Revelation and Revelation and Human RealityHuman Reality

Session 62Session 62A-level AmphitheaterA-level Amphitheater

LLUMCLLUMCApril 16, 2011, 10:30-11:30 AMApril 16, 2011, 10:30-11:30 AM

Revelation Revelation and the and the

Relentless Relentless Quest Quest

for Clarityfor Clarity

“Now! …That “Now! …That should clear up a should clear up a few things around few things around

here!”here!”

Impediments to SeeingImpediments to Seeing

Vegard Dahl 131203Vegard Dahl 131203

Seeing Things ClearlySeeing Things Clearly

Well, I tried the best I could …but something inside Well, I tried the best I could …but something inside of me kept saying, ‘There was the Sunday-school, of me kept saying, ‘There was the Sunday-school, you could a gone to it; and if you’d a done it they’d a you could a gone to it; and if you’d a done it they’d a learnt you there that people that acts as I’d been learnt you there that people that acts as I’d been acting about that nigger goes to everlasting fire.’ acting about that nigger goes to everlasting fire.’ -- Mark Twain, -- Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry FinnThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Seeing Things ClearlySeeing Things Clearly

It was a close place. I took it up, and held It was a close place. I took it up, and held it in my hand. I was a-trembling, because it in my hand. I was a-trembling, because I’d got to decide, forever, betwixt two I’d got to decide, forever, betwixt two things, and I knowed it. I studied a things, and I knowed it. I studied a minute, sort of holding my breath, and minute, sort of holding my breath, and then says to myself: ‘All right, then, I’ll then says to myself: ‘All right, then, I’ll GO to hell’ — and tore it up. -- GO to hell’ — and tore it up. -- Mark Mark Twain, Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry FinnThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Healing of the NationsHealing of the Nations

““There is no remedy for your injuries, and your wounds There is no remedy for your injuries, and your wounds cannot be healed” (Nahum 3:19)cannot be healed” (Nahum 3:19)

““I wanted to heal Israel, but its sins were far too great" I wanted to heal Israel, but its sins were far too great" (Hosea 7:1)(Hosea 7:1)

““But they mocked God's messengers, despised his But they mocked God's messengers, despised his words, and made fun of his prophets until ..He could words, and made fun of his prophets until ..He could no longer heal them” (2 Chron 36:15,16).no longer heal them” (2 Chron 36:15,16).

““We wanted to heal Babylon, but itWe wanted to heal Babylon, but itcouldn't be healed” (Jer 51:8,9).couldn't be healed” (Jer 51:8,9).

““People of Egypt…All your medicine hasPeople of Egypt…All your medicine hasproved useless; nothing can heal you” (Jer 46:12).proved useless; nothing can heal you” (Jer 46:12).

Talking about God Talking about God

1.1. The language of healing is not inferior, The language of healing is not inferior, second-class terminology for talking about second-class terminology for talking about God and what God is up to in the world. God and what God is up to in the world.

2.2. Specifically, giving preference to the Specifically, giving preference to the language of healing might be the remedy for language of healing might be the remedy for the most negative consequences of theology the most negative consequences of theology that is one-sidedly welded to legal that is one-sidedly welded to legal terminology. terminology.

3.3. Revelation revels in the language of healing. Revelation revels in the language of healing.

Epilogue:Epilogue:Trustworthiness and TrustTrustworthiness and Trust NRS NRS Revelation 22:6 And he said to me, Revelation 22:6 And he said to me,

"These words are trustworthy and true, "These words are trustworthy and true, for the Lord, the God of the spirits of the for the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.“servants what must soon take place.“

NRS NRS Revelation 22:7 "See, I am coming Revelation 22:7 "See, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book." words of the prophecy of this book."

Ministry of AngelsMinistry of Angels

NRS NRS Revelation 22:8-9 I, John, am the one Revelation 22:8-9 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me; but he said to me, showed them to me; but he said to me, "You must not do that! I am a fellow "You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your comrades the servant with you and your comrades the prophets, and with those who keep the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!" words of this book. Worship God!"

A Point of No ReturnA Point of No Return

NRS NRS Revelation 22:10-11 And he said to Revelation 22:10-11 And he said to me, "Do not seal up the words of the me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Let the evildoer still do evil, and the near. Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy." do right, and the holy still be holy."

Jesus and Jesus and the Divine Identity – 1 the Divine Identity – 1

NRS NRS Revelation 22:12-13 "See, I am Revelation 22:12-13 "See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone's work. I repay according to everyone's work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." and the last, the beginning and the end."

Jesus and Jesus and the Divine Identity – 2 the Divine Identity – 2

Isa 44:6 “Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel Isa 44:6 “Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: I am the And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me.” besides Me.”

Isa 41:4 “Who has performed and accomplished Isa 41:4 “Who has performed and accomplished it, Calling forth the generations from the it, Calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD, am the first, and with beginning? I, the LORD, am the first, and with the last. I am He.” the last. I am He.”

Isa 48:12 “Listen to Me, O Jacob, even Israel Isa 48:12 “Listen to Me, O Jacob, even Israel whom I called; I am He, I am the first, I am also whom I called; I am He, I am the first, I am also the last.” the last.”

Incentives Incentives and Disincentivesand Disincentives

NRS NRS Revelation 22:14 Blessed are those Revelation 22:14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates.enter the city by the gates.

NRS NRS Revelation 22:15 Outside are the Revelation 22:15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and fornicators and dogs and sorcerers and fornicators and murderers and idolaters, and everyone murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.who loves and practices falsehood.

Love and FreedomLove and Freedom

1.1. Whether there is a hell Whether there is a hell is indeed a question is indeed a question about the love of God. about the love of God.

2.2. Whether there is Whether there is universal salvation is a universal salvation is a question about question about freedom. freedom.

King and RevealerKing and Revealer

NRS NRS Revelation 22:16 “It is I, Jesus, who Revelation 22:16 “It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning descendant of David, the bright morning star.”star.”

1.1.Allusion to Isaiah 11:1-10Allusion to Isaiah 11:1-10

2.2.Davidic kingship has a cosmic scope.Davidic kingship has a cosmic scope.

3.3.Jesus, not the erstwhile ‘morning star,’ is Jesus, not the erstwhile ‘morning star,’ is the true revealer. the true revealer.

Message of the Bible Message of the Bible in One Word?in One Word?

NRS NRS Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let everyone who bride say, “Come.” And let everyone who hears say, “Come.” And let everyone who hears say, “Come.” And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift. take the water of life as a gift.

Accessing Deeper NeedsAccessing Deeper Needs

Isa 55:1 Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to Isa 55:1 Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. milk without money and without price.

Isa 41:17 When the poor and needy seek Isa 41:17 When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the LORD will answer parched with thirst, I the LORD will answer them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. them.

Human Need as ThirstHuman Need as Thirst

Rev 21:6 Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and Rev 21:6 Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.” give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.”

John 4:10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, John 4:10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, Give me a drink, you and who it is that is saying to you, Give me a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” water.”

John 7:37 On the last day of the festival, the great day, while John 7:37 On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me…”thirsty come to me…”

First Things FirstFirst Things First

1.1. Revelation is a book of ‘profound theology,’ but Revelation is a book of ‘profound theology,’ but its first order of business is to urge the reader to its first order of business is to urge the reader to come. come.

2.2. Revelation addresses human need on a visceral Revelation addresses human need on a visceral level, not only on a cognitive or intellectual level. level, not only on a cognitive or intellectual level.

3.3. Revelation ends in a vision of vocation: Revelation ends in a vision of vocation: And let And let everyone who hears say, “Come.” everyone who hears say, “Come.”

4.4. Revelation promises access to the water of life Revelation promises access to the water of life now – in this life. now – in this life.

Importance of Revelation Importance of Revelation – and of Reading It Aright– and of Reading It Aright

NRS NRS Revelation 22:18-19 I warn everyone Revelation 22:18-19 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to that person the plagues described add to that person the plagues described in this book; if anyone takes away from the in this book; if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away that person's share in the will take away that person's share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.described in this book.

End of Story: Jesus End of Story: Jesus

NRS NRS Revelation 22:20 The one who testifies Revelation 22:20 The one who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

End of Story: John End of Story: John

NRS NRS Revelation 22:21 The grace of the Revelation 22:21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.Amen.

Ending Ending and Endingsand Endings

Types of ending: narrative, history, Types of ending: narrative, history, decision, vocation, theology. decision, vocation, theology.

Examples of endings: Examples of endings: 7 churches7 churches 7 seals 7 seals 7 trumpets7 trumpets 7 bowls7 bowls ‘‘unattached endings’unattached endings’

Which is your ending?Which is your ending?