Matthew Y. Emerson - Between the Cross and the Throne: The Book of Revelation

BETWEEN THE CROSS AND THE THRONE

THE BOOK OF REVELATION

TRANSFORMATIVE WORD

MATTHEW Y. EMERSON

Edited by Craig G. Bartholomew

Between the Cross and the Throne: The Book of Revelation

Transformative Word

Copyright 2016 Matthew Y. Emerson

Lexham Press, 1313 Commercial St., Bellingham, WA 98225

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Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Print ISBN 9781577996583

Digital ISBN 9781577997139

Series Editor: Craig G. Bartholomew

Lexham Editorial Team: Lynnea Fraser, Elliot Ritzema, Abby Salinger

Cover Design: Jim LePage

Back Cover Design: Brittany Schrock

TABLE OF CONTENTS

In most Christian circles, the book of Revelation is either wildly popular or completely avoided. Some churches turn to it for clues about the end times, attempting to correlate their newspaper headlines with certain passages of Johns Apocalypse or Daniels visions. On the other hand, many Christians respond to Revelation with sentiments that mirror Dorothys in the Wizard of Oz : Dragons, beasts, and harlots, oh my! However, this book is neither a decoder ring for the end times nor an avoidable, weird addition tacked on to the biblical canon. Rather, it is a book that was and is vital for the Church; it assures us, even as we face tribulation, of the triune Gods victorious reign and the imminence of Christs return.

Overview

John, who Church tradition has identified with John the Elder and the apostle, wrote Revelation late in life while in exile on the island of Patmos. In this book, John recounts a vision he received from the risen Jesus. Throughout, he urges readers to hold fast to their confession that Jesus is Lord in spite of opposition from Rome and Caesar. Most, if not all, of the book uses figurative images and language. For instance, John often refers to churches as lampstands, angels as stars, and Satan as the Dragon. John draws these images primarily from the Old Testament, especially from the book of Daniel. These word pictures allow us to visually and imaginatively understand the fundamental conflict of the worldthe war between God and Satan.

PATMOS AND THE SEVEN CHURCHES

Johns vision begins with the image of the exalted Christ, who stands gloriously victorious in the midst of his churches (Judah, the one who is worthy to open the scroll of Gods judgment because of his death and resurrection ( Rev 5 ).

OUTLINE OF REVELATION

1.Introduction ( Rev 1 )

2.Letters to the Seven Churches ( Rev 23 )

3.Visions of the Throne Room ( Rev 45 )

4.The First Cycle of Judgment: The Seven Seals ( Rev 6:18:5 )

5.The Second Cycle of Judgment: The Seven Trumpets ( Rev 8:611:19 )

6.The War of the Dragon and the Lamb ( Rev 1214 )

7.The Third Cycle of Judgment: The Seven Plagues and Seven Bowls ( Rev 1516 )

8.A Tale of Two Women: The Harlot and the Bride ( Rev 17:119:10 )

9.Armageddon and the End of All Things ( Rev. 19:1120:15 )

10.The Renewal of All Things in the New Creation Kingdom of the Lamb ( Rev 21:122:5 )

11.Conclusion: Persevere in the Faith Because Jesus Is Coming Soon ()

The rest of the book follows three cycles of Gods judgment on his enemies(1) seven seals ( Rev 6:18:5 ); (2) seven trumpets ( Rev 8:611:19 ); and (3) seven plagues or bowls ( Rev 15 and ). Each of these cycles shows Gods judgment on those who do not follow ), and he is also merciful to the nations, as his judgment is intended not only to show his wrath but also to call all to repentance.

Revelation also includes two extended images of the struggle between the Church and the followers of Satan; these wars are figuratively depicted as being between a woman and the Dragons servants ( Rev 1214 ) and between the Harlot of Babylon and the Bride of Christ ( Rev 17:119:10 ). The final section of the book includes the battle of Armageddon (), and the new creation ( Rev 2122 ).

The Theological Center of Revelation

Christians in the first century faced a variety of challenges, including religious rejection by the Jews, culture clashes with Graeco-Roman social practices, and outright political opposition from Rome. The situation today is not much different for many Christians around the world, particularly with the threat of persecution in biblical locales like Turkey and Iraq.

Revelation depicts trials as being rooted in the work of Satan, who attempts to draw people away from Christ and toward destruction. John, who personally experienced persecution and the power of the emperor, writes to remind his readers that God, not Satan, is ultimately sovereign and victorious. They therefore should remain faithful to Yahweh even while the enemy assaults them from every side.

Johns first-century audience might have wondered amid persecution and the devastation of the world how the claim that Jesus is Lord could be true. We might wonder a similar thing today. And although we are often tempted to react to hardship and suffering by questioning Gods good providence, John insists that God reigns supreme even in the midst of all of sins effects. The fundamental proof of this is found in the person of Jesus, who is both the source of Johns vision and its central character and message.

Jesus Christ took sin, death, and the grave on himself, thus suffering with and for his people on the cross, but he also decisively defeated the enemy in his victorious resurrection. He is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth, the one who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, and the one who is coming with the clouds who will be seen by all, even those who pierced him (). Jesus death and resurrection make up the two-part work that demonstrates his empathetic suffering as well as his victory over all rulers, principalities, and powers.

It is because Jesus, the second person of the Trinity in flesh, has died and risen that we, as believers, can hope in the midst of suffering, knowing we have both a high priest who has suffered like us and a victorious king who will one day crush his enemies. The Lion of Judah, who is also the Lamb who was slain, shows the people of God that they can overcome the evil one because he has already overcome death, hell, and the grave. We can stand firm because he has already stood firm, and we can fight the Dragons servants because Christ has already bound their master.

Further, this same Jesus will return again, when he will utterly destroy the one he has already defeated, the Dragon, as well as all the Dragons followers. Then he will wipe every tear from all of his peoples eyes and renew all things. This is the theological center of Revelationbecause Jesus has already won the war on our behalf, and because he is coming again, Christians can stand firm even in the midst of persecution and temptation.

SUGGESTED READING

Revelation 45

Daniel 7 and

Reflection

Do you tend to embrace or avoid reading Revelation? What factors have led to shaping your attitude toward this book?