Revelation 20 - part two

The binding of the satan 1-4

The first curiosity that we come across is the binding of satan, or the satan. If we understand that the millennium refers to the period of history between Christ's birth and his return, what does this mean? Certainly the world around us does not seem free from evil. There are enough distressing stories on the news for us to be aware of personal and corporate evil.

This refers back to satan's role in the heavenly court as accuser. That's what the Hebrew word means. So in Job, it is the satan's role to point the finger at Job, and say that he only loves God because things are going well.

Jesus tells us in Luke 10.18, when the 72 return from the mission to proclaim the Kingdom of God, that "I saw satan fall like lightning from heaven." As the Kingdom of God is proclaimed to the nations, the power of satan to accuse is diminished, or bound. The Kingdom is not limited to historic ethnic Israel, but is available to all people everywhere, so the deception that the Kingdom was just for one nation is removed.

So why will he released again? Tom Wright suggests that God uses the satan in his role as accuser at the end of time to expose human wrongdoing one last time, both to encourage people to repent, and in order to ensure that judgement is fair and open.

What happens when we die? 4-10

Do we go straight to be with Jesus, or is there a delay for us before the Resurrection of all?

Confusingly, the Bible seems to teach both. So we have Jesus saying to the repentant thief on the cross, "Today you will be with me in paradise." However, Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4.13-18 suggests that death is a form of sleep, and that we will awaken from that at the Resurrection. Although Paul also says that he wises he could depart, to be with the Lord, in Philippians 1.23.

This is all a matter of perspective. From the point of view of eternity, any period of time will appear to be infinitesimally small. So even if there is a delay, it will be just like when someone nods off after lunch for twenty minutes, and can't believe that the clock hands have moved around so fast!

So although those of us left behind will grieve, and will feel as though those who have died have been gone a long time, from the point of view of the person who has died in Jesus it will be as though they just nodded off, and suddenly they are with the Lord and all their brothers and sisters in Christ.

The awesome throne of God 11-15

The white throne of God is so awesome, that before his majesty, heaven and earth themselves flee away. In the presence of great beauty and purity, we become aware of our own inadequacies and failings. We don't need anyone to tell us how bad we are!

Before the throne are the two books.

The first, the book of deeds, records all the good things that I have done or thought or said. However, it also records all the bad things that I have ever thought or done or said. Worse than that, it records that I have not put God first in everything. Sometimes I have put myself first. Sometimes I have put my family or friends first. If I am judged on the basis of this book, then I too will have to flee away.

The second book is the Lamb's book of life. The amazing and wonderful thing is this: if my name is written in the book of life then I won't be judged according to my deeds. Instead, I will be judged according to the deeds of the lamb. When Jesus was earth he always put his father first, and so was declared the Righteous One. If I am judged as one whose name is in the book of life, then life I shall have, and reign with him forever.

Revelation 20 - part one: The thousand year reign of Christ

The tricky chapter! As if none of the others were!

The main area of dispute in this chapter is how to interpret the "thousand years" or the Millennium. There have been three main views (with probably countless variants!)

The first two views both regard the Millennium as being and actual period on earth of a thousand years.

Post-millennialism understands that there will be a period in human history of a thousand years when Satan is bound up, and so evil is restrained, and the followers of Jesus will experience only blessing on the earth. It is after this millennium (post-) that Jesus will return to the earth for the second time, bringing an end to human history.

This view was particularly popular in the nineteenth and early century, especially amongst those who saw the abolition of slavery and other social reforms as humanity 'improving' to the point where the blessings of Millennium would be experienced here and now.

The first world war and especially the Second World War brought a sharp shock to this interpretation of the progress of humanity. The horror of the Nazi extermination camps, in particular, seemed to mitigate against such a positive view of human development.

Pre-millennialism understands that Christ will return before (pre-) the Millennium. At this time he will take his followers to be with him (the rapture). Some premillennialists believe that this will be preceded by a seven year of tribulation (hence Post-tribulation premillennialists); others believe that the rapture will be followed by a seven year tribulation, and then Christ will return with his followers to commence the thousand year reign on earth. This pre-tribulation premillennial view has been popularised in the Left Behind series of novels by Tim Lahaye.

One of the key problems with this point of view is that the book of Revelation only refers to thrones in heaven, not on earth, apart from the throne of the beast.

The third view is that of amillennialism. This view regards the thousand year reign as symbolic, rather than literal, just as with the use of many other numbers in the book of Revelation. The number ten is used as a number to signify completion, so 10 x 10 x 10, or ten cubed, would refer to a period of time that is intensively complete. Viewed in this way, the thousand years refers to the time between Christ's birth and his second coming, and is John's final glimpse behind the scenes at human history, showing what is happening spiritually behind what is seen physically.

If I haven't given it away already, my approach to this text is an amillennial approach, as I think that this makes better sense of the text, and treats the numbers in the same way that I would interpret them elsewhere in Revelation, or even in the rest of the Bible. In Psalm 50, for example, we learn that the cattle on a thousand hills belong to God, whereby we are intended to understand that all the cattle belong to him.

Part two follows shortly!

What is Kingdom Theology?

This is the question that I was asked this morning, by a wise and learned gentleman, and I'm not sure I answered it very eloquently! The question is related to my studies with WTC, an MA in Kingdom Theology.

This is what WTC say on their website:

For the last few years, Westminster Theological Centre has pioneered a unique form and model of theological training, offering theological education that integrates the best of scholarship with the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit. We have seen over the years that this combination is powerful to transform, heal and release God’s people into His purposes for them. 

That describes more of their vision and values, than particularly describing 'kingdom theology' itself. A colleague of mine is doing his dissertation on exactly that question "What is Kingdom Theology?"

In a nutshell, I would say that Kingdom Theology is the study of theology with a particular emphasis on the power and work of the Holy Spirit. Our recent module looking at Kingdom Ministry traced a pattern through history of Israel and the Christian church, and highlighted examples of what today we would probably call the Charismatic movement.

WTC teach kingdom Theology from certificate level right the way through to Masters level, and may even launch a PhD programme at some point in the future. I'd highly recommend them! They're running taster days around the country and Channel Islands and the programme can be seen here.

Revelation 19

I’ve been continuing to preach my way through the book of Revelation in January, and I know many were encouraged as we came to chapter 19, and saw how the four amazing names of Jesus in that chapter are a real encouragement to us.

In verse 11 we saw the name “Faithful and True”, and this reminded us that even though there is so much injustice, and a lot that is unfair in this life, Jesus is perfectly qualified to bring a final reckoning. He will judge with full knowledge and insight, symbolised by his burning eyes. He has the true authority to judge, as we saw from the crowns on his head, and he will always be faithful and true to his people.

In verse 12 we discovered that Jesus has an “unknown name”, and this reminded us that there is a deep sense of mystery about Jesus, some things that we will never know fully. He has conquered his enemies through costly and personal sacrifice, through the price of his own blood. He also understands his people’s pain and hurt, and identifies with all who are weak and vulnerable.

In verse 13 Jesus has the name “the Word of God”. This reminded us that God’s Word has power, and that his promises are always sure and come to pass. We saw how Jesus promises blessing to the guests at his marriage feast in heaven, and that he promises justice even to those who have got away with so much. The reckoning will come. We can be sure that he will keep his promises, because the Word of God is certain, and was the means by which the universe was created.

In verse 16 we Jesus is called “King of kings and Lord of Lords”. This is not a title that is given to him because he has conquered his enemies, but because it describes who he is in his very being.  It is the reason that he is able to overcome so easily and mightily. We were reminded that the battle between good and evil is not an equal battle, such as might be depicted in “The Hobbit”, but it is a massively unequal battle, where Christ overcomes evil through his divine status and invincible might.

We don’t serve and worship a meek and mild saviour, but one who is mighty and invincible, who has already overcome in the spiritual realm, and we can be certain that we will experience and share in his victory.

Nik

NBC Pastoral Letter January 2014

Shortly before Christmas we had a sermon mini-series on worship, looking at the central place of worship in our lives, and some of the ways that we express that.

We looked at our Sunday worship, and saw how it should be Christ centred, Spirit led, and a response to the love of the Father. Our worship then, is fundamentally trinitarian.

The musicians are looking further at these principles, and seeing how they are worked out in the way that they play their instruments as they help us in our Sunday services.

Christmas has reminded us of why it is that we respond to God as father. He sent his son into the world, to be the means by which we can know forgiveness and have a fresh relationship with God, one to one. By his grace we become, as Paul puts it in Galatians, a New Creation.

This is what we are in Christ, and so we should express this in our worship together by being open to one another and to what God wants to do in us and through us. One of the great principles in our baptist heritage is that we believe that we can all minister to one another as we are empowered by the Holy Spirit. Therefore in public worship we must remember to listening to what God is doing, and be ready to share that with others. This might be a word of encouragement for an individual, and we know who it is for, so we can share it directly. Or it might be an encouragement and we don't know who it is for. In this case, please either attract my attention during the service or immediately afterwards, and then we can share that encouragement publicly.

Every blessing in Christ for 2014,

Nik