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3. He Who Has Ears to Hear Let Him Hear (Revelation 13:9-10)
REVELATION 13:9-10
9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 10 If anyone is to go into captivity, he will go into captivity. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, he must be killed. Here is the endurance and the faith of the saints.
Not everybody can receive a spiritual word. Many cannot listen, because Satan is their father (John 8:43-45). Therefore Jesus invites you: If you have at least one ear free for my message, then let my word fall into your heart and mind. Do not live in a shallow manner, but ask yourself: Is your name written in the book of life of the Lamb? If you do not know definitely, repent and ask Jesus for cleansing of your heart by his holy blood and plead for your anointing with his Spirit so that your privilege in Christ become clear and assured to you (Romans 8:14-16.26-28).
Every success and all merits of your life will become minor in comparison to the word of Jesus, “Rejoice, because your names are written in heaven!” (Luke 10:20) The Lord Jesus is entitled to blot out individual names from the book of life (Revelation 3:5); likewise he is capable to add new names in the book of life later on out of grace. Therefore kneel down and confess all your sins to him, ask for grace and believe in the power of his blood, by which you will be justified, and receive by faith the power of the Holy Spirit (John 20:22), in order that you may live in eternity through your redeemer, with him and in him.
The Church of Jesus Has to Prepare Itself for Suffering: John saw the death roller of anti-Christ coming inescapably against his churches. Caesar Domitian demanded to be worshipped by all his subjects and claimed to be “their Lord and God". Already in the epistle of Jesus Christ to the church elders of Smyrna the Risen One prophesied that some of the active church members will be cast in prison, questioned, tempted and tortured. This affliction would take only ten days for the majority of them. Jesus confronted the church leader with the fact that his sword beheading was inevitable and encouraged him to be faithful until death so that he may be first of his church to receive the crown of life (Revelation 2:10-11).
In the period of the last anti-Christ the persecution will become even more brutal (Matthew 24:9-14). Jesus impressed this upon his disciples as follows: 19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what you shall speak: for it shall be given to you in that same hour what you shall speak. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaks in you. 21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. 22 And you shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he who endures to the end shall be saved. (Matthew 10:19-22)
John now repeated the warnings of Jesus as a brief summary: If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes! If anyone is to be killed, he will be killed! Therewith he wrote his church members: Don’t flee! The Lord will not only be glorified by serving, praying and sacrificing, but also by our suffering and dying. So then the pastor prepared his church that the powers of darkness would descend upon them inevitably. He did not speak of transportation, but of persecution and death. The daring ones among his believers had already been warned by Jesus: “All who take the sword shall perish by sword.” (Matthew 26:52) Here the word of Moses is fulfilled then spoken in an extreme affliction: “The LORD shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” (Exodus 14:14)
John encourages all persecuted churches so as to keep patience and not to despair. The Greek word for patience means not only “to remain under a burden”, to persevere and not to throw off the burden, but also “to have a lot of staying power”, not to give up soon or to loose one's nerve. In the New Testament patience means to remain directed to the close return of Christ. As Christ returns, the church do not has to try itself to take control, but has the right to wait for his appearance, his actions and his victory. To wait for the returning Christ will give great strength to our souls! We may pray for hope of the coming of Jesus and wait for him eagerly.
Beside his exhortation to patience the apostle encourages the churches also to be faithful in prayer, to help each other and to testify of Christ with wisdom and lowliness. The bailiffs and judges of anti-Christ are to hear the truth about the reality of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We should not be silent out of fear of death, but under the guidance of the Holy Spirit open and shut our mouth courageously just as the Spirit commands us (Matthew 26:63-64; Acts 4:8-13; 26:1-26 and other verses). The Spirit of the Father who is dwelling in his children will speak through them in case of danger and before the court.
Who does not find any patience and faithfulness in himself, he may ask for these gifts of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 7:7-8). John encourages us while he testifies, “Greater is he who is in you, than he who is in the world.” (1. John 4:4) Whatever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith. (1 John 5:4)
Jesus assures his followers: These things I have spoken to you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)
PRAYER: Our Father in heaven, we thank You for the gospel of Your Son Jesus, who warned us beforehand of the general persecution surely to come that we might be prepared patiently and lovingly to bear the pouring out of the devil's hatred upon us. We ask You to save those who long for the truth that they may be renewed and filled with the Spirit of Christ's love when they had been cleansed by His precious blood. Amen.
QUESTIONS:
- Why is there no fear in love?
- Why does the faith in Christ overcome the world?
- Why does Christ prevent us from becoming afraid when we will stand before His enemies and do not know how to speak before them?