Monday, November 7, 2016

"To him who overcomes..." (Revelation 19-20)

SALVATION AT LAST (Rev 19-20)
Dr. Paul Manuel—2015

There is a fascinating book entitled, The Way Things Work, by David Macaulay (1988) that demystifies science and technology for children and adults, explaining many things, from the World Wide Web to windmills. Here is a submission for some future edition of the book.
Jack, a Naval Officer, came home from a three-month submarine deployment and told his parents that one of the ways sailors kept up morale was to assemble wooden car kits and run derby races. "What do you do for a ramp?" his father asked. "We don't need one," Jack replied. "We just put the cars on the floor...and tilt the sub."
Some problems require creative solutions. Here, tilting the sub is an unorthodox, albeit effective, way to solve the problem. Likewise, God's sending His son Jesus was an unorthodox way to solve the problem of man's sin, but it too was effective and, in the end, will achieve for man, Salvation at Last.

When John records his revelation, sixty years have passed since Jesus' death and resurrection. Most of the original disciples have died. They have done their work well, however, for the church has spread throughout much of the Roman Empire. Nevertheless, all is not well with these congregations, especially several prominent ones in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). In addition to persecution from Rome, they face other pressures, both internal and external, which John describes in chapters 2-3:
  • Conflicting claims of false apostles (Rev 2:2),
  • Lingering connections to paganism (Rev 2:14),
  • Disturbing tolerance for immorality (Rev 2:20).
The most endemic of these problems, though, is spiritual complacency (Rev 2:4; 3:1, 15). Many people have simply lost their enthusiasm for God. They are wondering what difference it makes. Jesus has not returned to rescue them from their difficulties, so it does not matter what they do.

 John, perhaps the last living apostle, is in exile on the island of Patmos (Rev 1:9). (Things are not going well for him either.) While there, he has a revelation, a vision of the Lord Jesus, who gives him a message for each of these seven churches and for us. The common theme throughout is a call to persevere and the promise of reward to these who do not grow lax in their devotion to God but who endure to the end. Each of these promises begins with a similar introductory phrase: "To him who overcomes..." (Rev 2:7b, 17b, 26; 3:12; cf. 2:11 b; 3:5, 12).

Picture salvation as God's catching us after we have fallen off a cliff. Some are content just to get their hands on the ledge again, and there they dangle. They are saved, but that is it. The word Jesus uses, what the NIV translates "overcome", signifies more than just holding on. It implies pulling ourselves back up so that we are standing on the ledge not hanging from it. Overcoming means gaining ground in our spiritual life not merely holding our ground.

The incentives Jesus uses, the promises he makes, all pertain to the future.1 For example, Jesus says, "To him who overcomes..."
Rev 2:7b ...I will give the right to eat from the tree of life....
Rev 2:26 ...I will give authority over the nations.
Rev 3:21 ...I will give the right to sit with me on my throne....
How is God going to arrange this so Jesus can fulfill these promises, especially given the advances that evil seems to be making? The rest of this revelation is the answer to that question: How is God going to do it? How will He bring us to Salvation at Last?

The Book of Revelation is a series of interlocking visions, with each one leading into or overlapping the next. They use symbols, a feature that has caused great consternation and great speculation. The most important symbols, however, John identifies so his readers always have their bearings. Therefore, we may not understand every detail, but we can know the main characters and can follow the general course of events.

After the messages to the churches, John sees "a Lamb," which he discovers is also "the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David" (Rev 5:5), a series of messianic allusions that point to Jesus.2 The Lamb opens a scroll that unleashes a series of divine judgments on the earth. History is winding down, and God is turning up the heat on man.

A while later, John sees a great dragon, which he identifies as "that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan" (Rev 12:9). He, too, is feeling the pressure and, realizing "that his time is short" (Rev 12:12), redoubles his efforts to disrupt God's plan by attacking God's people, Israel.3

Much of Satan's nefarious work he does through human agents, and John sees two figures—two beasts. The first had an apparently fatal wound, which Satan healed, giving the impression that the beast rose from the dead. Satan then gave him power and authority so that...
Rev 13:4 Men worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?"
The similarity of this first beast to Jesus led to his being called the antichrist,4 although in this book he is simply "the beast." The second beast John sees campaigns on behalf of the antichrist, forcing people to serve him and performing great miracles to prove his power (Rev 13:14). The similarity of this second figure to the prophet Elijah leads John to call him "the false prophet" (Rev 16:13).5 Through coercion and deception, this unholy trinity—the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet—bring many to their side and amass a military coalition at Armageddon (Rev 16:16).6 Initially arrayed against Jerusalem, these forces will soon have to face a new foe: "They will make war against the Lamb" (Rev 17:14a).7 He is coming, and there is no way to stop him. Moreover...

I. The rescue of believers will mark Jesus' advent.

Please turn to chapter 19, where John describes how...
A. The descent of their messiah will be incontrovertible (Rev 19:11-16).
Rev 19:11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns.... 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him.... 15 Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
John does not say this is Jesus, but there can be no doubt, given the imagery he uses: faithful and true, eyes like blazing fire, a sharp sword coming from his mouth, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. All these phrases match John's description of the savior elsewhere.8 It is also clear that this warrior is the long-expected messiah whose advent the prophets foretold. The justice of his judgment, the blood-covered garment, ruling with an iron scepter, and trampling the winepress of God's wrath all refer to the one who will bring final deliverance to God's people.9

Nevertheless, this is not the picture of Jesus we have from his first advent. Isaiah said of him,
Isa 42:2 He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. 3 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
Our Lord himself said, "I am gentle and humble in heart" (Matt 11:29). So what is going on? This cannot be the same person, can it? Did he take a "mean pill"? Is this multiple personality, or is Jesus on steroids?

This is the same person; Jesus has not changed.10 What is different is the purpose of his coming. At his first advent, he came to die, and said as much.11
Mark 10:45 ...the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Satan tried to keep him from reaching that goal,12 but Jesus would not be deterred. At his second advent, however, Jesus comes to reign, as he said...
Matt 25:31 When the Son of Man comes in his glory...he will sit on his throne [and] 32a All the nations will be gathered before him....
Satan will again try to keep him from reaching that goal, this time by force, but Jesus will not be denied. It is the same Jesus, albeit with a different goal, but both appearances are for the rescue of believers, and here they will witness the descent of their messiah. Moreover, this second time, he will come with a different agenda, and...
B. The destruction of their enemies will be inescapable (Rev 19:17-20:3).
Rev 19:19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. 20 But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 21 The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse.
20:1 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.
The two forces meet, and a great battle ensues that lasts for days. The armies are so evenly matched that it is difficult to predict which side will win. At times, one force has the upper hand; then the tide turns in favor of the other. Back and forth it goes, with heavy casualties in both camps. Will good or evil prevail in the end? The tension, the uncertainty, is almost unbearable. Right? Wrong!

There is no description of the battle. In fact, there is no indication these two forces even engage each other in combat. The dragon's earthly coalition is ready to fight, but that engagement does not end well for the opposition.
Rev 19:20a ...the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet.... 21 The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse.... 20:1 ...an angel.... 2 ...seized the dragon...and.... 3 ...threw him into the Abyss....
For centuries, Satan has led a rebellion against God. It has gone on for so long that we tend to view Satan as God's counterpart, His nemesis, His evil twin, equal in power but corrupt in character. Indeed, that is what Satan would have us believe. Here, at last, we see there may have been conflict, but there was never any contest. God has simply been waiting for the right moment to crush the opposition, which He will do effortlessly, and believers will witness the destruction of their enemies.13

In the next chapter, we see the next step in God's plan....

II. The reign of believers will follow Jesus' victory.

and...
A. The description of their rule will be compelling (Rev 20:4-6).
Rev 20:4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
John gives special mention here to the martyrs of the Great Tribulation (Rev 6:9, 11), those who, in the "struggle against sin.., resisted to the point of shedding [their] blood" (Heb 12:4). Nevertheless, what they receive applies to all believers. You may recall one of Paul's "trustworthy saying" to Timothy.
2 Tim 2:11b If we died with him, we will also live with him; 12a if we endure, we will also reign with him.
All those who died "in Christ," who have been with Christ in heaven, God will resurrect when Jesus comes again,14 and John says "they will reign on the earth" (Rev 5:10b).15

Jesus' return also marks the time "all Israel will be saved" (Rom 11:26), for the people will see their messiah and will recognize him as "the one they have pierced" (Zech 12:10; cf. Rev 1:7). It is then he will "restore the kingdom to Israel" (Acts 1:6) and establish his throne in Jerusalem.

So, who will they rule if Jesus kills off the opposition? The judgments God executes earlier in the book will significantly deplete the world's population, and all those who assemble to fight against the Lamb will perish, but there will still be many who survive, who live through that period to experience the messiah's long and peaceful administration. They are apparently the ones believers will govern.16

John says very little about this period, but he gives the description of their rule by listing four of its features in Rev 20:6. Those whom God raises will experience a new life marked by...
1. Its quality:
  • They will be "blessed and holy," having reached the perfection of their faith.
2. Its liberty:
  • They will be free from the "second death," the final separation of man from God that others face.
3. Its ministry:
  • They will serve as "priests of God," helping the nations draw near to Him.
4. Its longevity:
  • They will retain their position "for a thousand years," the full duration of Jesus' administration.
Some unbelievers who escape the destruction that precedes the kingdom age will become believers, and some of those born during the kingdom age will probably also become believers. Others, despite their living under the messiah's benevolent rule, will acknowledge his authority only grudgingly and will look for a chance to assert their independence, an opportunity they will eventually have. At that point, though, God's people will see how...
B. The defeat of their enemy will be complete (Rev 20:7-10).
Rev 20:7 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth...to gather them for battle.... 9 They...surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Satan gets one last opportunity to run amok, assembling whatever malcontents he can to launch a final assault on God's people. This time, what rebellious inclinations exist among the nations will have arisen apart from Satan's influence, because he will have been out of commission during the period before that last attempt to assemble a coalition against God. They are simply awaiting a leader, a role the devil is happy to fulfill.17 Again, he amasses a great army to attack Jerusalem, and again God defeats them without effort—conflict but no contest.18 Now, God banishes Satan to his final exile, "the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matt 25:41). At last, believers will see the final defeat of their enemy.

What follows in the rest of chapter 20 is the last judgment, when all who did not serve God, who declined His offer of clemency, will finally have their day in court.19 They chose their destiny in life; now they must face the ultimate consequence of that decision: the second death, eternal separation from God.

Believers also chose their destiny in life, and they will enjoy it to an even greater degree than their experience in the Messianic Kingdom, for God will create a new heaven, a new earth, and a new Jerusalem (with streets of gold) as their home.20 You can read about that in chapters 21-22.21

What should be our response to what God has in store for us? Several years ago, I knew a man who was a new Christian, and he was excited about the Lord. He studied his Bible each day, prayed, and told people about Jesus at every opportunity. He also gathered food stuffs and distributed them to poor families. He asked me why other Christians were not as excited about God as he was. I tried to assure him that they are but that their enthusiasm had grown more seasoned with age.

At the time, he was like a pile of barbecue charcoal you had just drenched in lighter fluid and thrown a match on. What happens? It bursts into flames, high flames. If the fire is successful igniting the coals, they will continue to burn long after the lighter fluid is gone and the flames have died down. If the fire does not ignite the coals, it will simply go out, and you will have to start over. Although you could cook over flaming coals, it is better to do it over burning coals. So it is in the Christian life. Our goal is to be like the burning coals.

What I did not have the heart to tell my friend was that many who claim to be Christians flame but never burn. When the initial excitement of coming to God fades, they have developed nothing substantial to take its place. Like many of those in the early churches of Asia Minor, they settle into spiritual complacency—hanging from the ledge instead of standing on it. ...Which one are you? How would you characterize your walk with God, as burning coals, or have you flamed out? Are you standing on solid ground or simply hanging on the edge for dear life? As Jesus said more than once...22
Matt 10:22b [= 24:13] ...he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
In these chapters of Revelation, we see the two aspects of our salvation as God completes the process He began at Calvary. The first aspect of our salvation is...
  • The rescue of believers
God will save us from what is in our worst interest. Jesus' return means the destruction of evil forces intent on our harm. He will not only take us out of their reach but will remove their threat to us entirely.
The second aspect of our salvation is...
  • The reign of believers
God will not only save us from what is in our worst interest, He will save us for what is in our best interest. Jesus' return signals our resurrection, when God will give each of us a new, glorified body. It also marks our official adoption as God's children, when we will receive the inheritance He prepared for us "since the creation of the world" (Matt 25:34), the kingdom.
All this awaits those who overcome. Is it worth the effort? Is it worth the wait? You bet, because it is salvation at last.

For a pdf including Bibliography and Endnotes see here.

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Relevant and civil comments are welcome. Whether there will be any response depends on whether Dr. Manuel notices them and has the time and inclination to respond or, if not, whether I feel competent to do so.
Jim Skaggs