Thyatira - Rumor notes 13

 

Revelation 2

18 "To the angel of the assembly in Thyatira write: "The Son of God, who has his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet are like burnished brass, says these things:

19 "I know your works, your love, faith, service, patient endurance, and that your last works are more than the first.

….covered last week.

25 Nevertheless, hold firmly that which you have, until I come.

Hold firmly to that which you have. Does this mean that some things are clear and others are murky and confusing, so in times of confusion and questioning we need to cling to fundamental truths? If so, what are the fundamental elements of truth? That might vary widely depending on our perception of both truth and the nature of the cause and definitions of sin.

Why does Jesus say He will not put any other burden on the rest? I thought Jesus is the one we are to put all our burdens on anyway. What burden might He be referring to here?

Hold firmly to that which you have. When things are confusing and all around us are mixed messages as to who is right or wrong or safe or dangerous, we need to have a conscious knowledge of what is at the core of truth, what is life-giving or what might need to be left to learn later. I believe it is vital that we be willing to challenge what is most important versus what we might think is important but does not align with what Jesus reveals about God's motives, methods and truth.

26 He who overcomes, and he who keeps my works to the end, to him I will give authority over the nations.

27 He will rule them with a rod of iron, shattering them like clay pots; as I also have received of my Father:

28 and I will give him the morning star.

29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.

I will give authority. What kind of authority does Jesus use? God is not into hierarchy.

In heaven's system, authority is pre-distributed out to every intelligent created being to be used exclusively by that one according to their own free choices. This is what I call the piece of divinity that God has endowed each one with as a reflection of Himself. This is absolutely necessary if love and intimate bonded relationships are to exist at all. Without freedom to choose and to freely decide whether or not to participate in mutual relationships of trust and love, such relationships become impossible to experience. This is why the kind of authority we are accustomed to practicing and living under here on earth cannot work in God's design, for top-down hierarchal type authority relies on compulsion, force, coercion and the reward punishment system to enforce its power over others.

Once we begin to grasp this and recognize that nearly everything that comes to mind when we hear the word authority is a counterfeit and a distortion of true authority, how can we read this message of Jesus and appreciate its true meaning in light of how God and His kingdom does things? In other words, if authority in heaven's system is received from those choosing to live under another's guidance and instruction and protection, then in what way does Jesus give authority to others to rule over nations? Remember, Jesus will never rule the way authorities here on earth rule, exercising coercive power to control and dominate over others against their will.

He said to them, "The kings of the nations lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are called 'benefactors.' But not so with you. But one who is the greater among you, let him become as the younger, and one who is governing, as one who serves. For who is greater, one who sits at the table, or one who serves? Isn't it he who sits at the table? But I am in the midst of you as one who serves. But you are those who have continued with me in my trials. I confer on you a kingdom, even as my Father conferred on me, that you may eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom. You will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." (Luke 22:25-30)

Look carefully at this explanation of how Jesus confers authority. Precisely what is He saying they can do? Jesus says that what He confers on His true followers is just the same as what His Father conferred on Him as a human being loyal to His Father. What is conferred is the privilege to eat and drink at His table. All the rest about sitting on thrones and judging simply flow out of this as natural after-effects. The main thing granted to those who are willing to humble themselves and serve selflessly, or in the words of Jesus in Revelation, who keeps His works to the end, is a place at His table. Couching this in the meaning of heaven's kind of authority operating in a family mindset instead of a lord-it-over-others mindset, what does that mean?

The closer we come to appreciating that God's kingdom operates nothing like earthly kingdoms, the more clearly we see the problems with our presumptions associated with words like thrones and judging. When we hear the word throne we tend to imagine a position of power where someone lords it over others. But Jesus has explicitly denied this as having any place in His kingdom, so we have to replace our entire paradigm about thrones in God's kingdom if we want to understand and participate in His plan for restoring order to the universe free of all sin. Likewise we have to completely redefine what we imagine needs to happen in terms of judging, for Jesus also commanded His followers to not judge others lest they be judged themselves, and also declared that He did not come to judge but to save. So whatever is going on here must align perfectly with how Jesus does things and must mesh perfectly with His teachings. What Jesus did say was that it was His words that would be our judge.

Rule with a rod of iron. Pay close attention to the phrasing of these words of Jesus. He is not talking about Him ruling with a rod of iron but rather those who keep His works to the end. That means those who emulate His example and practice authority only according to heaven's version will be qualified to participate in this activity, whatever it looks like. But to unpack the real meaning of this we need to apply the keys we received in the very first verse of this book and not fail to faithfully fit everything we read through the filter of these keys lest we become tainted with the virus of sin that distorts the meaning of everything spiritual.

While it is clear here that it is not Jesus who is referred to as ruling with a rod of iron, elsewhere in the book He is identified as doing exactly that. So what is the connection here?

Another sign was seen in heaven. Behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven crowns. His tail drew one third of the stars of the sky, and threw them to the earth. The dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. Her child was caught up to God, and to his throne. The woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that there they may nourish her one thousand two hundred sixty days. There was war in the sky. Michael and his angels made war on the dragon. The dragon and his angels made war. (Revelation 12:3-7)

Notice the many inter-connections here. In Luke Jesus talks about authority and difference of how it is exercised along with thrones and judging. Here we find reference to Jesus, the male child born to the woman on earth who is clearly identified as the one who will rule all the nations with a rod of iron. Jesus is the one caught up to God and in chapter 5 we will see Him as the hero of this whole book in the form of the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne with God.

What is becoming clear early on in Revelation here is a process whereby the Lamb is preparing a people to exercise authority exactly the same way He does. This is one of the main themes throughout this book that we need to keep in view so as to make sense out of the many convoluted and shocking things we will encounter. The main issues to ever keep in mind everywhere we look in this amazing exposé of the backstory is the contrast between God's methods and motives and that of His enemies.

Rod of iron. There are many possibilities for interpreting the meaning of this, but whatever we choose must fit without resistance through the filter of the keys we are using for interpretation. Everything in Revelation is given as symbols and every interpretation must align perfectly with the example, methods and motives of Jesus who is the hero of Revelation. Thus there are several possible meanings for this rod of iron.

It could be referring to a shepherd's rod. If we apply it this way a rod made of iron would have valuable attributes over a rod made of merely wood. Iron is far stronger and more reliable than wood, and interestingly iron will not burn up in a fire like a stick of wood could easily do. We will see passages that give strong hints in this direction.

Secondly, and not to preclude the first, this rod can just as likely refer to a scepter which is a symbol of supreme authority when it comes to a kingdom. We will also see strong support for this as well in the passages discovered when we trace this concept throughout Scripture.

Thirdly, we find reference to a rod or pen of iron used as an engraving tool with a diamond tip.

Out of his mouth proceeds a sharp, double-edged sword, that with it he should strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He treads the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty. (Revelation 19:15)

Ask of me, and I will give the nations for your inheritance, the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron. You shall dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." Now therefore be wise, you kings. Be instructed, you judges of the earth. (Psalms 2:8-10)

The symbolism in these verses seem to link closely the sword from Jesus' mouth with the rod of iron and how they are used to strike the nations. But notice how all this is tied in with how Jesus does all this. He treads the winepress alone. We must allow all the passages we are finding to inform us and shape our thinking as to what all this really means, including what it means to tread the winepress as explained in the OT. Also note the method by which nations are shattered differently than what we usually presume must happen.

Shepherd's Rod

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalms 23:4)

Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your heritage, who dwell by themselves in a forest, in the midst of fertile pasture land, let them feed; in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old. "As in the days of your coming forth out of the land of Egypt, I will show them marvelous things." The nations will see and be ashamed of all their might. They will lay their hand on their mouth. Their ears will be deaf. They will lick the dust like a serpent. Like crawling things of the earth they shall come trembling out of their dens. They will come with fear to Yahweh our God, and will be afraid because of you. Who is a God like you, who pardons iniquity, and passes over the disobedience of the remnant of his heritage? He doesn't retain his anger forever, because he delights in loving kindness. He will again have compassion on us. He will tread our iniquities under foot; and you will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7:14-19)

Engraving Tool

Oh that my words were now written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book! That with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever! But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives. In the end, he will stand upon the earth. After my skin is destroyed, then in my flesh shall I see God, (Job 19:23-26)

The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is engraved on the tablet of their heart, and on the horns of your altars; while their children remember their altars and their Asherim by the green trees on the high hills. My mountain in the field, I will give your substance and all your treasures for a spoil, and your high places, because of sin, throughout all your borders. You, even of yourself, shall discontinue from your heritage that I gave you; and I will cause you to serve your enemies in the land which you don't know: for you have kindled a fire in my anger which shall burn forever. Thus says Yahweh: Cursed is the man who trusts in man, and makes flesh his arm, and whose heart departs from Yahweh. (Jeremiah 17:1-5)

In these verses we see a link to the hardness of heart likened to stone on which is engraved the record of sins. Engravings on stone last a very long time, and there are many references in Scripture to God wanting to exchange our heart of stone for a heart of flesh, a heart that is dynamic, feeling, sensitive and one in which the principles of love are integrated. This reminds of of the contrast between a Law engraved on tablets of stone as encountered at Mt. Sinai and the expression of the underlying principles of that same Law revealed in the soft and tender flesh of the Son of God.

Scepter Rod

The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs. To him will the obedience of the peoples be. (Genesis 49:10)

Your mother was like a vine, in your blood, planted by the waters: it was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters. It had strong rods for the scepters of those who bore rule, and their stature was exalted among the thick boughs, and they were seen in their height with the multitude of their branches. But it was plucked up in fury, it was cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up its fruit: its strong rods were broken off and withered; the fire consumed them. Now it is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty land. Fire is gone out of the rods of its branches, it has devoured its fruit, so that there is in it no strong rod to be a scepter to rule. This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation. (Ezekiel 19:10-14)

As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, surely with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out, will I be king over you: and I will bring you out from the peoples, and will gather you out of the countries in which you are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out; and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there will I enter into judgment with you face to face. Like as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I enter into judgment with you, says the Lord Yahweh. I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant; and I will purge out from among you the rebels, and those who disobey against me; I will bring them forth out of the land where they sojourn, but they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and you shall know that I am Yahweh. As for you, house of Israel, thus says the Lord Yahweh: Go you, serve everyone his idols, and hereafter also, if you will not listen to me; but my holy name shall you no more profane with your gifts, and with your idols. (Ezekiel 20:33-39)

But of the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your Kingdom. You have loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows." (Hebrews 1:8-9)

Shatter them like clay pots. There is very much that could be unpacked here but we can only touch on a few and leave the rest for later. Primarily what we need to pay attention to is the method and motives of how this is accomplished. If we miss this we have missed the main point of the entire book. Whatever it means to shatter nations it must fit within the revelation of God in the life and example of Jesus while He lived on this earth among us.

This may be a classic example of the fallacy of the logic that the end justifies the means. The way most people imagine winning over powerful nations is by the use of superior force. Yet this is exactly what Jesus came to refute, so He will not use methods which He has clearly denounced and forbidden for His disciples to use. Thus any reasoning that there comes a time when force must be resorted to when all else has failed is a subversion of the truth as embodied most clearly in the Lamb of Revelation. Violence, intimidation, force and coercion are never to be found anywhere in God's kingdom, for His kingdom is not of this world. Shattering nations then must be seen in an entirely different light if we want to remain consistent with the message of this entire book about a war raging between the dragon and the Lamb.

In the above passages and in many others, we can find insights and clues about how God shatters nations. Even in the dream of the image in Daniel 2 we find key insights as to how the nations of earth are destroyed without violence on the part of God. The entire system of domination and authority through coercive power is represented by this image built of various ingredients, some of which are considered precious metals and the legs and feet having iron representing brute, raw force. Yet the stone that dissolves all of them into dust at the end is said to not be designed by any hand.

What does this really mean? In Scripture the hand is a symbol of power and/or authority. In Daniel 2 some translations insert the word human into the text, but it is not in the original Hebrew and does not belong there. What this means is that this stone that defeats all the nations and reduces them to dust that can all be blown away with even a gentle whiff of air, relies on an entirely different principle that what the kingdoms of earth rely on to win over others. Thus what this is telling us is that not even God's hand is used to shape this stone that wins over and shatters all nations that have set themselves up through the use of force and top-down authority.

This stone is not a precious metal but apparently just an ordinary rock. Yet amazingly this rock has some inherent life principle within it that causes it to grow, displacing all the other attempts to dominate the world with a mountain that emerges as a result of whatever is in this rock. And it does so, not by relying on any of the previous methods used by the nations but through the methods and motives and message of the Lamb who is the ultimate overcomer along with all who are willing to embrace His ways and overcome only as He overcame. These will be the ones who will build the mountain of God, Mount Zion, where only righteousness rules and love is the only game in town. This leads us nicely into unpacking the next phrase.

As I have received of my Father. What does this tell us about how the kingdom of heaven displaces all the nations of this world? What is the example of how Jesus received the kingdom? He never resorted to force, deception, defensiveness or leveraging supernatural power to gain advantage over His enemies. He simply received His grace, His sense of value and identity and His strength to love unconditionally every morning from His heavenly Father and then dispensed these things freely to others throughout the day. Jesus lived the perfect human life by demonstrating how humans are designed to live – receiving freely from God for the purpose of giving freely to others. This is the design of all creation and the secret of true power.

Embracing this pattern of living is the means of defeating all the powers of darkness and the kingdoms of this world. Consider this statement in light of what we are learning here.

God could have destroyed Satan and his sympathizers as easily as one can cast a pebble to the earth; but He did not do this. Rebellion was not to be overcome by force. Compelling power is found only under Satan's government. The Lord's principles are not of this order. His authority rests upon goodness, mercy, and love; and the presentation of these principles is the means to be used. God's government is moral, and truth and love are to be the prevailing power. {DA 759.1}

Give him the Morning Star.

I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies. I am the root and the offspring of David; the Bright and Morning Star. (Revelation 22:16)

How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, who laid the nations low! (Isaiah 14:12)

We have the more sure word of prophecy; and you do well that you heed it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns, and the morning star arises in your hearts: (2 Peter 1:19)

Both of these last verses in the Latin identify these beings as having the name Lucifer which means light-bearer or phosphorescent.

The controversy has from the beginning been over whose version of light about God's character is to be believed. The very word controversy is made up of two parts: Contra which means against and verse which is logos or the Word. Christ is the explicit and only truthful revelation of God while Lucifer claimed to be the correct light of truth about God. So the competition for faith has always been who we will believe and follow when it comes to reflecting the image of God, which Lucifer will we allow to shape our character and reflection, which witness we will believe about what lurks deep in God's heart.

What seems to be God's plan in the larger context is that those who follow the Lamb wherever He goes and learn to sing the new Song of the Lamb, will take the place abandoned by the original Lucifer who turned his gifts into weapons against his Creator. The best friend of Michael who was created to accompany Him in administration of all creation betrayed Him just as Judas did when He was on earth. As a result, God replaces this companion with a people who are matured to be a bride for Christ, someone who is finally willing to be in complete harmony and sympathy with His message, methods and motives and who is willing to reflect His love without resistance or suspicion.

In short, those who are willing to become nurtured and cultivated to be a loving companion for Christ are given the position of Morning Star, reflectors of the light of God's heart through which the glory of God may be magnified and distributed to all the universe throughout the rest of eternity.

Thyatira - Rumor notes 12

 

Revelation 2

18 "To the angel of the assembly in Thyatira write: "The Son of God, who has his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet are like burnished brass, says these things:

19 "I know your works, your love, faith, service, patient endurance, and that your last works are more than the first.

In each message we recall that select parts of the description of Jesus from chapter 1 are listed as highly relevant to this particular group. So as we move through the rest of this message we need to keep asking why these particular aspects of Jesus are mentioned.

The Son of God

Eyes like a flame of fire

Feet like burnished brass

Why these particular aspects of Jesus? How do they resonate with this group of people?

What is key about mentioning specifically that Jesus is the Son of God? What does that really imply?

What does Son of God mean or emphasize? Purity? Just like God? Revelation of God's heart?

How might this contrast with Jezebel's version of God?

Why are His eyes and feet the only parts mentioned relative to this group?

Eyes like fire. Contrast with eyes of lust or enticement from a prostitute who does not have your best interest at heart. Whose eyes are full of light and passionate love rather than darkness or evil intent?

Eyes that search minds and hearts are filled with a fire of passion that exposes what is hidden in darkness. This is judgment God style.

Feet like burnished bronze. Does this relate to authority? Authority in other places involves putting everything under Jesus' feet. But how is this done? Not through force or compulsion, for the Lamb never uses force, fear or threats to gain control over others. That is false authority.

Later in this message Jesus says He will give authority to those who keep His works to the end. Is that tied back to this reference to His feet? We don't usually associate feet with authority, but then we have to learn that a lot of things in Revelation are not what we initially what we usually think.

With this list of positive attributes about the people in Thyatira, it would appear they should be in pretty good standing with God. Love, faith, service, patient endurance (think James 1) are all things one would expect to see in a true Jesus follower. And mention is made of a strengthening or increasing of their good works over time which is also a positive thing.

So with such a glowing review of the character traits of this group, how could the following weaknesses be such a problem? Could it be that patience might become a problem when it comes to overlooking open sin in a group of believers? This raises the serious question of just how God wants us to relate to fellow believers who retain faults in their lives that become a source of serious temptation or the downfall of others. At the same time we must guard against lurching to the other extreme from too much tolerance to censure, condemnation and harshness. Jesus reminds us here that He is the one who is going to arrange things so that consequences come about that are invoked by a stubborn continuation in sin that threatens to destroy the sensitive works of restoration and love in the hearts of vulnerable children of God.

20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate your woman, Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. She teaches and seduces my servants to commit sexual immorality, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.

21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality.

22 Behold, I will throw her into a bed, and those who commit adultery with her into great oppression, unless they repent of her works.

23 I will kill her children with Death, and all the assemblies will know that I am he who searches the minds and hearts. I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.

A number of hot button issues of today are highlighted here. Some would insist that this is proof that God becomes angry if a woman is allowed to teach or takes on the title of prophet. Yet is this the message Jesus is giving here? Or do we need to be cautious in how we apply messages and be discerning to see what the underlying issues really are? Remember that everything is symbolic.

What is the difference between Jesus giving someone time to repent and improper tolerance that allows someone to undermine and damage the work of God within the body of believers?

How is this relevant to Jesus having eyes of fire? What is the meaning of this fire? Is there danger that we might mistake His fire with the kind of fire found in our eyes in a similar situation?

This gets into the area of judging. We need to be keenly aware of the dangers and responsibilities involved in passing judgments on others and pay close attention in particular to the clear instructions of Jesus in regards to this issue.

What is our responsibility when it comes to dealing with sin among believers and what must we leave in God's hands? This requires more than average maturity to handle appropriately.

...throw her into a bed. Throw means an initiated act rather than something passive here. But Jesus says He will handle that and does not instruct us to be responsible to do it.

Bed can mean a couch, literally an incline or recline, implying a change of position from standing upright.

If this figurative woman is seducing others to get involved in immorality/adultery, why would Jesus be the one to put her in a bed? It would seem she might already be wanting to go there herself to promote and participate in what she is seducing others into getting involved with.

How does this promised action of Jesus fit safely into everything else we learn about the motives and methods of the Lamb in this book?

How are we to know when tolerance and patience are needed and when to relate differently?

How does this relate to freedom of choice and God's respect of that for every individual?

...with her into great oppression

Is the source of this oppression Jesus Himself? Or does He allow the natural outworking of the principles of cause and effect to accomplish this promised outcome?

Notice that those who are drawn into her enticements and believe her teachings will participate in the negative consequences of her sins. This is a theme that shows up throughout this book again and again.

The word translated oppression here means pressure, affliction, anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble. These sound very similar to what God's people often experience from being faithful to Jesus and resist embracing lies about God and choose instead to love their enemies like Jesus. This raises the serious question relating to the cause of consequences. Does Jesus have to impose such consequences for those who promote sin, or is the language a bit confusing as Jesus is simply portrayed as actively causing things that in reality happens as a result of His withdrawing His protection?

Kill her children with death. Consider this carefully: her children are likely the offspring of her actions of adultery. Additionally we see in Revelation 20:14 that death is the last thing exterminated. The main target of God's wrath is death Heb 2:14-15, and all who cling to the ways of death Pr 8:36 simply become unnecessary collateral damage and suffer its final demise because they refuse to let go of it.

24 But to you I say, to the rest who are in Thyatira, as many as don't have this teaching, who don't know what some call 'the deep things of Satan,' to you I say, I am not putting any other burden on you.

25 Nevertheless, hold firmly that which you have, until I come.

We start to see more clearly that there is a rift in this group of people. Some have already been sucked into the logic and compelling allurements of a powerful source that makes sin very attractive, maybe even appear positive. Others have refused to accept this line of logic and teaching, meaning there is likely a growing division of beliefs and practice in this church. But does this mean that those who are more conservative or fundamentalist are more righteous than those who hold liberal views?

What might be the deep things of Satan? Jesus says those who are not involved in false seductive teachings of Jezebel don't know these things. What might this mean for us? If we want to be on the right side it might be well to know the nature of these deep things without knowing them directly. Examine some passages that may well give us important clues related to this.

But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve in his craftiness, so your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:3)

Satan is the originator of all deception, lies and violence. He relies on complexity to distract from simplicity, to bring in confusion and double-mindedness.

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ's apostles. And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light. It is no great thing therefore if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

(2 Corinthians 11:13-15)

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world's rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:11-12)

For the mystery of lawlessness already works. Only there is one who restrains now, until he is taken out of the way. Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will kill with the breath of his mouth, and destroy by the manifestation of his coming; even he whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deception of wickedness for those who are being lost, because they didn't receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. Because of this, God sends them a working of error, that they should believe a lie; that they all might be judged who didn't believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

(2 Thessalonians 2:7-12)

And on her forehead a name was written, "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." (Revelation 17:5)

New Name on Stone - Rumor notes 11

 

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes, to him I will give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which no one knows but he who receives it. (Revelation 2:17)

Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and remain in his love. I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full. "This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. (John 15:9-12)

This is part of the practical application of acting on Jesus' invitation to eat His flesh as the manna we must have in order to experience the life of knowing God intimately. The joy is experienced in the sweet fellowship of intimacy for which our heart was created, and without which it will never be satisfied with any substitute.

With my whole heart, I have sought you. Don't let me wander from your commandments. I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Blessed are you, Yahweh. Teach me your statutes. With my lips, I have declared all the ordinances of your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of your testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate on your precepts, and consider your ways. I will delight myself in your statutes. I will not forget your word. (Psalms 119:10-16)

What is the purpose of hiding the manna of God in our heart? How can we ingest the words of Jesus and the testimony of Jesus? It involves both His words as well as what was communicated in His body language as He related to everyone around Him. So what is most needed change in our perceptions to get us unstuck from spinning our wheels but making very little progress in our spiritual growth?

We are coming to see that one of the core issues being fought over in this war is the truth about identity. God's identity and trustworthiness is at the very center of the controversy, but also caught up in this is the identity of every human being who by design are reflectors of God's identity. Without addressing the condition of the reflectors of God, the reputation and credibility of God cannot be effectively vindicated. Thus how we perceive our own identity is intimately linked to the salvation of our God.

New Name/Identity

I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which no one knows but he who receives it.

This stone is all about identity as the war is really over what we perceive and believe about both our identity and that of God. What we believe about our identity and where we get it from affects how we make every decision. In turn our choices direct the development of our character which determines whether we will be able to thrive in God's fiery presence or we will shrink back in terror when we encounter that intense power of love. This is why the war is over what we believe about identity.

The gracious Saviour also promised to give to every conqueror in this holy war “a white stone.” In those times, when any person accused of crimes against the state was tried by the suffrage of the citizens, they voted for his acquittal by a white stone, and for his condemnation by a black one: so that Christ, the sole Judge of his people, in promising to give them a white stone, assured them of their full justification at the great day of account, and of the present comfortable sense that they were pardoned and accepted in him. (Acts 26:10) The name written upon it is probable that of “children of God;” and it represents the inseparable connexion of adoption into his family with forgiveness of sins. This name would be, as it were, inscribed upon the pardon given them, and made legible to the soul by “the Spirit of adoption.” (Romans 8:14-17) But “no man knoweth it saving he that receiveth it;” for the ground of this knowledge is laid in his inward consciousness and experience; it is communicated to the lively Christian by “a witness in himself;” the world knoweth not the children of God; (1 John 3:1-2; 5:10) and even their brethren cannot exactly distinguish them, but sometimes suspect or condemn the upright, and think well of specious hypocrites. But when the Holy Spirit illuminates his worn work in the believer’s soul, this new name, and its real import, become legible and intelligible to him, and he knows himself to be a child and heir of God. (Thomas Scott commentary)

At the macro level of this war, God's name has been under attack from the very outset, and it is His reputation that will be finally judged and must be vindicated before the universe can be restored to its original design of functioning while relying on love, truth and freedom alone. We are all caught in the crossfire of this war which involves our perceptions and beliefs about identity. This is because we are all inescapably reflectors of what we believe God is like at our heart level.

When Satan seduced our first parents into accepting lies about God and themselves, all humanity became infected with his dark lies resulting in all the malfunctions that sin produces ever since. Satan then insisted that because of our sins we deserve punishment and none of us should be pardoned or allowed to receive mercy, for that would violate what he claimed to be justice. Yet this was predicated on false presumptions inherent in Satan's invention of commerce that distorts the truth about God, a system of living where earning and deserving dictates everything that happens, where imaginary scales are used to determine an presumed need for balance of good and evil and a system of debts and credits must always be restored to balance to cancel each other out. Thus Satan uses black stones and votes against every human being, insisting that because everyone has sinned, no one deserves mercy so all should die the punishment deserved. Otherwise, he insists, God cannot be just. This is all part of the war, for it involves a war over the very definition of sin, of justice and whether or not mercy and justice are even compatible.

Look carefully at the following quotes that help to expose the real issues being fought over in this war.

In the opening of the great controversy, Satan had declared that the law of God could not be obeyed, that justice was inconsistent with mercy, and that, should the law be broken, it would be impossible for the sinner to be pardoned. Every sin must meet its punishment, urged Satan; and if God should remit the punishment of sin, He would not be a God of truth and justice. When men broke the law of God, and defied His will, Satan exulted. It was proved, he declared, that the law could not be obeyed; man could not be forgiven. Because he, after his rebellion, had been banished from heaven, Satan claimed that the human race must be forever shut out from God’s favor. God could not be just, he urged, and yet show mercy to the sinner. {DA 761.4}

One of the first casualties in the war was the truth about the very nature of justice. We have lived so long under the darkness of Satan's lies about truth and justice that for many it comes as a stunning revelation that what we assume is justice is really a fraud, a distorted counterfeit relied on by most all societies on earth. According to popular opinion, justice and mercy are in tension with each other, yet this is an artificial divide that is completely unfounded except in our fallen imagination reinforced by false religions. The war being conducted by the Lamb is out to expose this lie and defeat it by revealing the truth that alone can set us free from the bondage created by lies.

The counterfeit justice that Satan advocates is abhorred by God. His censuring must not be imitated by any who are partakers of divine mercy and love. Guard your own soul, my brother, my sister; watch closely for the first jealous thought, the first suggestion to question or judge others. We must not be severe with the infirmities of others, but attend zealously to our own individual case.{SW September 25, 1906, par. 10}

Jesus was a fountain of healing mercy for the saving of the world; for by precept and example he represented the justice and love of God to men. When the nature of man is renewed by grace, he will be full of tenderness, sympathy, and love. Thus the character of God will be unfolded to the world as it is, and Satan will not be able to fasten the minds of all humanity in his snare, charging God with his own attributes, and misrepresenting his character.{ST November 28, 1892, par. 6}

The whole notion of earning and deserving, debits and credits along with motivation through enticements of reward and threats of punishment has infected all of our thinking so thoroughly that it makes it extremely difficult to appreciate the truth about God's love and grace without intervention by the Holy Spirit to bring the light of truth into our soul. The only way our heart can believe in God's vote for us with a white stone and a new name on it, is to believe that God is only like Jesus and not like we have imagined Him to be for so long. Satan's arguments against us seem irrefutable until the Lamb brings the light of truth exposing the scandal of Satan's slander as being unfounded. It was unchallenged presumptions hidden within insinuations about God by which he duped our first parents originally.

Ultimately it will be revealed that all humanity is not guilty as charged by Satan, because the original charges brought against us by Satan are fallacious and fraudulent. It will be exposed that our choices to believe and follow Satan's temptations were rooted in faulty information. This exposes Satan as being the real cause of all our sin, not humans.

This truth frightens many people who assume if we don't keep the blame on sinners, they will not have incentive to scare them into repenting to turn to God. Yet this is part of Satan's scheme, for it presumes that God relies on the laws of commerce rather than relying on the principles of cause and effect. Reward and punishment is a counterfeit of cause and effect, and this needs to be plain in order to expose the nature of the subtle deceptions that keep us in slavery to fear.

This is not to suggest that there are no consequences to rebellion and sin. The undergirding principle of cause and effect that is designed into every other principle that govern creation makes this unavoidable. What must be clarified is the source of the bad effects of sin. It is not God inflicting punishments as Satan asserts, but rather the natural outcome of violations of principles designed to bring life. This distinction is vital to appreciate, for anything other explanation infects us with lies that keep us afraid and distrustful of God's heart, which is the very seed of sin itself.

Pardon versus Cancelled

In the end God will not merely pardon some humans as religion often claims, but God will cancel the original charges against all humanity, meaning Satan will be exposed as the originator and cause of all evil, not humans. Canceled charges versus pardoning result in vastly different outcomes in a trial; cancelling charges reveals that the charges were illegitimate to start with and are disallowed, while pardon presumes the charges were valid but exemption from punishment is granted.

When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven [charizomai] us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. (Colossians 2:13-15 NAS95)

I want to address this issue of forgiving our transgressions which may seem to conflict with the idea of cancelled charges. But first we need to explore cancellation a bit more and then come back to that.

The white stone with a new name on it shared privately with each person represents the truth that our identity in Christ alone is safe to trust and embrace. No other source should ever be allowed to define who we are as being less than fully loved by God. All Satan's accusations are rooted in commerce logic and are illegitimate, because God does not rely on commerce or endorse its balancing of good and evil. The white stone is God's vote declaring that we are innocent due to the false premise presented by the accuser that led us to malfunction. All the charges of guilt against all humanity by the great accuser are thus disarmed and publicly exposed as fraudulent when that whole system was exposed by Satan viciously attacking Jesus as an innocent victim on the cross. In doing so, Satan's insistence that his system of justice was right was defeated by his own actions. In killing the Prince of heaven, Satan destroyed the last vestiges of doubt about his lack of integrity and erased all lingering sympathy by heavenly inhabitants for his insinuations about God's ways and motives. This was the major turning point in the war, but not the end of battles. All creation has yet to be brought to see the real truth and acknowledge that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.

The death of Christ triumphs over all accusers in history. His death was not an appeasement of an offended deity as religion makes it out to be. No, His death exposes the very foundation of Satan's kingdom as rooted in false charges against God and humanity. By killing the innocent Son, Satan proved his system of justice to be a fraud and all his charges baseless. His decrees based on his abhorrent justice claims are canceled as null and void.

Charizomai

Now let's look at what it means to say that God forgave us all our transgressions. If forgiveness is necessary, doesn't that imply that there is a legitimate debt to be paid? Many raise this challenge, insisting that reference here to forgiving all our transgressions proves that God had to be satisfied with a payment for sin before He could forgive us. Yet this arises out of a common distortion of the very concept of forgiveness itself, which is a whole other topic of discussion. Let me just say that there are two primary Greek words translated as forgive in English that mean very different things in the original, which is why most people are in confusion about what forgiveness by God actually involves.

The word used here is charizomai and relates to what happens in God's heart, whereas the other word apheimi is about what needs to happen in our heart and mind in order to embrace the truth about what is already true in God's heart and mind. Charizomai involves an unconditional kind of forgiveness, a state of never holding onto any offense, never even taking offense to start with. In essence, forgiveness involves letting go of an offense. Yet if God never takes offense to start with, how can it be possible for Him to let it go? Understanding this is key, for if God never holds a grudge or desires to pay offenders back with punishment for wrongs committed against Him, then all attempts to convince God to forgive us in this way are misplaced, even rooted in unbelief. This is why we misunderstand how and why God cancels the handwriting of debt that is against us.

This handwriting of debt or certificate of debt has roots in the false presumptions that we hold about how God feels towards those who commit offenses against Him. Because God never holds onto an offense there is never any need to change His mind about us because His love is everlasting; nothing can ever alter that in the slightest. Thus it is never His heart that needs changing but rather ours. This is why all reconciliation that needs to take place must all be in us, it is never needed in God. When we ask God to forgive us then, we are asking Him to remove our fears and misapprehensions about Him from our hearts, not change His mind about us. Apheimi forgiveness is the cleansing of us from all sin. This is the forgiveness that we need to experience to be reconciled and united with God.

The next logical question follows: If this is all true, how could anyone be eternally lost? If the original charges of sin and rebellion deserving of death are all cancelled, why would anyone die as a result of sin? What could ever possibly lead anyone to choose death instead of eternal life with God? Some cannot imagine that anyone given enough truth about love, would ever even turn it down.

Part of the problem in unpacking this profound truth is affected by how deeply we are still infected with the paradigms of earning and deserving and false notions about justice and law enforcement. What needs to become clear as soon as possible in our study of Revelation is that the principles of commerce are all counterfeit and false. While they are the very foundation of all governments and used for societal order, they are not God's design but rather deadly imitations. God's ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are not like our way of reasoning based on tit for tat and vengeance desired for offenders. The ways of love are vastly different and define true freedom in contrast to the system of imposed rewards and punishments based on fear. Yet why many will die in the end is vital to understand or this idea of cancelling charges will be viewed as a heresy we should avoid.

God's laws are natural and self-enforcing while counterfeit law must be artificially enforced because it is not rooted in natural design or inherent cause and effect. This is a key that unlocks many things when coming to understand the truth about salvation. God is not obligated to enforce His law because natural principles always enforce themselves unless overruled by God.

Yet Satan accuses God of breaking His own laws when God interferes with the natural outworking of His principles of cause and effect. This may explain why Satan asserted that justice and mercy were in opposition to each other, yet in reality this has never been true except in our twisted perceptions. Yet God has to meet us where we are in our distorted reasoning until He can lead us to embrace underlying truths that expose our illogic, replacing it with true understanding. This is why spiritual things can only be discerned by spiritual people inspired by God's Holy Spirit. All who resist the truth brought by God's Spirit become double-minded, making it impossible for them to receive wisdom from God. This is why plain truth can hide in plain sight, not because God is trying to hide it from us but because our prejudices and distorted reasoning blinds us to simple truths because they don't meet our demands for so-called justice that is based on commerce thinking. Remember what we just read?

The counterfeit justice that Satan advocates is abhorred by God.

So why will people experience eternal extinction if the charges against them have all been dropped, canceled, exposed as fraudulent? This is an extremely important question to look at seriously. Why so? Because this is all part of the war over how we see God and directly affects how we will come to judge Him as fair or arbitrary. Our current study of these key issues is how we are participating in the war described in Revelation. We must come to realize that we are not merely observers or curious onlookers as we look into this book. Rather we find ourselves immediately caught up in the thick of the battle between light and darkness as we wrestle to decide what we will do with truth that the Spirit of the Lamb is bringing to our attention.

First of all, the lost will not die because God is compelled to punish them for their sins or because the law demands satisfaction in this way. That thinking is rooted in Satan's counterfeit system of imposed rewards and punishments but is foreign to how the kingdom of heaven operates.

So if the death of the lost is not punishment imposed by God, why would anyone die? This is the underlying question that motivates many to embrace universal salvation, insisting that no one will ultimately die, even Satan himself, but that all will sooner or later accept salvation and live happily in love for all eternity. I cannot find significant support for that doctrine, but I am assured that the death of the lost is not because God is obligated to kill them. Doing so would be a violation of their freedom to choose, but more importantly it ignores a central principle of character development and how natural consequences play out from a lifetime of choices made for or against love.

This principle of cause and effect must ever remain central as one sorts through what all this means. Cause and effect must not, however, be insinuated to mean sin compels God to punish sinners. The effects of choosing selfishness and sin (rather than dying to self to embrace our true identity as defined by Christ), develops a character incompatible with the glory of God's love. It is character that determines how each person reacts when encountering the full energy of the love of God when it will be released into the universe as never witnessed before. Our resistance to love is what unfits us for heaven, not some arbitrary decision on the part of God involving imposed rewards or punishments.

In the end, everyone will embrace what they have chosen to value most. It will be seen in the end that God never directly forced anything on anyone. This truth is central for vindicating and exonerating God in order to ensure that sin will never again rise up. Yet at the same time, everyone will always remain free to chose love or to turn away from it while also free of fear throughout all eternity. It is those who have allowed love to transform them so as to enjoy it who will thrive in it, proportional to the extent their character has been developed to receive it. In contrast, all who have seared their hearts in resistance and unbelief against God's love find living in His presence intolerable and will sooner or later demand to be allowed to embrace extinction rather than continue to live in the torment that love elicits in their resistant heart.

God has given to men a declaration of His character and of His method of dealing with sin. “The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.” Ex 34:6,7. “All the wicked will He destroy.” “The transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.” Ps 145:20; 37:38. The power and authority of the divine government will be employed to put down rebellion; yet all the manifestations of retributive justice will be perfectly consistent with the character of God as a merciful, long-suffering, benevolent being.

God does not force the will or judgment of any. He takes no pleasure in a slavish obedience. He desires that the creatures of His hands shall love Him because He is worthy of love. He would have them obey Him because they have an intelligent appreciation of His wisdom, justice, and benevolence. And all who have a just conception of these qualities will love Him because they are drawn toward Him in admiration of His attributes.

The principles of kindness, mercy, and love, taught and exemplified by our Saviour, are a transcript of the will and character of God. Christ declared that He taught nothing except that which He had received from His Father. The principles of the divine government are in perfect harmony with the Saviour's precept, “Love your enemies.” God executes justice upon the wicked, for the good of the universe, and even for the good of those upon whom His judgments are visited. He would make them happy if He could do so in accordance with the laws of His government and the justice of His character. He surrounds them with the tokens of His love, He grants them a knowledge of His law, and follows them with the offers of His mercy; but they despise His love, make void His law, and reject His mercy. While constantly receiving His gifts, they dishonor the Giver; they hate God because they know that He abhors their sins. The Lord bears long with their perversity; but the decisive hour will come at last, when their destiny is to be decided. Will He then chain these rebels to His side? Will He force them to do His will?

Those who have chosen Satan as their leader and have been controlled by his power are not prepared to enter the presence of God. Pride, deception, licentiousness, cruelty, have become fixed in their characters. Can they enter heaven to dwell forever with those whom they despised and hated on earth? Truth will never be agreeable to a liar; meekness will not satisfy self-esteem and pride; purity is not acceptable to the corrupt; disinterested love does not appear attractive to the selfish. What source of enjoyment could heaven offer to those who are wholly absorbed in earthly and selfish interests?

Could those whose lives have been spent in rebellion against God be suddenly transported to heaven and witness the high, the holy state of perfection that ever exists there,—every soul filled with love, every countenance beaming with joy, enrapturing music in melodious strains rising in honor of God and the Lamb, and ceaseless streams of light flowing upon the redeemed from the face of Him who sitteth upon the throne,—could those whose hearts are filled with hatred of God, of truth and holiness, mingle with the heavenly throng and join their songs of praise? Could they endure the glory of God and the Lamb? No, no; years of probation were granted them, that they might form characters for heaven; but they have never trained the mind to love purity; they have never learned the language of heaven, and now it is too late. A life of rebellion against God has unfitted them for heaven. Its purity, holiness, and peace would be torture to them; the glory of God would be a consuming fire. They would long to flee from that holy place. They would welcome destruction, that they might be hidden from the face of Him who died to redeem them. The destiny of the wicked is fixed by their own choice. Their exclusion from heaven is voluntary with themselves, and just and merciful on the part of God. (GC 541-542)

The key difference between being saved or lost then is not God's determination but our own fitness and capacity to encounter the intensity of living in the rarified atmosphere of love. This atmosphere is defined by transparency, vulnerability, humility, kindness and is seen in selfless and passionate service for others, viewing them as more important than one's self. All who remain allergic to any of these things will find the atmosphere of heaven intolerable and will prefer death even while having full access to live as long as they wish.

On the other hand, all who have allowed God's Spirit to transform and heal them to thrive in love find fulfillment, joy, satisfaction and endless potential for growth. This is the essence of the war – who we will choose to serve now and who will determine the shape of our character and destiny then.

Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my door posts. For whoever finds me, finds life, and will obtain favor from Yahweh. But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death. (Proverbs 8:34-36)

If it seem evil to you to serve Yahweh, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh. The people answered, Far be it from us that we should forsake Yahweh, to serve other gods; for Yahweh our God, he it is who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and who did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way in which we went, and among all the peoples through the midst of whom we passed; and Yahweh drove out from before us all the peoples, even the Amorites who lived in the land: therefore we also will serve Yahweh; for he is our God. Joshua said to the people, You can't serve Yahweh; for he is a holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your disobedience nor your sins. If you forsake Yahweh, and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you evil, and consume you, after that he has done you good. The people said to Joshua, No; but we will serve Yahweh. Joshua said to the people, You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen you Yahweh, to serve him. They said, We are witnesses. (Joshua 24:15-22)

We begin to see better how the warfare over what God is like has been going on for a very long time, with much confusion from the enemy that must be clarified. This can only happen by focusing on the only trustworthy revelation of the real truth about God, the Son of God.

Elijah came near to all the people, and said, "How long will you waver between the two sides? If Yahweh is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." The people answered him not a word. Then Elijah said to the people, "I, even I only, am left a prophet of Yahweh; but Baal's prophets are four hundred fifty men." (1 Kings 18:21-22)

Counterfeit religion insists the war is all about behavior and is won only through strict obedience to arbitrary rules, either our perfect obedience of the obedience of Christ as our substitute. If this was the case, then the primary focus of the war would be determining who is to blame for all the bad things that happen, and then assigning punishments and enforcing them. This is what most people assume, and because of this they treat others in the same way, relying on the blame game to try to shift responsibility to someone else to avoid being condemned, shamed or punished themselves.

But if the war is not about rewards and punishment and behavior, but rather about trustworthiness and whose ways are viable to maintaining harmony and peace in societies, then there must be a dramatic shift in focus from assigning blame to discerning integrity and truthfulness with character as the primary focus instead of labels and appearances.

As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father; so he who feeds on me, he will also live because of me. This is the bread which came down out of heaven--not as our fathers ate the manna, and died. He who eats this bread will live forever." These things he said in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. Therefore many of his disciples, when they heard this, said, "This is a hard saying! Who can listen to it?"

But Jesus knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at this, said to them, "Does this cause you to stumble? Then what if you would see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life. But there are some of you who don't believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who didn't believe, and who it was who would betray him. He said, "For this cause have I said to you that no one can come to me, unless it is given to him by my Father." At this, many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Jesus said therefore to the twelve, "You don't also want to go away, do you?" Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life." (John 6:57-68)

Don't you know that to whom you present yourselves as servants to obedience, his servants you are whom you obey; whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness? (Romans 6:16)

Once we come to see that the war is about the condition of our spirit more than about the strictness of our behavior, we can learn how to overcome like the Lamb overcame. Overcoming happens in the spirit, for the heart and the spirit are inextricably connected and God is after our heart. He is not interested in slavish obedience but in open hearts bonded in love to each other. This is the difference between identity based on flesh labeling and identity rooted in God's love for us in Christ.

For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace; because the mind of the flesh is hostile towards God; for it is not subject to God's law, neither indeed can it be. Those who are in the flesh can't please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn't have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his. (Romans 8:6-9)