Sunday: A Vision of the End
The oldest surviving disciple actually to have been with Jesus sat on a rocky prison island far from everything that was near and dear to him. What must have been going on in John’s mind as he found himself stranded on this desolate island? How did he wind up here, and like this, too? After all, he had seen Jesus leave, and he had seen the two angels standing there, saying: “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).
Image © Steve Creitz from GoodSalt.com
That, however, had been years and years ago, and Jesus had not yet returned. Meanwhile, the other apostles present on that day already had died, most of them martyred for their witness about Jesus. The young church had undergone a generational change and was now facing horrible persecution from the outside and strange heretical movements from within. John must have felt alone, tired, and restless. And then, suddenly, he was given a vision.
What comfort can you imagine that John got from this vision? Read Revelation 1:9-19.
Jesus had told His followers, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20), words that, no doubt, must have encouraged John as he faced his lonely exile. Surely this vision, this “revelation” of Jesus, must have been a great comfort to Him, knowing that Jesus, “the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” was now manifesting Himself in a special way to the exiled apostle.
What followed from these verses are visions about the future of this world. An awesome panoramic view of history would be portrayed before him, basically what’s to us the history of the Christian church but was to him its future. And yet, amid the trials and tribulations that would come, John was shown how it would all end. “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” ( Revelation 21.1-2, NKJV).
The great apocalyptic vision John has recorded in Revelation helped John confidently to rest in God’s provisions and promises.
| Life now can be hard, even fearful at times. How, though, does knowing that God knows the future and that the future, long-term, is good, give us comfort now? |
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During these Covid times some maybe feeling a lot like John, isolated from those they love and care for. Knowing that the God of the universe sees us, that He hears our prayers and understands our needs, gives us hope to keep striving towards our heavenly home.
Being with Jesus throughout eternity is a comforting thought to us who believe. We see the effects of the sin pandemic. We interact with people who are hurting and suffering and we long for the new earth where there will be peace and happiness. Trying to sell this message to non-believers is hard though. All they see is the present. They think of life as a little wrinkle in the fabric of time with no hope beyond the present. They know that within 4 generations they will have been forgotten.
If we are to have any hope of convincing believers that our hope has a firm foundation we must live and practise the abiding presence of Christ now. Let me illustrate:
I have told you before of the story of my engagement to Carmel. For the 12 months before we were married we lived in different countries. Telephone calls cost more money than a student could afford. There was no Internet or "chat" apps, no Facebook. There was only mail, and that took about 3 days to send a letter from Australia to New Zealand. It took at least 7 days to get an answer! Carmel was well out of sight, but I lived as though she was present. It was not just a case of refraining from looking at other women. It meant that I had to share my life with Carmel and she with me in the best way possible, by writing letters. We shared the little things of life, our thoughts and ideas. In short we practised the presence of one another in the best way possible, by letter.
In essence our spiritual hope for the future must be lived in the present for that future to meaningful to us, and shareable with others.
Maurice, I love your thought that "our spiritual hope for the future must be lived in the present...". That's our witness in a nutshell.
Beautiful analogy, Maurice!
Today's lesson ends with the question "How, though, does knowing that God knows the future and that the future, long-term, is good, give us comfort now?"
While some days I find some degree of comfort from knowing that one day things will be better, most days that is too far away. On those days Jesus statement in Matthew 6:34b is an accurate description of what is happening - each day has enough trouble of its own.
The lesson starts with the assumption that John, on a prison island, is far from everything that was near and dear to him. I suspect this was not John's experience. Rather, I suspect that John's relationship and connection with Jesus was dearest and nearest to him regardless of where John was.
John had previously written a very interesting couple of verses in John 16:32,33. In verse 32 Jesus reveals how the disciples will soon be scattered and leave Him alone - and yet He will not be alone because His Father will be with Him. Then, in verse 33, Jesus also reveals that in this world there will be trouble - much trouble - but to maintain courage amid and despite this inevitable trouble because the world has been overcome and therefore there will be an endpoint to this trouble.
How is courage amid trouble to be maintained? It would appear that knowing - at least in the back of our mind -that there is an endpoint is important (as per verse 33). But the point emphasised in verse 32 is also related. Be aware, or rather maintain awareness, that God is with us in the here and now. Though there may be no human companionship, God is nevertheless always immediately present - regardless of whether we 'feel' that or not.
Practicing (lots of practice across time) recalling this reality - even though I don't 'feel' it - has helped my mind now become more used to thinking this way in difficult daily situations. God is the one I talk to the most during my days (and nights). I tell Him what is going on and how it is impacting me or others. I surrender myself and the situation to Him, uphold the needs of others and recount relevant promises of His faithfulness (eg Proverbs 3:5,6; Matthew 28:20b; Hebrews 4:15,16; Ephesians 3:20; Daniel 9:18,19; Psalm 42:5; etc).
Yes, I know that one day things will be over and better. But many/most days that seems too far away. Like John, knowing that God is with me right here, right now, no matter what my present situation and circumstances are is my ever present help in times of trouble and therefore is the source of my refuge and strength (Psalm 46:1).
PRAISE, HONOUR AND GLORY TO GOD!
Thanks for the timely illustration Maurice. Now I see why the Lord uses the reality of marriage, the anticipation of the betrothed and the joy of family to give us a glimpse of Heaven. Behold, the bridegroom cometh...!
The comfort I get from this picture of Jesus is that He is in control of the messages to the churches, he holds the keys of life and death and His Word comes directly from His mouth like a two edged sword. I can trust His Word is the Truth.
Rev.18:23-24KJV - "...: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth."
Babylon, this great worldly religious system influencing all kingdoms and their people, is coming to its end. Babylon's kings reign by the 'sword of the fear of death'; Christ's kingdom is governed by the sword of His righteousness - "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Eph.6:17KJV.
Yes, life can and will become incredibly more complex and dreadful, even unto death. Christ Jesus pointed out that "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Matt.6:21KJV.
Where is our treasure - where is our heart, where is our allegiance, where is our love invested? Is it invested in this worldly life or in the righteousness of our Savior Christ Jesus which carries us by faith through this life unto the one to come?
My concern is that the greatest challenge might become to continue to be kind and caring toward my fellow man - "Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold." Matt.24:12KJV.
'Create in me a new heart' is my continuous prayer!
Revelation 21:1
1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.
Robben Island
In the winter of 1964, Nelson Mandela arrived on Robben Island where he would spend 18 of his 27 prison years. It was nearly impossible to escape from Robben Island because of the harsh conditions.
For John, and Nelson Mandela sea was divider separating them from those who they love. For John not seeing the sea meant no longer there will be a separation.
In that Island, being alone, God comes to reveal himself to John. Matthew 28:20 became a reality in the life of John.
Never ever think you are alone, God is always with you. One day we will reunite with him.
As Maurice Ashton wrote, he knew eventually he would rejoin with his bride to be. We are also waiting for the reunification.
May God grant us the patience and the endurance to wait upon Him even in our death as our sister Joyce Griffith waits to hear the call of Lord.
I believe we find the answer concerning the comfort John found from this great vision in the next to last verse of this book where John exclaims: “Even so, come Lord Jesus!”. Until that great event, the vision showed very little that was comforting as it unfolded a future of great struggles between the people of God and the powers of darkness until the very end. Yet within this vision there are encouragements and promises to “him that overcomes”.
There is great comfort and encouragement in the Word of God, and if understood correctly(Dan 12:10), especially prophecy(2 Pe 1:19).
John informs us that he was on the island of Patmos(little island in the Aegean Sea between the coasts of Turkey and Greece),it is about nine miles long. John was an old man, in his 90s, when he received the vision of Revelation. He lived in Ephesus before exiled to Patmos.
John:
>was frail and he doubted if he would get off this island.
But then Jesus in a blaze of glory revealed divine truth to John that enlighten and encourage him and God's people for centuries.
The lesson:
Sometimes it's in the greatest trials of our lives that God speaks to us most clearly. When we're feeling lonely and discouraged, Jesus visits us just as He did to John and fills us with the warmth of His presence.
The book of Revelation is a book about the Jesus who intervenes.
He does not merely sit on His throne in heaven;
He enters the affairs of life here on earth.
He ministers to us in the trauma, the heartache, and the disappointments we face.
When Jesus came down to speak with His beloved disciple, He illuminated rocky, barren Patmos with His glory.
The lesson:
There is no place we can find ourselves that is beyond the reach of God. He will meet you wherever you are with His presence. Revelation is filled with hope. The One who is with us through His Holy Spirit now is soon coming in glory to take us home. John joyfully states, "Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him" (Revelation 1:7, NKJV)
Amen!
It's interesting how today's Sabbath School lesson starts out with (in the introduction for today's lesson, I think the second paragraph):
"The young church had undergone a generational change and was now facing horrible persecution from the outside and strange heretical movements from within."
Even though we are not globally feeling "horrible persecution" yet, I do feel the "strange heretical movement from within". I'm going to stop there, no explanations. But it's like someone said on Sunday's comments, paraphrasing, that "this quarterly was written 3 to 5 years ago, and even though the events we feel today had not been perceived, it's seems like the author(s) are speaking directly to us", as I said I'm paraphrasing. It's just sort of eerie. All I can say is that we (I especially) just need to PRAY for more patience, and endure until the end or stay connected to Jesus.
Also, my opinion only, those who put John there in exile on this deserted island were probably trying to stop him from teaching and preaching about Jesus. But we all know that you can't stop God; He is going to find a way, sometimes it may appear to us - out of no way, to get His message to His people. So, praise God, they did not stop John, the Message that was given to him was delivered, and was elevated for such a time as this! Hallelujah!