The Joy of Revelation III. Messages to the Churches

III Messages to the Churches

Many of us have never heard sermons on Revelation apart from discourses on the first four chapters, the letters to the seven churches in Asia Minor (now Turkey). The messages contained are then generally applied to our present-day situation, which is not inappropriate. The Church throughout history can learn from any part of The Bible. However, particularly given that some of us will be more familiar with that portion of the book than other sections because we have more likely herd or read expositions on those passages, I am not going to go into detail about them. There are though, also other portions of Revelation which contain specific messages to the churches, to believers, and I want to pick those out for you. Of course, one could argue that the whole book is for the churches; that goes without saying. However, these are specific sayings that have some commonalities as we will see.

I have selected seven passages: 13:9-10, 18, 14:12, 16:15, 19:10, 22:6-8 and 10-20b, which I believe have special merit in this regard. 

1. The first of these reads: “13:9 If anyone has an ear, he had better listen! 13:10 If anyone is meant for captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed by the sword, then by the sword he must be killed. This requires steadfast endurance and faith from the saints.” These verses follow the passage where we are told of 13:5: a “beast [who] was given a mouth speaking proud words and blasphemies… permitted to exercise ruling authority for forty-two months… 16 to blaspheme against God… 7 to go to war against the saints and conquer them. He was given ruling authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation, 13:8 and all those who live on the earth will worship the beast, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was killed.” 

The admonition that follows, 13:9, brings to mind the number of times Jesus said this when he was teaching his disciples (e.g., Mk. 4:9), and even earlier in Revelation, when Jesus was delivering his message to the churches (2:7,11). It was often said in conjunction with the use of a parable, which was a strategy Jesus employed to hide the truth from those who did not really want to follow Jesus’ teachings anyway. Verse 10 simply states that, given the power of this beast, there will be those taken captive and even killed. It is a warning of what can be expected. Facing such possibilities will indeed require “steadfast endurance and faith from the saints.” The very fact that God has told us this beforehand can be somewhat reassuring, as it still tells us God knows what is happening. If these things do happen to us, it is not because God wasn’t paying attention. God is saying, “I am here. Have faith and endure. I am telling you what is coming and that it will not be easy. However, there is this book (v. 8) where those who do not submit to evil have their names written in it, “since the foundation of the world” in fact.” For the reader who knows neither they, nor their loved ones, nor their fellow believers have yielded to this beast, it will have been reassuring to know that their names are written in the Lamb's book of life. That can be a cause for rejoicing, even in the face of the persecution that is coming. 

2. The second, 13:18, reads: “13:18 This calls for wisdom: Let the one who has insight calculate the beast’s number, for it is man’s number, and his number is 666.” This notice follows further words about another beast that will appear (13:11-17): “11…another beast…13:12 He exercised all the ruling authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and those who inhabit it worship the first beast … 13:13 He performed momentous signs… 13:14 and, by the signs he was permitted to perform on behalf of the beast, he deceived those who live on the earth. He told those who live on the earth to make an image to the [first] beast… [and] 13:15… was empowered to give life to the image of the first beast so that it could speak, and could cause all those who did not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 13:16 He also caused everyone (small and great, rich and poor, free and slave) to obtain a mark on their right hand or on their forehead. 13:17Thus no one was allowed to buy or sell things unless he bore the mark of the beast – that is, his name or his number.” 

We know that when the Bible was written, numbers had great meaning. In apocalyptic writing this was even more so. There are various systems of working out the meaning of numbers. People get caught up in working them out and being on the lookout for the person they identify. However, we are told that understanding this calls for wisdom, not facility with mathematical formulas. We are also told that this number is that of a man, in other words, a fellow human, no supernatural being. The wisdom God gives should help us realize that this numbered man is just that, not a god, so we should not be deceived as many were (v. 14). We should not worship the image the beast had made. We should be reassured that God has our names written down in this book. Again, is that not cause for joy?

3. Then there is 14:12: "Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and hold fast to the faith of Jesus." What might the saints be called to endure? If we look at the context, the preceding verses indicate the coming of judgment (v.7), the fall of Babylon (v.8) and the forced worship of the beast (v. 9). One might think the saints who are confident that they are "keeping the commandments of God and holding fast to the faith of Jesus" should not heave to worry about judgment. However, when we look at the larger picture of judgment spelled out in the whole book, there might be many scenarios that could be of concern and raise fear. Thee are plagues of famine and pestilence or disease, there is war; the list goes on. The Christian is warned about them, but called to endure them, to last it out. 

Babylon referred at the time to the Roman Empire. It was a code word, which Jews in particular, who many of the first Christians were, understood by comparing it with the historic Babylon of Chaldea in the Middle East. the mere mention of that name brought with it awful memories of destruction, exile, disruption and dislocation. On one hand, more so earlier in its existence, the church had somewhat enjoyed its acceptance by the state as an offshoot of Judaism. The Apostle Paul appealed to the state a number of times for justice and protection. Some might have been concerned that the fall of Rome would bring about chaos. They might have been concerned for their economic wellbeing, about the failure of such social order as there was. Indeed, in some ways, there was a peace in the empire that had not occurred before, known as the Pax Romana. There was a power in control. The possibilities of the breakdown of the stability and predictability of their lives could have led those early believers to fear what could happen if Rome fell. 

Things had changed though. Now the Empire was 'the beast,' it was 'Babylon.'  This altered perception occurred because now the Emperor was demanding allegiance and worship in a way the Christians could not comply with. He was being put forward as a god. The Christians' sole allegiance though, was to Jesus as Lord. They understood that they were citizens of his Kingdom, and that superseded all other powers. This change in the religious order of the day was what really began to turn the tide against the Christians. 

Given this, it would have understandably now been considered a positive by the Christians if this Babylon 'fell.'  It was obvious that there was going to be a lot of suffering and even martyrdom before that would happen though. Their lives were now in danger. This too, the Christians were called to endure. But it was not a hopeless call. They had already been told, given the assurance that their names were written in the Lamb's book of life.

4. The next passage, 16:15, states: “16:15 (Look! I will come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays alert and does not lose his clothes so that he will not have to walk around naked and his shameful condition be seen.)” The first part of this verse again brings to mind the words of our Lord as recorded in the Gospels when he was warning his disciples about things to come (e.g., Matt. 24:42-44). The second part of this verse is really telling us that we should stay alert, but not to the extreme of losing our clothes. Those reading this might well have understood first the symbolic meaning of this phrase.  It refers to losing the white robes always described when the faithful are seen in heaven, before the throne.  They would lose these clothes if they were led astray, if they fell away from following the true gospel, maintaining their allegiance to Christ alone. The white robe was the sign of the one who had overcome, who was victorious.  

There can be a real meaning here too. We are not to give up everything and just sit around waiting for Christ’s return. We are to keep our clothes on and continue to live as our Master taught. We have work to do while we are on earth. We will be shamed if we neglect that.

NOTE: I have expanded on these 2 verses in The Joy of Revelation VI - The Beatitudes, the third one, posted January 26, 2020. 

5. The fifth message is found in 19:10. When the writer falls at an angel messenger’s feet in adoration, we read this: “19:10 So I threw myself down at his feet to worship him, but he said, “Do not do this! I am only a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony about Jesus. Worship God, for the testimony about Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” The obvious message here is not to get caught up in worship of any but God, not even those who come from God, such as angels, those who are on the right side, let alone those allied with Satan as discussed in the passages about the beasts and the image they made. We are also reminded here that “the testimony about Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” In other words, the core of all the prophecies, the spirit or centre of them, going back through the whole Bible, is to point to Jesus. Indeed, this is what Jesus himself taught (Luke 24:25-27), and the Apostles after him in many of their messages of witness and in their preaching, as recorded frequently in The Acts of the Apostles (e.g., acts 2:16-31, 8:29-35).

6. Then, we come to the references from the book’s last chapter, beginning with 22:6-8: “22:6 Then the angel said to me, “These words are reliable and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must happen soon.” 22:7 (“Look! I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy expressed in this book”). First, the angel reassures the writer, and us the readers, of the veracity, the truthfulness, of “these words,” of the revelation received by the writer. The angel goes on to link these words with all those given by God to the prophets of the past, already proven by their use over time, their fulfilment. All of this should reassure us that the writer knows what he is recording because it comes from God. God has, in his graciousness, given us these words so that we would be informed. God is not in the business of keeping us in the dark when it comes to what we need to know. That this “must happen soon” tells us that these messages had their application near the time of the writer too; they are not all or only about “end times,” those ‘times’ we understand are still in our future, or maybe even in the future of those who come after us. 

Then Jesus breaks in again with the warning of vs. 7. At that time, or whenever it is our time to meet our Lord, we will be blessed if we keep “the words of the prophecy expressed in this book.” In other words, all the admonitions of the first four chapters, plus the more concise messages scattered through the rest of the chapters, such as those we are examining in this chapter. We are to keep, to remember all of the pictures, the visions, the judgments foretold. However, remembering them like this is different, for a different reason(s), than expending time excessively in trying to see in these prophecies a calendar for the end times. There are other messages her we are to glean, not that. We can learn from them what the dangers of our age might be, what things we might  want to avoid or fear getting caught up in. Again, these are all things we have to attend to as we live out or lives of faith in our everyday world. We are to be watchful, alert, on our guard against the pressures and temptations of our times, but also wait expectantly for our Lord's return. Our ultimate earthly joy, our being blessed, lies in the hope we have that in our obedience to these words of our Lord for our lives today, we will overcome.

7. Finally, the comprehensive messages of the last chapter, 22:10-20b: “22:10 Then he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy contained in this book, because the time is near. 22:11 The evildoer must continue to do evil, and the one who is morally filthy must continue to be filthy. The one who is righteous must continue to act righteously, and the one who is holy must continue to be holy.” 22:12 (“Look! I am coming soon, and my reward is with me to pay each one according to what he has done! 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end!”). 22:14 Blessed are those who wash their robes so they can have access to the tree of life and can enter into the city by the gates. 22:15 Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the sexually immoral, and the murderers, and the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood! 22:16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star!” 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say: “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wants it take the water of life free of charge. 22:18 I testify to the one who hears the words of the prophecy contained in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. 22:19 And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book. 22:20 The one who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!”

Verse 10 again reminds us that God want us to know these things. They are given us for our benefit. Verse 22, like 13:10 as discussed above, is again simply reiterating that those whose hearts are not turned towards God, as described further in vs. 15, will continue to do evil. They have made their choice and can do no other. However, we are to continue to act righteous and holy.  For that we will be rewarded (vs. 12).  Speaking of that, it is interesting to note how often our actions, our works, are referred to in Revelation as being important when it comes to the final judgment.  There is 14:13, but this theme is woven all through the seven messages to the churches. We need to begin with faith, but we need to follow through with works.

Again, we have these parenthetical remarks of Jesus interspersed with the angel’s words, telling us firsthand that he is coming again, and soon (vss. 12 & 20). He affirms that he has sent the angel to us with these messages, so we can believe them (vs. 16).  But it’s as if Jesus can’t keep back the message he wants us to hear and know, to be reassured that he is coming back for us. He wants us to rejoice in the certainty of this promise. He wants us to remember that he, as ‘alpha and omega (vs.13),’ has always been, is now, and will always be. Whatever he has done for us and can do for us now, he will always be there to do. He is indeed the promised one, the deliverer and redeemer, the Messiah, coming from the line of David as prophesied long ago (vs. 16).

Besides all this, Jesus calls us blessed who have been purified by his blood, baptized into his Church, “washed,” so we can “have access to the tree of life and can enter into the city by the gates” (vs. 14). In other words, we are guaranteed entry to heaven if we have complied with that description. Furthermore, we have legitimate access by having kept those commands – we get to go in by the gates, directly. We don’t have to work out how to get in. The way is prepared. 

There are also severe warnings here (vss. 18-19). Unfortunately, those who take things too literally have misused these passages to support things such as the use of only one version of the Bible, usually The Authorized or King James version, forgetting that this is not the original language, so what does that say about is reliability? These verses are also sometimes used to argue against deeper study and interpretation of the word. It is all there, clear and plain, we are told; “the Bible says,” we often hear. In other words, if God wanted us to know how it was read and understood in the past, what importance there might be to things like context, he would have told us. What Jesus is really saying is that if we actually add to – or take away from - what we put forward as scripture, then we are in trouble. 

But the most wonderful part of the message for us in this passage is the invitation (vs. 17): “the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say: “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wants it take the water of life free of charge.” It is of note that this invitation comes not only directly from Christ, but it is also the invitation of the bride, who is of course we believers, the Church. We have a duty to keep extending this invitation, as the introduction to the second “Come” makes clear, in case we missed the meaning in the first part. We are invited to partake of the water of life, of which the best part is, because of the work of the Son of Man, the Lamb, the finally victorious Messiah, is that it is free! Is that not cause for rejoicing? There is so much here that should give us joy!