We are going to start with a passage from Daniel 7, a chapter that Revelation pulls from pretty directly with its imagery[1]:
Daniel: I was looking and saw the four winds of heaven blow in from all directions and sweep across the surface of the Mediterranean Sea, whipping up waves and turmoil within the deep. Four great beasts rose up from the churning waters, each one different from the other.
The first to surface was like a lion. It had giant wings like an eagle’s protruding from its shoulders… a second beast rising from the sea [resembled] a bear… another beast… was fierce and fast like a leopard. It had a bird’s wings like the lion… a fourth beast arose as if from a nightmare, terrifying, more awful and more powerful than anything I had ever seen.
As I watched the vision unfold, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His throne above all. His clothes were the purest white, as white as snow, and the hair of His head was like the finest wool. His throne was a flaming fire, set on wheels that blazed like the sun. A stream of fire emerged and flowed from His presence...
The heavenly court will sit in judgment, his authority will be taken from [the 4th beast], and his supremacy over the earth will come to a permanent end…the fourth beast was slain, and its body was destroyed, delivered over to the consuming fire. As for the other beasts, their power and position were taken away, but they were allowed to live for a little while longer.
I looked and saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven[2]. He approached the Ancient of Days and was ushered into His presence. To Him was given authority, honor, and a kingdom so that all people of every heritage, nationality, and language might serve Him. His dominion will last forever, His throne will never pass away, and His kingdom will never be destroyed.[3]
I was deeply disturbed by all that I saw; these night visions terrified me. So I approached one of the heavenly beings and asked him to explain exactly what had happened…. The four great beasts you saw that rose from the wind-whipped sea are four kings who will rise from the earth and come to rule vast empires.
But the holy ones of the Most High God will receive that kingdom which will last for all the ages to come, forever and ever...[4] Now the appointed time had come when the holy ones took possession of the eternal kingdom….then the great ruling authority of the kingdoms under the heavens shall be handed over to the covenant people, the holy ones of the Most High; Their kingdom will last forever, and all the remaining kingdoms will worship and serve Him.”
The ‘four kingdoms’ of Daniel 2 and 7 are overwhelmingly identified in one of two ways:
· Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome
· Babylon, Media, Persia and Greece.[5]
I favor the view that that the fourth Kingdom is Greece.[6]
· First, the imagery for the Roman beast in Revelation is a combination of all 4 of these, suggesting it’s something new.
· Second, it’s soon after the 4th collapse of Greece and the defeat of that last horn in Daniel’s vision (Antiochus IV) that the Son of Man is enthroned in His glory after the Resurrection and covenant people are given the New Covenant along with the eternal Kingdom (the Kingdom of Heaven).
I don’t think Daniel intends us to apply this to a Millenium age or the New Heaven and New Earth, because note that this all happens amidst the remaining political kingdoms of the world still being present (the beasts who are allowed to live),[7] and (if I am reading Revelation correctly), Rome still shows up as itself and as a stand in for empires the keep rising
The writer of Hebrews talks about when Jesus, who “in these last days” (Hebrews 1:2) “appeared once for all at the end/culmination/consumation of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Hebrews 9:26).[8] It’s the end of the ages (!)… but it can’t mean the end of the world as we know it. HELPS Word Studies might clue us in with its explanation of how it is the “end”:
culmination (completion), i.e. when the parts come together into a whole … not strictly "termination" but rather "consummation" (completion) that ushers in a new time-era/age (Mt 13:39,40,49,24:3, 28:20)… when it reaches its intended climax (consummated conclusion).][9]
Something had climactically gathered history together and brought an end even as it ushered in a new time. That “something” is, I believe, the incarnation of Jesus and his death and resurrection. We typically talk about the break between the Old and New Testament, or the Old Covenant and the New Covenant, but there is even more going on. Something dramatic shifted in the heavenly realm involving the Kingdom of God, the dismantling of authority previously given to the nations and rulers of the world, and the installing of a ruling authority for God’s covenant people.
And yet here we are, with dragon-inspired empires and beasts still roaming the earth. How do we explain this? The rabbis and the writers of the New Testament understood the term “the Kingdom of Heaven” to have a dual meaning:
· The rule of God in the present
· the eschatological [end time] rule of God over all mankind.[10]
Christians have long called this “the now[11] and not yet[12].” In Northern Michigan we know what this is like when it comes to seasons. When the first day of spring shows up on the calendar, the age of fulfillment has come, but the consummation stands yet in the future.
· “At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him (not yet). But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor (now) because of the suffering of death”. (Hebrews2:8–9)
· “Dear friends, now (now) we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears (not yet), we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2)
· We are already adopted in Christ (Romans 8:15), but not yet fully adopted (Romans 8:23)
· We are already redeemed in Christ (Ephesians 1:7), but not yet fully redeemed (Ephesians 4:30)
· We are already sanctified in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:2), but not yet fully sanctified (1 Thessalonians 5:23–24)
· We are already saved in Christ (Ephesians 2:8), but not yet fully saved (Romans 5:9)
· We are already raised with Christ (Ephesians 2:6), but not yet fully raised (1 Corinthians 15:52).[13]
The now and not yet.
This is brings us to the second part of the letter to Thyatira. I wanted that background, because we need it to discuss a point that is being made.
“I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, those who have not held to the teachings of Jezebel and who remain ignorant of the real meaning of what is called the deep things of Satan,[14] I will not burden you with anything more. Just keep on task, and keep the faith until I return.
“And as for those who conquer through faithfulness even unto death and continue to labor with Me until the close of the final curtain, I will give them the power of the kingdom of heaven.[15] And they will shepherd the nations with an iron rod/staff/scepter[16], as fragile clay jars are shattered to pieces.[17] As I received this authority from My Father, I will bestow the morning star to the victor.[18]
“Let the person who is able to hear, listen to and follow what the Spirit proclaims to all the churches.”
I want to talk about the power and authority that is both “now and not yet” for the followers of Jesus who are shepherding and shattering the nations.
First of all, we don’t take that power and authority. It’s not a thing we conquer anyone else in order to achieve. It’s given to us by the one who has that authority. At the final battle at the end of Revelation 19, the heavenly armies do nothing other than be present. All the actions belong to Jesus, who is covered in a robe splattered with his own sacrificial blood. The only weapon used is the “sword” of his word.
Second, the authority wielded requires a proper definition:
· moral authority and influence having an earthly impact (Strong’s Concordance)
· God’s authorization for faith-filled saints to act authoritatively as guided by His revealed Word (HELPS Word Studies)
I don’t think we are intended to read this as, “In this age –‘these last days’ – we will be taking earthly thrones.” In this age I believe followers of Jesus have been given spiritual empowerment and authority in a kingdom not of this world; since it’s going to involve shepherding, it’s going to look like something the Good Shepherd modeled for us.[19]
How do we exercise this shepherd-like moral authoriy of the “now” over the kingdoms of the world?[20] How do we shatter the structures, the systems, the worldviews, the immoral plundering of cultures and people? Well, why not use the classic text on shepherding, written by a shepherd about the Good shepherd.
The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing. 2 He provides me rest in rich, green fields beside streams of refreshing water. 3 He makes me whole again by refreshing my soul[21]; steering me off worn, hard paths to roads where righteousness and justice honor His name.
4 Even in the unending black gloom of death’s darkness, I am not overcome by fear of evil calamity or injury. Because You are near with Your rod and staff, I am comforted.
5 You spread out a feast on a table before me, provisions in the midst of attacks from those who vex and trouble me. You care for all my needs, anointing my head with soothing, fragrant oil, filling my cup again and again with Your grace.
6 Certainly Your faithful protection and loving provision will pursue me where I go, always, everywhere. And my dwelling shall be, throughout all my days, in the house and in the presence of the LORD.
Here’s what is of interest to me today: how do we exercise our spiritual authority and embody the sin-shattering presence of a shepherd in the kingdoms of the “now”? We are not the kind of shepherds who can save like Jesus saves, of course. We are ambassadors; we are not the King. But we can still learn how to shepherd those given to shepherd by looking at how Jesus did it.
· The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing. Do we offer nourishing provision for those around us? We can’t meet every need, but we can meet needs of all kinds – spiritual, emotional, material, relational. How are we contributing in the lives of those who lack in our church, our city, our nation, the world? Are people fed with the water and food of temporal and eternal life when the representatives of the shepherd show up?
· He provides me rest in rich, green fields beside streams of refreshing water. Do the weary and heavy-laden[22] find the rest of God in our presence? Do the victims of this sin-saturated world experience the rest that God offers through salvation when they are in the presence of God’s people?
· He makes me whole again by refreshing my soul. Are we being refreshed by Jesus? Are the souls of those around us refreshed by Christ in us? Are we the oasis in the deserts of the world?
· He steers me off worn, hard paths to roads where righteousness and justice honor His name. Do we walk people toward righteousness and justice instead of toward sin and injustice? Does where we go with people or take people honor the name of Jesus? Whose name will have been made great when we have left the room? There is only one thing that will draw all people to Jesus when it’s lifted up, and that’s Jesus.
· Even in the unending black gloom of death’s darkness, I am not overcome by fear of evil calamity or injury. Because You are near with Your rod (Protection? Discipline?) and staff (guidance? Provision?), I am comforted. Do we protect, guide, and comfort those walking through their own dark valleys? Are we bringing light? Do we offer hope both practical and spiritual?
· You spread out a feast on a table before me, provisions in the midst of attacks from those who vex and trouble me. Do those who are vexed and troubled find us to be nourishing? If someone comes into our life starving for love, truth, justice, grace, hope, what kind of table do we set?
· You care for all my needs, anointing my head with soothing, fragrant oil. How are we anointing the heads of those around us with a soothing, fragrant oil flowing from the love, truth and grace of God as found in Jesus?
· You fill my cup again and again with Your grace. Are we pouring the grace of God into the lives of those around us such that they overflow? If there was a magical camera recording spiritual realities and translating it into physical images (like Revelation), what would we all see ourselves pouring into the lives of those around us?
· Certainly, Your faithful protection and loving provision will pursue me where I go, always, everywhere. Are we pursuing people with loving provision and faithful protection? Not just waiting for an opportunity, but actively pursuing people. Who needs someone to stand up for them? Who needs loving provision?
· And my dwelling shall be, throughout all my days, in the house and in the presence of the LORD. Good reminder: We are already dwelling in the house of the Lord in the Kingdom of God.
#practicerighteousness
Rest in the comfort and grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, whose protection and provision is pursuing you wherever you go.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal and transform areas that need redemption in your life so that your re-presentaton of Jesus is ever more righteous and refined.
Purposefully focus on shepherding others well this week by imitating what has been modeled by the Good Shepherd.
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[1] It combines the imagery of these 4 beasts in describing the beast in Revelation
[2] A well-known image of authority and divinity, often used to describe earthly kings.
[3] When Jesus referred this passage to Himself, the religious leaders accuses Him of blasphemy (Matt. 26:64, 65; Mark 14:62–64).
[4] Notice that what the previous paragraph called the enthroning of Jesus in an everlasting Kingdom, and which Jesus identified as happening when he came to earth, is now referred to as a time when the people of Jesus begin to rule and reign.
[5] “The beasts can be identified by a careful study of history. The lion, bear, leopard, and fourth terrifying beast represent Babylon, Media, Persia, and Greece. Persia had four kings, so the leopard had four heads. The ten horns of the fourth beast with iron teeth represent the ten dominant Seleucid kings after Alexander the Great’s empire splintered into four regions. The smaller horn is Antiochus IV who put down three potential Seleucid leaders (horns) before him.” (The Voice commentary, from biblegateway.com)
[6] “The four kingdoms of Daniel 2 and 7,”
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/themelios/article/the-four-kingdoms-of-daniel-2-and-7/
[7] Even while the other three kingdoms’ “power and position were taken away, but they were allowed to live for a little while longer.” In other words, Daniel is not talking about the end of the world, and yet the eternal Kingdom of God has begun. Hmmm.
[8] https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/already-not-yet
[9] HELPS Word-studies
[10] “The Kingdom Of Heaven In The Here And Now And Future.” Marg Mowczko, https://margmowczko.com/the-kingdom-of-heaven-here-now-future/
[11] “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst (or, within you).” (Luke 17:20b-21)
[12] Jesus’ many parables show the kingdom here and in progress - and yet to come.
[13] https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/already-not-yet
[14] “The reference to ‘Satan's so-called deep secrets’ is uncertain. The reasoning of some in the early church (the Nicolaitans) might have gone something like this: The only effective way to confront Satan is to enter into his strongholds; the real nature of sin can only be learned by experience, and therefore only those who have really experienced sin can truly appreciate grace. So by experiencing the depths of paganism ("the deep secrets of Satan"), one will be better equipped to serve Christ or be an example of freedom to one's fellow believers (cf. 1Co 8:9-11). Thus the sin of Jezebel was deadly serious because of the depths of its deception. Only a few perceived where the teaching was leading.” (Expositor’s Bible Commentary)
[15] Some translations read, “the power of
[16] Rod, staff, scepter. https://biblehub.com/greek/4464.htm It belongs to Jesus in Revelation 19 .“It is not easy to determine whether the "rod" is a king's sceptre, as in Hebrews 1:8, or a shepherd's staff, as in 1 Samuel 17:43; Micah 7:14; and Zechariah 11:7.” (Pulpit Commentary)
[17] Psalm 2 imagery for what Jesus would do.
[18] Domitian was described as the morning star in his ascension to the throne. “Roman legions carried the symbol of Venus [the morning star] on their banners to depict Roman invincibility. In this context Christ would be saying that the only final sovereignty and power lay with himself and his victorious followers”. https://biblicalscholarship.wordpress.com/2012/09/28/commentary-on-revelation-218-29/
Jesus calls himself "the bright and morning star" (Revelation 22:16). In Daniel 12:3, the morning star is promised to believers. Since Lucifer is at one point referred to as the morning star - and Romans 16:20 says that “ the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” - a few of the early church fathers read this verse as, “I will even put Satan under the feet of the victors.” I mean, it works, but I don’t think it’s the primary meaning of this text.
[19] “The promise is of authority to share in the shepherd-like sovereignty of the anointed King.” (Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers) “The rule over the nations… is used in Revelation 7:17 of the Lamb shepherding his saints, and in John 21:16 in the charge to St. Peter to shepherd Christ's sheep. (Pulpit Commentary)
[20] Primary version is The Voice (my favorite), with substitutions of some parts for clarity.
[21] Passions, emotions, self, desire
[22] Matthew 11:28-29