Shawna Boren walks us through the difficult images of the opening verses of Revelation 11 and demonstrates how they are connected to the truth that God’s presence protects his people in times of trial and trouble. We can be comforted because no situation that we face can ever displace us from the reach of God’s love. This was true for the early church and it is true for us today.
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Inseparable Love
• Shawna Boren
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Revelation unveils the truth about God and unmasks the lies of the enemy. It does this by shining a light on how we are to live right now in the midst of this battle of truth versus lies. Chapters 10 and 11 show us that bearing witness to this truth means unveiling and sharing the hidden reality that God prevails over all suffering and evil even though it might not be immediately obvious. In this sermon, Shawna Boren expounds upon the first four verses of chapter 11, shining a light on the presence of God’s love in the midst of suffering.
About this chapter, N.T. Wright comments: “People find many books puzzling, but the Bible is often the most puzzling of all. People find many parts of the Bible puzzling, but Revelation is often seen as the most puzzling book of all. And people find Revelation puzzling, but the first half of chapter 11 – the passage now before us – is, for many, the most puzzling part of all.” This is a complex chapter with layers upon layers of symbolic imagery. The first image is a measuring rod, which John is told to use in measuring the temple. This is a symbol of what is protected. What God measures God preserves because it belongs to God. The temple refers to more than the physical space. It is the people of God. The presence and power of God was focused on the physical temple in the Old Testament, but with the coming of Christ, God’s presence and power descended upon God’s people, making those who follow Jesus his temple. The outer court, on the other hand, was not measured. It was the preparation space, but it was not protected, as it is a place of persecution, havoc and chaos.
The two witnesses were granted authority, which they used to encourage the people of God to carry on in the midst of persecution and increasing difficulties. This persecution is represented by the 1260 days (3.5 years, half of seven). In other words, this is a time of the Beast. During this time the two witnesses wear sackcloth because they are in mourning and they have the authority of the Spirit to lead the temple (people of God) to persevere.
Talk of persecution is language that the original audience of Revelation would have fully comprehended. There was a high cost for them to believe. However, these trials were limited. The days of trampling were numbered. Even more, the people were measured and therefore, they lived in the protection of God in spite of the difficulties they faced. Not even death would destroy them or separate them from the Lamb. In fact, it is because of their faithfulness, in the midst of persecution, that the nations would eventually repent.
The love of God keeps us, and we must heed the challenge of the two witnesses to live in that love. Paul drives this home in two important passages. The first is his prayer in Ephesians 3:16-19. This is not merely mental knowledge about the fact that God loves us. It is something that is meant to work its ways into our inner being. The second is Romans 8:31-39. The love of God will outlast and defeat all enemies. If clouds of present suffering hide the sun, the unshakable love of God remains.
Hide Extended SummaryTopics: Love, Pain & Suffering, Presence of God
Sermon Series: The Unveiling, Testify!
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The MuseCast: August 26
Focus Scripture:
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Revelation 11:1-4
Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Come and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample over the holy city for forty-two months. And I will grant my two witnesses authority to prophesy for one thousand two hundred sixty days (1,260), wearing sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.
