The Messianic Army

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REVELATION 7:1-8

After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel ascend- ing from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” 4 And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:

12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed,
12,000 from the tribe of Reuben,
12,000 from the tribe of Gad,
12,000 from the tribe of Asher,
12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali,
12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh,
12,000 from the tribe of Simeon,
12,000 from the tribe of Levi,
12,000 from the tribe of Issachar,
12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun,
12,000 from the tribe of Joseph,
12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed.

 
 

Revelation 7 is an interlude between the breaking of the sixth and the seventh seals in John’s vision. John is allowed to see God’s plan to involve his people in the fight between good and evil.

The judgments seem overwhelming, but God has a role for his people in the midst of the judgments, and John sees that God’s people—the Church—will not be overcome by the judgments; they are protected so that they can fulfill their role.

The 144,000? It’s a holy army waging holy war; it is the church’s role in the outworking of history. Let me explain.

7:1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree.

The four angels mean that God is sovereign over the four corners of the earth.

2 Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: 3 “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”

God holds back the judgments until his servants are set apart. But, who are the servants?

4 Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.
5 From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed,
from the tribe of Reuben 12,000,
from the tribe of Gad 12,000,
6 from the tribe of Asher 12,000,
from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000,
from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,
7 from the tribe of Simeon 12,000,
from the tribe of Levi 12,000,
from the tribe of Issachar 12,000,
8 from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000,
from the tribe of Joseph 12,000,
from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.

John hears the identity of God’s servants: 144,000. (12 squared times 10 cubed—a number that shows the fullness of the Twelve Tribes of Israel.)

In the Old Testament, every time a census is taken it is for military purposes. The 12,000 that are listed come from each of the 12 tribes (though the list is slightly peculiar, a detail I do not have space to discuss at the moment).

The 144,000 are a holy army, ready for holy war.
BUT....
(Keep reading!)

 

Beginning of the End

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UPDATE 9:48 AM, WEDNESDAY: Bible study is ON. 6:30 PM. Free pizza served 5:00-6:30 PM. —AF

 

WEATHER UPDATE: I’ll update this space on Wednesday mid morning to confirm whether Bible study is actually going to happen tonight.

Stay tuned. —AF, 10:51 PM, Tuesday

 
 

BIBLE STUDY TONIGHT (2/1) | 6:30 PM | SANCTUARY LIVESTREAM: asburytulsa.online.church

Parents, I LOVE having elementary and especially middle and high school students at Bible study. Bring ‘em!

 
 
 

REVELATION 6:12-17

12 When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, 13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. 14 The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. 15 Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, 16 calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

 
 

The opening of the sixth seal brings with it the beginning of the final judgment—the End. We can see this because the world itself is shaken; even the very stars begin to fall.

Still, humanity does not repent and turn toward God but merely wants to be protected from God’s judgment.

The message of the seals is that rebellious humanity is so hard-hearted that even death and cataclysm will not be enough to have people turn back to God.

Is John describing what has happened or what will happen? I think the answer is “Yes.”

Since the time of Jesus, there have been war and violence and pestilence on the earth, and yet humanity has not turned back to God. There will be more and greater judgments in the future, and they will have the same result.

What, then, will cause the world to turn back to God?

The seventh seal is the final judgment, but before we get to it, John relates an interlude that will begin to answer the question. Keep reading.

 

Why Doesn't God Bring the End Now?

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TOMORROW’S Bible study will be HUGE. I’m going to lay out the key to understanding the entire book, building on the previous 2 studies. You will walk away with understanding that will open up the entire rest of Revelation to you. Guaranteed, or your money back! 6:30 PM CST. 2/1. Parents, bring your curious kids! Dinner served 5:00-6:30 PM. 18 and under eat free!

 
 
 

REVELATION 6:9-11

9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. 10 They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

 
 

As the Lamb opens the fifth seal, John’s perspective changes from earth back into heaven and he sees the martyrs crowded under the heavenly altar, where, in the Old Testament sacrificial system, the blood of the sacrifice would have been. The martyrs cry out for vengeance, but they are told that the story isn’t yet over.

God has a plan to vindicate the faithful, but its time has not yet come.

If judgment doesn’t bring about repentance, then what will?
This is what the message of the scroll will explain. Keep reading.

 

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

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Wednesday’s Bible study will be HUGE. I’m going to lay out the key to understanding the entire book, building on the previous 2 studies. You will walk away with understanding that will open up the entire rest of Revelation to you. Guaranteed, or your money back! 6:30 PM CST. 2/1. Parents, bring your curious kids!

 
 
 

REVELATION 6:1-8

Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” 2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer. 3 When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4 And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword. 5 When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!”

7 When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” 8 And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.

 
 

Remember, John is in the heavenly throne room and has seen the Lamb take the scroll with the seven seals. The scroll is God’s plan for history. The opening of the scroll and the breaking of the seals is NOT the message of the scroll—we won’t get to that until chapter 11. Rather, what happens as the seals are broken and the scroll is opened is meant to prepare us to understand the message of the scroll.

“6:1 Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!”

The seals on the scroll have to be broken before the scroll’s contents can be read. The breaking of each seal brings judgment on the earth.

Judgment is meant to cause rebellious humanity to repent. Think of the Egyptian plagues—their purpose is to convince Pharaoh to turn back from his destructive path before it is too late. Unfortunately, Pharaoh chooses to ignore the warnings, and the same thing happens here: the cataclysmic effects of the opening of each seal in turn does not bring humanity back to God.

“2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.”

The first seal is broken, and the judgment that comes is the first of the so-called Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

The first horseman brings war.

“3 When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4 And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.”

The second seal is opened, and the judgment that comes is the bright red horse (the color of blood).

The second horseman brings bloodshed, which makes sense, since bloodshed follows war.

“5 When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!”

The Lamb opens the third seal, and the black horse and its rider bring the judgment of economic disruption and famine. The scales in the rider’s hand would have been used in the marketplace, but the prices for basic staples—wheat and barley—are many times too expensive for the working class. Luxury goods, however—oil and wine—are still available for the wealthy.

Economic disruption and famine follow after war and bloodshed.

“7 When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” 8 And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.”

The breaking of the fourth seal brings a sickly pale horse and its rider Death, closely followed by Hades. Death follows after war and bloodshed and famine.

Again, note that judgment does not bring forth repentance. What will? What will cause the rebellious world to repent?

 

Now and Not Yet

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Wednesday’s Bible study will be HUGE. I’m going to lay out the key to understanding the entire book, building on the previous 2 studies. You will walk away with understanding that will open up the entire rest of Revelation to you. Guaranteed, or your money back! 6:30 PM CST. 2/1.

 
 
 

REVELATION 5:11-14

11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”
13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

 
 

John here has a “now and not yet” moment in the vision. In heaven, “every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them” is giving praise to the Lamb. All of Creation, in other words. But, on earth, that reality has not yet been realized. It is as if heaven exists outside of time; the rest of the vision will explain how earth will come to match what is already true in heaven.

 

Lion or Lamb? YES

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REVELATION 5:6-10

6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,
10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.”

 
 

This is a great place to point out an important part of John’s vision, namely the contrast between what he hears and what he sees.

In 5:5 he has heard
“Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

But in 5:6 what he sees is
“a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain.”

The one who is worthy to open the scroll, the one by whom the Kingdom will come on earth as it is in heaven, is a Lion who looks like a Lamb, and a Lamb who is in actuality a Lion.

That’s a paradox worth pondering today.

P.S. The only one worthy to open the scroll—the one by whom the Kingdom will come on earth as it is in heaven, is the Lamb. In simple language, the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus enables him to bring heaven to earth.

 

lamb or lion? Yes

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REVELATION 5:6-10

And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

 
 

This is a great place to point out an important part of John’s vision, namely the contrast between what he hears and what he sees.

In 5:5 he has heard
“Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

But in 5:6 what he sees is
“a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain.”

The one who is worthy to open the scroll, the one by whom the Kingdom will come on earth as it is in heaven, is a Lion who looks like a Lamb, and a Lamb who is in actuality a Lion.

That’s a paradox worth pondering today.

P.S. The only one worthy to open the scroll—the one by whom the Kingdom will come on earth as it is in heaven, is the Lamb. In simple language, the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus enables him to bring heaven to earth.

 

Who Can Open God's Secret Plan for History?

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REVELATION 5:1-5

Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

 
 

Revelation is a vision given to a man named John, in which he is given the gift of seeing reality from a heavenly perspective. He is taken to the heavenly throne room (chapter 4) where he sees God’s will perfectly enacted. But John has come from earth, where things seem very far from perfect.

The question Revelation will answer is, How will the Kingdom come?

The answer will be given on a special scroll, a scroll that has been sealed up forever.

(See Daniel 12:8-9, for example:

8 I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, “O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?” 9 He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end.”)

Who can open the scroll?

John begins to weep because it seems no one can open the scroll, which means the Kingdom will never come, and wrongs will never be made right.

And in the midst of his despair, one of the heavenly rulers says, “Don’t cry—here is the one who can open the scroll.”

 

How Will the Kingdom Come?

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REVELATION 4:6b-11

And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: 7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. 8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come!”
9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.”

 
 

And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: 7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. 8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

These mysterious four living creatures are found in Old Testament heavenly visions (e.g., Isaiah 6 and Ezekiel 1). They are some kind of heavenly creature that just praises God, and all the eyes around them mean that, from a heavenly perspective, there is nothing hidden.

9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

How cool is that? These heavenly rulers—over what they are reigning the Bible doesn’t tell us (solar systems? universes? time? light?)—these angelic heavenly rulers are immensely powerful. In fact, later in the book, John will twice make the mistake of trying to worship an angelic messenger. These are powerful, glorious creatures. And yet that’s the point—they are creatures, not the Creator. And they get off their thrones and cast their crowns before the throne to show that any authority and glory they have is merely given to them by God. They are creatures, and so they worship the Creator.

We’ll see as the vision unfolds that one of the marks of the Beast is that it claims worship for itself, but only God is worthy of worship. This is one of the reasons John knows the Beast is evil.

The question, however, is this:

John has come from earth into heaven, and in heaven he sees God’s will perfectly realized—it is a place of beauty and peace and joy. But earth isn’t like that. How will the Kingdom come on earth, as it is in heaven?

We have to read on to find out.

 

A Door Opens; The Vision Begins

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REVELATION 4:1-6a

After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. 3 And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, 6 and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.

 
 

In Revelation 1, John explains how he was given his vision.

In Revelation 2-3, John reports what Jesus has to say to each of the seven churches, respectively—it’s like a little note that Jesus has attached at the top of the main message of the vision.

In Revelation 4 (today’s reading), the vision proper begins. Let’s look at it.

4:1 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”

An apocalypse is an unveiling or a revealing, and here we have it happening: a door opens into heaven.

2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne.

In his vision, John is taken into the heavenly throne room. Heaven is where God’s rule is perfectly realized. It is not yet like that on earth, and so the vision will explain how “the Kingdom will come on earth, as it is in heaven.”

3 And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald.

John describes how the glory around God shines and shimmers like precious stones, but never describes God himself.

4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads.

Around God’s throne are the thrones of “twenty-four elders.” Who are they? They are some kind of angelic rulers—the divine council— whom God created to rule over parts of Creation. One of the major themes of the Bible is how God delegates authority. Even you and I have authority—we call it free will, and no one but I can use mine, nor can anyone but you use yours. These angels are created beings to whom God has given authority. (We don’t really know much more than that.)

5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, 6a and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.

All throughout the Bible, when people have an experience of God—the fancy word is a “theophany”—there is always thunder and lightning, and it’s not different here.

The number seven means fullness or completeness; the “seven spirits of God” is another way of saying the fullness of God’s Spirit, i.e., the Holy Spirit.

The glass sea reflects God’s glory. In the Biblical imagination the sea is the symbol of chaos and entropy, and in heaven it’s been turned into something beautiful that enhances the glory of God.

 

"You Make Me Sick"

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REVELATION 3:14-22

14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. 15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretch- ed, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

 
 
“Laodicea lacked its own water supply, having no direct access to the cold water of the mountains or the hot water of the nearby springs in Hierapolis to the north. In contrast to its claims of self-sufficiency (3:17), it had to pipe in its water.... This water had grown lukewarm by the time of its arrival. “The point of lukewarm water is simply that it is disgusting... “Jesus thus finds the church in Laodicea to be other than what he desires. In today’s English, he is telling the self-satisfied church in Laodicea: ‘I want water that will refresh me, but you remind me instead of the water you always complain about. You make me want to puke.’”
— Craig Keener, Revelation
 

Let us not make the mistake of being prideful or thinking we are self-sufficient today.

 

Hold Fast

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REVELATION 3:7-13

7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. 8 “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

 
 

As we will see as we continue to read through Revelation, the message of Jesus to the churches is that, if they just hold on, he will win the victory for them. And though to the Christians in Philadelphia the world’s power might seem insurmountable, nevertheless Jesus reminds them that what he wants to happen, will happen. Therefore, they should “hold fast.”

In light of that truth, how will you react today to the inevitable problems that come across your path?

 

Problems = Opportunity

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BIBLE STUDY TONIGHT (1/18) | 6:30 PM | SANCTUARY LIVESTREAM: asburytulsa.online.church

Parents, I LOVE having elementary and especially middle and high school students at Bible study. Bring ‘em!

 
 
 

REVELATION 3:1-6

“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.

“‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. 4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

 
 

Unlike some of the other churches Jesus addresses in Revelation, the church in Sardis appears to have been relatively well-off and accepted in that city. Unfortunately, they were also (almost) spiritually dead.

That’s the way it so often is in this world, isn’t it? Wealth and comfort make us think (erroneously) that we are self-sufficient, that we don’t need God. And that way lies spiritual death.

I mean that literally—I think Hell is made up of folks who are too proud to admit that they need God’s mercy.

Problems and poverty and persecution can bring out the best in us, though no one actually wants those things in his or her life. Still, problems can cause us to turn to God and admit that we can’t make it on our own.

Today, when you face a problem, consider it an opportunity to humbly ask for God’s help.

P.S. We will see later in Revelation chapters 17-18 that one of the ways Babylon has corrupted people is through wealth. What we see in the letters to the seven churches is that the churches are facing internally the same sins and temptations that the external world is also facing. Things are still the same today.

 

Beware of False Teachers

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Don’t forget!

Revelation Bible Study #2. Wednesday. 6:30 PM. Livestream available.

 
 
 

REVELATION 2:12-17

12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.

13 “‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’

 
 

In both Pergamum and Thyatira, Jesus warns the churches to stop having contact with false teachers, whom he calls “Balaam” in Pergamum and “Jezebel” in Thyatira.

Balaam was an enemy prophet of Israel who tried to lead the Children of Israel astray as they made their way into the Promised Land. The connection with the Old Testament makes the warning obvious, but if you don’t know those Old Testament stories, you’ll miss the point. The entire rest of Revelation does the same thing constantly—uses Old Testament imagery to “reveal” the truth about history.

A few more points:

  • “Satan’s throne” in Pergamum refers to the pagan worship that was happening there, either of the imperial cult (worship of the emperor) or of Greek religion (worship of Zeus the Savior).

  • We don’t know who the Nicolaitans are, other than some kind of false sect.

  • And the sword in Jesus’s mouth? It is the sword of truth.

Remember, one of the primary themes of Revelation is that the Church stay committed to the truth, no matter what.

Live no lies today.

 

How to Conquer

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REVELATION 2:8-11

8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.

9 “‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’"

 
 

Jesus introduces and identifies himself in a different way in each of the short messages to the seven churches. Here’s the key to understanding the point of each respective message: use the description of Jesus to underscore the point he is making.

So here, Jesus stresses his Resurrection. As we’ll see, the message to the church in Smyrna is: be faithful, even if it costs you your life.

The early Christians were all Jews; in fact, the early Christians thought of themselves as Jews who followed Jesus as Messiah. There were synagogues in many of the cities around the Mediterranean, and in Smyrna it seems that the non-Christian Jews had collaborated with the Roman authorities to persecute the followers of Jesus. That’s why John calls them “Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.” John saw these Jews as doing the work of Satan.

At this time, the Christians in Smyrna were a tiny, poor minority without social standing or power. Over the centuries, of course, Christians would become the dominant force in Europe, and we all are aware of the ugly and shameful history of European Christian antisemitism. Here, however, that description doesn’t apply.

The church in Smyrna is poor and persecuted, but Jesus is pleased with them and encourages them not to give up. In fact, the way they will “conquer” is precisely by not giving in, even if it costs them their lives. In the same way, that’s how we will conquer: by remaining faithful even to the point of death. What looks like losing—martyrdom and weakness—is actually the way of victory because of the Resurrection

Don’t be afraid today—every courageous, faithful step you take is a step toward victory, no matter what it looks like from an earthly perspective.

 

Zombie Church

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REVELATION 2:1-7

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’

 
 

The entire text of Revelation is a circular letter that was to be shared among seven churches located in separate cities in the Roman province of Asia Minor (which is modern-day western Turkey).

But at the beginning of the letter there is a specific message from Jesus to each of the seven churches in turn. Imagine Jesus handwriting a brief note at the top of the letter to each addressee respectively.

Today we begin with the message to Ephesus. And that message is: Beware lest you become a zombie church.

Ephesus was the greatest city in the Roman province of Asia, and one of the places Paul lived during his apostolic ministry.

The one with the seven stars and seven lampstands is Jesus (see chapter 1). He is walking among the churches (we learn in chapter 1 that the lampstands represent churches), which means he knows them intimately, both their good and their bad.

One of the major themes of Revelation is truth, and Jesus commends the Ephesians for their hard work and their commitment to truth. Apparently, there were people who claimed to be apostles but were charlatans, and the Ephesians correctly identified them as such. The way one discerns between true and false teachers in the church hasn’t changed: true teachers teach in accordance with the faith that’s been delivered to us from the true apostles; false teachers invent new teachings and doctrines. Always test everything you hear in church by comparing it with the vast, ancient body of Christian teaching. (And the same goes for this commentary!)

Though the Ephesians are courageously bearing witness for Christ in a hostile culture, nevertheless they have ceased to love God and each other in the way they did at first.

Truth is important, but true doctrines are nothing if they are not joined with loving hearts. To love is to will the good of the other.

What does it mean for the Lord to remove the lampstand of the Ephesian church if they don’t repent? I think it means that they would become a zombie church. In other words, they might not literally cease to exist as an organization, but because of their unfaithfulness, the life-giving Spirit would leave.

How many churches do you know that fit that description?

I’ll say more about the Nicolaitans in later commentary. As to what it means to “conquer", this is actually the central message of Revelation to the churches—what it will look like for them to “win”. We’re getting ahead of ourselves, but let me just say that to conquer in Revelation means bearing true witness to the truth of Jesus.

Anyway, I think the idea of the Spirit being removed from an unfaithful church is a convicting idea. Such a church would have “the form of religion, but none of the power.” A zombie church, in other words: one that looks alive, but is actually dead.

Lord, save us from such a fate.

 

Challenging And Comforting At The Same Time

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REVELATION 1:9-20

9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the king- dom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”

12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turn- ing I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lamp- stands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. 20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

 
 

Revelation is an account of a vision that a man named John was given
by the Holy Spirit. John has then given us a written account of what he saw and experienced—Revelation is the result of much subsequent reflection on those experiences. If you’ve ever tried to explain a dream to someone else, you know how hard it is to convey into simple words the immediacy and emotion of the experience. The imagery of Revelation is vivid and at first obscure; one of the keys to understanding it is to simply read the book over and over, and see how images explain images.

As the vision opens, John sees Jesus in the midst of seven golden lampstands, which we shortly learn are the seven churches. (The image of the lampstand will be important later, in chapter 11. And note how it draws on what Zechariah saw in Zechariah 4 [see the reading for 1/5].)

John is afraid, but Jesus graciously puts his hand on John’s shoulder and tells him not to be afraid and that his task is to write down the content of the vision and share it with the seven churches in Asia.

Note that Jesus is in the midst of his churches. He will subsequently give John a message for each of the seven churches individually (chapters 2-3), messages he is able to give because he is right there with them. The fact of his presence is both challenging and comforting.

Jesus’s presence is challenging because Jesus knows the truth about us. One of the central themes of Revelation is truth, and nothing is hidden from God.

But Jesus’s presences with his churches is also comforting, because he knows the truth about our situation and wants to encourage us to keep going—to hang on until the end and to persevere.

If you are headed in the wrong direction, repent! (Repent means nothing more than “turn around.”) If you are doing the right thing, keep going! The Lord is with you.

 

Kings and Priests

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REVELATION 1:4-8

4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood
6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

 
 

The number 7 signifies completeness, and so the seven churches that are in Asia (present-day Turkey) represent the entire Church—this letter is for every church. What we learn here is that death of Jesus has freed his people and made them into both kings and priests:

Kings, because they rule with him;
Priests, because they live in his presence.

 

How can you use your free will to reign with God today, and how can you go about your daily life in his presence?

 

P.S. Note that v. 7 says that “he is coming on the clouds.” Does that remind you of the vision in Daniel 7? (See the reading for Wednesday, 1/4.)

P.P.S. Did you catch the way John refers to God in a way that is strange to us, and yet still trinitarian:? “Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.”

 

Revelation Begins TODAY!

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REVELATION 1:1-3

1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

 
 

“Apocalypse.” The first word of the book we call Revelation tells us something important: it is about an unveiling, a revealing (this is where we get our word “Revelation”) of the truth of reality. Truth will be one of the central themes of the book, because the enemy’s main weapon is deceit.

Truth requires that God’s people bear witness to what they have heard and seen—John says that when people bear faithful witness to the truth of Jesus, they will be blessed.

In a large or small way today, how can you commit to the truth?

Live no lies.

P.S. Note the chain of transmission (it will be important later): God gives the revelation to Jesus who gives it to his angel (angel is the Greek word for messenger), who gives it to John, who has written it down for us:

God→Jesus→Angel→John→Church

 

The River and the Tree

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If you would like a digital copy of the handout from the Wednesday Evening study, please click HERE.

EZEKIEL 47:1-12

Then he brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar. 2 Then he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faces toward the east; and behold, the water was trickling out on the south side.

3 Going on eastward with a measuring line in his hand, the man measured a thousand cubits, and then led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep. 4 Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was knee-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was waist-deep. 5 Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through. 6 And he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?”

Then he led me back to the bank of the river. 7 As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river very many trees on the one side and on the other. 8 And he said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, and enters the sea; when the water flows into the sea, the water will become fresh. 9 And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. 10 Fishermen will stand beside the sea. From Engedi to Eneglaim it will be a place for the spreading of nets. Its fish will be of very many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea. 11 But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt. 12 And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.”

 
 

We begin Revelation on Monday! Take time this weekend to prepare by reading back over the passages from this past week and making a plan to begin each day next week with the First15—silence, prayer, and scripture.

In his vision, Ezekiel sees the Jerusalem Temple as the source of a river, a river that begins as a trickle but becomes deeper and wider and greater until even the desert itself becomes flooded. The River brings life wherever it goes, and the trees that grow alongside it bring healing.

John sees something similar in his vision (we’ll read it in Revelation 22, the last chapter); both visions relate something remarkable—God’s plan for the world is one of healing and restoration.

It’s not the end yet. If things are difficult today, take heart—one day everything broken will be healed.