Five Days...

-

 


"Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and on these thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white, with golden crowns on their heads" 
(Revelation 4:4)

There are many opinions as to who the twenty-four elders are 😖.

When reading Revelation we have three filters that we must pass the text through. Do we interpret it,

1) Literally
2) Metaphorically
3) Parabolically

For me, I'm always looking for Jesus in the text, as all of Scripture speaks of Him. Revelation is like the "Where's Wally?" series ("Where's Waldo?' for my American friends). Except, instead of looking for a man in a red and white striped sweater, we're looking for Jesus, sometimes amidst a bunch of weird imagery. No wonder Martin Luther wanted to remove the book of Revelation from the Canon of Scripture.

Let's just agree that we don't really know what it all means, especially since John doesn't share any explanation with us. So, I choose to accept that these elders represent the whole of the true Church, past, present, and future, which many commentators seem to agree on.

It also raises the standard, and class, of what the true Church is, and how we should see ourselves, to a royal level. Peter said that if we are in the Church we are a "Royal Priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9). I choose to accept this interpretation, and choose not to get caught up in all the "Where's Wally?" theology!

How should this Revelation influence us today?

A few years ago I was preaching in Kenya. One of the Pastors took me aside one afternoon and said that my preaching sounded a lot like colonialism! I was shocked. I thought I was preaching about God's Kingdom, and instead my Pastor friend was reminded of what he was taught in school about when the British took over his nation. I read up on it, and it was horrific what the British did to the Kenyans. I began to understand my Brother's position. This equally caused me to evaluate how I preach about the Kingdom of God. When Jesus preached the Kingdom it was in the context of a society under Roman occupation. Yet, people flooded to hear His words about His Kingdom. We have no account of a Pastor taking Jesus aside and saying, "Hey sounds very colonial and Imperialistic, Jesus".

I think about my Brother's comments a lot, and here is where I believe I see the difference. We are Royal PRIESTS. Biblically a "Priest" stood before God and People. They acted as the go-between of the Divine and the Earthly. They SERVED both, Priests serve at altars visible (families, workplaces , mission fields) and invisible (in the Spirit to Him sat on the Throne). Therefore, we are not on an Imperialistic campaign, we are called to serve humanity, and our nobility can be kept intact without us needing to push our weight or authority around. Our "Royal" identity is for us, and our "Priestly" duty is for humanity. It's how God moves through us to introduce Jesus to the world He loves.

In closing, today is "5" days. The number "5" represents Grace in the Bible. The two main understandings of Grace are attached to Salvation and Service. As to Salvation is it the "unmerited favour of God" whereby we receive from Him what we don't deserve, and more! As to Service it is,

"The power that enables us to do what we could not do before we received Grace"

I love when God gives these kisses from heaven. What a way to end. We are empowered by His Grace to serve as Priests to Him and Humanity, as a Royal function. Not to occupy, but to overflow with the realities of heaven and give people an encounter with a God who loves them!

More Lord!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

2025 - The Year Of The Rainmakers

-
Image
"I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall  and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it,  but I found no one" Ezekiel 22:30 The eyes of the Lord scan the horizon of the Church. He is looking, searching, inquiring, and investigating. This is not the reconnoitre of someone who doesn't already know everything, it is the movement of a God who is seeking to catch our attention. Will we be curious enough to ask, "God! What are you doing? Why are your eyes scanning the earth?" As we become aware of His movements it should move us. We move to align ourselves. We move to be in proximity of His heart, that we may know His intentions. The above image is one that I found a few years back. I was looking through my images recently and saw this one again. I believe the Lord spoke to me, that the "eyes of our understanding" would be opened. Here are the verses from Ephesians 1, "I pray that the eyes of ...
Read more

Floored by the Glory!

-
Image
  Let me tell you about a wonderful couple called Dick and Gladys Funnell. They have become my new best friends. Just one visit with them and I was impacted. Dick and Gladys moved here from America in the early 2000's to pray for Revival. God orchestrated it beautifully. Over the years they have connected with, and championed those who are for revival. They know so many people because of this, and with keen eyes, like spiritual meterologists, they scan the heavens for the coming rains of God, or Fire, which they equally seem to love. They are true Revival People, true Rainmakers!   On Tuesday the 11th of February 2025, I went to spend the day with Dick and Gladys, along with my father and mother. The last three Tuesdays have been ones of encounter. The first two were spent making a pilgrimage to Soar Y Mynydd, near Tregaron. Last Tuesday we met them at the Chapel in Blaenannerch. They warned us to layer up as it would be cold in the church. They spend a lot of time prayin...
Read more

Preparing for a Move of God

-
Image
Many years ago I was in a church in Germany. Me and one of my best friends, Nathan, were visiting a friend in that city, and he took us to his church. It was a very lively charismatic church. It was fun, the singing was loud and enthusiastic. During the end of the worship time the pastor's wife invited people who "wanted a touch from God" forward for prayer, and this included "a healing touch". Nathan was sick with a cold, so he went forward for prayer.  About ten to fifteen people were stood in line, and I watched as the pastor's wife began to pray for the people. The music was pumping, and every person hit the floor like a sack of kartoffeln (potatoes in German).  As the people fell, it felt like the music got louder, the congregation were clapping, and there was excitement in the air. My initial thought was, "Oh man, Nathan's going to get smashed!". He was next in line, and when she laid her hands on him nothing happened. I laughed to myself...
Read more