Revelation
is one of those books that I do not try to spend much time in. That’s not good for me, but it’s so controversial
that I don’t like the fight over what will happen in the end. Part of my issue is that my view of the “Great
Tribulation” is that we’re all going through it. Not necessarily now, but the way I read
Scripture, believers will be in the Tribulation period. Any sense that we escape it I believe isn’t
supported in Scripture. On the other
hand, it would be really cool if we did.
So, I think as if I’m staying here through it, and either way, my faith
is grounded.
I didn’t get
to that position from the logical process of what would keep my faith. I got the understanding of the end that I
have because other ones are simply too complex to have the feel of my Master on
them. It doesn’t match with a lot of the
other stuff He has revealed in Scripture.
The other reason is that the historical context in which much of the
writing occurred which is used to support various views seems to have been on
the cusp of great persecution of the Early Church. There were waves of these throughout the
first 200 years of its life, and these waves were brutal. In some sense they were not as insidious as
Islamic persecution of believers today, but they were definitely brutal in
their day.
Two things
result from this historical context. The
first is that open discussion of the oppressive powers was dangerous, so
allusion to them was used instead. Using
Babylon as a reference for the powers in Rome replaced a term for them with
their enemy. Romans would have thought the
writings were patriotic, not written against them. The second is that much of the writing is “Apocalyptic”
which means that while it does refer to the end of the world, symbolic language
was heavily used throughout. Disentangling
the symbols takes a lot of historical research few are willing to do (I haven’t
been, which is why this is a reason I don’t).
One of the
important elements to The Revelation of John is the first few chapters where he
continually uses the phrase, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit
says to the churches.” This was written
as a record of a message to various churches, and these congregations were
located in one region, not all over the world of Rome. I think it’s full of very important lessons,
particularly brilliant word pictures, and very convicting about things I have
become comfortable with. But I do not
want to forget the original audience. I
want to join them in the seats as this was read to them. I want to hear it from their perspective
first.
Another
recurring phrase is, “To him who prevails I will give…” and what is given
changes depending upon the particular problem that church faces. To the one who prevails or overcomes, or to
the one fighting all the way to the end, my Master will give something that is
worth the fight. That phrase sometimes follows
the previous one but always shows up tied to it. So, one important lesson clear from the
beginning of this book is that my life is a fight to the finish. I am to fight until I die. I confess I like R&R and fighting without
a break does not sound appealing. That
has been a lot of my problem I suspect.
The rewards
for me if I fight to the finish are worth the fight. The appeal of what I see here picks at my
faith, but keeping the end in sight, the prize my Master has for me, will help
me continue fighting. It is tiring work
when I look at my progress or what I have accomplished. Instead I need to look at my Master and what
He accomplishes through me, with me, and around me. Again, it’s not about me, but my Master. It’s me fighting with Him in His war, not
about Him helping me in mine. My war
fades into insignificance as I get caught up in His. Pride and a desire to be center-stage hinder
me from focus on His war.
But the
rewards make the striving worth it. To
see His face, stand before His throne, and finally know His love end to end;
those are gifts worth the focus of my life.
This menial striving I do for this or that in this life gains me
little. Holiness and peace result as I
strive for Him in His war for His people.
I want to know Him, and for that I push daily through the competing
thoughts and ideas set up against that knowledge. I know that, but it’s hard to focus on
that. I like my current comfort, my soft
bed, tech toys, and reclining couch.
Well, it’s time to get off the couch, and get back into the fray. See you in there!
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