If its not worth doing, then don't do it!
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If its not worth doing, then don't do it! |
    
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IN OUR MIDST Revelation 1: 1-20
As we begin our winter's study of the Revelation given to the Apostle John, there are three things to be set in order. FIRST, you should know that the purpose of Revelation is to comfort the Church in its long struggle against the forces of evil. The immediate context of the Revelation involved the fact that Caesar worship was becoming a popular public religion. Caesar worship had arisen somewhat spontaneously as a unifying force for the Empire. The source of Caesar worship came from the provinces where people knew what they owed to Rome. Impartial Roman justice had replaced unpredictable local oppression. Security had taken the place of insecurity. The roads and seas were safe from bandits and pirates. Pax Romana, "the Roman peace" was the greatest thing which had ever happened to the ancient world. In gratitude the guiding spirit of the Empire was worshiped in the name of Roma. In time this religion turned its praise to the reigning Caesar some of whom honestly tried to slow the growth of the humanistic worship. However, others gloried in such adulation, especially the mad Caligula and the evil Domitian. In the times of Nero & Domitian the Christians were confronted with the choice: Caesar or Christ. Once a year everyone in the Empire was supposed to appear before the magistrates in order to burn a pinch of incense to the godhead of Caesar, and to say: "Caesar is Lord." The only people exempt from participation were the Jews. But, by the time of John's vision the Christians were no longer being recognized as a sect of Judaism. Thus when the Christians refused to conform to this worldly demand of loyalty they were often persecuted and killed. It is true that Domitian's successor Nerva repealed the savage and penal laws; but the damage was done. The Christians had become outlaws and in the context of the whole period from Nero to Nerva the Revelation is a call to be faithful unto death in order to win the crown of life. SECOND, the theme of Revelation is the victory of Christ and His Church over Satan and his helpers. Seven times over, in parallel passages John witnesses the same scenario of Christ victorious. Each of these seven sections gives us a description of the entire gospel age from the first to the second coming of Christ. Now let me explain what I mean by parallel passages. In school I regularly divide my teaching into units. In Government there are units on Local Government, The Constitution, Current Events, Economic systems and one each on the three branches of our government. In English there are units on Spelling, Writing, Reading and several on Literary Content. Each course however is organized differently. In Government we cover each unit in sequence. However, in English I am doing something with each unit every week, so the units are parallel. Monday we read, Tuesday we write, Wednesday & Thursday we discuss and Friday we spell. Then the following week we begin all over again. In this same way, the best commentators see the book of Revelation organized. We may also see that the seven sections are grouped into two major divisions which reveal a progress in intensity of spiritual conflict. The first major division reveals the Church, indwelt by Christ, persecuted by the world. But the Church is avenged, protected and victorious. The second major division reveals the deeper spiritual background of this struggle. It is the conflict between Jesus Christ and the dragon over which Christ, and therefore His Church, is finally victorious. THIRD, the book of Revelation is full of signs and images whose purpose is to comfort the saints in various times of affliction and to assure them and us that our God is, was and always will be the only power in His universe. Since these signs and images are Hebraic in origin we may not completely understand them just as foreigners are initially mystified with the concept of "Baseball, hot dogs and Apple Pie" representing the values of American culture. If you doubt me, try explaining what that phrase means to someone who was born somewhere else. With these three issues out of the way, let us now turn our attention to the opening chapter of the Revelation to John. Our New International Version shows three divisions in this chapter. First there is the prologue which is three verses long. Here we find the title of The Revelation which unveils the general plan of God for the history of His Church within the world. We also note the nature of this unveiling. It is from Jesus Christ, it has been given to Him by the Father. And He has made it known to us through the Apostle John. The unveiling of Christ in our midst is the theme of the first chapter. This fact of knowing that Christ is in our midst will be a blessing to those who not only read but who listen and are moved in their hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit. Second in this chapter we have a greeting and a Doxology in verses four to eight. This portion is in the same format as many of the other books in the New Testament. The author is identified as well as the people to whom the book is written. Then follows a salutation which affirms the Trinitarian nature of our God and King. Notice the order of the Trinity here. "Him who is, and who was, and who is coming." This is the Father described and later affirmed as coming in Christ in verse eight as the Alpha and the Omega. Next is the sevenfold spirit which refers to the Holy Spirit in the fullness of his operations and influences in the world and in the Church. Finally we have Jesus Christ described with reference to His earthly ministry, His death and resurrection and His present exaltation as King of Kings. To Jesus be the glory and the power forever affirms John in his ascription of praise. This Jesus who was among us is indeed coming again. Of that we can be certain. The third division in this Chapter sets the stage for the vision proper. Like earlier prophets Isaiah, Daniel and others John tells us the historic details of day and place for the Revelation given to Him. John is shown the fact of Christ's royal presence in our midst. The voice that he hears is "like a son of man". The brightness of His countenance overwhelms John's visual abilities to stare intensely. The mere words here convey the awesomeness of our Lord and King. No longer is he a mere Son of Man dwelling on earth. His appearance is still familiarly like a Son of Man, but His essential glory overwhelms the senses and vocabulary. John notices the Royal sash and robes which speak of His high-priestly role. He sees the whiteness of His eternity, divinity and purity of the Ancient of Days. He senses the heart-searching gaze of the all knowing eyes that burn like fire. He sees the resist less providence of His tread upon History as He works out all His purposes in the course of human events. The voice is the voice of God who makes Himself heard in words of salvation and comfort and of warning and judgment. "Hallelujah! What a Savior" runs a familiar hymn. Is this our own vision of who Jesus Christ really is? Do you know Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords? The vision has an immediate effect upon John. Like Isaiah and others ushered into the very presence of our Lord and King he fell down as one who died. The Son of Man gently places His hand upon Him and speaks words of assurance. Yes, our Lord and King is indeed awesome and the sword of His mouth has the purpose of purging His Church and punishing His enemies. Yet, just as He speaks lovingly to John so He would have us today to understand that He is the First and the Last, He is alive for ever and ever! He does hold the keys of death. John does not die in His presence but by His grace John lives for a specific purpose to share the unveiling of Christ's presence in our adversity with the Church of all ages. This is what I wish to impress upon you today. This presence of Christ in the midst of His Church. To sense this I want you to turn to verses twelve and thirteen. There we see where John saw Jesus Christ. He was in the midst of seven golden lamp stands. Verse twenty leaves us no doubt about the image. The seven golden lamp stands are the seven churches. And Christ is in their midst looking, evaluating and tending the brightness of their flame. In the next two weeks we shall see a description of His Churches as they were then and as they are even now. But for today the important point that we need to realize is that our Lord and King Jesus Christ is in the midst of His Church. This is what the phrase "among the lamp stands" means. To understand this image we must remember that we are all called into Christ's Church to bear light or witness to His grace and glory. As light bearers we are not to hide our light under a bushel but instead Christ urges us to "let our lights shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father who is in heaven." The idea here can be conveyed by the report of one of our Astronauts who was circling the earth in one of our spacecraft. He remarked about seeing cities from their lights at night. Africa and Asia have a few lights that are visible in the greater of their cities. Europe more so, but America from space at night is lit gloriously from the Mississippi River to the East Coast. The lights of materialism witness to our vast prosperity. In the same sense John sees in His vision the lights of Christ's Church. I wonder what a similar vision would show us today? Would America shine as brightly spiritually as she does materially? Would our little congregational flame be visible and important? We are assured by Scripture that wherever two or three are gathered in His Name there He is in our midst. Thus we must say that He is here in our midst. The very one like a Son of Man, the Lord of Creation, the King of the Universe, He is here just as assuredly as He was there with the Apostle John. Now, we do not see Him physically as John did, but nevertheless He is here watching, tending and keeping His own people gathered and called according to His purpose. May we give Him the glory due His Name and celebrate the central fact of His continuing presence with us. Amen.
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