The Battle Begins
Notes
Transcript
So we’ve been in the book of Revelation for a while now. What was one thing that you feared about the book of Revelation before we began? How about now?
Revelation is perhaps one of the most intriguing books in the Bible. Some people are really obsessed with the book seeking out some code to understand what the future might bring, and as we’ve learned - there isn’t a secret code.
People read it to know about the Apocalypse. Ironically they miss the real apocalypse because they don’t understand the actual meaning of the word. They see it as “the end of the world”. In fact it’s being morphed even today in our weather reports as people talk about the “Snow-pocalypse” taking place across much of our country. As we’ve learned the word apocalypse means - unveiling, revealing, uncovering.
So those looking for how the world will end miss the fact that the book is revealing Jesus. It says so in John ‘s title for the book: Rev 1:1
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,
Ἀποκάλυψις Ἰησοῦ χριστοῦ, …
Apokalypsis Iesou Christou…
In reality, the book of Revelation is a book revealing who Jesus is; it’s a book of worship. Throughout we see Jesus depicted as the slain lamb alive and worshipped along side God on the throne.
One of the reasons why people struggle so much to understand the book of Revelation - perhaps ourselves included - is because of an unfamiliarity with the Hebrew Scriptures or what we would call the Old Testament. What we so often forget is what we know as the New Testament had not been fully formed yet. The book was likely written around AD 95-96.
So, armed with this knowledge we dive into our text for today and we read of seven angels with seven plagues. As readers of the Old Testament we’re not unfamiliar with plagues. We remember the plagues that God unleashed on Pharaoh and Egypt as Moses pleaded for the Israelites to be let go.
We’re even guided as the those who had conquered the beast and its image with harps in their hands sing the song of Moses!
…those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name,… sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!
As we continue in John’s vision he sees the sanctuary opened:
After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened, and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests.
As I said its a book of worship. We consistently are reminded of the holiness of God (and the lamb), as well as the awesomeness of God and absolute power.
John continues: Rev 15:7-8
And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever, and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.
This is reminiscent of the tabernacle back in Exodus 40:34
Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
The plagues that the angels are about to release are also reminiscent of the plagues set loose upon Egypt. We continue into chapter 16 to see them:
Sores = Boils (Exodus 9:9-11)
Blood = Rivers & springs become blood (Exodus 7:17-20)
Darkness = Darkness (Exodus 10:21)
Frogs = Frogs (Exodus 8:6)
Hail = Hail (Exodus 9:23-25)
We’ve seen these before.
So what’s changed. Revelation 1:8
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
For I the Lord do not change…
What the book we call Revelation reveals to us is not really news to Christians, it is that Jesus is Lord. God and Jesus sit enthroned together.
We are warned again that Jesus is coming again. Rev 16:15
Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake…
As the plagues are poured out as judgment the battle is on. Yet as these plagues are poured out there is a phrase that stands out, as the people are enduring these plagues Rev 16:11
and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds.
It reminds me of what we read of Pharaoh’s reaction to the plagues back in Exodus. He didn’t change his mind either.
What does is the intent of sharing that they didn’t repent of their deeds? Is it a warning for us?
We’re told the judge is coming like a thief, unexpected, without warning…yet we’ve received multiple warnings. The books of Law, the history of Israel, the writings of Psalms and Proverbs, the teachings of Jesus, the writings of Paul.
Paul writes: Romans 1:18-20
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Without excuse.
Our country is in a time of great divide. Even news networks seem to seek to stoke the flames while at the same time calling for the cooling of the rhetoric.
The sad part is there are people who are pawns in this great divide. Yes, there are guilty criminals who should be taken off of our streets. Yes, there are immigrants who have come to our country both illegally and legally who have sought to live peacefully and by the law since they’ve been here. And we’re not being allowed to see the difference. Yet they are all being treated as one great monolith by both sides.
I’ve tried to find the right words to describe what I’m seeing. And its not just an external fight thats going on, its a fight for our very souls. The hatred I hear spewed from all sides - hatred in the form of racism, classism, party affiliation, and so much more. All the while, even in the midst of spewing this hatred people want to sit on their high horse in judgment over the other without ever once considering the person in the mirror.
I’ve heard people I know profess Christ and coarsely label all immigrants as criminal. I’ve heard other who profess Christ share their judgment that all ICE agents should be line up and shot. And if anyone thinks I’m talking about a specific person, sadly I’ve heard both of these ideas from multiple sources.
Is that what Christ is about? I will say a hard “No!” to that. Paul wrote to the Ephesian church that it was okay to be angry, with this warning: Ephesians 4:26-27
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.
To the Roman church Paul wrote: Romans 12:17-18
Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
Jesus told us in the Sermon on the Mount: Matt 7:1-4
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.
And earlier in the same sermon: Matthew 5:21-22
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.
I have to wonder how many of us no matter whose side you profess to be on have prayed for those on the other side. Jesus said, Matthew 5:43-44
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
The discourse in our culture has become so heated, and frankly violent that we no longer talk to each other, we talk at each other. I believe there is a different course we can take. I believe as a church here we live it in choosing to love those we disagree with.
As Christians we are called to stand with our neighbors.
As Christians we are called to stand for love - not hatred.
As Christians we are called to stand in the gap.
As Christians we are called to glorify God - so whatever you are doing, my hope is that you will always remember that person you oppose is also created in the image of God.
To God be the glory. Amen.
Let me pray for you.
