"After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here"Rev:4:1
The Apocalyptic Book of Revelation to many is a mystery. There is serious disagreement at times, even among Christian’s, as to its message. Some view it as a meaningless series of hallucinations conjured up in the mind of the aged Apostle St. John. Others see the Book of Revelation as an accurate projection of the events of human history leading up to the close of the age.
Throughout church history, there has been
debates as to whether Revelation should even be included in the Cannon of
Scripture. Some, even wanted to disregard the book of Revelation even at the
Canonical Councils which were convened to assemble the volume of writings which
are recognized as authoritative.
The Book of Revelation which was written
around 95 AD by the Apostle St. John on the Island of Patmos in the Aegean
Sea during the First Imperial Persecution under Emperor Domitian.
During this time period the Roman
Imperial cult, which was, the worship of the Empire in the "person" of the emperor, was enforce. Emperor
Domitian was demanding worship wanting and demanding to be addressed
as "lord and god". The Roman Imperial
Cult worship of the Emperor as the divine incarnation of the Empire itself
had major temples in Asia Minor not too far off from the area in which St. John
had been ministering at Ephesus. There were other temples as well in this area.
The Seven Churches
St. John is specifically told to send the Book
of Revelation to seven Churches which were situated along an imperial mail rout
in Asia Minor, each church was facing their own unique challenge and
difficulties. Rev: 1:9-11
The Challenges
Some of the challenges which these
churches were facing was pagan worship, for there were major temples to
varies "gods" in Asia Minor,
When these Christians found themselves
displaced from their employment resulting of loss of income, they often found
themselves with their resources spent resulting in poverty and displacement
from their homes.
Not only were these Christians in these seven
churches facing persecution from imperial officials, but also in communities where
there was a heavy Jewish presence there was persecution from the Jews, especially from large influential
synagogues.
There was also internal strife from gnostic
teachers bringing heresy into the church. These teachers were merging Christian
teaching with elements of some of the mystery religions that were present in
the eastern half of the Empire.
Part of the internal problems which had been
resident within the churches was that of Judizers. These Judizers were teachers who were attempting
to impose parts of the Old Covenant tenets upon Christians as requirements
for life and salvation.
There was also a group referred to as
the Nicholaitans. This group received their name from one of the first
appointed Deacons, Nicholas of Antioch. The Nicholaitans formed a
group of "ultra-authoritarian, abusive and
exploitative" clergy and teachers in the church
who advised cooperating with the Roman Imperial authorities and
became wealthy at the expense of the membership of the church.
There were also false prophets which
came in among the early church claiming special insight and
revelation from God. Part of this group had taken from what had been taught by
the Apostles and those whom they had ordained and mixed orthodox teaching with
their “special revelations”.
There are those who were subject to what is
called Jezebel which represented a religious spirit that
attacked legitimate spiritual leadership within the church all in an attempt to
gain power over the lives of others. This spirit of "Jezebel", which worked greatly among the
laity of the Church to fan rebellion under the pretense of wanting "doctrinal purity" and truth and claimed
of "deeper understanding" than that of the church
leadership.
There were also disruptive "wars" within and without the Empire which arose
occasionally between warring generals or politicians each attempting to posture
and gain power.
There were natural disasters that
frequently stuck parts of Asia Minor as well. Some Imperial priest blamed
Christians for disasters which had occurred, saying the presence of Christians
angers the gods and the disasters were a sign of their judgement.
Challenges from within the church and from
without, this is what the Christians faced in this time period, and
throughout the ages.
Reaction to the Challenges
With all those challenges that the Apostolic
Church faced, and the challenges that we face in the world today, what should
our response be, what should be our posture of heart ?
These churches faced much, and at times ,
so we today do as well. When trials and hardship come on us, what is it
that we need to do to pass through them and to grant us help and strengthen us
to face these challenges?
An Open Door
In the midst of all the challenges which
the early church faced at that time, St. John encounters the risen living
Christ and St. John sees an open door in the heavens and hears the "First Voice" which spoke at the onset of the Book
of Revelation.
"And the first voice that I heard
speaking to me like a trumpet"Rev: 1:1b
The "First Voice" gives
the invitation to St. John and to all Christians to “come up here”. We are told
in the account of Revelation that this "First Voice" which St. John hears, is Jesus himself,
the very one who tells St. John to write to the Churches who were in the midst
of trail and difficulties.
This "First Voice" of
our Lord Jesus gives the invitation to “come up here” this was the answer
for those Christians two thousand years ago, and for we, each and all
Christians today even as we face hardships and difficulties.
This invitation to "come up here" in the midst of difficulties was not
given to St. John alone, but to all Christians who are facing difficult times
in whatever age in-which we live. This invitation to "come up here", is not a means to escape from our
difficulties but even as we are in our difficulties.
The invitation to "come up here" is for all believers to ascend into the Heavens, through this "open door”, even in the midst of all our difficulties, to ascend into the Heavens and to join in the eternal worship of God the Father in the Person of his Holy Son Jesus Christ.
Through Jesus
This “open door” tells us, that it is by and
through Jesus that we gain admittance to the Heavenly worship of God. Jesus
calls himself the “Door”, the way in for the sheep.
"I am the door" Jhn: 10:2, 9
Jesus, through his very self brings us into
the midst of worship in Heaven. Not just someday, but here and now. Jesus is
the true worshiper of the church and in and through Jesus we gain admittance
into the worship of God.
Though Jesus God issues the invitation to and
for us to “come up here”. This invitation is
for us to join in the worship of God through the Son of the living God.
We are in union with Jesus through the
incarnation, we are "in" him and he "in" us.
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also
for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be
one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so
that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory
that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in
me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that
you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. “Father, I want
those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the
glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the
world." “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you,
and they know that you have sent me.I have made you known to them, and will
continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in
them and that I myself may be in them.” Jhn: 17:20-26
“I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters;
in the assembly I will sing your praises.” Heb: 2:12
The Father
In the Spirit St. John ascend though the
"open door", that is Jesus is in the midst of the
eternal assembly of worship and praise all glorifying the Great God. St.
John sees God the Father, yet St. John’s words are "non-descriptive”, this is to reinforce to each and all
of us that if we want to know about the Father all we need do is look
to Jesus. If you want to see the Father, look to Jesus; for as Jesus told St.
Philip,” If you have seen me you have seen my Father" the
Father is most clearly revealed through Jesus.
God Rules and Controls the Outcome of Human
History
This view of the throne of Heaven is to give
us comfort and reassurance even in the midst of difficulties that God
controls and rules in the kingdom of men, and that he is in full control of all
that is transpiring around us and in history as well.
Our Response
When we hear and accept the invitation from
Jesus, to "come up here”, that is to join
in the Heavenly worship, we are given that revelation that God rules, even in
the midst of adversities and troubles. It is not about escape but being
sustained by God and given deeper revelation about our God even as difficulties
mount around us or among us.
When we "come up here" in
Heaven through worship, we are finding our security and divine assistance
in our Lord Jesus. Worship should be our response to whatever challenges that
we face. Worship focuses our hearts and minds upon our God who is able to
deliver us even while we are in the midst of trials and difficulties. Giving us
courage and strength and reassurances that our God is with us even now. It
tells us that in Jesus we are ascended with Jesus in the Heavens now not just
some day.
"And God raised us up with
Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus" Eph: 2:6
Through worship, we are focused upon the
Person of Jesus, we are elevated into the vary Heavens and are given a
revelation of who the great God, in spite of all that transpires in our lives,
or the world around us.
We see again worship in responses to all
that God has accomplished for us thought Jesus who is the “Lamb that was Slain” yet lives. We see this
in Rev: 5:1-14
Through Jesus, the sin of all humanity has been paid for making us a Kingdom
of Priest to be participate in the worship of God.
All through the Book of Revelation, which is addressed
to Christian’s in all times in all adversities, the Open Door is there for
us, standing open, and through this open door the words of Jesus invite us
to us to "come up here”.
Jesus is inviting us to all join in the
Heavenly Worship of the great God.
When we gather to each week to worship or
in private moments of worship of our God we are in truth, ascending into the
Heaven’s and joining in that endless eternal worship of our God all focused
upon the Person of God's Holy Son Jesus.
It we Christians today are like those in the
seven Churches in Asia and are facing test and challenges, if we are
tired and having struggles and trails and hardships, then Jesus invites us
all today to: “come up here” and worship and find strength and
assurances that our God is with us even as our spiritual predecessors did
centuries ago in Asia Minor.
"Come Up Here". The door is
open.
Benediction: May we each and all ever heed our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ 's invitation to "Come up here" and
worship, today, tomorrow and forevermore. Men
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Rev.Todd Crouch, Norman, Oklahoma.
"If It Is Not About Jesus, It Is Not
About Anything"
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