Understanding Revelation

Last week in our opening message to our Revelation series I said we would learn about the symbols, numbers, metaphors, Old Testament stories, the beasts of Revelation and such as we worked our way up to chapter four. I said we would learn a little as we go each week so that we would have a better view of the imagery we would encounter in and beyond chapter 4—it get’s intense visually after chapter 3. Each week I was going to put that in the beginning of each message. But this week (and maybe every week) it makes the message too long and too broad in scope. I’ve decided to write to you rather than include the lesson in this week’s message. 

This is the first installment of us building a KEY or a LEGEND together. If you’re familiar with maps (this is a dying discipline in our GPS world) you are familiar with the corner legend that helps interpret the scale, the routes, the railroads, the colors, and any other helpful symbol on the map. We are making something similar for our understanding of Revelation. This morning’s legend entry is brought to you by the number “seven.” 
  
This is the first installment of us building a KEY or a LEGEND together. If you’re familiar with maps (this is a dying discipline in our GPS world) you are familiar with the corner legend that helps interpret the scale, the routes, the railroads, the colors, and any other helpful symbol on the map. We are making something similar for our understanding of Revelation. This morning’s legend entry is brought to you by the number “seven.” 

The Number 7

In the first chapter the number “7” was used a lot. John wrote about seven churches, seven spirits, seven golden lampstands and seven Stars. That’s quite a few “sevens” in this first chapter. We will encounter over 60 times when the number "7" or “seventh” is mentioned throughout the book.  

The Seven Churches in Revelation 2–3

There are seven: churches, letters, spirits, lampstands, stars, seals, horns, eyes, angels, trumpets, thunders, (7) thousand people, heads, crowns, plagues, bowls, hills, kings, last visions. There is also seven blessing statements beginning with the one we found last week in verse three. Wow! That’s a lot of sevens. 

You may have heard someone say before, “Seven is God’s perfect number.” True, it is. It is perfect in that it is the number God uses to communicate completeness, wholeness or fullness going all the way back to the beginning when He rested from the completed work of creation on the seventh day. The Israelites were taught that every seventh year their fields were to lie fallow—unplanted; a year of rest after the completion of work. In the New Testament there are seven statements of Jesus recorded during His crucifixion, ending with Him surrendering His Spirit into the Father’s hand—His sacrifice was complete—it was finished. 

So, when we run into the number seven in the Bible, especially here in Revelation, we should think in terms of fullness, wholeness or completeness. 

For instance, when John writes to the seven churches—and we’ll talk more about this going forward—we should think in terms of wholeness and completeness. John most assuredly knew of more than seven churches to whom he could have written. And we are certain he expected his letters to be shared beyond the seven churches he mentions. When he writes to the seven churches he is writing to the whole, full, complete Church. He is writing to all the churches. These seven individual churches represent all the churches at the time and throughout time. The struggles these seven churches have, represent the struggles that many churches throughout time and location have struggled with and are struggling with. The letters were written to these particular churches for their specific help, encouragement and warning. But the letters were intended also for all churches throughout time that make up the Church. 

Seven represents FULLNESS, WHOLENESS, COMPLETENESS. 

Another example would be “the Lamb that was slain and yet standing”—a reference to the resurrected Christ—who has seven horns. The horns represent power and strength. When we understand the number seven, the way the first century listeners understood the number, we will see what they saw when they heard the book being read. 

Hopefully this makes sense to you. That’s our first lesson in helping us understand the imagery that is coming. I look forward to being with you tomorrow as we focus on the person of Jesus Christ revealed in verses fourteen through twenty. 

 

It's Not All "Yes and Amen"

I hope that you are engaging with the book “Make Us One” on our 31-day prayer journey. If you don’t have a copy I have added a link to where you can get one at the end of this blog post.

Since today’s entry didn’t have space to journal (day 13), I’ll journal here:

I have found the written prayers to be so timely for what we are experiencing in our current day events. For example, this is an excerpt from Day 10:

“And with all the saints and angels, we eagerly await your return. But today I groan. The earth is in turmoil. Our cities burn. Rage fills the streets. A plague harasses us. Self-doubt, self-loathing, violence, and the erosion of truth are unraveling our nation. My brothers and sisters of color are grieved and abused, You ‘looked for justice m, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, an outcry!’ (ESV). So, your love complex me to join the groans of creation, the groaning of your Spirit and the groaning of my brothers and sisters. I week with those who week. Longingly, patiently, we look forward to the day when you will break the curse over the universe, free it from its bondage to death and violence and injustice and set all things right.”

It doesn’t get much more current and to the point than that. And yet this was written in the second half of 2020 referencing what has been taking place in our nation way before the Capitol Hill riot. 

By and large I have embraced everything that has been written in this book and I have been challenged to “check” my heart and attitudes as I seek God’s guidance. However, on the 11th there was an excerpt that caused me pause. I have to keep in mind that those who have written the prayer entries are coming from very diverse backgrounds denominationally with some theological nuances that could be slightly different than my own. Day 11’s entry differed enough from what I believe that it bares mentioning. The author wrote (prayed):

“We are trusting you now, agreeing with other brothers and sisters in Christ of all ethnic backgrounds, according to your promise, that America will be delivered from this awful atmosphere of hateful division that is tearing our country apart. We cry out to you for your mercy and protection over our government and society. Help us to see we are all American, not Republicans or Democrats or Independents, but one nation under God regardless of our skin color or sub-culture.” 

When the author prayed “according to your promise,” I had a “check" in my spirit.  If the author means that we have a promise that America will be delivered from what is taking place in today’s current events, if and when we all agree together in prayer (2 Chronicles 7:14), then I think he is using this Scripture incorrectly. You may have heard me say it before, “2nd Chronicles 7:14 was a promise given to the nation of Israel, not to every nation that came after.” If it were meant for every nation, what do we say to the nations who have ceased to exist or who have spiraled into secularism with very little witness left in them (many European countries)? Did they not have enough people praying for God to change His plan? 

I agree with the author, in that I want there to be a national revival. I want Americans to experience salvation. But I don’t agree that all of us being “Americans… one nation under God” is relevant. We need to be very careful in placing so much emphasis on “our government and society” as Americans that we miss out on praying for God’s “kingdom come. His will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” 

Again, my hope is that you are engaging with others in the KBC community who are committed to reading this book through the month of January. As a staff, as leaders, with my family and with my friends we are sharing our take-aways and even some of our journal entries as we get together. Not everything needs (or should be) “yes and amen” in those conversations. We should discuss and share our thoughts. In some cases our thoughts may be corrected by those with whom we are dialoguing so that we can grow. In other cases God may use us to grow someone else as He guides our hearts through the journey. And yes, there will be a lot of agreeing with what is written and praising God for what we are receiving. If this is what happens, I am confident that community is taking place.

Have a great week and don’t forget to connect to the KBC ohana.

https://prayershop.org/make-us-one-a-31-day-prayer-journey-toward-racial-healing/

 

His Will Be Done

I am so saddened by the events that unfolded in our nation’s capital today. If you know me well, you know that I’m not someone who is overly concerned whether a person leans right or left or towards the blue or the red. I am concerned that we the Church—those who follow Jesus—practice the principles of God’s Kingdom. In the midst of these difficult times, it is important that we remember our identity as Christ-followers. And as Christ-followers we are taught in James chapter 3 verse 18:

Those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

In other words, as Christ-followers we are to be proponents of peace so that His wisdom is able to bear fruit. This is not easy when our flesh, the media, and the world is clamoring for a different posture. But at the end of the day, we know that our God is in control and he will be the one to ultimately overcome. 

Please join me in prayer today that the Church plants seeds of peace in these days of transition. 

Make Us One

“That they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.” John 17:21

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The congregation of Kapahulu Bible Church (KBC) has been invited to take part in a 31-day prayer journey following the outline of Niko Peele and Jonathan Graf in their book “Make Us One.” KBC leadership’s desire is that we would experience the oneness that Jesus prayed for in John chapter 17. The next several blog entries will be reflections on our January 2021 journey. 

The first two days of “Make Us One” laid a good foundation of a value we all should share as followers of Christ—HUMILITY. There is no advancement in spiritual maturity without this personal attribute. This characteristic is what enables God to take away the imperfections found in our being—which go against who He is and who He has made known in His Son. 

As I took the foundation of HUMILITY into Day 3’s entry—Search Me, Help Me, Teach Me—I was challenged by the call to oneness of Sandra Higley’s statement, “When one of us offends, all are guilty; when one of us is hurt, all of us hurt. Because we have believed in your Son’s work on the cross, we are your children—brothers and sisters and joint-heirs with Christ, our brother.” The rest of her entry is about BEING like the Father and the Son. 

As I meditated on the implications of being like the Father, I thought about what must have been His pain as His only Son went to the cross. The LOVE we have for our brothers and sisters should evoke a similar hurt at their injury. As I considered the lengths that the sinless Son of God went to so that we could be forgiven, I was reminded of the expectation for us to grow to a spiritual maturity level just as Jesus is mature (Eph. 4:13).

The thoughts of days 1–3 helped me face the challenge of today’s entry—Move Me Closer. As Dexter Sullivan outlined the suggested prayers of confessions, I struggled with the temptation that I know is there for some: 

“This is not describing me; I personally don’t need to pray these confessions.” 

But we need to remember, loving like the Father should cause us pain when our brothers and sisters experience prejudice. We can’t forget that owning the sins of others is an appropriate response of a Christ-follower whose measure of maturity is like Jesus. Whether or not a Christ-follower “feels" they are guilty of the sins of prejudice, the prayers of confession in this entry should be prayed in genuine humility in order for the Church to experience the oneness Jesus was describing in John 17. 

God’s love for humanity prompted His involvement in our life’s greatest dilemma. Jesus’s innocence did not stop Him from owning our sin so that we could be free. Our love for those who have experienced and faced prejudice should propel us to stand with them in their persecution and pray prayers of confession as we represent those who have acted so ungodly.

Can there be ONENESS any other way?