Keep God's Ways
Notes
Transcript
Warren Brosi
10/20/24
Dominant Thought: Keep His word since He keeps us.
Objectives:
I want my listeners to understand how to read Revelation.
I want my listeners to feel inspired to keep/obey God’s Word.
I want my listeners to live with confidence in God’s victory.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13.8). We’ve walked through this verse all year using a different word to launch into a new sermon series. We finished our study of Acts to help us follow Jesus today. Now, we turn to the final book of the Bible, Revelation, to help us follow Jesus forever.
As we study Revelation, I’m indebted to my New Testament teacher at Lincoln Christian University, Dr. Robert Lowery. In addition, I give credit to Dr. Mark Scott, who shared a Bible Study at the North American Christian Convention in 2013 on Revelation, where he titled his study, “Victory Commands” in Revelation. I’m building on what he shared in those studies.
As we begin Revelation, I want to give us some helpful guidelines to help us read Revelation responsibly. I recommend the book by Michael Gorman, Reading Revelation Responsibly—Uncivil Worship and Witness—Following the Lamb Into the New Creation.
To help us read Revelation responsibly, Dr. Lowery and others share for “S”’s to help us: Style, Setting, Symbols, and Structure.
First, the style or literary style of Revelation is mainly apocalyptic. The word apocalyptic comes from the title of Revelation which means to reveal or uncover. Apocalyptic literature was a popular type of literature in the ancient world especially around the time between the Old and New Testament. Apocalyptic literature uses visions, angels, and symbols to encourage people to hold on to hope in God in difficult times. It’s a different type of writing that we don’t always understand in this day and age. However, with some help with the following guides, I’m confident we will understand Revelation better.
In addition to the apocalyptic passages in this book, we also encounter letters to seven churches in Revelation 2-3. These letters sound more like what we read in other parts of the New Testament from Romans to Jude.
A third literary style is prophecy. Sometimes prophecy is predicting future events. We will see some of those predictions in Revelation. Predictive prophecy is also called foretelling. A majority of prophecy in the Bible is forthtelling or speaking forth the message of God. The prophets were preachers who spoke forth the message of God. Most of the time, they warned people of pending destruction if they did not repent. Revelation has some prophecy like that.
We see an example of these three literary styles in the opening verses of Revelation.
Revelation 1:1–4 (NIV)
The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne,
In addition to the style of Revelation, another helpful guide is the setting of Revelation. With every Bible book, a person wants to know the setting. Who’s writing? To whom? Where are they? What’s going on in the world? We find out in Revelation 1.9, that the apostle John was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. He writes to seven church in Asia Minor or modern day Turkey. John was an apostle of Jesus and one of if not the last of the 12 apostles to die. People generally say Revelation was written around 90 A. D.
Rome was ruling the world at the time. Two relationships between Christians and Rome are helpful in our study of Revelation. First, Rome is persecuting Christians. It is not a full scale hunt them down at all cost and kill the Christians. Yet, people are being martyr or killed for their faith in Jesus. Second, imperial worship in relation to business was the bigger issue for Christians. Do you sign on with the trade guild to have a job even though certain practices of their business would force you to compromise.
The issue was who has your first allegiance? Is it Rome who claimed the Caesar to be lord and god or Jesus Christ, the son of God? Were you able to buy and sell with those who don’t share your values? Where do you stand firm and where was it okay to compromise?
A third guide to understanding Revelation is recognizing the symbols. Revelation has lots of images and visions that stand for something greater. We encounter a lamb, thrones, angels, scrolls with seals, trumpets, bowls, beasts and a dragon. At some points, we may suffer sensory overload. We encounter lightning and thunder. How do we understand the symbols. Here’s three helpful suggestions to understand the symbols of Revelation. One, is this symbol good or bad? Lambs are usually good and innocent. Dragons are usually bad. We even encounter in Revelation some that looks like a lamb, but speaks like a dragon (Revelation 13.11). A second guide to the symbols of Revelation is to ask where is the action happening? Is it in heaven or on earth. Third, learn your Old Testament. Many of the symbols or images in Revelation come straight from the Old Testament. Some people estimate Revelation contains over 500 images or allusions to the Old Testament. That’s more than 20 Old Testament connections in every chapter of Revelation.
A fourth guide to understanding Revelation is to understand the structure. The way you see the structure of Revelation may lead you to different conclusions. Some read revelation as you would other books—from start to finish. They read it in a linear or chronological way. Another way to see the structure of Revelation is to see it more like a song. It appears that you have the end of the world describe several different time in Revelation. Almost like verse and chorus. We see three different sets of sevens: seals, trumpets, and bowls. I feel this second way of seeing the structure of Revelation is most helpful. My understanding of the structure may differ from people you listen to on the radio or TV.
By looking at the style, settings, symbols, and structure of Revelation, we can have confidence to read this beautiful book that comes with a blessing simply by reading it.
I come back to Mark Scott’s Bible study, “Victory Commands in Revelation.” Each week for the rest of the year, we’ll look at a different command. This week’s command is “Keep.” To keep could be used to guard as in a soldier guarding a prisoner. In Matthew 27.36, soldiers “kept watch” over Jesus as He hung on a cross. The apostles were guarded while in jail in Jerusalem (Acts 12.5-6) and Philippi (Acts 16.23). So, part of this command carries the image of a “prison guard” protecting prisoner from escape.
It is also used to describe obedience to God’s word and His ways. I ran across this word for keep in the final words of Matthew.
Matthew 28:19–20 (NIV)
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
So, as we walk through this command in Revelation, we have the picture of a guard protecting and of a disciple learning to obey everything Jesus commands. As we see the command for keep in Revelation, we’ll look at for ways to keep watch over our walk with Jesus.
First, Keep The Word of God (Revelation 1.3; 3.8-10; 12.17; 14.12; 22.7-9).
Keeping God’s word brings a blessing (Revelation 1.3; 22.7-9). From the first chapter to the last chapter, Jesus promises to bless those who read this message of Revelation and keep it or obey it.
Keeping God’s word unites us with Jesus (Revelation 3.8-10). The church in Philadelphia in Asia Minor is commended for keeping God’s word even though they had little strength. When presented with the opportunity to deny Jesus, they remained faithful to Him. Jesus even promises to keep or protect this group of faithful followers in the hour of trial that will coming on the whole world.
Keep His word since He keeps us.
A couple of texts from the gospel of John help us understand what it looks like to keep the word of God.
Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word.
If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
Keeping God’s word makes us a target for the evil one (Revelation 12.17). We’ll come back to Revelation 12 around Christmas. In this scene we have a woman clothed with the sun about to give birth. Then, we see an enormous red dragon ready to devour the male child who will be born. The woman and the child are protected from the dragon. Then, the dragon enraged goes off to make war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast to their testimony about Jesus.
Second, Keep The Works of God (Revelation 2.26). The NIV reads, “To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations. The English Standard Version rightly reads, “The one who conquers and keeps my works until the end.” What’s it mean to keep God’s works or to guard/protect God’s works? Four times in this letter to the church in Thyatira, Jesus highlights their works or deeds. “I know your deeds/works” (Revelation 2.19). “I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of their ways/works” (Revelation 2.22). “I will repay each of you according to your deeds/works” (Revelation 2.23). And again in our text of Revelation 2.26. By broadening our view, Jesus commends the church of Ephesus saying, “I know your deeds/works, your hard work and perseverance” (Revelation 2.2). “Repent and do the things/works you did at first” (Revelation 2.5).
When the people asked Jesus what are the works of God in John 6, he gave this answer.
Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
Believing in Jesus is one of the works of God. It is to believe and keep believing. In a world, that seeks to press you into its own mold, we stand against the pressures to become chameleon Christians. We refuse to blend in or bow down.
Keeping the works of God brings protection from God. Keep His word since He keeps us.
Third, Keep The Gifts of God (Revelation 3.3). Jesus challenges the church in Sardis who has a reputation of being alive, but they’re dead. They have started many things, but haven’t finished them. Think of those home improvement projects that you’ve never finished. Jesus commands them, “Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast—keep, and repent...” (Revelation 3.3). Remember what you have received. One of the gifts of Revelation is to remind us of our salvation. Jesus, rescued us from evil. He defeated evil and will one day return to bring us to a new heaven and new earth.
Keeping the gifts of God helps us remember our salvation.
Fourth, Keep Your Clothes On (Revelation 16.15). This last command to keep or guard the ways of God may come as a surprise. The NIV says, “Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and shamefully exposed” (Revelation 16.15). The ESV says it this way, “Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!” Blessed is the one who is ready, who is pure, who is faithful. Blessing comes to those who keep God’s word, His work, His gifts, and their clothes on ready to meet Jesus.
As we read through Revelation this fall, I pray we will experience the blessing of simply reading it. I pray we will keep God’s word since He keeps us.
