Monday 23 November 2009

Background

The Book of Revelation is in essence a drama of two conflictingreigns. This great drama is played out from an opening scene (chapters 4 and 5)around a throne ceremony. Every living creature in earth and heaven- everything that lives on the earth and everything that lives inheaven, everything that lives under the earth and everything thatlives under the earth and in the sea - cries out loud:

"To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing andhonour and glory and might, for ever and ever!" (Revelation5:13)

This is the truth at the heart of creation: God reigns in majestyand the present and the future are in God's hands. But on the earthbelow, another rule and reign are rampant. The 'beast' seems incontrol and one of its centres is named as Pergamum (Revelation2:13), a city in Asia Minor where the Christian Church wasstruggling.

So the war between the beast (believed by some to represent theRoman Empire) and God's people rages. A second beast erects astatue of the first beast and everyone is commanded to worship thisstatue; others are branded with the name of the beast on theirforehead.

For John, writing his revelation to the seven Churches, both theRoman Empire and the emperor Domitian (who reigned from AD 81-96)were behaving as though they were God. According to John, God'sresponse is to mark the servants of God on their foreheads with theseal of the living God (Revelation 7:3).So the earth was now divided into those who were marked for thebeast (and who worshipped it) and those who were marked for theliving God.

God will proclaim to all the nations, to every person, that Godcomes to judge humanity - but how will this judgement take place?When God comes as a child, requiring love and care and nurture,this too can be judgement.

To Ponder

What would it mean for you to be marked for theliving God?

How would people know?

How does God judge us?