soon take place.  There is a cosmic conflict between Christ and Satanic powers.  There will be a final judgment of evil.

God wants to speak through men, the servant kind of men.  The greatest men of God felt that the greatest title they could carry was, servant of God.  The ambition of the great men of God was to be a servant of God.  God only uses servants.  He uses the things the world considers weak to confound the wise.  My foster brother was a worship leader in his church.  He is a classic example of how God uses the weak to confound the wise.  He would say the same thing about me.

This morning I want to conclude by reading the 7 blessings in Revelation.

RV 1:3.  Our Scripture today ends in a 3 fold blessing.  The same word that Jesus used in Matthew 5 when He said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, the poor, the meek, the merciful, the peacemakers” is the same word used 7 times in the book of Revelation.  Paul used the word in Acts 26:2.  He felt blessed.

We are blessed because the time is near.  The “kairos” season for Christ’s return is always near.

We will be happy and blessed if we read, hear and heed.  God will bless us because the time is near.  The season of fulfillment is at hand.  Jesus has come, is coming and will come.  The schedule is set and certain.  To hear God’s word is a privilege; to obey is a duty.  There are benefits for obeying the word of God whether we read or hear.

This is an open book; meant to be read, heard and obeyed.  God has revealed His plan of the Ages so we can adjust our conduct for our own good.  The more we read this book and know of God’s will and God’s ways, the happier and more blessed we will be.  This was not intended to be a mystery.  It deals with both the present and the future so symbols are used, but the symbols are shadows, showings and signs that point to God and what is really real.

If you were John and you saw a video tape of astronauts floating in space, how would you describe it?  Maybe a bottomless pit?  If you were to describe an armed helicopter with rockets and guns, would you compare it to a large, loud locust?

The blessing in verse 3 is conditioned on obedience.  Blessed are those who read, hear and heed.

Rev. 14:13

This blessing is in the midst of disaster and terror.  God wants it plain.  Evil is being punished and good is being blessed.  The false are promised punishment and the faithful are promised blessing.

When the night is darkest, the consolation is often the greatest. There is rest for the faithful weary.  No one suffers more than the one who suffers unjustly, and God says we will suffer unjustly.  We may suffer for doing good, being righteous, and telling the truth.  When that occurs, here is the promise of God, keep being holy and you will be blessed.  There is a great day coming.

The message here is that if living a righteous life literally kills you, you will be blessed, both now and in eternity.  In fact the Spirit within us confirms this heavenly promise.

This blessing will not mean much to you until the burdens grow great.  This blessing is not for you if you are not suffering.  But there may be a day coming when you will remember this promise for those that endure to the end.  Joy comes brightest in the morning for those in the darkest night.

Your labors end at death, but your reputation follows you.

Rev. 16:15

This blessing barely interupts the writer.  In the midst of wrath, while the unclean spirits are stirring up all the kings and gathering them for battle, John hears a voice.  It sounds like Jesus.  It is a similar message given to John and the other disciples just before the crucifixion.  When it seems like I am the only one left, Jesus says, “Keep holy.  Keep dressed in righteousness.  Keep on the armor of God and stand firm.

There is going to be a wedding.  Your good deeds are the clothes you wear or the quilt you wrap in.  Jesus is coming to take those who are dressed, watching, and waiting for heaven.

Rev. 19:9

First the Bridegroom comes, then the marriage, then the supper. This is the supper immediately following the marriage.  This is when our faith becomes sight and all enjoy the bounty of God.  The conclusion for everything is blessing for the faithful.

Rev. 20:6

The dead in Christ shall rise first.  All the Christians who have died are blessed and holy.  There are 5 times in Revelation where saints are taken to heaven.  Here John identifies these as blessed because they are part of the first resurrection and death is powerless over them.  Also God gives them priestly authority and royal authority for a thousand years.

Rev. 22:7

This is similar to the first blessing in our Scripture today.  Now read the next verse.  Rev. 22:8  John saw and heard what he wrote. His adoration put him on his knees frequently.  The majesty of the revelation gave him weak knees.  As we study this book, I hope we get weak knees.  When you sense the presence of God, the only wise things to do is kneel.  In fact the Bible seems to teach that it is impossible to stand in His presence unless He gives strength.

Rev. 22:14

This verse takes us back to the garden.  God wants to walk with us. Clean clothes represent good deeds from a clean heart which is required to be in God’s presence and attend the wedding.

Titus 2:11‑13  Watching, waiting, and hoping keeps me clean.

The tree spans the river.  Jesus said out of Him would flow rivers of living water.  Jesus is the tree of Life.  The garden has been restored in the new heaven and new earth.

When John looked in the future, Jesus was there.  During the greatest terrors and wars, Jesus is among the churches comforting His people.  We can read and be blessed because we can know that God is in control of my yesterdays, todays, and tomorrows.  This is a book of comfort.  Amidst all the terror this life can produce, we’ll find God’s blessing.  The pure in heart will see God in everything.

Jesus has invited all to the big wedding celebration in heaven, but only those in white robes can attend.  Lets live holy lives and be faithful.  Good deeds are our white robes.

Acts 27-28

“Freedom in Chains”

July 3, 2010

If you have a small piece of paper you can’t write a very long letter.  Luke was writing this story of the early church on a limited length of paper.  He uses a lot of space to describe Paul’s trip to Rome.  Why did he use so much paper to tell us about Paul’s trip to Rome?  Maybe he didn’t know.  His account of this shipwreck is considered the best record we have of sailing practices in the first century before ships had compasses or sextants.  The accuracy of details in Acts 27 confirms the scholarly honesty of Luke.

I’ll mention a few interesting points, but I want to focus on the last few verses.  These tell us that Paul reached a major life goal.  They summarize the theme of the Acts story, telling us that Paul preached first to the Jews.  The Jews in Rome rejected the gospel just like the Jews in Jerusalem had done.  But this allowed the gospel to be proclaimed to the Gentiles.

Last Sunday Carol asked about the fate of Paul.  Did he get out of prison?  There are a couple clues in his letters and these final verses that give us a probable answer.

27:1-12

Paul had not received rapid justice in Caesarea.  He appealed to Caesar.  He is now being sent by ship to Rome.  The centurion, Julius, was put in charge and he treated Paul respectfully.  They left Caesarea in a ship that stopped in every port.  Finally at Myra (5) they were able to transfer to a corn ship that was going directly to Rome.  Egypt was the granary of Rome.  The ships were privately owned often 140 feet long and 36 feet wide.  Besides the corn there were 276 people on board this ship.  The owner would be making a lot of money on this trip.

Luke probably got a free ride as Paul’s doctor and Aristarchus probably signed on as Paul’s personal servant.  This would identify Paul as a unique prisoner.  He seemed to have friends in every port.  Julius treated him kindly and listened to Paul’s council during the trip.  Paul had done a lot of traveling.

27:13-44

It was less than 40 miles following the coastline of Crete to the quality harbor at Phoenix.  It would be a nice place to spend the winter.

The day started out beautiful along the southern coastline.  Then they turned north along the west coast line and hurricane force winds drove them out to sea.

For 14 days the storm raged.  They could not see the sky so they had no idea where they were.  An angel appears to Paul with a message of comfort and assures him that all will be saved.  Paul does not know when, where, or how.  Some of the sailors were going to go it alone in the lifeboat.  Then Paul says the safety of all has a condition.  We need to stay together.  God’s purposes are dependent upon man’s obedience.

On the 15^th day Paul urged them to eat something.  After he told them what to do (35) he took bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all, broke the bread and began to eat it.  Paul’s positive trust in God encouraged them all.

28:1-10

When the viper bit Paul he just shook it off and kept collecting wood.  The people were amazed.  Malta is a small island about 8×18 miles.  It has no snakes today.  For 3 months Paul was a blessing to all the people.

28:11-31

For the first time in his life, some Christians heard Paul was coming and walked 30 miles to welcome Paul to Rome (15).  Paul thanked God and was encouraged.  We may be just ordinary Christians, but we are encouragers.  We may not be good at remembering names.  We may not be very well-traveled like Paul.  We may not be as scholarly as Paul, but we can keep on being encouragers.

Paul was confined to a house so he invited (17) the Jewish leaders to come hear his report.  Paul insists that he has done nothing against the Jewish people or against the customs of their fathers.  The point of contention between him and his accusers at Jerusalem had to do with the messianic hope of Israel.  He believed the hope of Israel was fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth, but they did not believe it.

They replied, “We don’t want to get involved in another controversy, but we would like to hear your views about Jesus Christ.  We have heard many rumors against this sect.”  They agreed to another meeting time when they could bring many others who would like to hear Paul’s explanation.  Paul put on a full day seminar.  He explained and declared the kingdom of God, and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Old Testament.  The response was mixed.

He concluded with Isaiah 6:9-10 as his justification for offering salvation to the Gentiles.  They will listen because God’s plan has always been to bless all nations through the Jewish nation.

Luke has shown the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Rome, from Jew to Gentile.  It does not stop in Rome.  God does not quit working when Paul is in prison.  For 2 years many people came to see Paul and he preached the kingdom of God boldly and without hindrance and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.  The story of Jesus and the Kingdom of God were interwoven in the gospel presentation.

During this time Luke wrote this book of Acts and Paul wrote some letters.

Apparently Paul’s case never came to trial because the accusers failed to appear within the legal time period.  About 20 years later there was a Roman law that established an 18 month statutory limit for a prisoner to be held without trial.  There is no record of that law being effective for Paul, but it may have been common practice without being a written law.

While in prison Paul wrote Philippians 1:25 that says, “Convinced of this, I know that I will remain… for your progress and joy in the faith.”  Paul also wrote Philemon 22 which says, “Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.”  There is no reason to doubt Paul’s intuition.

Tradition tells us that Paul was released and for 5 years did more missionary work.  He was imprisoned again in 67 and at this time he wrote 2 Timothy which speaks of an approaching second trial in a tone of resignation.  2 Timothy 4:6 says, “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering and the time has come for my departure.  I have fought the good fight.  I have finished the race.  I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness…”  Because he was a Roman citizen, he could not be tortured to death.  He was beheaded at Rome by order of the emperor Nero.

This book began with the disciples asking Jesus about the kingdom of God (1:6).  It ends with Paul preaching the kingdom and teaching the story of Jesus that inaugurated the new kingdom.  The disciples had asked, “Are You going to restore the kingdom to Israel like King David had?”  Jesus replied, “Dates, places and times are in the Father’s hands, just trust Him.”  It sounds like the angel talking to Paul in the fierce storm.  He said they would all be saved, but he did not say how or when.

Jesus last words were, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  In chapter 2 the Holy Spirit did come and Peter tried to explain it to the crowds.  “This is a God thing (2:17).  Jesus is seated on the throne and has sent us another Comforter as He promised (36).  This promised powerful relationship with God is for everyone (39).

In chapters 3-4 Peter and John have the boldness of this new relationship and tell a crippled man to get up and walk.  The Jewish leaders did not like Peter and John talking about the resurrection of Jesus.  They did not have eyes to see God working in their lives.

Chapter 5, Ananias and Sapphira thought being a Christian was a social thing.  They wanted to look real spiritual.  They tried lying to the Spirit of the Lord.  As the crowds grew, the Temple leaders who did not believe in resurrection, arrested Peter and John.  An angel of the Lord gave them freedom.

Chapter 6, the compassionate ministries committee was selected.  Stephen and Philip were part of this church ministry to widows.  Stephen gets stoned in chapter 7 and Philip gets out of town in chapter 8.  Philip planted a church in Samaria and Peter and John went to check things out.  They saw the Lord give the Holy Spirit to these Samaritans and on their way back to Jerusalem they preached in many other villages.  Philip was commanded by an angel to witness to an Egyptian official then he was taken away by the Spirit, preached in a few towns and settled down in Caesarea.

Chapter 9 tells of Saul’s conversion and basket escape.

Chapter 10 tells of Cornelius and the Holy Spirit coming to his household.  Peter is staying in an unclean home.  He is becoming Liberal.  Peter witnesses the Holy Spirit coming on uncircumcised Romans.  He is losing respect among the conservative Christian Jews.

Chapter 11, some rumors about the spreading of the gospel 300 miles north in Antioch came back to Jerusalem and they sent Barnabas to check out the orthodoxy of these new emerging churches.  Barnabas got Saul involved in teaching these people.

Chapter 12, Herod killed James and planned to kill Peter.  An angel escorted Peter out of prison and Herod died of worms.

Chapters 13-14, the church at Antioch sent Barnabas and Saul on their first missionary trip.  They reported back to the church “all that God had done through them” (14:27).

Chapter 15, the Jerusalem Christians met and decided that Gentile Christians did not have to be Jews to be Christians, but they should be culturally sensitive and not be offensive.  Don’t let your freedom cause a brother in Christ to sin.

Chapters 16-18:22, Paul and Silas take the gospel to Asia and beyond and report back to the church at Antioch.

Chapters 18:23-20, on Paul’s 3^rd missionary journey he collects an offering for the Jerusalem Christians.

Chapter 21, Paul steadfastly goes to Jerusalem.  While worshipping in the Temple, a mob is formed against him and he is taken into Roman custody and remains there for the rest of the book.

Chapter 22, Paul speaks to the mob and when he mentions God’s love for Gentiles the crowd went berserk.  The Roman commander did not understand what was going on.  He wanted more information so called the Sanhedrin together for a meeting.

Chapter 23, When Paul says, “I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead” the Jews again lost their cool and tried to tear Paul to pieces.  The commander rescued him, but a plot by 40 men was planned that night.  When the commander found out about it, he rushed Paul to the governor in Caesarea.

Chapter 24, Paul defends himself before Felix.  He concludes with the statement, “It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.”

Chapter 25-26, Paul defends himself before the governor Festus and King Agrippa.  Again Paul says, “It is because of my hope in what God has promised our fathers that I am on trial today… Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?” (26:6-8).

Chapters 27-28 we reviewed earlier.

28:15 The word “to meet” is the same word used of the believer when the Lord meets us in the air.  It is a term regularly used of the official welcome by a delegation to meet a visiting official and accompany him into the city.  When they heard Paul was coming to town they showed him respect.  They were not ashamed of him or afraid to identify with him because he was a prisoner.

Luke finished writing before Paul’s case had been heard or before his release.  The book was not a biography of Paul.  It is part of the story of God demonstrating His power in the lives of men.  We are the rest of the story.

Do we live like we believe in the resurrection and judgment to come?

Do are lives declare a trust and obedience towards God in the storms?

Is my life an offering of praise and thanksgiving to God?

Is it me living or Christ in me?

Paul answered “Yes” to these questions.

“You are out of your mind”

June 27, 2010

Do people think you are not the sharpest tool in the shed?  Do they see you as a little off plum or with only one oar in the water?  Paul is accused of being mad because he believes in the resurrection of the dead.  He believes there is life after death.  That belief seemed strange to the Romans.

The Romans did not know how to deal with Paul’s beliefs so they interviewed him several times and kept him in prison to please the zealous Jews.  Then in the next chapter they escort him to Rome to avoid making an unpopular decision.

The Lord had come to Paul in the Jerusalem prison (23:11) and told him he would be giving his testimony in Rome.  Paul had done a lot of traveling.  He knew how to plan a trip to Rome.  He was probably not planning a Roman escort.  However, last week we read in 24:1ff that the Jews were very angry with Paul even though he was in prison.  Now in chapter 25 Paul has been in the Caesarean prison 2 years and the Jews are still plotting to kill him.  God was keeping Paul in prison so he could write some letters under the security of Rome.  Often God is directing our lives while we are in a prison and we don’t see it until later.

The Romans could not identify any laws that Paul had broken.  Claudius Lysias concluded it was a theological issue.  Felix expected a bribe so he kept Paul in prison and his wife did not like Paul either.  Festus did not understand Jewish beliefs so he asks Agrippa to help him understand why Paul was left in prison by the previous ruler, Agrippa’s brother-in-law.

25:1-12

Festus began his rule in Judea in 60.  He recognized the volatile situation that he had been appointed to and after settling into his new job for just 3 days he went up to Jerusalem to meet with the chief priests and Jewish leaders.  He was trying to do the right thing, but he did not understand the Jewish culture.  He was trying collect all the information he could.  The charges against Paul had apparently been committed in Jerusalem so that might be a convenient place to investigate the allegation.  Festus could not reconcile the Jewish charges and Paul’s denials.  But like Felix, he wanted to do the Jews a favor.

Paul refused to be tried by Jews.  He was a Roman citizen so he invoked his right of appeal before Caesar.  At this time Nero still had a fair reputation and Paul could expect justice.  As a citizen, if he did not feel he was getting justice in a provincial court, he could have his case heard by the Emperor himself.  This right of appeal was one of the most ancient rights of Roman citizens.

25:13-21

Agrippa was king of the Palestine area.  He and his sister, Bernice, came to Caesarea to welcome Festus as the new governor of Judea.  Bernice’s husband had died 10 years earlier and she has lived with her brother since then.  The tabloids had a lot of interest in this relationship.  Bernice was the oldest sister of Drusilla, the teenage wife of Felix.  Agrippa was the great grandson of Herod the Great.  He was 1 year older than his sister, Bernice.  He was considered an expert of Jewish affairs by the Romans.

Festus tells Agrippa about one of the prisoners that Felix had left him.  He had to be careful how he said it because Felix was Agrippa’s brother-in-law.

25:22-27

The Greek word for ‘pomp’ is ‘fantasia’.  They were living a fantasy.  The Romans knew how to do processions.  The situation was contrived to assert the importance of the Roman officials and the inferiority of the man on trial.  It was a big elaborate head of state reception.

This event probably took place in the public arena that overlooks the sea.  It seated several thousand people.  This is the longest of Paul’s defenses, maybe because Luke was in the audience.  Remember Paul was not a handsome, buff kind of diplomat.  God chooses the weak and foolish to confound the world’s reasonable and wise.

Festus claims to be reasonable (27), but that is a face-saving way of noting that is was improper to keep a citizen in jail without stating the charges against him.  And he would lose his job if he sent a prisoner to Rome without stating the charges.

26:1-18

Paul was stuck in bureaucratic red tape.  He knew the Jews wanted to kill him.  He had been misunderstood, falsely accused, run out of several towns, been stoned, but he knew the Lord was with him and he is full of joy.  The word “fortunate’ in verse 2 is the Greek word ‘makarios’ which is the word translated blessed or happy in the Beatitudes.

Motioning with his hand was a respectful greeting and gesture.  He expresses appreciation for the opportunity of speaking, complimenting the King, and asking for patience in hearing him out.  This was going to be a thorough defense.

Paul says, “The Jewish elders have known me since I was a child (4-5).  I was trained in their school.  I graduated as a Pharisee, the top of my class.  Because of my Jewish heritage I have the same hope that all the Jews have hoped for since the beginning.”  The hope of the Messiah is based on the promises of God in Moses, the Prophets and the writings.  All Scripture says the Messiah would be killed and resurrected.

Paul identifies with the Pharisaic belief in the resurrection.  Sadducees say a resurrection is impossible.  Nothing is impossible with God (8).  Resurrection is no harder for God than healing a cut finger or stilling a storm.  Pharisees believe that God will raise the dead at the last day, but is it impossible for him to raise Jesus from the dead before the last day?  God validated the promise of our resurrection by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Paul identifies with the zealous Jew’s life style (9-11).  He understood the mindset of his accusers.

Paul testifies to a vision that changed the focus of his way of life (12-18).  The goads (14) or pricks were pointed sticks on the front of the wagons or behind the harness that would make it painful for the horse to kick back.  It was a common idiom for expressing opposition to deity.

In his vision, the Lord commissioned Paul to 1) open eyes 2) turn lifestyles 3) turn allegiances 4) offer forgiveness of sins and a pure inheritance (18).  The only condition is faith in Jesus.

In Luke 4, Jesus quotes Isaiah 61 as His commission from God: to preach good news to poor, proclaim freedom to prisoners, offer sight to the blind, release the oppressed, and proclaim justice for all.

Paul says he was commissioned to offer healing for spiritually blind, turn people from the oppression of darkness to the freedom of light, from satan to God, from guilt of sin to forgiveness of family, from hopelessness to an eternal inheritance.

26:19-23

This is a summary of Paul’s situation.  Paul tells the King that he did what he was told to do in his vision.  He preached that all men should repent, turn to God, and live like they are a child of God.  The Jews beat him up and tried to kill him and he was just being a good Jew ritually purifying himself in the Temple.

Paul goes on to say (22), but God has been with me in all of this.  As a good Jew I say nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen.  Just like they said, Jesus suffered, died and was the first to rise from the dead to never die again.  This hope is to be proclaimed to all people.  The suffering Messiah had not been seen by the Jews in the OT writings.  They only saw the conquering Messiah.  Their Messiah would never die.  Spiritual blindness promotes selective reading.

26:24-32

Festus interrupted.  He had probably seen all the books Paul was reading.  He had heard of all the people who visited Paul and cared for him.  He knew Paul was no dummy.  But a resurrection contradicts common sense.  Paul’s words were foreign to Festus.  All of us are prone to assume that all reality is visible.  We forget that what we see was created out of what we cannot see.  The seen is derived from the unseen.  The unseen is the original, the real.

Agrippa did not say, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian” as the KJV interprets the Greek.  He was a little embarrassed by Paul’s question and he had his reputation to maintain.  He was not about to make any public commitment to what others thought was insane.  He replied, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”

Then Paul addressing the king with extreme politeness replied, “Short time or long—I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am.”  Then in a lighter vein he raises his hands and added, “except for these chains.”

His light touch broke up the meeting.  In the last verse Agrippa is admitting that Paul was in fact not insane and that what Paul was advocating might be reasonable and logical, but he had appealed to Caesar and they could not ignore his right of appeal.  It appears that King Agrippa had a desire to believe, but did not choose to believe.

The gospel message that we are commissioned to testify to is simple.  Sin blinds us to reality.  Repentance and forgiveness give spiritual sight.  God is beautiful and faithful.  It is reasonable and wise to trust Him and obey.  He gives eternal life now and after our resurrection.