July 28 – Rev 1 – “Fall down and worship” – We’ve spent a fair amount of time following Paul. Since we’re going to start it next week at church (Praise Christian Fellowship), let’s turn to the second most prolific letter-writer in the New Testament – John. Whilst books aren’t in a strict chronological order in the NT, this one is the last by position, by chronology and by reason of its message. It is the end of the Story. At the end of every good novel the bad guys are defeated in a sudden-death twist and go to jail, the hero has made untold sacrifices to ward off the bad guys but now is recognized for who he really is, he gets the girl he’s saved, and then on to honor, glory, accolades and the big finish. So where do you think all those authors got their plotline from? As the Revelation of Jesus Christ opens (it’s not John’s revelation, BTW), there has been persecution already (there will be at least 11 waves of these recorded before Christianity becomes the state religion in the early fourth century). But it seems that the problem with persecution is that it makes the persecuted more determined, and the bystanders think that this must be the Real Deal if someone is willing to die for it. Souls were saved in ever-increasing numbers. And as a much-loved and very old leader, John was a problem. So he was exiled, to an island off the coast of western Turkey, called Patmos, probably in the hope that he would die from the harsh conditions. But John has one more letter in him, and the Spirit is going to make sure it gets written and distributed. All he needed was a reason, and he’s got a doozy now. He’s had the vision to end all visions. Literally. The letter starts slowly: he greets the churches that he ministers to in the area around Ephesus; he speaks of the I AM, ever-present in all our past, present and future; of Jesus the faithful witness, and references the first indicator of where this is going – the seven witnesses before God’s throne (v4-5). You could linger for a long time and meditate on the message of verses 4-8; they speak of a glorious God who reaches from a realm that is incomprehensibly different from this created universe and who has made the connection possible for us at His own expense. He is coming again – praise God! Like Paul, John shares in tribulation (v9), and on the Lord’s day (think ‘Sunday’) his spirit was caught up into Heaven. Commanded there by Jesus to write down what he sees, John is confronted with an almost impossible task, for how do you explain spiritual things to people who only know a physical reality? Heaven is not bound by time and space, matter and energy. There is neither sun nor moon, flesh nor blood. So notice how John deals with this – he falls back on metaphor and imagery, and in so doing turns the book into poetry. ‘Like’ has become his favorite word: a loud voice like a trumpet (v10) one like a son of man (v13) like white wool, like snow (v14) His eyes were like a flame of fire (v14) his feet were like burnished bronze (v15) his voice was like the roar of many waters (v15) his face was like the sun shining in full strength (v16) And at the end of the first chapter, Jesus speaks to John. Now you may think that John should recognize Him – after all, John was ‘the beloved disciple’ – but it is significant that he doesn’t. Heaven is THAT different. Today’s take-away? Think about this vastly different Son of God. Really THINK about Him – think of the similarities and differences between this Son of God and the one in Judea; here in His element - regal, authoritative, imposing and terrifying - and there gentle, approachable and compassionate. Confronted with this new understanding of the Son – what would your response be (v17)? -S
Posted on: Sun, 28 Jul 2013 17:28:48 +0000
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