Message 17 - Revelation

My homiletics professors would kill me for starting my sermon with a story about Gefilte Fish but I am going to start my sermon talking about Gefilte Fish. Why? Gefilte Fish might just be the perfect analogy for a sermon about not opting out until it is time to come out.

Think about it. Gefilte Fish is a product that 98% of the people who walk by it have know idea what kind of fish is a Gefilte Fish. They would believe you if you told them it was a freshwater Jewish fish. It sits awkwardly on the shelf next to other items like Matza, Matzo Meal, Grape Juice, Candles and of coarse the Asian food section at HEB. It just seems out of place and it stays in its place until the right time. At just the right time, right before Passover, someone will come and grab a bottle of this white-fish mixture and serve it as a garnish at their Passover table. It stays, unique, set-apart, different, until just the right time and at the right time it comes out.

Jab 2: Relatable story about not opting out and being the hope someone else needed.

When I was seven years old my parents sent me to camp. I was supposed to go with a friend but at the last minute, my friend got sick and could not go.

So I had to go to camp alone and all I wanted to do was to leave.

Jab 3: Real life is not like summer camp.

Real life is not like summer camp. Real life is not as kind, nice or easy. Real life is filled with situations where summer camp becomes that office I have to go, with those people I have to work, with that boss I wish I did not have.

Real life is going to that school with those people who judge me, bully me, or use me. Real life is coming home to a less than functional home.

Real life is when your children don’t bounce back from that addiction, do come home pregnant, end up committing a crime that will cost everyone in your family.

Real life is driving a friend of mine 3 hours to visit his dying grandma only to have a well-to-do tap my friend on the should as we stood at the Valet for my truck and say, “Excuse me young man could you go get my car,” because he is Hispanic.

Real life always tests your grit. Real life will test your sticking power. Real life has a way of making you look for greener pastures, for country living, for escape, for vacation, for retirement, anything but real life. But the escape is usually a complicated path of heartbreak and regret.

The ancient philosopher Seneca wisely said: “No man is more unhappy than he who never faces adversity. For he is not permitted to prove himself.” Winston Churchill in his tongue cheek Brittish style said, “Kites rise highest against the wind, not with it.”

Swimming in the Sea of Talmud There Are Those Who Preach Well and Practice Well

יֵשׁ נָאֶה דוֹרֵשׁ וְנָאֶה מְקַיֵּם

Swimming in the Sea of Talmud A Person Does Not Prepare a Meal to Ruin It

אֵוִן אְדִם סִידִךָ בסִעוּדָה יָמַפִסִידָת

Real life can challenge you, push you, squeeze you, make you feel like you are drowning in oceans deep, crawling out of desert wide, locked down ready to tap out but you don’t have to tap out, you don’t have to drown, because we have a reason to not tap out. Because we know if God is for us, who can be against us. If he who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how shall we not endure as it is written, “For your sake we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter. But in all these things, in all of real life, we are more than conquerors!

e’vin e’deem see’dee’cha v’see’oo’dah ya’ma’phee’see’dat “A person does not prepare a meal to ruin it.”

In the book of Revelation, the city of man is gold on the outside but inside it is full of demons, darkness, and death.

And as important a topic as that is, that is now what I am talking about today. What I am talking about is not opting out of Babylon until it is time to come out. Let me be even more clear. Believers in the book of Revelation will not op out of influencing Babylon until there is a command to “come out.”

This is important because most believers would rather flee the evil city, head for the country, go to the vineyard than stay put and stay the coarse. The rabbis use a great expression אֵין תּוֹכוֹ כְּבָרוֹ to describe the city of man, Babylon, it means “it’s inside is not like it’s outside.” In the book of Revelation, the city of man is gold on the outside but inside it is full of demons, darkness, and death.

Babylon is the ultimate and final city but to one degree or another every major city is a copy of or foreshadows this coming great city of Babylon. But everyone of us, especially here in Houston, Texas are facing a Babylon of our own. On the outside your business may boast great revenues, be traded publically on Wall-Street, or hitting it big on NASDAQ but you know אֵין תּוֹכוֹ כְּבָרוֹ “its inside is not like its outside.” And it would be easier to leave and go to that other company than stick it out:

Right Hook: If I have done my job today, then I hope to convince you that we like these believers in the future must not tap out, or throw in the towel when it comes to our mission to our city. So we are going to look to look at the draw of the city, the grit of the exiles in the city, and the gift of the exiles to the city.

Ha-Foke-Bah

De-Cola-Bah

אֵין תּוֹכוֹ כְּבָרוֹ

Ha-Foke-Bah

Mashiach Bah

Turn-it and turn-it, everything you need is in it.

Turn-it and turn-it, the Messiah is in it.

Let’s read together:

Revelation 18:4–6 TLV

Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you participate in her sins and receive her plagues! For her sins have piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes. Pay her back just as she has paid out, and give her back double for her deeds! In the cup she has mixed— mix a double dose for her!

Revelation 18:1–8 TLV

Revelation 8:1–8 TLV

Now when the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden incense burner. He was given much incense to offer up along with the prayers of all the kedoshim upon the golden altar before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the kedoshim, rose before God from the angel’s hand. Then the angel took the incense burner and filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth; and there were clashes of thunder and rumblings and flashes of lightning and earthquakes. Then the seven angels holding the seven trumpets prepared to sound them. The first trumpeted, and there was hail and fire mixed with blood, and they were thrown upon the earth. A third of the earth burned up, a third of the trees burned up, and all the green grass burned up. The second angel trumpeted, and something like a huge mountain ablaze with fire was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood,

The Draw of the City

Revelation 18:1–20 TLV

After these things, I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his glory. He cried out with a mighty voice, saying: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a den for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit and for every unclean bird and for every unclean and detestable beast. For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the fury of her immorality. The kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich off the power of her self-indulgence.” Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you participate in her sins and receive her plagues! For her sins have piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes. Pay her back just as she has paid out, and give her back double for her deeds! In the cup she has mixed— mix a double dose for her! As she has exalted herself and indulged herself in luxury, so give her the same measure of torment and grief! For in her heart she says, ‘I sit as a queen— I am no widow; I shall never see grief.’ For this reason her plagues will arrive in a single day— death and grief and famine— and she shall be burned down with fire. For mighty is Adonai Elohim who judges her!” Then the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and indulged in luxury with her shall weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning— standing far off because of the terror of her torment, saying: “Alas, alas, O great city— O Babylon, the mighty city! For in a single hour your judgment has come!” And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, because no one buys their merchandise anymore— shipments of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; all kinds of citron wood; all kinds of ivory products; all kinds of products made of costly wood, bronze, iron, and marble; cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; wine, oil, fine flour, and wheat; cattle, sheep, horses, and chariots; and slaves—that is, human souls. The fruit of your soul’s desire has gone from you, and all the expensive and beautiful things are lost to you —never again will people find them. The merchants of these things, who became rich from her, shall stand far off for fear of her torment, weeping and mourning, saying, “Alas, alas, O great city— clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! For in a single hour so much wealth has been ruined!” And every ship captain and passenger, sailors and all who make their living at sea, stood at a distance and were crying out, seeing the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What city is like the great city?’ And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, “Alas, alas, O great city— in her all who had ships at sea grew rich from her wealth! For in a single hour has she been ruined! Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you kedoshim, emissaries and prophets! For God has judged her condemnation of you!”

We are exiles awaiting the establishment of our City.

There is a dangerous idea that floats around much of popular Christian thinking and messianic Judaism and has to do with location. Location matters. Location, Location, Location. Much popular preaching says that the faithful and few are headed to either a cloud in the sky or a garden by a river.

We are not going heading in the direction of cloud or garden but to the new Jerusalem that has a garden with it. We are destined for eternal city life. If you don’t like the city, you will not like eternity.

The Drift of the City.

If you flip to the end of the book, after judgments are made, rewards are given out, it says

Revelation 21:1–2 TLV

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city—the New Jerusalem—coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

We are going to an eternal city and if you believe in Yeshua you already are a member of that city. Passport is issued, your condo is built. You are here as an exile but you are headed to the city God has prepared for all His faithful ones:

Hebrews 11:16 TLV

But as it is, they yearn for a better land—that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

The city is not man’s invention it was God’s invention. I do think the Garden of Eden was designed to become a central city.

The city is key to the rest of life that’s the reason why you will find that as the city goes so goes the region, or the country does it. Or recent history tells us that here in Houston. When Enron collapsed it did not just impact the city, it impacted all the suburbs attached to the city. When the World Trade Centers collapsed on 9/11 and New York was brought to a standstill it virtually crippled our economic strength.

The City Draws out of the Human Heart what is already there

Revelation 18:17–18 TLV

For in a single hour so much wealth has been ruined!” And every ship captain and passenger, sailors and all who make their living at sea, stood at a distance and were crying out, seeing the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What city is like the great city?’

Revelation 18:2 TLV

He cried out with a mighty voice, saying: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a den for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit and for every unclean bird and for every unclean and detestable beast.

The city draws out of the human heart the darkness that is already there.

We read in these passengers that Kings commit immorality with her. That is a way of saying they traded favors with one another in an illicit fashion. The merchants of the earth mourned at her fall because it made then powerful, wealthy, influential beyond their wildest dreams. The passengers on their ships weeped at her downfall because this city promised a future for human kind.

If you are chasing power, the city will give it to you. Chasing casual sex, find it on every corner. Chasing influence, you got it. Chasing an escape from reality, you can find it.

There is a great line in the movie “The Highwaymen” which is about the two Texas Rangers who tracked and killed Bonnie and Clide Barrow. In a pivotal scene in the movie, Clide’s father says that he was not an evil child but one day he stole a chicken and from that moment on the law was watching him and that is what mad a criminal. After Hammer tells the story about he became an Officer of the Law instead of a Pastor he looks at Henry Barrow and says, “Do you ever think there was something in Henry that caused him to steal that chicken in the first place.”

Whatever philosophy has the city, whatever spirit has the city by the throat, that’s what its people will tolerate to lesser or greater degrees. I think that is why John describes the charachter of Babylon the Great in Revelation as a high paid prostitute adorned in amazing clothing. She is no girl being traded on the sex slave trade, she wants to do this, she enjoys the power, influence, and control she yields over all her clients.

Revelation 18:2 TLV

In the book of Revelation, Babylon the Great, is the city that is influencing the rest of the world. Her influence is so great that at a certain point Satan becomes jealous of the city and will topple it .

This is what makes the city the epicenter of God’s mission. What happens in the city changes everything else. I read an article not to long ago that said about 1.8% of the population is Jewish in the United States. and it asked the question, “Why have the Jewish people been so successful and influential? Why is such a small group of people so influential? Now if you are listening and waiting for me to make some tongue cheek remarks or say something positive or negative, or even biblical I am not. The article was a neutral article just asking a good question. The article said the reason why such a small group of people have had such a big influence is because by-and-large Jewish people are city people. Jewish people disproportionately live in cities or the suburbs surrounding the cities. Whoever has the city has the culture, has the influence.

Why is it this way? Because God invented the city to be a place of productivity, creativity, and influence. The city is the epicenter of arts, industry, education, commerce, and technology.

The residents of the city of God and the city of evil are battling everywhere - it is not like country living is easy - but the big cities are the most strategic. That is why the seven letters are addressed to seven major cities in Asia Minor. That is why Paul went to city centers and not to small town.

If you go to a small town, say MO City, no offense meant, there’s a lawyer in that town and let’s say you win that lawyer to the Lord. Great, you got a lawyer who is a believer now. But if you want to win the legal profession, you have to go to the cities. Or let’s say there is small business owner in Rosenberg you win to the Lord. That is great but if you want to influence the technology industry, you have to go to the cities.

Revelation 17:16–17 TLV

The ten horns that you saw, and the beast—these will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire. For God has put it into their hearts to do His will, and to be of one mind, and to give their royal power to the beast until the words of God are fulfilled.

Babylon the great is just the last great manifestation of the city. It is the city of the seven year period of time. This city is not the only city in the world, it is just the most influential city in the world. Much like New York is to the United Staes, or Paris to France, or Tel Aviv to Israel. This city is the city that influences the rest of the world.

The city is not man’s invention it was God’s invention. I do think the Garden of Eden was designed to become a central city. The city is something God made and the city draws out of the human heart what is already there.

The Grit of the Exiles in the City.

Revelation 18:4 TLV

Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you participate in her sins and receive her plagues!

This is not a command to flee the city for the country side but to be in the city but as the resistance movement, citizens of Zion in Babylon. This phrase is lifted right out of Isaiah and Jeremiah. A phrase that meant to be in the city but not like the city. To seek the transformative power of God in the city. Remember what Jeremiah said to the residents in Babylon

Jeremiah 29:7 TLV

Also seek the shalom of the city where I took you as captives in exile, and pray to Adonai for it—for in its shalom will you have shalom.”

Seeking the shalom of the city is seeking its transformation.

Revelation 18:4 TLV

Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you participate in her sins and receive her plagues!

Revelation 18:4 TLV

Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you participate in her sins and receive her plagues!

God calls the believers not to flee but to transform. To speak out for the Messiah, to speak against its idolatry, its corrupt power perverse justice.

If you are a believer there is no more important mission than the city. You may not like mega-churches and that is your decision, you make not like Joel Osteen that is also on you but what you have to appreciate is he has positioned Lakewood to be the church of the city of Houston. When there is a flood no one asks Second Baptist on Woodway if they are opening their doors, they ask Lakewood. That takes real Grit, real courage.

To be in the city, you got to work hard to keep your faith. You have to keep hard to keep your love, keep your hope, keep your faithfulness day-in-and-day out. It takes Grit to do this.

The Gift of the Exiles to the City.

BES we are in the formative stages of this congregation. Planning for the future. We have said that we want to have a monumental impact for the Messiah, for the messianic movement, for the Jewish community.

The warm and easy suburbs of Sugarland, Katy, Kingwood, the Woodlands are not the place to have that kind of maximum influence. It’s nice, it’s convenient, but not maximum influence.

I want us to be positioned for the future. I don’t think I saw as clearly the vision of BES until this last week. Until I say this command to be in the city but not of the city. To be in the city until the Lord calls us out.

I believe we are the gift to the city or at least the revolution the city is looking for, or even better we are the ones that can truly drain the swamp.

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