Christ or Caesar?
Thursday, 03 November, 2005
Revelation is such an encouraging book. (One thing that's good about having exams at Bible College is that it forces you to study the Bible in more detail.) Revelation is such an encouraging book especially when you're like me and you've got an exam on it tomorrow. It's encouraging because it shows you the end of history. It's encouraging because it shows you the judgements that will fall from God—which, terrifying though they are, are immensely comforting because you can see that in them he is putting things to rights: those who have rebelled against him will rebel no longer but he will conquer them once and for all. The Bride and Lamb will dwell together in eternal peace. Most of all, I think it's encouraging because it shows you more of the nature of who Christ is.
At the time, many of the Caesars saw themselves as god (manifestations of Apollo). In cities throughout the empire there would be statues of them marking their territory. In a way, their image acted as a representative for their rule (much lik the image of God marked on us singles us out to be God's representatives of his rule on earth). The same was true for their coinage, stamped with their likeness. (Incidentally, John Dickson wears a denarius around his neck and uses it to get into gospel conversations using Matthew 22.) Of course, the Jews weren't into this, given God's bans on idols, and so for a long time they were given special exemption whereby they were allowed to use their own coinage and statues of the emperor were kept out of Jerusalem. (This is why Herod was so unpopular with the Jews; he wanted to bring one in.)
The Caesars also had temples on every street corner and in every village—often with statues out the front—and their priests called people in to offer sacrifices and worship the Caesar as god. Sometimes they would use magic tricks to make the people believe that the statue actually moved—smoke and mirrors, induced lightning and so on.
The power and authority of the Caesar was everywhere. It was visible, it was real. If the emperor didn't like you, he could have you killed. With one word he could expel all the Jews from Rome (like Claudius did in 49 AD). If your city was causing unrest, why, he'd march in and burnt it to the ground. All hail the Caesar!
In contrast, you have this crucified Jew with his ragtag followers whose authority is not visible (no statues, no coins) and whose presence is not tangible (he's dead; there are no temples in his honour and no sacrifices made in his name). To the Roman world, there was nothing stupider than to bow down to worship a crucified Jewish man. ”He has no power—he's dead! He has no authority—he couldn't even stop himself from being executed! He is not god—he is powerless.”
Enter the risen Christ.
Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white like wool, as white as snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”
(Revelation 1:12-19)
These descriptions of Jesus surface again at the beginning of the letters to the seven churches in chapters 2-3 (see Revelation 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7 and 14). I haven't looked at this in detail but I think this image in chapter 1 encapsulates everything the Book of Revelation has to say about Jesus.
Firstly, he's the one who stands among the seven lampstands (i.e. the seven churches). In Revelation, the number 7 stands for completeness so the seven lampstands are a metaphor for the entire church. Jesus is present with his church now by his Spirit. He hasn't gone away and left us; he will always be with us, as he said, “to the end of the age”.
Secondly, he's described by John as “one like a son of man”—Jesus' favourite term for himself (e.g. Mark 14:62). This is an allusion back to Daniel 7 where “one like a son of man” comes to the heavenly court and is given dominion over a kingdom (7:13-14). Jesus is that one: he rules over the kingdom. He is the king.
Thirdly, he's described as having attributes which previously were only of God. Daniel 7:9 describes God, the “Ancient of Days” as having hair like “pure wool” and his clothing was “white as snow”. Compare that with Revelation 1:14: “The hairs of his head were white like wool, as white as snow.” This is not the only place where this is done: the Lord declares, “I am the Alpha and the Omega ... who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8). Similarly, Jesus says of himself, “I am the first and the last and the living one. I died and behold I am alive forevermore ...” (Revelation 1:18) and “Behold, I am coming soon ... I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” (Revelation 22:12-13). In chapter 5, in the throne room of heaven, John sees the Lion who is the Lamb—the Lamb who was slain:
And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
(Revelation 5:6)
Horns in the Bible usually designate strength, power and authority (see Daniel 7-12). Eyes designate knowledge and insight (see Ezekiel 1). Having seven of them means that these things are total and complete. In short, John is saying that the Lamb—Jesus—is omnipotent and omniscient—qualities that only God could have.
Does this mean two gods? No, for then Christians would be polytheists. Revelation makes it quite clear that they are one for they are worshipped together by believers, not separately (same throne = they rule together):
No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.
(Revelation 22:3)
Fourthly, a sharp two-edged sword comes from his mouth (Revelation 1:16). This is the sword by which he will “strike down the nations” and “rule them with a rod of iron” (Revelation 19:15, c.f. 12:5). This is Jesus the soldier—Jesus the conquering king—Jesus the judge. Because he is the Lamb who was slain, he is worthy to open the scroll that contains the judgements of God (Revelation 5:9). He becomes the agent by which judgement comes. The picture of judgement in Revelation is layer upon layer: the seven seals (6:1-8:5); the seven trumpets (8:6-11:19) and the seven cups (15:1-16:2). (Most English translations say “bowls” but I agree with Beasley-Murray who says that the word can also be translated as “cup” and ought to be to show the very strong link with the “cup of God's wrath” in Isaiah. The word is translated so in Revelation 14:10 and 16:19.)
In a sense, the judgements are the expression of the wrath of the Lamb:
Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”
(Revelation 6:15-17)
In any case, Revelation makes it clear that those who battle against the Lamb will be defeated for he will conquer evil:
They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.
(Revelation 17:14)
The picture is pretty awe-inspiring:
Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
(Revelation 19:11-16)
And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.
(Revelation 19:19-21)
Fifthly, Jesus tells John, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.” (Revelation 1:17-18). Jesus is the bridegroom (chapter 19) and he will come for his people. His return is sure (Revelation 1:7; 3:11; 16:15; 22:7, 12, 20). He will mark his people as his own—he will write his name on their foreheads and they will see him face to face (Revelation 14:1; 22:4). He will provide for them as a shepherd provides for his sheep and dwell with them forever:
Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?”
I said to him, “Sir, you know.”
And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
(Revelation 7:13-17 c.f. 21:1-4)
John has good reason not to fear!
So, Revelation portrays Jesus as being present with his church now; as the one who has received the kingdom and all dominion and glory; as God and one with God; as the conquering king and judge; and as the bridegroom and shepherd to his people. Contrast all this with Caesar and Caesar pales in comparison.
The big message is: who are you going to serve? The king you can see or the king you can't (but who will one day return)? The king who claims to be God or the king who actually is God? The king who reigns for a short time over one part of the earth or the king who reigns forever over the whole world?
Jesus says,
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
(Revelation 3:20-21)
Will you among the ones who conquer?
Blinks:
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Issues organised by tale.
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How come you find it comforting that those who are not Christ’s will be judged?
I find it really sad - and I’m upset because so many people will be judged - and I’m upset because my friends and family will be judged?
Love George
At one level, it is very sad. That my friends and family do not know Christ spurs me on to want to introduce them to him. I don’t want for them to face the coming judgement. I’d much rather have them in the heavenly city where they will enjoy the presence of the Lord and the Lamb forever.
But at another level, it is the just and right sovereignty of God in action here. In the end, despite all I can do in spreading the gospel, people will still turn and reject him. In Revelation 9:20-21 they do just that:
It was their decision and so they must face the consequences. And it is just and right that the Lord avenge himself on all his enemies—on all those who have rejected his rightful rule as King.
The reason why it is comforting, in short, is because Christ will be King, whether we will or won’t have him.
Yes, I see what you’re saying. I still wonder why God creates all those people he’s then condemning to hell?
Yes, I wonder that too. And then I think of what Paul wrote in Romans 9:18-24:
Wow! Awesome and scary answer… Who am I indeed? Dust…