Children of the Dragon, Children of the Lamb #13: 7 Bowls of Judgment (Revelation 15:5 – 16:21)

As we enter another highly charged political year, I have been thinking how much the book of Revelation has to offer in terms of casting a discerning eye on how the forces of empires (symbolized by Rome/Babylon) challenge the faith and ethics of the Kingdom of God. In this post, we look at what's really happening in the seven bowl judgments, and how John's vision for a 1st century audience still applies to us today,

Previous post: https://empiresandmangers.blogspot.com/2024/07/children-of-dragon-children-of-lamb-12.html

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After I had taken all this in, I looked again; and the inner part of the tabernacle of witness[1] opened in heaven. Out of the temple came seven messengers, clothed in pure linen, bright and shining, their chests clad in a golden sash, carrying seven plagues. Then one of the four living creatures[2] stepped over to give to the seven messengers seven golden bowls[3] brimming with the wrath of God who lives throughout the ages. The temple was full of the smoke billowing from the magnificent glory of God and from His power,[4] and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven messengers accomplished their God-ordained end. Then I heard a great voice coming from the temple ordering the seven heavenly messengers. A voice said,” Go and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath[5] of God upon the earth.”[6]

I am going to take the approach that John's vision explains God’s coming judgment on the Roman Empire (that will be clear in the next few chapters) by taking into the account of the fall of Babylon in light of the defeat of Pharaoh at the Red Sea, and use all of these as framework for a universalized prediction of the judgments that will fall on all Babylons (World Systems) until the final global Babylon is gone.[7]

• Chapter 15-16 pick up details from chapters 4, 8, 12 and 14. This is recapitulation.
• The 7 bowls of judgment (16:1-21) overlap the 7 trumpets and seals. Lots of similar imagery and events.
• They all have a similar goal: to bring the earth's inhabitants, like Pharaoh, to repentance.[8]
• The judgment escalates from impacting 1/4, to 1/3, to all the world.[9][10] My theory: it reminds us that God is patient, but at some point “our iniquities are full.” (Genesis 15:16)
• The bowls are linked to the Judgment of the global system in 18; 16:19; 14:8 - 10; 15:7, 16:1.
• This is modeled after the plagues in Egypt, the last 7 of which did not touch God’s people.

Children of the Dragon, Children of the Lamb #12: The Marks Of The Beast And The Lamb (Revelation 13)

As we enter another highly charged political year, I have been thinking how much the book of Revelation has to offer in terms of casting a discerning eye on how the forces of empires (symbolized by Rome/Babylon) challenge the faith and ethics of the Kingdom of God. In this post, we get to the always popular question: What is the Mark of the Beast?

Previous post: http://empiresandmangers.blogspot.com/2024/07/children-of-dragon-children-of-lamb-11.html

Children of the Dragon, Children of the Lamb #11: The Dragon And The Woman (Revelation 12)

As we enter another highly charged political year, I have been thinking how much the book of Revelation has to offer in terms of casting a discerning eye on how the forces of empires (symbolized by Rome/Babylon) challenge the faith and ethics of the Kingdom of God. To really understand the political broadside John offers in this apocalypse ("unveiling") will take some time. 

Previous post: http://empiresandmangers.blogspot.com/2024/06/children-of-dragon-children-of-lamb-10.html

Here, finally, we arrive at the second half of Revelation. Let's do a very brief review before we go further. Close to the end of the 1st century, John received a vision that gave the readers hope in the midst of suffering while pointing toward the end of history. Here’s the CliffNotes version.

• The historical setting is conflict in the last days,[1] which is simply they time between the first and second coming of Jesus.[2] 
• Revelation begins with, “This is the revelation of Jesus the Anointed,” and ends with, “the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people.” Revelation is about Jesus above all else as the source of our hope.
• Front and center for John’s audience were the fearsome power and seductive allure of the Rome (Babylon/Egypt) and its (assumed or believed to be) divine emperors. 
• The values of empires like Rome/Babylon are beastly rather than divine. The god-like rulers are only pretenders to the throne.
• Only God is worthy to receive worship, so check your allegiance – which will “mark” you as a follower of the Conquering Lamb or the devouring Dragon. 
• Faithfulness will cost you; God will be with you, and indescribable goodness and beauty of an eternity with God awaits the faithful. 

So far, we have covered 7 letters that addressed threats coming from inside and outside the church; 7 seals that revealed the forces of evil unleashed against first believers and then the world in general; and 7 trumpets that heralded God's judgment on hardened humanity modeled after the god-toppling plagues of Egypt, with the hope of repentance. [3] In all of this, the souls of God’s people are kept safe, even when their bodies were not. It’s the history of the church. None of these things can separate God’s true people from His love or their eternal reward. And one day, there will be a final reckoning as the cycle ends in this life and world and we move into our existence in the next.

Ch. 12 begins the second half of Revelation. As always, it’s going to be thick with ‘hyperlinks’ to Old Testament references, which is our primary tool for understanding this text (along with extra-biblical Jewish literature and culture events that formed John’s audience).

• 12:1 - Genesis 37:9-11
• 12:2  - Isaiah 26:17; 66:7; Micah 4:9-10
• 12:3  - Isaiah 27:1; Daniel 7:7, 20, 24
• 12:4  - Daniel 8:10
• 12:5  - Psalm 2:8-9; Isaiah 66:7
• 12:7  - Daniel 10:13, 21; 12:1
• 12:9  - Genesis 3:1; Job 1:6; 2:1; Zechariah 3:1 12:10 Job 1:9-11; 2:4-5; Zechariah 3:1
• 12:14  - Exodus 19:4; Deuteronomy 32:11; Isaiah 40:31: Daniel 7:25; 12:7; Hosea 2:14-15 
• 12:15  - Hosea 15:10 12:17 Genesis 3:15[4] 

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A 1st Century Primer About Christians And Politics: What We Can Learn About "Being In The World, But Not Of It" From The Disciples Of Jesus

If you are like me, you are wondering if there is a way to talk about Christians and politics in preparation for what is sure to be another volatile election. A podcast I have been listening to this week covered some ground that I hope can lead us into introspection and discussion. What follows borrows heavily from Marty Solomon’s Bema podcast and printed notes, both of which can be found at bemadiscipleship.com, episodes 73-81.

 

This involves what happened to the Jewish people before the arrival of Jesus. They had returned from exile and splintered into 5 groups, all of which had reached different conclusions about how best to live as people of God in Greek and then Roman culture. This particular window of time seems relevant to where we are now.

 

I will start with an overview, then take a deeper dive into each group before talking about the relevance to us today.

Children of the Dragon, Children of the Lamb #10: 7 Trumpets (Revelation 8-11)

As we enter another highly charged political year, I have been thinking how much the book of Revelation has to offer in terms of casting a discerning eye on how the forces of empires (symbolized by Rome/Babylon) challenge the faith and ethics of the Kingdom of God. To really understand the political broadside John offers in this apocalypse ("unveiling") will take some time. Here, finally, we arrive at the Seven Trumpets.

Previous post:  http://empiresandmangers.blogspot.com/2024/06/children-of-dragon-children-of-lamb-9.html

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Now when the Lamb opened the seventh seal there was silence in heaven for about half an hour[1]. Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. Another angel holding a golden censer came and was stationed at the altar. A large amount of incense was given to him to offer up, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar that is before the throne.

The Old Testament associates silence with divine judgment.[2] This seems to be a response to the death of and the prayers of saints that bring about the judgment on those through whom evil and suffering have been unleashed in the world.

The smoke coming from the incense, along with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it on the earth[3], and there were crashes of thunder, roaring, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.[4]

Children of the Dragon, Children of the Lamb #9: The Seven Seals (Revelation 6-8:1)

As we enter another highly charged political year, I have been thinking how much the book of Revelation has to offer in terms of casting a discerning eye on how the forces of empires (symbolized by Rome/Babylon) challenge the faith and ethics of the Kingdom of God. To really understand the political broadside John offers in this apocalypse ("unveiling") will take some time. Here, finally, we arrive at the Seven Seals.

Previous post: http://empiresandmangers.blogspot.com/2024/05/children-of-dragon-children-of-lamb-8.html

We are going to read today about the opening of the 7 seals (the first in a series of visions of 7 seals, 7 trumpets, and 7 bowls). There are different ways people views the seals, trumpets, and bowls unfolding.  I have some opinions about timelines,[2] but I am for more interested in faithfulness until the finish line. 

What we do know about when things happen is this from Revelation 1: these “must happen soon,” and “what is and what will be.” That didn’t help, right? Let’s move on.

Children of the Dragon, Children of the Lamb #8: The Lukewarm Church Of Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22)

As we enter another highly charged political year, I have been thinking how much the book of Revelation has to offer in terms of casting a discerning eye on how the forces of empires (symbolized by Rome/Babylon) challenge the faith and ethics of the Kingdom of God. To really understand the political broadside John offers in this apocalypse ("unveiling") will take some time. I am laying a foundation by going through each letter to the churches. Think of the letters as the frame; the rest of Revelation will paint stunning apocalyptic illustrations to hang on that frame. 

Two more letters to churches before we get to the illustrations: Philadelphia, then Laodicea. 

Previous Post:http://empiresandmangers.blogspot.com/2024/04/children-of-dragon-children-of-lamb-7.html

Children of the Dragon, Children of the Lamb #7: Philadelphia, The Church Where Challenges Opened Doors

As we enter another highly charged political year, I have been thinking how much the book of Revelation has to offer in terms of casting a discerning eye on how the forces of empires (symbolized by Rome/Babylon) challenge the faith and ethics of the Kingdom of God. To really understand the political broadside John offers in this apocalypse ("unveiling") will take some time. I am laying a foundation by going through each letter to the churches. Think of the letters as the frame; the rest of Revelation will paint stunning apocalyptic illustrations to hang on that frame. 

Two more letters to churches before we get to the illustrations: Philadelphia, then Laodicea. 

Previous Post: http://empiresandmangers.blogspot.com/2024/04/children-of-dragon-children-of-lamb-6.html

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Philadelphia was founded around 190 B.C. by the king whose close relationship with his brother earned Philadelphia the meaning “brotherly love.” Philadelphia was called The Doorway to the East because you had to pass through it from a shipping port in the west if you wanted to get to the East, to India specifically – and a lot of people wanted to get to India. The main roads from nearby commercially rich regions converged in Philadelphia.

In the 2nd century BC, the Greeks had used it as a base to spread their culture into all the surrounding regions. It had an almost evangelistic fervor. Their religion, philosophy, government, art and language all spread throughout Asia Minor.[1] Philadelphia was a doorway to spread a worldview and a culture.
It was a flourishing town, at one point earning the nickname “Little Athens.” The one major drawback was earthquakes. These were such a problem that the residents of Philadelphia got used to leaving for a while and coming back. It was just kind of life in Philadelphia. It was shaky. One historian wrote that every wall had cracks; people were often injured or killed by falling bricks and stones.

Their temples, however, were built to withstand earthquake damage. They put the foundations on charcoal beds covered with fleeces, so the temple “floated.” For this reason, the temples would be among the most secure structures in the city. It was not unusual for the temple columns to be the only thing left standing after severe earthquakes. In AD 17, the same earthquake that leveled Sardis also leveled most of Philadelphia. People stayed outside the city for as long as three years after that one. When it was rebuilt, Philadelphia became Neocaesarea, the city of Caesar, thanks to the help from Rome. This brings us to our text.[2]