In our next passage (1:9-20) we will uncover even more in the way of
resources for facing a hostile culture. These will largely come from an
increased knowledge of Jesus Christ, a knowledge uncovered in the first vision
John relates in the book.
1. THE TYPICAL SITUATION FOR THE
CHURCH IN THIS AGE. 1:9
John begins by describing for us where most churches and Christians
find themselves. Here is what John writes: “I, John, your brother and partner
in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus,
was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony
of Jesus.”
John begins by defining himself as the brother to the readers and a
partner with them. As He identifies the things in which he participates with
them, he hits to the heart of the church’s typical current situation.
First, he says he is a partner “in tribulation.” In other words, he
assumes his readers will face tribulation in this age. According to what we
find later in the book, tribulation includes persecution for our faith and also
can speak of God’s judgment upon the world (ch’s. 12-13; 16:9). Both kinds of
tribulation arise because God ordained that he would permit men to sin and, as
a result, for the world to be under a curse and for all mankind to have a
corrupt nature and disobedient hearts. What this means is that as the Church
lives out its faith before God, the world hates us—just as it hates Jesus
Christ (John 15:18ff.).
Unfortunately we have been wrongly conditioned in the United States to
expect that Christians will experience tribulation only at the end of this age
or after Jesus Christ returns. Yet, Revelation teaches that tribulation is
expected throughout this age (Rev. 1:9; 2:10; 3:10; 11:1-13), even though it
will escalate at the end of this age (Rev. 11:7-10; 16:12-16).
It is also a shame we have been taught that if we are living properly
on mission, people will like us and we will get along fine with those who
oppose God. Of course, the only way the world will get along well with us and
we with them is if our mission consists only of living a good life before them
and never giving testimony to Jesus. But, of course this is such an incomplete
mission, it is more accurately a false mission.
The only way we can live faithfully before God and on mission is to
give testimony to Jesus Christ before others. And this invariably brings some
level of persecution (at least push back). This is why John assumes all readers
who truly are followers of Jesus will be partners in tribulation.
Additionally (note the word “and”), John writes he is a brother and
partner “in the kingdom.” A promise that God made in the Old Testament was that
he would send a future king, a shepherd, to shepherd his people in the
blessings of living underneath his forever reign, defended and protected by him
always (2 Sam. 7:12-14; 1 Chron. 11:2; Psalm 89:20-37; Jer. 33:14-22; Ezek.
34:15-24; 37:24). When Jesus began his public ministry, he proclaimed that the
kingdom of God has come near—implied, in him (Mark 1:14-15). This is why the
good news Jesus preached was that of the kingdom (Mt. 4:23) and those who truly
know him are part of the kingdom (Mt. 5:3, 10; Col. 1:13). As such, John knows
that if readers truly know Jesus, they are partners with John in the kingdom.
These first two realms of partnership form not only a way of saying,
“Hey, I know you are believers, partners in the gospel,” it also is a way of
saying, “Hey, I know you are kingdom laborers and such people will face a
hostile and persecuting world (Mt. 5:10-12). As Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:12, “Indeed,
all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted….”
Both of these first ways John is a partner prepare for the third and
final way: “and the patient endurance.” In the book of Revelation saints are
not only called to endure in their faith and mission (13:9-10, 18; 14:12-13)
and given motivations to endure, such as the power and presence of the Lamb
(14:1-5), the avoidance of God’s judgment (14:6-11, 14-20), and the promise of
the rewards of rest and happiness (14:12-13); it is also expected that they
will endure by God’s grace and power (e.g. 3:5; 15:2).
What John writes here is instructive into what he sees as typical
circumstances for Jesus followers, that is, kingdom laborers living on mission:
They are persecuted, but they also endure. This should lead the typical Jesus
follower in the United States today to ask some pointed questions: If I am not being persecuted for my faith,
why is that? Is it merely due to God’s
grace at the moment that though we are living on mission, yet we are not
experiencing push back? Or, is it
because we are not truly living on mission?
It is also important to see in verse nine that the tribulation,
kingdom, and perseverance are all “in Jesus.” In other words, this phrase
reveals the reason why we face persecution, why we are in the kingdom, and why
we are able to endure. United to Jesus Christ, we have his righteousness
imputed to us and so are part of the kingdom, which means we also are
transformed and desire to live by, for, and like him, which puts us in a place
where those in the world who are not being saved hate us. Yet, we endure this
because we are united to Jesus and so his continual resources and empowerment
enable us not to quit. This last point will be expanded upon later in the
chapter, in the vision of Jesus.
2. JOHN’S ELABORTION ON HIS SITUATION AND
WHY PERSECUTIONS TAKES PLACE. 1:9
In the last half of verse 9 John tells us more about his current circumstances:
“[I]…was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the
testimony of Jesus.” The implication appears to be not only that John was
exiled to the island for his gospel ministry, but this is what also lands other
Christians in “hot water” with those around them. Commentator, Dennis Johnson,
explains: “John’s confinement on Patmos, an Aegean island to which Rome exiled
political criminals, shows that he is a partner with the churches’ tribulation
and patient endurance.”
What John is writing here at the very least should make us think twice
before concluding that if we are doing evangelism and/or outreach properly,
people will always like us, patting us on the back for what we do. Though it
would be unwise and ungodly to be intentionally and unnecessarily caustic
toward others, nevertheless, if we are engaged in faithful gospel ministry, it most
likely will lead at least to some push back, if not greater persecution.
So, as John unveils the revelation of Jesus Christ, he gives us a
picture of what life is like for the church, those part of the kingdom. It is
one of persecution and hardships because of this broken world and one in which
we are called to endure in it all. With that understood, we now turn to the
third main point of this passage.
3. WHAT THE CHURCH NEEDS FOR PATIENT
ENDURANCE IN THE MIST OF HOSTILITY. 10-20
There are three resources John affirms the church needs for patient
endurance in the face of hostility.
A. The Word Of God.
10-11
We know the Word of God is in view here because John writes: “…and I
heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, ‘Write what you see in a book.’”
Additionally, we know that what was being revealed to John were “…the things
that…are to take place after this” (1:19), which deal with the end-times
fulfillment of things Daniel had seen centuries earlier off in the distant
future (Dan. 2:28-29, 45). This is none other than new revelation of God’s Word
about how the end-times and the kingdom of God have been started. What is more,
in context, this Word of God will display how the church can endure in
faithfulness.
There are several things we see that are true of this Word of God.
(1) It Is The Inspired Word Of God: “I was in the Spirit.”
What John writes here means he was being led along and controlled by
the Spirit of God and it was under that state that Jesus revealed to him this
Word. This is similar to what other New Testament writers affirm about God’s
Word, which is breathed out by God (2 Tim. 3:16), i.e. it comes as “men…were
carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pt. 1:21).
John needed a God-given Word to endure and prepare the church to endure.
We need that same Word-from-God today that we can learn how to stay faithful to
him.
(2) It Is The Christ-Focused And New Covenant Word: “on the Lord’s
day.”
By the time John wrote Revelation at the end of the first century, “the
Lord’s day” was the day of Jesus Christ, that is, the first day of every week,
when New Covenant believers now assembled to worship together and encourage one
another (Acts 20:27; 1 Cor. 16:2). The early second century instructional work
known as the Didache,
affirms that the New Covenant Church now gathered on Sunday in order to
celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ (after all, he was resurrected on
Sunday).
Perhaps it was merely incidental that John received this Word on the
first day of the week. However, given the nature of the Book of Revelation and
its symbolism, I think it most likely is signifying that this was a
Christ-focused Word for New Covenant people. The body of teaching that forms
the New Testament (a part of which John is now receiving) reveals the glorious
good news that the New Covenant believer has an empowerment to live for God
that believers previously did not have—Christ in us, applied by the Holy
Spirit. This is the heart of the vision that John is about to receive and it
reminds all readers that if we are going to persevere on mission in the midst
of hostile cultures, we must do so while trusting in the One who promised he
would be with us always on mission, even unto the end of this age (Mt. 28:20).
We must learn from Scripture how to trust in him and what difference
this makes.
(3)
It Is The Christ-commissioned Contemporary Word: “…and I heard behind me a loud
voice like a trumpet saying, ‘Write what you see in a book.’”
John is not only receiving this Word from and about Christ, but is
commissioned by the Lord to write down what he sees about the things unfolding
in this age between the first and second comings of Christ so that the church
can have fresh words about how to survive what they face and also what God is
doing to preserve them and enable them to overcome. We grasp this if we see the
present commission in light of the vision in this chapter and how, after this
vision, it is revealed how God will work in and for the church during this age.
(4)
It Is The Word for the Church Universal: “and send it to the seven churches, to
Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to
Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”
As we have already discovered, John most likely intends for these seven
churches to represent the full worldwide church throughout all history in this
present age. What this means is that the inspired, New Covenant, Christ-focused,
Christ-commissioned, contemporary Word that is for all the church is none other
than part of God’s timeless New Testament Scriptures.
So, the first resource for our endurance is the Word of God. We must think
carefully about what this implies for our need to take in God’s Word! Think
about your own situation. You will not live faithfully, on mission, and
persevere in it apart from taking in, believing, and living out the Bible!
And that same Bible also unveils in its pages over and over again the
second resource.
B. A Sense Of Purpose,
Empowered By The Spirit. 12, 20
John writes in these two verses part of what he saw in his vision and
also its significance: “Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me,
and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands…. 20 As for the mystery of…the seven golden
lampstands…the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”
John is revealing that the New Covenant (or New Testament) Church, the
end-times temple of God (Rev. 1:4, 12; 4:4; 11:1-13; 14:1) has taken up the
mission that the Old Covenant people of God (Israel) had. Israel was given the
tabernacle and later the temple (both of which had lampstands in them [Exodus
25:31-35; 2 Chron. 4:7]) to show that God dwelt in their midst and also how
other people could come to the true God (Ex. 25:8). As a people with God
present among them and with instructions for how to approach God in true
worship, they were to be a light to the nations (Is. 42:6; 49:6), to draw them
to the true God.
When the Solomonic temple had been destroyed due to God’s judgment and then
it was later being rebuilt, the prophet Zechariah received a vision of a
lampstand with seven lamps connected to a perpetual supply of olive oil signifying
that in the same way the lampstands might continually burn, Judah could see
that the resumption of their mission to the nations could be carried out only
by the perpetual power of God’s Spirit working in and through them (Zechariah
4:1-7). Since the empowerment of the Spirit is tied into that former vision
given to Zechariah (Rev. 1:4; 4:5) and since the New Testament Church is here
in Rev. 1:12, 20 identified as the lampstands to give light (and that light
appears to symbolize their mission to the world [2:5]), it seems that John is
saying that the church must realize we have a purpose to fulfill. And, that
purpose can be fulfilled only by the power of the Spirit working in and through
us.
The context here in chapter 1 implies strongly that a large part of
endurance is persevering in the mission God has given, no matter how hard it
is. So, realizing our purpose and that purpose can be fulfilled only by the
power of the Spirit is the second resource Christ reveals to John.
We must also note that here we see one of the myriad of ways Revelation
reveals Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ won for us the more permanent, powerful, and
penetrating presence of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:33) and part of what the Spirit
does is to apply the person, power, presence, and work of Christ in us (Rom.
8:9-11). So, part of what Jesus Christ is revealing here is how he works in us
through his Spirit (also known as the “Spirit of Christ” [Rom. 8:9]) that we
can endure whatever comes our way.
The first two resources prepare us for the third resource.
(C) The Powerful
Presence Of Jesus. 13-18
There are five key truths revealed through John about Jesus that we
must see, if we are to appreciate how his presence with us is sufficient to
help us endure.
1.
He is The Divine Messianic Son Of Man First Revealed In Daniel (13-15): “and in
the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and
with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like
white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were
like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of
many waters.”
There are several allusions to the Old Testament here. That Jesus
Christ is described as “one like a son of man,” is a quote of Daniel 7:13, in
which Daniel was given a vision of one coming in the future who was “one like a
son of man.” He would be given dominion and glory and an everlasting kingdom,
which will include all peoples, nations, and languages serving him (Dan 7:14).
“Son of man” was the favorite self-designation of Jesus as recorded in the
Gospels (e.g. Mt. 20:28).
Additionally, it is said that this son of man came to the Ancient of
Days (Dan. 7:13), that is, God on his throne, and God was described earlier in
this manner: “his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like
pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. A stream
of fire issued and came out from before him…” (Dan. 7:9-10). Those descriptions
of God in Daniel 7 are now applied to Jesus Christ.
The final two descriptions (Rev. 1:15), “his feet were like burnished
bronze” and also “his voice was like the roar of many waters” are descriptions
elsewhere of angelic beings who come from God’s presence (Ezek. 1:7; Dan. 10:7)
and of the redeemed in heaven who are in God’s presence (Rev. 14:2)
respectively.
The point of the vision is to show that Jesus is the expected coming
King, the Messiah, who not only is sent from God the Father, but also would
bring the kingdom of God, along with the blessings of the kingdom. Even more,
it shows he also is himself God.
Yet, notice where it is said Jesus is seen: “In the midst of the
lampstands” (1:13), which means he is in the midst of the churches (1:20).
Since the vision of the lampstands for the churches depicts them as living on
mission as God’s end-times temple, Jesus’ divine, messianic presence in their
midst signifies he is there to empower and protect (see Mt. 28:20; Rev. 1:9).
2.He is our high priest (13): “clothed with a long
robe and with a golden sash around his chest.”
Jesus is envisioned as being dressed like the Old Testament priest, in
a robe (Ex. 28:4, 31, 34; 29:5; 39:22) and in a sash (Ex. 28:4, 39, 40; 29:9;
39:29)—and even more specifically, a golden sash that marks him as having a
heavenly origin (Rev. 15:6). The point is that Jesus Christ is presently our
high priest who is interceding for us and applying his saving work continually
(Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:23-28). As such, no matter how much people in the world
oppose Christians and make false accusations against us, the ongoing work of
Jesus Christ as our high priest gives us assurance that God’s favor remains
upon us and his promises will be fulfilled in us, his people.
3.
He Is Our Protecting Lord and judge (16): “In his right hand he held seven
stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the
sun shining in full strength.”
There are three realities about Jesus unveiled in this verse. To begin,
since the seven stars represent the seven angels of the seven churches (Rev.
1:20), this most likely signifies that the glorious Savior holds the churches
in his hand. The point would be that he protects them and also that he is Lord
over them, to determine what will happen with them.
Additionally, since the sharp two-edged sword signifies his judgment
elsewhere in Revelation (see 19:15), this also means that he is judge. He not
only can direct what happens to the churches, but will judge those who unjustly
harm his people, and he will judge those who profess to know him, but don’t
(Rev. 21:8, 27). Both sides of this truth are meant to motivate the true
Christian to persevere that he might avoid judgment, and to persevere by
trusting in Jesus.
Finally, the fact that his face was shining so brightly is a sign elsewhere
of divine glory (Mt. 17:2) and so displays he is our glorious God. We can trust
in him.
4.
He is the sovereign God (17): “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though
dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and
the last”
This fourth key truth about Jesus is similar to what has been revealed
about God the Father previously (see Is. 41:4; 44:6; 48:12; Rev. 1:4, 8)—and it
displays that he is sovereign over history. This emphasizes and adds to the
truth found in verse sixteen, that Jesus is king over our lives and whatever
happens to us. No suffering, no persecution, can take place in our lives that
he does not ordain and permit. What this also means is that he can both bring
good out of it, and he can also take care of us and bring us through it without
being destroyed in the ultimate way.
5.
He is the one risen from the dead who also gives life to others (18): “and the
living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of
Death and Hades.”
The fifth and final key truth that is revealed about Jesus that
strengthens us for endurance is that, as the crucified and risen Savior, he is
able to give eternal life and bring us into our future reward. The reference to
the “keys of Death and Hades” shows that Jesus is the fulfillment of Eliakim,
mentioned in Isaiah 22:20-22, who was given the power of giving or denying
access to the kingdom.
The other reminder this gives most likely is that Jesus Christ can use
us in and through our suffering and persecution to bring others into the
kingdom, thus rendering our missional living fruitful and successful. In light
of this, our remaining faithful and enduring is well worth it—not only for our
own eternal benefit, but for the benefit of others and for God’s glory.
CONCLUSION
What we see, then, in this vision of Jesus that John received, along
with his preface to it, is that we must get to know Jesus Christ more
intimately and powerfully through his revelation of himself. This is a
necessity, if we want to grow to be like him, serve him, and share him with
others, and endure in faithfulness, no matter what comes our way. Additionally,
opening up the Bible is not merely a spiritual discipline and the acquiring of
data, it is getting to know the Second Person of God that we might endure!
I pray we will make use of these resources as we live on mission in the
midst of hostile cultures!
Joyfully Growing In Knowledge Of Jesus Through His Word With You,
Tom
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