Revelation
of Jesus Christ. That is to be the object of our
occupation at this time and while it will come to us
through the book which bears that name, it is not the
book, as such, that we are to study but that central,
inclusive, underlying theme - revelation of Jesus Christ.
We can drop out the article and say 'revelation of Jesus
Christ'.
A subtitle
might be:
The
Nature, the Battle and the Victory of the Inheritance of
Jesus Christ.
The one,
great, triumphant cry which arises at a certain point in
the procedure recorded here is 'now is come the Kingdom'.
And in that phrase everything that is in this book is
governed: His inheritance, His kingdom, His reign, His
rights; His everything. That is the governing thing in
the whole book. It is a revelation of Jesus Christ in
that sense. We hardly begin to read the book without the
consciousness breaking upon us that we are moving into
battle - terrific battle - battle with many aspects. But
with all the aspects of the battle, one issue: His
Kingdom.
We are not,
let me say here, going to try to go through this book. I
think at most we shall be occupied, and that quite
imperfectly, with the first chapters. But I do want to
indicate that inasmuch as those chapters particularly
concern the people of God, the Church, at this time, that
is but one phase of this great question, His inheritance,
His Kingdom.
We shall
have to say some things about the book in general before
we can come to the particular message which I feel the
Lord has given for this time together. As to this book
there are these things to be said. Of course it is a most
bewildering book; and because it is so bewildering, many
have given it up and after perhaps chapter five, they
can't find their way any further and it is not,
therefore, a book that is greatly beloved of the Lord's
people. It might be necessary to qualify that statement,
but I repeat, it is certainly a bewildering book.
Someone
said, I don't know that I agree with them, that if you're
not mad before you start reading the book, you will be
when you get to the end! That is only a way of saying it
is not an easy book to understand. And there are reasons
for that, but I want you to remember that right at the
commencement it is stated that there is a particular
blessing attached to this book. Indeed, this is the only
book in the Bible where it is so stated that there is a BLESSING.
I don't mean that this is the only book that has a
blessing; it is definitely stated that there is a
blessing to those who read and those who keep what is
written therein. This is a blessing that is promised to
the servants of the Lord. May the Lord give us that
blessing; bring that blessing to us as we dwell in it.
Now there
are two main reasons for the difficulty which is found in
reading and studying this book; that is, the difficulty
is due to two main things, first of all its method, that
is its symbolism. There are books in the Bible which have
a lot of symbolism in them but there is no book to
compare with this, it is one vast system of symbols.
If you want
to do some close study you can go through from beginning
to end and see how many symbols you can find. What you
will find is that every thing in this created universe is
taken hold of in some way or another symbolically; that
is - and used to symbolize some other thing, some
spiritual thing. Heaven, earth, sea. All parts and
departments of the creation. Every phenomenon. Far too
vast to comprehend in a few sentences. A book full of
symbols. It's not easy to understand always the
symbolism. I am not even referring to some of them.
The numbers
themselves, if we should touch any one symbolic aspect,
are tremendously significant and comprehensive from one
through many particular numbers until you get to two
hundred million; ten thousand times ten thousand. And all
is symbolic and significant.
We pick out
number seven. Fifty four times number seven occurs, which
must mean something. You see what I mean? But all that
constitutes a difficulty; you wonder why that was
necessary. Well, for one or two reasons, but for this
particular reason, it was a NECESSITY in a time
of persecution. You will notice that when the hostile
world rulers were in the ascendant over the people of
God, symbolism was a particular feature of ministry. Take
Ezekiel and Daniel; crammed with symbolism, but nothing
to compare with this. For here you have this time of
unspeakable suffering for the people of God in which this
book was written. And because it was so dangerous to
speak in plain language that the enemy could recognize
and understand, symbolism was resorted to and only the
instructed WOULD understand. That is significant
in itself. You see, Rome was the great hostile power. The
people of God were suffering at this time as they had
never suffered before, at the hands of Rome, but you
don't find the word 'Rome' mentioned. Rome has to be
covered up with another name; Babylon. See, it was
necessary to speak amongst themselves in a way in which THEY
would understand and the world would not. And that should
bring a sympathetic note in our approach to the Word.
There is a language amongst the Lord's people which only
they understand, but they DO understand. The
world does not understand.
But then,
another difficulty which has arisen since then and is
with us today in relation to this book, is the many
schools of interpretation. There are at least six
different schools of interpretation of this book. I'm not
even going to name them; it would only confuse many of
you and would not be at all helpful at this time. But
there they are, six, at least, different schools of
interpretation and very few of them agreeing with each
other on more than a point or two. Volumes upon volumes
having been written saying 'And THIS is the
meaning' or 'THIS is the meaning' and all in
conflict with one another. We find ourselves in these
days in the midst of that kind of thing and it's
exceedingly bewildering. We might well give it up as
Martin Luther did; he said this book is all rubbish,
nonsense; no one will ever be able to understand it.
Well, alright, throw the blessing away! There's a
blessing.
However,
that is one of the difficulties in our taking up this
book and not pursuing it. You will not imagine that I am
going to adopt any one of the six and I do trust that you
will not think for a moment that I am going to give you
an improvement upon them all or think that I can. You
will have to go on patiently with me and see whether the
way in which we approach it is a way of blessing, a way
of spiritual helpfulness. And I would ask you this one
thing, that you will believe that I am not seeking to
give some private interpretation but seeking to get right
through ALL this to the real blessing
that is in this book. If we can come out at the end with
that, then we shall have been justified in tackling it.
Well now,
what about the nature and the purpose of the whole book?
It is quite clear that this book contains or presents the
consummation of all the ages and the consummation of this
age. I use that word carefully. The summation of the ages
and the summation of THIS age. This book
comprehends the WHOLE Bible and bounds ALL history. It
compasses creation, redemption, and perdition. It
embraces God: Father, Son, Holy Spirit. It embraces man
and his history and the purpose of his being. It embraces
the history, work and doom of Satan.
It will
impress you I am sure, when I tell you that there are no
less than four hundred allusions to the Old Testament in
this book. There's a bit of study for you. I mention it
in order to bear out what I've said, this is a summation
this book. This is a gathering up of everything unto the
end. But when we have said that and all such things and
have recognized it all as true, one question arises; IS
there, IS there one thing that interprets and explains
everything in this book? And the answer is yes. There is
one all-inclusive issue running from beginning to end. It
is the Purpose of God as to the eternal government of
this universe and this earth in particular.
The issue
and question of the government of God's creation through
eternal ages. That explains everything that is here. You
have to read backward of course, from the end of the
book, for all has moved toward that. Steady movement
through every phase and aspect unto that one end, "I
saw the holy City, new Jerusalem coming down from God out
of heaven". Here you have the metropolis, the center
of government; that is the end - the government of
everything established, again in a symbolic
representation, the holy City. Well that implies
government, I say everything in the book moves toward
that and you have to read everything from beginning
onward in the light of that final, wonderful issue. WHO
is going to govern God's created universe through all
ages of eternity? HOW is that government going
to be reached? And WHAT is the nature of that
government? Those are the questions that are answered in
this book.
How great
it is that when you come to the City, that is the
realization of this great divine object; the government
of all things as from heaven. You find that that
government is just as much a matter of character or
nature as it is of power. That is a VERY
important thing to remember. It is not only official
authority established at last, the iron hand of
government in control. It is a government of a certain KIND
of nature. The City is the embodiment not only of
strength but of character and nature; everything that is
precious in the sight of God. And those two things are
brought together and they run through this whole book.
Those two things are implicit in the first chapters as we
shall see in the presentation of the Son of Man Himself
and then in the messages to the churches. So they run on.
It's a reaching of the place of ascendancy by conformity
to a certain nature. It's a tremendous thing to come to
that nature, to that character.
It is no
less a question, an issue, in the nature of things than
the government of this universe. What kind of thing will
it be that governs at last? That's the big question. And
so page after page is dealing with that. Page after page,
phrase after phrase. It is not just the crashing of
something against the mastery, it is the getting rid of a
certain character and nature and kind, to put in its
place another kind. From center to circumference.
Remember it is a law always of God and of the Word of God
that power is by character and not by office. And so it
is here, it is a tremendous question in this matter of
ascendancy, the throne, the government, the dominion. I
say again, it governs everything through this book. In a
word, it is the nature of God's Son as Son of Man,
standing over everything. He, in Person and divinely
appointed destiny, but He particularly in character. That
brings everything under it. This great issue of
government.
And is it
necessary for me to say here that if ever there was a
time in the history of this cosmos when the conflict, the
battle for the government of this universe was raging;
that time is now. We are all very conscious of mighty
forces at work to get the control of this world and all
that has to do with it. Of a tremendous battle raging as
to who and what is going to have the dominion here. That
only needs to be said to draw out a response and assent
of recognition; it's on. And the point of the
concentration of this conflict is the Church, the people
of God! In some parts from without, in an outward way
they're in it, but if it is not by outward persecution,
spiritual people are conscious of TREMENDOUS spiritual
pressure and conflict in these days which is increasing.
Yes, it's quite patent that this is the issue. What is
going to emerge, on top at last, what kind of a thing
will it be, that is the question to be answered.
For this
issue take up the whole book again, this issue is shown
to be related to five things, first of all to the very
purpose of God IN creation. The purpose of God
in creation! There should be something answering to His
heart and to His mind, to His thought for His full
satisfaction in the works of His hands. Chapter four
takes up, as you know, that creational aspect and the
great song in heaven which bursts forth in that
connection is "for thou createst or didst create all
things for Thyself, for Thy pleasure" it is the song
of a redeemed creation showing that it's all centred in
the throne now. That chapter brings you right up into
heaven, everything is up there and the throne is set, and
everything is around that throne and the song in the
first instance is the song of a redeemed creation.
Centred in the throne, that's the meaning of the
creation! A kind of creation absolutely grown united with
the Throne at its centre. That's the purpose of creation
and then the book moves to show that this, this issue,
this great issue: government, is God's purpose in
redemption.
Of course
chapter five carries the theme further, it is still the
theme in heaven but here the emphasis is upon redemption
and the second great song breaks out "Thou hast
redeemed". Thou hast redeemed! And the throne is at
the centre of redemption. Redemption has brought the
throne to its place, government by redemption. We'll have
more to say about this as we go on. In the third place
this great purpose of world and universal government is
shown to be God's purpose concerning His Son. The place
that He occupies throughout is supreme and everything is
working toward that end where HE, HE is Lord of all and
in all things has the pre-eminence and in the book is
seen at the end riding forth in majesty, ruling! As we
shall see His very titles indicate universal lordship,
God's purpose concerning His Son, the government of this
world and of this universe.
In the
fourth place this great purpose of dominion is shown to
be God's purpose in choosing and raising up Israel as a
nation, that in an earthly way Israel should set forth
the principles of heavenly government, and all that
focused in God's Son. That is why Israel was raised up.
And that is touched upon here but Israel put the Son out!
And Israel in turn was put out. The place that Israel
occupies today, the most tragic place you could think of,
is simply this: they failed in the purpose of God
concerning His Son, His absolute Kingship and Lordship.
And then the fifth connection the book shows that this
great issue of dominion is bound up with the Church. The
Church! The Church comes in here; it is not Christ in
solitary isolation, the Church with Him in government
eventually.
Well, you
see how comprehensive the issue is, this book gathering
all that up is the book of final recovery of God's
eternal intention and it shows that it WILL be, it will
be done. A large place, as you know, is given to prophecy
in this book and right at the end, right at the end, it
is gathered up in this way, "The Lord, the God of
the spirits of the prophets hath sent His angel and
signified these things." The God of the spirits of
the prophets! Then there is this, the keeping of the
prophecy of this book. And most of you know that
prophetic ministry always had one thing in view: recovery
of God's thought. Recovery! And inasmuch as this book has
so much of the prophetic aspect in it, it indicates that
that's what is in view, it's recovery! Something has been
lost. Something has been lost! And that is going to be
recovered. Something of divine purpose and intention has
been lost and God in this book is seen as set and giving
Himself to the recovery of that which has been lost of
His intention and will concerning this creation AND the
Church. It's a mighty, mighty issue that is being fought
out, shall we say, through the pages of this book. Just
to take a few minutes on that point alone and we'll leave
it for the morning.
A
revelation had been given. A revelation had been given by
God in the old dispensation, in the Old Testament, and it
does not need that anyone be very well instructed to see
that as you read the Old Testament from the beginning of
Genesis right to the last chapter of the book of Malachi,
there is one thing that is involved in the whole story;
it is this question of government! Dominion! Rulership!
Sovereignty! Control of this world! Isn't that clear?
Everywhere it's there. It is one continuous battle
raging, the ups and downs, the fluctuations, sometimes
it's one power in the ascendant and sometimes another.
Sometimes the Lord's people in their right place of
dominion and other times they're in subjugation and
antagonistic powers are in the ascendant but this battle
rages and sways through all those Old Testament
generations but God had left no one in doubt as to what
His mind about it was and His purpose.
It's all
there! The revelation had been given. It had been given
in the New Testament. Mark you, we come to the book of
the Revelation we're at the end of the first Christian
century. The book in all probability was written in the
nineties of the first century. And the revelation had
been given in the New Testament. What a revelation of
God's intention, God's purpose, God's thought for the
government of this world. And that revelation had been in
a particular and peculiar way concentrated in the
ministry of the apostle Paul, had come through Paul in a
full and shall we say, a consummate way. For if you want
to know about the ages of the ages and God's thought
concerning Jesus Christ therein and the Church, it's to
Paul you go. It's been given! It's been given; and
significantly enough, it was given in the Name to the
churches in Asia. To the churches in Asia - we have
Ephesians, Colossians - it had been given! It had been
lost. It had been let go. Said Paul, "All they which
be in Asia be turned from me". It had been let go.
God had GIVEN the deposit of a FULL revelation
of His intention from eternity concerning His Son,
concerning the Church in the government, the ultimate
government of this universe. It's there! It's been let
go; now the book of Revelation comes in to show God's
reaction to that, to recover. And significantly enough He
will begin with the Churches in Asia.
There the
greatest responsibility rests; where the greatest light
has been given, where the knowledge of God's will has
been most fully redeemed, there God will begin. He always
does, He always does begin there, the point of the
greatest responsibility. To recover! To recover! And
while I anticipate a little, let me point out to you at
this point that He's GOING to have that which
does represent His recovery. In the churches He may not
find a full, complete response by all the people of God
but He will have there that which DOES answer -
"to him that overcometh...". What God may not
have in the whole He will have in a part.
I'm reading
a book by a New Testament scholar this week, not one we
would call a spiritually minded person but one of
profound knowledge of things as to the Bible and I came
on this, I think it's worth reading at this point. He
says "We have made reference to the thought of a
remnant", he's speaking about the faith of Israel,
the history of Israel. "The community as a whole
could be narrowed down to a part which could represent
the whole and continue its inheritance. This idea of a
remnant is found throughout the whole Bible, it is not
confined to the prophets, though they say much about it.
In the story of the flood Noah and his family constitute
a remnant in whom the divine creative purpose is
concentrated and preserved. The blessing promised to
Abraham and his seed was limited to one of his sons,
Isaac. In the time of Elijah we read of a righteous
remnant of seven thousand which had not bowed the knee to
Baal. This idea is found in Isaiah, in Jeremiah, in
Ezekiel, in Amos, in Micah. Sometimes the remnant is
thought of as bringing about the sparing of the whole
community." Note that: that's tremendous!
"Sometimes the remnant is thought of as bringing
about the sparing of the whole community. If God could
have found ten righteous in Sodom the whole community
would have been saved. Sometimes the remnant itself is
spared to convey to a future generation the knowledge of
God's will. It is always thought of as a corporate body
and not just so many individuals. Wherever it appears,
the remnant is for that moment, THE people of God. Heirs
of the promises and heirs of the revelation of God's
purpose." I believe that's magnificent!
Carry that
over here and see it gathered into the overcomers at the
end. See on one side what a responsibility rests upon
them, what a need the Lord has for such! What a
tremendous thing is bound up with them, no less an issue
than God's eternal intention concerning His Son,
concerning the Church in the government of this universe.
It seems, perhaps, presumption to think that we here, a
little company of insignificant people in this world,
might, as a part of others in the larger, be in that line
of divine purpose. It might be, dear friends, I put it
this way; it might be that that is why we are here at
this very time. If we were to speak of the conflict that
has preceded this time, the raging of the forces of evil,
and all the determinations as are seen to make the
continuance of this testimony and ministry possible, we
are driven to ask one question: What can it mean? What
can it mean? What are we? What do we amount to? And the
answer must be this, has God abandoned His intention? And
if not, He will STILL seek to have those who know what
that is and who come into line with it. And, forgive me,
and I know that I'll need a lot of forgiveness in some
realms for saying it, but it is just possible that the
gathering of just a handful here in these days has no
less a significance in it than God's desire to make known
to His people that He has not given up His original
purpose concerning His Son and the Church. If I should be
right, may the Lord give to us a due sense of the
tremendous significance of any time like this when He
chooses to speak to us again about this matter of supreme
and paramount importance; His inheritance in His Son. The
Kingdom of His Son. His Son's place in this universe for
all eternal ages. And of an instrument to His hand for
the expression of His government and the administering of
His kingdom. Now I have not said and am not thinking or
saying that WE are the people for that. But that is the
Lord's thought for as MANY of the Church universal as
will give Him the response that He seeks when He says
"He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear what the
Spirit saith to the churches". I venture to say to
you dear friends, that we are gathered in no small
matter. May the Lord give us eyes to see as we go on how
this is to be, how He works it out, on what ground, in
the revelation of Jesus Christ.