MARTYRS TO THE WORD (Rev. 1:1-8 August 18, 2002)

Transcription

1 MARTYRS TO THE WORD (Rev. 1:1-8 August 18, 2002) The Book of Revelation what is it all about? There is a subject that has led believers into some major disagreements. It has split churches and families. It has spawned prophecy conferences and jingoistic novels. Several Hollywood blockbusters are based on this book. It is a book of controversy. And yet Revelation 1:3 declares: Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it. This is a book of blessing. This is a book that is precious to the saints. But just what that blessing is remains a point of debate. For some, Revelation is a detailed map of the events leading up to the end times. For others it is a snapshot of first century history. Some see it as a book of eternal truths. But I believe that this precious book is far more. It is a precious encouragement to life in a fallen world for every child of God. I personally find this to be one of the most encouraging and edifying books in the Bible, so I want to share with you over the next few weeks at least the first three chapters of this great book. This book was written to be a blessing and an encouragement. And rightly understood it is that. As I have studied this book, I am convinced that the purpose for the book is quite plain and clear for all to see. It is not the book of mystery that some portray it as. If we look at the first chapter of Revelation, one key to understanding the book is a word that is very prominent in the first few verses, the Greek word μαρτυς OR martyr. When I say the word martyr what comes to mind? You would probably agree with The Macquarie Concise Dictionary which defines martyr as: One who is put to death or endures great suffering on behalf of any belief, principle or cause. When we think of martyrs, what springs to mind is saints burned at the stake for their faith or missionaries run through with spears for taking the gospel to the world. 1

2 But prior to John writing the Book of Revelation μαρτυς did not have that meaning. It was a word that meant one who gives a testimony or one who provides witness to an event or person. It was a word associated with the courtroom. It was the Book of Revelation itself which changed the meaning of this word. Have a look with me at Revelation chapter 1. In the first nine verses of this book, the word μαρτυς martyr is used four times twice in verse 2, once in verse 5 and once in verse 9. But in no major translation is it translated martyr it is translated by words like witness, testimony, bore record. And if you read carefully, this first chapter implies that there are three martyrs three who bear witness. The first μαρτυς is the Apostle John. Look at verse 2. John is commissioned to testify to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ. This whole book is the μαρτυς the testimony, the witness, of John. Look at verse 11. John was commanded to: Verse 19: Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches. Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things. John is the first μαρτυς He testifies to the truth entrusted to him. But, there is a second μαρτυς. Look at verse 5. Here we find Jesus Christ the faithful μαρτυς. The faithful witness. So what is Jesus testifying to? At this point we need to look back at verse 1: The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bondservants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John. God the Father gave a revelation to the son, Jesus Christ, who in turn sent it via an angel to John. So Christ is testifying, bearing witness to the revelation from God the Father. He is the witness of God. He bears the testimony of God. But, verse 5 indicates that Jesus was a μαρτυς a witness in more ways than just passing on this revelation. In fact, showing the world the Father and the message of the Father is one of Christ s prime tasks. One reason He came was to bear witness to the world of the message of God the Father. To tell us about God the Father. God who is Spirit became flesh so that we might know Him. 2

3 John 1:1: John 1:14: John 14:9: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. Jesus said, He who has seen Me has seen the Father. Jesus Christ is the pre-eminent witness to God. He is a μαρτυς in His life and in sending this revelation to John. He is a faithful witness. Notice that verse 5 says that He loves us and released us from our sins by His blood. God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son. Christ witnessed to the world of the love of God the Father and this love was disclosed most fully on the cross. He died to show the world the love of God. Here is the where our word begins to take on its later form. Christ was a faithful witness of God the Father and he was a faithful witness a μαρτυς unto death. To be a witness for the Lord costs. It cost Christ. It will cost those who are Christ s. It will cost many of them their lives. They will be martyred. This book calls on us to be follow Christ as faithful witnesses, but it also makes it clear that just as He suffered for His testimony, so will those who follow Him. In verse 9 we find that because of the Apostle John s faithfulness to proclaim the word of God and his testimony to Jesus his witness to Jesus his μαρτυς to Jesus John himself had suffered. He was banished to the island of Patmos off the coast of Asia Minor because of his witness to Christ. It costs to bear testimony to Christ. Christ suffered, John suffered. All who bear witness to the gospel, to Christ, to the truth of God will suffer. This brings us to the third group of martyrs. The third group is all believers. In the vision that we will look at next week, in verse 12 John sees the exalted Christ standing among seven golden lampstands. And in verse 20 we are told that the seven lampstands are the seven churches. 3

4 Then throughout the book we find why the churches are described as lampstands. They are lampstands because they are to be light to the world. They are to bear testimony to Christ. They are to μαρτυς Christ to a lost world. Christ calls us out to be light, to be witnesses, to bear His testimony to the world. But this book makes it clear that if they are faithful to bear witness, it will cost them. As an example, turn over to Revelation 6:9 where John tells of this vision: When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony the μαρτυς which they had maintained. The saints testified to the word of God, and they were faithful, and they paid with their blood. In Revelation 2:13, Antipas the faithful one, the μαρτυς was killed for his faithful testimony. In Revelation 11, the two witnesses, the two μαρτυς are killed for their testimony. Revelation 12:17: So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony, the μαρτυς of Jesus. In Revelation 17:6 John saw: The woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses the μαρτυς of Jesus. These are just a few of the passages that speak of the followers of the Lamb who are faithful to witness and testify even unto death. Now you see why this word took on a different meaning. So many Christians eventually gave their witness to Christ by giving their lives that this word came to mean someone who dies witnessing to the faith. Up to now, I haven t said much that is a blessing and encouragement to you. But we need to note what is it that these martyrs, these witnesses testify to? Just what was this testimony given by God to John and then to the whole church? What is the testimony of the book of Revelation? The testimony of this book is the testimony of the ultimate triumph of the Lamb Jesus Christ. Regardless of what is happening now history ends with the triumph of the Lamb and those who belong to the Lamb. 4

5 Now things are a little more comforting. With this understanding, I want to put it to you that the Book of Revelation is in fact a very simple book. It has three messages. The first message is this: The Lamb wins, so side with the Lamb. From Eden to the New Jerusalem, human history is a battle between the Lamb and the Beast. And regardless of the ebb and flow of the battle this book tells us that the Lamb is always in total control and the Lamb will win. This Lamb is powerful beyond words so you want to be on His side. This message comes out in every verse. The second message is this: Those who belong to the Lamb testify to the triumph of the Lamb despite the consequences. In Revelation 12:11 John speaks of those who: Overcame because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony their μαρτυς and they did not love their life even when faced with death. The people of this world fall into two groups. The first group are μαρτυς witnesses of the Lamb s ultimate triumph. And they know this with such certainty that they will witness even unto death for they know the Lamb will finally win and reward those who are His. The overcome by the blood of the Lamb and will not waver in their testimony even unto death. The second group are by default witnesses of the Beast. There is no middle ground. In chapters 13 and 14 all the people of the world receive either the mark of the Beast or the mark of the Lamb. This book forces us relentlessly to chose are we the Lamb s or the Beast s? Do we testify to the Lamb and do our lives reflect our testimony or not? The third message of this book is this: Those who belong to the Lamb have a glorious future. Those who belong to the Beast suffer eternally. In the famous passage of the thousand years Revelation 20:4, John speaks of seeing: The souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony their μαρτυς of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their 5

6 forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The blessing, the resurrection, the eternal life is reserved for those who were faithful in their testimony of Christ. And while this vision speaks of all saints, the saints who overcome are typified by those who testify at the cost of their lives they were beheaded. But death was not the end. They came to life and reigned with Christ. This book has the most wonderful visions of eternity. Chapters 21 and 22 are just a marvellous picture of heaven. But again and again, this book also contains the most graphic, horrific, brutal depictions in all the Bible of hell. The war between the Lamb and the Beast has very real, eternal consequences. If anything is clear in this book, it is this, you want to be on the side of the Lamb. And the ones who are faithful to the Lamb, who testify to the Lamb with their mouths and lives these are the ones who overcome. So, Revelation is in fact a very simple book. It becomes complex when we miss the forest for the trees. When we try and make every metaphor, every picture walk on all fours. But when we let the pictures and the message speak it is perhaps the most powerful and comforting book in the canon of Scripture if you are on the side of the Lamb. This book was written in the 90 s when the saints were suffering greatly under the persecution of the Emperor Domitian. It was a source of incredible comfort to these suffering believers. And since that day this book has been cherished the most during times of persecution. It is comfort and blessing to know that the Beast does not win the Lamb does. And in His triumph, we overcome and we rule. Those who are suffering don t come to this book as mere history, or a roadmap to the end they come and are comforted by the fact that the Lamb wins and He will not forget His faithful ones. So look with me at Revelation 1:1-3: The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bondservants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near. This book is a revelation. Revelation is the Greek word Apocalypse. There are various genres of communication ways we communicate truth to each other poetry, dialogue, narrative, short story, parable. 6

7 This whole book belongs to the genre of apocalyptic. But that is a problem for us because our culture has no genre of apocalyptic. When we read this book it is a strange amalgam of visions and beasts and symbols. But we need to understand that apocalyptic was a well-known Jewish genre of communication which used pictures and visions. It gave significance to various symbols and animals. It is just a powerful way of communicating truth. But what is this revelation about? The way this verse is structured it could be: a. A revelation whose content is Jesus Christ. A revelation about Jesus Christ. OR b. A revelation received from Jesus Christ. A revelation from Jesus Christ. While there is much about Jesus Christ in this book and He is central to the book and much of the book deals with Him; this verse indicates that God gives the message to Christ who gives it to John. This book is a revelation from Jesus Christ to John for all believers. It is a revelation concerning the things that which must soon take place. The things that must soon take place. This is similar to the end of verse 3, where we are told that the time is near. These little phrases have caused much debate and much confusion. Just when are these events that John is writing about going to take place? It is an important question because it has divided the understanding of this book into five major schools of thought. Futuristic Most of what Revelation describes are events still future to us. Under this understanding, chapters 2 and 3 speak to the churches of all ages but chapter 4 onwards speaks entirely of events that lie in our future. If this is the case, then how can these events be said to soon take place or the time to be near? Those who hold to this view say that this simply means that these events could happen at any time. However, there are problems with this interpretation. This is NOT the normal way these words are used. Again and again these phrases are used for events that are about to happen. 7

8 As well, putting this book into the future makes it near impossible for the 1 st century readers, the ones John wrote to, to have any understanding of this book. For example, the reference in Revelation 17 to the great harlot sitting on the seven hills for any Christian living in the Roman Empire it would have meant only one thing the seven hills of Rome. It would have referred to the empire of Rome. They would not have said oh yes of course this is in the future and must refer to a reconstituted Roman Empire many years from now. As well, putting this book into the future means that there is almost nothing in the book that directly relates to believers living in John day or our day. Also, the comfort and blessing are minimised if the book deals with events that are probably outside our lifetimes? Preterist Under this interpretation, all of Revelation except for the last two chapters describes events that happened prior to the Fall of Jerusalem in AD 70. They tell us that this book is mainly speaking of the catastrophic Fall of Jerusalem in AD 70 and the persecution under Nero in the mid 60 s that led up to the fall. However, this view has problems. One major one is that this book is not a book that merely looks to the past. This book relentlessly pushes us forward to the return of Christ. It is a triumphalistic book not just a book about destruction. How can this be a book of comfort and blessing to us when it merely relates a history of events that occurred nearly 2000 years ago? History of the Church View This view sees Revelation laying out in symbolic terms the chronological history of the church from the 1 st century to the return of Christ. This view was once popular. For example in Reformation times it was almost universally accepted that the great whore was the papacy the Catholic Church. But, this view has few to champion it today. World history, church history, they just don t fit the text neatly. You have to start abusing history. And no one can agree as to which symbol matches which bit of history. Moreover, this would have meant that the book was incomprehensible and without relevance to the people John wrote it to in the 1 st century. Again if this is just a study of history how is it a book of blessing and encouragement? Basically, this view fell out of favour because each age and culture read their own times and situation into the text. As an example, consider what some commentators even today do with the seven letters of Revelation 2 and 3. 8

9 They say these are letters describing the seven ages of the church, from the first century through to the end times our day. They note that the letter to Laodicean church comes last, and that church was wealthy and fat. It was lukewarm. They then clap their hands and say doesn t this so accurately describe the church of today. We are in the Laodicean age. BUT while this might describe some western churches, to say ours is the Laodicean age is a very western point of view. The churches of China or the Sudan are not wealthy, fat and lukewarm. Most Christians today live in poverty. Many suffer the most severe persecution. So the history of the church view is not a good one. As an aside. John Calvin wrote a commentary on every New Testament book bar one the Book of Revelation. It has been suggested that the reason is that Calvin was too good an exegete to fall for this history of the church view. But, it wouldn t have gone down well if he had come out and said well the Pope might be an antichrist but he is not the antichrist. He would have been seen to be letting the side down. So he just remained silent. Idealist This is a Christian philosophy of history view. All of history is a battle between good and evil. This book merely shows this battle and indicates the final outcome the Lamb finally wins. So trust the Lamb. The problem is that there is too much in this book that cannot be simply taken as abstract philosophy and principles. For example, the 1 st century readers would not have read about the harlot sitting on seven hills and said ahh, this is a picture of evil in every age. They would have said this is Rome. This view de-historicises history. For example, the letter to Laodicean church was first and foremost a letter to the Laodicean church of the first century. We cannot remove this book from its historical setting. So that brings me to the fifth view of this book. One I am completely certain is right if you disagree come well armed and we can lock horns later. While probably most teachers today hold this view, there is no name that is agreed on for this way of understanding the book. I thought of giving it the name the true view or the biblical view but it didn t sound modest enough. Historic and Prophetic View 9

10 Revelation describes the persecution and suffering associated with Nero and the Fall of Jerusalem and uses that as a prefigurement, a foretaste, a template of suffering and trials throughout the church age culminating in the final great trials, the great tribulation that will end this world. Some parts of the preterist, some of the futurist and some idealist ways of understanding this book are valid. All have insights. This book deals with history, prophecy and the battle between the Lamb and the Beast. For example, Revelation speaks of antichrist. But is this one man or many? 1 John 2:18: Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared. Are antichrists coming or have they come? Both! There are many antichrists. Nero, Diocletian, Hitler, Saddam Hussein culminating in the final great antichrist. Life in this fallen world is a struggle. There will be wars and rumours of wars. Persecution and suffering. Death for the cause of Christ. And this book Revelation, it prepares each generation for the assaults of their age leading to the final generation and the final assault. It tells us that what we must do is be faithful to the Lamb even unto death and in this we will overcome and live forever. So amid the struggle and persecutions of life we find comfort and great blessing because this book reminds us that: The Lamb wins, so side with the Lamb. Those who belong to the Lamb testify to the triumph of the Lamb despite the consequences. Those who belong to the Lamb have a glorious future. Those who belong to the Beast suffer eternally. John knew that the saints had suffered, were suffering and would suffer. The Apostle Paul said that: All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12). For every generation these things will soon take place. The time is near. Persecution and suffering are soon and near for all believers of all times. 10

11 This is a book for every age. Not just the first century or the last century. But whether you live in the days of John or the days of the final antichrist the Lamb wins. Then note that John said that Christ communicated this revelation to him by an angel. It is common in apocalyptic literature for an angel to explain what is going on. Throughout this book an angel keeps pointing things out to John and explaining things to him. And this word sent from God to Christ to John via an angel is the word of God. It is to be reverenced. It is not just symbols and mysteries to be deciphered. It is truth to reverence. It is the testimony from Jesus. It is His word. So blessed are those who read it, hear it and heed it. This is a book of blessing and comfort to those who receive the testimony of Jesus. Revelation 1:4-8: John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen. I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. This is a doxology a hymn of praise. It has elements of poetry and prose and prayer and benediction. This doxology like this whole book is God-centred and Christ-centred. The message comes from God. It is about Christ. It concerns history and eternity from God s vantage point. Revelation is not a guide to the end times, nor a self-help book, nor a history lesson. It is a profoundly theocentric book. It drives us to understand our world from God s perspective. The Lamb is always in control and the Lamb was always going to win. John writes his message to the seven churches that are in Asia. 11

12 There were more than seven churches in Asia. He chose seven the divine number and wrote this whole book to them, but also to each one there is a specific letter as well. Those letters are in chapters 2 and 3. These are real historic churches, but they represent the churches of every age. The doxology begins with a message of grace and peace, and this grace and peace comes from Him who is and who was and who is to come. The eternal One. The One outside of time. The Alpha and the Omega. The first and the last. And from the seven Spirits. In chapter 5 verse 6, the Lamb is said to have seven eyes which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. It reflects that God is not only eternal, He sees and knows all things. The One who sends this letter is eternal and omniscient. You had better listen. The One who sends this letter is eternal and omniscient. And if He says this is how history will pan out then you can trust it. He knows the beginning from the end. And this letter is also from Jesus Christ the faithful witness - testified of God and testified faithfully unto death.. Christ who And now He is the firstborn from the dead this is a term of pre-eminence. It is a term to show that he is first in rank among His redeemed creation. A term to show the power of His resurrection. He is ruler of the kings of the earth. Christ is the ruler of the earth. He is ruling now. Some teach that it is only in the end that He will become the ruler of creation. This verse reminds us that He is already King of kings and Lord of lords. He rules on the throne of David. Matthew 28:18: All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 1 Corinthians 15:25: For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. He is reigning. It is Christ who rules and controls this world not any man, not antichrist, not the Beast, not Satan. They may be allowed to work their ways for a time, but the Lamb is always in control. When you are facing persecution from the Roman Empire or from any source, it is important to remember that above all earthly thrones there is one throne and the One 12

13 who sits on that throne is God the Father and with Him is the Lamb the ruler of the kings of the earth. The Lamb wins. George Bush, John Howard, even antichrist Christ rules them all. The Lamb is in control. The Lamb wins. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood. His death freed us from sin. His death for us is evidence of His love He paid for our sins on Calvary. And moreover in this He has made us to be a kingdom and priests to His God and Father. This is covenant language. It is used of the covenant people of God in the Old Testament. It is used of the church in 1 Peter 2:9. Now it is used of the redeemed by John. Now all the believers are priests. What are priests to do? Priests were to represent God to the people and the people to God. Now we are priests. 1 Peter 2:9: But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvellous light. We were redeemed and made priests to proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvellous light. We are to represent God to the world and the world to God. We are to be μαρτυς we are to testify of Christ to this world. We are priests to the world who witness of the Lamb who died for the world. You were redeemed at a price. You were redeemed for a purpose. You were redeemed to be μαρτυς martyrs, witnesses of the Lamb who represent the Lamb to a lost world. I don t want to steal next week s thunder but I will say this. Christ redeemed you for a purpose. To be light. To be witnesses. To proclaim His excellencies. And the rest of this chapter and chapters 2 and 3 let us know that if you are not faithful to witness of Him in your words and in the way you live the One who is like a son of man will come and remove your lampstand. 13

14 The Lamb wins you want to be on the side of the Lamb on that final day. The ones on His side are the ones witnessing faithfully at great cost, even the cost of death. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Our message is one of grace and peace from the omnipotent, eternal, omniscient One, and from Christ who is God yet loved us enough to die for us and make us priests to the world. And our message is the Lamb wins, be on His side. Verse 7: Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen. This One. The One who was dead and is risen, the king of the earth He is not done with this world. He will return. And every eye will see Him even those who pierced Him. This book, relentlessly moves us to the end of history. A time when the Lamb will triumph. A time when those who are His will be rewarded and those who oppose Him will be smashed. He loved us, He redeemed us, He died that we might be a kingdom and priests He did not do all of this to leave us in this fallen world. He is coming. And while few bend the knee now while many of His saints are persecuted and oppressed while this world does not pay Him homage that will all end one day all will see Him and know Him for who He is and bow before Him even those who pierced Him. Matthew 10:28: Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. There are two great evils in eschatology. To make one s eschatological scheme the basis of fellowship. But perhaps worse is to not even think about the end times and its consequences. The New Testament is completely eschatological in the sense that it drives us to live in light of death and return of Christ and eternity with Christ. These are realities that must shape our lives and existence. Do we awaken and think am I testifying to the Lamb in all that I do and say Am I living as a child of the Lamb for He is coming? Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. 14

15 Revelation has no direct quotes from the Old Testament, but it is absolutely filled with allusions to passages in the Old Testament. Here, the allusion is to Zechariah 12:10. Every eye will see Him, not least those who pierced Him. It is a fundamental Christian view that at the end of history, Jesus is the judge of all men and all men will have to give an account even those who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen. So it is to be. Amen. This is how it will be. Nothing can change this. Even if the world looks dim now Christ is coming. Even if antichrists are abroad Christ is coming. He will come. The Lamb will win. And everyone will know it. Verse 8: So it is to be. Amen. I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. He is outside of time. He knows the beginning and end. He is the Lord God. He will come. He is the Almighty. It is how it will be. The Lamb will win. Those who are the Lamb s will overcome. So it is to be. Amen. This book is both history and prophecy. It is how it was and how it will be. The One who orders all history has decreed it. This is a simple book with a simple message. The Lamb wins, so side with the Lamb. Those who belong to the Lamb testify to the triumph of the Lamb despite the consequences. Those who belong to the Lamb have a glorious future. Those who belong to the Beast suffer eternally. If you read this book again and again we are reminded of how wonderful the Lamb is. He is omnipotent and omniscient and almighty. Yet He loves us. He died for us. He released us from our sins by His blood. He was slain for us that we might overcome and rule with Him. And He will triumph. He knows the beginning from the end. The end is written in stone. It will come to pass. So it is to be. 15

16 And all I know is this. I want to be on the side of the Lamb. I want to be a faithful. If that means suffering unto death so be it. I have a task. I have a life to live. I have a message to proclaim. The Lamb wins. I want to be on the side of the Lamb. I will testify of the Lamb come what may. 16