To find out more about the persecuted church today, please go to the Voice of the Marytrs website:
www.persecution.com
Monday, January 11, 2010
Suffering Church
To find out more about the persecuted church today, please go to the Voice of the Marytrs website:
www.persecution.com
A Theology of Suffering
The suffering, the kingdom, the endurance—All three of these are connected, and John and those he was writing to share in all three.
Suffering is central to the book of Revelation. Suffering is the state of those who are of Jesus' kingdom. Jesus' kingdom is full of the martyrs, the persecuted, the poor who do not have the good of this world because of their devotion to Jesus. Those who endure, who persevere in Jesus despite their suffering, are those who are "overcomers" or victorious over the world. They will be rewarded with resurrection and living in Jesus' utopia after this age is finished.
This is the basic message of Revelation. Details to come.
Suffering is central to the book of Revelation. Suffering is the state of those who are of Jesus' kingdom. Jesus' kingdom is full of the martyrs, the persecuted, the poor who do not have the good of this world because of their devotion to Jesus. Those who endure, who persevere in Jesus despite their suffering, are those who are "overcomers" or victorious over the world. They will be rewarded with resurrection and living in Jesus' utopia after this age is finished.
This is the basic message of Revelation. Details to come.
The Almighty
This phrase is used in Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi to describe God’s unending authority.
Alpha and Omega
In Jewish literature the whole of the law could be described as being from “aleph to tau”, the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
God’s complete authority is described by the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, probably since the lingua franca of rulers from Alexander’s time was Greek.
This Greek phrase is also used in Greek magic literature to describe certain gods.
In the end, it speaks of God's complete authority over every creature.
God’s complete authority is described by the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, probably since the lingua franca of rulers from Alexander’s time was Greek.
This Greek phrase is also used in Greek magic literature to describe certain gods.
In the end, it speaks of God's complete authority over every creature.
The World Is Mourning
Revelation 1:7
This mourning could speak of a rejection of Jesus, i.e. mourning that Jesus has come to take over their nations. Or it could mean a process of repentance due to Jesus’ death, i.e. a realization that Jesus died for them and so weeping over their own sin.
Probably the first, since that seems to be the context of Daniel, Matthew and Mark. And, honestly, the only mourning that takes place in the world in the book of Revelation is that of sorrow that their world is taken away from them.
This mourning could speak of a rejection of Jesus, i.e. mourning that Jesus has come to take over their nations. Or it could mean a process of repentance due to Jesus’ death, i.e. a realization that Jesus died for them and so weeping over their own sin.
Probably the first, since that seems to be the context of Daniel, Matthew and Mark. And, honestly, the only mourning that takes place in the world in the book of Revelation is that of sorrow that their world is taken away from them.
Jesus Coming in the Clouds
I like the fact that Jesus doesn't have a beard here. The earliest illustrations of Jesus has him with short hair, without a beard. Of course, those illustrations are in the third century AD, a long time after Jesus. We don't have any description from witnesses of how he actually looked.
"He Comes in Clouds"
This phrase is from Daniel 7:13, which is about the Messiah’s enthronement over all the nations after God’s judgment.
“Who they have pierced”—
This phrase is from Zechariah 12:10, which speaks of God’s judgment over all nations after they rejected God and his messenger.
The two passages were also used together in Matthew 24:30. Daniel 7:13 is also used in reference to Jesus in Mark 13:26 and 14:62. The fact that it is all the nations of the earth who rejected Jesus and not just Israel is emphasized here.
“Who they have pierced”—
This phrase is from Zechariah 12:10, which speaks of God’s judgment over all nations after they rejected God and his messenger.
The two passages were also used together in Matthew 24:30. Daniel 7:13 is also used in reference to Jesus in Mark 13:26 and 14:62. The fact that it is all the nations of the earth who rejected Jesus and not just Israel is emphasized here.
Forever
“Of the ages”—Meaning all the glory and power of all ages, thus for all eternity.
This is the term that is often translated "forever." In the ancient world, "forever" just consists of all the ages together. We moderns have a more inclusive idea of the term "eternity", which is not found in Scripture.
This is the term that is often translated "forever." In the ancient world, "forever" just consists of all the ages together. We moderns have a more inclusive idea of the term "eternity", which is not found in Scripture.
The Glory and the Power
Due to this work of redemption, God deserves all the respect and the authority over all the kingdom. Jesus did the footwork, but the Father offered the plan. Jesus, in the doxology, remains submitted to the Father throughout.
This passage-- Revelation 1:6-- is probably the source for the frequently used conclusion for the Lord's Prayer. That doxology, "Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever." is not original to Matthew's text, but was added later. Honestly, a number of the best praise songs come from the book of Revelation. It is as much a praise book as anything else.
A personal note: At one point in my year-long teaching of Revelation, I commented on all the major songs within Revelation and then played versions of those songs from praise groups, Petra and Handel. It was wonderful, and the folks loved singing along with Revelation.
This passage-- Revelation 1:6-- is probably the source for the frequently used conclusion for the Lord's Prayer. That doxology, "Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever." is not original to Matthew's text, but was added later. Honestly, a number of the best praise songs come from the book of Revelation. It is as much a praise book as anything else.
A personal note: At one point in my year-long teaching of Revelation, I commented on all the major songs within Revelation and then played versions of those songs from praise groups, Petra and Handel. It was wonderful, and the folks loved singing along with Revelation.
A Kingdom of Priests
Due to Jesus’ work, His people make up a kingdom, specifically, THE kingdom of God. Jesus’ people function as priests, mediating for the world before God through the Spirit.
Jesus’ people is elsewhere designated as a kingdom of priests (I Peter 2:5-10), as are the people of God in general (Exodus 19:6). Because we are sprinkled with His blood, we have become priests (Exodus 29:10-21), even as the ancient Israelites were (Exodus 24).
Jesus’ people is elsewhere designated as a kingdom of priests (I Peter 2:5-10), as are the people of God in general (Exodus 19:6). Because we are sprinkled with His blood, we have become priests (Exodus 29:10-21), even as the ancient Israelites were (Exodus 24).
Doxology
In Revelation 1:4-6, John breaks out in song, forgetting verbs or complete sentences, just bursting out in praise of Jesus.
He is saying: Jesus loved us so much, he sacrificed himself for our sins. This makes him both priest and sacrifice. This self-sacrifice established the kingdom of God, which we may all enter in due to the forgiveness of our sins.
The Passover lamb is alluded to here.
He is saying: Jesus loved us so much, he sacrificed himself for our sins. This makes him both priest and sacrifice. This self-sacrifice established the kingdom of God, which we may all enter in due to the forgiveness of our sins.
The Passover lamb is alluded to here.
Jesus and David
All of the titles mentioned in Revelation 1:5 —“Faithful Witness” “Firstborn” and “Ruler of the Kings of the earth”-- can be found of David in Psalm 88: 27 and 37.
“Faithful witness” is also found in Isaiah 43:10-13.
“Faithful witness” is also found in Isaiah 43:10-13.
Psalm 2 in Revelation
Even as Hebrews could be considered a commentary on Psalm 110, so could the book of Revelation be considered a commentary on Psalm 2, in the most general way. You have a revelation of the Son, the enemies of God rebelling against the Son and God fulfilling the prophecy to put his enemies at his feet. The general outline is right there.
Here it is. Judge for yourself:
Here it is. Judge for yourself:
Why are the nations in an uproar And the peoples devising a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth take their stand And the rulers take counsel together Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
3 "Let us tear their fetters apart And cast away their cords from us!"
4 He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them.
5 Then He will speak to them in His anger And terrify them in His fury, saying,
6 "But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain."
7 "I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.
8 'Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
9 'You shall break them with a rod of iron, You shall shatter them like earthenware.'"
10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; Take warning, O judges of the earth.
11 Worship the LORD with reverence And rejoice with trembling.
12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!
The Emperor of the World
King of kings—
Also an important NT title. It means “emperor”, just as Caesar was. Jesus IS the ruler, because he sits as king at the right hand of God the Father (Hebrews 1). The kings of the earth are the enemies of the Messiah, as stated in Psalm 2.
Also an important NT title. It means “emperor”, just as Caesar was. Jesus IS the ruler, because he sits as king at the right hand of God the Father (Hebrews 1). The kings of the earth are the enemies of the Messiah, as stated in Psalm 2.
Firstborn of the Dead
As is stated elsewhere in the NT (such as I Corinthians 15), Jesus is the first one to have been permanently released from the clutches of death. As the “firstborn” He is also the primary inheritor of God’s kingdom, the Son of God—Psalm 88:27-37; II Samuel 7:13-16; Psalm 2:7-8.
To be "firstborn" is to imply that there are others who are also born. Throughout the NT, Jesus is called the "brother" of the members of God's kingdom, all of whom will receive resurrection.
To be "firstborn" is to imply that there are others who are also born. Throughout the NT, Jesus is called the "brother" of the members of God's kingdom, all of whom will receive resurrection.
Jesus the Faithful Witness
"The Witness, the Faithful"
In Greek, this might normally be understood as “the faithful witness”, but this title is repeated in 2:13 of Antipas, with the addition of “my” twice.
This indicates that Jesus was faithful in His speaking of God’s word, even to the end, even facing persecution. This is important, as this is what the book insists that the churches do— be a faithful witness to Jesus in the midst of persecution.
In Greek, this might normally be understood as “the faithful witness”, but this title is repeated in 2:13 of Antipas, with the addition of “my” twice.
This indicates that Jesus was faithful in His speaking of God’s word, even to the end, even facing persecution. This is important, as this is what the book insists that the churches do— be a faithful witness to Jesus in the midst of persecution.
Seven Spirits As Stars
This, in my mind, might be a more accurate representation of John's concept of the seven spirits. Spirit beings are often called "stars" in the ancient texts, and in Matthew 2, the exceedingly mobile "star" of the magi is almost certainly a spirit leading them.
So to have the all-seeing spirits as represented by comets surrounding the earth is quite appropriate.
To see this picture in it's original context and another explanation of the seven spirits, check out:
http://www.revelation-today.com/Spirits7.htm
The Seven Spirits?
This picture represents the seven spirits as seven church leaders. This is, I would say, a non-spiritual, hierarchical viewpoint of this phrase. But it's a cool picture, isn't it? Can't agree with everything.
The Seven Spirits of Christ
The seven spirits is a reference to the Holy Spirit, just as Zechariah 4:2-7 also refers to seven items which are really the one Spirit of God. The Spirit is probably seven here to indicate representation of the seven churches, even as there are seven angels and seven lampstands—all probably the same representation of the churches to God.
These seven spirits are also referred to in Revelation 5:6, which indicate the omniscience of Christ with things pertaining to His church.
If this is the Holy Spirit, then is it not possible that the Spirit might have a multiple nature. That is not to mean a multiple personality, but a persona that represents itself differently to different churches, or being an accumulation of many spirits? There is no implication for Trinitarian theology here, simply an observation.
These seven spirits are also referred to in Revelation 5:6, which indicate the omniscience of Christ with things pertaining to His church.
If this is the Holy Spirit, then is it not possible that the Spirit might have a multiple nature. That is not to mean a multiple personality, but a persona that represents itself differently to different churches, or being an accumulation of many spirits? There is no implication for Trinitarian theology here, simply an observation.
Grammar Check
"Him who is and was and who is to come"—
There is a Greek problem with the grammar here, because the present tense of the be verb doesn't actually agree with the subject. It indicates that a reference to Exodus 3, where God revealed himself as the “I Am” is in mind. The fact that God is also the God who was and who is to be indicates that all ages are ruled by God—He has never ceased to rule.
A better translation might be: "He who am and who was and who is to come." That would at least correctly communicate the grammar difficulty here.
Revelation has a number of grammatical "errors". Some say they are because of the Semitic origin of the writer, thus Greek being his second language. I, and some others, think that the "errors" are on purpose-- pointing back to the Hebrew Bible.
There is a Greek problem with the grammar here, because the present tense of the be verb doesn't actually agree with the subject. It indicates that a reference to Exodus 3, where God revealed himself as the “I Am” is in mind. The fact that God is also the God who was and who is to be indicates that all ages are ruled by God—He has never ceased to rule.
A better translation might be: "He who am and who was and who is to come." That would at least correctly communicate the grammar difficulty here.
Revelation has a number of grammatical "errors". Some say they are because of the Semitic origin of the writer, thus Greek being his second language. I, and some others, think that the "errors" are on purpose-- pointing back to the Hebrew Bible.
Salutations
“Grace and Peace”—Common introduction in Greek epistles to Jewish people. It uses both the common Greek greeting and the common Hebrew greeting.
This probably implies, like Paul's churches, that the churches John was writing to were mixed between Jews and Gentiles, between Hebrew culture and Hellenistic culture. This is no surprise, since Paul ministered in this same area-- Asia Minor-- and two of the churches were in Paul's realm of concern-- Ephesus and Laodikia.
This probably implies, like Paul's churches, that the churches John was writing to were mixed between Jews and Gentiles, between Hebrew culture and Hellenistic culture. This is no surprise, since Paul ministered in this same area-- Asia Minor-- and two of the churches were in Paul's realm of concern-- Ephesus and Laodikia.
Hearing and Obeying
“Keep the words”—The point of prophecy is not so much to believe it, as to obey it. Those who hear it are only blessed if they obey the point of the prophecy.
For this reason, Revelation is not primarily a future-telling book. It is, rather, a sermon about right living, a call to repentance. The one who is blessed is the one who hears and obeys the call to repent.
For this reason, Revelation is not primarily a future-telling book. It is, rather, a sermon about right living, a call to repentance. The one who is blessed is the one who hears and obeys the call to repent.
Messenger
“One who reads” is the one who is reciting the book to any particular church. Some reciters were in a church and would receive a text, more often they would travel from church to church, reciting the text in each church. These are blessed for continually reciting God’s word.
Thus, this blessing is less for the one who reads it to themselves-- reading to oneself was rare in the ancient world, and it seems that reading or praying silently was almost unknown until the fourth century AD. Rather the blessing is for the one who communicates the book to others.
Thus, this blessing is less for the one who reads it to themselves-- reading to oneself was rare in the ancient world, and it seems that reading or praying silently was almost unknown until the fourth century AD. Rather the blessing is for the one who communicates the book to others.
Prophecy in Revelation
John saw visions and wrote what he saw down. This was common work for a prophet. Often the visions of the spirit world were symbolic in nature (e.g. Jeremiah 1; Zechariah), and they sometimes related to the future. But the point of the visions and the sermons related to them was to re-focus the devotion and ethical behavior of the recipients.
"Prophecy" in the Hebrew Scriptures, as well as the NT, was not just a proclamation of God's word, but receiving direct revelation from the alternative universe in which God dwells.
"Prophecy" in the Hebrew Scriptures, as well as the NT, was not just a proclamation of God's word, but receiving direct revelation from the alternative universe in which God dwells.
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