Brothers and Sisters we live in uncertain times, in what many may call a time of crisis.
I could talk about Brexit or the Trump Administration.
However, for a moment I want to speak about the reality of climate change.
Climate change is real.
Desmond Tutu ‘Twenty-five years ago people could be excused for not knowing much, or doing much, about climate change. Today we have no excuse."
-- Lord Have Mercy, Christ have mercy
Climate change is happening now. [Poorest Countries are the most vulnerable]
Lord have Mercy, Christ have mercy.
Climate change requires extensive and sustained action to prevent the unfolding of a disaster of apocalyptic proportions.
Lord have Mercy, Christ have mercy.
Moreover, We as individuals and as a community
are caught up,
and even complicit,
in lifestyles and economic structures
which contribute significantly to the problem.
If the global population had the same standard as living as many of us here enjoy today (Including myself), we would be even closer to environmental catastrophe and collapse than we are now.
It's as if the horsemen of climate catastrophe are at the gates,
and 'Extinction Rebellion protesters act as heralds warning,
through civil disobedience,
of the impending doom.
Let us pause and confess our sins In the words of an old confessional liturgy slightly tweaked for the situation we face.
Almighty God,
we have sinned against you
and against our neighbour
in thought and word and deed,
through negligence, through consumerism,
by being caught up and complicit in economic systems and lifestyles which bring destruction.
In your mercy
forgive what we have been,
help us to amend what we are,
and direct what we shall be;
that we may do justly,
love mercy,
and walk humbly with you, our God.
Amen.
In light of this uncertainty, we are going to embark on a three-week mini-series into the book of Revelation for this ancient book offers the contemporary church a clear call to have hope and courage in uncertain and challenging times of crisis. My prayer is that our study of Revelation will act as a wake-up call to the church in a time of crisis. (5 Mins)
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Revelation 1:1–5 (NIV)
1 The Revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it because the time is near.
To the seven churches in the province of Asia:
Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,
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The book of Revelation was likely written at the end of the first century by John, a well-known elderly church leader. In Rev 1:9-10, we read that John had been exiled to the island of Patmos for speaking about Jesus. One day, likely on a Sunday, John is overcome by the Spirit and has a powerful visionary experience.
The book of Revelation is the content of this vision, and it encourages the church to hold faithful allegiance to Jesus within a world which is hostile to the Gospel.
We may understand Revelation as a ((1) letter, a (2) prophecy and and as an (3) apocalypse.
Let me say a word about each of these while also unpacking in general terms some of the content of the book.
Main Point One: It is a letter
This text although written for us, is not written to us, We are reading someone else's mail, and the original recipients come from a different time and a different culture.
There are various clues to this in the book. Let me name 4 of them.
(1) Written in Greek
(2) 1:4 , To the sevnen churches in Asia
Rev 1:10
Write what you see in a book 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."
(3) If we skim through chapters 2 and 3 we see that they contain individual letters to the churches, each of which addresses their own particular context.
(4) Throughout the book, there are many places where first-century insider information is needed to make sense of the text. For instance, Rev 12 talks about a Woman, riding a scarlet beast with 7 heads. It goes onto say that wisdom is needed as these 7 heads are the seven hills. For the reader in the first century, it was obvious, The Beast and the Woman are to be identified with the Roman Empire.
This provides a clue to the interpretation of this book. We are misreading if we think that it speaks directly about issues of the 21st century.
In this book, we do not find an answer to Brexit, or a prediction of Trump or an analysis of carbon emissions and global warming. Despite what might be said by some so-called TV evangelist or Bible teachers, the book of Revelation was addressed to Christians in the first century in Asia Minor.
It is not written to us, we are reading someone else's mail.
These early Christians in Asia Minor were Jesus shaped communities which were called to be outposts of God's kingdom in a world dominated by counterclaims.
They lived in the Roman Empire.
The Empire claimed to bring Peace and Stability (Pax Romana), but the Empire was known for its brutality.
The Empire claimed to bring riches and wealth, yet 30-40% of the Roman population were slaves.
Through propaganda,
public festivals, and liturgies
the Empire proclaimed and propagated the view that the Emperor was the centre of the world,
Thee empire claimed the Emperor was the son of God, the high priest (pontifex maximus) and that the Emperor and Rome's power and privilege are eternal and unrivalled.
For instance, the Roman poet Statius wrote about Domitian, the emperor who likely ruled when Revelation was written, that "At Jupiter's command he rules for him the blessed world." the Emporer is the "ruler of the conquered world," "the world's sure salvation," and "blest protector and saviour." 24
Rome was the norm
(the way it is, the way it will always be),
and with it came a narrative which assumed the economic and militaristic status quo.
John writes to these churches, living in the Empire, and encourages them and challenges them to reject the story and worldview of Rome and to pledge allegiance to Jesus. They are to march to the beat of a different drum
When we look at the content of the letters in chapters two and three of Revelation we see that some of the churches, are clinging to Jesus despite persecution. They have nailed their colours to the mast, and Jesus tells them to keep going.
To the Church in Smyrna,
Revelation 2:10 (NIV)
10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor's crown.
However, other churches are in a more compromised position, and they are told to Repent and change their ways, their lives, for they have colluded with the powers, and flirted with unfaithfulness.
To the Church in Sardis
Revelation 3:1–4 (NIV)
I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. 4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.
Although Revelation is not God's word to us, it is God's word for us,
It urges us to awaken to the reality of any beastly forces that are at work in our world and to repent of times that we have been seduced and enamoured by anti-kingdom and anti-creational forces, powers and worldviews. We are encouraged afresh to pledge our allegiance to Jesus and march to the beat of a different drum.
15 Mins.
Main Point Two: Revelation is Prophetic
Rev 1:3: Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy'
The book of Revelation is prophetic, yet it is vital for us to realise what we mean by this term.
In the bible the role of the prophet and prophetic literature is primarily concerned with forth-telling rather than foretelling. Forth-Telling concerns speaking forth about the issues of the day, rather than fore-telling which predicts a distant future.
As prophetic literature, the book speaks against the oppressive and idolatrous nature of the Roman Emporer, the Empire and the Economic System which supports them. Using prophetic metaphors Revelation describes the Emperor, Empire and Economic System as beasts and dragons because they devour the weak,
attack the church
and bring conflict and catastrophe to that which is God's good creation.
With prophetic critique,
the text describes Rome as the Harlot of Babylon
because her power,
prestige and presuppositions
are seductive and enticing to the world.
But all that glitters is not gold, and John the Revelator speaks out that the Empire is rotten to the core and bound for destruction.
The Church is called to resist the temptations and seductions of the whore who presents herself as offering peace, pleasure and fulfilment but instead brings chaos, destruction and death.
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Some of you may be familiar with other powerful imagery in the book such as the seven seals, of the horseman of the apocalypse, and trumpets which signal doom and disaster.
These symbols were never meant to forecast and create a detailed chronological narrative of events yet to happen,
instead they are to show that Rome will reap what it sows.
Rome sows violence and economic exploitation, and despite its power, it will reap, in wrath, both violence and economic collapse.
The natural consequence and outworkings of empires of violence and destruction are violence and destruction. In the words of Jesus 'Those who live by the sword will die by the sword.'
[Free Style This)
In the heart of Ephesus, was the Agora, the market place and high street. Right next to this was an imperial temple for the worship of the Domitian the Roman Emperor, it contained a statue of him that was 8 metres high.
In order to buy and sell in the market, or to engage in the business life of the city, it was necessary to make an offering to Caesar acknowledging that he is God on Earth. Perhaps you had to pay a small charge, take the incense and place it on an altar. and then you might receive an ink mark on your hand or forehead. By pledging allegiance to the Emperor and having a mark to show it, you could now engage in the commercial life of the city.
It is very likely into this situation that the prophetic words of Revelation apply.
In Revelation 13 and 14 it says , 'The beast causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark.....If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath
We see here the challenge for the early church. Allegiance to Jesus, is not simply giving your heart to Jesus, but has an impact on day to day life.
Revelation calls the church, using stark imagery,
to identify the beastly influences which affect everyday life,
choices and economic activity.
To borrow language from Dutch Christian prime minister Abraham Kuyper ' 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!”
Not only should we see what Revelation means to the first century Christians but we should be able to see that Revelation provides a model for us as we seek to be a prophetic community.
Discern and Identify aspects of the prevailing culture which are fueled by greed , arrogance and exploitation.
Repentance and renewed Faithfulness. from ways that we have colluded with these forces in our daily lives
Take up our prophetic role to speak truth to power, speak truth for the powerless
MAin Point Three: Unveiling (apocalypse):
Rev 1:1 A revelation, apocalypsis, 7
Revelation presents us with an unveiling, its as if the curtain of the heaven have been pulled back and we see things as they really are.
The Empire, sort to define reality and narrate the world, but in Revelation we see that when the curtain of heaven is rolled back it is none other than Jesus who take centre stage, it is with Jesus that reality is defined and the true story of the world and the cosmos is known.
To the persecuted church- Revelation says, look to Jesus.
To the compromised church- Revelation says, look to Jesus.
To those in awe of Rome, or paralysed by a fear which disables them from marching to the beat of a different drum- Revelation says, look to Jesus.
Turning to ourselves.
When we are dazzled by consumerism and put our trust in the status quo- when we accept the norm without a heavenly perspective, we need a vision of Jesus.
When we are stunned into inaction by talk of climate catastrophe- feeling inadequate or feeling afraid- we too need a vision of Jesus
Next week we are going to focus in on the person of Jesus but for now let me sketch out as we land this sermon what we see of Jesus in this passage.
[Freestyle This]
Christ: long-awaited King v5
The Faithful Witness: v5
Firstborn of the DEad: v5
Ruler of the Kings of the Age: v5
The one who loves us v5
The one who freed us from our sins v5
The one who will return v7
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