A Taste of Revelation.

As I shared Sunday, the Apocalyptic style of writing was popular in Jewish & Early Christian writing, but over time we have lost the key to uncover the meaning that they attached to the symbols in the writing. In their culture these symbols were understood and added meaning to the reading. In our day many will remain a mystery, but the overall message can be understood. This week we will have a taste of the style and understanding of the overall teaching of the book.

Remember it is not a code to be cracked, Jesus said he did not know the times this would happen, but we need to understand the purpose so as it unfolds we will recognize it’s coming as Jesus said in Matthew 24: 32-33, "Now learn this lesson from the fig-tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. (Reading all of Matthew 24 will also be helpful)

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Day 1 - Rev 3:15 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 nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth. (Additional Reading – Rev 3:14 – 22) (For message to all the churches read Revelation Ch 1 – 3)

The message to the church at Laodicea is for most Americans the most pertinent. Their wealth and security had lulled them into a place of complacency. The city had hot springs and also cool ponds and gained much of its wealth as a Health Community where people come to get therapy in the hot and cool waters. Both hot and cool springs have medicinal values but lukewarm has none. Such is the situation of complacency. We should ask ourselves, “If God were to look at our lives what would he commend, and what would he say needs to change”. Allow him to speak to you.

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Day 2 – Rev 5:6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne… 9 And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. (Additional Reading Rev 5:6-14)

Today we get a taste of Apocalyptic writing. Jesus is pictured as a lamb slain. It goes on in the description to say “He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth” Seven we know in Jewish circles speaks of perfection and completeness. As the imagery unfolds it is the lamb who is worthy to set the process of the actions in Revelation in play because of His role as savior who has given His life for the world. In the additional reading you enjoy the beauty of the imagery even if we do not have all the keys to gain all its meaning. Let God speak to you through it.

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Day 3 – Rev 13:1 And the dragon (Satan) stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast (later referred to as the Anti-Christ) coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. 2 The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. (Additional Reading Rev Ch 13: 1-9, and keep going if you like)

In this section we see the drama played out between good and evil, God and Satan. In the additional reading we see the Apocalyptic imagery that he will lead nations and kings and exert power over them which is derived from Satan and supported by the kings and nations of the earth who war against the Saints who follow God. As I have repeatedly said the lines will be drawn so that it will be impossible to stand in middle ground. We will either choose Christ or the Antichrist. It should be noted that the same choice is before us today.

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Day Four – Woman called Babylon the great. Rev 17:1 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. 2* With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries."… 5 on her forehead: MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
Rev 18: 3* For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries. The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries." 4* Then I heard another voice from heaven say: "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; 5* for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes. (Additional Reading Rev Ch 17: 1-18, and keep going if you like)

Babylon is the persona that represents the world and its inhabitants. The statement “For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries” is the imagery of the seductive nature of the fallen world in which we live. A major part of the plan of God is that sin has to come, and be seen in all of it’s fullness so we learn to hate it as God does. Even today we are learning this lesson, and the quicker we learn it the faster we experience the life God intended for all of us. Walking in his wisdom, love and blessing.

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Day five - Rev 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 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." 5 He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." (Additional Reading Rev Ch 21 & 22)

As the old preacher said, “the good news is we know how this story ends”. We are on a journey in this life to make a number of important discoveries. We need to learn that free will is the greatest gift we could have been given along with being created in the image of God, but with it also comes great responsibility. We must also learn that sin will always grow and its end is always death and destruction. At the same time we have the ability to experience the incredible love of God which has the power to heal and free us from the effects of sin, and allow us to enjoy the Faith, Hope and Love of God all along the journey. He said he will never leave us or forsake us, we need to make sure we don’t leave or forsake Him, AND the end is assured.