Spies and Prostitute - Joshua 2

The operation is underway. The operatives - two spies from the Israelites' camp. This will give them information needed to conquer the land.



One may think... "Wait a minute. Doesn't this move sound familiar? Four decades ago in Numbers 13, Moses sent 12 spies to Canaan, and only (a much-younger) Joshua & Caleb came back with a favourable Minority Report?" And we all know that the Israelites believed the majority report of the 10 unbelieving spies, and alas, everyone had to wander the desert till the entire generation died. In a span of 40 years.

We must understand, that in Numbers 13, the Israelites' motivation for the spying trip was based on their lack of belief. Compare it with Deut 1:21-23. Acting on unbelief yielded disastrous results.



This time is different. In Joshua 2, the spies were sent out as part of a military strategy which was common in its day. We see a totally different attitude here. And the difference was belief. Faith in God does not just wait for the promise to be plopped on one's lap. Man's responsibility and God's sovereignty work in tandem to achieve God's purposes.



Chapter 2

Observations



V2 - v7 - the spies on assignment lodged at the house of Rahab, a prostitute. It was probably the epicenter of news and happenings, where they could gather much "from the ground". However, their presence did not go unnoticed. The King of Jericho sniffed them out, and ordered Rahab to cough them out. Rahab, in a surprising move, not only protected the enemy spies, but helped them escape and sent her King's men on a wild goose chase in the opposite direction! One may wonder what had possessed her to do that. After all, isn't she a harlot... with a dubious moral persuasion?



v8 explains it. Rahab said, "I know the the LORD...." Rahab referred to Yahweh, which indicated that she had come to faith in the living God (v 11). God had graciously opened the heart of a pagan prostitute to accept Him as Lord. And besides, Rahab and all of the people in her land are melting in fear because they heard of what Yahweh had done in the desert 40 years ago - parting the Red Sea, providing manna, pillar of fire by night and cloud by day, etc etc!





When God deals with believers, our lives are on display to an unbelieving world; so that they too can see the workings of the living God and come to faith in Him.



Lest we wonder why God would choose to include a prostitute in such an important role in history, let's not forget that we are all harlots - according to Hosea. We just sell ourselves to different masters.




Then it gets better. Rahab lies in order to save the spies in V4. So now, is lying an acceptable course of action to fulfill God's plan? For a greater good? To prevent a greater evil?




The Bible clearly condemns lying (Ex 20:16, Jer 9:4-9, Zech 8:16, Eph 4:25). This is told by God Himself, who cannot lie (Num 23:19). But Rahab had been praised for her actions (Josh 6:22-25, Heb 11:31, James 2:25).
And her actions made her an ancestor to the Lord Jesus (Matt 1:5)



Either her lie was:

1. not a sin
2. a sin that was excusable
3. a sin that was not excusable.



#1 will say that sometimes, "the loving thing" is all that matters, ie, a "little lie" told in the name of love is no sin. In fact, it is the right thing to do.




#2 says that the lie is excusable because of a greater value - the lives of the spies were at stake. Those who hold this view believes that some sins are worse than others, and sometimes a person has to choose among them. In Rahab's case, the necessity of saving the lives of the spies has a higher value than truth.




#3 says... a lie is a lie. Rahab's action was wrong. Rahab has sinned no matter how noble her intentions were. However, her sin is understandable because she lacked knowledge of Yahweh. She did wrong but she did not know any better.






Thoughts



We must be careful to make a distinction between Rahab's faith and the way she expressed it. The Bible praises Rahab for her faith, not because of her lying. Her actions would have been more noble had she protected the spies in some other fashion, but as it was, she did the best she could. She believed in God and strove to honour Him and His people. That is what draws her praise. (Nelson's NKJV)



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A New Beginning - Joshua 1

What is it about?

People have problems with the book of Joshua. Can't blame them, though. With accounts like shouting till the walls of Jericho fell; the sun standing still for almost one day; the river Jordan halted during overflow season... you would think these things should just be kept in their 'proper' places - in myths and fables.


Thus, some have developed a tendency to treat the Bible as a book of good morals, you know, the contents may not necessarily be all true... but useful as a book to base good practices on. Kinda like Aesop's fables. The dog with the bone was metaphorically reflecting mankind's greed and insatiable hunger for what is perceived to be greener on the other side of the pasture.


But we are not going to get away so easily. 2 Tim 3:16 says that all Scripture is God-breathed and useful for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness...." Which means, if you are going to accept the Bible as true, then it is all true. Likewise the opposite.



No compartmentalising, friends. Anyways, back to Joshua.



It has been a while. Forty years or so, since Moses had led Israel out of Egypt. Even longer then, had God's promises been made to Abraham (Gen 12). Since then, Israel's family had grown from a pre-Egypt band of 70-odd people, to a couple of million in post-Egypt; had a few hiccups and spent a long 400-year hiatus in slavery. But God's plan and promises are still moving along.



We had journeyed with the Israelites in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy - the Pentateuch or first five books of the Bible (the Jewish holy book, Torah bears similarity). And now, in Joshua, Israel is finally perched on the verge of the fulfillment of God's promise made so very long ago. Many generations had lived and died since then. But that has not stopped God's promise from fulfillment. God sees in millennias, whereas humans see in years. We need to tweak our perspective to God's. That is why the heros of faith in Hebrews 11 are lauded. Their belief outlived them.



You would be forgiven for thinking that Joshua is the 6th book of the Pentateuch. It follows in immediate succession the (mis)adventures of Israel from the last event in Deuteronomy. This is where God called Joshua to lead and invade in the conquest of possessing the enemy's land. But more than that, this has issues that touch our lives and faith today.

Joshua marks new beginnings for God's people, and many believers today need a new beginning.

Observations

Chapter 1



The book begins by God informing Joshua, Moses' aide, that the latter is dead. The past is gone. Along with that, came God's charge to Joshua as the new leader. V2 - 5 God reassures Joshua of his promises. The thing to note however, is that God said, "as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you." This must have meant a lot to Joshua, who had personally witnessed the LORD's dealings directly with Moses, and was wowed and awed. God graciously encouraged His servant and reminded him of obedience. The same thing is still true today - true success in life cannot occur apart from knowing and doing the will of God.





The words "be strong and of good courage" appear four times in this chapter. Walking by faith and not by sight needs the potent combo of strength and courage. After all that's been said and done... there is only one way to go - obedience and trust in God, even in the face of impossibility.



Thoughts

I wonder if we need a new beginning today, in our lives, careers, finances, relationships? If so, the way is still the same - via obedience, faith and trust in the Lord through Jesus Christ, our Joshua.



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Unforgettable Concert

Grace, myself, Crystal and Ivy - at the concert

So there I was, waiting outside the KLCC (Convention Centre) entrance, straining my eyes to make sure I don't miss the royal car when it arrives. Never mind that it was raining cats and dogs, and the sheets of rain pelting at the headlights made it impossible to read the car number plates.

I was all dolled up and on my toes. Ready to spring into action when the Tengku Puteri (Princess) and her husband step out of their car.

My job for the evening was to escort their majesties for the evening at the royal charity concert, which was held alongside the birthday of the Sultan of Selangor.

Other than making sure the Tengku Puteri (Sultan's sister), Tengku Zatasha (Sultan's daughter) AND their spouses were seated correctly according to protocol, I had to memorise their routes inside the building, and the timing at which they would arrive. On top of that, they had separate seating arrangements in the VIP holding room, banquet halls and concert hall. *sweat* However, trying to memorise their names takes the cake. I don't think I had to cram in so much info in such limited time since studying law in college.

That was the ugh part.

The yay part was that the Princess and her husband (who happens to be the younger brother of the previous Agung -King)were among the friendliest and chattiest people I have met. They initiated conversation about the weather, concert crowds and of course.... Malaysian traffic!

Nice people.

So, as I was waiting on them, I had a thought.

It takes so much planning, detail and attention just to get ready to greet the royal family of a state in Malaysia. And truly so, we should accord them the highest honour as rulers of the land. What then, should our attitude be when we get ready to meet the King of kings?

My friend says "God doesn't have protocols for us." While that is true, I think we have generally lost the sense of awe, reverence and anticipation. We had - not that it is entirely bad - become too familiar with the God of the Universe.

Another friend commented that I wear crocs to church (being too casual). What he did not realise was, I would have worn crocs to the royal concert too, if not for the vehement protests of those around me.

What now? Do we dress up for church?

I do not have a fixed conclusion on this matter. This is part of a continuing search to know the character of God, of which I feel, where relationship matters most. In the words of St Augustine... "Love God and do as you please."



All this happened at the "Unforgettable" Konsert Amal DiRaja with Sean Ghazi, Estee and Eugene Pok with the KL Festival Symphony Orchestra in Kuala Lumpur, on 15th Nov 2009.

Lazy Discipline

I came back from Chiangmai a wreck. Actually correction: I arrived and departed Chiangmai a wreck.

During my 8 days in the old capital of Thailand, I slept a grand total of 3 nights and stayed up the rest of the nights engaged in er - confrontation of sorts (We'll get into that later). Suffice to say that I was really exhausted when I hit the KL airport last Thursday. So tired I slept 3 days in a row. I did manage to wake up and get to church on Sunday though.

Now I am supposed to get cracking on some stories... and preparation for bible classes this weekend.

I wish (I really do) that I could wake up every morning raring to dig into study books, fired-up to pray and immerse myself in bible truths. Truth is, discipline is so darned hard. I've gotta make myself do it, and sometimes (most times!) I've gotta admit... it adds up to a really lame effort on my part. And it doesn't help when James says those who teach are held to greater accountability. Great motivation, huh?

So it really encourages me to watch my friend. She, in my estimation, is one of the sharper tools in the shed of the Word. She lives simply (the downward-mobile type), takes care of her ageing mom, is all passionate about missions and has no pretense about her. She is like a "sifu"... I would throw her a question and the answer, even though not new, boomerangs back with a profound ring to it. She's also an excellent bible teacher. And 60.

So, in the mornings and evenings when I switch on the pc and stare at the thick books next to it, I am comforted by the fact that my friend has gone through a similar pile, perhaps even higher. And when I realise how she still goes through the rigourous discipline of self-study, yet makes it seem so effortless, I see an art form mastered with the help of the Spirit, cradled by the passage of time.

I am learning.


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Where We Truly Belong... Revelation Lesson 12 (End)

By all accounts, we should not be really surprised at how Revelation would end. It is, after all, a majestic book that promises much hope for the believing child of God. It spells out the final state of affairs, speaks of a guaranteed place in heaven - man's true home, and more importantly, God's design and plan for all things.

Chapters 21 and 22 fits the style of apocalypse literature, and should be read in parts. The beginning of chapter 21 consists of three "trailers" that would end in 21:5. These "trailers" would be fully expanded subsequently till the end of the book.

A more understandable reading plan would look like:

HOLY CITY - Intro in 21:1-2, fully expanded in 21:9-21
GOD WITH MAN - Intro in 21:3-4, fully expanded in 21:22 - 27
ALL THINGS NEW - Intro in 21:4-5, fully expanded in 22:1-5


Observations
Chapter 21

Revelation ends with the beginning of a magnificent new heaven and earth. The descriptions are vivid, sometimes even of a material kind. Streets paved with gold, gates made of pearls, etc. However we must not think John is saying the New Jerusalem would be as material as our earthly cities. John was merely using the language his readers can understand to indicate the utmost value of the New City. He is concerned with spiritual states, and not earthly realities.

Herein lies the crux message of John's prophecies. Only in the light of New Jerusalem, can the earthly splendours of Babylon be seen for what it is - tarty, gaudy seductions of a whore. In a series of vivid metaphors, John gives us important truths about the life to come.

v9-11. The marriage has arrived. The New City descended from above. It owes its existence to the condescension of God and not the efforts of man. It has the glory of God and its brilliance comes from God.

v12-13. Surrounded by a high wall, the City is secure and its gates are never shut (v25). Angels stand as gatekeepers on the 12 gates, which are inscribed the 12 tribes of Israel. Israel's high calling is honoured. There are 3 gates each in the north, south, east and west. Compare this to Israel's encampment in Numbers 2.

v14. Under the wall are 12 foundations bearing the names of the Apostles. This again signifies that Israel of the Old Testament (OT) and the Church are included in God's final scheme of things.

v15. The City is measured and found to be a perfect cube, measuring 12,000 stadia (approx 1,500 miles). The Holy of Holies in the OT's tabernacle is a perfect cube. Now, 12,000 stadia would be the distance from Kuala Lumpur to Macau, Adelaide to Darwin, or Delhi to Yangon. John was trying to relay the magnitude, and not the exact measurements. The size of this city boggles the mind. It can only mean that there is room for all.

v17-21. The heavenly city is built from every kind of precious stone, from the most costly material. Again, these are metaphors for the value of the city. There wasn't enough in the language to describe the true value of the city, therefore John used the highest that readers could relate to.

V22-27. This city does not need a temple, nor does it need light. God Himself is the sanctuary and illumination. The gates of this city do not shut, nor will darkness enter it. Nations and kings will bring homage. Anyone who does what is shameful and deceitful will not enter it. It is important that people speak truth and act truly.

Observations
Chapter 22

River. Tree of life. Fruit. If we look carefully, this picture resembles the garden of Eden. In fact, the last 3 chapters of Revelation somewhat mirrors the first 3 chapters of Genesis. In the final state of things, God will restore everything to what it was in the beginning. Man and women will again enjoy the bountiful provision of Eden in purity.

V6. John closes his visions by reiterating the authenticity of the book. The words, “see I am coming soon!” refers to the imminence of Christ’s return, rather than its immediacy. V8 confirms the book as a prophecy, and it should not be treated as some other kinds of literature. V9 sees John being tempted to worship the angel who delivered the visions but he was sternly stopped. Worship only belongs to God.

V10. The command “not to seal up” means not to keep hidden the words of this book (Revelation). They are meant for publication and are not some secret wisdom of a select few. v 12 – 15 stress the reward Christ will give to the faithful. V16 – Jesus Himself gives credence to this book.

V18, 19. A grave warning is issued. The words of prophecy in this book are not to be tampered with. It is a strong exhortation to heed what is written. There is punishment for those who fiddle and twist these words. V20, 21. Again, Jesus emphasizes on His return soon.

Thoughts

Some take Revelation as the ultimate ending. However, if we look carefully, it is only the beginning of a new life in the New City. We grossly misunderstand the text if we treat the New Jerusalem as a retirement centre where we while our time away doing all things enjoyable. Of course we will have joy – the deep-seated sense of happiness where we find our utmost satisfaction in God. And after all the dramas, climax, twists and turns, this is what it is all about – God bringing man and women back to their real home.

God Surprises... Revelation Lesson 11

Twists.

People love them. A story sells better with a twist. A date is much more exciting when you don't exactly know what to expect. In Revelation, the surprises keep coming.

Just when we think everything is put in order - the power of evil is broken, and the saints are robed and expecting the Bridegroom... John the scribe instead introduces us to a vision of a Warrior.





Observations

Chapter 19

v 11 - 16 states the dominion of the risen Lord. In here the characteristics of Jesus are described. He makes war. His eyes are like fire - nothing escapes Him. On His head are many crowns - He has dominance over all. He has a name known only to Himself - we can never fully understand all about God. But He does reveal Himself in v 13 as the Word of God, and in v 16 as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.



The armies of heaven are behind Him. Christ will subdue nations and He will also execute the judgment of God.


v 17 - 21 Contrasted with the marriage supper of the Lamb, there will be a great supper of God where the antichrist and false prophet are defeated and thrown into the lake of fire, while their followers are "fed to the birds", a common imagery for final disaster. The rest of the followers of the antichrist were killed by the sword that came out from His mouth, meaning the Word destroyed them. The Word is our standard of truth. Truth will destroy evil.







Observations

Chapter 20


We now enter the most controversial part of the book of Revelation. The millennium. Scholars have split hairs over this and drove bitter schisms into the heart of eschatology (study of prophecy).





Strangely, never did the Scriptures mention the word "millennium". The word "thousand years" appear six times, and is only found within this chapter. Elsewhere in the Bible, "thousand years" are found in only 3 other passages - Ps 90:4, Ecc 6:6 and 2 Peter 3:8. In all these texts, "thousand years" were mentioned metaphorically. So we must be careful not to subscribe to any doctrine that is only represented by a minor / obscure portion of the Bible. Always zoom out to the Big Picture (what Revelation is about) and consider the entire counsel of the Bible before coming to any conclusions.


We will not go into detailed descriptions of the different millennial views as there are tonnes of material written about it and information is just a click away. A word of caution though - the 1000 years is a side theme in the book of Revelation, so please do not get mired in the controversy! Suffice to know that Christ will come in victory for the second time, and it will be the greatest event the earth has ever witnessed. Bear in mind that even Old Testament saints could not fully understand the many prophecies about the Messiah and the Jews crucified Him. (If they had understood the prophecies they would not have killed the Messiah).



Likewise, we will never be able to understand the end-times prophecies clearly... probably until after they have been fulfilled. So, relax. God has purposed it that way. Meanwhile, help yourselves to any of the attempts by schools of interpretation (post-millennialism, a-mill or pre-mill)... but you don't have to be absolutely dogmatic about it.



v 4 John saw thrones. He did not say where the thrones are, but it would fit the passage to assume they are in heaven. Out of the 47 times the word "throne" was used, once referred to Satan (2:13) and twice to the beast (13:2, 16:10). Other than that, all the thrones seemed to be located in heaven.



Those seated on the thrones are souls (as contrasted with bodies) that reign with Christ for the period of 1000 years. Compare this with Eph 2:6. If we follow the thread in our study all these while, we will take the 1000 years as symbolic. This is derived from 1000 being 10 x 10 x 10 = the number of completion. The 1000 years is a predestined time which God has set, where Satan is restrained from deceiving the nations. And how is deception nullified? By knowing the truth. So, this predetermined time (referred to here as "1000 years") is when people have access to the truth; as Satan is rendered powerless to deceive. Sometimes it is referred to the "times of the Gentiles" where non-Jews have access to the Gospel of truth. It is the time where deception is present, but not absolute.



v 5. The first resurrection. Some say this implies that there is a second resurrection. However, John does not say that in his text. He simply says there is a first resurrection; and nothing thereafter. Now, the rest of the dead did not come to life again until after the "1000 years". If we take the 1000 years to be symbolic of the Times of the Gentiles, that would indicate that those raised in the resurrection will be priests unto God and Christ (1 Peter 2:9), of which the second death has no power. Meaning they will not die a second time.


Remember that if you are born twice (physical and in spirit), you will die once (physical), but live eternally. If you are born once (only physical), you will die twice (physical and in spirit). Physical death - is self-explanatory. Spiritual death - is separation from God forever.



v7. When the appointed time of restraining Satan is over, he will be let loose for a short while to wage war against the people of God. He will gather a huge army and surround the saints. In a swift moment, they are destroyed by the fire that came down from heaven. Equally quickly, the devil is thrown into the lake of fire where the antichrist and false prophet already are.



v 11. Meanwhile in heaven, the books were opened. With the book of life opened, everyone is judged according to what had been recorded about their deeds. No one can escape. Finally Death and Hell (and its inhabitants) are thrown into the lake of fire. v 15 The text carried a solemn warning: Anyone whose name was not found in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

Conclusion


There are no newfangled subplots and twists in the end of all things, according to Revelation. The end is crystal clear. Jesus is the Bridegroom coming for His church, and He is also the Warrior who fights to rescue her. Both are strong imageries of a God who pays the price of love in order to get back what belonged to Him in the first place. He is also the Just Judge who has the power to decide on the conclusion of the fate of the Universe.



The surprise is - man still rejects Him.


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All Epics Point To This... Revelation Lesson 10

A lot of people waited three years, from 2001 till 2003, to watch the entire Lord of The Rings trilogy. And it wasn't because they did not know how the story would end. Since the Tolkien classic was published in 1954, virtually every self-respecting fantasy freak would have pored through the book a couple times. And by now, almost every home that has a dvd player would have a copy of the movie.



Having said that, everyone loves a good ending. By good, I mean where evil is done away with, and all that is "good and green" as Samwise Gamgee quoted - will remain.



The book of Revelation reads unlike any other high fantasy genre. That is probably because we are not used to it. It is a manuscript from another era. It does however, have an element of universal appeal, the triumph of good over evil. Everyone - formula-loathing moviegoers included - loves a good ending. And in Revelation, it doesn't get any better than that.



Chapters 18 - 19 see a rapid dissipation of the powers of evil. This defeat of evil is described in the fall of Babylon, the fall of the false prophet, the Antichrist and finally, Satan himself.


Observations
Chapter 18


John the writer describes the judgment on Babylon in vivid imagery. To grasp the fullness of John's words, we ought to look at the judgment as the summary of all prophetic oracles on the doom of all unrighteous peoples - through all ages. Although John alluded Babylon to the Roman empire in the 1st century, he was not thinking of the fall of one city or empire when he wrote Revelation. He was referring to the final, ultimate collapse of all civilisations. Final judgment means the end of all who oppose God.



An angel with great authority came down to earth. This angel has a mighty voice and filled the earth with its bright splendour. "Fallen is Babylon the great!" The reason for the city's fall is her sin in corrupting others. Kings and merchants have become wealthy through trading with the city. Self- indulgence and arrogance are rife and celebrated.



Persecuted and hunted, the people of God must have been tempted to come to terms with the values of the city. Then their suffering will cease, and they may even become comfortable and rich. It is therefore important that they see things as they really are - and have nothing to do with unclean things. They are called by God to come out of the city and its systems and values. Compromise with worldliness is fatal. God's people must, while engaging themselves in community, refrain from being worldly-minded.





The call to God's people to 'come out of the city' is supremely important. In fact, John's emphasis in the entire chapter is not to gloat at the downfall of Babylon, but to appeal to Christians who were ready to compromise with the vices of the city. Christians need to see the reality and urgency of the situation, and act accordingly. Christians who do not share in Babylon's sins will not receive her plagues.




Earth's rulers gaze from afar and lament as the city burns. They stand from a distance lest they be caught up in her torment. In one hour: Babylon's judgment is swift and sure. The businessmen join in the wailing. Their reason? No-one buys their cargoes anymore. Financial losses, and not esteem for the city, prompts their distress.







It is widely-believed that the excesses of the Roman empire had led to its decline. Rome was the trading centre of the world in the 1st century, and its extravagance and excesses were unparalleled. Documents have described senseless waste practised in the city. For example, Emperor Vitellius, who reigned less than a year, cranked up a 7 million pounds sterling food bill. (This estimation was calculated based on the rate in 1959). Even so, with inflation factored in, 7 million worth of food consumed in less than a year is still an exhorbitant amount by today's standards. (Barclay)



All the people who had secured their livelihood from the city lamented her fall. These are, in today's terms, the politicians, businessmen and those whose existence depend on the economic wellbeing of the city. Which in a broad sense included everyone who ever had to use the currency.



v 20 - 24. The call to rejoice over the destruction of the city does not make Christians some kind of demented sadists. In fact, it is a call to rejoice over the justice that is done, rather than some vindictive outcry. Justice, not vengeance was to be applauded. Surely then, that must mean that there is suffering here and now. There is persecution and Christians are despised. But there is a victory at the end. And it is sure.


Observations
Chapter 19

The attention now shifts to heaven. A great multitude, including the 24 elders and four living creatures (see previous Lesson 2, Part 1) and all God's servants rejoiced at the overthrow of evil. That was the end of the great harlot Babylon who corrupted the earth with her adulteries. Finally she is judged.



We must bear in mind in this all our constant readiness to be corrupted. "The world likes a complacent, reasonable religion, and so it is always ready to revere some pale Galilean image of Jesus, some meagre anaemic Messiah, and give him moderate, rational homage.... The truth is that we have often committed adultery with alien ideologies, confounded the gospel with the religions of nature, and imbibed the wines of pagan doctrines and false principles and deceitful practices. We have sought to bend the will of God to serve the ends of man, to alter the Gospel and shape the church to conform to the fashion of the times." (Torrance)



v 6 Once again Hallelujah is shouted. Here, we see that the reason for this shout of praise is not so much that Babylon the harlot is defeated, but due to the fact the our Lord God Almighty reigns! A positive note is struck.



v 7, 8 These verses beckon us to the future - the marriage supper of the Lamb. The bride (community of believers) has made herself ready, and was given clothes of fine linen. Here the "righteous robes" were given to the saints, not a result of their own efforts, but purely based on the result of washing 'in the blood of the Lamb' (7:9, 14).



v 9 John was commanded to write. And there is a double emphasis on what he is to write...these are the true words of God. So the message here is important. "Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb". In the troubled days of persecution, the Bible's view is that the persecuted saints were blessed, not their persecutors.


v 10 John prostrated to worship the angel. He must have thought that the angel was divine. John was immediately stopped. There is no place in Christianity for the worship of any but God. The angel links himself to John by referring to himself as a fellow servant of God. Worship is only offered to God alone.


Thoughts



As with all the great epics and stories we hear, the victory is more precious when gained over great adversity. When it is over for the forces of evil, the marriage festivities for the people of God will begin. It will usher in an age of unparalleled peace, bliss, love and harmony of all things. Most important of all, the Lord God Almighty will be close to us in a way we cannot dream imaginable. At that time, like John Piper says... we will behold Him face to face, in a way we do not need a photograph portrait when we are looking at the real person.




Amen. Come Lord Jesus!


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Anaesthesia City, Revelation Lesson 9

I was among the very first few to watch the early screening of Quantum of Solace when it opened late last year at the cinemas. Perk of self-employment aside, I had every intention of cashing in on the leftover adrenalin squeezed from its predecessor Casino Royale, which in my estimation was one of the better Bond movies of late. And of course, Daniel Craig remains the Bond of the hour; second only to Sean Connery.



Solace was anything but. Action packed to the hilt, you'ld hardly have a moment to breathe before the next KAPOW scene hits. Beside me were two guys dunking themselves on Coke and sporadically spurting their next destination in whispers - the SONY handphone dealer to pay homage to the 10,000 product placements in the movie. Hey, visual stimulation works.



I left the theatre quite entertained. Which began to bother me later. One may not think much of it, but it bothers me that I enjoyed the violence and killings in the movie, in the name of harmless entertainment. I can sit there and watch people getting killed and buildings ripped apart while enjoying my drink. Come to think of it, that puts me in the same league as Pol Pot or Hitler. Not in degrees, but in essence.






I am being desensitized.





Revelation Chapter 17 talks about the nature of Babylon, metaphor used to denote Rome at the time of writing; and in terms of prophecy - any other city that exalts itself against Christ. The "Babylons" of our times have set up systems and values which go contrary to those of Christ and His followers. Different Babylons have sprung up in different ages to oppose true disciples of Christ.


Observation
Chapter 17


We are introduced to the whore. She is seated on many waters. In v 15, the waters are explained to be nations of the world. This whore has a grip and influence on many nations of the world. The kings or authorities of the earth are said to have fused themselves with this evil and have been intoxicated by it. This prostitute is also seated on a beast with seven heads and 10 horns (this is the Beast #1 from 13:1 - the Antichrist). Details on Antichrists had been explained in Lesson 5 posted earlier. This whore is named for us. She is Babylon. It is clear that she is clothed in great earthly splendour, and is exceedingly evil, vehemently opposing the people of God. She is to be contrasted with the woman in Chapter 12 and the bride in Chapters 21 & 22.



The harlot's forehead was written a name, a mystery. Mystery will indicate that the meaning of the harlot's name is not open and obvious to all. It is subject to revelation, and the angel proceeds to reveal it in v 7. The significance of the name is made known to John, and John to believers. But, the worldly would not know it at all. Babylon is not only a prostitute, but she is the mother of whores and abominations; meaning she spawns evils like her own. In v 4, all kinds of abominations are ascribed to this city.



The picture of sexual looseness in the Old Testament is used in more ways than one. The people of God are seen as God's bride, hence unfaithfulness is likened to adultery (Jer 3:9, Ezk 16:9). Unfaithfulness was also seen as habitual and mercenary, an intentional sinning against love, as in Hos 2:5, Isa 1:21.




17: 8 reads like a riddle - "the beast who was, and is not, and is about to....". This is a parody of Christ by the Antichrist, since Christ is attributed as "who was and is and is to come...". Here, we see the Antichrist counterfeiting the attributes of God, and leading the world astray with his own brand of miracles. This includes being healed from a mortal wound (13:3, 12, 14). Spectators will be impressed by the survivability of evil. The evil in mankind may seem to disappear, but it always returns again. When Revelation was written, Nero the evil one was gone. He died. But his successor Domitian appears to be a second Nero. And the evil against Christians continued. Evil survives. Until such a time as God permits.



V 9 Seven mountains refer to Rome, an empire widely-believed to have had its roots in the seven hills on the Tiber river. What follows is where it gets complicated. One interpretation believes the seven kings represent the total number of Roman caesars (rulers). Another point of view believes the the kings represent different empires. Either view is possible. But for our sakes, it is probably better to take the first view. V 10 says five kings had passed away, which puts the scribe John in the time of the sixth king. The seventh king is connected to the eighth, which is linked as the beast or Antichrist ( v 11). John is telling us the beast, the basic source of all evil, finds itself especially incarnated in the eighth king or empire. But John is not concerned with the beast's career nor his powers or activities. John's emphasis here is the fact that the beast goes to destruction. So, all evil will ultimately perish.



V 12 introduces more players into the mix. There is an additional 10 kings who will join the fray for a short moment. Again, the number 10 may be symbolic to represent a total, or entirety. These kings will receive authority for one hour - a short / unimportant time. They are willing collaborators of the beast, apart from whom they do not have authority.



It is interesting in V 16, the coalition of evil breaks up. The empire of evil seems to have turned against each other. There will be hatred between the whore, the kings and the beast. The whore will be left naked and desolate, preyed upon and consumed by her former cohorts.



The reason for this is explained in V 17. God is in sovereign control, even when evil is at its ultimate. God causes the breakup in evil, and their doom is sure. The beast may defeat its own supporters, but it will never defeat God.




Back to Babylon. In John's time, Babylon meant Rome. But in the end-time, it represents man in organised community, apart from God. Outlined here are some of its characteristics.

Marks of Babylon

1. Leaving God out of the picture (Gen 10:10)

2. Sensuality. In today's world, our spheres of society are all affected by sensuality (17:2,4; 18:3,9).

3. Injustice (Social 18:13)


4. Violence

5. The worship of products (Consumerism)

6. Deception / Counterfeit

7. Idolatory

And of course, the desensitization of the individual to the effects of the above is a quinessential step to assimilation to the values of the city represented by Babylon.




Question


What does this mean to a bunch of desensitized, media-weary generation?








Thoughts



So what now? Run off to a monastery to escape the evil in the world? Somehow I don't think asceticism is the answer. Nor is flailing arms in futility and despair. The original readers of Revelation were never told to disengage from culture (although they were told to leave the sins of the city in 18:4). What they were encouraged to do was to stay away from sin, persevere faithfully and patiently endure the circumstances they found themselves in.

The reason is clear. The christian's hope is pinned on a Liberator who can vanquish evil and rescue him. In the following chapters, we find that God not only saved His people, but consummated the relationship in a way not fully imaginable nor comprehend-able.


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Victory of God, Revelation Lesson 8

"Brutal battles were fought by our forefathers so that we do not need to go through it ourselves," a friend remarked casually over ice-cream sometime ago. This astute observation was made in response to our discussion over what the world today thought of wars and violence.





Given that this friend is considerably younger, I shouldn't be surprised that our sentiments about life and hardship ran somewhat discordant. My parents lived through World War Two and horror stories of the much-feared Japanese occupation were a staple during dinnertime. My friend, almost a decade younger, grew up in the relatively easy boom of the 90s. In that way, he was considerably removed from the ugly memories of atrocities that up to two generations ago, kept everyday folks frozen in terror.

Time helps us forget.


And if it can water down such deep sentiments in just two generations, think of how far removed we are from the original readers of Revelation, the first-century Jews - 2000 years apart from us.

Here in this chapter, we will try to get into the shoes (and minds) of the original readers of Revelation. And when we understand what the text meant to them, we can appreciate it for what it would mean to us, too.


Observations
Chapter 15


Another set of visions are opened with this prelude. The setting is in heaven and the seven angels are about to pour out the final judgement of God. A victory song was sung by the overcomers. In the early church, the day of a person's martyrdom was called the day of his victory. The real victory was not to live for safety, to evade trouble, or to cautiously or prudently preserve life. The real victory is to face the worst that evil can do, and if need be, to be faithful unto death (Barclay).

And the seven angels move out, each carrying a bowl. These bowls of judgements come directly from God's presence and have the full sanction of God. The bowls also refer to the prayer of the saints (8:5). The prayers of God's people even though insignificant, are important! They have a part in bringing about the final state of affairs.



The power and glory of God was seen in the thick smoke surrounding the temple. This is final. There is no more intercession possible.


Chapter 16



The swift, unretractable judgements of God are poured out full wrath. In case we are wondering, God's punishment fits the crime. Whereas in the cycle of trumpets only a-third (a significant number) of nature is destroyed, in the cycle of bowls, the extent of the damage is complete and final. We find that although Bowls #1- #4 deal with the destruction of nature, Bowls #5 - #7 are "directly political". They are aimed at the destruction of the operations of the powers of evil.


Meanwhile, the powers of evil assemble. These are kings and world leaders whom are gathered to make battle against God. Then, verse 15 in a parenthesis refers to Jesus speaking as first-person "See, I am coming like a thief!..." This implies that there are believers who will be caught unprepared. They will be ashamed at a critical time in history. Compare this with the parable of the 10 virgins in Matt 25.






Then, of course we arrive at the oft-quoted location in last-days theory - Harmageddon. Har means mountain in Greek, and Megiddo is the name of a city in Manasseh. In this area, God overthrew the Canaanite kings by miraculously aiding Deborah and Barak in the account in Judges 4. Just the mention of the famous battleground or Armageddon to a Jew would suggest a horrific slaughter. If we follow a consistent thread in our studies, the location Armageddon is symbolic for a hopeless situation with a great appearance of the gathering of evil... where God will overturn the situation and win the victory!

Thoughts


I am grateful I live in an era of relative peace. I don't mind being subjected to horror war stories during mealtimes, but honestly, don't get me involved in the ugly, violent battles that define history, people and places.


The bible says however, that christians are already at war. This is a spiritual war and each was recruited the day they became believers in Christ. And God's promises still stand. At the point of impossibility, He will overthrow evil with a resounding victory and claim His own.




Like the original readers of Revelation, we are confronted with the realisation that there is a decisive moment in history.

And we decide which side are we on.

Wrath or Mercy? Pick One... Revelation Lesson 7

"Heaven must be really boring if it's full of white-robed people playing harps," someone had remarked very early on in our study. This imagery, while it was meaningful to the original readers of Revelation, has little to endear itself to us today; given its dull, sedated atmosphere where people walk around in nightclothes. In fact, it sounds very much like a scene out of a mental asylum, if you catch my drift.


Is it any wonder why we associate heaven as a place for the aged, weak and those on the "vintaged"- side of the hill, where there is nothing to do except move r-e-a-l-l-y slowly on the clouds while strumming harp-strings to the tempo of a dirge?

Before we make up our minds, let's see what Revelation has to say about this matter.

Observations
Chapter 14


This chapter opens a new series of visions, with the word Then at the beginning of the passage. John sees Jesus standing on Mount Zion, the mountain of deliverance. With him are the 144,000 whose foreheads are sealed with his (Jesus') and the Father's names. Compare this with Ezekiel 9 . A lot of different interpretations surround the 144,000, to the extent that movies and sects have been propagated in its honour. But who are these people?



One interpretation suggests the 144,000 as the community of faith throughout the ages, that is, represented by 12 x 12 x 10 x 10 x 10. These are the 12 tribes of Israel (representing the faithful in the Old Testament), the 12 apostles of Jesus (the faithful in the New Testament), and all the faithful people who will ensue until the end of the age.

This group of people will have the mark of the Lamb on their foreheads.


It is very clear that everyone who lives on this earth will have a mark, either that of the Lamb's, or that of the beast. If you have the mark of the Lamb, you will incur the wrath of the beast, but escape the wrath of God. Conversely, if you have the mark of the beast, you may not be under the wrath of the beast, but you WILL face the wrath of God. There is no middle ground. No exceptions. You will face one wrath, or the other.



This symbolic 144,000 sang a new song to the Lamb in heaven, accompanied by an angel whose sound was like many waters (all-pervasive, imagine the sound of a thundering waterfall) and harpists (sounds of joy) at the same time. Then, we are further told the 144,000 are those redeemed from the earth, and had not defiled themselves with "intercourse with the world's systems". They lived up to what is implied as their betrothal to Christ. They are covenantly faithful and true disciples. They are not sinless but instead blameless, having repentant hearts and an orientation towards God.



John sees another angel flying in midheaven, proclaiming the gospel. The responsibility of those who had heard the gospel was to "fear God and give Him glory..." Just as He has created everything in the beginning of time (Gen 1), God will judge each one at the closing of time.



Another angel then told of the impending downfall of Babylon (pagan kingdoms). Babylon, at the time of the writing of Revelation, had lapsed into a heap of ruins. Isaiah 21:9, Jeremiah 51:7. However the term "Babylon" had become symbolic for Rome and any other culture or city that arrogantly stands above God. Could this be the great New York City, Tokyo or even Kuala Lumpur, which "has been built by man's hands"? All kingdoms that exalt themselves above Christ will fall.



The third angel cries out the the judgement for those who has the mark of the beast - they will incur the wrath of God unmixed, or full strength. What this means is that, up to time of writing, the judgements of God on Israel, ie, captivity and exile, attack by Babylonians and Assyrians, the terrible siege of Jerusalem, etc, had been "dilute". The "full strength" of God's wrath is reserved for those termed here, with the mark of the beast (please refer to previous post for the explanation on the Mark of the Beast).



Jesus gave vivid descriptions of hell, ie, fire is not quenched, worms don't die, gnashing of teeth, etc. And it is ETERNAL.



The text continues to two harvests. Now, a harvest is the climax in the agricultural term of the ancient Jew. Everything builds up to the harvest. The Bible speaks of two kinds of harvests.

Harvest 1


One like the Son of Man is shown to, with one swipe of the sickle, reap the harvest on earth. This is the judgement experienced by the inhabitants of the world.


Harvest 2


In this horrific imagery, another angel swings the sickle to harvest the grapes. This harvest shows the thoroughness of God's wrath. In olden days, grapes are thrown into a winepress where they are trampled until their juices break forth and flow into the holes at the bottom of the winepress, channeled to a vat below. Here, the grapes are the people against God and Christ, thrown into a winepress and trampled till their blood flowed down to the vat, enough to fill an area 200 miles long up to the height of a horse's bridle. References to the final judgement can also be found in Jeremiah 51:23, Rev 19:15, Hosea 6:11, Matthew 13:39, Isaiah 63, Joel 3:13.

Remember, everyone has a mark, either the mark of the Lamb, or the mark of the beast.

So what now?

Concluding thoughts


1. Do not read texts on judgement with smugness and arrogance. It is with tears of grace and mercy that we give thanks for our salvation.



2. GIVE UP YOUR SMALL AMBITIONS! Know what is really important at the end of the grand scheme of what we call life and time. Your life, career, money, family, friends... what value would they take against the backdrop of the eternal judgement of God?



3. Only as we see the alternatives for what they really are, can we realise what we are saved from - the terrible wrath of God - by the sacrifice of His Son. And only through it, can we see the glories to come in the Lamb.









And yes, the sounds of joy in heaven may not sound that "boring" after all...




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