Q: Will we physically see God the Father in Heaven?  As we will finally dwell with Him and be in His presence?

This is a great question – the new creation is filled with truth about our perfected relationship with God and all the blessings that will flow to us, unrestricted in our union with Christ as members of the New Covenant.  We will live our lives consciously and visibly in the presence of the triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  It’s worth thinking about how we will relate to each person of the Godhead.  We know God the Father, in Christ, by the Holy Spirit – that’s the order in which things go in the Bible.  For example, we pray to the Father, in the name of Jesus, by the Holy Spirit’s enabling. 

If you want to think more about what it means to relate to each person of the Godhead, look up John Owen’s essential book “Communion with the Triune God” someday – or read about it here: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/why-we-need-to-learn-from-john-owen-on-the-trinity

In Heaven we will bathe in the loving presence of God the Father, enjoy face to face, side by side relationship with Jesus, and be filled to overflowing with the joy of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Will we see the Father?  Well the question is: what is there to see?  Throughout Revelation we’ve heard about “the throne” and “one seated on the throne” – that language reappears in the final vision.  Why doesn’t John describe to us the one on the throne – the Father?  Well maybe there isn’t anything physical to describe – there’s just glorious light emanating from the holy splendour of His presence: “God who alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light” (1 Timothy 6:16).  The prophets in their visions of God speak in such terms of God on His throne.  God is “invisible” – and Jesus “is the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15).  He is spirit – without physical form or property.  John tells us: “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known” (John 1:18).  Jesus in dialogue with His disciples says:

Philip said, ‘Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.’ Jesus answered: ‘Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father”?  Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? (John 14:8-10)

Paul tells us: “For God, who said, "Let there be light in the darkness," has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus” (2 Corinthians 4:6).

So just from these few verses I do not believe we will see the Father in the way the question supposes.  We will know Him and His omnipresent presence with us, all around us, enjoying His goodness, singing His praises, fellowshipping with Him in our work and play.  We will know Jesus face to face.  We will know the Holy Spirit by His continuing work in us.  However, the only physical form of God came into being in the incarnation of the eternal Son of God, who took to Himself a human body and through His resurrection from the dead and glorification in heaven continues to meet with us in that body.

Q: Why are the leaves of the tree of life used for the healing of the nations, if there is no disease in heaven?

As we look at the final vision, remember we are dealing with pictures of what the new creation (the future heaven) will be like.  These pictures are of real things but also they are described in ways that is filled with symbolic theological significance.  For example, I wear a wedding ring.  It is a symbol of the value of my marriage (precious metal), it is a picture of the promises I made to my wife, and it depicts the unbreakable bond of marriage (an unbroken circle).  Yet it’s a real thing, filled with symbolic significance.  Likewise, approach the vision in Revelation in a similar way: real things are described in ways of theological richness, teaching us about Christ and His relationship with His people.  The Tree of Life reappears from the Garden of Eden.  Had our first parents remained faithful in their covenant with God they would have been allowed to eat from this Tree, and immediately receive eternal life and be eternally confirmed in their innocent state.  However, they were covenant breakers and received the curse and were expulsed from God’s presence and barred access to the tree.  This was so that in their fallen state they were not been confirmed in their sinful state forever, but so that redemption could be a possibility.  Now through Jesus, who has borne and removed the curse, we again have access to the Tree.  It’s almost like the Garden of Eden is the central park of the city of New Jerusalem.  God’s people are in God’s place under God’s rule and all is well again.  The nations, the peoples of the world, who have endured many a pain and trouble can eat from the Tree – this picture is simply reminding us of what Jesus will do for us: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.  And he who was seated on the throne said: Behold I am making all things new” (21:4-5).

Q: Can we build the kingdom of God on earth today in order to hasten the new creation?

The Kingdom of God – God is the king and He rules.  This is what the phrase means.  When Jesus proclaimed the “good news of the kingdom of God” – the blessings of the good reign of God are breaking into this world under the tyranny of the kingdom of Satan.  Under the reign of King Jesus, the curse of evil is being pushed back, as the captives of sin are being set free by Him.

The good reign of God has broken into this broken world today (starting with Jesus’ first coming, death, resurrection and ascension) and will climax at His second coming when He makes all things new.  The good news of the kingdom is experienced today as rebels against the reign of God (i.e. all of us who are sinners) surrender and become children of God through faith in Jesus.  The kingdom is bad news for rebels; only the fact that the king has died for the rebels transforms it into good news!

The blessings of that reign are experienced in part today by Christians in our lives, by the blessing of the indwelling Holy Spirit and Christ ruling in our hearts.  The blessings of this reign will be experienced in the world at large only at Christ’s return – however today in the midst of the world, the church is an outpost of the kingdom of God, it is the present manifestation of the community of the kingdom of God.  It is in the church that the reign of God is lived out as a community of people.  It is also through the work of the Church and individual Christian that we erect signs and foretastes of the goodness of the reign of God in the world.  Because we know God will wipe every tear from His peoples’ eyes, today it’s good for Christians to care for the sick, comfort the hurting, feed the hungry, and help the homeless.  Because we know that God will renew the earth, today it’s good for Christians to care for the environment and its non-human inhabitants.  Because we know there will be no sin or sinners in God’s perfect world, today it’s essential that Christians share with their friends the good news of what Jesus has done to save us from our sins.  In all these ways we can live, work and speak for the king.

REV 21-22: “IT’S THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT”

INTRODUCTION:

In 2007 a film was released called “The Bucket List” which tells the story of two terminally ill men on a road trip.  They have a wish list of things they want to do or see before the “kick the bucket”. I wonder: what would be the top 5 things that you wish you could do or see in your lifetime?

We live in a world which encourages us to “live for the moment”.  That’s because many people today have stopped believing there is life after death.  They believe that life in this world is all there is.  We’re told: you only live once, so enjoy it while you can.  But that’s not true!  For the Christian the best life is always yet to come!

The resurrection of Jesus from the dead proves that there is life after death. So we shouldn’t LIVE FOR THE MOMENT, but LIVE FOR HEAVEN.  But I know it’s not easy to live for what you cannot see in a world filled with attractive things.  These other things excite our imaginations, obsess our thoughts, and we wind up loving these things more than God.  That’s why we spend more time and energy on them than God. 

That’s why God gives us a picture of what heaven will be like.  God wants us to use all our senses (seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, smelling) to imagine what it will be like when we are given new physical bodies and a whole new world to enjoy, filled with joys, delights, wonders, love, friends, satisfying work and unsurpassable fun.  God wants us to think of heaven and become more excited about it than we are about football or hockey, than television or computer games, than sex and parties…

Tonight’s vision is all about the wedding of God and His People (21:1-21) and Heaven and Earth (22:1-5). 

The resurrection of Jesus gives us hope of:

(1) A PERFECT LIFE IN A PERFECT WORLD (21:1-8, 22:1-5)

When people think of Revelation they always think of the end of the world.  But actually it’s all about a new beginning for this world, when the wonders of heaven flood the earth, making all things gloriously new!  The vision begins “I saw a new heaven and a new earth” (21:1) and God declares “Behold, I am making all things new” (21:5).  That word “new” isn’t like throwing out an old dying laptop and replacing it with a new one.  Rather it’s like getting the laptop refurbished and upgraded so it is as good as new.  Satan ruined God’s good creation, but God hasn’t let Satan have the last laugh: “The art vandal doesn’t get the satisfaction of destroying his rival’s masterpiece.  God doesn’t throw away his handiwork and start from scratch – instead he uses the same canvas to repair and make more beautiful the painting marred by the vandal.”

If you want to know what heaven will be like, then it’s going to be a whole lot like this world, except without all the bad bits and with a lot of enhancements! 

In your booklet there’s a picture of the story of the Bible – it has two bookends: Creation and New Creation.  While humans have failed to live God’s way bringing sin and death into this creation; Jesus has succeeded bringing life and hope of a new creation.  While Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden of Eden and died without access to the “tree of life”… Jesus brings a New Eden and we will eat from the “tree of life” (22:3).  Jesus is going to heal our broken bodies, heal our broken hearts, and heal this broken world.  We’re told flowing from God’s throne is “the river of the water of life” (22:1) which will bring healing to the world.  A similar picture was seen by Ezekiel centuries before and the river flowed into the Dead Sea which was filled with fish, because God is going to make all things right and well in our lives and world.

John notices that there are some things missing in haven.

• “the sea was no more” (21:1) – now does that mean no more swimming or surfing or sailing? Well, that’s not what it means.  The sea represents storms, chaos and danger - remember this morning we saw that an evil beast emerged out of the sea.  But when God in the New Eden, there will be no more evil, danger or chaos!  We’re told “No longer will there be any curse” (22:3), because sin and all the brokenness it has brought to this world will be removed.  Our world will be made perfect.
• “He will wipe every tear from their eyes and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (21:4). Can you imagine what it would be like to live in a world without needing to worry about people stealing from you, bullying you, hurting you, causing you to cry, or having to worry about dying.  That’s the life we all dream about.  That’s what God is going to give us to explore and enjoy. Our lives will be made perfect!

All this is God’s gift for His people.  We got a glimpse of the future on Easter Sunday morning when Jesus was raised from the dead.  It was His same physical body raised to life and made better than before.  The resurrection of Jesus is a fact of history, and the proof that your hope of a new body in a perfect world is true!

For centuries this vision of the future perfect life in a perfect world has inspired Christians in how they live now.

• Because we know God will wipe every tear from His peoples’ eyes, today it’s good for Christians to care for the sick, comfort the hurting, feed the hungry, and help the homeless.
• Because we know that God will renew the earth, today it’s good for Christians to care for the environment and its non-human inhabitants.
• Because we know there will be no sin or sinners in God’s perfect world, today it’s essential that Christians share with their friends the good news of what Jesus has done to save us from our sins.

This is something worth waiting and living for!

(2) A PERFECT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD (21:9-27)

Relationships may be the most important thing in life.  As a child you depended on your relationship with your parents to survive – you don’t go to work, you don’t earn money, you can’t cook, you need them to love and care for you.  As a teenager your friendships are very important to you: you want to be liked and accepted by your peers. As you get older you also might want to have a relationship with a boyfriend or girlfriend and get married.  God made us for relationships, not just with each other but most importantly with Himself!

Everything that Jesus has done to save us from our sins, has been in order to bring us home to live with, walk with and talk with God again – to know Him personally and fully.  When I got married to Kirsty 4 years ago I said to her: “all that I am I give to you, and all that I have I share with you”.  God says the same thing as He shows us what it will be like to be reunited with Him as “The dwelling place of God is with man” (21:3).

 God coming to live with us is described as an incredible city that comes down from heaven to earth.  This is no ordinary city because it’s called God’s “bride” and “the wife of the Lamb” (21:2,9).  Sometimes in the Bible God’s people are called His “bride” and “wife” (Ephesians 5:27).  So this city is both a real place, and a picture of God’s perfect relationship with His people.  It’s a bit like my wedding ring.  It’s a real thing… but it’s also a symbol: it’s made of precious metal to symbolise the value of our marriage, and it’s a circle with no beginning or end which symbolises its permanence.  Likewise, this city is full of symbols but it’s the real place that is going to be our home, with God who loves us!

Let me take you on a guided tour of the wonders of the New Jerusalem:

• The walls of the city are very high (v.12) which means we will be safe and secure with God. Added to that we’re told that there will be no night (25).  A few years ago I remember walking home late at night and I walk pretty fast.  There was a girl in front of me but I didn’t pay too much attention to her as I got closer and got ready to overtake her.  But suddenly she started running and only stopped when she reached some people standing at a nearby bus stop.  She ran because she was afraid that I was going to hurt her.  Bad things can happen and hide in the dark – there’s a reason children fear the dark.  But you will never have anything to fear when you’re with Jesus in heaven.

• The streets are made of gold and gates of pearls (21), the buildings covered with jewels (v.18-21). All of these precious things appeared on the uniform of the High Priest in the OT.  Also the city is in the shape of a cube.  And in the OT the Holy of Holies in the Temple where God lived was shaped as a cube.  All these details remind us that this whole city is the place where God will live with His people, and Jesus is our Great High Priest who brings us into God’s presence by making the sacrifice for our sins.  We’re also told “I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb” (v.22).  All those things in the OT were like getting a postcard of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, they’re pictures of the real thing.  But you don’t need the postcard once you go to visit Paris for yourself.  So when we get to heaven we’ll meet with God face-to-face.  And we’ll get to experience His love for us as our Father and Friend directly without these other things.

At the centre of heaven is the throne of God and Jesus.  We were made to know God and enjoy Him forever.  And heaven will never get boring.  Because God is infinite, there will always be more to discover, see, learn and experience in our relationship with God and our adventures in God’s World.  He will continue to surprise us, interest us, and teach us new things.  He also has limitless resources and so there is no end to the good gifts He is able to give to His children to enjoy. 

CONCLUSION:

I love how C.S. Lewis finishes his Narnia books when the kids go to heaven: “They all lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on for ever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.” This is what is really worth living for.  Don’t settle for things in this world that will run out and come to an end.  God wants us to enjoy Him and be with Him forever!

But I also need to warn you that there is another possible destiny: Eternal life in heaven or eternal death in hell. 

The story is told of someone being invited to their friend’s wedding and reception.  They got the invitation and on the bottom it said RSVP, but they were very busy and had lots of other things to do, so they didn’t reply.  They assumed everything would be ok!  The day of the wedding came and they went to the fancy hotel where the reception was being held.  They were met by the hotel staff who had a list of all the wedding guests and were asked for their name.  But they checked the list and their name wasn’t on it.  The person told them there must be a mistake.  But no, their name wasn’t there and so they were turned away.  You see they were invited to the wedding party but they didn’t RSVP so they missed out on it! 

Likewise, you are invited to the wedding celebration of heaven.  For many of you your parents have RSVP-ed.  But unless you personally respond to Jesus’ invitation to have your sins forgiven you will not have a place there.

Q. I once read that Jesus said he is coming back "soon" but he has not and this seems to be great evidence against Christianity.  How do you respond?

The Bible and the Book of Revelation ends with these words from Jesus: “Yes, I am coming soon”.  John recorded those words circa 90AD – more than 1900 years ago.  How can we reconcile the delay with the imminent sounding promise?  If you invited me for lunch and I phoned ahead to say “I’ll be there soon” – but kept you waiting for a week before arriving, you would be annoyed.  But does Jesus use “soon” in that same sense?  Evidently not, because of the delay we have experienced in history!

There is another way to understand Jesus’ words.  Revelation celebrates that the work of Jesus has been completed, He has been slain, He has been raised, He has overcome the powers of evil, He is seated on the throne, He has the scroll which will complete God’s purposes for human history.  Throughout John’s gospel, Jesus talks about His “time” and “hour” – everything is building up to His work on the Cross.  He often tells people before the Cross that “it is not yet my time”.  And He declares at the end, on the Cross, “It is finished” – Jesus has accomplished fully the mission that was entrusted to Him.  Now in Revelation, Jesus again is speaking about time in this Salvation-History sense.  The main event left on God’s calendar is the return of Jesus – there are no other events from God’s side: incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension have all been completed.  In this sense, Jesus is ready to commence the final events of this present age at any time, “soon”.

Why has there been this delay?

It is evidence of God’s grace to this world:

“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:8-10). 

He is giving time for the gospel to go out to the nations, so that when He returns it will be to save many, rather than to judge them.

Q. When Jesus ascends into heaven he says "I am going to prepare a place for you" - what is that place and when are we there.  How does this fit in with the new earth?

In the Upper Room Discourse, Jesus prepares His disciples for His death, resurrection and ascension – He is going to depart and return to His Father, having accomplished the work He was given to do.  The disciples are understandably confused and distressed at the idea of Jesus leaving them.  He speaks a lot in these chapters (John 14-16) about the coming of the Holy Spirit to be with them, in His place.  He also assures them that one day He is returning:

“My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:2-3)

There may be a reference here to the Jewish marriage tradition.  The groom would go away to prepare a home for his bride to come live in.  Then he would return to her house, take her away to the house and there would be a great wedding banquet.  Earlier in John’s gospel Jesus began His ministry at such a wedding banquet and indicated that in the future He would be preparing one Himself for His people.  We hear the announcement and invitation to this wedding celebration in Revelation 19, between Jesus and His bride.  We next hear of the city of New Jerusalem descending out of heaven, prepared like a bride in Revelation 21:1-2.  The wedding of God and His people is celebrated in the New Heavens and New Earth.  The heavenly city of God comes down on the new earth.  This is the place that Jesus has prepared for His people to live with Him throughout the endless joyous ages of eternity.

This is the place that God’s people by faith have longed for as their eternal home:

“By faith Abraham made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. ¹⁰ For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God…All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. ¹⁴ People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. ¹⁵ If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶ Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them” (Hebrews 11:9-16).

Perhaps, we will see this city and dwell in it between our death and our resurrection, when our souls are separated from our bodies but with Christ.  However, we will only fully appreciate and inhabit this city when we have our resurrected bodies in the new creation.

If you want to think more about heaven and our eternal home in the new creation, see this helpful video from the Bible Project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zy2AQlK6C5k

Q. Will we remember sin in heaven?

Memory is a very important part of our being human.  Our memories are essential parts of our personality.  That’s why when the human brain starts to malfunction and is unable to retain memories, like in dementia, families describe “losing” the person.  It’s a terribly sad thing to witness, as some of us have with our loved ones.  That is to say, while the Bible does not directly answer your question, I believe that it is important that we remember our past, including our sins.

We’re told that there will be no sin in heaven (21:27), and those who sin are outside of heaven in hell (21:8, 22:15).  We are told that the consequences and brokenness caused by sin like death, sorrow, pain are no more in heaven (21:4).  One of the reasons we will not sin in heaven is because we will not want to.  It’s not that God will have removed our free will, but rather that we will remember how awful sin and its consequences were in this world, and be glad of being freed from its tyranny and corruption in the new world.

We are told that Jesus’ resurrected and glorified body still bears the marks of His crucifixion (5:6) – as a reminder throughout eternity of the love He demonstrated and cost He had to pay in order to save us from our sins.  We will love Him all the more, as we remember and realise the true depths of our sinfulness that He has saved us from.

INTRODUCTION: THE DAY OF THE LORD JESUS

If you have brothers and sisters, then I’m sure you were always perfectly behaved and wonderful children.  However, in my house there were times when World War Three was breaking out.  Sometimes we’d be falling out and misbehaving so badly and ignoring shouted commands to stop, that mum or dad would have to come in to intervene in person.  One writer compares the Second Coming to a parent intervening: “I bring my rule to bear.  That might involve punishing one child and rewarding another.  But now I am personally present, intervening and bringing justice.  In biblical terminology that would be called the Day of the Daddy.  I say that because it illustrates the Day of the LORD.  That day is the moment when God steps into a situation to bring His rule to bear – a time when he isn’t simply sending instructions, but is personally present to intervene” (Graham Beynon, “Last Things First”).

The OT looked forward to the Day of the LORD when God would put to right this world that has gone wrong.  Now we’ve finally arrived at that moment at the end of Revelation in NT.  It’s the Day of the LORD JESUS CHRIST – His Second Coming.

Revelation 19 opens with songs and rejoicing in heaven.  It’s like the HALLELUJAH chorus, because the Great Day has arrived.  This is the climax of all God’s saving work and plans and purposes for human history to defeat evil and restore god’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven, when Jesus returns and implements the contents of the scroll with God’s purposes for the world (Revelation 5).

What are God’s purposes? (David Pawson: “When Jesus Returns”)

• To complete the Christian saints
• To convert the Jews
• To conquer the devil
• To command the world
• To condemn the ungodly

Sometimes we sing the song Happy Day: “The greatest day in history”… well that was the greatest day SO FAR, but there is still MUCH MORE TO COME!

TIMELINE OF EVENTS:

As we naturally read Revelation, this is how events are presented:

You can read online on the Logos blog some of the different approaches that people take to interpreting the Millennium, but we’re not going to get bogged down in that controversy tonight.

BIBLE STUDY QUESTIONS

• Who is the bride of Christ and how is she made ready for the wedding in 19:6-10 (cf. Isaiah 61:10; Ephesians 5:25-27)?
  • The Bride is the people of God, saved by faith in the Messiah. They will have remained loyal to Christ despite the trials of living in this sinful world.
  • “You are saved by faith alone, but true saving faith does not remain alone” (Luther) – faith produces good works of righteousness.
  • The righteousness of God is given to us in Christ; and because of Christ in us by the Holy Spirit we are enabled to live righteously.

• The victory of Jesus is based on His death and resurrection, thus why He appears wearing robes dipped in His blood (19:13). Summarise what things we learn about the forces of evil who oppose Christ in 19:17-20:10?
  • The Battle of Armageddon is not really a battle – Jesus defeats the Antichrist and the rebellious nations with the words of His mouth, not with military force. Every knee will bow before Jesus (Philippians 2:10).
  • The judgement of the Beast and False Prophet: these forces who appeared so powerful and successful are defeated by the words of Jesus as He returns.
  • The leashing and removal of Satan’s influence in the world by an angel, demonstrating that he is no rival or equal with God.
  • The short-lived success and effortless defeat of Satan in his final rebellion.
  • The reality of evil: it is unrelenting and will not cease in its opposition to God – demonstrated by Satan’s immediate activity upon being released after 1000 years.
  • The reality of the human heart – sin is not environmental – even in the Millennial Paradise, humans rebel against Christ the King and side with Satan. The only hope for human salvation is the work of Christ dying for our sins and regenerating our hearts by the Holy Spirit!

• Summarise what we learn about the Millennial rule of Christ in 20:1-6 (cf. Isaiah 11:1-11; 1 Corinthians 15:22-26)?
  • The Millennium is about the vindication of the martyrs and those who have been faithful to Christ despite the opposition of the world, the flesh and the devil. These are the “overcomers” of the seven letters.  Redeemed Jews will rule with Christ and enjoy life in the Promised Land, while Redeemed Gentiles will share in Christ’s rule over the world.
  • Notice the contrast: While the Beast will triumph over God’s people for 3.5 years (Revelation 11-13), while the kings of the earth will ally themselves with the Beast to rule for “one hour” (Revelation 17); Christ will defeat the Beast with a word from His mouth, and will reign with His vindicated people for 1000 years.
  • Isaiah: describes the rule of the Messiah on the earth. Rescuing His people, judging the wicked, establishing peace on earth, uniting the nations in true worship, undoing the curse on creation, subduing death, evangelising the nations.
  • Corinthians: describes the purpose of the Millennium – that God’s kingdom will come and prevail in this present creation, so that Satan’s rebellion is defeated and God’s original purpose prevails.
  • There is going to be a New Heaven and New Earth (the future heaven), a New Creation. However, God will not allow Satan to have the last word over the Present Creation, in having disrupted His rule and purpose.  Instead, Christ’s kingdom will come and will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
  • Notice that
  • “If the Present Age is the time of Christ’s veiled reign and hidden glory, and the Age to Come is the time of the Father’s all-encompassing dominion, the Millennial Kingdom will be the age of the manifestation of Christ’s glory when the sovereignty, which he now possesses but does not openly manifest, and which he will turn over to the Father in the Age to Come, will be displayed in the world” (G.E. Ladd)

• Summarise what we learn in 20:11-15 about:

Final Judgement of Believers and the Wicked (cf. Matthew 25:31-41)

Eternal Rewards for Believers (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:12-15)

• The wicked will suffer eternal death, being judged by their sinful lives recorded in the books.
• Believers will be saved because their names are recorded in the Book of life – the Book of Jesus. Why then is Matthew 25 all about judgement according to works?  Because the works of the Christian are evidence of the reality of their faith in Christ.
• Believers will be judged and rewarded in accordance with how they have invested their time, talents and treasures in faithful service to Jesus in this life.
• On rewards: “What we need to grasp and remember is that any rewards we receive are not earned by our merit, but are given graciously and freely by God. The rewards are not so much an incentive for us to follow in God’s ways, rather, Paul is saying, that everything which is done for the glory of God, faithfully in his service, is known by God and treasured by him, and will have eternal repercussions.  What we do in this world does have influence on life in the world to come” (David Jackman)
• People often wonder if differing levels of rewards would negatively affect the experience of heaven: “Every vessel that is cast into this ocean of happiness is full, though there are some vessels far larger than others; and there shall be no such thing as envy in heaven, but perfect love shall reign throughout the whole society” (Jonathan Edwards)

DISCUSSION FOR APPLICATION

How can the visions of Judgement and Reward help:

• As we struggle with temptations to sin?
  • The judgement of God at your sin has fallen on Jesus.  But you cannot be sinning and serving God at the same time - so as you give into sin, you are also necessarily missing an opportunity to serve God and receive reward from Him.  So let this be a restraint as you feel tempted.

• As we suffer due to evil in the world?
  • One day God will bring to justice those who have wronged you.  One day God will right all the wrongs of this world.

• As we strive to live and work for God’s glory?
  • Your life in all its different facets matters to God and as you give your life as an offering of praise and worship to Him, seeking to do your work for Him and with His help, seeking to faithfully serve the church and advance the gospel, you will be generously rewarded and recognised by Him.

• Someone lacking assurance of salvation?
  • You have nothing to fear so long as your name is written in the Book of Life, which records all those who have trusted in Jesus as their Saviour.

• Someone with an unhealthy fear of the devil?
  • You need not be overcome with fear.  While demonic power is real and dangerous, it has been defeated by Jesus and will be ended by Jesus.  Nothing can separate you from Him and He is sovereignly in control to limit and protect you from their worst plans and designs to destroy you.

CONCLUSION: LIVING IN LIGHT OF THE SECOND COMING

Let me finish with two quick testimonies of people from the past who said helpful things to help us apply the teaching to our lives:

Martin Luther (German pastor and reformer 1483-1546) said there should be only two dates in the Christian’s calendar: TODAY and THAT DAY.

We live very busy lives and there are many things that can distract us from stopping to look at life from an ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE.  This challenges us to make good use of the time we have in this life to live, study and work for the glory of God in all things.

Horatius Bonar (Scottish preacher and hymn-writer) would arise every morning and walk to the window in his bedroom and say, "Maybe today, Lord, maybe today."  He would end each day in the same manner.  He would stand at the window, looking out toward the sky and say, "Maybe tonight, Lord, maybe tonight."  We easily live our lives without much thought to: “What would Jesus think if He returned at this moment” – when actually He’s already in the room with us by the Holy Spirit; He sees and knows all things.

We should make the best use of our lives, living with expectancy and with consistency in view of the great Day of the Lord Jesus that is coming.

INTRODUCTION:

“A Tale of Two Cities” begins with Dickens talking about London and Paris.  It was the best of times; it was the worst of times…. Except in Revelation it is the very worst of times, the end of time!

The Bible tells us the story of human history is the Tale of Two Cities from Genesis 11 to Revelation 19: Jerusalem (God’s people in relationship with Him) and Babylon (God’s enemies who are in rebellion against Him and oppress His people). 

Augustine says human history is marked by conflict between the City of God (driven by love for God) and City of Man (driven by love for self and idols): We are citizens of the City of God (by faith in Christ) but until His kingdom comes we live in the City of Man.  That conflict reaches its climax in Revelation.

These two cities/communities are personified in the images of Two Women: the Harlot of Babylon (Revelation 17-18 cf. Zechariah 5 & Hosea 1-3: Israel, Ezekiel 16: Jerusalem, Nahum 3: Nineveh, Isaiah 23: Tyre, Jeremiah 51: Babylon) and the Bride of New Jerusalem.  We live in Babylon but we long for our true home in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21-22).

The vision of Revelation 17-18 is an extension and elaboration of the final Bowl of Judgement (16:19) poured out on the Beast’s kingdom ruled from Babylon, culminating in the Second Coming of Jesus (Revelation 19).

BIBLE STUDY:

1. Summarise the simple plotline of the characters and events in ch.17.

• The Great Prostitute: is described as “the great city” (the centre of evil government) (v.18). She is dressed like a queen in regal purple.  She is drunk (lust for violence against God’s people) and she promotes sexual immorality (i.e. spiritual unfaithfulness and idolatry) throughout the world, represented by the many waters on which she sits (v.15).  She is tattooed (by her pimp) with blasphemous names (just as Beast worshippers will take his mark, 666).  Holding a cup for sorcery, witchcraft and divination.
• Riding the Beast: Satanic evil. Most of the beast’s heads have been killed and conquered by Christ already, so this looks ahead to the final threat to come (the 8^th head) – but we’re assured that it is as assuredly doomed as the previous 7 heads (v.10-11).  It is the pimp that slave-master of the prostitute.
• Beast empowered by an alliance of nations: the ten horns are ten kings – ten a number for completion (v.12-13).
• Great Prostitute is destroyed by the nations: evil turns in on itself – showing the house of Satan is dividing against itself as the end draws near.

2. Describe the wrongs committed by Babylon in ch.17-18, that God’s wrath would destroy it? What things does it symbolise in our world today: politically, socially, morally, economically?

• Idol of wealth, consumerism and luxury
• Degrading human treatment and injustice
• Corrupted with occult activity
• Persecution and martyrdom of God’s people
• Immorality
• Idolatry and blasphemy against God

“this city is not just a historical one; it is the great city, the mother city, the archetype of every evil system opposed to God in history … John is burdened to exhort the churches to shun the charms and ensnarements of the queen prostitute (17:7) as her qualities are manifest in the world they live in. Wherever there are idolatry, prostitution, self-glorification, self-sufficiency, pride, complacency, reliance on luxury and wealth, avoidance of suffering, violence against life (18:24), there is Babylon. Christians are to separate themselves ideologically and physically from all the forms of Babylon (18:4)” (Johnson)

3. How should God’s people respond to Babylon? What things does it symbolise in our world today: politically, socially, morally, economically?

• God is going to judge the idolatry and immorality and inhumanity, and injustice of Babylon – so Christians need to separate themselves from its values and ways (v.4)
• Christians should rejoice in its judgement and destruction (v.20)

4. What emotions does the vision of the Harlot and City of Babylon in 17:1-6 and 18:21-24 evoke in you?

• We’re meant to see both royal grandeur and luxurious riches and seductive charms. Easily God’s people would be attracted and in danger of being seduced by her.
• Lead into next section – the temptation of John’s readers to give into the Emperor cult of Rome…

HISTORICAL CONTEXT:

While this passage is about the worldly system of evil, represented in the past in Babylon, represented in the future in the Antichrist’s final empire; it was represented in John’s day in Rome.  Rome was a city built on seven hills; the great capital city of the world at that time; the throne of the Emperor who demanded worship as a god and persecuted God’s people; the centre of global trade, social influence and political power. On some coins of the time, Rome was depicted as the goddess queen Roma who sat on seven hills over the nations and kings of the earth.  A well-known Roman historian Tacitus said: “Rome is the place where all the horrible and shameful things in the world congregate and find a home”.  Yet Rome was also the place of status, power, splendour and wealth – it seemed to offer life in all its fullness.  The seductive draw to compromise with her, to say “Caesar is Lord” was a strong temptation. But John is shown the true reality: that Rome is a just a call-girl, enthralled to Satanic power, used, abused and ultimately to be destroyed by her pimp.

Revelation wants to purify and renew our minds as we live in this world with all its seductive idols:

“Revelation’s readers in the great cities of the province of Asia were constantly confronted with powerful images of the Roman vision of the world.... All provided powerful visual impressions of Roman imperial power and of the splendour of pagan religion.  In this context, Revelation provides a set of Christian prophetic counter-images which impress on its reader a different vision of the world: how it looks from heaven.  The visual power of the book effects a kind of purging of the Christian imagination, refurbishing it with alternative visions of how the world is and will be.  For example, in ch.17 John’s readers share his vision of a woman.  At first glance, she might seem to be the goddess Roma, in all her glory, a stunning personification of the civilisation of Rome, as we was worshipped in many a temple in the city of Asia.  But as John sees her, she is a Roman prostitute, a seductive whore, a scheming witch, and her wealth and splendour represent the profits of her disreputable trade.  In this way, John’s readers are able to perceive something of Rome’s true character – her moral corruption behind the enticing propagandist illusions of Rome which they constantly encountered in their cities” (Richard Bauckham).

DISCUSSION:

1. Heaven rejoices over God’s judgement on the sinful world, while the merchants and kings of the earth are sad to see it pass away. What idols can you become too attached to or distracted by in this world? 

For more see Tim Keller: “Counterfeit Gods”

• Our academic success
• Our job/work/position
• Our sport
• Our hobbies
• Our right to “me time”

2. “We should live in the world but not of the world” How should we live in counter-cultural ways, as Christian citizens in the midst of ‘Babylon’ today?

• Social action: defending, speaking out for and working towards social reform for the poor, marginalised, voiceless, powerless, victims of unjust laws and practices in our society.
• Living justly and generously
• Modelling sexual purity and faithfulness
• Campaigning against human trafficking and exploitation
• Buying from ethical retailers and products (clothes, food, jewellery, etc.)

CONCLUSION:

We live in the City of Babylon… but something of the Harlot of Babylon lurks in all our hearts!  The gospel is how God redeems and transforms people with prostitute hearts to be His beloved people.

Let me tell you the story of the King and the Prostitute (Martin Luther).  Christ is the King while we are Prostitutes - because we have spiritually adulterous hearts which pursue many lovers instead of Him.  When Christ in all His royal and holy splendour looks upon us that's the stark contrast He sees between us and Himself.  Yet even with this full knowledge about us He chooses to set His love upon us! 

Driven by such love, He must leave His palace and get down into the gutter in order to rescue her and unite her to Himself. When she marries the King, He takes her debt, extinguishes it, and shares with her all His credit.  Now she is a Queen by status, but still a Prostitute at heart.  Therefore, He shares His life and love, in order to melt and change her heart, so that she becomes in fact what she is already in law.  In response to His love, she desires to please and be committed to Him too.

When we die, go to heaven as a waiting room? / At the end times, do we not go to a new heaven and new earth (new creation) to be with God ala N.T. Wright?

This is a good question that will let us clarify our thinking and the language that we used to talk about heaven.

To help we need to remember two things: We need to distinguish between the PRESENT heaven (the intermediate state we experience when we die) and the FUTURE heaven (the ultimate state we will experience after Jesus returns and we are resurrected to eternal life). We also need to remember that a human being is united being: physical and spiritual, matter and mind, body and soul.

When a Christian dies their body is separated from their soul. Their body goes into the ground awaiting the resurrection; their soul goes to enjoy the blessings of the present heaven, in the conscious presence of Jesus. This is what we mean when we talk about people dying and “going to heaven”. This is the present heaven – this is the intermediate state. But this is not the final state, because we were made to be embodied-souls who glorify and enjoy God forever.

Then at the resurrection, Christ will raise up and transform our bodies into glorious ones like His own, reunited our body and soul forever: “For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:35-58).

Then He will take us to be with Him in the New Creation – a transformed New Heavens and New Earth. Just as our present bodies will be resurrected and transformed, so this present creation will experience the same (Romans 8:18-25). The New Creation is about heaven and earth coming together in union, heaven coming down on earth.  The New Creation will be filled with the good things that we enjoy in this world, just free from sin and suffering and so much better: think sports, think food, think art, etc.  The final state, the future heaven, the new creation will be like this world, just a whole lot better!

Does judgement happen at one time for all people simultaneously (i.e. die at different times but wake up at the same time for judgement)?

There are two events to distinguish:

(1)   Judgement for Believers (for eternal reward) at the Bema Seat of Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11-15, Romans 14:10-12): this judgement does not decide the eternal destiny of believers, that happens through placing your faith in Jesus. Justification means that the verdict of the final judgement has been declared today: you have been saved! Christians will give an account for how they have lived their lives and served Christ to receive rewards (see the Parables of the Talents).

(2)   Judgement for Unbelievers (for eternal punishment) at the Great White Throne (Revelation 20:11-15)

It seems that when people die, they are awaiting resurrection and final judgement. Believers are consciously enjoying the foretaste of the blessings of heaven in the presence of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:8). Unbelievers are consciously experiencing the judgement of God at their sin (Luke 16:19-31). Then at the resurrection these judgements will occur, the separation of the sheep (believers) and goats (unbelievers) (Matthew 25:31-46).

What is the kingdom/ what does it look like at the moment? / Is the new kingdom the new heavens and new earth (new creation)?

The Kingdom of God, means God is the king and He rules. When Jesus proclaimed the “good news of the kingdom of God” – He means the blessings of the good reign of God are breaking into this world under the tyranny of the kingdom of Satan. Under the reign of King Jesus, the curse of evil is being pushed back, as the captives of sin are being set free by Him.  "The subject of the good news is the kingdly rule of God in Jesus Christ, a rule which will bring untold blessings to those who are ready to receive it.  But they must be ready.  The good news is for the poor-for those who recognise their poverty, their need.  They must give up on their own ideas on how to cope with their problems, and accept the answer which the good news brings to them-abide by it and live on it" (Michael Wilcock).

The good reign of God has broken into this broken world today (starting with Jesus’ first coming, death, resurrection and ascension) and will climax at His second coming when He makes all things new. On that day the prayer will be answered "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" - as all will serve Jesus the king.  The good news of the kingdom is experienced today as rebels against the reign of God (i.e. all of us who are sinners) surrender and become children of God through faith in Jesus. The kingdom is bad news for rebels; only the fact that the king has died for the rebels transforms it into good news!

The blessings of that reign are experienced in part today by Christians in our lives, by the blessing of the indwelling Holy Spirit and Christ ruling in our hearts. The blessings of this reign will be experienced in the world at large only at Christ’s return – however today in the midst of the world, the church is an outpost of the kingdom of God, it is the present manifestation of the community of the kingdom of God. It is in the church that the reign of God is lived out as a community of people. It is also through the work of the Church and individual Christian that we erect signs and foretastes of the goodness of the reign of God in the world. Because we know God will wipe every tear from His peoples’ eyes, today it’s good for Christians to care for the sick, comfort the hurting, feed the hungry, and help the homeless. Because we know that God will renew the earth, today it’s good for Christians to care for the environment and its non-human inhabitants. Because we know there will be no sin or sinners in God’s perfect world, today it’s essential that Christians share with their friends the good news of what Jesus has done to save us from our sins. In all these ways we can live, work and speak for the king.

Do we build it here on earth? / Does God build it here on earth?

One of the popular anthems of our generation is Rend Collective’s “Build Your Kingdom Here”. One of the trendy phrases of our day is to talk about “bringing the kingdom” “building for” and “working for” the kingdom. I want to be cautious about that language. George E. Ladd has a helpful survey of how the Bible actually talks about the kingdom:

“The Kingdom can draw near to men (Matt. 3:2; 4:17; Mark 1:15; etc.); it can come (Matt. 6:10; Luke 17:20; etc.), arrive (Matt. 12:28), appear (Luke 19:11), be active (Matt 11:12). God can give the Kingdom to men (Matt 21.43; Luke 12:32), but men do not give the Kingdom to one another. Further, God can take the Kingdom away from men (Matt. 21:43), but men do not take it away from one another, although they can prevent others from entering it. Men can enter the Kingdom (Matt. 5:20; 7:21; Mark 9:47; 10:23; etc.), but they are never said to erect it or to build it. Men can receive the Kingdom (Mark 10:15; Luke 18:17), inherit it (Matt. 25:34), and possess it (Matt. 5:4), but they are never said to establish it. Men can reject the Kingdom, i.e., refuse to receive it (Luke 10:11) or enter it (Matt. 23:13), but they cannot destroy it. They can look for it (Luke 23:51), pray for its coming (Matt. 6:10), and seek it (Matt. 6:33; Luke 12:31), but they cannot bring it. Men may be in the Kingdom (Matt. 5:19; 8:11; Luke 13:29; etc.), but we are not told that the Kingdom grows. Men can do things for the sake of the Kingdom (Matt. 19:12; Luke 18:29), but they are not said to act upon the Kingdom itself. Men can preach the Kingdom (Matt. 10:7; Luke 10:9), but only God can give it to men (Luke 12:32).” (G.E. Ladd, The Presence of the Future, 193)

Jesus tells us to pray "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" and to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" in Matthew 6.  We're to live obediently for the king, we're to live according to the values of His kingdom (justice, mercy, grace, truth, faithfulness, forgiveness, etc.) and we're to be ambassadors for Christ the king so that others come into the kingdom.

“We’re on the frontlines of a war, not at a holiday resort… what have millions of Christians done? They have stopped believing that we are in a war. No urgency, no watching, no vigilance, no strategic planning. Just easy peacetime and prosperity” (John Piper)

The Revelation – “apocalypse” – is the “unveiling” – it is taking us behind the curtain. The vision in ch-12-13 are at the very centre of the book. We are shown what is behind all the struggles of God’s people in this world. We’re shown in vivid pictures the spiritual war between the kingdom of God (the Lamb) and kingdom of Satan (the Dragon) – a battle for the hearts, minds and eternal destinies of all people. This cosmic conflict manifests itself in every era of history in anti-Christian forces, and will climax in the final days with the very worst of Satan’s allies – the Antichrist.

What God wants us to know as we go through this vision is that we’re embroiled in a serious conflict, and shouldn’t expect it to be easy, but that we are on the winning side if we are trusting in Jesus Christ.

Bible Study

(1)   How do the characters and events of 12:1-6 retell the OT story of Creation->First Coming?

• The Woman (cf. Genesis 37:9) [God’s gospel promise to Eve about a child that would defeat the serpent – Israel is the woman through whom the promised Messiah would be born into the world, echoing the symbols in Joseph’s dream. After birth of child, she will be protected in the desert, rescued from the persecutor for 3.5 years, like Israel in wilderness on way to the Promised Land]
• The Dragon (cf. Genesis 3:1) [God’s adversary, the deceiving and tempting serpent, Satan. Like the Hydra’s many heads he is hard to kill, and its many horns show his power and danger. His schemes are represented in all the wicked despots of the OT who have tried to destroy God’s people and prevent the birth of the Messiah: Pharaoh, Athaliah, Haman, Herod – yet God always preserves His people]
• The Child (cf. Genesis 3:15 and Daniel 7:13-14) [The FIRST coming of God’s messiah and the promised “son of man”]

(2)   12:7-12 repeats the key event of Jesus’ First Coming from a heavenly angle. How is the devil defeated and by whom? (cf. 1 John 3:8, Luke 10:18, Colossians 2:14-15)

• v.7: Angel armies of Michael and Satan fighting in the spiritual realm. Notice that Satan is not God’s equal – only Michael’s.
• v.8-9: Satan is defeated and “thrown down” (x3) – because Christ has been “caught up to God’s throne”. He is no longer able to “accuse” God’s people because of Christ’s work on the Cross (Romans 8:1 “There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus”)
• v.10-12: the song in heaven interprets the vision of the fighting angel armies. Satan has been overcome through the work of Jesus on the earth in His first coming. The angels simply implement its consequences in heaven by throwing him out! Jesus saw “Satan fall like lightning” (Luke 10:18) in His earthly ministry overcoming Satan’s power… Jesus came to “destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). He has triumphed over Satan by the Cross (Colossians 2:14-15). One person has said: “Jesus poisoned death to death when it swallowed him. From the belly of that monster he killed it”. Jesus suffered the very worst that the Dragon could throw against Him, even death, but He rose again victorious!
• But it wasn’t a battle fought with weapons. Satan’s name means “accuser” – his greatest weapon is to stand in Gods’ courtroom and accuse us of having sinned and demanding we are punished. Jesus has disarmed the devil by silencing his accusations. When Jesus died all our sins were put on Him and He took all the punishment we deserved. If we in trust in Jesus, asking Him to forgive us of our sins, then all our sins are erased. The devil cannot accuse us or demand our punishment, because Jesus defends us saying: it’s already been done!

(3)   12:13-17 shows history between the First and Second Comings. What are the consequences of Satan’s expulsion for the earth and for God’s people?

• Implications of the salvation and revival of Israel (cf. Romans 11:26f)
• v.13 the dragon will persecute the “woman” (Israel) and her “other children” (Christians) seeking to destroy them
• v.14-16: God will frustrate some of the dragon’s efforts to destroy all of God’s people (Exodus language of Exodus 14:4, Deuteronomy 22:11 of being given refuge in desert)
• v.17: the devil summons two henchmen to assist in his persecution of God’s people – forming an “unholy Trinity”:
• The purpose of these visions is given in 13:10 “Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints”

(4)   Satan enlists the help of two Beasts in 13:1-18. What counterfeits of God and Jesus do you notice in their descriptions?

• the parody of the Trinity in the Dragon/Antichrist/False Prophet;
• the parody of the death/resurrection of Jesus in the slain/healed Beast (False Prophet performs miracles to deceive world into worship the Beast)
• the parody of the spiritual seal of God in the physical mark of the Beast (those who worship the Beast become its slaves, even though they can participate in its socio-economic system)
• the parody of the worship of Christ with the worship of the Beast by people from every tribe, nation, tongue and language
• the Lamb of God, and the Lamb with the mouth of the Dragon
• 666 (the number of man, permanently short of perfection) vs God’s perfect 7

Living Between D-Day and VE-Day

The vision is ch.12 is about what happened up until Jesus first came into the world. The vision is ch.13 is about what will happen until Jesus returns to this world. Satan has been decisively defeated and his end is in sight but he has refused to surrender. Back at school I loved learning about the history of Germany and the Nazis. For 8 years Hitler took over countries in Europe, first subtly and later by force starting World War 2. For 4 years it seemed like nothing could stop Hitler’s armies. But then on June 6^th 1944 the allied forces landed in France, breaking the German lines and began moving towards Berlin. D-Day’s victory showed that Hitler was doomed, but it was almost a year before VE-Day when Hitler was killed and Germany surrendered. Today we live between the spiritual D-Day (Jesus’ resurrection) and VE-Day (Jesus’ return).

In-between Satan is fatally wounded but is lashing out and trying to do as much damage as he can before the end! The Dragon summons two henchmen: Two deformed, terrifying monsters – forming an unholy Trinity: Satan, the Antichrist and the False Prophet. These beasts represent the unnatural reality of evil which distorts and corrupts God’s good creation.

The first monster is an anti-Christian government that will attack God’s people, the second monster is anti-Christian religion that will deceive the world to worship Satan. These evil allies of Satan appear in various guises in history: in Paul’s day as Emperor Nero who people feared would rise from the dead… in John’s day as Emperor Domitian who demanded to be worshipped… in our day by various Antichristian forces… and worst of all they will appear in the last days. If the Satan cannot condemn Christians in heaven, he will at least try to destroy them on earth to stop the good news being shared with others.

“Fundamental clue to the understanding of biblical prophecy: eschatological events are foreshadowed in historical events… The beast (or Antichrist) is a central figure in Revelation. He is primarily an eschatological figure in whom will be concentrated the centuries-long hostility to God manifested in the history of godless nations; but this hostility is also foreshadowed in Rome and its emperor as it was in Antiochus Epiphanes… the beast represents both every hostile evil power that oppresses and persecutes God’s people, but primarily the eschatological figure at the end of the age” (Ladd)

It is important to look back to these beasts as described in Daniel 7. The Antichrist will conquer the world and “make war with the saints and prevail against them” (v.21). That’s awful news! But his rule will be limited: “for a time, times and half a time” (v.25) – the final 3.5 years. Evil will be allowed to do its worst and then God will stop it dead in its tracks. “Until the Ancient of Days came, and judgement was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom” (v.22).

Discussion

• What examples/particular threats do we as Christians face from godless governments and false religions today?

• How are we to face the devil’s attacks today living between D-Day and VE-DAY? (Ephesians 6:10-17; 1 Peter 5:8-10; James 4:7-8)

Conclusion

Martin Luther wrote a song during the days of the Reformation in 1500s: “A Mighty Fortress is Our God”. It gives us some encouragement as we think about the power of Satan and evil that opposes us as God’s people:

“And though this world with devils filled

Should threaten to undo us.

We will not fear for God has willed

His truth to triumph through us.

The Prince of Darkness grim,

We tremble not for him.

His rage we can endure.

For lo, his doom is sure.

One little word shall fell him!”

“in the world you will have trouble but do not fear, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33)

Introduction

Where have you travelled in the world? What other countries have you visited? Some of you love travelling to different places and seeing different cultures.

God has a heart for the nations and cultures of the world, and desires them to be reconciled to Himself. Thus it’s important for Christian missionaries to go and preach, to love and serve, to plant churches and make disciples. However, an often overlooked part of mission work is that it’s important for Christians to be willing to suffer, even die, for the sake of the gospel. This is “martyrdom”. When you hear the word MARTYR – don’t think terrorist suicide bombers. Martyr is the Greek word for WITNESS – someone who believes and faithfully sticks to their message, even if it costs them their life.

In John’s day Christian’s were commanded by law to participate in worship of the Emperor. This meant having to offer incense on a public altar, and swear allegiance saying: “Caesar is Lord. However, Christians could not deny that “Jesus is Lord”. For that reason they were arrested and executed. They were “faithful witnesses” (7x in Revelation). Many stories have been passed down about people in the crowds watching the gruesome public executions of Christians being converted as they witnessed the love, forgiveness and preaching of Christians as they died!

Early church writer Tertullian once said “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church”. More recently John Piper explains what this means: “One of the most sobering discoveries of my life is that God spreads the life-giving news about Jesus Christ by means of suffering and martyrdom…Afflictions are not merely the results of missionary fruitfulness, but also the means. God has appointed our pain to be part of his powerful display of the glory of Christ. The worth of Jesus in the world shines more brightly in the lives of those who say by their sacrificial lives: ‘I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.’ … Our calling is to make the afflictions of Christ real for people by the afflictions we experience in bringing them the message of salvation”.

The Christian’s courage and confidence in evangelism and mission comes from our conviction: “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).

Recap events so far:

• Ch.4-5: following Jesus’ victorious death, resurrection and ascension to heaven, He holds the sealed plans for the culmination of human history in His hands.
• Seal Judgements: John sees the future, when Jesus opens the seals and begins the final steps towards His Second Coming and the coming of His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. The Trumpet Judgements warn of the Final Judgement to come – at the Bowls and Second Coming.
• The second Interlude (ch.10-11): focuses on Gods’ people and their MISSION as FAITHFUL WITNESSES during the Tribulation.
  

There’s a lot disagreement over how to interpret all the specific details of chapters 10-11 (what to take literally and what to take symbolically) – although broad agreement about its overall message. We’ll take one approach and you can read more about the debate on the blog this week.

Bible Study Questions

(1) In 10:1-11 an angel presents John with a message to preach to the world. Summarise the bad news (“bitter”) and good news (“sweet”) of the gospel message. Why must it contain both?

• Echoing God’s commission to Ezekiel in ch.2-3, John is given a message that is both comforting and challenging.
• Bad news: it must communicate about humanity’s problem: sin, death, judgement and hell.
• Good news: it must communicate about God’s solution: the sin-bearing substitutionary death of Jesus in our place, taking the judgement that is coming against us in order to save us.

(2)   Follow the drama in 11:1-13 and explain what God’s message is for His people in each scene:

• v.1-3 (c.f. 1 Corinthians 6:19, 1 Peter 2:5) [assuming the “temple, altar, worshippers” = God’s people]
  • The Temple, Altar and Worshippers probably represents believing people who are “measured” (based on Ezekiel 40) for spiritual security and protection – they are marked off by God from the godless world under His judgement and set apart as His holy people for a particular purpose.
  • The 42 months represent the 3.5 years of the second half of the Tribulation during which the Antichrist will war against Gods’ people (cf. Revelation 13 and Daniel 9:27f)
• v.4-6 (cf. Deuteronomy 19:15, Zechariah 4:1-6) [assuming “the two witnesses” = God’s people engaged in gospel witness]
  • The 1260 days represents the initial 3.5 years of the Tribulation when the gospel will go forth into the nations with great power
  • The two witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15 suggests two is the number for reliable witness testimony – and note Jesus sent out disciples to evangelise in twos; although also note the allusion to God’s Spirit-empowered leaders of the nation of Israel for the rebuilding of the Temple in Zechariah 4) are God’s spirit-empowered people who go into the world to preach the gospel. They are given protection and success in these years (echoing the ministries of Moses and Elijah the great prophets as they give powerful witness to the gospel of Jesus, possibly alluding to a renewed time of signs and wonders).
  • As Israel was to be a light to the nations and its leaders represented it in this function (as in Zechariah 4), so also I believe it is likely these two witnesses are not two specific individuals but rather representatives/symbols for the people of God witnessing for Him among the nations – a city on a hill (Matthew 5) as Jerusalem’s Temple was always meant to be as a beacon for God among the pagan nations.
• v.7-10 cf. John 15:18-20 [assume “the great city” = the godless rebellious world; “the beast” = the Antichrist]
  • The “beast” (first mention in Revelation – the Antichrist to come: 1 John 2:18) will make war against God’s people and seek to destroy them in unprecedented persecution.
  • “The great city” is referred to in ch.17-18 as Babylon (in John’s day Rome anticipated this final godless capital city of the Antichrist). It is here symbolically or spiritually called Sodom (for its sinfulness), Egypt (for its oppressiveness), and “where the Lord was crucified” (for its persecution of God’s people). These are descriptions of the godless world.
  • The world will celebrate the destruction of God’s people and seek to abuse and shame God’s people for their faithfulness to Christ.
• v.11-13 [contrast their 3.5 years of ministry and 3.5 days of death]
  • The 3.5 days may literally be days, or another (although strange) parallel with the last 3.5 years of the tribulation. Better, it may simply be a contrast: the gospel’s triumph in spreading for 3.5 years is far greater than the beast’s triumph for 3.5 days in silencing it.
  • The vindication of God’s people in the resurrection – the very worst the enemy can do is silence God’s messengers by killing them, but like Jesus, God will raise them from the dead and His message will invincibly and unstoppably continue to have its effect in converting sinners!
  • The earthquake is a preview of the final judgement to come. The suffering witness of God’s people combined with God’s judgement on the world results in a different response towards God.

(3)   How does the world’s response (to the judgements) in 9:20-21 differ from its response (to the suffering witness of Christians) in 11:13?

• Instead of hardening themselves against God in hatred and further rejection; many people from all the nations give glory to God – perhaps a suggestion of a final revival/awakening in response to faithful gospel preaching in the Great Tribulation period.
• In the OT 1/10 represented the remnant saved through judgement. Here it is reversed so that the 9/10 appear to respond and be saved in view of the gospel witness and judgement.

Discussion Questions

(1)   Why do we sometimes struggle with being Christ’s “faithful witnesses”?

(2)   How do you feel about suffering loss or persecution as a Christian?

(3)   In what ways can we make progress in dealing with these barriers?

“In this section John refers to the tremendous opposition faced by the people of God throughout the centuries and especially in the last days” (Leon Morris)

Take time to pray for suffering Christians around the world

http://www.releaseinternational.org/pray/

https://barnabasfund.org/downloads/resources/pfu/PrayerA4-Feb16.pdf

Conclusion

50 years after John died and Revelation was written an old man named Polycarp was pastor of the church in Smyrna. The Romans had a new Emperor who was again persecuting Christians, and they discovered in a search of Polycarp’s house the banned book: the Bible. Polycarp was given a choice: say “Caesar is Lord, not Jesus” and sacrifice to the Emperor…or die. A large crowd gathered to see what would happen next. Aged Polycarp spoke politely but firmly to all who were there: “86 years have I have served him, and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and my Saviour?” Polycarp was then taken and burnt alive at the stake. But many people in that crowd who saw and heard him trusted in Jesus to be saved. The enemy may be able to silence God’s messengers, but never stop His message – and they will rise again to life sharing in Christ’s victory over sin, death and the powers of hell!

Today in this country you’re probably not going to be asked to die for being a Christian. But perhaps the bigger challenge for each of us is NOT BE ASHAMED OF HIM, but to boldly make Him known! “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation” (Romans 1:17)

Pray Today:

• At the start of Holy Week, take a few moments to reflect on Jesus, the spotless lamb of God who came to open up heaven's gates to us.
• For the Exploring Christianity home bible studies that are taking place around the city with people interested in learning more about who Jesus is.
• For the 100 people who were at the Buckstone easter service yesterday afternoon, who heard the gospel preached, and pray for the team as they seek to follow up on those relationships in their local community.

Pray Today:

• For God to bless us and for each one of us to be an encouragement to one another tonight as we gather in our home groups around the city to pray.
• For Christians living and working around the city to be seeking to shine, serve and speak for God in their places of influence.
• For the Discovery discipleship programme this afternoon over lunch working with people in our city centre community.

Pray Today:

• For God to be continuing to speak to us through the messages we heard preached on Sunday.
• For Malcolm and the community engagement ministries as they seek to connect with people in our community and build bridges into the life of the city, so we can be a blessing and reach people for Christ.
• For God to make us fruitful this week on our frontlines as we seek to live lives that bear the likeness of Christ, minister God's grace and love to others, and be messengers of Christ.

Pray Today:

• For the work of CityTots ministering to kids and parents in the city centre, providing a place for friendship and sharing biblical wisdom for parenting.
• For the ministry of SU groups, helping interested kids to explore more about the reality of Jesus.
• For your home group missionaries as they labour to make Christ known among the nations.

Pray Today:

• For the Bethany Care Shelter ministry that will be operating out of Carrubbers in the evenings this week, ministering love and shelter to the homeless, and seeking to point them to the hope, love and refuge that can only be found in Christ.
• For the constructive discussions happening in church life about our Vision, Mission and Values in these days - for God to clearly guide and give wisdom.
• For those struggling with suffering in their own lives or their families at this time - to know something of God's help, peace and strength to face these days.

Pray Today:

• For people recovering from surgery and receiving further treatment: Kathryn Sykes and Sarah Azzopardi
• For Jonathan and Amelie Begley who welcomed into the world little baby Clay today.
• For the growth and development of our young people through their families and the ministries serving them (Creche, Sunday School, One Way Club, Bible Class, Exodus, Eklektos, and Logos).

Pray Today:

• For Malcolm and Liz out in Ethopia to know God's help and Spirit ministering through them at two discipleship conferences for 2000 Christians.
• For the Cafe team as they seek to restart things this week and get the doors open into our city centre community again

For more on our Vision, Mission, Values CLICK HERE