eschatology - The Text Messages

January 29, 2023January 29, 2023

Spotlight on The Risen Lamb of God – My Hero is Jesus

“And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.” (Revelation 5:1–3)

Everyone at one time or another looks “for a hero to ride in and save the day.” Our favorite movies be they apocalyptic – end of the world scenarios, or set on some foreign field of battle, thrive on the hunger of our hearts for a hero.

Our heroes are larger than life – men and women of great courage, outstanding achievement or possessing some noble quality. My heroes run into burning buildings. My heroes ran into the towers on 9/11 or were victims on the inside whose focus was on the others victims in the building rather than upon themselves. They have a quality of selflessness which, under the pressure of a hopeless situation emerges from them in incredible acts of courage.

The most pivotal question in Revelation comes at arguably the second most pivotal moments in human history (v.2):

“Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?”

Note it was not God, “Him who sat upon the throne” with a scroll in His hand asking this question. We are not told whether the “strong angel” was Michael the arch angel or Gabriel; what we are told is that this angel announced, he proclaimed with his question a challenge to the host of heaven and to men – produce if you can one who is worthy to open the scroll.

Our Champion

How long did the search take before it became clear that none of the elders, beasts, or representatives of men contained one so worthy; we cannot say. But that there was a dramatic pause in heaven is clear in John’s response in (v.4):

“So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.”

Could it truly be that John, the beloved apostle did not know the only one worthy to take the scroll?

Go back with me for a moment in your thoughts to the other pivotal moment in human history – the first one; the moment Jesus Christ made it possible for sinners to be forgiven, restored, and redeemed by God through His own precious blood.

Jesus did not shrink back from what His mission on our behalf would require of Him (John 12:27). Ours was a situation of absolute hopelessness. Consider the view from (Ephesians 2:1): we “were dead in trespasses and sins.”We were doomed to eternal destruction (John 3:18) because of our sin and unbelief but Jesus stepped into human history (Gal. 4:4-5): “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”

Jesus made war with Satan from the cross (John 12:31-32) “Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”

I love the song by Carmen called The Champion; the first time I heard it, I was on the road, headed towards Denver with a heavy load of steel.

At first, I was upset by what I was hearing, the song, more like a dramatic dialogue involves the scorn of Satan, demons as well as the humans who were present to see Jesus nailed to and hanging on the cross. But then, in much the same way as a boxer is counted out after being knocked to the ground by his opponent, the “referee” in the song began to apparently count someone out as well; and as he began with 10, 9, 8, 7, 6….I began to weep. This was not the counting out of my Savior – this was His victory!!!! Satan, that deceiver of men and enemy of God was being counted out as the countdown continued – the demons couldn’t believe it, they were out of their minds as the Savior of man overcame the “odds’ and defeated their leader.

What does it say in (Eph 2:1)? “And you He made alive!” (Eph.2 12-13):

“…at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

Worthy is the Lamb

In light of the victory which the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus gained for you and I, it should come as no surprise to us that He alone is worthy! He has prevailed over sin, over Satan and over death!

“Do not weep” declared one of the elders to John in (v.5), “Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.””

These two titles point to Jesus deity as the “Root of David” and to His humanity as the “Lion of the tribe of Judah.” As the “Root of David,” Jesus Christ is according to Paul in (Romans 15:12) quoting (Isaiah 11:1,10) “He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope.””

It is His blood which the Elders sing about in (v.9) – Jesus’ sacrifice for the sins of man. His selfless obedience to the will of His Father seems to be the greatest reason for His worthiness to take the scroll. The price He paid; the suffering which He endured – all that our redemption cost Him make Jesus Christ the ONLY ONE WORTHY to take the scroll.

But to me, He is worthy because of His courage and love for me. He did what I could not do – I was dead in trespasses and sins yet He ran into my life to rescue and redeem me.

Take note: it was not the Lion standing before the throne. Not a figure of power or might. Consider what the spotlight of heaven landed on in this moment (Re. 5:6-7):

“And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.”

There, before the throne stood a lamb, blood stains still apparent upon Him who had been slain.

Worshipping Our Hero and Great King

Note the response of the “four living creatures and twenty four elders” in (v.8); as soon as the Lamb took the scroll, and before He opened it, they all fell down in worship before Him:

“Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”

Much has been said about the prayers of the saints because many prayers have been prayed and all prayer is seen as a sweet smelling aroma to God offered by His people – prayers of worship, praise, and adoration; prayers of dependance and of surrender. But considering what is happening in the moment depicted in (v.5), it seems as if the prayer Jesus taught men in (Matt. 6) is the specific “prayers of the saints” in mind here; do you remember it?

“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” (Matthew 6:9–13, NKJV)

As the light shines on Him who has the scroll – just then His kingdom was coming! Just then, His will was about to be done on earth as it was already in heaven.

I cannot imagine that worship in heaven is ever lack luster, is ever less than over the top, full blown, heartfelt, worship and yet the moment before us here depicts even GREATER worship! The elders and creatures “sang a new song” (v.9-10) to the Lamb:

“And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”

Beginning with their new song, praise rippled out from before the throne of God to the corners of heaven. A numberless assembly of angels joined their voices to the worship saying (v.12):

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

Finally all of creation – every created, living thing with a voice in heaven and on earth joins in the refrain of the new song, saying (v13): “Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

Eternal praise to the eternal God and His Son Jesus Christ is the theme of heaven’s worship.

Wrapping up, I have to say that in my life, I have looked up to a scant few people, but I have only ever had one true hero.

Jesus Christ is my hero.

I picture the moment highlighting Jesus amid all the host of heaven, spotlight on Him alone as I worship. I see Him with all the filth and evidence of the battle He fought for me still upon Him. I see Him who went to such incredible lengths to set me free. His blood is certainly NOT a common thing!

Can I challenge you to fix your minds eye and heart of worship on Jesus as you live, as you praise and as you worship Him? Our worship in prayer and in song is fueled by our knowledge that we are both known (1 Cor. 8:3) and also (Eph.1:6) “accepted in the beloved.” One day, we will be a part of the group singing that new song (this is prophecy after all) of the redeemed in the very presence of the Lamb of God who took away our sin!!!

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain; worthy is the King who conquered the grave!!!

May we ever worship Him in deepest devotion – even now, for all He is and all He has done for us.

February 28, 2022March 28, 2022

Not Soon Shaken

“Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” (2 Thessalonians 2:1–4)

Last Sunday morning, about an hour before church it was announced by a major news outlet that Russia had placed their nuclear forces on high alert. The scenario which has been the subject of many movies rose up to be a clear and present danger to the future of the world – at least to those reporting the announcement who stated to their audience that “today would be a good day to go to church.” Many things went through my mind as I considered the implications for the world and I reviewed the scriptures which assure us that whatever mankind may do to destroy itself, those things do not affect the time line and plan of God for the events which will culminate in the end of the world as we know it and the beginning of the new heaven and new earth prophesied by (Revelation 21:1). I’d like to spend a little time with you, reviewing these passages so that you may find strength in God for the times of trouble which we find ourselves in now and for future times of trouble.

I’d begin with the following statement:

The followers of Christ should be anchor points in our world, people who are found to be strong and at peace while others around them are panicking and shaken by the events and circumstances unfolding before our eyes.

Why?

First, we are to be so strong because our hope is tethered to heaven itself (Heb. 6:19-20):

“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 6:19–20)

Not only does Jesus secure our eternal inheritance so that no matter what may happen on earth below we are eternally connected to God in heaven but we also have God’s promise and faithfulness to keep it and all His promises reinforcing our hope (or confident expectation) of our final salvation in Christ Jesus.

Secondly, we have God’s word which tells us what to expect in the days leading up to the end of all things and the new beginning promised in Revelation. To begin with we have this word found in (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18):

“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

We have a promise from the scripture that those who believe in Jesus will not see the wrath which is to come upon the whole earth (Thessalonians 1:8b–10): “For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” Instead, and before His wrath begins to be vented upon the people of the world through the Great Tribulation spoken of in Revelation, “we who are alive and remain shall be caught up…” or “raptured” literally taken out of this world like Enoch (see Gen. 5:24). This event could happen at any time but until it does, no matter what threats to human existence may arise, the wrath of God upon mankind leading to God’s great reset of all things will not occur.

In addition, the text we began with also offers us a few “conditions” which will have to be fulfilled as well before those days come to pass:

Apostasy – (v.3a) “the falling away.” This falling away is not a reference to moral decline of the world but rather to the moral and spiritual decline of the church. It is literally a departure from the faith and the word of God (1 Tim. 4:1):

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons…”

This “departure” is already occurring as professing Christians willfully ignore and or turn away from Biblical truth and toward the false teachers and teachings which are flourishing today:

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” (2 Timothy 4:3–4)

The appearance of Anti-Christ – (v.3b) “the man of sin is revealed.” Possessing the qualities of the “son of perdition” which is a reference to the other great betrayer of Jesus Christ – Judas (see John 17:12) who worked deceitfully against the plan of God in Christ Jesus; anti-Christ will “oppose God” and like Satan before him, “exalt himself…above God.” In the Old Testament, the description found here is used of Antiochus Epiphanes (Daniel 11:36–37):

“Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done. He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all.”

While the “spirit of anti-Christ” (1 John 4:2-3) has been present since the days during which Jesus did His work among men for their redemption, Anti-Christ has not yet been revealed nor has the temple been rebuilt in which he will sit pretending to be God.

That which is restraining must be taken away (2 Timothy 4:5-8): “Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.” Many suggestions have been made as to who or what the restrainer of anti-Christ is and the lack of anything more than Paul’s words in (v.6) “you know what is restraining” makes it impossible for us to be dogmatic about the point.

I believe that the Holy Spirit is the restrainer; I also believe that when the church is raptured, the Holy Spirit who works through the church, the proclamation of the Gospel and specifically through every Christian to counter and restrain both the spirit of anti-Christ as well as the Anti-Christ himself will be depart. Whatever the case, it is clear that God is in control of the one who restrains as well as his removal. After His departure, lawlessness will abound and the man of lawlessness will be revealed and because “those who are perishing” did not “receive a love of the truth that they might be saved,” (vv.9-10) “God will send them strong delusion (v.11) that they should believe the lie.” The lie being that the Anti-Christ is God.

We also have a series of events which Jesus identified in (Matt. 24) as things which will happen (v.14) “before the end will come.” False teachers, (v.5), “wars and rumors of wars” (v.6), international conflict (v.7), “famines, pestilences (plagues), and earthquakes (v.7) are all “the beginning of sorrows” (v.8). Next, the severe and extensive persecution of Christ followers (v. 10), more false teachers (deceivers) (v.11) and lawlessness leading to Christian lovelessness (v.12), along with the global proclamation of the gospel (v13) will take place before the end will come.

If we believe these words, we will be unshakable in the face of such events because of the promises of God to we who believe.

But what about the timing of these events?

Consider the words of Jesus in (Matt. 24:32-44):

“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Much can be said of this, suffice it to say that we live in times like the days of Noah – days characterized by weddings, celebrations and the routine of regular living along with a willful ignoring of God, His Son, His Spirit, His preacher and the proclamations found in His word. If we see (v.40-41) from the lens of Noah’s flood then we understand that those taken are taken in death (or judgment) and those who are left remain safe in Jesus Christ. The simple fact is that while we get hints of the nearness of the end of all things and the beginning of a new heaven and new earth upon which all who believe in Jesus Christ will dwell forever with God – we do not know when He is coming and the best we can be is (v.44) “ready.” Only after we are ready can we help others to be ready as well.

As I thought about these things last Sunday, I entertained another thought; I wondered whether or not, given their current situation, and life threatening circumstances Ukrainian Christians would scoff at, doubt , deny or discount the truths we are considering. Would fear control them or would faith in Jesus keep them strong? Would their response to these words be different than ours as we discuss them in comfort and safety?

I doubt that believers, tethered to heaven by faith in Christ Jesus would discount or deny these truths – I believe they would be rather, strengthened by them. But they did not come to be so resolved either for their God or their nation over night.

It occurs to me that readiness for the return of Christ and the patience to endure whatever hardship while waiting for His coming is not to be a last-minute consideration and that being resolved to cling to the “anchor of our souls” so that we would “not be soon shaken” by the things happening around us needs to be decided BEFORE those days come!

“For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.” (1 Thessalonians 5:2–10)

Are you ready?