Two Groups: One Spiteful; One Unrepentant – Sunday Thought For The Day

The Revelation written by the Apostle John is the concluding Book of the Holy Scriptures.  As C. I. Scofield wrote in the introduction notes for The Revelation in his Reference Bible: “[It] unfolds the great events bringing history to consummation, including the revelation of Jesus Christ at His second advent.”

In the first chapter of The Revelation, the Apostle John attempts to describe the indescribable, i.e., the physical appearance of Christ revealed in glory, in contrast with His presentation, in the four gospels.  The gospel presentation I might add, in which John spent three uninterrupted years with Christ.  And yet, John looking upon Jesus in His glory, struggled to describe the indescribable from a human perspective because of the brilliance of His being.  A brilliance that was as blinding as staring into the noon day sun.  John, like Moses before him could only swiftly glimpse a look at the Lord.

It’s this last part of The Revelation 1:16 (KJV), I want to address to make my point.  The Apostle John described Jesus: “…His countenance was as the sun shineth in its strength;” which references the noon day sun.  Ellicott in his English commentary explains it best:

His countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.—It is the spiritual truth which gives the splendour to such descriptions as these. The dazzling glory of Him who is the Sun of Righteousness is intolerable to human eyes. There is no marvel in this when we remember that He is the brightness of His Father’s glory, and that the Father dwells “in that light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see” (1Timothy 6:16). It is the lustre of holiness and righteousness which is here signified, and which “the eye of sinful man may not see,” but of which saints and angel messengers may catch a faint reflection; so that the angel’s face may look like lightning (Matthew 28:3), and “the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (Matthew 13:43). (Comp. the shining of Moses’ face, Exodus 34:29.)

Bridging upon Ellicott, I use a quasi-allegorical expository.  Most of us, especially those of us who are clergy or in Church leadership roles, are all too familiar with people who have angrily stormed out of church spewing lies and hurling false accusations because, the Pastor and/or person(s) in leadership challenged them about their walk with the Lord or lack thereof.  We’re also quite familiar with persons who won’t set foot inside a truly Spirit-filled, Christ-centered Church, even though they claim to have Christian principles and have even been known to claim they’re praying for us.

The reasons person(s) have stormed out of multiple churches to never return, thus believing they’re spiting the Pastors and leaderships, have nothing to do with the reasons they untruthfully claim.  The reasons they flee biblically based, Spirit-filled, Christ-centered Churches and instruction is because, they cannot be in the presence of the “True” Word of God, which is Jesus Christ.  As Ellicott wrote: “It is the lustre of holiness and righteousness which is here signified, and which “the eye of sinful man may not see…”  They are rebellious and will not tolerate their errant ways being exposed and/or challenged.  They stay at home and watch feel-good heretical television preachers because, television preachers cannot hold them accountable for their malevolence and errancy.

The evil spirits that drive them cannot be in a Godly environment where their errant ways are confronted.   Persons like this hide behind fallacious claims, such as they’re being persecuted by the Pastor and/or leadership.  They curse and spew the rawest vitriol about Church leadership to anyone who will listen, not realizing that they’re not only disparaging God’s anointed, but also saying Raca.

They’re willfully blind to truth, and filled with demonic acrimony, rage and hatred.

The other persons who simply won’t set foot inside a biblically-based, Spirit-filled Christ-centered Church are those who reject the “Truth,” i.e., Christ, but who aren’t engaged in ad hominem attacks and lies against Church leadership.

Both groups need Christ.  Both groups are being deceived, although the first group who flee the Church hurling invectives as they go, are motivated by Satanic influences to do their best to destroy God’s anointed.  Ellicott explains their avoidance best: “The dazzling glory of Him who is the Sun of Righteousness is intolerable to human eyes;” And specifically to the eyes of the willfully disobedient.

Thus the question that remains, is what will it take for family members, loved ones, friends, acquaintances or even strangers to dispense with the lies and rejection?  It will take them making the decision whether they will turn to Christ unto salvation and repent of their ways or they can continue on the course they have deliberately chosen.  One way leads to salvation through Jesus Christ, the other way leads to eternal damnation.  It’s their choice.  It’s up to we who embrace the “Truth” to love them enough to continue praying and sharing the “Truth of Christ” with them, bearing in mind that it is not us they are cursing and/or rejecting.  They’re cursing and/or rejecting God and His only way of salvation.

READ:
Revelation 1:12-18 KJV
12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: