Lesson 25
Where in the Bible is the most beautiful description of
the Lord’s church? Is it in Daniel 2, where we read about
the eternal kingdom that sweeps away the kingdoms of the
earth? Is it in Isaiah 2, where we read about the house of
God established on the mountains to which all nations are
drawn? Is it in Joel 2, where the establishment of the
church is described as the great and awesome day of the
Lord? Is it in Ezekiel 40, where the church is described as
a huge temple constructed according to the pattern of God?
Is it in Matthew 13, where Jesus gave us the parables of
the kingdom? Is it in Matthew 16, where Jesus promised to
build his church? is it in Acts 2, where we read a
firsthand account of the church’s establishment? Is it in
Ephesians 5, where Paul beautifully describes Jesus’ love
for his church as a husband’s love for his bride? Is it in
Hebrews 12, where the church is described as the city of
the living God?
Each of these is beautiful, but none of these would be
my choice for the most beautiful description of the church.
Instead, I would turn immediately to the concluding two
chapters of Revelation that we are now studying. In my
opinion, those two chapters contain the most beautiful
description of the Lord’s church found anywhere in the
Scriptures.
As we mentioned last week, the Old Testament ends with a
curse in Malachi 4:6. The New Testament by contrast ends
with a beautiful description of the Lord’s church, the holy
city of God in which God is at last able to once again
dwell with men as he did in the Garden before the Fall. The
final chapters of Revelation are the perfect ending to the
story of reconciliation that began with the opening
chapters of Genesis.
21:15 And he who talked to me had a measuring rod of
gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. 16 The
city lies foursquare, its length the same as its breadth;
and he measured the city with his rod, twelve thousand
stadia; its length and breadth and height are equal. 17 He
also measured its wall, a hundred and forty-four cubits by
a man’s measure, that is, an angel’s. 18 The wall was built
of jasper, while the city was pure gold, clear as glass. 19
The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with
every Jewel; the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the
third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the
sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl,
the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh
jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were
twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl,
and the street of the city was pure gold, transparent as
glass.
Here was have a description of the city – and it is
remarkably numerical! It is also remarkably beautiful once
we understand the symbols it uses.
Why is the city measured? Ezekiel measured what he saw
in Ezekiel 40-43 in order to stress its holiness and
separation from what is common. Ezekiel 42:20 ― “He
measured it by the four sides: it had a wall round about,
five hundred reeds long, and five hundred broad, to make a
separation between the sanctuary and the profane place.”
Earlier, in Revelation 11, we saw the temple measured for
the same reason. The church is measured here yet again for
the same reason. The church belongs to God. The church is
apart from the world. And we are being measured by God
today just as God was measuring the church in Revelation
21. Do we measure up?
What are the measurements? The city is a cube — 12,000
by 12,000 by 12,000 stadia. This description causes trouble
for literalists since 12,000 stadia is about 1500 miles.
The walls surrounding the city are 144 stadia high. The
foundations of the city are adorned with 12 precious
jewels, and the 12 gates are made of 12 pearls. (Once
again, how could anyone not see the symbolism here? And if
these numbers are symbolic, then what about the 1000 years
we saw earlier? On what basis could someone conclude that
all of these 12’s are symbolic and yet that earlier 1000 is
literal?)
As for the reference to an angel in verse 17, Hailey
writes: “The measure ‘according to a man, that is, of an
angel,’ is that it is a measure understood by man, one in
common use be men, but in the hands of an angel.”
The church is described as a precious and beautiful city
in the shape of a huge golden cube with golden streets. The
number 12 appears in every measurement — this city is for
the people of God. The city of pure gold with streets of
pure gold is not a description of Heaven — the text itself
tells us that much! It is a description of the city of God
that comes down out of Heaven. It is a description of the
city where God presently dwells with his people — and that
city is the church. John is describing the church!
We generally apply these descriptions to Heaven, and
many no doubt could apply to that beautiful home that God
has prepared for his church. But the context suggests that
those descriptions are used here to describe the church —
not the future home of the church. John is describing a
people — not a place!
The church is the city of God – and how does God see his
church? He sees it as a huge golden city with streets of
gold. John is telling us how God sees his church! But am I
saying that the church here and now has streets of gold?
Yes! Am I saying that the church here and now is the city
foursquare? Yes! That is exactly what I am saying. That is
what I believe these beautiful chapters are telling us.
Do we see ourselves as God sees us? Do we truly
understand how beautiful the church is? Do we truly
understand how important the church is? We often say that
Revelation shows us things we can’t see (Heaven) in terms
of things we can see (golden streets, etc.), but is that
really what it happening here? If these chapters are
describing the church, then isn’t God really describing
something we can see (the church) – and isn’t he then
telling us that we are not seeing it as it really is! Isn’t
he telling us that we are not seeing the church as the
beautiful, golden city of God that it is. These chapters
are giving us God’s view of his church — and if that view
is not our view, then we need to change our view!
22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is
the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has
no need of sun or moon to shine upon it, for the glory of
God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 By its light
shall the nations walk; and the kings of the earth shall
bring their glory into it, 25 and its gates shall never be
shut by day—and there shall be no night there; 26 they
shall bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations.
27 But nothing unclean shall enter it, nor any one who
practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are
written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Why is there no temple in the city? In the Old Testament
the temple stressed the separation between God and man. God
lived in the inner sanctuary where only the High Priest
could enter. But in this city, God dwells with his people.
In this city, there is no separation between God and man.
In this city, every citizen has direct access to God
through Jesus.
Why in verse 23 is there no need of the sun or the moon?
Because the glory of God and the Lamb provide all of the
light. Isaiah 60:19-20 uses this same image to describe the
condition of Israel after the restoration of the temple and
the holy city ―
The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for
brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the
LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God
thy glory. Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy
moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine
everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be
ended.
Verse 24 tells us that the nations shall walk by the
light of this great city and that the kings of the earth
shall bring their glory and honor into it. One would expect
a huge golden cube 1500 miles long in each direction would
reflect some light and attract some attention! It is not
God’s desire that his church be obscure and hidden.
God’s view of the church and his mission for the church
is to be a beautiful golden city that reflects his glory
and gives light to a lost and dying world – and nowhere is
that message stated any more clearly than it is here in
these verses from Revelation 21. God’s people in his church
are the light of the world. The church reflects the glory
of God, and all nations flow to the church because of that
light.
• Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world. A city
that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
• Isaiah 2:2 Now it shall come to pass in the latter
days that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be
established on the top of the mountains, and shall be
exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to
it.
Verse 27 tells us that nothing unclean will enter this
city. The city is holy and secure. Only those who have been
made clean by the blood of Christ are allowed to enter this
city. No one enters this city until he has followed the
command of Acts 22:16 ― “Arise, and be baptized, and wash
away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”
The church is the body of Christ. People are added to
the church when they are saved. If you have been saved,
then you are in the Lord’s church. If you are not in the
Lord’s church, it is because you are not saved. Those
outside the Lord’s church are unclean; those inside the
Lord’s church have been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb.
The gates of this city are open — but you can enter those
gates only after being cleansed by the blood of Christ.
(Revelation 1:4-6)
Is it true that only the church of Christ will be saved?
Of course it’s true! How could it possibly be otherwise? If
God adds you to the church when you are saved, then how
could anyone outside the church ever be saved? Everyone who
is saved is in the church, and everyone who is lost is
outside of the church. If people have trouble with the
concept that only those in the church of Christ will be
saved, then it tells me they do not understand what the
church is. It tells me they think of the church of Christ
as a denomination of some sort rather than as what it is —
the eternal kingdom of Christ established on the first day
of Pentecost following the resurrection. The world has many
misconceptions about the church of Christ — let’s make sure
we don’t contribute to them! If we use denominational
language, sing denominational songs, and see ourselves as
just another church on the block, then is it any wonder if
the world sees us as a denomination? The church of Christ
is not a denomination! It is the body of Christ, and can
you think of a more horrible image than a denomination of
the body of Christ?
We see in these verses an important clue as to whether
these descriptions of the church describe the church then
and now, or whether they apply only to the church in Heaven
after the end of time. Verse 25 tells us that at the time
of this vision, the gates of this great city are open, and
verses 24 and 26 show people (kings, in particular)
entering through those gates. Isaiah uses this same image
in Isaiah 60:11 ―
Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they
shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto
thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may
be brought.
Will this description be true of Heaven after the world
ends? Will the gates of Heaven remain open? If so, for
whom? Why does the church need an open gate after the end
of the world?
Verse 24 tells us that by light of this city shall the
nations walk. If this is a description of the church after
the end of the world, then who are these nations? If this
is a description of the church after the end of the world,
then who are these kings of the earth who live outside the
city in darkness yet are able to enter? The church on earth
is the light of the world. The nations of the world are
drawn to the city by the light that it casts out into the
world. Recall the description of the church in Isaiah 2:2
―
It shall come to pass in the latter days that the
mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as
the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the
hills; and all the nations shall flow to it.
So what have we seen in Chapter 21? This chapter has
shown us the triumphant and victorious church on earth. The
church shines among the nations and brings light to those
living outside in darkness. The nations are drawn to it by
the light that it casts. The description of the church will
continue through the first five verses of Chapter 22.
Chapter Twenty Two
1 Then he showed me the river of the water of life,
bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of
the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city;
also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with
its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month;
and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the
nations.
What is the river of the water of life in verse 1? Water
is a common symbol for the blessings of God, and one that
we have seen before in this book. (Recall our comments
about the feast of the tabernacles in Chapter 7.) In Isaiah
12:3, God’s people were told that with joy they would draw
water from the wells of salvation. In John 7:37-38, Jesus
said that if anyone believed in him then that person would
have rivers of living water flowing out of his heart. The
water of life depicts the blessings that flow from God and
that the church enjoys now and forever.
But has the church always enjoyed these blessings? Yes!
Read Joel 3:18 ― “And in that day the mountains shall drip
sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the
stream beds of Judah shall flow with water; and a fountain
shall come forth from the house of the LORD and water the
valley of Shittim.” And then turn to Acts 2 to find out
when that prophecy from Joel was fulfilled. The church has
enjoyed those blessings from the day of its
establishment.
In verse 2, we see a tree of life with 12 fruits. (First
the water of life, and now the tree of life. Do we see a
message there to a church that daily faced the threat of
death from Rome?) This tree provides nourishment for God’s
people just as the original tree of life did in the Garden.
But this tree provides 12 different kinds of fruit 12 times
a year. These blessings are for the people of God — and the
church enjoys these blessings then, now, and always.
Verse 2 tells us something else about this tree of life
― the leaves on the tree are for the healing of the
nations. Again, we see nations that need the light and
healing that this city—the church—provides. Who are these
nations outside of the city if this is a description of the
church in Heaven after the end of the world? If we are
looking at the church in Heaven then who is it that needs
healing — and from what are they being healed?
This is a description of the church on earth! The church
sheds light on the darkness outside. The church provides
healing to those who enter into its open gates. The
invitation we will see in a moment in 22:17 is for those
outside of the church (those who are thirsty) to come and
drink of the water of life. (“And let him who is thirsty
come, let him who desires take the water of life without
price.”) Could such descriptions apply to the church after
the end of the world?
3 There shall no more be anything accursed, but the
throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and his
servants shall worship him; 4 they shall see his face, and
his name shall be on their foreheads. 5 And night shall be
no more; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord
God will be their light, and they shall reign for ever and
ever.
Verse 3 tells us there will be no more curse. Zechariah
8:13 says that Israel and Judah were once “a byword of
cursing among the nations.” But God promised that he would
make them a blessing instead of a curse, and Zechariah
14:11 says that “there shall be no more curse; Jerusalem
shall dwell in security.” That is the same picture we have
here. The church, too, would dwell in security.
Verse 3 also tells us that the throne of God and of the
Lamb is in this city. God rules from his dwelling place —
and God dwells in the church. Ezekiel 43:7 says that God’s
throne is located where he dwells ― in the midst of his
people forever. Ephesians 2:22 describes the church as a
dwelling place of God in the Spirit. The church is the
eternal kingdom, and the eternal King dwells in his eternal
kingdom.
Verse 4 tells us that those in the city shall see his
face. Once again we have a beautiful description of the
church here and now. The church is a royal priesthood, and
as priests we have direct access to the throne. In fact,
Hebrews 4:16 says that we may boldly approach the throne of
grace. Every Christian has the same access to God as the
High Priest had under the Old Covenant. In fact, we have
more access — we may approach the throne boldly at any time
whereas the High Priest could only enter the holy of holies
once a year.
Verse 5 tells us that there will be no more night in
this city. And what about the church? We are the light of
the world. The church of Christ is the only source of light
in a world of filled with darkness. There is no night in
the church — how could there be with Jesus Christ as our
light?
Verse 5 also tells us that the citizens of this city
shall reign for ever and ever. Romans 5:17 says that we
reign in life through Jesus Christ. Revelation 5:10 says
that we are a kingdom of priests who reign on earth. 1
Peter 2:9 says that we are a royal priesthood. Notice the
tense of those verbs. The church reigns with Christ now and
forever.
What we are seeing in these verses is the triumphant,
victorious church of Christ that reigns forever with Jesus
on its side. The message to the first century church was
not “Wait until the end of the world and you will enjoy
these blessings.” The message to the first century church
was that the church enjoys all of these spiritual blessings
right here and right now. Isn’t that what Paul told us in
Ephesians 1:3 — “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual
blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” That was the
message of comfort they needed to hear, and that was the
message they heard.
6 And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and
true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets,
has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take
place. 7 And behold, I am coming soon.” Blessed is he who
keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.
Verse 6 begins the epilogue of the book, and as we saw
in the prologue, the epilogue begins with the all-important
time frame for the vision. Revelation 1:1 says that the
events in the book must soon take place. Revelation 1:3
says that the time for fulfillment is near. Here in 22:6 we
see that what John had seen must soon take place, and in
verse 10 we will be told that the time is near.
What can be said for any interpretation of this book
that ignores these clear declarations? One must certainly
work hard to misunderstand them!
In verse 7, the speaker says “I am coming soon.” Who is
the speaker in verses 6-7, and is there a different speaker
in verse 7 than in verse 6? Some argue that the angel is
speaking in verse 6 due to the third person reference to
God. Others argue God or Jesus is speaking in verse 7 due
to the first person reference to “I”. Others respond that
in verse 7 an angel may simply be speaking on God’s behalf.
Hailey concludes that it most likely is God “declaring that
in Christ He will come speedily to His needy saints.”
In short, verses 6 and 7 in the original Greek are
ambiguous with regard to the speaker’s identity, giving us
only the pronoun translated “he.” People sometimes ask me
why I don’t like the New International Version of the
Bible. My answer is that I don’t trust it, and verse 6 is a
prime example (repeated many, many times elsewhere in the
NIV). Who is the speaker in verse 6? The KJV says “he.” The
ESV says “he.” The ASV says “he.” The RSV says “he.” The
NRSV says “he.” The NKJV says “he.” The HCSB says “he.” The
NAS says “he.” The REB says “he.” The original Greek is
ambiguous, and those translations properly carry that
ambiguity over into the English. But the NIV does not. The
NIV in verse 6 reads “The angel said to me.” And so a
reader of the NIV would have no idea that the Greek
permitted any other understanding of that verse. The Greek
is ambiguous, but the NIV is not. The goal of a translation
is not to remove ambiguity from the original text. The goal
of a translation is to carry any ambiguities in the
original text over into English so that the English reader
gets an understanding as close as possible to the meaning
conveyed by the original text. A good translation acts a
sheet of glass between you and the original text. The NIV
utterly fails in that goal, and that is why I never use
it.
The Greek word translated “soon” in verses 6 and 7 is
the same word we find in the letters to the seven churches
in 2:16 (“Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly.”)
and in 3:11 (“Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which
thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”). If we try to
stretch the word “quickly” to encompass Jesus’ return at
the end of the world, then what do we do with those
promises to the seven churches? Those seven churches aren’t
around anymore! Either Jesus came quickly while they were
still around, or he didn’t come to them at all.
The word “soon” (translated “speedily” or “quickly” in
the KJV) occurs four times in this chapter! (Verses 6, 7,
12, and 20.) The same Greek word appears in 1:1 and 3:11.
The Greek lexicons tell us it means “pertaining to a point
of time subsequent to another point of time (either an
event in the discourse or the time of the discourse
itself), with emphasis upon the relatively brief interval
between the two points of time” or simply “a very brief
period of time.” The same Greek word occurs twice in
Matthew 28:7-8 ―
And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen
from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into
Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And
they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and
great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
Any doubt what the word means in that context? It also
appears in John 11:28-29 ―
And when she had so said, she went her way, and called
Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and
calleth for thee. As soon as she heard that, she arose
quickly, and came unto him.
Any doubt what it means in that context? The same author
wrote verses 6 and 7! What basis is there for us to
interpret those verses in such a way that they mean the
very opposite? Jesus said he was coming quickly. If that
doesn’t match our understanding of the book, then let’s
change our understanding rather than changing the text!
For those who believe these chapters apply to the end of
time, let me ask a question — what could God have written
here to convince you otherwise? If using the word “quickly”
four times in a single chapter doesn’t do it, then what
would it take? (See the handout.)
But some will ask, to what does this word “soon” refer
in verse 7? In what way did Jesus come soon or come quickly
after the book was written? We already know the answer to
that one ― Jesus came in judgment against Rome.
But verse 7 must be referring to the second coming?
Right? No. For starters, the phrase “second coming of
Christ” appears nowhere in the Bible. The closest we get is
Hebrews 9:28 ― “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins
of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear
the second time without sin unto salvation.” Will Jesus
appear again to judge the world? Absolutely. Will that be
his second appearance? Yes. Will that be his second literal
coming? Yes. Will that be his second coming? No, there have
already been at least two other figurative comings of
Christ. There was the figurative coming of Christ against
Jerusalem mentioned in Matthew 24:30, and there was the
figurative coming of Christ against Rome mentioned here in
verse 7. The coming against Jerusalem happened in the first
century (Matthew 24:34), and the coming against Rome
happened soon after this book was written (22:6-7).
For those keeping track, verse 7 is the sixth of the
seven beatitudes in Revelation. “Blessed is he who keeps
the words of the prophecy of this book.”
8 I John am he who heard and saw these things. And when
I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of
the angel who showed them to me; 9 but he said to me, “You
must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your
brethren the prophets, and with those who keep the words of
this book. Worship God.”
John has been told before not to worship this angel and
yet here he is doing it again. We have already discussed
this issue and concluded that John was likely just overcome
by all that he was seeing. But once again God uses the
event to teach a vital lesson — Worship God!
This book of Revelation has been filled with false gods
and false worship. Christians were facing death because of
their refusal to worship the Roman emperors. No created
being is worthy of our worship — not even this wondrous
angelic being.
10 And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the
prophecy of this book, for the time is near. 11 Let the
evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and
the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.”
12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense, to
repay every one for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and
the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the
end.” 14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they
may have the right to the tree of life and that they may
enter the city by the gates. 15 Outside are the dogs and
sorcerers and fornicators and murderers and idolaters, and
every one who loves and practices falsehood.
In verse 10, John is told not to seal up the book. Why?
Because the time for its fulfillment is near. In Daniel
8:26, Daniel received the opposite command regarding a
vision that he had just seen — “And the vision of the
evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore
shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.”
God tells John not to seal up his vision for the time of
its fulfillment is near, but he tells Daniel to seal up his
vision because its fulfillment pertains to many days hence.
When was Daniel’s vision fulfilled? 400 years later. Could
this be any more clear? How can we expect to ever
understand this book if we ignore these flashing neon time
frames?
In verse 11, Jesus tells the wicked to continue in their
wickedness. Why? Because their time is short. Verse 12 says
the Jesus is coming quickly! The Romans were so entrenched
in their evil that Jesus knew they would never change. He
tells them that if they want to do more wickedness then
they had better hurry. The time is short! Again, this verse
is difficult to apply to the end of the world. Does Jesus
want all sinners to continue sinning?
And how does one enter into this city? Verse 14 tells us
— “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may
have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter
the city by the gates.” One obtains the right to enter the
city by washing. That, too, has been true since the day the
church was established. Acts 2:38 — “Then Peter said unto
them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name
of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall
receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 22:16 ― “And now
why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away
thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”
The beatitude in verse 14 is the seventh and final
beatitude in Revelation. (1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6;
22:7; 22:14) As we have mentioned before, this book has a
beautiful structure and organization that is built around
the number 7. If you are reading the KJV, then verse 14
reads “Blessed are they that do his commandments” rather
than “Blessed are those who wash their robes.” The latter
(I am told) has better support in the manuscripts.
16 “I Jesus have sent my angel to you with this
testimony for the churches. I am the root and the offspring
of David, the bright morning star.” 17 The Spirit and the
Bride say, “Come.” And let him who hears say, “Come.” And
let him who is thirsty come, let him who desires take the
water of life without price.
Jesus is the root and the offspring of David. He is the
promised Redeemer. He is the fulfillment of prophecy.
The Spirit and the church invite those outside to come
and drink the water of life. When is this invitation
extended? Now. It is extended every time a gospel sermon is
preached from this pulpit (which we would hope is every
time a sermon is preached from this pulpit!). No invitation
will be extended after the end of the world.
The water of life is a blessing that men enjoy on earth
when they come to Christ and are added to his church. It is
without price — it is the free gift of God’s grace. Romans
5:18 ― “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came
upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness
of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification
of life.”
18 I warn every one who hears the words of the prophecy
of this book: if any one adds to them, God will add to him
the plagues described in this book, 19 and if any one takes
away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will
take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy
city, which are described in this book.
Tampering with the word of God is serious business.
Those who add to the words in this book by teaching things
in Christ’s name that Christ never taught will find
themselves sharing in the horrible plagues described in
this book. And those who take away from the words in this
book the parts they disagree with or the parts that don’t
fit with their theories will lose their share in the tree
of life and in the holy city.
What? You mean the right to the tree of life can be
taken away? Yes, and we have already seen that one’s name
can be blotted out of the book of life. What does that tell
us about the doctrine of “once saved, always saved”?
Whenever I read these verses I think of the Reader’s
Digest condensed Bible that was released in 1982. The Old
Testament was cut by 55% and the New Testament by 25%.
Except for Philemon, 2 John, 3 John, and Jude, every book
in the Bible was condensed to some degree. (Apparently
those four were short enough already. I guess Obadiah had
some fluff!) I have always wondered if verse 19 made it
into the condensed Bible but I have never taken the time to
find out.
But with all humor aside, let me ask a serious question
— do we effectively use an abridged Bible? Are there parts
of the Bible we never study either because of neglect, or
worse just because we don’t much like what they say? Do we
neglect some books just because they are too long to fit
into our carefully tailored curriculum? When was the last
time we had a class on Isaiah?
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am
coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of the
Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.
The book ends with encouragement for those suffering
persecution. They had nothing to fear. Jesus was coming
soon to bring vindication and judgment and nothing would
stand in his way be it the mighty Roman empire or the
modern commentator who believes the rescue has yet to
occur! Jesus said he was coming soon, and he did come soon.
The Roman empire is no more — swept away long ago by the
eternal kingdom of Jesus Christ! What a beautiful ending to
a beautiful book! Amen!
Conclusion
During our introductory classes I pointed to Revelation
6:10 and said that it is a key verse in this book. In
Revelation 6:9-10, we read:
I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain
for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord,
holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on
them that dwell on the earth?
The cry from the martyrs in verse 10 is what prompted
these judgments, and God’s repeated answer to their
question “How long?” was “Soon!”
The martyrs in verses 9-10 play a central role in this
book. Who were they? Most of them are unknown to us by name
— but not all of them.
We know the names of some of those martyrs, and there
are two in particular I think of when I read those verses.
Tradition tells us that the Apostle Paul was beheaded by
the emperor Nero in A.D. 64 or 65. Tradition also tells us
that Peter was crucified in Rome around that same time.
Paul was most likely saved from that fate by his Roman
citizenship.
Revelation 17:6 ― “I saw the woman, drunk with the blood
of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.”
That is Paul’s blood. That is Peter’s blood. Revelation 6:9
― “When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the
altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of
God and for the testimony which they held.” Peter and Paul
were under that altar. Peter and Paul were asking the
question “How long?” in verse 10. Revelation 18:20
― “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy
apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!”
That’s addressed to the apostle Paul and the apostle Peter.
Revelation 21:14 ― “Now the wall of the city had
twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the
twelve apostles of the Lamb.” That’s Paul’s name and
Peter’s name.
This vivid book becomes even more vivid when we put a
face on those martyrs. Yes, Jesus loves his church more
than we can ever know or understand, and we can read this
book as Jesus’ response to Rome’s attack against the
church. But this was also Jesus’ response to Rome’s murder
of Paul. This was Jesus’ response to Rome’s murder of
Peter.
What was Paul thinking about as he was led to the
executioner’s block? I am certain it included what he told
Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:6-8 ―
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering,
and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the
good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the
faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will
give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all
who have loved His appearing.
But I am also certain it included something he wrote to
the very Christians who would suffer with him at the hands
of Nero. Something that other Christian martyrs no doubt
also recalled as they were being put to death by Rome.
Something that is a beautiful summary of the entire book of
Revelation. Something that we will use to end our class.
Romans 8:31-39 ―
What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who is
against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him
up for us all, will he not also give us all things with
him? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is
God who justifies; who is to condemn? Is it Christ Jesus,
who died, yes, who was raised from the dead, who is at the
right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us? Who shall
separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or
distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or
peril, or sword? As it is written, “For thy sake we are
being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to
be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than
conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that
neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities,
nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor
height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will
be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus
our Lord.
In those 9 verses is the entire book of Revelation. We
are more than conquerors through him who loved us! That is
the theme of Revelation.
