Gadfly's Muse

Revelation 14: The Grapes of Wrath

Image: "Grapes of Wrath", 2008, Fingerlakes Vineyard, NY

Revelation 14:1–3 Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 3 They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.

Revelation 14:6–7 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—7 saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”

Revelation 14:12–13  Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.  13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ”  “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”

Revelation 14:19–20 So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.

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The first thing we encounter in this chapter is the glorious song rung out from heaven as our Christ is standing with His full elect (144,000) on Mt. Zion.  This is a picture of Jesus, at last united in Person to His beloved disciples, standing on the ground from whence he first ascended (Acts 1).  They are marked differently than all those who bear the number of the beast.  They have God's name "written on their foreheads," (vs.1) and thus are preserved inviolate (vs. 4) in their spiritual purity.  These and these alone "could learn" the song that rang out like a "voice of many waters" from heaven.

We shouldn't be too "hung up" with the description of this group as not being "defiled with women." (vs. 4)  Their "virginity" is spiritual in that they have not been lured by the harlots of Satan (cf. Proverbs 2:16-19).  There is no Scriptural teaching that implies godly sexual relations as spiritually defiling.  What John sees are the pure spirits of the "blood-washed" elect who "follow the Lamb" wherever He goes. (vs. 4)  Note that vs. 5 drives the point home:  "they are without fault before the throne of God."  Though they, while still living, are beset with temptations and often stumble, yet in their spiritual presence before God, He sees only their perfected sanctification wrought by the Holy Spirit.

The chapter then moves on to a more somber sight.  First, there is an angel giving the sin-ridden world a "last chance" to repent.  The "everlasting gospel" is preached to every nation and tribe as Jesus said must happen before "the end" would come. (Mat. 24:14)  Here is the grace, mercy, and longsuffering of our God fully illustrated.  As long as there is time there is opportunity.  The great justice God will show forth in His final catastrophic reaping will be clearly evidenced by man's obstinate refusal to repent when he has heard the warning: "Fear God and give glory to Him... worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water." (vs. 7)  Another angel then proclaims the details:  there is an eternal Hell awaiting all of those who "worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name."  None of those bearing the name of God will ever feel that Hell's torments but woe indeed to those who serve Man's autonomous spirit rather than God.

What follows then is a graphic representation of the horror of final judgment.  The symbology in verses 17-20 serves to highlight just how great the mass of unbelievers actually is.  Their judgment will truly appear to be as if their blood covers the entire earth.  The true people of God have always been a relatively small remnant and therefore their numbers in salvation will pale in comparison to those being condemned.

Yet, even as we read in verse 12: "Here is the patience of the saints..."  We are encouraged and awestruck by God's revelation of what shall ultimately transpire.  Our task is indeed to be patient.  To not give up nor fall into doubt and uncertainty.  We have only to "keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus."  Whatever God places before us will ultimately contribute to the song that we, members of the remnant, alone will be able to learn.  It will be a song of mercy and grace and glory... to our Christ.

 

 

 

Revelation 13: A Beastly Sight Indeed!

Image: "Desolation", 2021, roadside view, vicinity of Red Rock Lake, Lima, MT

Revelation 13:1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.

Revelation 13:4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”

Revelation 13:7–8 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Revelation 13:11–12 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

Revelation 13:17–18 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.  18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

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If anything should set us back on our heels and make us consider the Lord saying: "I told you so", it is the beasts in this chapter when properly understood.

Here we have the "spirit of the Anti-Christ" manifested in its full, demonic, spiritual, reality.  

There are two beasts with the first being the powerful incarnation of human government organized and dedicated to the task of proving to the world that it, not Jesus Christ, is humanity's true messiah.  The second beast is the first beast's henchman, its "prophet", whose purpose is to proclaim the "gospel" of the first beast's messianic reality and to call people to worship that beast and not the true Christ.  We can think of it as the "propaganda arm" of the first beast and its number is "666" which is the number of man. (vs. 18)  Here we see man-centered religion, false humanism, that points us away from the truth of God and His Christ and substitutes a false hope and a false "salvation" centered on man's autonomous claim to exercising world dominion through godless government.

The first beast clearly and consciously presents itself in terms that the Revelation uses to describe Christ.  Like Jesus, it wears "crowns" of rule over the earth. (cf. vs. 1 & Rev. 19:12)  It claims to have been "mortally wounded" and yet lives, imply resurrection from the dead. (cf. vs. 3 & rev. 2:8).  It was given to him to have "authority... over every tribe, tongue, and nation", clearly a worldwide dominion that is reserved for Christ alone. (cf. vs. 7 & Rev. 5:9).  

In every particular, the first beast demands to be viewed as the true Messiah, the true "christ" for human beings.  We may see the entire claim to a resurrection from the dead as the way that, though Jesus dealt the fatal blow to Satan and his empire in His earthly life, yet God, in His providence, has allowed human governments to "rise up from the ashes" throughout history (the sea - vs. 1) to again claim, in their various forms, that they are to be worshiped rather than Christ.

The second beast is Satan's answer to the true Church of Jesus Christ.  Here we have the false prophets and priests of human-based religion serving their "master", the first beast, and, behind him, the dragon who gives him power and authority. (vs. 2)  Like Christ Himself, this second beast calls for disciples of the first beast to receive a mark on their "right hand or on their forehead", thus distinguishing them as its "elect" and heirs of its promised "blessings."  

This second beast is the powerful collaboration of society-wide intellectuals, Christ-denying religious figures, and political forces that proclaim that "grace" and "peace" come through man's progress in self-government, technical achievements, and philosophy.  Here we have the "apologists" that preach a brand of "freedom" that is really a cloak for slavery.  The power of the first beast is enormous.  It controls the economy and the power of money to buy allegiance.  It legislates immorality and calls "evil good."  At every point, this second beast preys on ignorance and superstition.  Only by true "wisdom" (vs. 18) can the people of God offset its teaching and call people to worship the one true Christ and to join with the elect from every nation in not succumbing to the false prophet's teachings.

Who can view our nation and our world today and not see these beasts at work among us?  The solemn truth is that their great power is the instrument through which the dragon's rage is directed toward Christ and His people.  We should note, with honest apprehension, that God tells us that those who do not worship the beast "to be killed." (vs. 15)  It is not a pleasant prospect but it makes sense as we see the open denunciation of Christian teaching laying the foundation for even more outright persecution.

But, we must never despair, the Revelation teaches us that Christ will have victory over every resurrection of the beast and that His people, sustained by His Holy Spirit, will indeed see that victory and rejoice.  Here is "the patience and the faith of the saints." (vs. 10)

 

 

Revelation 12: Victorious Over Insane Hatred

Image:  "The Wilderness", 2021, The "Grand Canyon" of Yellowstone, view of the Yellowstone River, downstream of the lower falls.

Revelation 12:1–2 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. 2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.

Revelation 12:5–6 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

Revelation 12:9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

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This chapter, with its fantastic symbols, opens the second half of this book.  The first half gave us a view of the "earthly struggle" between the Church and the world.  In this second half, beginning in this chapter, we see this earthly struggle as actually the "outward manifestation of the war between Christ and Satan." [cf. W. Hendricksen, "More Than Conquerors"]

We see three main "symbols" here: the Woman, the Dragon, and the Satanic warfare being waged against the "Woman" and "her other seed."

Notice that Christ appears in this chapter only in terms of "a male Child" who was born to Cosmic Royal Reign and was "caught up to God and His throne."  I don't intend to minimize the importance of this "symbol" at all.  It forms the ground on which all else in the chapter is built but it is significant that the entire incarnate ministry of our Lord, including His miraculous birth, His Person, His sin-bearing ministry, His atoning death on the cross, and His resurrection, is generally lumped together into the period between His birth and His ascension. (Vs. 5)  

What is being portrayed is the very real, but spiritual, overview of the period of time from Genesis 3 (Satan as the Dragon/Serpent - vs. 3 & 9) through the present day.   The Woman can be understood two ways:  She is either (or both) the representation of the Old Testament Church in its primary mission to give birth to the Child, Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ of God, or it is the Church in both ages, comprised of the true Israelites in the Old Testament and the New Testament Church.  I tend toward the first interpretation because the New Testament Church here seems best to be represented as the "rest of her offspring who keep the commandments of God, etc." (vs. 17)  I think this also fits best with the picture of the "Woman" as being swept away into the "wilderness" (of history) where she has been preserved as an ethnic people against the fury of Satan as the earth has swallowed up every attempt he has made to obliterate them.  (Note: this distinction also fits with my understanding of the "two witnesses" in the preceding chapters.)

What is presented is a dramatic characterization of the ongoing rage of the powerful but demonic forces that everywhere and in every age seek to persecute and destroy the people of God.

The Dragon is portrayed as having "seven heads and ten horns and seven diadems on his heads." (vs. 3)  These are symbols of great power and authority manifested in various "heads".  We will see later when this symbol reappears, that this represents the highest attainments of human autonomy and power on earth.  Quite blatantly it was the Roman Empire in John's day but the "heads" indicate that it was also all the great powers arrayed against God's people prior to the birth of Christ and, by inference, those that have followed in its stead.

We are thus confronted with a solemn and somewhat depressing truth:  never, in the course of human history, has there been or will there be a truly godly human government.  If David's and Solomon's government were ultimately corrupted and bred sin and warfare against God, so too all those governments which followed them have been implacably given over to demonic powers.  Some have been relatively better than others but, at their heart, they are controlled by idols and demons themselves.

Spiritual warfare is the character of the history of the world and continues down to this day.  We have our Christ in heaven Who is, in fact, ruling with a "rod of iron" (cf. vs. 5 & Psalm 2) but the nations still rage against Him.  This warfare is real and immediate.  In it, we see that the rage of Satan is effected through the use of earthly, coercive, and deadly force, but the victorious Church overcomes these strategies by "the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony." (vs. 11)  In one sense it is a senseless war.  Satan and His legions are already defeated, having been cast out of "heaven" and "cast down to the earth".  His rage is vindictive and represents Satan's fury over his inevitable, ultimate, defeat and punishment.  Nevertheless, during this "short time" remaining (vs. 12) it is a time of great "woe" for the inhabitants of the earth for they will feel the sting of wars, persecutions, injustice, and fury.

What we must embrace is that it is, quoting Dickens, "the best of times and the worst of times."  We have reason to rejoice but we must soberly realize that the time of trials continues.  We must not despair but, as Jesus taught, we must be prepared to follow in His footsteps and to face, in His name, the harsh reality of demonic wrath.

 

 

 

Revelation 11: Two Witnesses - Testimony & Victory

Image:  "Two Witnesses", 2021, Norris Geyser Basin scene, Yellowstone Nat. Pk. Wy.

Revelation 11:1–3 Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. 2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. 3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”

Revelation 11:6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.

Revelation 11:7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.

Revelation 11:11–12 Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.

Revelation 11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”

Revelation 11:19 Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

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There are as many different interpretations of "who are the two witnesses in Revelation 11" as there are folks who write about the chapter.  Some of the more commonly held views are: (1) they represent "the law and the prophets", hence the summary teachings of Scripture, as symbolized by Moses and Elijah on the Mt. of Transfiguration; (2) they represent the faithful church of Jesus Christ in its role as prophet to "peoples, nations, tongues, and kings" (cf. Rev. 10:11 & 11:3) and; (3) they represent physical "prophets" who will rise up in the last days.

These have strengths and weaknesses.  My own view is that these witnesses symbolize (1) the true Gentile Church of Jesus Christ and (2) the continued preservation of ethnic Jews in fulfillment of Paul's teachings in Romans 10:1-3 & 11:1-5 where Paul says that "there is a remnant according to grace."

What do both of these groups have in common?  (1) Together they make up "all Israel" (Romans 11:26) and therefore will both ascend to heaven (Rev. 11:12, cf. 1 Thess. 4) at the Lord's coming; (2) both have born witness to the God of heaven throughout the ages and incurred the wrath and condemnation of the demonically inspired hordes (11:7ff); both possess the power of prayer as Jesus promised His faithful followers, to the end that their prayers can transform the world (11:6).  More could be said but you get my drift.

What this chapter teaches us is that the "subject" of continuing history is the witness of the true, combined, Israel to its God and to His Son Who rules over heaven and earth.  They do this because the "temple" on earth has been judged and destroyed, leaving the earth without a worldwide institutional Presence of God.  John was given a "measuring rod", like Ezekiel before him (Ezek. 40ff) to measure the temple.  As with Ezekiel, this was done to symbolize God's fierce anger at the physical temple "Presence" and its descent into idolatry and perversion.  God was going to bring about a "new temple" on the ruins of the old.  This "new temple" was instituted in the People of God who are the temple of God in space and time. (cf. Ephesians 1:22; 2:19-22)

The main points of this chapter then become: the combined people of God will continue to bear witness (testimony) to the abiding Presence of the One True God and His Son Jesus Christ, throughout the remaining age preceding the Lord's return; this witness will be effective in gathering many of the elect but it will also be effective in proving the hard-hearted arrogance of the mass of rebellious men; there will come a time when it will appear that this true witness will be stamped out and the "two witnesses" corpses (empty churches) will decorate the pavement; but, God Who is not slow concerning His promises, will return and raise up His faithful witnesses to the astonishment and terror of their enemies.

In the closing verses (11:15-19) we see, undeniably, that the trumpets take us right up to the final day.  Then it shall be that "the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ." (11:15)  In a direct parallel to chapter 21:15-27, there is a vision of the "temple of God" opened in heaven.  the "lightnings, noises, thunderings, earthquake and great hail" take us back to Israel at the foot of Mt. Sinai when God showed Himself to His People in a terrifying vision.  

It's a wonderful and solemn story told in these verses.  It reminds us that God has set us aside for His purposes and some of these may involve daunting things.  But it also reminds us that God will use our testimony to bring His victory, a victory in which we will not only participate but in which we will be glorified and exalted.  In other words, whatever He requires... it will be worth it.

 

Revelation 09-10: Many Fall But Are Disregarded

Image: "What Was and What Is", 2021, Nez Perce Creek, Yellowstone Nat. Pk. Wy

Revelation 9:4–6 They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5 And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. ... 6 In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them.

Revelation 9:11 And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.

Revelation 9:13–15 Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” 15 So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind.

Revelation 10:5–7 The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand to heaven 6 and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer, 7 but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.

Revelation 10:11 And he said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”

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This sad sight along the Nez Perce creek struck me as somewhat representing the Nez Perce tribe itself.  A 19th-century historian cited these people as "the richest, noblest, and most gentle of Indian peoples as well as the most industrious." [Helen Hunt Jackson, A Century of Dishonor]  They sought to accommodate the European incursion by an early treaty that promised they could stay on their huge territorial homeland.  Needless to say, the forces of greed and "progress" found that commercially and physically inconvenient (to say the least) and their land was incrementally chopped up and parceled out until they rebelled and fought.  Their heart-breaking epic 1100 mile retreat under Chief Joseph ended when fewer than 200 starving and sick people surrendered as Joseph declared: "I will fight no more forever."  Today they are a relatively few "trees" standing amidst the memories of many, truly great ancestors.  

I do not overly romanticize the history of the Native Americans in the US but, to me, the Nez Perce represent the best of those cultures.

Their fate, I think, can also illustrate what the "best" of fallen mankind's achievements will face when God brings about the closing trumpet blasts in human history.  There will come a day when the awful sovereignty and power of God will leave a few standing and they will look upon the devastation that their war against God has brought.  Unlike the Nez Perce, they will recognize that there was no injustice in their fate.  Even as their inevitable defeat is blatantly and undeniably pressing upon them, mankind, in those days, will not "repent of their murders, or their sorceries, or their sexual immorality, or their thefts." (9:21)

In these chapters, we are told that with the "sounding of the seventh angel" the "mystery of God would be finished." (10:7)  In other words, God's eternal plan for His creation would draw to a close as He completely rids of the world of the seditious rebels who have rejected His right to rule.  The details of that final consummation are still hidden from us.  They were, in my opinion, that which the "seven thunders" uttered (10:4) and which John was instructed to "seal up" and not write.  On the day of their sounding, there will be no longer any delay. (10:6)  

Perhaps we should take this to heart and realize that the previous six trumpets are already sounding.  Mankind is being afflicted with gross and insurmountable challenges that have very real and devastating consequences on our environment, our social development, and our political stability.  Wherever we scan our world and its history we see our remaining "trees" standing amidst the testimony of past "judgments."  How many people have perished in our wars, many of which were motivated by less than noble sentiments?  How puny are our attempts to stave off the forces of "death and destruction" symbolized by the titles "Abaddon" and "Apollyon"? (9:11)  Can we not say that many "thirds" of the world's population has been racked with pain and suffering and death? (9:7-15)  

The demonic forces that God has allowed to run rampant in our society have produced the most awful and previously unimaginable depravity.  I only mention the war on the unborn as one blatant example.  Man has truly reached a level of wickedness that defies excuse.  We deserve what we get... and we, mankind as a whole, will get it.

It is left to us, as the heirs of John's further ministry assignment, (10:11) to "prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings."  This is the continuing ministry of Christ's Church: to stand and warn.  But we must believe it.  We cannot be fooled by the apparent "security" promised by our wealth and physical power.  At one time, the Nez Perce were a powerful and multitudinous people, now they are a bare remnant.  When God sounds His final trumpet and the thunders sound from heaven, rebellious mankind's end will come.  This is, in one sense, our hope.  In another, it furnishes the impetus for zeal, courage, and boldness in our continuing witness.

Revelation 07: Signed, Sealed, & Delivered

Image: "All Different Colors", 2021, Canyon Walls, Grand Canyon of Yellowstone (image intentionally tilted for full effect)

Revelation 7:2–3 Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.”

Revelation 7:9–10 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Revelation 7:14–17 And I said to him, “Sir, you know.”  So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. 16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

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The poetic impact of Revelation 7 should evoke gasps of wonder from us. 

In chapter 6 we saw that God's guidance of history, centered on and around His Son, was to bring about His glorious ultimate purpose in and through temporal judgments in time and space.  There was a mounting crescendo in their effect culminating in the "sixth seal" when the "great Day of His wrath has come."  We saw that, though God in heaven sits serenely on His throne, yet on earth there are wars and famines and persecutions and difficulties that often seem too great to bear.  In its total effect and, especially, in the dark terrors of its concluding phase, fallen, sinful, man cries out "who is able to stand?"

Chapter 7 answers that question.

In verse 7:1 we see the "four angels" that are holding the powerful winds of God and they are told to pause and not harm the earth for a moment.  We should understand these verses as a "stop-action" scene in a movie.  You know the effect.  Actors are running around, perhaps jumping over a car, bullets are flying - and suddenly everyone and everything freezes in place on the screen.  The action stops because the movie director or playwright wants to add some explanatory commentary to the projection.

In these verses, God "freezes" the ongoing judgments in space and time to reveal to His hard-pressed and beloved people exactly who is able to stand and why.

We must understand that God's covenant people, living through these same periods of judgment, are not exempt from pain and suffering.  Just as God spoke to the people of Jerusalem in Ezekiel 9 and told a man in "white linen" (Ezek. 9:4) to "put a mark on the foreheads of the men" whose hearts were broken over that judgment falling on the city, so here, God is telling us that He has sent His angel to mark us out for ultimate blessing... even in the midst of the judgments falling all around us.

The people of Jerusalem, elect and reprobate alike, suffered in Ezekiel's day.  The same is true for us today.  But this firm foundation remains: "The Lord knows those who are His!" (2 Tim. 2:19)  We are told, immediately, that in the progress of history God has set aside the fullness of people elect from every one of the 12 tribes of Israel. (Rev. 7: 4-8)  Note the symbolism of the numbers: twelve tribes with twelve thousand from each, making up the perfect completion (144,000) of God's harvest from the Jews.  Note that in actual history the different tribes varied widely in their numbers.  Yet here the larger and smaller tribes all are said to produce the same 12,000.  There are two ways to think of this: (1) each tribe was designed from the beginning to only produce 12,000 total members who were elect of God.  This is overly simplistic.  Rather, it makes more sense, to reason (2) that 12,000 is not an actual number but represents the fullness of elect believers that was each tribe's contribution to the ultimate number.

Then we see a different group of people (vs. 9ff), a "great multitude" beyond numbering and they come from all "nations, tribes, people and tongues" to join with the 144,000 elected from Israel.  Here we have the far greater number of those chosen for salvation from across the whole earth.  They are not entirely comprised of New Testament era believers because we know that God saved some non-Jewish people in the OT, but, by far and away, the greatest portion of them are those whom God brings to Himself through the Church of Jesus Christ.

Together, these two groups, constitute the "Israel of God", the covenant people that He has set aside for Himself, signed them as His own, sealed them with the mark of authenticity, and then, ultimately in time but immediately in Spirit, has delivered them into His Presence for eternal blessing.

Note the great blessing to which we are signed, sealed, and delivered.  We are to rejoice before the throne of God and have the astonishing privilege of having God Himself, in the Person of His Son, dwelling among us. (vs. 15)  We will no longer be wounded by pain and suffering nor will starvation rack our bodies because our personal God will feed us, shepherd us, and wipe away every tear from our eyes.

In the midst of raging judgment, showing itself all about us, which all too often brings suffering to us and our loved ones, the action is frozen and God whispers into our ears, "don't fear... I have sealed you to Myself and your salvation is on its way."

 

 

 

 

Revelation 05-06: Saved From the Wrath of God

Image: "I'm Still Here", 2021, Sky scene along Hwy 20, prior to Ashton, ID

Revelation 5:8–10  Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:  “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”

Revelation 6:12–14 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. 13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.

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The Revelation given to John is built around groupings of 7.  The scroll which the Lamb alone was found worthy to open was sealed with seven seals, each of which, when opened gives insight into the progress of history from the time the Lamb ascended to the throne room of God until God's final judgment brings all time, as we know it, to a close.  Thus, I ascribe to what is called the "recapitulation" hermeneutical interpretation of the Revelation.  Each of the following cycles (trumpets, etc.) will essentially cover the same span.  Thus, starting with chapter 6 we will be given further descriptions of the nature of time as it progresses until, finally, the great consummation which closes the book.

So, what do we see in the remaining verses of chapter 5 and all of chapter six?

Briefly, we see the stated purpose of history stated by all of creation, the angelic beings, and the redeemed people of God expressed in 5: 8-14.  The Lamb Who was slain, even our Lord Jesus Christ, is hailed for His completed work of redemption and His ascension to the throne of God.  The four living creatures, who represent the span of God's "living" creatures (animals and man) a well as the twenty four elders who represent the fullness of the elect in both the Old and New Testament dispensations, proclaim the surpassing merit of Him  who has "redeemed us to God by Your blood."  Note the finished work that is proclaimed as well as the transformed reality of those who benefit from this redemption.  Out of all the tribes and peoples of the earth, there are those who have been made "kings and priests to our God."  This is the reality of their status.  But like a crown prince awaiting actual seating on the throne, these proclaim that they "shall reign on the earth."

Here is the great future that provides such a reason for hope and joy.  The redeemed of the earth will reign and rule on the earth.  We have a glorious future ahead of us on that day when the implicit promise of the Garden of Eden, where man was to exercise dominion on the earth, will be finally accomplished. (5:9-10)

This particular shout of thanksgiving and praise is followed by a general shout of astonished wonder by the innumerable angels surrounding the redeemed host who add their voices in worship. (5:11)  Even the dead of earth, buried in both earth and sea will be present in the chorus (5:13)

Thus we see the full range of God's created work as giving thanks for His great salvation.  This is the end goal of history.  It is why all things were created and it is why we, individually, exist.  God's great sovereign rule, exercised through His Son, our Lord, works to this end and will bring about eternal joy and unending worship from all creatures, heavenly or worldly, the living and the dead.

Such a wonderful picture and one that creates intense longing.  But we are solemnly taught that this great end of all things is to be progressively attained.  The seals must be opened and the contents of creation's history opened to our eyes.  The seals are not necessarily intended to convey sequence in actual time but rather further insights of truths that may, and often does, overlap.

Thus, with seal one, we see the history of conquest and domination unleashed as various nations rise up in history to conquer and subjugate peoples.  Man will continue to aspire to autonomous rule in the stead of God.  This will bring about many things but its inevitable character will be that of "crown-wearing" enforced by force of arms.  (6:1-2)  Then comes the second seal and we see the passions of violence unleashed and peace taken from the earth.  Lawlessness will always be present and in many eras will dominate the scene. (6:3-4) Similarly, we see that history will involve the cruelty of hunger and inflation as corrupt power oppresses those who cannot defend themselves. (6:5-6)  There will be widespread death when wars (such as the two world wars) or epidemics reshape entire generations such that huge swaths of the population are killed. (6:7-8) The persecution of the saints will continue and the entire span of time will evoke great longing from the people of God for Him to "come quickly" and bring their suffering to an end. (6:9-11)  But, in God's perfect timing, there will come a day when the earth will be shaken and the cosmic balance upset and sinful man, who was responsible for all the sufferings revealed in the first five seals, will be terrified at the approaching judgment they so richly deserve. (6:12-17)

Of particular interest is the absolute statement that this is the day of the "wrath of the Lamb!" (vs. 16)  Though He is gentle and mild to those who love Him and keep His commandments, yet we must remember that He is the jealous Lion of Judah who will indeed bring judgment on His foes.

These are scary thoughts but they must be understood through the prior testimony of chapter 5.   The wrath of God will never touch the redeemed of the earth.  Though we live in the very real manifestation of the 5 seals, where each of the circumstances they proclaim is readily discernable about us, yet, the end result is certain and we have a reason, even now, to fall down and worship Him Who has saved us by His blood.

 

 

 

 

 

Revelation 05: A New Thing In History

Image:  "Reality and Reflection", 2021, Mount Haynes (I think), Yellowstone Nat. Pk., Wy.

Revelation 5:1–7 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” 3 And no one, in heaven or on the earth or under the earth, was able to open the scroll or to look at it.  
4 So I wept much because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. 5 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.”
6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.

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I imagine we all have experienced those "pivotal" moments when we know, even as it happens, that things will never be the same again.  My generation remembers the assassination of John Kennedy.  That day is so branded in our minds we can tell you exactly where we were when we heard the news.  The generation before mine remembered Pearl Harbor.  The following generation remembers 9/11.  The point is clear:  some events change the world and, therefore, change the course of history.

The first 7 verses of Revelation 5 describe the ultimate world-changing, history-changing event of all time.  Revelation 4 showed us the constant underlying reality of all things.  God, the creator, sits on His throne, surrounded by the glorious praise of His creation, dignified in His majesty and unperturbed by the course of history that lies, like a sea of glass, at His feet.  As many Scriptures proclaim, God's Word has gone out and not returned to Him void.  Our lives, indeed the progressing life of the entire universe, are not spinning out of control.  There is our God in heaven and His great purpose is to be glorified in all things.

But... there was the history of the world that occurred before the events of chapter 5:1-7 and there is the history of the world that began with those events.  This is BC and AD, truly the appropriate division of history because that is when the cataclysmic event of the "Lamb Who was slain" (vs. 6) transpired.

These verses are so deep and packed with so much meaning that we hesitate and stumble before them.  Like Isaiah in the Temple (Isa. 6) we fall flat on our faces in worship.  What do we see?

We see a scroll, packed so tightly with writing that no word can be added to it, front or back, and no word can be taken from it without destroying its integrity.  This "scroll" is, in fact, the eternal counsel of God and specifically the names of all those for whom God created the earth.  Here is the "book of life" that details not only who are those elected unto salvation but also all the entire redemptive history of mankind which will bring about that great salvation.   In other words, this scroll is the eternal mystery, hidden from mankind's fallen eyes ever since the Garden of Eden.  It is that into which angels long to look and which sinful man feared to know.  Truly, there was weeping in heaven when it appeared because no one was worthy to break those seals so that all creation would, at last know, the secret purposes of God.

Then, there in the midst of the throne, from the very seat of God's government, came One who was unlike any other Person John or anyone else could imagine.  He was "like a lamb" in that He was gentle and mild and pure.  He was like a "lamb that had been slain", a lamb who had been sacrificed on behalf of the sins of God's people and of His Creation itself.  John was told that, incongruously, this One was the "Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David", the long-awaited Messiah of the Jewish nation, Who was to institute God's Kingdom on earth and rule in it to the glory of His Father.  Thus, this Lamb was a Man, and not just any Man, but God's ultimate Man and His Ultimate King.

But this Lamb was stranger still.  For though He was a Man, yet He, as a Lamb, had seven horns and seven eyes which we are told, are the seven Spirits of God sent out to fill the earth.  This refers back to the vision of Jesus in chapter 1 vs. 4 where God has seven spirits before His throne.  Here we see that this Lamb is in fact Divine.  He is also the embodiment of God's Spiritual Being.  God, who is Spirit, has become man and the fullness of God's Spirit is in Him.

This Lamb comes forth from the throne.  Here we have a specific time and event, which I call the Christ-event.  It's not just Jesus' birth but His entire life, death, and resurrection.  He comes forth as a completed and proven Messiah, Who has ascended to heaven in time and, as is His right, now undertakes to open the seals of the scroll, and thereby revealing and accomplishing the final stage of history itself.  He and He alone was and is worthy to do this.

This is the "New Thing in History."  This is that earthquake that transforms all of man's social and redemptive consciousness.  Our Christ has come and has ascended to heaven from whence He rules over our lives and the further progression of all things.  We have our King!  Let us rejoice, like the heavenly choir in this chapter, and sing His praise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revelation 03: Solemn Words of Love and Concern

Image: "The Creation of God", 2021, "Lone Mountain" (11,166') near Big Sky, Montana

Revelation 3:2  Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.

Revelation 3:9–10 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

Revelation 3:17–18  Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eyesalve, that you may see.

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In chapter 3 the Spirit addresses three churches: Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.   Here we have a very insightful perspective on the character of various churches down to this day. 

Sardis is a church that has a reputation for vitality, energetic works, and "life".  Perhaps it shows forth a flamboyant worship program complete with sterling quality performances both in music and from the pulpit.  Yet the Spirit says: "you are dead!" (vs. 1)  Jesus' parable of the four seeds told of one that fell on shallow soil and grew up fast and spectacularly.  However, when dry season came it was the first to wither because it had no deep roots.  Such, I think, is Sardis.  Jesus does not entirely condemn it.  After all, the seed was planted.  They had some acquaintance with the truth and perhaps even a few who sincerely held the faith.  Jesus calls on such a church to "hold fast", don't lose any further ground, and "repent" (vs. 3) so as to become more firmly rooted in Christ.  We should take this to heart.  Perhaps our individual Christian lives have more in common with this than we like to admit.  Should we ask the question?  "Am I just 'show'?"  If, in our heart of hearts, the answer is that we are more like Sardis than not, then we "got some work to do."

Then there is Philadelphia, the youngest of the seven churches addressed in these two chapters.  It is interesting that this church, along with Smyrna, does not receive virtually any criticism.  Perhaps there is a slight concern that their strength is "small" (translated as "little" above), but that evidently had been sufficient for they have not "denied" the Lord's name and have "kept" His word.  I think there is a deliberate contrast here with the church at Sardis which had just been roundly criticized.  I remember how Jesus had commended the young children and spoke about how our faith has to be as "naively" trusting as a child if we are to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.  Perhaps Philadelphia ( which means "city of love") lived up to its name!  Certainly, they received the promise that their enemies would come and "worship" (read "fall prostrate in submission") at their feet.  Because of this pure spirit, though they had not registered any huge reputation for good works or mighty signs, they received the signal comforting assurance that the world would know that "I have loved you." (vs. 9)  

And then there is the church at Laodicea.  What a sad commentary these verses make.  There is no specific reference to the attributes Jesus displayed in 1:16-18 as there were in the other letters to the churches.  Jesus is rather characterized as the "Amen", the "Faithful and True Witness", and "the Beginning of the creation of God."  Jesus is here solemnly warning this church that their lamp is indeed close to being removed from the circle.  He points the Church's eyes toward the witness of creation, the "Amen" of His own Person being the incarnation of God the Father, and the "Witness" of His earthly ministry, perfect life, atonement, and resurrection.  In other words, Jesus is here almost issuing forth an Evangelistic message, calling for them to repent of their vile "lukewarm" love and to get the true "eye salve" of faith which will allow them to see their own wretchedness.  Truly Jesus spoke of how hard it was for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of heaven and this church "suffered" from an abundance of wealth and power.  It was the single most important church in the region.  

Yet for all their abundance and riches, they were feasting alone behind a closed door on which Jesus was knocking.  Their comfort actually testified to their perilous condition because Jesus said that "as many as I love, I rebuke and chasten" and this church was not feeling the sting of chastening at all.

Perhaps we should learn that we must take heed when all men speak well of us. (Luke 6:26)

Taking all three of these churches together, we see continuity with chapter 2 in general and yet very clear individuation among the recipients.  Every church is addressed by speaking straight to its core personality and character.  Jesus sees us in terms of our "angel", our core moral and spiritual being.  It was said of Him in His earthly ministry that He knew what was in a man's heart (John 6:64) and it is also true of His knowledge of His Churches.  

What we must understand is that any "Church" is made up of people just like us.  We are our Church and it is the unique nature of each Church to reflect the character of its members and the quality of their faith.  Pogo once said, "we have met the enemy and he is us!"  This is so true of our churches also.  If our church is uncomfortably close to the negative qualities of the churches in these chapters then "repentance" is the order of the day and it must be comprehensive.  Each and every one of us must add our repentance to those of our brothers and sisters.  Similarly, it is not enough for some of us to love... we must exhort each other to love and good works and so earn the commendation that Jesus gives to churches like Smyrna and Philadelphia.

Christ is among us... He knows us... and though He rebukes and chastens, as appropriate, yet these are expressions of His love and concern and that is our comfort and encouragement.

 

 

Revelation 02: Hear What the Spirit Says!

Image: Soldiers Chapel, 2021, Big Sky, Montana

Revelation 2:7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’

Revelation 2:10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Revelation 2:13 “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

Revelation 2:15–16 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

Revelation 2:19–20 “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. 20 Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.

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In chapter 1 Jesus is depicted as standing in the midst of His entire church (symbolized by the number 7, the sign of completeness), and in chapters 2 & 3 He, through the Spirit, speaks to us all.  Each church chosen to be addressed should be viewed as both an individual historic church with the specific character He addresses, as well as, a continuing representative of His Church throughout the ages.  Thus, we should see, in this chapter, Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, and Thyatira as having their equivalents present even today.  Further, we can see within each, trends that can possibly be present in any given church at any time.  We should recognize that though Jesus spoke to the ancient churches directly, He is speaking indirectly to all of us now.

In every age, we have churches like Ephesus, who are striving to hold fast to the Word of God, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  These are hard-working churches and Christians within the Church, who toil and show forth patience and insist on denouncing false prophets.  But we also have to guard against being so entrenched in our apologetic task that we forget that our first command is to love.  Paul commended the Ephesians (Eph. 1:15ff) for the zealous faith and love they exhibited in their witness to the world.  They started out as a church "on fire" for the Kingdom of Christ.  This loving zeal has a passionate nature that moves Christ's disciples to not only preserve the doctrines and strive for purity but also to touch the lives of others.  This is the "first work" of a Christian and one which the church in every age must constantly resurrect in itself.

Like Smyrna, the church in every age can waver in the face of the unrelenting attacks by the spiritual forces gathered against Christ.  All too often this results in real and intense suffering (vs. 10) and we must be reminded that we must not "fear" those things but rather be "faithful until death" if such is necessary.  The "crown of life" will be ours when the "second death" falls upon all those who cause our suffering.

In the same manner, the church, as Pergamos reminds us, can be infiltrated and undermined by false teachings and the constant pressure to give in to worldly pleasures.  Christians can begin to wonder about the call to purity in life when the world abuses them and it would be so much easier to just go with the flow of secular ideals and practices.  When every form of social "entertainment" has a message promoting sexual practices that God hates, Christians feel the pressure to not make waves and even, when those practices hit home in their families, to begin to question God's commands.  Jesus calls us to not give in but to stand for God's truth about right and wrong.  In the face of this constant pressure, He promises to give us "manna to eat" even as we walk through what appears to be a barren, moral wasteland.

And, like Thyatira, sometimes Christ's Church does become dominated by leaders who openly condone and even seek to justify idolatrous activities and perversions.  There will always be those who call evil, good.  Christians, like those mentioned in verses 24ff, who are grieved about this situation, in their own church or within the wider Church, must not lose hope.  They must remember that our Lord, though absent in body, yet rules His Church with a "rod of iron" (vs. 27), and those who have defiled His precincts will be brought to shame.

It only takes a moment's reflection upon our world and the state of the Church in our time, to see how relevant and appropriate these exhortations and warnings are to us.  Jesus is still speaking to us and we must always be guarding against error in doctrine and practice.  Our Christ is magnificent in Person and terrible in His anger at those who despise His rule.  His loving compassion always shows itself in His call to repentance as well as humble perseverance.  He is worth the effort and His rewards are as certain as the trials we must face on our way to gaining them.  He will overcome and we are to "overcome" with Him, now and forever.