Digging Deeper Reading

Monday, 3 John 1:1 – 14

Aside from the serious problem addressed by John, one has to enjoy the personal form of this letter. It is another instance where we are allowed into the lives of those believers about whom Scripture says little or nothing. We also have to wonder if this letter was one of several that John wrote at or about the same time since it is so similar to 2 John.

In verse 9 John refers to a previous letter that was rejected by the domineering Diotrephes. Some have theorized that 3 John could be a follow-up letter to 2 John, which met with denial on its arrival, but this cannot be denied or affirmed from the available facts.

Gaius must have been a Gentile member of the church that was in the throes of turmoil. He seems to have been a trusted leader of the congregation and loyal to John. On the other hand there was Diotrephes who apparently had his own following and was very strong among the church leaders. If he were able to either formally excommunicate members, or at least prevent them from attending, he must have dominated the congregation. John's letter is an encouragement to Gaius to continue to stand against this false teacher until John can come.

Demetrius is unknown to us except that he was apparently a faithful Christian. Perhaps he delivered John's letter, or was a traveling evangelist coming to Gaius' home. It seems that John is answering a personal question sent from Gaius concerning Demetrius.  

We don't know what happened next, but we can be sure that when John showed up, Diotrephes had met his match guaranteed!

Tuesday, Jude 1:1 – 25

Jude ( or Judas ) was most likely the brother of Jesus who is named in Matthew 13:55 and Mark 6:3. He describes himself as a brother of James. His reason for this would have been to assure his readers of his identity and faith, if James is the brother of Jesus' who headed the Jerusalem church until his martyrdom. The authorship of the letter hasn't been questioned since the very early acceptance of it by most church fathers ( i.e. very early and respected leaders of the churches just after the time of the apostles ).

This is another letter written to fight false teaching in the church. Seeing these multiple examples of such writings in the Bible reminds us of the importance of standing up for the true doctrine of Scripture. The false beliefs about Jesus that are prominent today, such as the view that He was a great teacher; that He was a good man who taught people to be nice to one another; that He did not say that He was the Son of God; that He was not born of a virgin; that His death was the result of His miscalculation of His enemies; that His body didn't really rise from the grave; etc., are not harmless to the faith. Christians should stand against them just as the early Chris tians were encouraged to do.

Jude wanted to write about the joy of salvation in Christ, but felt that it was imperative to write instead about the heresies creeping almost unnoticed into the churches. In later years these false Chris tians were called antinomians. They believed that since man's spirit is the part of him that communes with God, then it doesn't matter what the body does, since it is separate from the spirit. Thus these heretics believed that they could practice any kind of wickedness and not threaten their salvation. So, Jude reminds his readers of the Old Testament angels who fell with Satan in rebellion and are doomed on Judgment Day, and the residents of Sodom and Gomorrah who were extinguished from existence for their unnatural lusts and evil deeds. Jude does not include the angels in his comments on the sexual lusts of the men in the cities since angels are not sexual beings. His point was that both the angels and the residents of the cities had rejected their proper form and conduct for what was aberrant to their nature. In verse 7 “they” refers to the men, not the fallen angels.

In verse 9 Jude points to the false believers' rejection of authority. Even God's archangels did not act without consulting their Lord, so how could these heretics think that they could rule themselves? Like Cain, Balaam, and Korah of the Old Testament they rejected God's authority in their lives. Jude then follows with a scathing description of them.  He warns the congregation about these false believers who still commune with them at the Lord's Supper.

Then the brother of Jesus encourages the congregation ( vs.17-23 ) to be neither surprised nor distracted from the faith by the evil in their midst. They should continue their pursuit of holiness, good deeds, and prayer, perhaps influencing some of those who have gone astray. Verses 24 and 25 conclude Jude's letter with the assurance that this is done not by their own power, but by the power of their loving God.

Wednesday, Revelation 1:1 – 20

John's Revelation is probably the most well known book of the Bible. Known not in the sense of understanding but in the sense of its existence. Unbelievers who have no idea what other books the Bible contains probably know that Revelation is about the end of time. Most of us have read novels or seen movies that draw some of their drama and action from verses in Revelation.

John probably had no idea of the conflict among scholars that would go on concerning his writing. The two opinions concerning Revelation that are the most opposite are first, that Revelation is a picture of end times and that every word will be fulfilled literally ( i.e. that if it says that locusts will come out of a bottomless pit, then literal locusts will do this ).  On the other end of the spectrum are those who say that Revelation has nothing to do with end times, but was a spiritual encouragement to the believers of John's time and us, written in symbolism to protect it from destruction by Roman authorities. ( This opinion recalls the political situation of the 90s A.D. when Rome was beginning to enforce its policy of emperor worship. John was imprisoned on the island of Patmos at the time and many Christians would die at the hand of Rome because they would not reject Jesus and worship the emperor. At this time the emperor was Domitian , the first of the Roman rulers to officially proclaim himself a god in his own lifetime .)

So what exactly is Revelation? It is at least three things: first it is a general encouragement to Christians that God is in control of history. He will bring evil to an end according to His own promise and timing. Satan cannot overpower Christ, so remain faithful and confident as His children; second it is a specific encouragement to the believers of John's time who were facing persecution from outside of the church and struggling to define who they were as Christians within the church; third, it is a symbolic picture of the end of the present time and the coming of Christ on the day of judgment.

Revelation is not the only prophetic book of end times. In the Old Testament we see the same symbolic writing about history in Daniel, and many pictures of end times in Isaiah. Jesus also described the events leading up His second coming.  

The writing in this book is called apocalyptic. Apocalyptic writing is severely symbolic. You will note in the very first chapter symbols that would be hard to decipher if Jesus had not given John their meaning.

Some avoid studying Revelation because a number of people have become obsessed with it, trying to date Christ's return using it and the prophecies of the Old Testament. While discussing where we are in the history of God's plan is interesting, it does little to fulfill our primary task as Christians which is to reach out to the world with the gospel while there is still time. It's good to remember that Jesus said that the time of His coming was not our business and that even He did not know the day of His return. But, regardless of its overemphasis by some, this book was given to John by Christ Himself and is most worthy of our attention. Don't expect, however, to comprehend what it says in detail. Rather, seek to understand what it says to us about God's power in our lives, and what our response can be to turmoil, fear, and persecution.

This introduction is already very long, so we'll look at chapters 1 and 2 tomorrow.

http://www.vrpatmos.co.uk/index_welcome.html  This is a link to some 360 º photos of the St. John monastery established on the island of Patmos and the island itself. Takes a while to download, but is interesting.

Thursday, Revelation 1:1-2:29

John begins by assuring his readers that his vision has come from Jesus, who sent His angel to the apostle. He writes to the seven churches of Asia (the area around what is today Turkey ). “Seven” immediately becomes a prominent number in John's letter. More than seven churches would have read his message, but “seven” reflects the completeness of the vision from Christ. There are, however, distinct messages to be given to seven named churches, all of which we can still profit from today.

First John confirms the truth to his readers. Yes, believers are a priesthood unto God; yes, Christ will come in the clouds and “every eye will see Him” (1:7). He then cites Jesus' description of Himself as the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. He is eternal.

In verse 9 of chapter 1, John begins his story with the fact that he was in prison on Patmos for preaching the gospel when Jesus came to him in a vision and began speaking. As he describes the Lord, we note that John's writing will be filled with symbols. One of the major symbols here is the golden sash across Jesus' chest, marking Him as our High Priest ( vs.13 ).

The messages to the churches begin in chapter 2 with Jesus' words to Ephesus . The Ephesian Chris tians continue their good deeds and perseverance. They show discernment in the presence of false teachers and do not tolerate them. However, they have lost their first love. Jesus uses the word “agape” to reflect the form of the love lost in Ephesus . They are doing the right things and teaching the truth, but they have lost their heartfelt devotion for one another and for Christ.

The second church addressed is Smyrna . It is not chastised, but warned that the persecution they are already enduring will increase. Some will even be arrested and killed, but their Lord assures them that He will never leave their sides. Smyrna was a popular center of emperor worship and the Chris tians there were some of the first to suffer martyrdom at its hands.

Pergamum is described as “Satan's throne.” It was from here that emperor worship was enforced in Asia . We know nothing of Antipas, except that he was martyred. Although the church was strong, it wrongly tolerated false teaching.

Thyatira had been the home of Lydia , the seller of purple fabric who was converted by Paul. Years later, as John writes Revelation, Thyatira's congregation is stronger than when it first began. But the congregation also tolerates a particularly strong false teacher. “Jezebel” was probably not her real name, but it symbolized her evil intent to convert the congregation to her own cult, as the original Jezebel did in the Old Testament. Jesus says that He will personally remove her and any who follow her teachings. Of the rest of the congregation, He asks only that they hold fast to the truth.  

Echoes from Seven Churches   ( There are interesting pictures here if you have the time to wait for it to load )

Friday, Revelation 3:1 - 22 

Sardis was a wealthy city sitting on a main trade route. A temple to the goddess Artemis was there and archaeologists have uncovered the ruins of a church next to the structure. The Sardis congregation reminds us of a problem facing some modern churches.

Christ says to the church that they seem to be alive, but as Lord of the churches, He knows that they are dead. They apparently saw themselves as an active congregation working in the community and worshiping the Lord, but there was something wrong. It may be that the believers in the church in Sardis had forgotten why they existed. The works of Sardis were apparently fine as far as one could observe, but their hearts had drifted away from Christ and the job of spreading the gospel. Sometimes today's churches become so involved in their own upkeep and the efforts to fit in and grow in their communities that they neglect to worship with their hearts and witness the gospel to those around them.

Philadelphia literally means “brotherly love.” This church receives no word of reproach from Chris t. They have remained true even though they are not a congregation of great power. Jesus promises that the Jews who reject and persecute them will one day fall at the believers' feet and confess that Jesus really is the Lord of all. He also promises that the believer will stand forever in the eternal kingdom of God ( vs.12 ). Some commentators point out that this may have been especially comforting to the Philadelphians who experienced the upheaval of rebuilding the city after every   one of the earthquakes that plagued the area. The New Bible Commentary quotes a contemporary as saying, “ The walls [ within the city ] never cease being cracked… ”

The message of praise to Philadelphia is followed by perhaps the harshest of the letters that is also the one that most accurately portrays many of today's churches. Laodicea was wealthy. Destroyed by an earthquake around A.D. 60 she used her own finances to rebuild. Only the Laodiceans receive no word of kindness from their Lord. Jesus calls them “lukewarm.”

Lukewarm water was familiar to the Laodicean Christians. Though the city was rich, its water was not cold and refreshing after traveling along an aqueduct from the mountains several miles away. The Laodiceans were familiar with its dull taste. Jesus says that they are like this water and “ I will spit you out of My mouth .” This church was neither hot nor cold—they neither denied the gospel nor proclaimed it. They had the classic “ho-hum” attitude seen in many churches today toward the greatest gift ever given. They prided themselves in their wealth, forgetting their need for Christ. They robbed themselves and their neighbors of the good news of the gospel. In verses 19-21 Jesus offers them His love and restores their hope.

Those churches whose congregations are “lukewarm”, staying within their own doors, proclaiming their own beauty and wealth, becoming lazy in their worship, and withholding the gospel from their neighbors, are worse than the enemies who actively battle against the gospel, because the lukewarm church sends the message that Jesus the Christ is really not too important, even to those who claim to follow Him.

Sardis

Philadelphia

Laodicea    

Saturday, Revelation 4:1-5:14

John says that he was "in the spirit" meaning that he was awake, but transported into another dimension--a vision in which God revealed a message. Visions were generally very symbolic, thus this "apocalyptic" style of writing. Isaiah was transported to the throne of God through a vision; in a vision Ezekiel was shown a valley full of bones; and Peter was shown a sheet holding unclean animals descending from above him.

In addition to studying what the vision of John means in its spiritual and historical context, it is worth while to take the time to try to grasp John's experience. He is standing in the midst of great events in heaven; events that are enormous and universe-changing. It must have been like being surrounded by an IMAX screen, including THX sound and 3-D.

John is shown "what must take place.” Like Isaiah he finds himself in the throne room of God. God, however, is not described in a physical sense. John, in his gospel, recorded Jesus' words that God is Spirit. No man can see Him, so He is described as being "like,” and each phrase describes the brilliance emanating from Him.

Seven continues to be a significant number implying the completeness of the scene, but in verse 4 the number twenty-four appears. Though the elders and thrones in this verse are likely purely symbolic, they are often thought to represent the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles of the New Testament. If so, then we see the truth of salvation by faith in the Promise of God (His Son) for believers who trusted God's promise before the Cross came into history, and for us who view the Cross from this side of the Resurrection. 

John's senses are then overwhelmed by lightning and peals of thunder. God's power seems to surround him. He sees amazing creatures that seem to be able to see all things and have the characteristics of beasts. All of the elders and these strange creatures continually cry praises to God on His throne. This sets the scene for us to understand the power and majesty of our God.

Was there really a vision for John on Patmos ? Absolutely. It was God's message to John in a form that communicated the importance and the inevitability of the scenes about to unfold.

Chapter 5 adds the Book with Seven Seals. Again, we see the number seven reflecting the completeness, the fulfillment, of God's will in the affairs of His creation. John is now totally wrapped up in this monumental event in his life. He begins to cry, as he fears there may be none able to open the book and continue the revelation of God's plan. Verse 5 says that only the Lamb of God, the Christ, Son of God, God Himself, can open the book.

When we see Jesus it is not likely that we will see Him as a slain Lamb with seven horns and seven eyes. This vision expressed to John and to us the completeness of our Lord as the final Sacrifice given for sin and as the powerful Lord of judgment. The Lamb is able to take the book from God and open the seals. The rest of chapter 5 concerns the worthiness of Christ to be worshiped as the Father is worshiped. It is an affirmation that Jesus was who He said He was, and that His Resurrection confirms all of this to be true.

Copyright © 2004 Gloria Dei Lutheran Church