6/26/2023

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING:

“One of the seven angels who had [one of] the seven bowls came and said to me, ‘Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits by many waters. With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.’” (Revelation 17.1-2)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

Admittedly, the next three chapters of Revelation are a challenge for me. There are a lot of assumptions offered by scholars and non-scholars alike about the content of these chapters. It is easy to point fingers at contemporary enemies and find similarities between them, the beast, the anti-Christ and the dragon. It has been this way perhaps since before John recorded the revelation given to him in the scope of heaven. In the blending of Jewish apocalyptic literature and Greek tragedy, we find a simple goal of defining the battle between good and evil. It is a common fear and a popular past time. We look for heroes and superheroes to save the day. We imagine ourselves as those superheroes and believe that we can tap some inner power. We do not honestly know what would happen if we could utilize consciously more than the 5-10 percent of the brain we do now. Even now, as I pause to consider what was just written, I am remembering the words of Paul “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles. Let us run with endurance the race set out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame to sit down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12.1-3) These “superheroes of our imaginations” are myths. But, the “heroes” of the faith in Jesus as the Christ and of God His Father, that cloud of so great a number of witnesses which Paul alluded to, are what we can and should decide to be. It is those type of heroes that make the world a better place. Let it be said of them, and hopefully us, as Jesus said of Nathanael, “Behold, one of [very] Israel in whom there is no guile [or deceit.]” (John 1.47) While there is plenty of conjecture as to who the antagonists of the faith and the people of faith are in their leading roles, there is no doubt as to the protagonist. The protangonist in our story is Jesus of Nazareth. He has been previewed as “The Lamb of God,” “The Groom of the Bride which is the Church,” “The Son of God,” “The Bright and Morning Star,” “The King of kings.” There are other such titles which seek to define His nature, character and purpose. The plethora of such does not confuse the singularity of who Jesus is as the Christ of God. He is the image in which the people of God were made and are being remade. He accepts all accountability, authority and admonition. He does not have any desire to blame or disclaim the responsibility which is His. He speaks the truth in fierce love bounded by compassion, justice and the will of God. He is the defender of the Kingdom of God as it is intended to be on earth as it is in Heaven. He and He alone can and will defeat the enemy- Satan. Satan is the Accuser, the Blamer, the Disclaimer, the Liar, the Manipulator, the Magician, the Oligarch, the Dark Power, the Insurrectionist, the Usurper, the Devourer, the Blinder and shall I go on? I do not know what we have such a problem with identifying the problem or the problem-maker. But, it is that part of the nature of humanity which gives Satan the opportunity to believe he can defeat God and bring down the Kingdom of Heaven to dwell in the hell of the world on earth. Heaven will come down and Christ will come with it to the demise and despair of the Enemy- Satan, the fallen and cast out Lucifer.

But, what of Babylon, the “Prostitute of the Beast”? Who is this harlot of lawlessness who has lavished herself in the riches of the world and the blood of the faithful? Some would find it easy to take the literal identification as the geographic Babylon found in what is now Iran. We know of the history of Babylon, its rulers and its beliefs. They are not a friend of Israel then or now. But, other options have been offered such as Rome under its many caesars and emperors. They certainly were not a friend of Israel then and there is question as to their affinity for her now. We are given descriptions of “Babylon” as appearing with seven heads and ten crowns. Could it be a literal seven kings and ten kingdoms? There is much mystery in the descriptions given as to their application of identifying who, what, when and where the Enemy is. But, something in the midst of those descriptions and explanations is seemingly without question. That would be the mention of “seven hills.” Like the connection with seven kings and the “restored” Beast who was and is not but will be again for a short while as the eighth king (17.11), there is also the great possibility of an “eighth hill.” Archaeologists often dig through layers of civilizations as kingdom is built upon kingdom. Does the possibility exists not merely of a “city set on a hill [or seven hills]” to be the locus of evil authority? Is the mention of the eighth then a prelude of “a building of a new kingdom”? I would ask you to consider the words of Jesus to the Samaritan woman as they discussed the appropriate place of worship. Jesus said to her, “The day will come when the true worship of God will not happen on this or that mountain but in spirit and truth alone.” (John 4.21-23) In His day, Jerusalem and its Temple was built upon its “seventh” hill; one layer upon another since the days of Melchizadek. The call continues to be for the rebuilding of the Temple and the establishment of the “Messianic Kingdom.” Now, I am not saying that Jerusalem and Israel are the Beast and the Harlot. Far from it. There are other cities built on seven hills such as Paris, London and Washington D.C. Without a doubt there are many others. But, what is significant is that principle which seems to raise its defining head in this revelatory story: the head of BLAME. The inability to accept personal responsibility for one’s sin and one’s defiance of God’s will and authority over flesh and spirit is key and critical. It was revealed in the Garden of Eden between man, God and the Serpent. Its presence is in every generation since and will until the “End of the Age.” Our duty and responsibility as well as our opportunity as mighty ones of God is to see ourselves as we are in both sin and santification. We must hold ourselves accountable for the actions we consider and the actions we take. Are we for or against God? Are we prioritizing ourselves above God or below God? Are we willing to accept the consequences of our actions and inactions? When the day comes are we willing to “die on that hill”? Jesus was and did. If not for Him there would be no hope. He accepted the responsibility for our salvation even though He was without sin; He became sin for us. That is why He is our Hero, Our Champion, Our Savior, Our Christ and Our Friend. There is no other such as He! And the Enemy knows it. He seems to know it better than many throughout the history of humankind. He knows it but refuses to accept the truth. He will not relent. He will not repent. The day is coming when we all will know it and be defined ultimately by it. What will we know? What will we do?

A PRAYER FOR TODAY:

You are our God and we shall be Your people in spirit and in truth. Continue to dwell among us. Let the revelation by Your Holy Spirit inspire us to greater service in a more refined identity. We do not live as ourselves for ourselves. Rather, we live in Christ as He lives in us. We declare it with all the elders and angels in Heaven, saying “Holy, holy, holy is He who was and is and is to come.” In Jesus’ name we live, serve and pray. AMEN.