Worship
in the Revelation
By
Stephen Terry
Sabbath
School Lesson Commentary for September 17 – 23, 2011
“The
second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so
that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be
killed. It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free
and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so
that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of
the beast or the number of its name.” Revelation 13:15-17, NIV
The dizzying imagery of Revelation has often reminded me
of some of the cosmic psychedelic creations of Peter Max in the 1960s. Amid the
swirling tapestry of fantastic creatures and cataclysmic events a theme
emerges. That theme is commitment. This should not be surprising for Jesus said
to His disciples, “Whoever is not with me is against me…” Matthew 12:30, NIV
A statement like that leaves no middle ground. If we do
not find reconciliation with Jesus, we are His enemies. We cannot be
ambivalent. It is popular to profess agnosticism as it is not opposed to the
possibility of the existence of God as atheism is. Yet, it is far more
dangerous in its own way. The agnostic not only does not choose God, but he or
she is complacent about the need to make a choice at all. Comfortable in a
nether world of indecision, they become inured to the Holy Spirit’s calling.
The atheist who clearly sees the results of his choice is far more likely to
heed the Holy Spirit than the one who feels that making no choice is somehow safer.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
In the Old Testament, the great men of faith understood
this need and chose accordingly. Their choice can be summed up in the statement
made by Joshua, “…as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua
24:15, NIV What
did that mean? It was not lip service. It was full scale commitment. For Joshua
this meant “…to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with
all your soul.” Joshua 22:5, NIV That level of commitment is rare today.
The Book of Revelation reveals this will be the kind of
faith needed right before Jesus returns. Chapters two and three contain the
letters to the seven churches. Historicists have long held that the seven churches
represent seven ages of the Christian church. If so, then the final church,
Laodicea, is to be equated to the final church prior to Jesus’ return. This letter
reveals that the equivocation that has existed in the world will be present
even among the elect in the final epoch. John is instructed to write to the Laodicean church “I know your deeds, that you are neither
cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are
lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”
Revelation 3:15-16, NIV While this is more
dramatic than the words of Matthew 12:30, the message is the same. There is no
siding with Jesus only part way. His expectation is total commitment.
While this is the case with Jesus, it is not the case
with the Devil. He is perfectly willing to swell his ranks with gainsayers,
sycophants and opportunists. He knows that they will bring many others with
them. This is the difference between the two groups of followers. Revelation
illustrates this difference with the symbolism of seals and marks. God and the
Devil both place a seal or mark on their followers. Where these seals and marks
are applied is important in understanding the message of commitment. In Ezekiel
9:4 and Revelation 7:3, God’s people are sealed in their foreheads. But the
Devil’s mark in Revelation 13:16 is placed on either the forehead or the right
hand. Why is that significant?
The forehead represents the mind. To be sealed or marked
on the forehead is to indicate fully dedicated service. Being marked or sealed
in the right hand represents our actions. A person with a mark on the right
hand is doing what the one making the mark wants even if they don’t really believe
in it. This may be for many different reasons. It may be from fear of taking a
stand. It may be for profit. It may be to “fit in.” It may be because someone
they care about is making that choice. (Remember Adam and Eve?) The point is
that the Devil does not care if he has our unquestioning loyalty. As long as we
are doing what he wants, he is happy, and he is equally adept at using either
the carrot or the stick to make sure that happens.
God does not operate that way. He only wants followers
who understand and agree with His agenda of love. This has always been
important even in heaven. He has gone to great lengths patiently allowing the
fruit of Satan’s kingdom here on earth to ripen so there will be no doubt among
any of God’s followers, whether angels in heaven or mankind here on earth, of
the nature of Satan’s rebellion and its destructiveness. (See Revelation 12)
1 Peter 5:8 tells us that the Devil is a “roaring lion”
seeking to destroy whomever he can. He has slain many through the ages, and those
followers of God who have been slain are not silent. When the fifth seal is
opened in Revelation chapter six, they cry out, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy
and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” (verse 10, NIV) There is coming a time when God can no longer
wait. If that time comes and we have not made our choice to commit to God and
His promise of salvation and restoration, then we will be like those lost
individuals crying out when the sixth seal is opened.
“Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals,
the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and
among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks,
“Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and
from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has
come, and who can withstand it?” Revelation 6:15-17, NIV
Note that the very people crying out are the same ones
that the present generation looks up to as examples of how they should believe.
These leaders and celebrities will take many, many people with them to
destruction. While they will have much to answer for, it is no defense to say
that this well-known intellectual, this famous movie star, this talk show host,
or this politician felt this way so I did also. Talk show pundits often make
fun of their opposition by calling them “ditto heads.” God does not recruit “ditto
heads” who blindly follow others opinions. He expects us to understand the
issues at stake and make our decision based on that understanding. He tells us “Come
now, and let us reason together…” Isaiah 1:18, NKJV
I’m glad God gave us a brain and expects us to use it. It is popular in some circles to see God as
deceitful and unfaithful, but that is the image of the Devil according to John
8:44. The Devil has long sought to impersonate the light of God in order to
lead us astray. 2 Corinthians 11:14 tells us of his powers of transformation.
His followers even have the power to appear to be ministers of righteousness. How
can we protect ourselves from such deceitfulness? Are we defenseless?
Jesus told us we will be able to recognize them by their
fruit. He said, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s
clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will
recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise,
every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good
tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every
tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus,
by their fruit you will recognize them.” Matthew 7:15-20, NIV
If a minister of righteousness leads us to a desire for
a greater commitment to God, he is bearing good fruit. But if he or she leads you
to believe God is not particular, there is plenty of time left, or that there
is no need for any kind of real commitment beyond just showing up to church
once in a while or maybe not even fellowshipping with other Christians, watch
out. When our hearts tell us we need to make a decision, that’s the Holy
Spirit. When we are told that we can make a decision anytime, just not now.
That’s the Devil’s siren song.
If you have been sitting on the fence about God, I urge
you to consider making a commitment. It is the only way to be saved. We are not
guaranteed tomorrow or even the next few moments. Failure to act now may mean
failure to act at all. Won’t you turn to God right now while you feel His
Spirit moving your heart and ask Him to bring you into a full relationship with
Him. If you do, you will be exchanging darkness for light like you have never
known before. Take this moment to come to Him and find the answers you have
been looking for.
This Commentary is a Service of Still
Waters Ministry
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