Church of the Lukewarm: Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22)

One of the wealthiest city of that area during Roman times, Laodicea was widely known for its banks, a medical school with a famous eye salve[1], and a textile industry famous for glossy black wool that was used for making tunics and cloaks. The church appears to have been as wealthy as the town. There's no mention of persecution, or trouble with the Jewish population, or any conflict with heresy. 

The city worshiped a moon God named Men, a lord of the underworld. People counted on him for healing, safety, and prosperity.[2] Called ‘Lord of Two Horns’ by the Romans, [3] he was often depicted riding a horse and carrying a scepter, crescent moon rising behind him like two horns, with a slain beast at his feet. 

In A.D. 60, an earthquake leveled Laodicea (along with a lot of other places). Laodicea refused to accept Roman financial assistance because they had enough money to go it on their own. They were pretty proud of being rich enough to take care of themselves.[4]

The city’s major weakness was lack of a decent water supply. It was not hot, like the water from the hot springs of nearby Hierapolis; it was not “cold” like the water at nearby Colossae. Aqueducts brought water from these locations to Laodicea, and it was lukewarm and somewhat dirty by the time it arrived. The pipes that have survived are coated with calcification and minerals, some to the point of blocking the water flow almost entirely.

This brings us to today’s text.

14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen,[5] the faithful and true witness,[6] the ruler of God’s creation.[7] 

15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot (from zeo, to boil) nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 

17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.[8] 18 I counsel you to buy from me[9] gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 

19 Those whom I love I rebuke (reprove)[10] and discipline.[11] So be earnest (from zeo, to boil) and repent. 20 Here I am! I have been standing at the door and knocking.[12] If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person,[13] and they with me.[14] 

21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

* * * * *

Augustine, around 400 AD, wrote about the distinction between the City of Men and the City of God.  

“The earthly city glories in itself, the Heavenly City glories in the Lord. The former looks for glory from men, the latter finds its highest glory in God, the witness of a good conscience. The earthly lifts up its head in its own glory, the Heavenly City says to its God: 'My glory; you lift up my head.' 

In the former, the lust for domination lords it over its princes as over the nations it subjugates; in the other both those put in authority and those subject to them serve one another in love... The one city loves its own strength shown in its powerful leaders; the other says to God, 'I love you, my Lord, my strength.' 

French sociologist Jacques Ellul once noted of human cultures, 

“The whole goal of the city of man is to be able to say, we did it ourselves, we did it our way, we did it our own, we have need of nothing.”

That’s Laodicea. That’s problematic enough. It gets worse when the City of Man becomes confused with the City of God. One biblical scholar wrote of Laodicia, 

“No doubt part of her problem was the inability to distinguish between material and spiritual prosperity. The church that is prospering materially and outwardly can easily fall into self-deception that our outward prosperity is the measure of her spiritual prosperity."[15]

The link between spiritual complacency and material blessing came up time and again as I was studying this. This isn’t a new idea. Jesus warned that material comfort would make it challenging to enter the Kingdom of God.  John Wesley, an English clergyman who founded the Methodists, made an interesting observation:

“I fear, wherever riches of increase, the essence of religion is decreased in the same proportion… as riches increase, so will pride, anger, and love of the world and all its branches.” [16]

This is not inevitable, of course. It’s not money itself that’s the problem. But the Bible sure does warn about how easy it is to love money and the material things of the world. This appears to be the source of the lukewarmness in the church in Laodecia. It led to (depending on whose study you prefer):

·      works (“deeds”) that were barren and ineffective. Jesus didn’t say, “I know your heart,” though he surely does. There was something about their deeds.

·      a self-sufficiency that caused them so say, “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing,” which led them to live in a lukewarm fashion

·      a lack of passion for the things of God (they weren’t ‘boiling’) 

It’s probably a combination of all three. At minimum, they are neither pleasing nor beneficial to God. 

Ever heard the phrase “Go big or go home?” Something like that. Not that you have to do something grand, but do it wholeheartedly. It’s discouraging to watch your favorite sports team mail it in. At least try.  Sometimes I’ll watch movies where I feel insulted by the level of artistic work that went into telling the story. Just how low did they think my standards were? 

G.A. Studdert Kennedy, an Anglican priest and army chaplain for England during WW1, wrote a poem I saw referenced more than once as I was studying the church in Laodicia.[17] It’s intended to show the insult to God when we treat him casually.

When Jesus came to Golgotha, they hanged Him on a tree,

They drove great nails through hands and feet, and made a Calvary;

They crowned Him with a crown of thorns, red were His wounds and deep,

For those were crude and cruel days, and human flesh was cheap.

When Jesus came to Birmingham they simply passed Him by,

They never hurt a hair of Him, they only let Him die;

For men had grown more tender, and they would not give Him pain,

They only just passed down the street, and left Him in the rain.

Still Jesus cried, “Forgive them, for they know not what they do,”

And still it rained the wintry rain that drenched Him through and through;

The crowds went home, and left the streets without a soul to see,

And Jesus crouched against a wall and cried for Calvary.

 If you love or hate Jesus, either way you have invested time and emotion in wrestling with the reality of Jesus. But to ignore him? To just take him lightly or for granted? I’ve been in the position where I have wounded others in a decision I made. That’s bad enough. It’s worse when I have to say, “I wasn’t trying to hurt you. I didn’t even think about you.”  You think that’s going to make it better, and then you hear it come out of your mouth and you just cringe. I think that’s why we often hear that the opposite of love isn’t hate; it’s indifference.  

The Laodecians weren’t going through life hostile to Jesus. They just weren’t thinking about Jesus. Jesus would spit out lukewarm water; he promises to spit out such Christians. They disgust him. It’s a sobering image. 

I probably can’t overstate how bad it was going in Laodicea. In my Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture series, there is a loooot more the church fathers have to say about Laodicea than any other church.  Like, they had strong opinions.  Commentators are in agreement: the idea that God would just vomit them out is a gross image for a reason. 

The description of the reality of their condition doesn’t ease up – and it nails them at the point of their false security.

“wretched" and "pitiful"—  a state when everything one owns has been destroyed or plundered by war. It had to be a shocking image to people doing really well materially. But the reality was they had lost the war. They had been spiritually plundered, and they didn’t even know it.  It turns out that when you don’t think about Jesus, you don’t stay neutral. The more comfortable we are in the world, the more it’s the world that shapes us. It’s the world that defines what’s normal, what the good life looks like.[18] We think we are cool and comfortable and knocking it out of the park, but in reality we are being plundered by the beast. 

Poor – bring no spiritual ‘gold’ to the world and they have no spiritual wealth

Naked - no virtue; righteousness; no spiritual armor 

Blind – no vision. They don’t see the world as God sees it.

And yet, after a fairly blistering takedown in which nothing good is said about this church… “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.” 

In every other case, the Lord has noted both the good and the evil in the Church, and generally the good first: here He does nothing but find fault, but He adds in effect, “Do not suppose from this that I do not love you.” (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges)

There are many sayings about doors that need to be opened found in the writings of the ancient rabbis. One example will suffice.

"God said to the Israelites, My children, open to me one door of repentance, even so wide as the eye of a needle, and I will open to you doors through which calves and horned cattle may pass."[19]

John’s audience knew what was being asked of them: repentance.

“The echoes of stories in the gospels suggest that the one knocking on the door is the master of the house, returning at an unexpected hour (as in the warning to Sardis in 3.3), while the one who should open the door is the servant who has stayed awake. It is, then, Jesus’ house in the first place; our job is simply to welcome him home.”[20]

And if they repent? Jesus who has conquered, and who is sitting with the Father in power (“on the throne”), will offer them a seat with them. 

 “This is the worst of the seven Churches, and yet the most eminent of all the promises are made to it, showing that the worst may repent, finally conquer, and attain even to the highest state of glory.” (Adam Clarke)

The self-sufficient Spirit of Laodicea begins to find renewal in acts of repentance and disciplines of dependency.[21]:

Poor – bring no spiritual ‘gold’ to the world. How do we become refined gold? The Church Fathers had some opinions: 

·      “Filth is burned out by fire.” (Cyprian)

·      “…standing firm in good works...” (Caesarius of Arles)

·      “…made brilliant in the fire of temptation.” (Andrew of Caesarea)

·      “…flame of afflictions…” (Bede)

This will require endurance on a path that will refine us like gold. Many will not endure it. Even Jesus noted that. “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)   

N.T. Wright recounts that Teresa of Avila once complained to the Lord about what she was suffering. ‘This’, he is said to have replied, ‘is how I treat my friends.’ Teresa, who by then prayed in the good, direct and biblical style, retorted, ‘Then you shouldn’t be surprised that you have so few of them.’[22] But the letter to each of the 7 churches reminds us that faithfulness of true friends will be rewarded. 

Naked - no virtue How do we become clothed in a white raiment?

Those who are naked are “destitute of the works of righteousness…he is clothed who is vested with the baptism of Christ, for…’as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.’” (Primasius) 

Note the inevitable two-part connection: faith and deeds. James would be happy reading this JWe are baptized into Christ, and from that flows a life inspired, empowered and ordered by Christ in us. “I know your deeds” is more than just saying, “I know what you did.” It’s saying, “I know whose you are.”

Blind – no vision . How does one get the eye salve that clears up bad eyesight? 

·       “The commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes.” (Primasius)

·      “…acquire an understanding of the holy Scriptures through the performance of good works.”(Bede)

·      “For mixing together the seed of the divine word with the thistles of wealth, you have become unaware of your poverty in spiritual matters and of the blindness of your spiritual eyes and of your nakedness in good works….the salve is poverty.” (Andrew of Caesarea)

Interesting mix (and note the 2nd and 3rd are human opinions rather than quoting Scripture). But I like the way in which the early Fathers tried to consider everything: Knowing the word of God; living the commands of God; choosing self-denial. Perhaps they all sharpen our vision.

And finally, the unique term used here: ”Boiling.” It’s time to live with zeal. This is, I think, primarily about commitment, the dedicated orientation of our life.

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[1] Laodicea was the home of a medical school in the first century. One of its graduates was Demosthenes Philalethes, an ophthalmologist who wrote an influential textbook on the eye. An ancient healing formula called Phrygian powder was also linked with the city. (Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary Of The New Testament)

[2] https://oxfordre.com/classics/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-4088

[3] https://atlanticreligion.com/2014/08/13/sabazios-and-the-phrygian-moon-god-men/

[4] A snapshot of Babylon’s materialism shown in Revelation 18.

[5] Isaiah 65:16 speaks of “the God of the Amen.”  

[6] See Revelation 1:5; 19:11. 

[7] Paul wrote the book of Colossians for the church at Laodicea. See Colossians 1:15-18 for the same description of God, but in more detail.

[8] Note the contrast with the church at Smyrna: "I know . . . your poverty—yet you are rich!" 

[9] Isaiah 55:1, "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost." You will see the same language in Revelation 21:6 and 22:17.

[10] John 16:8; Ephesians 5:11; Ephesians 5:13 

[11] See Proverbs 3:11–12; Hebrews 12:5–6.

[12] Luke 12:35, 36, "Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately."

[13] In the ancient world, a meal invitation to an estranged person opened the way for reconciliation. Jesus offers to accept and renew intimate fellowship with those who repent, anticipating the final Messianic banquet in Revelation 19:9. (NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible)

[14] Note this act of grace: the self-deluded members of the congregation are being invited to an act of fellowship with Jesus. (NIV Study Bible Notes)

[15] Both quotes found in Seven Deadly Spirits: The message of Revelations letters for today's Church, written by T. Scott Daniels

[16] Seven Deadly Spirits: The message of Revelations letters for today's Church, written by T. Scott Daniels

[17] From collected poems in an anthology called “The Unutterable Beauty.” 

[18] Salvian the Presbyter (5th century) wrote of Laodicea, “They learn good and do evil…they have the form of knowledge and of truth in the law. They preach that they must not steal, yet they do steal. They read that they must not commit adultery, yet they commit it. They glory in the law, yet by transgression of the law they dishonor God. Therefore, for this very reasons, Christians are worse because they should be better.”

[19] Shir Hashirim Rabba, fol. 25, 1

[20] N. T. Wright, Revelation For Everyone

[21] The idea of “disciplines of dependency” comes from Seven Deadly spirits: The message of Revelations letters for today's Church, written by T. Scott Daniels

[22] N.T. Wright, Revelation For Everyone

The Church In Philadelphia: Open Doors (Revelation 3: 7-12)

Philadelphia was founded around 190 B.C. by the king whose close relationship with his brother earned Philadelphia the meaning “brotherly love.” 

Philadelphia was called The Doorway to the East because you had to pass through it from a shipping port in the west if you wanted to get to the East, to India specifically – and a lot of people wanted to get to India. The main roads from nearby commercially rich regions converged in Philadelphia. 

In the 2nd century BC, the Greeks had used it as a base to spread their culture into all the surrounding regions. It had an almost evangelistic fervor. Their religion, philosophy, government, art and language all spread throughout Asia Minor.[1] Philadelphia was a doorway to spread a worldview and a culture.

It was a flourishing town, at one point earning the nickname “Little Athens.” The one major drawback was earthquakes. These were such a problem that the residents of Philadelphia got used to leaving for a while and coming back. It was just kind of life in Philadelphia. It was shaky. One historian wrote that every wall had cracks; people were often injured or killed by falling bricks and stones. 

Their temples, however, were built to withstand earthquake damage. They put the foundations on charcoal beds covered with fleeces, so the temple “floated.” For this reason, the temples would be among the most secure structures in the city.  It was not unusual for the temple columns to be the only thing left standing after severe earthquakes.  

In AD 17, the same earthquake that leveled Sardis also leveled most of Philadelphia. People stayed outside the city for as long as three years after that one. When it was rebuilt, Philadelphia became Neocaesarea, the city of Caesar, thanks to the help from Rome. 

This brings us to our text.[2] 

7 Write down My words, and send them to the messenger of the church in Philadelphia. “These are the words of the holy One, the true One, and the One who possesses the key of David,[3] which opens the doors so that no one can shut them. The One who closes all doors so that no one can open[4]: 

8 “I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door, which no one can shut.[5] I have done this because you have limited strength, yet you have obeyed My word and have not denied My name. 9 Watch, and I will make those of the congregation of Satan—those who call themselves ‘Jews’ but are not because they lie—come before you humbly penitent, falling at your feet.[6] Then they will know how much I have loved you.[7] 

 10 Because you have obeyed My instructions to endure and be patient[8], I will keep watch over you and preserve you[9] from/through the hour of trial, the time of temptation/test[10] which will come upon the whole earth and put the inhabitants of the earth[11] to the test.11 I will soon/quickly return.[12] Hold tight to what you have so that no one can take away your victor’s wreath. 

12 “As for the one who conquers through faithfulness even unto death, I will plant that person as a pillar[13] in the temple[14] of My God, and that person will never have to leave the presence of God. Moreover, I will inscribe this person with the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, New Jerusalem—which descends out of heaven from My God—and My own new name.[15]

What is the "hour of trial"?[16] Three main possibilities show up in commentaries: 

•  the time known to the Jews as the "messianic woes," a time of trouble before the final "day of the Lord" (Daniel 12:1, Joel 2:31; Mark 13:14; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; Revelation 14:7). 

• times of tribulation in which many Christians are martyred (6:9-11; 7:9-14, etc.).

• a judgment from God on unbelievers

Whichever one of those it is, it’s going to be a really tough time. A really tough time. I just want to note something about this verse by offering an amplified translation that captures some of the nuance going on in the language. 

I will keep watch over you and preserve you from/ keep you intact through the hour of trial, the time of temptation (negatively destructive) or test (positively refining) which will come upon all the inhabitants of the earth and put the ‘earth dwellers” to the test. 

My sense is that it’s a situation (and/or ongoing situations throughout history) which reveals who we are: are we “earth dwellers” who crumble under temptation and trials or are we “heaven dwellers” who endure, and for whom those times of testing refine and mature us thanks to God’s protection rather than tear us apart internally and corporately? 

What does it mean, then, when God says that "I will also keep you from the hour of trial"? There are three possibilities again.

• "To keep from" is to be removed. 

• It’s preservation while in the trial, being kept from the spiritual destructiveness of evil (John 17:15).

• Exemption from the hour of trial has often not been deliverance from persecution (see Foxe’s Book Of Martyrs). It’s being spared divine judgment but not hardship.

I think the biblical record and church history show us that Christians have experienced all of these in times of trials. Because I’m not that interested in trying to fit comfortably into an eschatological niche, let’s just note two things I think everyone agrees on:  

• Times will be tough.

• God will be faithful to “keep us” either through or from these trials. 

If you find that you are in them, it’s through. If you aren’t, it’s from. What I want to land on is their reward for their faithfulness in the midst of either resisting the allure of Babylon or enduring the persecution of Rome. Their reward was eternal stability and opportunity.  

ETERNAL STABILITY

The temple pillar imagery is about stability, assurance and hope. Jesus is a firm foundation. No matter what happens in this life, those who faithfully endure will stand strong through eternity.  

John’s audience lived in a place where the world was literally crumbling around them – except for pillars in temples. We live in a world that is crumbling in a different way: everything around us has cracks (families, churches, government, jobs, friendships, health); we are often injured by falling bricks and stones. We bear the bruises of a fallen world.

But there will be a day with no more earthquakes, no more instability, no more collateral damage from the chunks of sinful mortar others drop on us (and we drop on them). There will be a day where, by the grace and power of God, we are made new (Revelation 21), and that transformation will never come to end.

OPPORTUNITY

The opportunity is to spread the gospel of Christ and His Kingdom. 

Christians in Philadelphia were not meant to see what was happening around them as problems but as opportunities to speak to people about where real security can be found. It was a church that allowed its obstacles to become, through the power of Christ, open doors of opportunity for building the kingdom and extending the gospel.[17]  Think of problems in Scripture that became opportunities:

• Paul’s shipwreck leads to a miraculous sign (Acts 28)

• Paul and Silas lead their jailor to Christ (Acts 16)

• A lack of food becomes an opportunity for the miraculous (Mark 8)

• A Roman trial becomes an opportunity to witness (Acts 26)

• Poverty becomes an opportunity for generosity (Acts 4)

• Persecution becomes opportunity for testimony (all martyrs)

• Being cursed brings an opportunity to bless (Luke 6)

• Pagan entertinment become part of a Gospel presentation (Acts 17)

• It appears that, in Philadelphia, the persecution from the Jews was an open door for testimony and/or ministry, which would result in their attackers eventually giving them honor.

• Even death, for a Christian, opens a door to life.

So I am wondering what it looks like to find the open doors around us in the midst of trials that are opportunities for sharing the gospel and spreading the Kingdom. I suspect if we begin to have that mindset, the hardship and challenges of life are more likely to be positively refining rather than negatively destructive. 

• The economy is unsettled right now. Both production and supply chains are disrupted for a variety of reasons; businesses lack workers; rising wages are impacting the cost of everything.

• Our poverty rate is around 11% on average; about 20% of us are uninsured or significantly underinsured, and health challenges can very quickly become a health crisis. “Real wages” have been dropping steadily for a while. 

• From 2010 - 2019, racial and ethnic minorities accounted for all of the nation’s population growth. We are probably more ethnically diverse than we have ever been as a nation (which is not a bad thing at all), but the US has not always handled this kind of diversity well.

• The rate of church attendance might be the lowest it’s ever been. In the 1950s, about 3% of people did not claim any religious identity. Now it’s at least 20%. Church membership is at an all-time low (47%), but that’s measuring all houses of worship. Of those who attend church, only about 35% attend in a way that could be described as “regularly.”

• We have a crisis of theology. 30% of evangelicals think Jesus was a good teacher, but not God. 35% disagree that The Holy Spirit gives a spiritual new birth or new life before a person has faith in Jesus Christ.” 17% agree that modern science disproves the Bible. 46% think most people are good by nature. 42% agree that God accepts the worship of all religions.[18]

• Everything surrounding COVID. 

• Housing is really expensive; cars are becoming a precious commodity (first the lack of computer chips, and now a looming problem making the frames).

• Political tensions are such that the possibility of violence remains an ever-present concern here and abroad.

• Racism (and the best way to address it) is a front and center concern.

• The #metoo problem is ongoing. The way in which we treat each other sexually in our culture is far too often appallingly bad. 

• Identity is perhaps on shakier ground than ever. 

What if instead of seeing these things as obstacles, or getting consumed by seeing them as problems, or using them as opportunities to unleash anger, we see them as open doors of opportunity to spread the Gospel, represent Jesus, and introduce people to the beauty of life in the Kingdom. 

• Economic uncertainty - open door to look for businesses to support and people to help.

• Poverty - open door to be generous, or help people find jobs, education or resources.

• Changing demographics – open door to learn from the incredible variety of image bearers. More specifically, since immigrants are more Christian than we are (by percentage of affiliation)[19], we get the opportunity to worship with other believers in a way that points toward the image in Revelation of every tribe, nation and tongue gathered together. 

• Low church attendance – open door to go out into the highways and byways, and invite people to join us.

• Huge cracks in our theological armor – open door to study Scripture more than ever and re-present truth wherever we go.

• COVID – open door for the people of God to enter with stability, peace, hope and love.

• Housing and transportation are pricey – open door to share space and vehicles as we are able.

• Political tensions – open door to be the peacemakers Jesus calls us to be.

• Racism (and the best way to address it) – open door to talk about the value and dignity of all image bearers of God, demonstrate in word and deed the commitment to see and treat all people as Jesus would, and be a voice for those whose voices are too often not heard.

• The #metoo movement– open door to commit ourselves to honoring other with our eyes, our words, our thoughts and our actions; to teach our kids to do the same; and to offer the healing and hope that Jesus brings to those whose lives feel shattered.

• Questions of identity – open door to talk about why we believe seeing ourselves as God sees us and finding our identity in Jesus above all else are so important to bring stability and purpose to our lives. 

 And then, there’s our homes, our families, our church. Those, too, are places to which God has called us to spread the good news of the gospel minister on his behalf. These, too, have open doors. And if we build from the situation in Philadelphia, those doors will open in the midst of hardship and trials as often as not. 

Everybody around us needs ministry. They may look they are already pillars in the heavenlies (they aren’t), they may be idiots; maybe you just don’t like them. They need the ministering healing of God embodied in the church and re-presented by the people of God just as much as you do. 

May we be the kind of people who can see the doors around us that God has opened; may we have the Holy Spirit infused wisdom, strength, and love to walk through them.

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[1] https://storage.snappages.site/HD257D/assets/files/Revelation-3.7-13-See-the-Open-Door.pdf

[2] All the commentaries at Biblegateway were really helpful. I tried to keep track, but I’m sure I did not properly credit them all.

[3] Isaiah 22:22. 

[4] Jesus claimed His authority to “open” and “shut” the doors of the kingdom (see Matthew 16:19). This passage is either admission into the kingdom or an opportunity for evangelism and service (see 1 Corinthians 16:9; 2 Corinthians 2:12; Colossians 4:3).

[5] “There may be an allusion here to the fact that the ancient town of Philadelphia lay at the entrance of a mountain pass to the inner region of Asia Minor. The opportunity lay before the church to enter that door and spread the gospel to the surrounding area.”

https://israelmyglory.org/article/philadelphia-church-of-the-open-door-revelation-37-13/. Paul wrote to Colosse, “And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message” (Colossians 4:3). Also, the phrase looks forward to the open door to heaven, which John is given in Revelation 4:1.

[6] This fulfills OT prophecies that Gentile oppressors would bow down before Israel (Isaiah 49:23; 60:14). Perhaps this is making the point that followers of Jesus are the true Children of Abraham. 

[7] Christians were persecuted by the Jews, who believed they (not the) Christians) would inherit David’s kingdom (see 2 Samuel 7:12–16). In A.D. 90, right around the time Revelation was written, the Council of Jamnia expelled Christians from the synagogue. 

[8] “Not the words which Christ has spoken concerning patience, but the word of Christ which requires patience to keep it; the gospel which teaches the need to be patient waiting for Christ.” (Vincent's Word Studies)

[9] “5083 tēréō (from tēros, "a guard") – properly, maintain (preserve); (figuratively) spiritually guard (watch), keep intact.” (HELPS Word Studies)

[10] The ‘hour of trial’ is an image used throughout the Bible (Daniel 12; Matthew 6:13; Mark 13:4; John 17:6, 15; 2 Thessalonians 2:1–12), referring to the testing and trials that we endure before God’s eternal Kingdom arrives. The parallel expression in John 17:15 refers to spiritual protection. “Cognate: 3986 peirasmós (from 3985 /peirázō) – temptation or test – both senses can apply simultaneously (depending on the context). The positive sense ("test") and negative sense ("temptation") are functions of the context (not merely the words themselves).” (HELPS Word Studies)

[11] “Those who dwell on the earth” is apparently a term for “men of the world who have their portion in this life” (Ps. 17:14b). Other commentators are more blunt: it’s unbelievers who worship the beast, persecute believers, and deserve divine judgment (see also Revelation 6:10 and 13:8).

[12] Implied here is “without unnecessary delay.” (HELPS Word Studies). Sometimes, this is a warning that God will return in judgment (verse 3; 2:5, 16) but this is a hopeful event. Christ will deliver his church either through or from the hour of trial.

[13] A pillar is constantly used in Scripture as a figure of strength and durability. A faithful municipal servant or a distinguished priest was sometimes honored by having a special pillar added to one of the temples and inscribed with his name. (Expositors Bible Commentary)

[14] The church is God’s temple (2 Corinthians 6:16)

[15] Philadelphia had taken Caesar’s name at one point in their history. Jesus promises those who love him a new identity and citizenship in the New Jerusalem (Philippians 3:20; Hebrews 11:10, 16; 12:22). Christ's "new name" could be either the unknown name that he alone knows, or the new name of Christ given to the believer through redemption (cf. Isa 62:2; 65:15). The significance of these names is further developed in Revelation 19–22. (Expositors Bible Commentary)

[16] In Revelation, this “hour of trial” unfolds through the seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments.

[17] I could probably dedicate a sermon to what it means that God closes doors. I don’t have time to address it in this sermon. In brief, I can see two ways we can miss what God is opening and closing: by failing to see what’s been opened, and by trying to pry open what’s been shut. 

[18] https://thestateoftheology.com

[19] https://www.pewforum.org/2013/05/17/the-religious-affiliation-of-us-immigrants/

Sardis: Church Of The Living Dead (Revelation 3:1-6)

When John was writing Revelation, Sardis was a city that had seen better days. Remember Bruce Springsteen’s song “Glory Days”? Something like that. 

It was once a capital city under the Persian government. Aesop came from Sardis. King Midas was supposed to have been there (in legend). It was kind of a big deal. The Hebrews referred to the first Lydian king, Gyges[1], as “Gog”; he was followed by the next king, Magog.[2]  Eventually, Sardis was ruled by Croesus, who was famous for his wealth.  Sardis had a river in which to pan for gold where (according to legends) King Midas dipped his finger to lose that pesky golden touch.  Gold and silver coins were apparently made for the first time in Sardis;[3] some historians credit that with the beginning of money as we know it.   

Sardis was famous for having been built on an acropolis. It had cliffs on three sides and only one major access to protect. Armies never pulled off a frontal assault in the history of the city.  

Sardis engaged heavily in the worship of Cybele, who was said to be able to restore the dead to life. Maybe that’s why its necropolis (graveyard) was as well known as the acropolis on which the city was first built. 

 However…. those cliffs and wealth and gods and goddesses didn’t guarantee their safety as much as they thought.

·    Croesus’ army was destroyed by the Persian king Cyrus after Croesus misread the Oracle of Delphi’s prediction about a great empire falling if Croesus attacked them. It was Croesus’s empire. 

·    In 546 the city fell to Cyrus when Cyrus’s army spotted a weakness in the cliff walls

·    In 214 BC the city itself was taken by surprise attacks from Antiochus the Great (the father of the “little horn” in Daniel 7), once again literally by a thief in the night sneaking up the walls.

Given to the Romans in 133 BC, it flourished. By this time it had lost political prestige and power, but not wealth. It was still a major town on trade routes, famous for gold, silver, and precious stones. It did not lead to the moral betterment of the people. “Even on pagan lips, Sardis was a name of contempt. Its people were notoriously loose living, notoriously pleasure-and luxury loving. Sardis was a city of the decadence.”[4]

 In 17 AD, it was leveled by an earthquake. Tiberius helped rebuild, and that’s when the cult of emperor worship kicked Cybele out. However, Sardis also had a large Jewish community with which they lived in apparent harmony. The Jews would later build a synagogue the length of a football field, one of the largest in ancient times. Apparently, Sardis got along with Christians just fine also.[5] 

With this background in mind, let’s read Revelation 3:1-6 (The Voice).

The One: Write down My words, and send them to the messenger of the church in Sardis. “These are the words of the One who has the seven Spirits of God[6] and the One who holds the seven stars[7]: 

“I know the things you do—you’ve claimed a reputation of life, but you are actually dead.[8]  Wake up from your death-sleep, and strengthen what remains of the life you have been given that is in danger of death. 

I have judged your deeds as far from complete in the sight of My God. Therefore, remember what you have received and heard; it’s time to keep these instructions and turn back from your ways. If you do not wake up from this sleep, I will come in judgment. I will creep up on you like a thief—you will have no way of knowing when I will come.[9] 

  But there are a few names[10] in Sardis who don’t have the stain of evil works on their clothes. These people will walk alongside Me in white, spotless garments because they have been proven worthy. 

 “The one who conquers through faithfulness even unto death will be clothed in white garments,[11] and I will certainly not erase that person’s name from the book of life.[12] I will acknowledge this person’s name before My Father and before His heavenly messengers.[13] 

6 “Let the person who is able to hear, listen to and follow what the Spirit proclaims to all the churches.”

 It would appear that Sardis was unique among the seven churches in that it was not facing any of the persecution of the other congregations. They were apparently active,[14] but,  much like the city, they were coasting of past achievements, indulging in pleasure and luxury, thinking they had built the church on a spiritually safe acropolis when actually they were living in the necropolis.[15] 

The Church of Sardis was busy, but not alive. There’s no “seat” or “temple” of Satan here; Satan didn’t need to attack. The church wasn't alive enough for the culture to care that it was there; their neighbors weren’t excited or offended.  A lack of being counter-cultural, a lack of recognizing threats, and a lack of seeing the need to be salt and light had left it at peace, but it was “the peace of the dead.”[16]

Think of starlight. When you see the Big Dipper, you are looking at light that began its journey earthward over a century ago. It is possible that some of those stars no longer exist. A star might be dead while the light we see makes it look alive. This was the church in Sardis. [17]

For the Christians in Sardis, the call to overcome and remain faithful to the end was not a call to resist a harsh attack from outside the church. It was a call to resist something far more subtle: the spiritual complacency and self-righteousness that too easily follows luxury, comfort, ease. They had become what Jesus applied to the Scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23:27-28:

“You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside, are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean….on the outside you appear to people as righteous, but inside, you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.”

 What characterizes the Living Dead? I confess I’m pulling from zombie tropes now, but I think they actually make some sense. For centuries, entire cultures have told stories about what the Living Dead are like. They understand the horror of it.

• They follow their bodily appetites above all else. A fruit of the Spirit is self-control.[18]This is not present for those who are full of death and not life. In an indulgent town like Sardis, that would be a common problem in line with the Nicolaitan problem we’ve seen already that plagued almost all the churches in Revelation so far. “How do I meet my needs?” is the #1 question.

• They are the ultimate consumers. It is all take and no give. There is no sense in which they live for others – and when it appears that they are, you can be sure it’s going to benefit them. What feeds me?  What satisfies me? What will I get out of this? You scratch by back and…then scratch it again. It’s the exact opposite of the covenantal approach to life a Christian should have.

• They are never satisfied. Spiritually, it’s “always learning but never able to come to the truth.” (2 Timothy 3:7) It’s always hungry and thirsty without Jesus (John 6:35) C.S. Lewis described it this way in The Screwtape Letters: “An ever increasing craving for and ever diminishing pleasure is the formula...to get a man's soul and give him nothing in return.” And the dissatisfaction is never seen as a sign that might be asking too much of material pleasures; it’s seen as a sign they just aren’t trying hard enough.

• They are totally unaware of their impact on others. They have no idea the chaos and pain their relentless self-centeredness leave behind them. They never look in the rearview mirror. They never ask how others experience them. They never enter into biblical accountability. They never speculate about the ripple effect of what they have done. 

• They fit in with the crowd. The culture doesn’t attack them because they fit in. And this was the problem in Sardis. They fit in. They had traded the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped the creature side of the world more than the Creator.[19] They loved the Beast more than the Lamb.

 However, there is Good News (as there always is): 

·      ‘You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.” (Colossians 2:13)

·      “Even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved! (Ephesians 2:5)

We see this at work as the history of Sardis unfolded. We have sermons from Melito, bishop of Sardis in the second century; representatives from Sardis attended the First Council of Nicaea (325), Council of Ephesus (431).[20] So the church did not wither away.  

How did those embers of life fan into flame? Well, the work of Jesus, of course. That’s the foundation. Unless he builds the house, we labor in vain.[21] But Sardis receives some clear instruction on what God expects of them as well. 

Wake up and keep watching

Scott Daniels,[22] when asked by a friend how he was doing spiritually, responded, “I'm doing okay. I mean, I think God and I are just fine, I would say we are just coasting along through life together.”  His friend replied, “I will really be praying for you, Scott, because I'm sure you are aware, there is only one direction a person will coast." 

It is too easy to think we have built unassailable spiritual fortresses when we don’t.  It can be too easy to only resist the frontal assaults and miss the thief sneaking in to kill and destroy. I am far less concerned about the times culture blatantly promotes sin than I am about the times it just subtly blends into the background and becomes part of the moral ecosystem that nurtures us. Here’s how subtle sins work:[23] 

•  “Who wants to join me in a murder?” Hard pass. The spiritual fortress is solid. “Who want to join me in expressing how much we loathe Person X on social media?” I’m in! The spiritual fortress is breached.[24]

•  “I can’t sleep with you; I’m married.” Spiritual fortress is solid. “Listen, porn is just not a big deal. It’s normal, and nobody gets hurt.” Spiritual fortress breached.[25]

• “I won’t take revenge on you even though you hurt me; vengeance belongs to God.” Spiritual fortress is solid. “But I sure hope somebody does and I hope it hurts you like it hurt me!” Spiritual fortress is breached. (Matthew 5:38)

• A healthy sense of self-worth… subtly becomes pride. 

• Enjoying the material luxuries around us… becomes materialism.

• Prayerfully sharing a concern… turns into gossip.

• Righteous discernment… morphs into unrighteous judgment.

• A good track record of not stealing physical things… blinds us to our theft of intangible things (like purity or innocence).

• Being a good steward of money… becomes greed. 

• A desire for seeing people held accountable/responsible… becomes unforgiveness.

• Wishing you could have some of the success people around you have (which can be a good motivator)… becomes envy (they actually don’t deserve it and I do.)

• Trying to connect the dots to better understand the actions and motivations of a public figure… becomes slander based on rumor and innuendo, 

• The gift of persuasion… turns into the art of manipulation.

• A love of direct honesty… becomes an excuse for harshness.

• Being responsible with what you have been given… becomes being selfish with what you have been given. 

It’s subtle. We have to wake up and keep watching to see the thief sneaking into our city. This is what we pray for – revival, a renewing of our hearts and minds that begin with Holy Spirit clarity.

Strengthen what remains. It’s not entirely clear what remained. A little bit of their first love? The rituals of corporate worship? Disciplines and practices?  Good deeds? Strong theology? Whatever it was, it was something that was meant to build a spiritual fortress on the foundation of Jesus with the help of the Holy Spirit. This is why we don’t downplay any of these things. Sometimes the structure is the glue that holds things together. What Sardis needed was a renewed filling of God’s Spirit so that the very little they had left could be brought back to life. 

 How many movies have a boxer or a policeman or doctor who made a terrible error, and they become just a shell of themselves. Then somebody swoops in and revives what’s left, usually to a montage of scenes while “Eye Of The Tiger” plays in the background. Or “My Heart Will Go On.”  That’s the idea here.  This is what we pray for: the embers of our righteousness fanned to life by the Holy Spirit.

Remember what you received and heard. 

The teaching of the gospel message and apostles is a point of reference for past, present, and future faith. The fundamental foundations of the gospel of Jesus Christ cannot be forgotten. There is no replacement for orthodoxy (right belief) with a foundation of biblical truth on which we build our lives. This is what we pray for: that we not only learn but long to learn, and that we always remember Gospel truth.

Repent and keep the instructions.

From orthodoxy (right teaching) comes orthopraxy (right action) and orthopathy (right emotions). The church is the chosen instrument of God to expand his kingdom through the person and work of Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit, on the foundation of biblical truth, represented by His ambassadors, His children. This is what we pray for: faithful and consistent endurance.

When we are faithful to endure until the end, a reward awaits: full fellowship with God, purified and renewed in ways we can’t imagine,  with our name secured for eternity.   

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” (Revelation 21:3-5)

_______________________________________________________________________________

[1] Plato recorded that Gyges (Gog) gained power with the help of a magical ring that made him invisible. #Lordoftherings

[2] “The word of Yahweh came to me: ‘Mortal, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. Prophesy against him and say: Thus says the Lord God: I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.’” (Ezekiel 38:1–3)

[3] “It is of interest to note that the first coinage ever to be minted in Asia Minor was minted in Sardis in the days of Croesus. These roughly formed electrum staters were the beginning of money in the modern sense of the term. Sardis was the place where modern money was born.” (Barclay)

[4] Biblical Sites In Turkey: Sardis. https://www.meandertravel.com/biblical_asia_minor/biblical_asia_minor.php?details=sardis

[5]  Hat tip to NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible for good background info.

[6] A repetition of Revelation 1:4. See also Revelation 4:5 and 5:6.  Note the 7-fold Spirit in Isaiah 11:2 and compare the seven lamps and seven eyes of Zechariah (Zechariah 3:9; Zechariah 4:2; Zechariah 4:10), “the symbols of eternal light and all embracing knowledge” (Ellicott’s Commentary For English Readers). 7 Is a symbol for fullness and completion.

[7] A repetition of Revelation 1:20 in which they are identified as angels.

[8] From nekros, which is also the root word for Sardis’s famous necropolis.

[9] “Here the reference is not to Christ’s second coming (cf. 16:15; 1 Thess. 5:2; 2 Pet. 3:10), but to His sudden and unexpected coming to His unrepentant, dead church to inflict harm and destruction.” (NKJV MacArthur Study Bible)

[10] “3686 ónoma – name; (figuratively) the manifestation or revelation of someone's character, i.e. as distinguishing them from all others.” (HELPS Word Studies)

[11] White clothing stood for purity, righteousness, and sanctification (Ps. 51:7; Is. 1:18; Rev. 7:14; 19:14). “This image is rooted in Old Testament purity laws. The priests and the people wore white robes on the Day of Atonement according to Jewish tradition. The Dead Sea Scrolls community also wore white robes every day as a sign of their constant purity. God also wears a white robe in Da 7:9. The “soiled” clothing of those in Sardis is likely rooted in the imagery of Zechariah (see Zec 3:1–3). In a Greco-Roman context, white robes were often worn by the emperor and by athletic victors.” (NIV First Century Study Bible)

[12] Cities in Asia Minor had citizen-registers; in an earlier period Sardis was known for its royal archives. In some cities, names of errant citizens were deleted from the register immediately prior to their execution. (NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible) A divine ledger is first mentioned in Ex 32:32–33 (see note on Ps 69:28; cf. Da 12:1). It was a register of all citizens in the kingdom community. To have one’s name erased from this book would indicate loss of citizenship (see 13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27; Php 4:3). (NIV Case For Christ Study Bible) See also Revelation 20:12–15; 21:27. “The names of sinners are also blotted out of the book of life in the noncanonical book of 1 Enoch 108:3.” (NIV First Century Study Bible)

[13] This resembles what Jesus said in Matthew 10:32: “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.” Luke 12:8 substituted “the angels of God” for “my Father in heaven.” 

[14] “We are not to get the impression that Sardis was a defunct affair with the building a wreck, the members scattered, the pastor ready to resign. It was a busy church with meetings every night, committees galore, wheels within wheels, promotion and publicity, something going on all the time.” (Vance Havner)

[15] Hat Tip Seven Deadly Spirits: The Message of Revelation’s Letters for Today's Church, by T. Scott Daniels, for offering good perspective on which I have built. 

[16] William Barclay

[17] HT to “Sardis: Warning To A Dead Church” by Andrew Davis for this illustration.

 https://twojourneys.org/sermon/sardis-warning-to-a-dead-church-revelation-sermon-6-of-49/

[18] Galatians 5:22-23

[19] Romans 1:25

[20] Biblical Sites In Turkey: Sardis. https://www.meandertravel.com/biblical_asia_minor/biblical_asia_minor.php?details=sardis

[21] Psalm 127:1

[22] Seven Deadly Spirits: The Message of Revelation’s Letters for Today's Church, T. Scott Daniels

[23] “What Exactly Are Subtle Sins? ”http://www.amyfound.org/a_discipled_nation/downloads/oss.pdf

[24] See how Jesus connects murder and hatred in Matthew 5:21-22.

[25] See how Jesus connects adultery and lust in Matthew 5:27-28.

THYATIRA (Part Two): The Power Of The Kingdom Of Heaven (Revelation 2:24-29)

We are going to start with a passage from Daniel 7, a chapter that Revelation pulls from pretty directly with its imagery[1]: 

Daniel:  I was looking and saw the four winds of heaven blow in from all directions and sweep across the surface of the Mediterranean Sea, whipping up waves and turmoil within the deep. Four great beasts rose up from the churning waters, each one different from the other. 

The first to surface was like a lion. It had giant wings like an eagle’s protruding from its shoulders… a second beast rising from the sea [resembled] a bear… another beast… was fierce and fast like a leopard. It had a bird’s wings like the lion… a fourth beast arose as if from a nightmare, terrifying, more awful and more powerful than anything I had ever seen. 

As I watched the vision unfold, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His throne above all. His clothes were the purest white, as white as snow, and the hair of His head was like the finest wool. His throne was a flaming fire, set on wheels that blazed like the sun.  A stream of fire emerged and flowed from His presence... 

The heavenly court will sit in judgment, his authority will be taken from [the 4th beast], and his supremacy over the earth will come to a permanent end…the fourth beast was slain, and its body was destroyed, delivered over to the consuming fire.  As for the other beasts, their power and position were taken away, but they were allowed to live for a little while longer. 

I looked and saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven[2]. He approached the Ancient of Days and was ushered into His presence. To Him was given authority, honor, and a kingdom so that all people of every heritage, nationality, and language might serve Him. His dominion will last forever, His throne will never pass away, and His kingdom will never be destroyed.[3] 

I was deeply disturbed by all that I saw; these night visions terrified me. So I approached one of the heavenly beings and asked him to explain exactly what had happened…. The four great beasts you saw that rose from the wind-whipped sea are four kings who will rise from the earth and come to rule vast empires.  

But the holy ones of the Most High God will receive that kingdom which will last for all the ages to come, forever and ever...[4] Now the appointed time had come when the holy ones took possession of the eternal kingdom….then the great ruling authority of the kingdoms under the heavens shall be handed over to the covenant people, the holy ones of the Most High; Their kingdom will last forever, and all the remaining kingdoms will worship and serve Him.”

The ‘four kingdoms’ of Daniel 2 and 7 are overwhelmingly identified in one of two ways: 

·      Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome

·      Babylon, Media, Persia and Greece.[5] 

I favor the view that that the fourth Kingdom is Greece.[6]  

·      First, the imagery for the Roman beast in Revelation is a combination of all 4 of these, suggesting it’s something new. 

·      Second, it’s soon after the 4th collapse of Greece and the defeat of that last horn in Daniel’s vision (Antiochus IV) that the Son of Man is enthroned in His glory after the Resurrection and covenant people are given the New Covenant along with the eternal Kingdom (the Kingdom of Heaven). 

I don’t think Daniel intends us to apply this to a Millenium age or the New Heaven and New Earth, because note that this all happens amidst the remaining political kingdoms of the world still being present (the beasts who are allowed to live),[7] and (if I am reading Revelation correctly), Rome still shows up as itself and as a stand in for empires the keep rising 

The writer of Hebrews talks about when Jesus, who “in these last days” (Hebrews 1:2) “appeared once for all at the end/culmination/consumation of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Hebrews 9:26).[8] It’s the end of the ages (!)… but it can’t mean the end of the world as we know it. HELPS Word Studies might clue us in with its explanation of how it is the “end”:

 culmination (completion), i.e. when the parts come together into a whole … not strictly "termination" but rather "consummation" (completion) that ushers in a new time-era/age (Mt 13:39,40,49,24:3, 28:20)… when it reaches its intended climax (consummated conclusion).][9]

Something had climactically gathered history together and brought an end even as it ushered in a new time. That “something” is, I believe, the incarnation of Jesus and his death and resurrection. We typically talk about the break between the Old and New Testament, or the Old Covenant and the New Covenant, but there is even more going on. Something dramatic shifted in the heavenly realm involving the Kingdom of God, the dismantling of authority previously given to the nations and rulers of the world, and the installing of a ruling authority for God’s covenant people.

And yet here we are, with dragon-inspired empires and beasts still roaming the earth. How do we explain this? The rabbis and the writers of the New Testament understood the term “the Kingdom of Heaven” to have a dual meaning: 

·      The rule of God in the present

·      the eschatological [end time] rule of God over all mankind.[10]

Christians have long called this “the now[11] and not yet[12].” In Northern Michigan we know what this is like when it comes to seasons. When the first day of spring shows up on the calendar, the age of fulfillment has come, but the consummation stands yet in the future. 

·      “At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him (not yet). But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor (now) because of the suffering of death”.  (Hebrews2:8–9) 

·      “Dear friends, now (now) we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears (not yet), we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2)

·      We are already adopted in Christ (Romans 8:15), but not yet fully adopted (Romans 8:23)

·      We are already redeemed in Christ (Ephesians 1:7), but not yet fully redeemed (Ephesians 4:30)

·      We are already sanctified in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:2), but not yet fully sanctified (1 Thessalonians 5:23–24)

·      We are already saved in Christ (Ephesians 2:8), but not yet fully saved (Romans 5:9)

·      We are already raised with Christ (Ephesians 2:6), but not yet fully raised (1 Corinthians 15:52).[13]

The now and not yet. 

This is brings us to the second part of the letter to Thyatira. I wanted that background, because we need it to discuss a point that is being made.  

“I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, those who have not held to the teachings of Jezebel and who remain ignorant of the real meaning of what is called the deep things of Satan,[14] I will not burden you with anything more. Just keep on task, and keep the faith until I return. 

 “And as for those who conquer through faithfulness even unto death and continue to labor with Me until the close of the final curtain, I will give them the power of the kingdom of heaven.[15] And they will shepherd the nations with an iron rod/staff/scepter[16], as fragile clay jars are shattered to pieces.[17]  As I received this authority from My Father, I will bestow the morning star to the victor.[18] 

 “Let the person who is able to hear, listen to and follow what the Spirit proclaims to all the churches.”

 I want to talk about the power and authority that is both “now and not yet” for the followers of Jesus who are shepherding and shattering the nations. 

First of all, we don’t take that power and authority. It’s not a thing we conquer anyone else in order to achieve. It’s given to us by the one who has that authority. At the final battle at the end of Revelation 19, the heavenly armies do nothing other than be present. All the actions belong to Jesus, who is covered in a robe splattered with his own sacrificial blood. The only weapon used is the “sword” of his word. 

Second, the authority wielded requires a proper definition:  

·      moral authority and influence having an earthly impact (Strong’s Concordance)

·      God’s authorization for faith-filled saints to act authoritatively as guided by His revealed Word (HELPS Word Studies)

I don’t think we are intended to read this as, “In this age –‘these last days’ – we will be taking earthly thrones.” In this age I believe followers of Jesus have been given spiritual empowerment and authority in a kingdom not of this world; since it’s going to involve shepherding, it’s going to look like something the Good Shepherd modeled for us.[19]

How do we exercise this shepherd-like moral authoriy of the “now” over the kingdoms of the world?[20] How do we shatter the structures, the systems, the worldviews, the immoral plundering of cultures and people? Well, why not use the classic text on shepherding, written by a shepherd about the Good shepherd.

The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing. 2 He provides me rest in rich, green fields beside streams of refreshing water. 3 He makes me whole again by refreshing my soul[21]; steering me off worn, hard paths to roads where righteousness and justice honor His name.

 4 Even in the unending black gloom of death’s darkness, I am not overcome by fear of evil calamity or injury. Because You are near with Your rod and staff, I am comforted. 

5 You spread out a feast on a table before me, provisions in the midst of attacks from those who vex and trouble me. You care for all my needs, anointing my head with soothing, fragrant oil, filling my cup again and again with Your grace.

6 Certainly Your faithful protection and loving provision will pursue me where I go, always, everywhere. And my dwelling shall be, throughout all my days, in the house and in the presence of the LORD.

Here’s what is of interest to me today: how do we exercise our spiritual authority and embody the sin-shattering presence of a shepherd in the kingdoms of the “now”?  We are not the kind of shepherds who can save like Jesus saves, of course. We are ambassadors; we are not the King. But we can still learn how to shepherd those given to shepherd by looking at how Jesus did it. 

·      The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing. Do we offer nourishing provision for those around us? We can’t meet every need, but we can meet needs of all kinds – spiritual, emotional, material, relational. How are we contributing in the lives of those who lack in our church, our city, our nation, the world? Are people fed with the water and food of temporal and eternal life when the representatives of the shepherd show up?

·      He provides me rest in rich, green fields beside streams of refreshing water. Do the weary and heavy-laden[22] find the rest of God in our presence? Do the victims of this sin-saturated world experience the rest that God offers through salvation when they are in the presence of God’s people? 

·      He makes me whole again by refreshing my soul.  Are we being refreshed by Jesus? Are the souls of those around us refreshed by Christ in us? Are we the oasis in the deserts of the world?

·      He steers me off worn, hard paths to roads where righteousness and justice honor His name. Do we walk people toward righteousness and justice instead of toward sin and injustice? Does where we go with people or take people honor the name of Jesus? Whose name will have been made great when we have left the room? There is only one thing that will draw all people to Jesus when it’s lifted up, and that’s Jesus.

·      Even in the unending black gloom of death’s darkness, I am not overcome by fear of evil calamity or injury. Because You are near with Your rod (Protection? Discipline?) and staff (guidance? Provision?), I am comforted. Do we protect, guide, and comfort those walking through their own dark valleys? Are we bringing light? Do we offer hope both practical and spiritual?

·      You spread out a feast on a table before me, provisions in the midst of attacks from those who vex and trouble me. Do those who are vexed and troubled find us to be nourishing? If someone comes into our life starving for love, truth, justice, grace, hope, what kind of table do we set?

·      You care for all my needs, anointing my head with soothing, fragrant oil. How are we anointing the heads of those around us with a soothing, fragrant oil flowing from the love, truth and grace of God as found in Jesus?

·      You fill my cup again and again with Your grace. Are we pouring  the grace of God into the lives of those around us such that they overflow? If there was a magical camera recording spiritual realities and translating it into physical images (like Revelation), what would we all see ourselves pouring into the lives of those around us?

·      Certainly, Your faithful protection and loving provision will pursue me where I go, always, everywhere. Are we pursuing people with loving provision and faithful protection? Not just waiting for an opportunity, but actively pursuing people. Who needs someone to stand up for them? Who needs loving provision?

·      And my dwelling shall be, throughout all my days, in the house and in the presence of the LORD. Good reminder: We are already dwelling in the house of the Lord in the Kingdom of God. 

#practicerighteousness

Rest in the comfort and grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, whose protection and provision is pursuing you wherever you go.

Pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal and transform areas that need redemption in your life so that your re-presentaton of Jesus is ever more righteous and refined. 

Purposefully focus on shepherding others well this week by imitating what has been modeled by the Good Shepherd. 

_________________________________________________________________________
[1] It combines the imagery of these 4 beasts in describing the beast in Revelation

[2] A well-known image of authority and divinity, often used to describe earthly kings.

[3] When Jesus referred this passage to Himself,  the religious leaders accuses Him of blasphemy (Matt. 26:64, 65; Mark 14:62–64).

[4] Notice that what the previous paragraph called the enthroning of Jesus in an everlasting Kingdom, and which Jesus identified as happening when he came to earth, is now referred to as a time when the people of Jesus begin to rule and reign.

[5] “The beasts can be identified by a careful study of history. The lion, bear, leopard, and fourth terrifying beast represent Babylon, Media, Persia, and Greece. Persia had four kings, so the leopard had four heads. The ten horns of the fourth beast with iron teeth represent the ten dominant Seleucid kings after Alexander the Great’s empire splintered into four regions. The smaller horn is Antiochus IV who put down three potential Seleucid leaders (horns) before him.” (The Voice commentary, from biblegateway.com)

[6] “The four kingdoms of Daniel 2 and 7,”

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/themelios/article/the-four-kingdoms-of-daniel-2-and-7/

[7] Even while the other three kingdoms’ “power and position were taken away, but they were allowed to live for a little while longer.” In other words, Daniel is not talking about the end of the world, and yet the eternal Kingdom of God has begun. Hmmm.  

[8] https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/already-not-yet

[9] HELPS Word-studies

[10] “The Kingdom Of Heaven In The Here And Now And Future.” Marg Mowczko, https://margmowczko.com/the-kingdom-of-heaven-here-now-future/

[11] “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst (or, within you).” (Luke 17:20b-21)

[12] Jesus’ many parables show the kingdom here and in progress - and yet to come.

[13] https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/already-not-yet

[14] “The reference to ‘Satan's so-called deep secrets’ is uncertain. The reasoning of some in the early church (the Nicolaitans) might have gone something like this: The only effective way to confront Satan is to enter into his strongholds; the real nature of sin can only be learned by experience, and therefore only those who have really experienced sin can truly appreciate grace. So by experiencing the depths of paganism ("the deep secrets of Satan"), one will be better equipped to serve Christ or be an example of freedom to one's fellow believers (cf. 1Co 8:9-11). Thus the sin of Jezebel was deadly serious because of the depths of its deception. Only a few perceived where the teaching was leading.” (Expositor’s Bible Commentary)

[15] Some translations read, “the power of

[16] Rod, staff, scepter. https://biblehub.com/greek/4464.htm  It belongs to Jesus in Revelation 19 .“It is not easy to determine whether the "rod" is a king's sceptre, as in Hebrews 1:8, or a shepherd's staff, as in 1 Samuel 17:43; Micah 7:14; and Zechariah 11:7.” (Pulpit Commentary) 

[17] Psalm 2 imagery for what Jesus would do.

[18] Domitian was described as the morning star in his ascension to the throne. “Roman legions carried the symbol of Venus [the morning star] on their banners to depict Roman invincibility. In this context Christ would be saying that the only final sovereignty and power lay with himself and his victorious followers”. https://biblicalscholarship.wordpress.com/2012/09/28/commentary-on-revelation-218-29/

Jesus calls himself "the bright and morning star" (Revelation 22:16). In Daniel 12:3, the morning star is promised to believers. Since Lucifer is at one point referred to as the morning star -  and Romans 16:20 says that “ the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” - a few of the early church fathers read this verse as, “I will even put Satan under the feet of the victors.”  I mean, it works, but I don’t think it’s the primary meaning of this text.

[19] “The promise is of authority to share in the shepherd-like sovereignty of the anointed King.”  (Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers) “The rule over the nations… is used in Revelation 7:17 of the Lamb shepherding his saints, and in John 21:16 in the charge to St. Peter to shepherd Christ's sheep. (Pulpit Commentary)

[20] Primary version is The Voice (my favorite), with substitutions of some parts for clarity.

[21] Passions, emotions, self, desire

[22] Matthew 11:28-29

The Buy In To Fit In (Revelation 2:18-23)

 [1]Write down My words, and send them to the messenger of the church in Thyatira. “These are the words of the Son of God,[2] the One whose eyes blaze like flames of fire[3] and whose feet gleam like brightly polished bronze: “I know your deeds: love, faithfulness, service, and endurance. Your labors greatly increase in quality as you travel along this journey.

A period of great prosperity was beginning for Thyatira. There were more trade-guilds in Thyatira than in any other Asian city at that time: wool and linen workers, garment manufacturers, tanners, potters, bakers, slave dealers, and bronze smiths.[4]

In a town known for its work, the church is known for its deeds: love that expresses itself in serving others, and faithfulness that has expressed itself in endurance. That’s a fantastic reputation. They are nailing the orthopraxy (righteous actions) and orthopathy (righteous feeling). The problem is their foundational orthodoxy (righteous teaching/belief). 

That’s going to need to stabilize, or the foundation is going to crumble. John is going to make this point by referencing the presence of a Jezebel (likely not her real name) in their church. Here’s the backstory of Jezebel.  

Jezebel married Israel’s King Ahab and got him to worship Baal; over 800 prophets of Baal were under her care. Most of the prophets of God were murdered at her request. At one point, she set up the murder of vineyard owner just because she wanted the vineyard. Elijah prophesied to Ahab that Ahab and all his successors would be slain and that dogs would devour Jezebel. Eventually, Ahab, Jezebel and her two sons, and Ahab’s 70 sons died as Elijah had predicted.[5] John is going to use this well-known Old Testament event to make a point about Thyatira’s version of Jezebel.

 “However, I have this against you:[6] you have tolerated that woman Jezebel, who is a self-anointed prophetess and who misleads My followers to commit immoral sexual acts and to eat food prepared for idol worship.  I have provided her enough time to turn away from her indecency,[7] but she refuses to turn from these immoral acts. 

 Watch; I will throw her back into her sickbed with those who committed adultery with her, and I will make them a bed of great affliction[8] if they do not abandon her indiscretions and turn to follow Me.  I will punish her[9] by striking her children dead.[10] Through this all the churches will know I am the One who relentlessly explores the mind and heart,[11]and I will deal with each of you as you deserve according to your acts.

 Like the Nicolaitans in general, it appears Jezebel is promoting participation in the guilds where the activities mentioned took place, which would mean at best flirting with idolatry and at worst embracing it.[12] I’m not sure how to best interpret the language of judgment here. I think (?) it’s best understood as simply making the point that just as judgment followed the original Jezebel (physical affliction and death in her case) judgment will follow this Jezebel (physical or spiritual? Commentators are uncertain). Whatever conclusions you reach from that, the consequences will be serious. 

This is the third time in the first four churches in Revelation that the Nicolaitan urge has shown up. One uncomfortable implication is that this is a common problem, not an isolated or unique one. Practically everyone is wrestling with this, and there appears to have been room to wrestle.[13]

But let’s this more uncomfortable. Don't forget: in Thyatira they were flourishing in “love and faith and service and endurance, and getting better at it. These Nicolaitans of Thyatira, with Jezebel as their leader, were still active and unwearied members of the Church, full of good works, and respected by the congregation and probably by the community for their general character and way of life.[14]

It’s a deceptive spot: “I am helping so many people, I am respected in the church and in the community, so not only is what I am doing with the guilds okay, I must be okay.” But John is here to challenge that. 

Let’s look at a likely argument that Christians could join a guild and participate in its feasts without compromising the faith.[15] 

• The rituals of the guilds aren't really even meaningful to the pagans. They are simply empty rituals, more political than religious. 

• Although the pagan guild members may believe that the gods exist, Christians know that the gods are nothing. (1 Corinthians 8) When believers participate in these cultic practices, they're not worshipping a false god because there is no god there. 

• If believers do not participate in the guild events they will not only be persecuted and excluded, they will lose all relevance to the city and to the economy, and that doesn’t do any good for anybody. Participation in the guild meetings gave Christians the opportunity to be witnesses to, or positive influences on, others. 

• Others might use the opportunity to indulge in sin, but Christians certainly don’t have to.[16]

“That incense burned to Caesar? Nobody takes it seriously. That sacrificial meat offered to the gods? It used to be idolatry, but if nobody at my table takes it seriously, is it really? That letter I get to do business says I was observed sacrificing to Caesar, but (wink wink) we all know I wasn’t really, right? And sure, there were prostitutes pretty boldly advertising what they had to offer, but I just looked, I didn’t touch. That’s righteous self-control, ya’ll. Plus now I got a good business deal, which means more tithe for the church - and I can support missionaries.”

But that’s the problem. Endless justification of that which ought not be justified. How do we do that? I think it starts when we begin to make categories about what God cares about[17]: 

”Things God Cares About”                          “Things God Doesn’t Care About”  

My Sexuality                                                     My Budget

Not being lazy                                                  Workaholism #moremoney

Your Slander                                                     My gossip #prayerrequest

Meanness                                                          Memes  #butitwasfunny!

Trust/Faith                                                         My need for control 

Loving Others                                                   Well, not that person…

But our faith is intended to permeate everything we do. When we are baptized (baptizo) we are marinated, spiritual cucumbers turned into pickles when our lives have been immersed in Christ. There is no part of us that gets carved out as if it were untouched. Everything is under the lordship of Christ. Abraham Kuyper famously said, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!”

If this doesn’t happen, we will be under the lordship of something else. In Revelation, you either get the seal of the Lamb or the mark of the Beast. Either a heavenly kingdom or an earthly empire will lay claim to your soul.[18]

There will be times when Christians can accept the existing forms, structures, perspectives and practices of society. It’s not all bad thanks to common grace.[19] There is plenty of room for legitimate discussion about how to be in the world but not of it. But there will be a lot of times when Christians must declare spiritual war against values, structures and practices of the empire.[i]

Here’s why we have to keep our antennas up on this. 

"Gallup and Barna hand us survey after survey demonstrating that evangelical Christians are as likely to embrace lifestyles every bit as hedonistic, materialistic, self-centered, and sexually immoral as the world in general." (Theologian Michael Horton)[20]

African Christian and missions scholar Professor Lamin Sanneh told Christianity Today recently that "the cultural captivity of Christianity in the West is nearly complete.”[21]

* * * * *

I was at a gym for a while where we would have a ‘buy in’ before the main workout. You had to ‘X’ before you could start the workout. I’ve been thinking of that in light of what the Christians in Thyatira were facing. There was a “buy in to fit in.” There was an entrance fee, a price for doing business, a price for being accepted, a price for living comfortably within the Empire. 

So my question is, what’s the price point for us? When is the buy in acceptable, and when is it too much? We don’t have literal business ceremonies in pagan temples in the United States; the push toward idolatry and compromise is not so obvious. So I’m trying to think of what this deceptive buy in might look for me like without a specific ceremony in mind. This is my list for me; I hope this spurs you to do some brainstorming of your own. 

• If the ‘buy in to fit in’ with a group requires I believe that all roads lead to God, that's too high of a price. 

• If the ‘buy in to fit in’ with a group requires I deny anything in our statement of faith, that’s too high of a price.

• If the ‘buy in to fit in’ with a group requires me to be in a position or take a job where I can't ever talk about Jesus, that's too high of a price.

• If the ‘buy in to fit in’ at a compelling job requires so much of me that I don’t spend a biblically responsible amount of time with my family, it’s too high of a price. 

• If the ‘buy in to fit in’ with a group means I must align myself with a political party or a community group or a civic organization that unnecessarily detracts from my ability to talk about Jesus with those who are far from Christ, that's too high of a price.

• If the ‘buy in to fit in’ with a group means unquestioning loyalty for our nation[22] in a way that does not leave room for a prophetic voice to speak righteous truth to power and call every leader at any level to appropriate repentance, that's too high of a price. 

• If the ‘buy in to fit in’ with a group means exercising my constitutional freedom in a way that overrides the biblical responsibilities I have as a follower of Jesus, that's too high of a price.

• If the ‘buy in to fit in’ with a group means I have to be comfortable with derisively mocking or slandering people I don't like on social media instead of speaking grace-filled truth in love, that's too high of a price. 

• If the ‘buy in to fit in’ with a group means you want me to minimize or ignore the very issues of justice that God cares about and which the Bible demands I care about, that's too high of a price.[23]

• If the ‘buy in to fit in’ means I have to treat people as if power equals importance, or beauty equals value, or education equals wisdom, or results equals character, I’m out. It’s too high of a price. 

• If the ‘buy in to fit in’ with a group means I have to fight with the  weapons of the Beast to win battles for the Lamb, that's too high of a price.[24] 

* * * * *

We are reminded in this letter: 

“Know that I am the One who relentlessly explores the mind and heart…”

I think we probably ought to join in that endeavor. 

 I am really encouraged by our deeds here at church: you give generously, you are involved in important ministries in our church and in our local community, you support and connect with those furthering the Gospel in other countries. You have been patient with the rebuilding from the fire, and faithful through all the hardships COVID has thrown our way. Let’s not grow weary in that J

If this letter reminds us of anything, it’s that we must look honestly at the thoughts and intents of our hearts. Next week we are going to finish this letter and look at the promise for those who overcome. Meanwhile, let’s  #practicerighteousness 

·      What is the “buy in” to be a good citizen in the eyes of our American culture?

·      What is the “buy in” to be respected by the world around us?

·      What is the “buy in” to participate in the economy, to achieve the American Dream of financial success and comfort?

Pray for discernment. Process with friends. Revisit what the values of the Kingdom are as revealed in Scripture, and surrender your heart to God’s inspection.

____________________________________________________________________________

FOOTNOTES

[1] Key resources that have heavily informed this series:

·       Apocalypse and Allegiance: Worship, Politics, and Devotion in the Book of Revelation,  by J. Nelson Kraybill

·       A teaching series by professor Shane J. Woods on Revelation (shanejwood.com)

·       The Bible Project’s videos, notes and podcast

·       Michael Heiser’s teaching on Revelation (Podcast: The Naked Bible)

·       Reading Revelation Responsibly: Uncivil Worship And Witness: Following The Lamb Into The New Creation, by Michael Gorman

·       Dragons, John, And Every Grain Of Sand, edited by Shane J. Wood.

·       Matt Chandler’s Revelation Series (Village Church)

·       Ancient Christian Commentary On Scripture: Revelation, from IVP

·       Seven Deadly Spirits: The Message of Revelation’s Letters for Today's Church, T. Scott Daniels

·       The Letters To The Seven Churches: A History Of The Early Church, William Ramsay

·       Adam Clarke’s and Greg Beale’s commentary on Revelation

·       The commentaries available at Bible Gateway, biblehub.com, and preceptaustin.com

[2] Considering how Psalm 2:9 is quoted in verse 27, and Psalm 2:8 in quoted verse 26, "Son of God" is probably riffing off of Psalm 2:7, "Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee." Also, Thyatira had two gods worshipped as the son of Zeus.

[3] Daniel 10:6

[4] The reputation of this bronze may be part of the reason why this letter is voiced by the one whose feet are like burnished bronze.  

[5] Read 1 Kings 18-2 Kings 9 for the full story.

[6] In Ephesus there is much zeal for orthodoxy, but little love; in Thyatira there is much love, but a carelessness about doctrine. 

[7] Interesting that Jezebel's deceptive teaching (as bad as it was) would have been forgiven; doing it was not as serious as refusing to repent. 

[8] “So often in his dealings with man, the instrument of wrong doing is made the instrument of punishment. The bed of sin becomes a bed of suffering.” (Pulpit Commentary)

[9] “In some ways the judgment of Jezebel prefigures Babylon in chapter 18: fornication (2:20-21; 18:3, 8-9), deception (2:20; 18:23), the command not to participate in her sins (2:22-23; 18:4, 8), and that God judges everyone according to their deeds (2:23; 18:6).” https://biblicalscholarship.wordpress.com/2012/09/28/commentary-on-revelation-218-29/

[10] Compare the fate of Jezebel's followers of Baal, and Ahab's sons, 1Kings 18:40; 2Kings 10:6, 7, 24, 25. ‘Kill with death’ is a reminder of "dying thou shalt die" (Genesis 2:17), which probably carries the implication of spiritual death. See 1 Corinthians 5 for Paul talking about giving someone over to the “destruction of the flesh” and consigning them to the kingdom of darkness just by putting them out of the church. 

[11] “That I am he which searcheth.  Compare Psalm 7:9, [10], Psalm 26:2; Jeremiah 11:20; Jeremiah 17:10; Jeremiah 20:12; also 1 Chronicles 28:9; 1 Chronicles 29:17. But the closest parallel to this phrase is Romans 8:27, which suggests that this epithet was almost proverbial in the Apostolic age, whether applied to the Father as there or to the Son as here.” (Cambridge Bible For Schools And Colleges)

[12] “It is probable that by fornication here is meant idolatry merely, which is often its meaning in the Scriptures.” (Adam Clarke)  Beale agrees with this, seeing the language of immorality as representing adultery. He notes that references to porneia and related words in Revelation occur 13 times; 10 of them are metaphors for idolatry. 

[13] See 1 Corinthians 8 and 10. It seems likely (though not certain) that in chapter 8, Paul is talking about eating meat in a temple that was likely served during civic celebrations. Chapter 10 focus on eating meat that one would buy in a market that had been sacrificed to a god. 

[14] It actually seems like her personal character might have been relatively solid – but this just made her the more dangerous, because her character gave authority to her words. In fact, this might have been one of the roots of the problem: “that men should have confidence in their own character and judgment, [which] set them free from a hard law, while they were in reality enticing back to lascivious enjoyment the young converts who had barely ‘escaped the defilements of the world.’”(Ramsay)

[15] From T. Scott Daniels’ Seven Deadly Spirits: The Message Of Revelation’s Letters For Today’s Churches

[16] There is good reason to believe this letter is equating sexual immorality with idolatry, as that is a common comparison in the Old Testament. However, the idolatrous rituals were almost always associated with immorality. I suspect it would have been easy to justify sexual indulgence once the justification train got rolling. Since other passages of Scripture addressed those in the church who were trying to say that you could do what you want to with your body because its only the soul that matters, I think it’s safe to assume this was a problem to some degree here as well. 

[17] This list could change quite a bit depending where, how, and if you were raised in the church. 

[18] “When the question is thus put in its full and true implication…we recognize that the whole future of Christianity was at stake over this question… We can now understand why St. John condemns that very worthy, active, and managing, but utterly mistaken lady of Thyatira… he saw that she was fumbling about with questions which she was quite incapable of comprehending, full of complacent satisfaction with her superficial views as to the fairness and reasonableness of allowing the poor to profit by those quite praiseworthy associations which did so much good and misusing her influence, acquired by good works and persuasive speaking, to lead her fellow-Christians astray. If she were successful, Christianity must melt and be absorbed into the Graeco-Roman society, highly cultivated, but over-developed, morbid, unhealthy.” (William Ramsay)

[19] William Ramsay offers a helpful overview: “It was accepted on all hands that they were to continue to live in the world, and were not to seek to withdraw entirely out of it (1 Cor 5:10). There were certain accepted customs, rules of politeness and courtesy, ways of living and acting, which were recommended by their gracious, refined, elegant character, and other ways which without any special gracefulness were recommended simply because they were the ordinary methods of behavior… In many cases, where the idolatrous connection was not obvious, but only veiled and remote, the Christian might… comply with the usual forms, unless his attention was expressly called by any one of the guests to the idolatrous connection.”

[20] "Every day, the church is becoming more like the world it allegedly seeks to change. We have very little time, he believes, to reverse these trends..."  (Pollster George Barna)

[21] https://www3.dbu.edu/jeanhumphreys/SocialPsych/evangelicalmind.htm

[22] This is true of any nation….I’m not picking on the U.S.

[23] If you want me to solve them like a Marxist instead of as a Christian, that's too high of a price too. 

[24] I read an article on townhall.com two years ago that celebrated the fact some Christians on the political Right were using Saul Alinsky's book Rules for Radicals (a book popular on the political Left) as a way to fight their political battles. The author acknowledged that Alinsky dedicated the book to Lucifer and called it a “book of pure evil,” but quite gleefully embraced ‘good guys’ now using the tactics of the bad guys to defeat the bad guys. That's too high of a price. 

ENDNOTE

[i] “The Roman soldier, marching under the colors of his regiment, was marching under the standard of idolatry… Moreover, he was frequently required, standing in his place in the ranks, to take part and idolatrous acts of worship. Here, again, the rule of practice of the church seems to have been that an ordinary circumstances the converted soldier should remain passive and as far as possible silent during the ceremony at which he was compulsorily present, but should not actively protest. A similar practice was encouraged by the church in other departments of life and work. 

But in every case, and in every profession, the Christian who an ordinary circumstances might remain passive was liable to be pointedly challenged as to whether he would willingly perform this act of worship of the deity whom he considered false. In case of such a challenge there was only one course open. The Christian could not comply with the demand which was expressly made a test of his faith [and] must have no part or lot, and could not accept membership or even be present. Here the Nicolaitans took the opposite view, I could defend their opinion by many excellent, thoroughly reasonable and highly philosophic arguments. 

To illustrate this class of cases, we may take an example of a meeting which was permissible and one which was not according to the opinion of those early leaders in the church. 

 A meeting of the citizens of a city for political purposes was always inaugurated by a pagan ritual, and according to the strict original theory the citizens in this political assembly were all united in the worship of the patron national deity in whose honor the opening ceremonies were performed. But the ritual had long become a mere form, and nobody was in practice conscious at the condition of presents in the assembly lay in the loyal service of the national deity. The political condition was the only one that was practically remembered. Every member of the city tribe had a right to be present and vote. The Christian citizen might attend and vote in such a meeting, ignoring and passing and silence the opening religious ceremony. 

But on the other hand, there were numerous societies for a vast variety of purposes, the condition of membership and which was professionally and explicitly the willingness to engage in the worship of a pagan deity, because the society met in the worship of that deity, the name of the society was often a religious name, and the place of meeting was dedicated to the deity, and thus was constituted a temple for his worship. All are agreed: the true Christian cannot be a member of such clubs or societies.“ (William Ramsay)

PERGAMUM: WHERE SATAN HAS HIS THRONE (Revelation 2:12-17)

12 “To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.

 The Roman governor of Asia exercised the ius gladii, or right of the sword, in Pergamum. He often carried a sword with him to remind others of this power. So, in a Roman capital with the power to execute people, Jesus reminds the persecuted church that the power over life and death belongs to God. After my dad died, I remember how much comfort I received from the sermon E.V. Hill gave at his wife’s funeral: “The power of life and death is not in the hands of Satan.” True authority belongs to God; righteous justice and judgment comes from God. As Jesus told Pilate, “You would have no power if it were not given to you from above.” (John 19:11)

 But also keep in mind that the sword of the Spirit is the Word of God.[1] 

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) 

In Revelation 1, 2:16, and 19, this sword is portrayed as coming from the mouth of Jesus – as you would expect if it were words and not a real sword.[2]  This will be an important point when we get to the “illustrated” part of Revelation where it appears that Jesus returns and slaughters people (Revelation 19). It’s words, not steel. More on that in the weeks to come.

 13 I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas {bishop of Pergamos}, my faithful martyr/witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives. 

Lots of speculation about why this is where Satan lives and why he has a throne there. It could be because of emperor worship, the huge statue of Zeus, or the cult of Asclepius.[3] I lean toward believing it primarily means that the dragon-inspired beast of Rome rules from there (the ius gladii atthe judgment bench in Pergamum) and it’s bad news for Christians.[4] 

14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. 15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 

That sword again: the word of God stands against the false teachers. The pesky Nicolaitans are back; here they are compared to Balaam, who advised the Midianites how to lead the Israelites astray through sexual sin and idolatry, which were likely related (Nu 25:1–2; 31:16; Jude 11; 2 Peter 2:15.) Balaam is the poster child for corrupt teachers who deceive believers into compromise with worldliness.  The Nicolaitans are just recycling an infamous chapter in Jewish history.[5]

The question the Christians of Pergamum faced was that of witness. Will they remain true to the name of Jesus or will they follow the name of the Beast? Will they look like the Empire or look like Jesus? Will they have a mark of ownership from the Beast or the Lamb?

17 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious[6], I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.[7]

HIDDEN MANNAH

Jewish tradition claimed that the ark of the covenant, which had a pot of manna among other things, was hidden by King Josiah when the Chaldeans took Jerusalem. It would be recovered when the Messiah arrived.[8] Here, it is promised to those who overcome. It’s Jesus, of course. Jesus Himself made the connection between the manna of Moses’ day and His own provision of salvation: 

“I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. . . . This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever” (John 6:48–51, 58).[9]

THE WHITE STONE

Christ offered to the faithful a white stone, or tessera. A white stone had various uses in antiquity: a token of admission to things like banquets, a symbol of victory in the Games,[10] a Christian amulet, a sign of acquittal,[11] the writing surface for official edicts,[12] or something used in an initiation into the service of a god. No one is really sure which use John had in mind – or if it was all of them. No matter what, white stones are a good thing.[13]

Epictetus once tried to talk a man out of becoming a priest in the imperial cult. The man wanted his name used to mark his year of office in public documents, because, he said, then “my name will remain.”  Epictetus responded, “Write it on a stone and it will remain.” 

THE NEW (AND SECRET)[14] NAME

There is something very important about naming things properly.

Practically speaking, we have at times used the wheel of emotions in our house. It helps us accurately speak, which actually helps us accurately process what we are feeling. There is something about getting the words right that helps you get the world right.

Naming implies knowing (at least ideally); it acknowledges existence; it both puts boundaries around a thing (“chicken”) and possibly opens up the possibilities of a thing (Is it a bird, a plane…it’s SUPERMAN!?!?). When things are properly named and identified, it helps us make sense of the world by solidifying truth. 

Throughout human history, the names of people have been a big deal.[15] Many cultures have attached tremendous meaning to the names of  people, as if they  are or will become what you call them. I remember as a kid finding out that “Anthony” meant “priceless,” and I thought it meant I didn’t have a price, as in I was worthless. Mom kindly corrected me.

Think of “names’ as either a calling out or an expression of character, personality and even destiny. There is a reason Caesar wanted to be called Augustus (majestic; venerable).

In the Bible, we see God change the names of people in a way that either identified who they were or signaled who they were becoming.

·      Abram (exalted father) to Abraham (father of a multitude)

·      Sarai (princely) to Sarah (mother of princes)

·      Jacob (cheater) to Israel (God’s people)

And then there is the way in which “name” is tied up with reputation. The builders of the Tower of Babel wanted to “make a name for themselves” (Genesis 11).  No one else would assign it to them, thank you very much. I love the high point in the play The Crucible where John Proctor, whose reputation is on the line, begs, “Leave me my name!” It’s a biblical concern: “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.” (Proverbs 22:1)

Names brings Identity – distinction from everything else. When God named his creation, it was as he separated it. Light is not dark. Land is not see. Animals are not humans. Adam is not Eve.  Names bring Clarity – They or it is “this”, not “that.” 

Naming shows authority -  it makes a claim on something. We name our children. We name our cars. We name our pets. In fact, naming signals investment and relationship of some sort. My chickens to this day are numbers. My sons are not. 

(And I should note, there is formal and informal naming. I’ve just been talking about formal naming. We do informal naming to: “Loser. Idiot. Lovely. Kind. Generous.” These things, to, are acts of authority because they shape the sense of identity of those around us.)

And here is Jesus giving His overcoming children a new name[16] because He has the authority to do that for His children, whose true identity he knows and speaks. (I think it is known only to those who receive it because there will be an experiential side to this that can’t be put into words. Maybe we get hints of that even now.)

First point: our “new name” is going to come from the one who knows how to make things new and name them accordingly. 

‘If anyone be in Christ, they are a new creature. Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.’ (2 Corinthians 5:17)

We experience a foretaste of it now. God calls me His child now, and gives me a new family name now, and works on, in and through me now is amazing. He calls me child (John 1:11-13). He calls me friend (John 15:15). He calls me righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21), a holy temple (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). I didn’t earn any of those; God changed me; now he calls me not by who I was but by what I have become in Christ.

Yet though I am a new person, I don’t yet have the new name reserved for overcomers. I have new adjectives around my name; I have Holy Spirit power and direction on how to express my redemption and that will impact the reputation of my name. Jesus begins to show me the new Anthony that I am becoming – but I still have a name given and formed in the corruption of this world that longs for the day when I will be given a new me in which nothing is corruptible any longer. That, I think, is what John is pointing toward. 

Second point: We all long for a name that will remain. We want a legacy so that our life is not a forgotten blip. 

“I will give them, in My house and within My walls, a memorial and a name better than that of sons and daughters. I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off.” (Isaiah 56:5)

I have a lot of issues with the name Anthony. I don’t dislike the syllables and the phonetics of it. I think it’s a fine name linguistically, though I wish  “Augustus” had been my middle name. 

I have a lot of issues with the reputation associated with the name Anthony. There is history and baggage there. There’s good stuff, I get that. But if I could do life over again…. I still get embarrassed when I think of what I was like in high school, not to mention what I’m like now. There are soooooo many things I wish were better, more perfected, more majestic. I would settle for just not as flawed. 

Those of you listening to this sermon who have known me for any amount of time have mixed emotions or feelings at any given moment coming from mixed experiences. Most days, there is some kind of reminder that any gold in my name is mixed with clay. 

The idea that God is willing to wrap our corrupt names under his incorruptible reputation even now is sobering.  That he would wrap our sin-soaked names in a cloak of glorious adjectives that we could never earn but that he first gives as he begins a good work[17] and empowers as we move toward their completion in eternity… amazing.  

The idea that – to those who overcome by being faithful until death - God will not just restore a broken name but give us a new name in a New Heaven and a New Earth… This is a new incorruptible identity thanks to work of Jesus. This is new spotless reputation thanks to the grace of Jesus. This is us fully alive and ridiculously righteous because of the love of Jesus. 

This is what we call hope. Even in the shadow of the throne of Satan, all is not lost. Hope springs eternal. 

Hear what Jesus calls you even now: child, friend, righteous, a holy temple. Know that these descriptions are only a foretaste of who you will be in the world to come, thanks to the faithful, redemptive love of Jesus. Christ in you truly is the hope of glory.

#practicerighteousness

Let’s practice “naming others well” this week. By that, I mean let’s practice wrapping the names of those around us in beautiful adjectives. 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

[1] Ephesians 6

[2] This is an important point to keep in mind when you get to the illustrated part of Revelation. Chapter 19 sounds like a brutal bloodbath, but it’s a symbolic illustration of the power of the word.

[3] In addition to emperor worship, the cults to Asclepius and Zeus were also endemic. The symbol of the former was a serpent, and Pausanias describes his cult image “with a staff in one hand and the other on the head of a serpent.” Pergamenian coins illustrate the importance that the community attached to this cult. Caracalla is shown on one coin, saluting a serpent twined round a bending sapling. On the crag above Pergamum was a thronelike altar to Zeus (cf. Rev. 2:13). It commemorated a defeat of a Gallic inroad and was decorated with a representation of the conflict of the gods and the giants, the latter shown as monsters with snakelike tails. To deepen Christian horror at Pergamum’s obsession with the serpent-image, Zeus was called in this context “Zeus the Savior.” (Zondervan All-In-One Bible Reference)

[4] Look how this is illustrated in Revelation 12: “Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time.13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman (Mary/the church) which brought forth the man child (Jesus)... 17 And the dragon was angry with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her descendants, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

[5] Ramsay describes the situation: “In both Pergamum and Thyatira some of the Christians still clung to their membership of the pagan associations and shared in the fellowship of the ritual meal.” Eating food sacrificed to idols is one of the four practices from which the Jerusalem council asks Gentile believers to abstain (Acts 15:29; 21:25). The raging conflict that tore apart congregations in the early decades of the Gentile churches later appears resolved. Around A.D. 100 the command is simply “keep strictly away from meat sacrificed to idols, for it involves the worship of dead gods” (Didache 6:3).

[6] The temple to Athena Nikephoros (“Victory-Bearer”) was the most important in the city. These temples were situated on a spectacular acropolis that towered a thousand feet over the lower city.

[7] Just like Jesus in Revelation 19

[8] Further tradition claimed that either Isaiah or Jeremiah rescued the ark with its pot of manna and hid it until God would regather his people (2 Macc. 2:4–8) Some thought that an angel hid it and guarded it until the end times (2 Bar. 6:8). 

[9] Maclaren summarizes well: “Now the first thing that it plainly suggests to us is the absolute satisfaction of all the hunger of the heart… there will be no painful sense of vacuity, and no clamoring of the unsubdued heart for good that is beyond its reach…we - ‘shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more…’ To us who know what it is to try to tame down the hungering, yelping wishes and longings of our souls - to us who have so often spent our ‘money for that which is not bread, and our labour for that which satisfieth not,’ it ought to be a Gospel: ‘I will give him to eat of the hidden manna.’” (MacLaren’s Expositions)

[10] These were called tesserae among the Romans, and of these there were several kinds.

1. Tesserae conviviales, which answered exactly to our cards of invitation, or tickets of admission to a public feast or banquet; tesserae inscribed with different kinds of things, such as provisions, garments, gold or silver vessels, horses, mares, and slaves; Tesserae frumentariae, or tickets to receive grain in the public distributions; and tesserae hospitales, which were given as badges of friendship and alliance, and on which some device was engraved, as a testimony that a contract of friendship had been made between the parties. (Adam Clarke)

[11] “There is an allusion here to the custom observed by judges in ancient times, who were accustomed to give their suffrages by white and black pebbles; those who gave the former were for absolving the culprit, those who gave the latter were for his condemnation. This is mentioned by Ovid, "A custom was of old, and still remains, Which life or death by suffrages ordains: White stones and black within an urn are cast, The first absolve, but fate is in the last." (Adam Clarke)

[12] One such relevant decree was issued in 9 B.C. by Paulus Fabius Maximus, the governor of Asia. It decreed that Augustus’s birthday should be made an official holiday. It was written in Latin and Greek on a white stone. 

[13] I favor the idea that it’s an invitation to the eternal banquet, because that’s what the illustrations reference: “And the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the lamb.’ (Revelation 19:9, 12)

[14] The Secret:  “For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.” (Proverbs 3:32)“The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.” (Psalm 25:14) I think the ‘secret’ is the knowledge of covenantal life in Christ personally experienced. The redeemed and victorious understand what it means to belong to God and to be rewarded by him. 

[15] Throughout human history, the true name of the gods have been a big deal too. The ancient Egyptians believed that Isis plotted to learn the secret name of Ra to gain his power. The one who knew the hidden name would receive the power and status of the god who revealed it. This kind of story is not unusual in mythology.

[16] It’s going to be connected to Jesus. We know this from the illustration part of Revelation. “His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself…” (Revelation 19:12,13)

[17] Philippians 1:6)

SMYRNA: Alive In Death (Revelation 2:8-11)

When John was recording his revelation, Smyrna had a reputation as the “Glory of Asia.” That was not always the case.

The Lydians destroyed Smyrna in 600 BC; for four hundred years there was no “city,” just scattered villages in the area, yet records show people still talked about Smyrna as a place. The city was restored in 290 BC. Some ancient writers compared the city with the mythical phoenix, a symbol of resurrection. Others literally recorded Smyrna as a city that was dead and yet lived.[1]

Smyrna was famous for (among other things) fantastic architecture and town planning. You can still walk on spectacular streets that ran from one end of the city to the other. The most famous was called the Golden Street.[2] Apollonius referred to a “crown of porticoes,” a circle of beautiful public buildings that ringed the summit of Mount Pagos.[3] Smyrna was often depicted on coins as a seated woman, with a crown patterned after the buildings on the mountain[4] and a necklace representing the Golden Street.[5]

Because Rome had helped them so much in coming back to life, Smyrna proved to be incredibly loyal. At one point, the citizens literally stripped down and shipped their clothes to a desperate Roman army. When their request to build a temple to the Roman Emperor Tiberius was granted, Smyrna became a notable “temple-warden” of the imperial cult. 

By the time of Domitian, emperor worship was mandatory. Burning  incense and saying “Caesar is Lord” earned a certificate such as this one: “We, the representatives of the Emperor, Serenos and Hermas, have seen you sacrificing.” Then, you could go worship any god you wanted. This also gave you a “mark” that opened up the economy for you. If you did not do this, you were a disloyal citizen at best and a traitorous outlaw at worst.[6]

The Jewish people had enjoyed a large degree of freedom under the Roman Rule during the 1stcentury. They were exempt from emperor worship in many cases and possessed the rights of citizenship in some cities. This wasn’t necessarily good for Judaism. There was infighting about how to live with integrity in a Roman world,[7] how to “be in Rome but not of Rome.” The Essenes at one point called the rest of their Jewish neighbors “the congregation of Satan.”[8] 

Christians benefitted from having their roots in Judaism. The freedoms the Jews enjoyed were largely enjoyed by Christians in many areas of the empire. But in Smyrna, the Jewish population was nervous. The Judean war against Rome two decades earlier resulted in a special tax Jews everywhere in the empire had to pay. Many Jewish leaders were uncomfortable with Messianic movements like the movement that followed Jesus - messianic movements often ended with the Roman beast breathing down their neck.

In a time of “don’t ask, don’t tell” for private religious practice for the Jewish worshippers (and by default their Christian cousins), the Jewish leaders were telling even when Rome wasn’t asking.[9]The Romans even had a name for them: delatores, denouncers, who would get the prosecutorial ball rolling. And prosecute they did.[10]

So the church in Smyrna was facing a lot of hardship: locked out of the economy because they wouldn’t do emperor worship; hated by the Jews; on Rome’s radar. This brings us to the letter to Smyrna. 

8 Write down My words, and send them to the messenger of the church in Smyrna. “These are the words of the First and the Last[11], the One who was dead and yet lived[12]: 

 9 “I know [your deeds and] the difficult ordeal you are enduring and your poverty,[13] although you are actually rich. I am aware of the blasphemy[14] preached by those who call themselves ‘Jews.’ But these people are not the Jews they pretend to be[15]; they are actually the congregation of Satan[16] (“a gathering of the Adversary”). 

 10 In the face of suffering, do not fear[17]. Watch; the devil will throw some of you into prison shortly so that you might be tested, and you will endure great affliction for 10 days.[18] Be faithful[19] throughout your life, until the day you die, and I will give you the victor’s crown of life.[20] 

11 “Let the person who is able to hear, listen to and follow what the Spirit proclaims to all the churches. The one who conquers through faithfulness even unto death will escape the second death.”

Whereas “overcoming” in Ephesus required the restoration of love, in Smyrna it demanded withstanding persecution and enduring faithfully through suffering. So, let’s talk about suffering.[21]

There were different types of suffering/trials/hardships for the church in Smyrna:

·      Resisting temptation in general for the sake of Christ

·      Enduring dismissal, derision, and contempt, for the sake of Christ

·      Taking a financial or reputational hit for the sake of Christ

·      Suffering emotional, relational, physical pain for the sake of Christ

·      Dying for the sake of Christ

Christians won’t necessarily face all of these, but “in this world you will have trouble.”[22] There are a variety of ways Christians can and have responded when facing hardship and trials.[23]

1. Quit –Rome and Babylon would love to have your allegiance.[24]

2. Lie –You could lie with words (tell people you aren’t a Christian) or with your body (live as if Jesus has no say in your life) while clinging to the notion that all that matters is that you really are a follower of Jesus deep inside. “Whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 10:33) 

3. Fight – physically protect religious freedom with the sword. Peter tried this. Jesus was having none of it. “ ‘Put your sword back in its place,’ Jesus said to him, ‘for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.  Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?’ … In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, ‘Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me?’“ (Matthew 26:52-53; 55). 

4. Accommodate – try to do Christian worship and empire worship at the same time: let’s call this serving or honoring two masters. That’s what empire worship was doing in Rome; this was one of the key problems facing the church at the time probably more than the others. The compromise that followed Constantine’s legalization of Christianity in the 300s was another. Since critique of nations and concern for accommodation are prominent in Revelation, let’s look at how this sneaks into our own history, which was profoundly influenced by the Enlightenment admiration of ancient Rome.[25]

The rotunda of the US Capitol building has a mural called The Apotheosis of Washington (1865). It depicts Washington as having ascended into the heavens and becoming exalted or glorified. He wears the colors of Roman emperors, with a rainbow arch at his feet, flanked by the goddesses of Victory and Liberty. There are six scenes around him, 5 of which have Roman gods/goddesses:

·  Science, Minerva, surrounded by inventors.

·  Marine,Neptune, with warships in the background.

·  Commerce, Mercury, giving a bag of gold to a financier of the Revolutionary War.

·  Mechanics, Vulcan, with cannons and steam engines.

·  Agriculture,Ceres, with a mechanical reaper.

·  War, Columbia, the personification of  America, aka Lady Liberty.

It’s obviously not the same as 1st century Emperor worship, but there is no doubht that national values and admired leaders are viewed with an awe approaching reverence.[26] We still do it culturally (I’m thinking of the Messianic imagery associated with presidents Obama and Trump in recent years[27]). Francis Schaeffer warned us about this decdes ago:[28]

“The whole "Constantine mentality" from the fourth century up to our day was a mistake. Constantine, as the Roman Emperor, in 313 ended the persecution of Christians. Unfortunately, the support he gave to the church led by 381 to the enforcing of Christianity, by Theodosius I, as the official state religion. Making Christianity the official state religion opened the way for confusion up till our own day.

There have been times of very good government when this interrelationship of church and state has been present. But through the centuries it has caused great confusion between loyalty to the state and loyalty to Christ, between patriotism and being a Christian. We must not confuse the Kingdom of God with our country. To say it another way: "We should not wrap our Christianity in our national flag.”-  Francis A. Schaeffer, A Christian Manifesto

Okay, the first 4 options aren’t good ones. The last two are options are viable options for Christians.

5.  Change the law – demand justice within the rights the empire has given us. This is an option Paul used. He maxed out his rights as a Roman citizen to avoid some pretty nasty punishments.[29] He escaped dangerous situations when he could. Being faithful to Jesus doesn’t mean we have to be gluttons for punishment. 

    But it’s worth nothing that even as Paul claimed his rights, he was still beaten and jailed a lot and killed eventually. One hopes the law would be Christian-friendly; at some point, it won’t be. We can and should work within the system to promote justice and mercy for all. However, when the law turns against our faith, we don’t panic, and we don’t take up the sword to get it back. We knew this day would come.

6. Be patiently faithful even unto death. There are different outcomes to suffering: Smyrna would face greater suffering (2:10), the other persecuted church (Philadelphia) would not experience the same (3:10). James was executed but Peter was released (Acts 12:2 - 7).  Some Christians experienced miraculous release from prison while others died (Hebrews 11:35). Some Christians in Afghanistan got out; others didn’t. Some pastors have hidden successfully; some haven’t.

Revelation reveals a sobering truth in stark terms: when we face persecution, we might suffer a lot, and even die. It’s no surprise that John, surrounded by persecution, expects us to have to endure this also. Fortunately, Revelation shows us how to overcome in the face of persecution: the image of the triumphant lion as a slain lamb:

Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne…” (5:5-6) 

We overcome not by matching hostility and violence and angry vitriol but by laying down our lives figuratively and literally. The path to the crown goes through the cross. “This do in remembrance of me.”[30]

For the Christian, there is always hope through the suffering we experience and reward on the other side of faithfulness. In fact, suffering plays such a vital role in our life in Christ that we are told multiple times that we ought to actually rejoice, because it’s a means by which God matures us. 

 “We also celebrate in seasons of suffering because we know that when we suffer we develop endurance,  which shapes our characters. When our characters are refined, we learn what it means to hope and anticipate God’s goodness. And hope will never fail to satisfy our deepest need because the Holy Spirit that was given to us has flooded our hearts with God’s love.” (Romans 5:3-5) 

“But to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that at the revelation of His glory you may also rejoice and be overjoyed.” (1 Peter 4:13)

If you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.  “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. (I Peter 2:20-23)

We will be granted opportunities to share in Christ’s glory by fellowshipping in his suffering. We will be granted an opportunity to prove our faithfulness through testing. We have been given the gift of being allowed to suffer with Christ so that we can live with Christ. There’s no need to seek out or sprint toward pain, but let’s not waste the opportunity to suffer well when God allows it to become a part of our life. A crown of life awaits.

* * * * *

Let’s #practicerighteousness. I want to offer a practical way for us to patiently and faithfully endure in a way that shows the peace and the hope we have in Christ. We are not being asked to physically die in the United States, but there others ways in which trials test our faith. We can prepare now with what’s in front of us.

I often see anger and fear sometimes verging on panic when THIS LAW or THIS PERSON or THIS MOVEMENT is apparently going to destroy the church. Nothing has had the power to do that for 2,000 years and counting. Dragons and beasts are nothing compared to God’s power and majesty.  God is still sovereign. God will be with His people and supply what they need and hand the faithful a crown of life in the end. It may well make our life hard – but we were warned. “Taking up our cross” is a thing. 

I’m not suggesting we should be apathetic or lazy or even fatalistic. Christians aren’t called to any of those either. I think we can be really engaged in thoughtful and careful ways in all these areas as we name the darkness and light the candle of gospel hope. In fact, part of suffering for the sake of Christ is probably the relentlessly bold (and grace-filled, and loving) promotion of the message and the values of the Kingdom in the face of opposition.

I’m talking about what orients and grounds us and makes us righteously different in the midst of life in a hard and sometimes cruel world. God has granted us the opportunity to patiently endure in the midst of hardship so that we can share in His glory and obtain the crown in the end. We have not yet been called to shed our blood, but we have been called to lay down our lives in different ways honor of the Lamb who conquers by being slain.

I will end with some thoughts from Vaneetha Risner, who speaks with some authority on experiencing suffering:[31]

Watching believers suffer and die well changes a world that lives to avoid suffering. There’s nothing unusual about Christians who are happy in prosperity. That’s natural. Even expected. But joy in suffering is supernatural. The world takes notice. Like Moses and the burning bush, they step aside to see why we are not destroyed (Exodus 3:2–3).[32]

A few of us may end up giving our lives for the gospel. Some of us may proclaim Christ through indescribable and extraordinary suffering. But all of us can show the surpassing worth of Christ to others through our mundane, often daily, trials. People want to see how we respond to our challenging children. Our chronic pain. Our difficult boss. Our financial struggles. Our ailing parents. Our unwanted singleness.  

The situations that we wish were most different are likely the places that others are watching us most closely. They are each, therefore, a precious opportunity to share how Christ meets us in our suffering. 

Don’t waste your suffering. It is far too valuable. God is using it in a thousand ways you will never see or know, but one way is to advance the gospel (Philippians 1:12). Tell people about the hope in you, how God has met you, why your faith has made a difference in your trials. It is the most powerful witness you have.

 _____________________________________________________________________

[1] The Letters To The Seven Churches, by William Ramsey

[2] Hmmm. I think that image might show up later in Revelation?

[3] Halley’s Bible Handbook Notes

[4] Apollonius said, “Though it is the most beautiful of all cities under the sun…yet it is a greater charm to wear a crown of men than a crown of porticoes and pictures and gold beyond the standard of mankind.” 2nd century orator Aelius Aristides said that since Smyrna has been restored after the disastrous earthquakes in her history, “Spring’s gates…are opened by crowns.”

[5] The Letters To The Seven Churches, by William Ramsey

[6] William Barclay notes this was a political act in the eyes of Rome more than a religious act. That might have been a handy excuse: “Rome doesn’t see this as religious; why should I?” Or it might have been very tempting to find a friendly official to bribe so that you had a certificate without having to burn the incense. 

[7] Both Jews and Christians struggled with this. Should they continue to participate in social activities that have a pagan (non-Jewish, non-Christian) religious character? This would include most activities: watching or participating in athletic and rhetorical contests; buying and eating meat in the precincts of pagan temples; and frequenting trade guilds, clubs, and events in private homes, each with their meetings, drinking parties, and banquets. Should they acknowledge the sovereignty of the emperor when asked to do so at a public event in the precincts of his temple, or at another of the many events in his honor? (From “Reading Revelation Responsibly” in Dragons, John, And Every Grain Of Sand: Essays On The Book Of Revelation. Edited by Shane J. Wood.

[8] NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible

[9] To them, Christians distorted the Law; the worship of Jesus as Messiah was blasphemy.

[10]  IVP New Testament Commentary Series

[11] Isaiah 41:4; 44:6; 48:12

[12] Many commentators see a comparison to Smyrna’s history here. 

[13] Likely because they refused to participate in idolatrous trade guilds.

[14] “Blasphemy "switches" right for wrong (wrong for right), i.e. calls what God disapproves, "right." (HELPS Word Studies) 

[15] “Jews by national descent, but not spiritually of "the true circumcision." Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

[16]  John 8:44  “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies."

[17] Beale notes that in Isaiah 41 and 44, this is also an encouragement to the Jews.

[18] See Daniel 1:12-15, where Daniel and his friends were tested for 10 days. 

“The number is likely a symbol and not a 10 day time period. The number 10 represents a complete period of testing. Even though you are exiles in a different culture, you will be revealed to be the children of God.” (Shane Wood) Ramsey notes that it could be a literal reference to the time awaiting punishment: “In the Roman world, prison was usually… a prelude to trial and execution; hence the words "Be faithful, even to the point of death." The State would not burden itself with the custody of criminals, except as a preliminary stage to their trial, or in the interval between trial and execution. Fine, exile, and death constituted the usual range of penalties.” From Adam Clarke’s Commentary: “Think of the expression as implying frequency and abundance, as it does in other parts of Scripture.” Genesis 31:7; Genesis 31:41; Numbers 14:22; Nehemiah 4:12; Job 19:3. 

[19] “The expression ‘be faithful,’ again, would inevitably remind Smyrnaean readers of the history of their city, which had been the faithful friend and ally of Rome for centuries.

To Cicero it was ‘the most faithful of our allies’. (William Ramsey)

[20] The promise to Ephesus was “the tree of life” (v. 7).  To Smyrna, it is the “crown of life” (v. 10).

[21] A large amount of the suffering in Revelation is born by followers of the Lamb. In his vision of heaven, John sees martyrs who had conquered the Beast through death. Tertullian famously said in his second century letter to Rome, “The more often we are mown down by you, the more number we grow. The blood of Christians is seed.”

[22] John 16:33

[23] This list is from (drum roll….) Shane J. Wood!

[24] Christian journalist Malcolm Muggeridge once wrote, “If God is dead [or if God is not worshipped], somebody is going to have to take his place. It will be megalomania or erotomania, the drive for power or the drive for pleasure, the clenched first or the phallus, Hitler or Hugh Hefner.”  That’s Rome and Babylon.

[25] Read this informative Senior Thesis from a Liberty University student. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1280&context=honors. Francis Schaeffer’s How Should We Then Live opens with a Rome/United States comparison.

[26] Read this senior thesis from a student at Liberty University on this influence.https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1280&context=honors

[27] Biden doesn’t seem to be inspiring those comparisons. The only example I found was a magazine (Jacobin) that used Christian iconography to satirize the American tendency to have religious devotion for our leaders.

[28] This requires several myths.

a. a “myth of righteousness” that  sets values of the Empire on par with the values of the Kingdom (in which both are seen as part of the euangelion, the good news of God’s plan for the world).

b.a “myth of greatness” as defined by the standards of Babylon and Rome: financial, political, and/or military strength as the markers of success. 

c.   a “myth of innocence” that sees the power, prosperity, and peace of the (apparently) righteous and great Empire as achieved by and sustained by thoroughly righteous means and people. 

d.   a “myth of worthiness” that demands an appreciation of and allegiance to the state as a profoundly moral responsibility for Christians. 

[29] Acts 22:22-23:11

[30] Luke 22:8-20

[31] https://www.vaneetha.com/about

[32] Vaneetha Risner, https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/what-only-suffering-can-say

Regaining Your First Love: Ephesus Part Two (Revelation 2:1-7) [1]

I know your deeds, your tireless labor, and your patient endurance. I know you do not tolerate those who do evil. Furthermore, you have diligently tested those who claim to be apostles, and you have found that they are not true witnesses. You have correctly found them to be false. I know you are patiently enduring and holding firm on behalf of My name. You have not become faint.

Last week, we used that paragraph and the later reference to the Nicolaitans to talk about how the beastliness of Rome and the allure of Babylon offered and will offer challenges to the church throughout history. John’s vision illustrates the clash of the Kingdom of God and the empires of the dragon quite vividly. Today, the clash of that war kind of fades into the background not because it has stopped, but because there is a different kind of battle taking place: the war within.

T.S. Eliot wrote in The Hollow Men, “ This is the way the world ends; not with a bang but a whimper.” John has a warning here: it’s possible for faith to end not with the bang of epic spiritual warfare, but with a whimper of fading love. 

However, I have this against you: you have left/ abandoned your first love. Do you remember what it was like before you fell? It’s time to rethink and change your ways; go back to the deeds you did at first.[2] However, if you do not return, I will come quickly and personally remove your lampstand from its place.

 The part about abandoning your first love is a bit of a cryptic phrase, but everyone seems to agree John is making a point that is made over and over in the Bible: love for God is always expressed in loving acts toward others. The Bible never draws a dividing line between our hearts and our hands, our motivation and action, our intents and our accomplishments.[3] People can work hard in the Kingdom, have a an appropriately righteous hatred of sin, love and protect the truth, and endure trials and hardship for the name of the Lord… but without love, these acts are like a “sounding brass or a crashing cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13).[4]  

We were not created to be segmented or compartmentalized people. The “deeds you did at first” are supposed to be actions that complete an inner desire.[5]  The allegiance of the heart translates into the actions of the hands. Lovers do the things the lovers do.

John is calling them to do something they once did but don’t anymore motivated by a love they once had but don’t anymore. 

Here are the three most prominent understandings of what is happening here. I feel the same way about these options as I do with the 5 options I gave in Week 1 for reading Revelation: They all have something to offer. #don’tdieonthishill

1.THEY STOPPED THEIR COMMUNAL GENEROSITY

In the book of Acts, we read about what the early church did with great excitement. Among other things, they met together regularly and shared love feasts and communion; they lived in radically generous community, they lived with great servanthood. Their early reputation in Rome was remarkable because they lived loving lives of humility and purity marked by pretty radical generosity. In this first reading, their generosity had dried up because they had forgotten the generosity of God.

2. THEY HATED THE SIN AND THE SINNER

2:6But you have this in your favor: You hate (despise; denounce) the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

 William Ramsay notes this of the letter to the church in Ephesus:  

“It shows admiration and full appreciation of a great career and a noble history. Yet it does not leave a pleasant impression of the Ephesian Church; and there is a lack of cordial and sympathetic spirit in it…when, in order to finish with a word of praise… the one thing which he finds to say is that they hated [the deeds of the Nicolaitans].”

This is a hint at the heart of the problem: the heart. In their zealousness to reject things that ought to be rejected, the message of what they were for got overwhelmed by the message of what they were against. It’s not a good look when the best you can say of someone is that they  denounce or despise the right things. It’s the person who offers light in the darkness that makes a difference, not the one who simply keeps pointing our how dark it is. 

Unfortunately, there’s more. Some commentators point out that God hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans; the text doesn’t say he hated the Nicolaitans. Perhaps in their zealousness for protecting the truth, the church in Ephesus began to hate the people along with the problem rather than having hearts broken for those living in sinful darkness.[6] In the midst of their protection of doctrine[7] they forgot that they were supposed to love the people holding the false doctrine. This was Jonah’s problem, right? He didn’t want the Ninevites to escape judgment. There's something in this letter that desires to church in Ephesus to ground orthodoxy and orthopraxy with orthopathy, having the right heart (see 1 Corinthians 13). 

3. THEY LOST THEIR MISSIONAL FOCUS  

In this third reading, “they lost their first love” = “they lost their passion for spreading the message of the gospel.” Passionate love of and allegiance to Jesus leads us to love others so much we witness to them.[8]

You know how when you first start something that is life-changing, you can’t stop talking about it? It’s the running joke about crossfitters. I have a couple friends who have found a person to work with them on their physical health (losing weight, etc), and I am pretty sure they post at least 3 times a day about how amazing their coach is and how good they feel. If you learn how to ride a bike, or find an essential oil that feels like a miracle cure, or start fishing, or find an app that organizes your life, or discover you can draw….anything that has (in some sense) brought you life, there is often a rush at the beginning of excitement that bubbles over into evangelism – the spreading of the good news.[9]Besides enjoying life in a new way, people around you notice something different about you, or it just comes up in conversation, or you purposefully start recruiting.  

This, it seems, was lacking in the church in Ephesus. So what does God advise? Remember (how you loved the reality of salvation), repent (of distraction and disinterest), and do the deeds you did at first  (from a newly focused heart).

REMEMBER 

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is full of language of how life in Christ and in the community of the church changes everything. Some excerpts:

“2:1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air… 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 

 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions… [and] raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)10 and find out what pleases the Lord…

When Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, they were on the front end of this life-changing reality that Jesus brought them. They were once children of darkness; now they are children of light. It’s incredible. They are rooted in a love that will fill them with the fullness of God, so that they can do the good works God created them to do: bearing the fruit of goodness, righteousness, and truth. AMAZING!

That passion for the Savior spilled over onto one another and out to those in the culture they inhabited.[10] But…they had forgotten how glorious it was to be pulled into the light.  

• Maybe they had forgotten how deep in the darkness they really were, or how ugly that darkness truly was. Did you know that the act of remembering slowly and subtly changes our memories? The emotions and biases we bring reform our memories, such that over time we can gain a really distorted view of the past.[11] Our memory is like the telephone gameJ And the less honest or precise we are when we remember, the more distorted our memory becomes over time. We can convince ourselves that the darkness in which we were drowning wasn’t that bad. That makes it hard to appreciate the Savior who pulled us from it.

• Maybe they had stopped genuinely appreciating the gospel light into which they were drawn.That can happen when bad orthodoxy leads to disillusionment (“Why isn’t life like what you told me it would be?”) or when bad orthopraxy leads to pain (“How is it possible that transformed people are so mean and hypocritical?”). If they were known for what they hate rather than what they loved, I’ll bet life together in that church was hard. And if the kingdom of God stops feeling like home, Babylon –as trashy as it is – can start to look good. 

• Maybe they had become so busy cursing the darkness that they forgot to light the candle.Witch hunts are easy when you see witches everywhere and there’s lots of wood handy for a bonfire. But somebody needs to pray for, and love, and invite to a meal, and befriend those others want to burn. As Paul wrote in Romans 2:4, “Do you despise the riches of his kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?”

 Revelation doesn’t tell us the precise dynamic at work in Ephesus. I suspect all three example are reasonable possibilities – and can all probably see ourselves in one of these. So what do we do?

REPENT

“Remember from where you have fallen, and repent.” This is an act of the mind that will lead to a renewal of the heart. I have found that the things I need to revisit are the many times God has been merciful to me, the many times he has pulled me up from the mire of sin and set my feet on the rock of my salvation. It turns out I don’t have to go back decades to see God’s mercy at work. There’s already good examples from this September. 

How did the joy of my salvation stop motivating me to respond to God in a lifestyle of worship and to others with a lifestyle of gospel-oriented service? When did I start hating the sinner rather than praying for them and moving toward them so that they, too, might experience the joy of salvation? When did I stop appreciating the miraculous work of God in my life? Here’s part of David’s prayer after his sin with Bathsheba: 

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me….17 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise. (Psalm 51:10-17)

DO THE FIRST DEEDS

This is living missionally with a goal to broaden the boundaries of Kingdom. I left out a couple verses from the previous psalm. 

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. 14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. 15 Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise.

That is God’s intended response to our appreciation of the glorious grace of salvation. How do we do this? There are a lot of ways. There is really only one rule: re-present Jesus wherever you go.

• Talk about Jesus (pray for people; share the gospel; give your testimony; mention life-giving things in your church – let your life in and with Jesus overflow naturally into your conversation).

• Live like Jesus – “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good work and glorify your father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

• Introduce people to the Kingdom of Jesus (invite them to church or small group or game times with the people of Jesus; talk about outreach ministries that embody the love of Jesus; share articles on social media about righteous kingdom work happening in the church around our community and the world.) 

* * * * * * * * * *

For our #practicerighteousness this week, I want to offer a condensed version of this message to focus our hearts and minds for the week. 

·      First love = our primary, worshipful allegiance in response to God’s love for us

·      First deeds = “Redeeming the time”[12] to make more and better disciples of Christ.

What will this look like practically for you this week with your family? Friends? Coworkers? Neighbors? Fellow church members?

 _______________________________________________

[1] Key resources that have heavily informed this series:

·      Apocalypse and Allegiance: Worship, Politics, and Devotion in the Book of Revelation,  by J. Nelson Kraybill

·      A teaching series by professor Shane J. Woods on Revelation (shanejwood.com)

·      The Bible Project’s videos, notes and podcast

·      Michael Heiser’s teaching on Revelation (Podcast: The Naked Bible)

·      Reading Revelation Responsibly: Uncivil Worship And Witness: Following The Lamb Into The New Creation, by Michael Gorman

·      Dragons, John, And Every Grain Of Sand, edited by Shane J. Wood.

·      Matt Chandler’s Revelation Series (Village Church)

·      Ancient Christian Commentary On Scripture: Revelation, from IVP

·      Seven Deadly Spirits: The Message of Revelation’s Letters for Today's Church, written by T. Scott Daniels

·      The Letters To The Seven Churches: A History Of The Early Church, W.M. Ramsay

·      Commentary from Adam Clarke, Greg Beale’s, Bible Gateway, biblehub.com, and preceptaustin.com

[2] Old Testament connection: “Then the Lord said, “Because this people draw near with their words And honor Me with their lip service, But they remove their hearts far from Me, And their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote…” (Isaiah 29:13)

[3] Thanks, IVP New Testament Commentary.

[4] People can serve very effectively in a ministry in the church and ignore God or even love their ministry more than God, and inevitably the sound of clashing cymbals will be heard. 

[5]  HELPS Word Studies

[6] “People are not our enemies; our enemies are the powers of evil themselves. We are called in Christ to love all—to hope that God can save even those embracing evil—and we are called to believe that the gospel is good news for all.”  Jamin Goggin, The Way of the Dragon or the Way of the Lamb: Searching for Jesus’ Path of Power in a Church that Has Abandoned It

[7] For what it’s worth, they kept their doctrinal tradition strong. “A decade or two later, Ignatius of Antioch would write to them that their bishop, Onesimus, had praised them because "you all live according to truth, and no heresy dwells among you; in fact you will not even listen to anyone who does not speak about Jesus Christ in truth." "I have learned," Ignatius added, "that some from elsewhere who have evil teaching stayed with you, but you did not allow them to sow it among you, and stopped your ears, so that you might not receive what they sow."  (IVP New Testament Commentary)

[8] Beale talks about this at length in his commentary

[9] Questions Greg Beale asks: “Why is there such a close relationship between lack of love and lack of evangelism? What counts as evangelism? Do we put structures or expectations around evangelism in a way that discourages us from doing it? If we see love for God as the heart of evangelism, how might that change how we view evangelism?”

[10] https://www.gotquestions.org/left-first-love.html

[11] “Your Memory Is Like The Telephone Game.” https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2012/09/your-memory-is-like-the-telephone-game

[12] Ephesians 5:16

EPHESUS, Part One: On Beasts And Babylon (Revelation 2:1-7)

[1] We are told to obey the prophecy of Revelation (1:3) – and how do you obey a prophecy? Well, prophecy in the Bible is usually (like, 85% of the time) a revelation of who God is, what God desires, and what God demands of us rather than a discussion of the future. So think of Revelation primarily (though not exclusively) as a handbook for Christian living in challenging times, with an ending to human history in which the supremacy of Christ is made clear.[2] Revelation is meant to strengthen our faith that God is with us now in our trials, and that He will one day end the groaning of a sin-soaked world and usher in a New Heaven and a New Earth. 

I think we typically focus on the apocalyptic stuff in Revelation when we think of the book, but that’s not how it starts. It starts with personal letters to churches acknowledging their hardship, commending or correcting them as needed, and pointing them toward the goodness of what God offers them in His Kingdom. Then John gives an artist’s illustration of all the dynamics referenced in the letter. 

If you have seen or read A Monster Calls or I Kill Giants,[3] you know how this works. They are stories about grief. Part of the movie is ‘real world’ conflict, but the story quickly bumps into an imaginative fantasy world with giants and monsters in which the same story unfolds in a way that captures our imaginations along with our hearts. 

So we are going to move through the letters, but I will try to bring in the artist’s illustrations as we go along.

THE 7 LETTERS

1:19 “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. 20 The mystery[4] of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels[5] of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”

 The letters address 7 congregations in Asia Minor in the order a messenger taking a circuitous route would have traveled. There were surely more churches: weigh the number 7, the number of completion. It’s a message for all churches. There is a pattern in the letters: 

• the 1st and 7th – the bookends – are struggling with a lukewarmness that comes from a lack of passion for Christ and His Kingdom. For the 7th, God has nothing good to say.

•  The 2nd and 6th – the poor, the suffering, the powerless - are doing well spiritually. 

• The middle three are once again in trouble. 

 If these 7 churches represent the ‘church’ at the time (#weighthenumbers) and stand in for churches that are and will be, then we are more likely to be in a church that is struggling with spiritual compromise rather than flourishing in an unadulterated splendor. 

I don’t say this to discourage us. It’s just to point out that we have to be willing to do self-assessment and repent as needed. Odds are good that this needs to be the rhythm or our personal and corporate life, especially if we live in circumstances where we are comfortable.[6] Poverty and persecution do not guarantee holiness, but if this overview of churches is meant to reveal something important to us, it would suggest that cultural hardship has ability to refine the church in ways that cultural comfort does not. 

EPHESUS

Inscriptions record that Ephesus was one of the greatest cities of Asia with libraries, gymnasiums, and ornate administrative buildings. The city was a favorite with tourists of the time.[7] Ephesus was a major center for the worship of Roma, the spiritual embodiment of the Empire. It’s famous temple for Artemis was one of the Seven Wonders of the World.[8] This temple worship meant a lot of prostitutes since Artemis was the goddess of fertility. The economy was dependent on trade associated with trade guilds centered around temple worship.[9] So, Ephesus: beautiful, wealthy, exciting, full of alluring pleasures, the height of what Roman culture had to offer. 

2 The One: Write down My words, and send them to the messenger (angel) [10] of the church in Ephesus. [11]“These are the words of the One who holds the seven stars in His right hand[12], the One who walks and moves among the golden lampstands [13]:

This is to the church in Ephesus. Any interpretation of the book of Revelation needs to have made sense to the readers in those seven churches. We can and do benefit from what these churches were told because this is a Revelation of what was and what is to come, but the revelation was to them first, and it didn’t do them any good if they didn’t understand it :)

“I know your deeds, your tireless labor, and your patient endurance. I know you do not tolerate those who do evil. Furthermore, you have diligently tested those who claim to be apostles, and you have found that they are not true witnesses. You have correctly found them to be false.[14]  I know you are patiently enduring and holding firm on behalf of My name. You have not become faint.

 Okay, kudos to the Christians in Ephesus! They are enduring in the face of the hardships that come with being a Christian in Ephesus. That could be anything from resisting temptation, to paying the social and economic price of not worshipping in the cults of the empire, to physical persecution. They are also guarding the truths of the faith, and they are nailing it. These are big deals. Who wouldn’t want this on their resume?  

“However, I have this against you: you have abandoned your first love[15] [for Christ and others[16]]. Do you remember what it was like before you fell? It’s time to rethink and change your ways; go back to the deeds you did at first. However, if you do not return, I will come quickly and personally remove your lampstand from its place[17].

In Matthew, Jesus had predicted that "many false prophets will appear and deceive many people" and that "the love of most will grow cold" (Mt 24:11-12). Ephesus passed the first test but not the second. (More on abandoning and returning to our first love next week.)

But you do have this to your credit: you despise[18] the deeds of the Nicolaitans and how they concede to evil. I also hate what they do. 

Here’s what we know about the Nicolaitans. They taught that spiritual liberty gave them…well, liberty to pretty much do what they wanted: have multiple wives, do what they wanted sexually, eat meat offered to idols (probably as part of being in a trade guild). They even mixed pagan temple rituals with the Christian ceremonies. In the letter to Pergamum, this type of compromise will be called the teaching of Balaam (vv. 14–15); at Thyatira, it’s followers of Jezebel (v. 20).[19] 

* * * * *

In this first letter, we already see hints of two things that will be themes in Revelation.   

 First, Christians will be tempted to fall away because of hardship. Being true to the faith invited exclusion, expulsion, and even persecution by the Romans.[20] Following Jesus was costing them social standing, access to society, the ability to make a good living, and even personal safety. This letter will end with a reminder that some will be faithful “even unto death.” 

Second, Christians will be tempted to give in to the allure of sinful pleasures offered by the Empire. 

They are going to be intimidated by power and tempted by pleasure. This has been how empires have challenged the people of God for 2,000 years. That’s the text. Here comes the illustration. 

• Revelation 13 will introduce Satan as a dragon (a huge serpent, a snake; imagery beginning in Genesis). Satan is behind the forces of evil in the world. Satan motivates attacks on the church.

• A scarlet beast[21] comes out of ocean in Revelation 14; people will worship the dragon and then the beast: “Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?” Pretty sure that’s Rome for the early church, the indomitable power at the time. More broadly, think of earthly empires in general. They were, are, and will be beastly.

•  A second beast (“false prophet” in Chapter 16) then emerges that will get people to worship the first beast. By worship, think allegiance. The empire becomes a source of hope; the empire dictates priorities; the empire establishes what the good life is and how it ought to be lived. This second beast “gives breath” to the Empire: it’s the propaganda machine (media, entertainment, education, politicians, industry heads, civic organizations… anything that promotes the agenda of the Empire.) It has horns like a lamb (leaders who look good to followers of Jesus) but speaks like a dragon. There are parts of the beast that remind people of a lamb. That’s the imagery used to describe Jesus just a couple verses earlier in Revelation 13. There’s at least a part of the false prophet/second beast that will look like home to Christians. It will be easy to compromise: “Yeah, but…look at those lamb-like horns!! I know, I know, it says dragony things, but…look at those little horns!” 

• To make things worse, Babylon rides into the story. The children of Israel were not invited or tempted to become Egyptians when they were enslaved. It was an easy empire to resist. But Babylon offered acceptance, wealth and even power when they were exiled. That was compelling, and thus dangerous. The most effective empire is one that seduces you. The spiritual survival of the early Christians depended on their ability to see Rome as a doomed Babylon (Revelation 19). So the Babylon side of Rome is portrayed as an alluring prostitute, sitting on the beast. She’s drunk with the blood of God’s people – in other words, she has consumed a lot of them. And though the language of prostitution makes us think about sex (and temple worship surely included that), Old Testament imagery of spiritual adultery was always spiritual adultery – that is, idolatry. And John makes clear that Babylon is all about the idol of wealth and power.[22]

How does a beast conquer? Through power and coercion. Even if it looks good at first, it always makes the turn.  How does a prostitute conquer? Through seduction. What two dangers face the Christians in Ephesus and everywhere? Compromising their faith from fear of the empire’s power or love of the empire’s pleasure.  

So let’s talk about Rome (the First Beast) and Domitian (the Second Beast/False Prophet who serves the empire and furthers its agenda). It’s 1st century specific, but Revelation is about what was andwhat is and what is to come. I think the “what was” included previous emperors, with Nero as the violent supervillain. “What is” is Domitian. Fill in as needed with all empires and leaders as history unfolds.  

• Domitian put in place economic, military, and cultural programs to restore the Empire’s splendor. And it was splendid in many ways.[23]

• He bumped the value of Roman currency to new levels.

• He spent lavishly on the reconstruction of Rome. 

• He spent a TON of money on congiaria (vessels filled with wine, grain or money) #bribes

• He revived the practice of public banquets. 

That’s how Babylon (with its love/idolatry of money, luxury and comfort) rides in on the back of the Beast. Now, the horns like a lamb. 

• After nominating himself to the office that supervised Roman morals, Domitian made adultery punishable by exile. When the Vestal Virgins were found to have broken their sacred vows of chastity, they were buried alive.

• Domitian punished people who made eunuchs. 

• Libel and slander became punishable by exile or death.

• He prosecuted corruption among public officials and removed jurors if they accepted bribes.

• He didn’t favor family members for public office. 

• Other religions were tolerated if they didn’t interfere with public order or could assimilate with Roman religions. Jews were heavily taxed, but history records no executions of Jewish worshipers based on religious offenses.

• A lot of the time, Christians were able to avoid physical persecution.[24] Provincial authorities did so occasionally under Domitian, but it was nothing like what Nero did. Most believers suffered more from the stigma of society rather than government harassment. Revelation actually names only one person from seven churches who had been killed. If they could just be ‘good enough citizens’ they might avoid being hurt, and they might even become comfortable.

 When the first century believers looked at Rome under Domitian’s reign, it was easier than it had been in a while to see an alluring goddess - Roma, Babylon -  who offered the potential for privilege, health and wealth to its citizens.[25] Did it not have some horns that looked a bit lamb-like? It can’t be that bad, right? 

John did not write Revelation to manufacture a crisis for people complacent about empire. Rather, at that moment, complacency about Rome was the crisis. Why push them into the arenas their parents experienced when a temple feast will do?[26] 

See, by this time, Christians in Asia Minor were involved in the trade system of Rome. This is clear from historical records. That’s not a bad thing in and of itself, but participating in meals that included worship of the gods or the emperor was typically required to enter a Trade Guild or to build political connections. In order to have a comfortable life economically and socially, followers of Christ had to participate in the guilds and/or pagan ceremonies.[27]

Christians may have figured out how to gain just a part of the world, but it was costing them their soul.[28] This, I believe, is at the heart of what John will later describe as a mark that says “property of the Beast”[29]  – a sign of loyalty to the Empire and to Domitian.[30]  

* * * * * 

This was something that made sense to those churches, but it’s for us also. #whatisandwhatwillbe  So how are we like and unlike them? What can we learn from their experience? (I’m going to talk about losing and regaining our first love next week, so that’s not included here). 

• We will be known by our deeds. What deeds are we known for? Think big picture, patterns of behavior. “I know you, that you are ________. But I have this against you: _________”

• Do people think of us when they think of patient endurance in the midst of trials, or do they think of us as fainting/falling apart? When the going gets tough, who demonstrates patient endurance? When a pandemic storm hits, who models stability? When an election get volatile, who is unruffled? In a world where it’s easy to be blown about by the winds of false, slanderous, and disturbing information, who shows a dedication to accuracy and truth? In a time that feels like we are being forced into “us vs. them” camps more than ever, who builds righteous and godly bridges? Is this the reputation of the church right now?

• Do we protect the foundational teaching and practice of the faith? Do we unthinkingly buy the latest best-selling devotional or hop on the current Christian celebrity bandwagon, or are we purposeful Bereans, searching the Scriptures so that we recognize wheat and chaff when we see it?

• Do we justify mindsets and decisions because we are afraid of our Rome, seduced by our Babylon, or deceived by lamblike horns that front for the voice of the dragon? The United States is not exempt from John’s imagery in Revelation. It’s an empire. It is a Beastly Babylon. So is Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Switzerland, Afghanistan, Haiti, Norway… Are we alert, self-assessing, surrendering our lives to the scrutiny of the Holy Spirit and the Bible to see how we are identifying and rejecting the coercive power and alluring pleasure of the False Prophets that do the bidding of the Beast? It is inevitable that we will struggle. Are we caving in spiritually or morally because it’s just too hard to be a consistent follower of Jesus in this Rome? Because it’s just too costly? Are we crumbling spiritually or morally because the idol of pleasure, comfort, money, sex, power just look so good in this Babylon? What voices are shaping how we think about and live in the world? Practical example: should the US be taking refugees from Afghanistan? How much have you been listening to your favorite news host or politician to get direction? How much have you been diving into your Bible and listening to pastors and theologians and Christian organizations that work with refugees?

• Are our hearts and minds shaped by a focus on a joyful future or on current afflictions? Have you heard the proverb, “It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness?” There is a place to curse the darkness – especially if people don’t realize they are in it - but we can become so enamored with cursing the darkness that we forget to light a candle. We can hide the light of Christ under a bushel of anger, and fear, and resentment, and hostility. Surely those of us who have the hope of everlasting joy set before us can let the hope and joy found in Jesus illuminate the darkness around us. We can call the darkness what it is and show the light for what it is at the same time. But the best way to pull people from a spiritual darkness (that they might even love) is to flood it with the compelling glory of the light of Jesus.

• Could people ever look at our life and reasonably say the evidence points toward us having been ‘marked’ by a nation or a cultural leader instead of by Christ and the Kingdom of God?Whose image do we obviously bear when people look at us? We are marked by the image we most prominently display. Here, for example, are things that characterized Jesus. The more they characterize us, the more we are marked as belonging to God. #practicerighteousness

1.    Loving – loving people well   

2.    Peacemaker – bringing order to chaos

3.    Merciful – giving grace wherever possible

4.    Kind – treating others with goodness

5.    Faithful – someone others can count on

6.    Humble – having a modest/honest estimate of ourselves 

7.    Generous – giving appropriately to those in need

8.    Self-controlled – not ruled by our appetites

9.    Godly – constantly mindful of God’s perspective 

10.Prayerful – regularly communicating with God

11.Righteous – doing what God would approve

12.Servant – looking to serve rather than be served

13.Nurturing – caring for those who are hurting or broken 

Is this us? Is this you? Are we marked as followers of Jesus? 

7 “Let the person who is able to hear, listen to and follow [31] what the Spirit proclaims to all the churches. I will allow the one who conquers through faithfulness even unto death to eat from the tree of life found in God’s lush paradise.”[32]

Recommended Soundtrack:

“Zion and Babylon” by Josh Garrels

“Bye Bye Babylon” by White Heart.

_________________________________________________________________________

[1] Key resources that have heavily informed this series:

·      Apocalypse and Allegiance: Worship, Politics, and Devotion in the Book of Revelation,  by J. Nelson Kraybill

·      A teaching series by professor Shane J. Woods on Revelation (shanejwood.com)

·      The Bible Project’s videos, notes and podcast

·      Michael Heiser’s teaching on Revelation (Podcast: The Naked Bible)

·      Reading Revelation Responsibly: Uncivil Worship And Witness: Following The Lamb Into The New Creation, by Michael Gorman

·      Dragons, John, And Every Grain Of Sand, edited by Shane J. Wood.

·      Matt Chandler’s Revelation Series (Village Church)

·      Ancient Christian Commentary On Scripture: Revelation, from IVP

·      Seven Deadly Spirits: The Message of Revelation’s Letters for Today's Church, written by T. Scott Daniels

·      Adam Clarke’s commentary

·      Parts of Greg Beale’s commentary on Revelation

·      The commentaries available at Bible Gateway

·      The commentaries available at biblehub.com

·      The commentaries available at preceptaustin.com

[2] Apocalypse and Allegiance: worship, politics, and devotion in the Book of Revelation, J. Nelson Kraybill

[3] I recommend you watch or read A Monster Calls. Be ready to cry. It’s terribly beautiful.

[4] Beale suggests the “mystery” being revealed is that the reign of Christ and the suffering of the church can co-exist. Triumph is often intertwined with death. (Romans 11:25; 1 Corinthians 2:7; Ephesians 3:3-6)

[5] In Daniel 10 and 12, angels are show to help believers on earth.

[6] Hat tip to Beale for pointing this out.

[7]  Thanks to Seven Deadly Spirits: The Message of Revelation’s Letters for Today's Church, written by T. Scott Daniels, for intro material.

[8] Ephesus was known throughout the ancient world as the temple keeper (neōkoros; cf. Acts 19:35) of the goddess Artemis. 

[9] Acts 19:23-41

[10] “Jewish tradition recognized guardian angels of nations (based partly on Da 10:13,20 – 21) and of individuals; here the idea seems to be guardian angels of churches.” (NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible)  Beale argues this is to remind readers that their foundation is in heaven; their primary existence is spiritual. That makes sense to me.  However, Adam Clarke has a different perspective worth considering. “Unto the angel of the Church of Ephesus — By αγγελος, angel, we are to understand the messenger or person sent by God to preside over this Church; and to him the epistle is directed, not as pointing out his state, but the state of the Church under his care. Angel of the Church here answers exactly to that officer of the synagogue among the Jews called ציבור שליח sheliach tsibbur, the messenger of the Church, whose business it was to read, pray, and teach in the synagogue. The Church is first addressed, as being the place where John chiefly resided; and the city itself was the metropolis of that part of Asia. The angel or bishop at this time was most probably Timothy, who presided over that Church before St. John took up his residence there, and who is supposed to have continued in that office till A.D. 97, and to have been martyred a short time before St. John's return from Patmos.”  I like what Beale says; Clarke’s view makes a practical sense to me. It’s not a hill I’m going to die on J I’ll probably barely even put up a fight if we disagree.

[11] “The church had been founded by Paul about AD 53–56, and according to tradition, both John the Apostle and Mary (whom Christ committed to John's care at His crucifixion) lived in Ephesus.” (Orthodox Study Bible)

[12] Still making sure everyone knew Domitian’s son was not god….

[13] Churches. 7 of them. Weigh the numbers: it’s the weight of all the churches represented in these 7.

[14] “At Miletus Paul prophesied that even some of the Ephesian elders would tragically betray the cause of Christ by distorting the truth and leading away disciples (Acts 20:29–30). Timothy’s primary duty at Ephesus was to command certain persons to cease teaching false doctrine (1 Tim. 1:3). Hymenaeus, Alexander, and Philetus are even named as Ephesians who wandered from the truth (1:19–20; 2 Tim. 2:17–18).” (Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary Of The New Testament)

[15] “agápē – properly, love which centers in moral preference. So too in secular ancient Greek focuses on preference; likewise… antiquity meant "to prefer."  (HELPS Word Studies) “Jeremiah 2:2  “This is what the Lord says:‘I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the wilderness, through a land not sown.”

[16]  Love for Jesus (Eph 6:24) and/or one another (Eph 5:2).  

[17] “There is here an allusion to the candlestick in the tabernacle and temple, which could not be removed without suspending the whole Levitical service, so the threatening here intimates that, if they did not repent, c., he would unchurch them they should no longer have a pastor, no longer have the word and sacraments, and no longer have the presence of the Lord Jesus.” (Adam Clarke)

[18] Centers in moral choice, elevating one value over another. (HELPS Word Studies)

[19] (NIV Study Bible Notes)

[20] See Revelation 6:9-11

[21] Described as scarlet in Revelation 17

[22] “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins…Your merchants were the world’s important people; by your magic spell all the nations were led astray.” (Revelation 18:4; 23)  Chapter 18 shows an international economic power with clients around the world, all engaging in the unbounded and often immoral pursuit of pleasure.

[23] Got a lot of the info in this list from the Wikipedia entry for Domitian. 

[24] Eusebius maintain that Jews and Christians were heavily persecuted toward the end of Domitian's reign when he Book of Revelation and First Epistle of Clement were written.

[25] Seven Deadly spirits: The message of Revelations letters for today's Church, written by T. Scott Daniels. John says that this goddess is instead the Great Horror who corrupted the Earth with her fornication in Revelation 19 2. She does not hold the cup of life, but rather a golden cup full of Abominations and the impurities of her fornication. Revelation 17:4.

[26] It’s the crisis the Russian church is facing right now. Putin pushes the traditional family model pretty hard, and he’s been pretty easy on the church. This is appealing to Russian Christians. In talking with my pastor friends in the Ukraine, the Russian church has become fond of Putin, a man who does the work of the Russian beast. This is the timeless relevance of Revelation.

[27] Paul does not reject all Christian participation in society. For example, he advocated a “don't ask” policy when believers have food set before them.[27] But this was very, very different from outright Christian participation in pagan rituals and ceremonies.

[28] Matthew 16:26

[29] As noted by Craig Koester, Revelation challenges three intertwined components of life in the Empire: political domination (“beastly side of empire); religion where the church and state distinctions blur (“deification of human power”); economic networks that demanded compromise (“the seamy side of commerce”)

[30] See Revelation 13

[31] Jesus uses this phrase (Matthew 13), borrowing this from Isaiah (6:9-10), Jeremiah (5:21), and Ezekiel (3:27)

[32] Genesis reference. Adam and Eve fellowshipped with God when they ate from the Tree of Life. That promise of fellowship is extended to the faithful who endure.