MY 3 BIGGEST PASTORAL PARADIGM-SHIFTS, PART 3

CHANGING PARADIGMS 

(Apologies for the length of this article, and the big words used.)

Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.
First Corinthians 10:11

As I reflect on my recent pastoral anniversary I've had cause to reflect on three of my most significant pastoral paradigm shifts. I think I was about 17 years of age when I approached my then pastor, Joseph Bowes, to talk about the growing sense of God's call on my life to pastor. I had assumed that all young men about that age felt a similar call. Pastor Bowes informed me that this was not the case. It was around this time in the 1980s that I first met Pastor Trevor Chandler who had become an annual visitor to our Geelong church (as he came down from Queensland to Victoria for INTERMIN). But this time (the 1980s) was a bizarre time for Bible Prophecy pundits. It was Trevor Chandler who first sowed the seeds into my soul to investigate rather than blindly accept Dispensational Futurism (which was the predominant view in most Evangelical and Pentecostal churches at the time). And I did.

My investigation has been shaped by a commitment to the four classic principles of hermeneutics and my interactions with a family member involved in a cult. It was these two factors which led me to write two books about Bible Prophecy (the first one published in 2004 and now has sold over 20,000 copies) and hundreds of articles published on my website which have so far received over 1.13 million views. My conclusions about eschatology is the third of my pastoral paradigm-shifts and has greatly enhanced my pastoring. Here's how.

but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 
Hebrews 1:2

I undertook a College course in Eschatology (from the Greek word, eschaton meaning 'last things') in 1991. Even though the course was delivered by a 'Futurist' College, the course coordinator exposed his students to various views about Bible prophecy. Futurism (refer to the graphic below for a description of these terms) did not fair well under rigorous scrutiny in this course. We were required to read Options In Eschatology by Prof. Millard J. Erickson, and The Revelation of Jesus Christby Dr. John F. Walvoord. The first book dismantled 'Pre-Millennial Futurism' and showed why it lacked Biblical credibility. The second book was about Pre-Millennial Futurism, including a Pre-Tribulation Rapture. The course coordinator showed the irreparable problems with Dispensational Pre-Millennial Futurism, but the College required that Dr. Walvoord's book be read and understood as the position we were required to accept. 

After completing this formal study in Eschatology, I had a clearer view of what I didn't believe than what I did. My doctoral research was largely in Church History. This exposed me to the progress of Christian thought down through the centuries. It became increasingly obvious that what most Christians held to today regarding Bible prophecy, the ancient Christians had never heard of!

And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years,  and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.
Revelation 20:2-3

Dispensationalism is a way of looking at the Bible. It divides the Bible in a series of dispensations of time and attributes a different means of salvation within each dispensation. Under the Dispensation of Law, a person was saved by keeping the Law. Under the Dispensation of Grace, a person is saved by faith in the finished work of Christ. The idea of Dispensationalism at first sounds reasonable. But as I became increasingly familiar with Church History and the art and science of Hermeneutics (how we interpret the Bible), I found Dispensationalism (which most Pentecostals hold to) untennable. On both counts, I found that Dispensationalism appealed to Church History by reinterpretting it. For example, Jerome (347-420) used a Latin word that sounds like 'rapture' in English, and this was used to justify the Rapture doctrine. Biblically Ezekiel refers to a people which in Hebrew sounds like 'Rosh' which Dispensationalists claim refers to modern day 'Russia'.

When I began to dig a little deeper I found that even the verses used to support the idea of a 'rapture' were generally about either the Roman bombardment of Jerusalem where random people would be killed (and the Jewish Historian, Josephus, describes) or the final resurrection. But the most disturbing aspect of Dispensationalism was its dependence on its new ways of interpretting the Bible. For its interpretation to work, it had to invent some new 'laws' of interpretation including, The Law of Double Reference also called, The Rule of Dual Fulfilment. One proof-text is offered in support of this: Isaiah 7:14 "Behold the virgin shall conceive". It is claimed that this was first fulfilled with Isaiah the Prophet's wife, then again with the Virgin Mary. But there are some serious problems with this idea. Firstly, there is no hint in Scripture that Isaiah's wife was the intended fulfilment of this prophecy (and I strongly doubt that she was a virgin!) and there is a plain statement in Matthew 1:21 that Mary of Nazareth was the (not "a") fulfilment of the Isaiah prophecy. But this novel rule/law of Bible interpretation is the foundational principle for the belief that God has merely suspended His Old Covenant with Israel and temporarily instigated a New Covenant with the Church. Dispensationalism claims that God has two existing covenants with two groups of people- (i) Israel, and (ii) The Church. 

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.
Galatians 3:28-29

While I was grappling with all this, my father inlaw died suddenly. I was asked to take the funeral. I had had many conversations with my Hungarian father-inlaw about spiritual things and had met with deep resistance. After the funeral, my mother-inlaw, who I deeply appreciate, expressed her hope that my father-inlaw would be given a second chance to turn to Christ in the Millennial Kingdom on Earth. She had long been persuaded by the teachings of Charles Taze Russell (the founder of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society). This led to me trying to have a genial written conversation with her about this aspect of Eschatology. Every time I tried to discuss the applicable Scriptures with her, I met with a novel way of interpreting the Scriptures which seemed to take the plain meaning of the text and twist it into an entirely different meaning. This led me to appeal to the classic principles of Bible interpretation.

It was at this point in the ongoing discussions with the my mother-inlaw as we were discussing the finer aspects of Matthew 24, that I realised I was doing the very thing that I was accusing my mother-inlaw of doing: I was reading into the text of Scripture rather than listening to what the text was intending to give out. 

Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.Matthew 24:34

It was Matthew 24:34 which drove this error home to me. I had been taught to read this verse as if it was saying "that" generation, rather than what it actually says - "this" generation. The ramifications of this straight-forward reading are immense and were not lost on the most vocal atheist of the twentieth century, Bertrand Russell, when he was debating C.S. Lewis about Christianity. It was this verse which he used to describe Jesus as either a mere mortal who was deluded, or as a manipulative con-artist who was deceptive. This led C.S. Lewis to essentially concede the debate and later comment about this verse-

I find this the most embarrassing verse in the Bible.
C.S. Lewis

I spent a lot of time researching this verse and trying to reconcile how Jesus could be God in the flesh yet so wrong in His prophecy recorded in this verse. Coincidentally I also began my series on the Book of Revelation (around 2002). I was determined to only take out of these Scriptures what God had intended to be taken out. I would use the first four principles of hermeneutics and try keep my preconceived ideas out of the text. And while I was working through this huge problem with Matthew 24:34 I was discovering a whole set of new problems with the Book of Revelation if we merely apply the principles of sound hermeneutics to it. 

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
Revelation 1:3

Exactly the same "problem" occurs in reading the Book of Revelation as occurs in Matthew 24. I had been taught that when Revelation used language like, "soon", "near", "at hand", "now", "this hour", it actually didn't mean it. In fact, what it actually meant was exactly the opposite to these words mean! The only reason plausible for doing this was that a plain reading of the text didn't fit the Dispensational (Futurist) paradigm! I was resolute to research Biblical eschatology exegetically (taking out of the text only what was originally put into it) rather than eisegetically(reading things into the text). Here's what I discovered, and why it became my biggest pradigm-shift. 

MATTHEW 24

Matthew 24 was a conversation between Jesus and His disciples on the Mount of Olives. Hence, it is referred to as The Olivet Discourse. The discples point out the Temple to Jesus and how impressive it was. But Jesus dismisses this and declares that it will be dismantled stone by stone. In utter dismay, the disciples ask three questions: (i) When will this happen? (ii) What will be the sign of Your 'coming' (Greek word, parousia)? (iii) When will this age (Greek word, aionos) end? Understanding these three questions is essential to understanding this chapter. Jesus proceeds to answer to each question. Consider that. He answered, in detail, each of the three questions. If I was preaching this point right now, I would labour it! And the reason I would do so is because there are some who suggest that after Jesus has answered their questions He then declared that He didn't really know the answers because He was speaking out of His humanity, not His divinity! I find this opinion of Christ in Matthew 24 nearly blasphemous. (I explain why in this YouTube video.) I would also point out what the disciples asked, not what we think the disciples asked.

¶ As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"Matthew 24:3

1.When will these things be? Jesus gives detailed descriptions of what was about to happen and then plainly stated the answer to this question: this generation shall not pass away until all these things take place (Matt. 24:34). A Biblical 'generation' is 40 years. If we consider that Jesus spoke these words in 30AD, He has just plainly stated all these things would be fulfilled by 70AD.

2. What will be the sign of Your coming? Note that the disciples did not ask- When will You return? The Greek word ὑποστρέφω (hupostrepho) is the word they would have used if they had asked When will You return? But instead, they asked When will You 'parousia'? This word means, reveal, appear, come, but specifically in this context it means, to come in judgment. The disciples had good reason to ask When will You come to judge?because the destruction of the Temple was the pinnacle of God's judgment on Israel in the Old Testament. This is the climax of the Book of Jeremiah.

3. What will be the sign of the end of the age?Despite the King James Version translating this word as "world", the disciples did not ask Jesus When will the end of the world be? Jesus has just said that the Temple would be destroyed and the immediate question from the disciples was, When will this (Temple) age end? 

A part of Christ's answer was that the sun would be darkened, the moon will not give forth its light, and the stars would fall from the sky (Matt. 24:29). Using the hermeneutical principles of Scripture interpretting Scripture we note that in Genesis 37:9 Joseph dreamed a dream about the sun, moon and stars bowing down to him and this was immediately interpretted as the Israel and his family. Later the prophet Isaiah in describing Israel's rebellion would say that the sun, moon, and stars no longer shine their light (Isaiah 13:10), and Ezekiel would describe rebellious Israel as having their light "blotted out" so God says - 

"I will cover the heavens
and make their stars dark;
I will cover the sun with a cloud,
and the moon shall not give its light."Ezekiel 32:7

And Joel says-

The sun and the moon are darkened,
and the stars withdraw their shining.
Joel 3:15

What many may not realise is that when Jesus says, Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the Heavens (Matt. 24:30), that He was referring to Daniel 7:13, where it foretells of the Son of Man coming "up" on the clouds of Heaven (not "down"). The expression "the Lord is coming", often associated with His glory depicted as "clouds" was used throughout the Old Testament. For example, Isaiah 19:1-

¶ An oracle concerning Egypt.
Behold, the LORD is riding on a swift cloud
and comes to Egypt;
and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence,
and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them.

Thus, Jesus was not talking about His return to resurrect and judge the world (described in Matthew 25), but was describing His judgment on Jerusalem and the abolishing of the Old Covenant (the Temple, the Priesthood, and the sacrifices), which were indeed done away with in 70AD when the Romans destroyed Temple stone by stone just as Jesus had said. If you're interesting in learning more about this, I wrote a book about it! It's available either as an eBook, or as a paperback.

READING THE BIBLE LITERALLY

One of the most obvious problems with Dispensational Futurism is that its predictions based on its interpretations have consistently been wrong. This undermines the credibility of the Bible in the minds of some. As a pastor, I want those whom God has charged me to shepherd to have good reasons to have confidence in the Bible so that when life's storms and difficulties come, they will find the comfort and peace of God in the words of Scripture. To achieve this I need to help my congregation to understand how to read the Bible. The goal is to read the Bible literally. But there are two types of literal reading. The first is  wooden literal where no allowance is made for metaphors, synedoches, idioms, allegories, parables, poetry, apocalyptic symbolism, perspectives, hyperboles, or narratives. The other type of literal is intended literal. This is where allowance is made for these types of literature and the goal is to discover what the author intended - not what the words the author used could mean.

A few years after my Understanding The Book of Revelation had been released, one interested reader in it (The Most Embarrassing Book In The Bible) flew from Brisbane to Launceston to discuss it with me. For him, its contents were not merely theoretical. As I explained in The Most Embarrassing Book In The Bible what the future holds for the believer according to the Book of Revelation, especially in the life to come, he shared with just why this was so important to him. He was dying! He had drawn great comfort from discovering that everything in the first 19 chapters of Revelation had been fulfilled whichgave him confidence that the remaining chapters would similarly be fulfilled. But, as this book had been out for a few years, he wanted to personally check if I still stood by its contents. I did and I do. This illustrates the immediate pastoral application of sound eschatology grounded in equally sound hermeneutics. This view is known as Preterism (as distinct from Full-Preterism which regards all prophecy as being fulfilled).

But this paradigm-shift came at a price. I was no longer able to hold ordination with the denomination I was serving in due to their emphatic Futurist Eschatological stance. However, it has been more than compensated for with untold dividends as many people have come to see why we have good reasons to believe what the God of the Bible has said in His Word. As I reflect on each of my three biggest pastoral paradigm-shifts, they have each arisen from a deep desire to faithfully serve God and His people by being faithful to His Word. 

¶ I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
Second Timothy 4:1-4

Ps. Andrew

Are We In The End Times?

Written by Dr Andrew Corbett, President of ICI Theological College Australia, and author of the popular commentary on the Book of Revelation- The Most Embarrassing Book In The Bible, April 26th 2013

Wars, earthquakes, floods, and famines have long been considered the traits of what many believe to be the Biblical description of the "end times". Added to this is what many understand to be the predictions of increased apostasy, the rise in persecution, the deterioration of society's morals, and the increased compromise and lukewarmness of the Church. And surely, if these are the characteristics of what the Bible describes as the last days, we must be in the last days, right? But are we? And if we are, so what? And if we aren't, then what? But are we in what the Bible describes as the 'end times'?

¶ But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty."
Second Timothy 3:1

WHAT ARE THE "END TIMES"?

The expression "end times" is used by Christians to describe a brief period immediately preceding the return of Christ to earth. The expression, however, does not actually occur in the Bible. Rather, expressions such as "the last days", "end of the age" are regarded as synonyms for "end times". The Bible presents a picture of our world as being subject to God's redemptive plan which climaxed in the coming to earth of the eternal Son of God as one of us and will culminate one day when He returns to judge the living and the dead (Rev. 20:12).

knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.
Second Peter 3:3

SIGNS OF THE "END TIMES"

[Read the Full Article]

Revelation Daily Devotional - Day 29

Day 29

Revelation 20:11-15

[Rev. 20:11] ¶ Then I saw a large white throne and the one who was seated on it; the earth and the heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. [Rev. 20:12] And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne. Then books were opened, and another book was opened—the book of life. So the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to their deeds. [Rev. 20:13] The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each one was judged according to his deeds. [Rev. 20:14] Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. [Rev. 20:15] If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, that person was thrown into the lake of fire. 

“All good things come to an end” is only the first of what should be considered an incomplete expression. A latter half should be added, “so that something better can start.” Scientists tell us that the universe is winding down. Eventually, the energy that is within the cosmos will dissipate and with it the very fabric that binds all matter. Perhaps what John foresees, “earth and sky fled away” is Biblical language for what scientists tell us will happen. Time as we know it will come to an end. When it does the Judge of the Universe will be seated in judgment before Whom all will appear.

The Apostle Paul told us that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11). That will happen most honourably and most horribly on this “Last Day” (John 6:39-44; 11:24; 12:48). I have chosen to make my confession on that Day one of honour. Have you?

On this Day, the books will be opened. The Scriptures speaks of God keeping “books” in which our deeds are recorded, our prayers are registered, and our words transcribed. While these books are important, they are less important than the Book mentioned in the closing verse of this chapter: the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5; 13:8; 17:8).  

The Book of Life is a separate book to the books that record of deeds, prayers and words which means that there is another reason why someone's name would be placed in it. This reason is grounded in the grace of God. That is, it is not because we ‘do’ something that we are saved from sin and made right before God. Christianity is not spelt -D-O-, rather (because of Christ’s saving work on our behalf) it is spelt: -D-O-N-E-. Every believer should memorise Ephesians 2:8-9. But every believer should understand that God will open “books” not just “the Book”. That is, while it is on the basis of the truth proclaimed in Ephesians 2:8-9 that our names are written in the Book of Life, it is on the basis of Ephesians 2:10 that our positive deeds, prayers and words are recorded in “books”. 

Good works are not the root of our salvation - they are the fruit of our salvation! What you do, pray, and say, matters. And it will matter for eternity. If you have not yet determined to glorify God with your talents, time, tongue or treasure, maybe in light of the “books” of God it might be a good day to start doing so.

Andrew Corbett

http://www.andrewcorbett.net/e-books/index.html#tmebitb

Revelation Daily Devotional - Day 22

Day 22

Revelation 14:6-20

[Rev. 14:6] ¶ Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, and he had an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language, and people. [Rev. 14:7] He declared in a loud voice: “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has arrived, and worship the one who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water!” [Rev. 14:8] ¶ A second angel followed the first, declaring: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great city! She made all the nations drink of the wine of her immoral passion.” [Rev. 14:9] ¶ A third angel followed the first two, declaring in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and takes the mark on his forehead or his hand, [Rev. 14:10] that person will also drink of the wine of God’s anger that has been mixed undiluted in the cup of his wrath, and he will be tortured with fire and sulfur in front of the holy angels and in front of the Lamb. [Rev. 14:11] And the smoke from their torture will go up forever and ever, and those who worship the beast and his image will have no rest day or night, along with anyone who receives the mark of his name.” [Rev. 14:12] This requires the steadfast endurance of the saints—those who obey God’s commandments and hold to their faith in Jesus.[Rev. 14:13] ¶ Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: ‘Blessed are the dead, those who die in the Lord from this moment on!’” ¶ “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so they can rest from their hard work, because their deeds will follow them.”[Rev. 14:14] ¶ Then I looked, and a white cloud appeared, and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man! He had a golden crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. [Rev. 14:15] Then another angel came out of the temple, shouting in a loud voice to the one seated on the cloud, “Use your sickle and start to reap, because the time to reap has come, since the earth’s harvest is ripe!” [Rev. 14:16] So the one seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped. [Rev. 14:17] ¶ Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. [Rev. 14:18] Another angel, who was in charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to the angel who had the sharp sickle, “Use your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes off the vine of the earth, because its grapes are now ripe.” [Rev. 14:19] So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and gathered the grapes from the vineyard of the earth and tossed them into the great winepress of the wrath of God. [Rev. 14:20] Then the winepress was stomped outside the city, and blood poured out of the winepress up to the height of horses’ bridles for a distance of almost two hundred miles.

Sometimes things have to get worse so they can better. In the midst of the eternal Gospel being proclaimed, a city described metaphorically as ‘Babylon’ has its true spiritual condition exposed. It prided itself as a ‘holy’ city (note how this great city is referred to Revelation 11:8). It was a city where much worship was transacted. But it is wrong worship for it focuses on the Beast introduced in Revelation 13:1. To participate in this idolatry, worshipers had to initially fool themselves that were actually worshiping the God of Abraham. They would wear the prescribed mark on their hands or between the “frontlets of their eyes” to look like they were worshiping the actual God of their ancestors.

John urged his original readers to endure and ‘keep’ the commandments of Christ (vs 12). Today, we need believers who can similarly endure. Following Christ is rarely a sprint and nearly always more akin to a marathon. It’s not the appearance of worship which constitutes worship - but the expression of actual surrender and devotion to God.

After the Old Covenant and its elements were done away with, those who died as faithful servants of God no longer went to the holding place of the dead but could now enjoy the blessing of entering fully into the Lord’s presence. Not only will those who die in the Lord enter in their rest, they will enter their eternal reward. Endurance in this life has eternal dividends! And who was more qualified to urge for Christian endurance than John? Today there seems to be too few who are qualified to urge fellow believers to endure. Perhaps one day you might be one? The journey to endurance starts where John started this section: Fear God, give Him glory!

Andrew Corbett

http://andrewcorbett.net/the-most-embarrassing-verse-in-the-bible/index.html

Revelation Daily Devotional - Day 21

Day 21

Revelation 14:1-5 

[Rev. 14:1] ¶ Then I looked, and here was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him were one hundred and forty-four thousand, who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. [Rev. 14:2] I also heard a sound coming out of heaven like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. Now the sound I heard was like that made by harpists playing their harps, [Rev. 14:3] and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one was able to learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been redeemed from the earth. [Rev. 14:4] ¶ These are the ones who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed from humanity as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb, [Rev. 14:5] and no lie was found on their lips; they are blameless.

Throughout history no one has inspired more music, art or literature than Jesus Christ. And of those who have been creatively inspired by Christ none have been so inspired or so creative than those who have been redeemed by Christ! The 144,000 is a number that represents the redeemed. They are granted access to the presence of the One seated on the Throne of the Universe. The sound emanating from the Throne was a symphony of sublimely glorious music. Deep bass sounds so pure they sounded like loud thunder. High frequency tones which sounded like harps. And singing so heart-felt, that their deep gratitude to the One who had redeemed them was profoundly obvious. The lives of devotion, chastity and sacrifice which seemed so costly during their sojourn on earth, now seemed an infinitely small price to have paid compared to the wondrous ecstasy and consummate joy they were now basking in. As you draw closer to Christ don’t be surprised if you become increasingly creative and new songs arise in your soul. Proximity to the presence of God is the source of all true genuine artistic creativity.

Those who had died for Christ had not died in vain. They had followed the Lamb even to their deaths. Their deaths were avoidable - if they had only denied Christ, but “no lie was found in their mouth.” I once asked the General Manager of one of Australia’s largest companies why he was so successful at recruiting quality staff. He said that he hired on the basis of character first and competency third. In the interviews he would ask prospective employees a question: “Tell me about a time you paid a high price for doing the right thing.” As I pondered this question I realised that every Christian would be able to answer this question many times over because following Christ comes at a high price in a world devoid of character that more often than not rewards compromise and ridicules those who do right.

Were martyrs a sign of the Church’s doom? These original martyrs became the reason the Church survived! Tertullian wrote, “the blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church.” John describes them as “firstfruits”. Today we are the beneficiaries of their faithfulness. Hopefully in centuries to come future generations will be the beneficiaries of ours.

Andrew Corbett

www.andrewcorbett.net

Revelation Daily Devotional - Day 20

Day 20

Revelation 13:1-14

[Rev. 13:1] ¶ Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, and on its horns were ten diadem crowns, and on its heads a blasphemous name. [Rev. 13:2] Now the beast that I saw was like a leopard, but its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. The dragon gave the beast his power, his throne, and great authority to rule. [Rev. 13:3] One of the beast’s heads appeared to have been killed, but the lethal wound had been healed. And the whole world followed the beast in amazement; [Rev. 13:4] they worshiped the dragon because he had given ruling authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast too, saying: “Who is like the beast?” and “Who is able to make war against him?” [Rev. 13:5] The beast was given a mouth speaking proud words and blasphemies, and he was permitted to exercise ruling authority for forty-two months. [Rev. 13:6] So the beast opened his mouth to blaspheme against God—to blaspheme both his name and his dwelling place, that is, those who dwell in heaven. [Rev. 13:7] The beast was permitted to go to war against the saints and conquer them. He was given ruling authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation, [Rev. 13:8] and all those who live on the earth will worship the beast, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was killed. [Rev. 13:9] If anyone has an ear, he had better listen! [Rev. 13:10] If anyone is meant for captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed by the sword, then by the sword he must be killed. ¶ This requires steadfast endurance and faith from the saints. [Rev. 13:11] ¶ Then I saw another beast coming up from the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but was speaking like a dragon. [Rev. 13:12] He exercised all the ruling authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and those who inhabit it worship the first beast, the one whose lethal wound had been healed. [Rev. 13:13] He performed momentous signs, even making fire come down from heaven in front of people [Rev. 13:14] and, by the signs he was permitted to perform on behalf of the beast, he deceived those who live on the earth. He told those who live on the earth to make an image to the beast who had been wounded by the sword, but still lived.

This is perhaps the most contentious chapter in this Revelation. More speculation has been generated over the identity of this mysterious character known as “the beast” than any other mysterious figure in human history. With so much attention, it strikes me as odd that several obvious things are overlooked. Firstly, there are two beasts identified in this chapter. A ‘beast’ was an Old Testament expression for a godless ruler. The prophet Daniel establishes this. ‘From across the sea’ signifies that this particular godless ruler will not be from the (Promised) ‘Land’ (Israel). One of these two beasts is from across the sea. But the other beast is from the Land (Greek word, “ge”). Secondly, John states that with “wisdom” his readers could identify who the first beast is using the common practice of gematria (where letters have numerical value). It’s difficult to see how anyone in the first century, even with infinite wisdom, could know of any identity in the 21st Century! 

This makes me wonder about how people can overlook relatively obvious things, such as these two points I have just made. But perhaps this is how some people generally read the Bible - straining at minutiae details while missing the large and obvious. To read the Book of Revelation as if it were a prognosticator’s tea-cup filled with mysterious tea-leaves predictions about our future is perhaps to miss the grandest point that this Book is making: Jesus Christ is Lord. Beasts may rant and oppose, but Christ will be vindicated!

Those who oppose Christ, do so at their peril. Fighting against God has a certain inevitability about it. Fighting against His children has a certain and sure consequence to it! The original readers benefited from this truth. Modern readers can as well.

Andrew Corbett

www.andrewcorbett.net

Revelation Daily Devotional - Day 16

Day 16

Revelation 10:1-11

[Rev. 10:1] ¶ Then I saw another powerful angel descending from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun and his legs were like pillars of fire. [Rev. 10:2] He held in his hand a little scroll that was open, and he put his right foot on the sea and his left on the land. [Rev. 10:3] Then he shouted in a loud voice like a lion roaring, and when he shouted, the seven thunders sounded their voices. [Rev. 10:4] When the seven thunders spoke, I was preparing to write, but just then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up what the seven thunders spoke and do not write it down.” [Rev. 10:5] Then the angel I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven [Rev. 10:6] and swore by the one who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, and the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, “There will be no more delay! [Rev. 10:7] But in the days when the seventh angel is about to blow his trumpet, the mystery of God is completed, just as he has proclaimed to his servants the prophets.” [Rev. 10:8] Then the voice I had heard from heaven began to speak to me again, “Go and take the open scroll in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.”  [Rev. 10:9] So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take the scroll and eat it. It will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.”  [Rev. 10:10] So I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it, and it did taste as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. [Rev. 10:11] Then they told me: “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.”

“Peoples and nations and languages.” The Bible is not like other so-called Holy Books. It is designed to be translated into every language for every people and still make sense. But more than just make sense, it is a God-breathed book designed to be translated into any language. The wonder of God’s Word to mankind is that connects with all people of all languages over every period of time. Words are only a small part of language. The conveying of thoughts and ideas are also major roles of a language. This is done with word pictures (metaphors), humour (often using hyperbole), but especially the real stories of real people. And this is exactly how God  has comprised the Bible. 

I often think that reading the Bible is like peeling an onion. You become acquainted with the outer layer of its message (what it says) so that you can begin to discover some of the gems that can only be seen once you’ve gone to the trouble of getting familiar with the outer layers first.

As we read the Bible we will very soon read prophecies. This book of Revelation is almost cover-to-cover prophecies.This passage of Revelation reinforces the Bible’s emphatic claim that what the prophets had foretold about “the mystery of God” would soon be fulfilled. The Apostle Paul tells us that God’s plan to unite all people under one New Covenant was the unfolding mystery of God (Eph. 3:9). 

Reading Revelation 10:7, the original readers would have had good reason to draw tremendous confidence for remaining steadfast in their faith in Christ and that Christ would fulfil His Word through His prophets to establish a New Covenant people, the Church. 

The Bible’s claim to be inspired by God stands or falls on whether its prophecies, which include clear time-frame references, have been fulfilled within their forecasted time-frames. I am convinced that they have and this gives me great confidence to trust the rest of Scripture as the inspired, inerrant Word of God. No matter what your nationality or language, I hope that you too find increased confidence in the Bible as God’s inspired Word for you.

Andrew Corbett

www.andrewcorbett.net

Revelation Daily Devotional - Day 12

Day 12

Revelation 6:1-14

[Rev. 6:1] ¶ I looked on when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a thunderous voice, “Come!” [Rev. 6:2] So I looked, and here came a white horse! The one who rode it had a bow, and he was given a crown, and as a conqueror he rode out to conquer. [Rev. 6:3] ¶ Then when the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come!” [Rev. 6:4] And another horse, fiery red, came out, and the one who rode it was granted permission to take peace from the earth, so that people would butcher one another, and he was given a huge sword. [Rev. 6:5] ¶ Then when the Lamb opened the third seal I heard the third living creature saying, “Come!” So I looked, and here came a black horse! The one who rode it had a balance scale in his hand. [Rev. 6:6] Then I heard something like a voice from among the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat will cost a day’s pay and three quarts of barley will cost a day’s pay. But do not damage the olive oil and the wine!” [Rev. 6:7] ¶ Then when the Lamb opened the fourth seal I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come!” [Rev. 6:8] So I looked and here came a pale green horse! The name of the one who rode it was Death, and Hades followed right behind. They were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill its population with the sword, famine, and disease, and by the wild animals of the earth. [Rev. 6:9] ¶ Now when the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been violently killed because of the word of God and because of the testimony they had given. [Rev. 6:10] They cried out with a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Master, holy and true, before you judge those who live on the earth and avenge our blood?” [Rev. 6:11] Each of them was given a long white robe and they were told to rest for a little longer, until the full number was reached of both their fellow servants and their brothers who were going to be killed just as they had been.  [Rev. 6:12] ¶ Then I looked when the Lamb opened the sixth seal, and a huge earthquake took place; the sun became as black as sackcloth made of hair, and the full moon became blood red; [Rev. 6:13] and the stars in the sky fell to the earth like a fig tree dropping its unripe figs when shaken by a fierce wind. [Rev. 6:14] The sky was split apart like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place.

In the ancient times, royal decrees were written on a scroll, sealed with wax and then impressed with the Emperor’s emblem. Upon receipt, only the authorised representative was permitted to break the wax seal and unfurl the scroll to reveal the King’s judgment. While Caesar was issuing decrees to martyr Christians and forcibly close churches, John sees a vision of the True King issuing the real decrees of consequential rather than temporal judgment.

Today, we still live in a world where kings and tyrants, professors and celebrities rail against God. Feigning brightness they espouse irrationality. Pretending to be mighty they are destined to bow before the One who is Almighty.

John is writing to his readers in two languages. The first is Greek. The second is symbolism, or more accurately: Biblical symbolism. You may never get the opportunity to learn Biblical Greek. But you should create an opportunity to learn Biblical symbolism. Most of the Book of Revelation is written in this latter language which a Bible reader learns from becoming familiar with the Old Testament.

Undoubtedly, John’s original audience knew this latter language. This Biblically symbolic revelation would have been immensely comforting to them. He refers to a precise number yet waiting to be made complete. These disasters against the Church were not a matter of the Enemy gaining the upper hand. In a way that is often beyond immediate human comprehension, the persecution and martyrdom was actually an integral part of Christ’s plan - which would be completed - and still will ultimately be.

Rather than the Church being crushed by the opposition it faced from Rome and Jerusalem, Christ's plan was still on track and He would be vindicated. And it still is and He was and He will be still.

It’s now up to us to live like it.

 Andrew Corbett

www.andrewcorbett.net

Revelation Daily Devotional - Day 10

Day 10

Revelation 3:14-22

[Rev. 3:14] ¶ “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write the following: ¶ “This is the solemn pronouncement of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator of God’s creation: [Rev. 3:15] ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot! [Rev. 3:16] So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth! [Rev. 3:17] Because you say, “I am rich and have acquired great wealth, and need nothing,” but do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked, [Rev. 3:18] take my advice and buy gold from me refined by fire so you can become rich! Buy from me white clothing so you can be clothed and your shameful nakedness will not be exposed, and buy eye salve to put on your eyes so you can see! [Rev. 3:19] All those I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent! [Rev. 3:20] Listen! I am standing at the door and knocking! If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come into his home and share a meal with him, and he with me. [Rev. 3:21] I will grant the one who conquers permission to sit with me on my throne, just as I too conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. [Rev. 3:22] The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

The Laodicean church had become like its famous lukewarm water. They weren’t totally against Christ - but neither were they totally for Christ. Yet interestingly, they still had works for Christ to speak of. Sometimes those who are busy for Christ are the ones most susceptible to forgetting about Christ!

What was the cause of the Laodicean’s spiritual indifference? Alarmingly to us Westerners, it was their prosperity! They had need of nothing. They had gold, fine clothes, and good health. But they were spiritually bankrupt, naked, and blinded. Christ summoned them to repent from their life of ease and receive His discipline. The other churches had to overcome adversity in order to fully follow Christ. But the Laodiceans were the most pitiable because they had to overcome their apathy induced by comfort, prosperity, and good health. While they may have thought of themselves as blessed by God, Christ’s shocking words to them revealed that they were the ones most missing out! It wasn’t their gold that made them “rich” - it was Christ’s “gold refined by fire” that could make them truly rich. Of all the messages that Christ gave to any of these Turkish churches, surely this one is the most unwelcomed by today’s Western Church. We have generally committed the same error as these dear Laodiceans. We have confused devotion to Christ with deeds done for Christ. We have confused material provision with the material of God’s riches. We have duped ourselves into thinking that “good” health means we are spiritually fit. And despite our natural obesity we are actually famished.

Against this plight, Christ offers us a real meal if we would but respond to His knocking at our doors and open ourselves up more fully to Him (vs 20).

Andrew Corbett

Revelation Daily Devotional - Day 9

Day 9

Revelation 3:7-13

[Rev. 3:7] ¶ “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write the following: ¶ “This is the solemn pronouncement of the Holy One, the True One, who holds the key of David, who opens doors no one can shut, and shuts doors no one can open:  [Rev. 3:8] ‘I know your deeds. (Look! I have put in front of you an open door that no one can shut.) I know that you have little strength, but you have obeyed my word and have not denied my name. [Rev. 3:9] Listen! I am going to make those people from the synagogue of Satan—who say they are Jews yet are not, but are lying—Look, I will make them come and bow down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.  [Rev. 3:10] Because you have kept my admonition to endure steadfastly, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth.  [Rev. 3:11] I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have so that no one can take away your crown. [Rev. 3:12] The one who conquers I will make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never depart from it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God (the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from my God), and my new name as well. [Rev. 3:13] The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Philadelphia means brotherly love. This is the only church not rebuked by Jesus. It seems there is something about this church which is close to the heart of Christ. He relates to this church by identifying Himself to them as the one “who has the key of David”. It was David who won the hearts of those around him. David, more than any other Old Testament figure, understood brotherly love. His loyalty to those around him was famous. He taught his son Solomon that ‘he who wins souls is wise’ (Prov. 11:30). This was David’s Key. It opened doors for him. 

In life generally being nice to others and treating them like ‘brothers’ will open doors for you. The adage goes, “It’s not what you know - but who you know that counts.” Christ commends the Philadelphian church for their care and kindness toward each other. And if kindness and care is to be found anywhere, it should at least be found in a church. 

Yet, even warm and kind people are subject to attacks from others. The Philadelphians were. We too should not be surprised that we will attract the rancour of people who despise Christ and His claims to be Lord over their time, bodies, and treasure. There will be times when we too will have to patiently endure in our devotion to Christ and brotherly love for each other (Rev. 3:10). But it will be worth it for there is a crown awaiting us that we will wear in the Temple of God where we will experience the fullness of God's all-satisfying love. 

Are you being a brother to others? Are there those in your church who you have not been caring or kind towards? Are you experiencing mocking or ridicule from those who despise your commitment to the Jesus of the Bible? Hear what the Spirit is saying to you today and make a commitment to be like the Philadelphian believers whom Christ commended.

 Andrew Corbett

Revelation Daily Devotional - Day 7

Day 7

Revelation 2:18-29

 [Rev. 2:18] ¶ “To the angel of the church in Thyatira write the following: ¶ “This is the solemn pronouncement of the Son of God, the one who has eyes like a fiery flame and whose feet are like polished bronze: [Rev. 2:19] ‘I know your deeds: your love, faith, service, and steadfast endurance. In fact, your more recent deeds are greater than your earlier ones. [Rev. 2:20] But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and by her teaching deceives my servants to commit sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. [Rev. 2:21] I have given her time to repent, but she is not willing to repent of her sexual immorality. [Rev. 2:22] Look! I am throwing her onto a bed of violent illness, and those who commit adultery with her into terrible suffering, unless they repent of her deeds. [Rev. 2:23] Furthermore, I will strike her followers with a deadly disease, and then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts. I will repay each one of you what your deeds deserve. [Rev. 2:24] But to the rest of you in Thyatira, all who do not hold to this teaching (who have not learned the so-called “deep secrets of Satan”), to you I say: I do not put any additional burden on you. [Rev. 2:25] However, hold on to what you have until I come. [Rev. 2:26] And to the one who conquers and who continues in my deeds until the end, I will give him authority over the nations– [Rev. 2:27] he will rule them with an iron rod and like clay jars he will break them to pieces, [Rev. 2:28] ¶ just as I have received the right to rule from my Father—and I will give him the morning star. [Rev. 2:29] The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

It’s not the usual picture of “Jesus meek and mild” that we now find speaking to the Thyatirans. This Jesus has eyes of fire. This Jesus may surprise you. The following introductions with this mostly unfamiliar Jesus may be awkward because we live in an age where culture celebrates their sexual ‘freedoms’ and objects to anyone who dares call them “immoral”. But this is what Jesus did in addressing this church. 

Here we find Jesus warning. Most warnings announce dire consequences. And these divine warnings are no different. But what might stun most modern readers is the nature of what has enraged Christ. For the most part, Materialism has conquered Western culture. Materialism says that we are just molecules and atoms - “We’re meat from the top down!” they assert. But Jesus says otherwise. Materialists regard sexual activity only as a physical activity. But Jesus says otherwise. Of course you don’t have to be a Materialist to be immoral. Some of these Thyatirans had somehow managed to merge their Christianity with sexual promiscuity - and now Christ was warning them. 

To be a follow of Christ today is no less challenging than it was for those of Thyatira. We too have much to conquer. But we too are offered the prize of receiving the Morning Star (an allusion to the glory awaiting the faithful in the Resurrection). We would do well not to trifle with Christ’s warnings to be holy and especially when it comes to morality.

Andrew Corbett

Revelation Daily Devotional - Day 5

Day 5

Revelation 2:8-11

[Rev. 2:8] ¶ “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write the following: ¶ “This is the solemn pronouncement of the one who is the first and the last, the one who was dead, but came to life: [Rev. 2:9] ‘I know the distress you are suffering and your poverty (but you are rich). I also know the slander against you by those who call themselves Jews and really are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. [Rev. 2:10] Do not be afraid of the things you are about to suffer. The devil is about to have some of you thrown into prison so you may be tested, and you will experience suffering for ten days. Remain faithful even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown that is life itself. [Rev. 2:11] The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will in no way be harmed by the second death.’

From and In. Two little words. Yet as different as Everest (a mountain in Nepal) is to the You-Yangs (a ‘mountain’ range near Lara). Christ promises to keep His followers in times of trouble not from. When troubles come, said Christ, to His disciples, not if troubles come, He would keep them in it. Keep, not abandon. Another little word which we today we only half use by employing it in reference to things we’ve stored away somewhere (but can’t find right now.) Whereas to keep means to hold and guard. Jude thought this was the most valuable thing he could pray for his readers - May the Lord keep you...

It is in this light that Christ tenderly speaks to the beleaguered Smyrnians. Their troubles had started. They felt poor because the rich didn’t have such troubles. Yet because they were depending on Christ, they were truly rich.

We sometimes confuse Christ’s promise to us to keep us as meaning He will keep us from troubles when we should thank Him for keeping us in the midst of our troubles. For the Smyrnians this required spiritual ears to understand just as it does for us today who all too readily confuse Christ's blessings as supplying how we want Him to bless us. Christ had called the Smyrnians to be victorious which He also calls us to as well. But there can be no victory, no overcoming, no conquering, unless we have battles, difficulties, troubles to deal with. And just in case the we lose focus on what this life has to offer compared to the possible glorious life to come, Christ reminds this embattled church that the prize for doing so would be eternal life. We were born to live forever so let's not be like Esau who sold his birthright for a piece of bread by selling out on our commitment to Christ in times of difficulty.

Andrew Corbett