Reflections on Revelation #2 Ears to Hear
Having
studied Revelation we now have a solid foundation to do some reflecting on the
Truth we have learned and how it applies to our lives. Last time we noted that
Babylon is a culture, it’s the way people live. We considered God’s judgment
upon Babylon because of her unrighteous behaviors; her idolatry, immorality,
economic exploitation, her pride and arrogance, blasphemy, violence, and
persecution of His children. Because of
these entrenched behaviors, Babylon is destined to fall. Every Babylon is
destined to fall.
That’s
why we are warned in Revelation 18:4 “Get out, my people, as fast as you can,
so you don't get mixed up in her sins, so you don't get caught in her doom.” To
get out of Babylon you must understand what is happening around you, and identify
the unrighteousness that is an affront to God. To get out of Babylon we must
discern the extent to which unrighteousness has infected us and then ask God to
give us a clean heart. Finally, to get out of Babylon you must take a stand
against her unrighteousness.
It is
so hard to escape your culture. Jesus
has given us some warnings, things we are to avoid so we do not become
entrapped in a society that is under God’s judgment. John was instructed to write these warnings
to a select group of congregations, 7 churches in Asia Minor to be exact. Today let’s look at these warnings.
We can
summarize Jesus' warnings as apostasy. When you bent your knee to the Lordship
of Jesus, you pledged your loyalty to His cause. Apostasy occurs when you abandon that loyalty
neglecting to carry out your duties as a disciple of Jesus and become complicit
with Babylonian unrighteousness.
“He who
has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
(Revelation 2:7,11,17;3:6,13,22 (NIV)
First
the warnings.
Revelation
2:2-4 (MSG)
"I
see what you've done, your hard, hard work, your refusal to quit. I know you
can't stomach evil, that you weed out apostolic pretenders. I know your
persistence, your courage in my cause, that you never wear out. "But
you walked away from your first love—why?
The
seeds of apostasy are planted when we forget our first love.
1 John
4:21 (MSG)
The
command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You've
got to love both.
If we
become judges instead of lovers of people, condemning and shunning, we are
falling away from our first love, because love for God and love for the people
He has created go hand and hand. We can be theologically right and relationally
wrong. When this occurs we stand for
Christ but with hate in our hearts. This is so wrong as we bring discredit to
God. Romans 2:4 reminds us that it is
God’s kindness that leads people to repentance. When we seek to meet the needs
of an individual we are treating them with kindness. It is a labor of love to love the unlovable
until you realize that God loves them as much as God loves you, and then you
realize it is a joy of service.
Second
Warning
Revelation
2:14-15 (MSG)
“… why
do you indulge that Balaam crowd? Don't you remember that Balaam was an enemy
agent, seducing Balak and sabotaging Israel's holy pilgrimage by throwing
unholy parties? And why do you put up with the Nicolaitans, who do the
same thing?
You can
read about Balaam and Balak in Numbers 22-24.
Balaam disregarded God’s will for money.
He made a buck by disobedience.
Historians suggest that the Nicolatitans taught it was just fine to
participate in Babylonian culture because God had saved them.
The
seeds of apostasy are planted when we disobey in the small things.
1 John
3:4-6 (MSG)
All who
indulge in a sinful life are dangerously lawless, for sin is a major disruption
of God's order. Surely you know that Christ showed up in order to get rid
of sin. There is no sin in him, and sin is not part of his program. No one who
lives deeply in Christ makes a practice of sin. None of those who do practice
sin have taken a good look at Christ.
1 Corinthians
5:6-7 (MSG)
Your
flip and callous arrogance in these things bothers me. You pass it off as a
small thing, but it's anything but that. Yeast, too, is a "small
thing," but it works its way through a whole batch of bread dough pretty
fast. So get rid of this "yeast."
God’s
commands and the teachings of Jesus are not suggestions, they are expectations
that a disciple is intent on being and doing. Believers are called to a high
standard of morality, we are to be holy because God is Holy (1 Peter 1:16). That high standard is demonstrated by your
stewardship and how you express your sexuality.
Third
Warning
Revelation
2:20-21 (MSG)
“…why
do you let that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet mislead my dear servants
into Cross-denying, self-indulging religion? I gave her a chance to change
her ways, but she has no intention of giving up a career in the god-business.
Jezebel
was the wife of King Ahab of Israel (1 Kings 16-21), she promoted idolatry and
immorality among the Jews. Now in the
congregation in Thyatira there is another like her, claiming prophetic
authority, promoting idolatry and immorality through her misleading teachings from
the Old Testament. Add a refusal to repent when her unrighteous behavior became
known underscores the seriousness of her offense.
The
seeds of apostasy are planted when you sit under false teaching.
Unfortunately
within the church today there are far too many Cross-denying, self-indulging
teachings charismatically preached convincing the naïve believers to get in
step with Babylon.
2 Timothy
2:15 (NKJV)
Be
diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
To
avoid false teachings you need to do your own work studying the scripture. When
you get stuck, not grasping the meaning of a verse or passage, ask the Holy
Spirit to give you clarity and then seek out a trusted mature believer to
advise you. There are also commentaries
on the scripture, which contain the opinions of scholars on the meaning of a
text. Just make sure you pick a
commentary consistent with your faith community. I can recommend to you the New
Beacon Bible Commentary as a good place to start. As a student of the Word, you
develop an intuition when false teaching is presented.
Fourth
Warning
Revelation
3:1 (MSG)
You
have a reputation for vigor and zest, but you're dead, stone dead.
The
congregation in Sardis looked good. It
had all the bells and whistles. Great worship, a dynamic preacher, and a great
facility. It had all the programs and all the services that people liked to
consume. OK, that’s my conjecture, but let's consider the action of Jesus.
Jesus
is walking with his disciples towards Jerusalem and spots a fig tree in full
leaf. Having grown many figs in my time,
the fruit appears before the leaves and it’s green so as the tree comes to full
leaf the figs blend right in as they ripen and become hidden behind the leaves.
So Jesus being hungry walks up to the tree thinking breakfast is at hand, but
finds no figs. A couple of days later the tree is dead.
The
seeds of apostasy are planted when belief does not translate into action.
James
2:26 (MSG)
The
very moment you separate body and spirit, you end up with a corpse. Separate
faith and works and you get the same thing: a corpse.
The
principle Jesus teaches us is that the religious profession doesn’t guarantee a
right relationship with God. What you do matters, and fruitlessness means you
are missing the mark (Galatians 5:22-23, John 15:5-8). Practice what you
believe.
Fifth
Warning
Revelation
3:15-17 (MSG)
"I
know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You're not cold, you're
not hot—far better to be either cold or hot! You're stale. You're
stagnant. You make me want to vomit. You brag, 'I'm rich, I've got it made, I
need nothing from anyone,' oblivious that in fact you're a pitiful, blind
beggar, threadbare and homeless.
The
folks in Laodicea were well off economically.
This led to a sense of self-sufficiency.
When you have all you need, you don’t need God, so the practice of your
faith loses urgency. You tend to just go
through the motions, but your heart is not in it.
The
seeds of apostasy are planted when we are indifferent and complacent.
Remember
complacency leads to complicity.
Hebrews
Chapter 11 is all about people demonstrating their faith through what they did.
Hebrews
11:6 (NIV)
And
without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him
must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
The
word earnestly can also be translated as diligently (ekzeteo). What is required is a serious ongoing pursuit
of God. A casual, easygoing,
take-it-easy, relaxed attitude makes God sick.
“God is a Rewarder of those who are hard-working, attentive, busy,
constant, and persistent in their pursuit of seeking Him.” (Rick Renner) Jesus
said, " 'Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and
intelligence.' This is the most important, the first on any list”
(Matthew
22:37-38 (MSG). A zealous faith is a hot
faith.
The
seeds of apostasy are planted when we forget our first love; when we disobey in
the small things; when we sit under false teaching; when belief does not
translate into action; and when we are indifferent and complacent.
If you
see these seeds in your life, rip them out as fast as you can. They are seeds
of spiritual destruction.
We are
to guard ourselves from apostasy, from falling away from the faith, reneging on
our vow of loyalty and fidelity to Jesus. These warnings were given to
Christians. Heed them.
“He who
has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
(Revelation 2:7,11,17;3:6,13,22 (NIV)
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