Who is able to stand

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Who is able to stand

December 9, 2023 • Philip Venables • Revelation 6

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Read: Revelation 6 (use your own Bible or use the link above to access the in-App Bible).

‘They cried out with a loud voice, ‘Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long will it be’ Revelation 6:10

Are things getting better or getting worse? I imagine that with climate change in our world, destructive war in Europe, economic and political mess in our country, and ever-increasing persecution of Christians, many are finding quite a lot to feel gloomy about.

This is where the book of Revelation is so helpful. Behind this book stands an agonised question—If God is in control, why are things as bad as they are? When we come to chapter 6 the question takes a slightly different turn—not so much ‘why?’ as ‘how long?’, how long before God does something about it (v.10)? The answers given in chapter 6 are hard and challenging, but hugely helpful too.

First, evil will continue to get worse, so don’t be surprised. That is the message of the first six of the seven seals. We meet the famous four horsemen of the apocalypse, depicting war, persecution, famine and death. Then we meet our brothers and sisters who have been murdered for their faith. Finally, with the sixth seal, we have the final judgement, encompassing every stratum of society from kings to slaves. So while we may (should) be saddened, even appalled by evil, we should not be caught out. God knows. Second, evil is in the hand of God, so be understanding. Notice, first, that the seals are all opened by the Lamb. In other words, it is the crucified, risen, glorified, and reigning Lord Jesus Christ, who brings these things about. Then, notice the repeated word ‘given’. Its rider was ‘given a crown’ (v.2); they were ‘given authority’ (v.8). Given by whom? By God. This is indeed a hard truth. But which do you find the most comforting? That evil happenings are random and meaningless? Or that, time and again, Satan has the upper hand? Or that all things, good and evil, are under the sovereign rule of God? Third, a day of vindication will come, so have hope. The martyrs ask, ‘how long?’ (v10). They are told to wait a little longer. But then the day of the wrath of the Lamb will come. God will not wait for ever.

And so chapter 6 ends with a new question: On that day, ‘who is able to stand’ (v.17)? Who indeed? And how? The wondrous, glorious, answer comes in chapter 7. Read on!

Let us pray: Lord Jesus Christ, when evil increases around us and when our own circumstances seem to threaten us, help us to remain steadfast in faith and in thanksgiving, so that on the day of Your coming we may be found standing and may rejoice to see You face to face. Amen.

The Revd Philip Venables, Vicar of St John’s Whittle-le-Woods & Clayton Brook Community Church.

FOREWORD

Ian Paul

'I think I’m quite ready for another adventure!’ So says Bilbo Baggins as he boards the ship at the Grey Havens, on his way to the Undying Lands. Many Christians feel a little nervous about the adventure of reading this book. So here are my suggestions for getting the most out of these studies. 1. Be curious Whenever we open the Bible, we are (in Augustine’s words) reading a love letter from home. But this home of ours is another country, so we are also at the same time going on a cross-cultural adventure. The Bible was written in another language by people from another time and place, with different habits, cultures, and expectations from us. This is especially so with the Book of Revelation, which is ‘strange’ to us in all sorts of ways. So we need to be curious as we embark on this adventure, ready to learn of its strange ways, and open to hearing what God might say to us on the journey. 2. Be careful When you travel to another country, you need to learn its customs, ways of doing things, and ways of speaking, if you want to avoid misunderstanding or causing offence. There is a widespread vacuum of understanding about some important aspects of this book (such as the way it uses numbers), and vacuums always collect rubbish! We therefore need to exercise a historically disciplined imagination as we read. Many popular interpretations of Revelation are simply not possible, as they could not have been what John intended to communicate to his first audience, and we need to attend to such questions. 3. Be confident And yet, as Rev 1:3 makes clear, we are not on our own as we read. Scripture is not so much a gift to each of us as individuals (though it is that)—it is primarily a gift from God to His people. So we are reading in good company, of those around us, of those who have had time to explore the difficult issues, and those who have gone before us. Paul tells us that all Scripture is profitable to help us grow in faith—and Revelation is part of those Scriptures! So be assured that God will speak to us through this part of His word to us as we read faithfully—as we set out on this adventure together. The Revd Dr Ian Paul, Adjunct Professor of New Testament, Fuller Theological Seminary. Images: Cover: Unknown Artist, Christ in Majesty, 1025–1050. http://www.getty.edu Foreward: Duccio di Buoninsegna, The Nativity with the Prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel, 1308-1311. Courtesy of the National Gallery of Art, Washington. Devotion for Monday 25th December: Master of Imola, The Nativity with Six Dominican Monks, 1265/1274. Courtesy of the National Gallery of Art, Washington.

Patiently endure

December 3, 2023 • Mark Ireland • Revelation 1

Press 'more' to read the daily devotion... Read Revelation 1 (use your own Bible or use the link above to access the in-App Bible). ‘Suffering and kingdom and patient endurance’ Revelation 1:9 (NIV) This phrase reminds me of my honeymoon! Gill and I spent the last weekend of our honeymoon in London, and I took her to an Anglican church with a strong reputation for Biblical preaching. The sermon was on Revelation 1 and the preacher spent half an hour explaining that suffering, kingdom and patient endurance were hallmarks of the Christian life. I spent the sermon quietly hoping that my new bride wasn’t taking this as a warning of things to come! John, the author of Revelation, had been exiled to the lonely island of Patmos (v.9) by the Roman authorities because of his testimony to Jesus. When John met the risen Jesus in a vision (v.13) he was given a message that related to events in the first century, ‘to show what must soon take place’ (v.1). He was writing to encourage seven local churches to keep the faith in a time of persecution ‘for the time is near’ (v.3) and to show patient endurance for the sake of the kingdom of Christ. The seven churches listed in verse 11 were in a small area of what today would be western Turkey. Interestingly, the order in which the cities are listed is exactly the order that the carrier of the letter would visit them in, following a circular route along the trade routes of the time. So as we embark on reading the book of Revelation let’s first try to imagine what this message would have meant to these young churches under threat of persecution. As we do so let’s realise that these words are deeply relevant for today too, for ‘suffering, kingdom and patient endurance’ have been the lived experience of faithful disciples of Jesus in every generation since the first century. Suffering and persecution are signs of a world that is not yet fully under the rule of Christ. But God’s kingdom continues to break into this world, and local churches are called to be signs and agents of God’s kingdom in their communities. Let us pray: Lord Jesus, ruler of the kings of the earth, help me to patiently endure whatever suffering may come today as I strive for Your kingdom to come. Amen. The Venerable Mark Ireland, Archdeacon of Blackburn

Looking to Jesus

December 4, 2023 • Anne Beverley • Revelation 2:1–17

Press 'more' to read the daily devotion... Read Revelation 2:1-17 (use your own Bible or use the link above to access the in-App Bible). ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance’ Revelation 2:2a I find reading these words right at the beginning of Advent rather thought provoking. Especially considering how busy the next few weeks will become. To know that God sees my work and my toil, and that He sees my patient endurance, brings me much comfort in the middle of the chaos of this season. And yet there is also a warning for us, because the passage goes on to say that ‘you have abandoned the love you had at first’ (v.4). How very easy it is for us, not just at this time of year, but throughout our lives, to get so caught up in the ‘doing’ of being Christian that we forget the God whom we worship. Many are the times when I sit down at the end of the day to read by Bible and pray, only to find myself falling asleep because the day’s tasks have left me too tired. Don’t get me wrong, many days are spent doing lots of good works for the Lord, that is one of the privileges of being able to work full-time as a Priest. And yet, all the good works in the world are worth nothing unless I put Jesus at the centre of them. If not careful I can be guilty of doing just that; of focusing so much on the doing that I fail to find time to be with God. This is a timely reminder to us, right at the beginning of Advent, not to let the business of Christmas divert our attention from the reason behind the celebration. The 25th December will come and go as it does every year, whether I am ready for it or not. But daily focus on Jesus cannot be put off. As we travel through the book of Revelation let us turn our eyes towards Jesus, place Him first and foremost in our minds, give Him the best part of our days, remind ourselves each and every day of our love for Him, and then open ourselves to receive His love and care for us. Let us pray: Father, may we find your peace in the joy of the upcoming season. In the middle of the excitement, help us to focus on You as we prepare to celebrate the wonder of Your Son coming down to earth to live with us. Amen. The Revd Anne Beverley Vicar of Christ Church, Wesham & Dean of Women’s Ministry.