MPC 29th August 2004.Revelation 19 - "Onward Christian Soldiers?"
Matt Viney* MPC 29th August 2004.
Church kids of my generation and the hundred years before were brought up singing rousing hymns with titles like Soldiers of Christ Arise and Put Your Armour On. Or Onward Christian Soldiers, marching as to war. Which recently by some churches have been deemed politically incorrect. And scrapped from the hymnbook. Because, it's been claimed, they present a picture of a violent, militant faith.
It's the sort of image that isn't confined to the hymn-books. What about the Christian kids' organisation called The Crusaders. Great name. If you're prepared to overlook the era of Christian history when the real Crusaders stormed the Holy Land and crushed the Muslims and the Jews with a cruelty still remembered - a thousand years later.
There's no doubt, through the ages, there's been endless bloodshed... in the name of Jesus Christ. Endless cycles of military conquest and oppression in the name of Christendom. Of which the Muslim world will say Iraq is just one more example.
And of course we're surrounded by other religions that are literally militant as well. Where to be a martyr isn't so much to die innocently for your faith... but to go out with the sort of bang that kills as many bystanders as possible.
And so as we come to these final chapters of Revelation where the armies are gathering and the swords are flashing and the rivers run red with the blood of battle, it's a good time to take stock of what we're reading. And the type of literature it is. So we recognize symbolism when we see it. And don't end up missing the point.
Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins have written a series of novels that are top sellers in the USA. The latest installment is called Glorious Appearing. And their angle on these last few chapters of Revelation doesn't see any symbolism at all. Which may be why their books have been top sellers.
Where (and when) are we?
But before we get into it, it's time for a quick recap... of where we've come from in the book of Revelation. Our last installment in the series was way back on the 9th of May; which means if you're new to the church since then you've missed the first three quarters of the book, and even if you're not new to the church since then you've got every reason to have forgotten the first three quarters of the book.
We saw that in the book of Revelation the disciple John tells us back in chapter 1 he's describing a vision. It's a message in pictures. That he's repainting in words. And right from the start it's been full of symbolism, which is sometimes explained, and sometimes not. So there are lampstands in chapter 1 that he tells us represent churches. And there are white robes in our chapter today which we're told mean something else. Revelation is a book full of symbols. Which are sometimes explained. And sometimes left for us to figure out for ourselves.
We've seen as well that Revelation started out as a real letter. To real people back in the first century. Who are about to face real distress. And on our way through, we've heard over and over again true stories from history of the way Christians were persecuted... in the first century Roman Empire. John is writing from the prison island of Patmos. And he's foreshadowing tough times just ahead.
That his Christian friends are going to be persecuted because they insisted on honouring Jesus, over and above Caesar. Persecuted because they wouldn't bow to the image of Caesar at the gates of the city.
Persecuted because they refused to swear the oath of allegiance. That Caesar is lord.
And because of that they died.
In John's vision, we've seen the Roman empire is like a beast. With crowned heads that are the line of Caesars. And behind the beast pulling the strings there's the dragon. Satan himself. And the beast is incredibly fearsome. While in heaven on the throne there's just a Lamb. That looks like it's been slain.
And yet as the story has unfolded we've seen over and over again that John's saying that the weakness of Jesus the crucified Lamb - is somehow going to be stronger than the strength of the dragon and the beast combined. And so these trembling Christians need to stand firm. And keep testifying. And keep calling on people to join the Kingdom of Christ. In spite of the consequences.
Which brings us to where we left off last time. With the picture of Jerusalem; the city that the Old Testament promised was going to be the centre of blessing. Which John sees has become a harlot instead. A prostitute. And in spite of her cosy first century relationship with Caesar and Rome, is going to be destroyed. And the temple... crushed.
John says the city that crucified the Lord Jesus; that killed the prophets... is no longer the focal point of God's plans. And is about to be replaced by a Jerusalem from heaven which we'll see in the chapters ahead.
Which locates us in history in the year 70AD, when the Romans besieged Jerusalem; and pounded down the city walls; and put the city and the temple to the torch.
That's the picture in chapters 17 and 18. That carries over here into chapter 19. And the great Hallelujah Chorus of verses 1 to 10. Which today, is where we pick up.
A great celebration of the justice of God. The one whose justice the world waits for.
It's hard, isn't it? When you watch a Bali Bomber let off the hook. It's hard when you've been wronged and there's no way to put it right. But here in Revelation 19 there's a celebration in heaven at the justice and truth of God.
Read from verse 1:
After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants." And again they shouted: "Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever."
And so as the smoke rises from Jerusalem in the year 70AD, heaven rejoices at the justice of it. And the whole creation represented by the living creatures and the elders round the throne bow down and worship God all over again. Saying well done. God reigns!
At which point - and it's an unusual picture - at which point the scene is set for a wedding... which we'll see more of in a couple of weeks.
And then, from verse 11, an incredible vision of a battle.
Run your eye down it and get the feel for what's happening. Because there's an army. There are weapons. There's a white horse, with a rider called faithful and true. And if there's ever been a just war, this is it. Because you can guarantee that the one called faithful and true, unlike some politicians, actually is... faithful... and true. His eyes burn like fire... and on his head there are crowns. And his robe, says verse 13, is dipped in blood. He's been in battle already. And behind him, verse 14, the armies of heaven... following on white horses of their own. Dressed in fine linen. White and clean. And the rider on the horse at the front has a sword in his mouth that he's using to strike down the nations. One after another. And he rules them and judges them and treads out the winepress of God's anger.
We've already been told his name is faithful and true.
And he's got another name as well which we'll come back to in verse 13. And a third name in verse 16. Which is King of Kings, and Lord of lords.
We'll come back and think about him some more in a minute... but for now, notice there's an angel standing directly in front of the sun; you have to shade your eyes to even see his silhouette. And the angel cries out to the birds, come and get it. A gruesome picture. Come and get it. Come and pick over the flesh of the kings and the generals and the armies and their horses and their riders. Because in this battle, they don't stand a chance. No matter how mighty, no matter how small; not one of them can stand against the power of rider called faithful and true. And the army behind him.
And you'll notice the beast; the massive empire of Rome... is no match for them either. Verse 19: "Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army."
But with absolutely no success. And the Beast is captured, and the false prophet we met back in chapter 13 who makes people bow to the power of Rome... and in John's vision the two of them are thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. And as we've already seen, verse 21, "The rest of them are killed with the sword that comes out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorge themselves on their flesh."
Now to be honest, if that was a movie, I wouldn't want my kids to be watching it. I wouldn't want to watch it myself. I mean, I get goosebumps just watching the ads for that new movie The Village.
But I guess whether it's scary or not depends on whose side you're on.
And how scary life is outside John's vision. Where ordinary Christians are being put to death for speaking the name of Jesus.
And whether it's scary or not depends on what the symbolism in John's vision is actually saying. And we need to take a closer look - at the warriors, at the weapons; and at the war itself.
First the warriors. The good guys. Who are they?
The rider on the horse is the easy one. Because he's labelled. Names all over him. And more than that, the imagery matches the picture of Jesus John saw back in chapter 1. Eyes of flashing fire. Crowned with many crowns. This isn't Jesus the wimpy guy in the dressing gown patting lambs. This is Jesus the majestic. Jesus the risen. He's the one labeled faithful and true. Labeled King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Labeled a third time too. In a kind of double symbolism. Notice verse 13. "He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God."
Here somehow as you imagine Jesus riding out to war, you've got to imagine the Word of God riding out to war as well.
And the soldiers behind him. Take a closer look at them as well.
Notice what it says in verse 14. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.
Which is a direct reminder of something we saw before. In the wedding scene.
Back to verse 7 and 8. The wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. "Fine linen bright and clean was given her to wear." And then we're told in absolutely plain English what we're seeing (fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints). Fine linen bright and clean stands for the pure lives of the people of God. For the righteous deeds of the followers of Jesus. The distinctive lifestyle... of Christians. Like you and me. We're the bride. And Jesus has actually given us righteousness to put on. By changing our hearts.
And here we are again in the next scene. As an army. Following the Word of God. Dressed in the righteousness he's given us.
Which when you decode all the imagery is a fascinating picture.
I mean, look again at the weapons. And think it through. Our leader on the white horse, he's armed with a sword. Which if you wanted to be literal about it, he's carrying in a pretty unusual way. Verse 15. "Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations." And then a quote from the psalms - "He will rule them with an iron scepter."
But if you're familiar with biblical imagery, you'll know the sword in the mouth is a symbol. Of the cutting power of the Word of God. Isaiah 49. Ephesians 6. Hebrews 4. The Word of God is sharper than any two edged sword. Because it cuts to the heart.
So here's an army clothed in righteousness. Following a warrior armed with the word. And in the vision, they're marching through the nations. With enemies falling on every side.
In other words, there's a war on. And we're part of it. As were those Christians John's writing to in the first century. And in spite of the firepower of the enemies on every side, in spite of the might of the Roman Empire... John's vision says, our leader is Jesus. Our weapon is the Word of God. Our uniform... is righteousness. And that, says John... will ultimately win the day. As the nations are confronted by the gospel.
I wonder if you've ever seen a glimmer of that? Whether you've sensed the power of God's word as you've heard it taught. Whether you've ever been cut to the heart by the power and majesty of the testimony of Jesus.
The church where Phil was preaching in South Africa, he says he met a guy named Arnold. Arnold is a high powered businessman who invented a better filing cabinet. And made millions. The typical self made man. Arnold, in the last 12 months, has become a Christian. And he said to Phil after church one Sunday, "You know, there's not a week goes by in this church that God's word doesn't cut me to the core." He said "I've got so much changing and growing to do... I walk out feeling sliced and diced." And he wasn't complaining. He was celebrating.
And the army, John says, is dressed in the righteousness that Jesus gives. Which I want to suggest is a formidable weapon as well.
David Ho was talking the other day about how he became a Christian back in his med-student days. Here's the story.
Dave was flatting with three other students. One of them was a Christian. Dave and the other two weren't. And he said by the end of the first year, all three of the non-Christians in the flat had become Christians. All due to the influence of the one Christian, Sam.
So what was it? What it was about Sam that made Christianity so appealing. Dave Ho says, "It was just the way he behaved. Nothing dramatic. Just the way he cared. The way he got on with his family. We wanted that." Dave said, "It's funny. You don't have to do anything special. Just live the Christian life. And we were impressed with that."
A life that reflects righteousness is a powerful weapon. And so there's a picture in miniature of the battle. And the way it works. And John's vision says, righteousness wins. So don't give up.
And so we need to remember, when it comes to advancing the kingdom of God, that's the gameplan. Military intervention on a national level might have it's place. But never in advancing the kingdom of God. Never confuse the use of muscle with the real battle plan. Of going forward with the Word of God and with righteousness. In a way that changes the world by changing the heart.
* Message prepared by Phil Campbell, but presented by Matt because Phil was ill.