First Presbyterian Church
What's a Presbyterian to Do With Revelation, Part 2
Sermon for July 27, 2003
by Pastor Susan Barnes

In my last sermon, I said “Revelation was written to explain how it could be true that God is sovereign, and Christ will return even though evil flourishes and oppresses believers. To help us remember, John uses vivid pictures and dramatic action.” Understanding Revelation is a challenge for us, but it's not impossible, with a little study. This sermon series is a result of the beginnings of my study of Revelation.

In the first chapter of Revelation, almost every verse refers to an old testament verse, quotes a phrase, or rephrases a line, because being faithful to God means applying the word of God to new situation. And the first century church was in a new situation. The first century church was new. Jesus had not returned. And yet John insisted that God was still sovereign, even while emperor Domitian ruled, local officials persecuted Christians to their own gain, and pagan temple attendance was a sign of good citizenship.

And so John writes the book of Revelation to help the early church and guide her members. The first chapter introduces the book. Apocalypse means revelation.

The apocalypse is revealed so believers would be blessed by having a heavenly perspective. For some, an apocalypse is just a warning that your doom is coming. But we see from the letters to the churches that John, like the old testament prophets, was warning people so they would change. The book is not about punishment, it is about motivation. John knows the troubles of the churches, and the problems they face.

Revelation doesn't predict what will happen two thousand years later; it reveals God's demand that we behave ethically. Much of the church's problems are timeless, and apply to us now.

In Revelation are letters to seven churches. Today we read four of those letters. They are addressed to individuals, but are directed to the entire church, much like Dear Abby, Click and Clack's Car Talk, and other advice columns. Some of their problems are timeless. We have the idea that the norm for churches is to be peaceful and free of problems; we see in these letters that is not the case. The norm is conflict and trial, although the goal is health and peace.

In Revelation, the angels of each church represent the church to God, and represent God's wishes to the church. The word for angel can also be translated messenger. John speaks of the angels as if they were a part of the life of the church sometimes, and at other times as if they were residents of heaven. Each church is a lampstand, called to shine God's light to the world. The lampstands' decorations are described in detail in Revelation 1. Each stand is covered with flowers and leaves, symbolizing life in God. Each lamp is a community of faith. The number seven is a heavenly number, a number of completeness. When John speaks of seven churches, he is addressing all the churches, not just 7. His advice is for all those who would follow Christ.

Today Mike will read the letters to four of the churches John writes to: Ephesus , Pergamum , Smyrna , and Thyatira. Ephesus is the port of entry to Asia minor ; Roman governors began their journeys there.

We'll be hearing from David Aune's translation (1) I hope hearing this different translation helps your understanding of the book. I'll add my comments at the end of each letter. Listen for the word of God as it is found in the second chapter of Revelation.

Revelation 2:1 "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: Thus says the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 "I know your deeds, namely, your effort and endurance. Because you cannot bear wicked people, and so have tested those who call themselves apostles but who really are not, for you found them liars. And you have endurance and have borne patiently because of my name, and you have not become weary. 4 But I hold this against you, that you have lost your first love. 5 Remember therefore how far you have fallen; and repent, and do the deeds you did formerly. If not, I will come to you and remove your menorah from its place, unless you repent. 6 But you have this in your favor, you despise the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also despise. 7 Let the person with an ear hear what the Spirit announces to the churches. I will allow the one who conquers to eat from the tree of life which is found in the paradise of God.

The paradise of God is a reference to the garden of Eden. The Greek word paradise is used to translate the Hebrew word for garden. We all have different definitions of paradise. I remember when I was in Egypt at the three thousand year old temple of Karnak . We had stopped for lunch, and our Egyptian Muslim guide told us about her honeymoon. She went to Disney World in Florida . She said it was like paradise because there was no trash anywhere.

The Ephesians' first love may have been their love for Christ; their church made many compromises to be able to continue to live in a city where one's citizenship is judged by one's attendance to the temple of Diana . So John tells them to remember what they used to do, so they will repent, knowing that and ethical godly life is possible, even in Ephesus .

Christ introduces himself as “the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands.” He reminds the weary Ephesians that that he walks in the midst of the churches, bringing light to each one.

In the letter to Smyrna , Christ is called the first and the last to show he is divine ruler over history, and has been resurrected . That knowledge is intended to comfort the church, especially in a town where citizens showed their political loyalty by temple attendance.

8 "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: Thus says the First and the Last, the one who died and and came to life: 9 "I know your tribulation and your poverty, (yet you are actually rich!) and the slander of those who call themselves Jews but are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Fear nothing you will suffer. Behold, Satan will shortly throw some of you into prison so that you might be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful to the point of death, and I will give you the garland of life. 11 Let the person with an ear hear what the Spirit announces to the churches. The one who conquers will absolutely not be harmed by the second death.

I think it's easy for us to hear an anti-Semitic message in the letter to Smyrna . But looking carefully, the opposite is true. The word Jew is a good word, but some who claim the name Jew are not living up to that name; they are guilty of slander because they are not true Jews. Then John bad-mouths them and calls their place of worship a synagogue of Satan instead of a synagogue of God.

Pergamum comes under judgment, as we see from the words about the two edged sword; always a symbol of judgment. Pergamum won the economic development contest to build the first temple to the emperor Augustus and the goddess Roma.

12 "Then write to the angel of the church in Pergamum : Thus says the one with the sharp two-edged sword: 13 "I know where you live, where the throne of Satan is located. You hold my name, and you did not renounce your faith in me even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was publicly executed where Satan dwells. 14 But I have against you the fact that you have there those who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel , to eat sacrificial meat and to commit fornication. 15 Thus you too include those who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans as well. 16 Therefore, repent. If you do not, I will come to you quickly and I will fight with them with the sword of my mouth. 17 Let the person with an ear hear what the Spirit announces to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give him a share of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name is inscribed which no one knows except the recipient.

John calls the altar of Zeus the throne of Satan, and equated eating meat sacrificed to idols with fornication. Meat wasn't part of most people's daily diet; it was a special treat for celebrations. Meat was sacrificed in the temple to the emperor, barbecued there, and sold in the market.

The Christians in Corinth reasoned that idols are nothing, and so Christians could eat food sacrificed to idols. Paul even said so. But what was acceptable in one church may have been sacrilege in another. Does this sound like any churches and denominations we know? I think John doesn't compromise on this issue as Paul did because he thought of Rome 's power as so destructive and oppressive that any compromise meant a denial of God's life-giving and saving power. Paul also said do not let our behavior cause another to stumble. Evidently many in Pergamum were stumbling.

The church in Thyatira had been a fort on the frontier, and now was a center for trade guilds. The description of Christ reminds us of chapter 1's description of the son of Man, with legs of bronze and eyes of flame. Chapter 1 alluded to Daniel 10. A heavenly being with eyes of fire and legs of bronze calls Daniel beloved, and said “your words are heard, do not fear, you are safe. Be strong and courageous.” And so John exhorts the church to do the same.

18 "Then to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: Thus says the Son of God, whose eyes are like a flame of fire, and his feet as burnished bronze: 19 "I know your works—namely, your love and faithfulness and service and your endurance. Your recent behavior is better than before. 20 But I have this against you that you have tolerated that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet… and who teaches and misleads my servants to fornicate and to eat meat sacrificed to idols. 21 And I have given her time to repent, but she did not want to repent of her fornication. 22 Behold, I will throw her on a sickbed, and I will cause those who commit fornication with her great tribulation. If they will not reject her behavior, 23 then I will kill her children with the plague. Then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts, and I will give to each of you in accordance with your deeds 24 I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, as many as do not hold this teaching, who do not know what people call 'the secrets of Satan, I will not put any other burden upon you. 25 only maintain what you have until I come. 26 And as for the one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, I will give him authority over the nations; 27 and he will drive them with an iron scepter, as when ceramic jars are shattered-- 28 Just as I received it from my Father, so I will also give the morning star to him. 29 Let the person with an ear hear what the Spirit is announcing to the churches.

John quotes a lot from the old testament, but he also knows the extrabiblical legends; when he talked about Balaam and Balak, he wasn't referring to the story in Numbers, but to Jewish legends. The same with Jezebel. Those names are just epithets to call bad people. The words about Jezebel seem unduly harsh.

Our NRSV speaks of throwing Jezebel the fornicator on a bed; but really, it's a sickbed. The punishment for false prophets is illness; the children John mentions are not her biological sons and daughters but her students, the people who believe her false prophecy. To John, the life of the church was at stake.

It's hard for us to understand that these words are supposed to motivate us; at first reading they seem violent and vengeful. We learn best not from punishment and retribution, but from discipline. Discipline allows learning to take place. It's related to the word disciple.

Do you remember the crosswalk sting here in Baker City? The police set up a video camera, a decoy walker, and uniformed cops in squad cars down the street, hidden from view. They ticketed drivers who didn't stop for the decoy pedestrian. They published ahead of time when and where their decoy would be, and urged everyone to slow down.

One newspaper received a letter from a citizen outraged that the reporter had printed so many details about the sting, too many drivers would slow down for pedestrians, and the cops wouldn't be able to catch very many people

The citizen thought the point of the operation was to punish all wrongdoers, rather than to motivate them to drive careful.

Much of the Bible calls us to remember. If we can remember what God has done for us in the past, we can depend on God to do the same in the future, and so we can dare to follow God's law of love and life, and to believe the hope of the resurrection and trust the presence of the spirit, moving among us.

(1) Aune, David E. Word Biblical Commmentary: Revelation 1-5.