“I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.  But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practise sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols”  (Revelation 2:19-20).

Every Church has them, or will come across them sooner or later.  I call them the ‘narrow band’.  What I mean by that is that they believe they are the few who have a unique knowledge that others have not got.  It may be to do with anything from Bible versions to some unique spiritual experience they claim to have had.  In the Church at Thyatira it manifested itself in a dangerous teacher and her followers!

Thyatira was a small prosperous city.  It had a temple dedicated to Apollo, the sun god which may account for Christ introducing himself as the: ‘Son of God’ (v18).  In many ways the Church was thriving as it was a loving Church and was showing real zeal by increasing its work.  No doubt if you went to a service there you would have been made to feel very welcome and probably you would have had several invites to dinner (v19)!  But Christ knows his Church and, as verse 18 shows, he sees all, and some of what he sees does not impress him!

Four times in my pastoral vocation I have been accredited.  Once by the ‘Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches’, then again with the ‘Evangelical Fellowship of  Congregational Churches’ and also by the two Churches I have served in as Pastor. Each time I have been independently recognised as being called to my role as a Pastor. However, the: ‘woman Jezebel’ had not!  She called: ‘herself a prophetess’ and others in the Church had just accepted her word for it (v20)!  I think it is unlikely that her name was Jezebel, but rather it gives an indication of the damage she was doing to the Church.  In the time of the Prophet Elijah Jezebel: ‘killed the prophets of the Lord’ (1Kings 18:13) as she was a worshipper of the detestable god Baal!  The reference in verse 24 to: ‘the deep things of Satan’ may mean this woman was teaching that Christians could be involved the pagan idol feasts.  Or that to know Satan secrets you had to indulge yourself in sinful practise, but your soul would remain untouched due to God’s grace.[1]  But whatever she was teaching she was bad news for the Church just as her Old Testament namesake was!

The rather strange reference to Christ’s feet being like burnished bronze (v18) is coupled with the words: ‘refined in the furnace’ in Chapter 1 verse 15.  A furnace melts down metal to rid it of all its impurities, so this is a reference to the purity and holiness of Christ.  This helps us understand why his judgment will be so severe on this woman and: ‘her children’ which is probably a reference to her followers.  Yet there is an indication of grace here as Christ has given her time to repent (v21).  There are various times in scripture where we see that God protects his Church in this way.  Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11 are a good example as is the situation in 1 Corinthians 11:29-30.   Perhaps it was more common in the Early Church for the Lord to keep it pure in this way, but we should not rule out that he can still do it today!  However we look at it, verses 22-23 acts as a warning for Churches to remain faithful to scripture and to test each ministry against it!

But there were some faithful Christians in Thyatira and Christ wants to do nothing but bless them!  Those who are faithful are to: ‘hold fast’ as this blessing is not unwarranted.  But what a blessing it is as they will rule with Christ and have a share in Christ: ‘the morning star’ (v28 and 20:16).  There is a lesson here to check every ministry against the scripture as we are told: ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches’ (v29).  After all the Word of God is the ‘sword of the Spirit’  (Ephesians 6:17) and therefore greater than self appointed human authority!

Would you like to hear a sermon on this passage?  A Church that Tolerates Dangerous Teaching!

[1] Steve Wilmshurst, The Final Word, The Book of Revelation Simply Explained (Darlington, Evangelical Press, 2008) 44.

“I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells” (Revelation 2:13).

Pergamum was the capital of the Roman Province we now call Asia Minor. It was the centre of Empire, and had a temple dedicated to Aesculapius, the god of healing – represented by a snake – which may account for the phrase: ‘where Satan’s throne is’ (verse 13). Therefore, the situation would have been very difficult for the Church there – as Christians were viewed with suspicion, for not submitting to the Emperor.  So, how does Christ address them?

The imagery of Jesus, ‘walking among the lampstands’, representing the Churches (1:20), tells us that the Lord knows all about them. He knows that things have been tough, but they have remained faithful, even during intense opposition (v2).[1]  Yet, if they had been uncompromising in the past, some of them had done a 180 turn and gone to the other extreme!  But, what exactly were they doing wrong?

For that, we need to take a trip back to the days of the Exodus. In Numbers, chapter 22-24 we meet Balaam.  Balak, the King of Moab, was terrified that his kingdom would be overrun by the people of Israel.  So, doing what you did in those days, he calls a prophet who, for a price, will curse them!  Balaam obviously has a nice little side-line in doing this, but insists that he can only do so if God permits it.  A memorable adventure with his ass follows, but Balaam disappoints Balak as he ends up blessing Israel!  However, the story does not end there – Balaam wants it both ways.  He wants his promised wage packet, so he finds another way, by encouraging the Moabite women to lure the men of Israel into sexual immorality (Numbers 31:16).  He comes to a bad end (Numbers 31:8) and is sadly summed up as one ‘who loved to gain from wrongdoing’ (2 Peter 2:15).

So the Church was compromising. Like Balaam, they acted as if they were faithful to God.  Yet in other areas they were anything but!  Most likely some in the Church were saying they could be part of the city’s trade guilds, each of which had its own god and would have had meals where some of the food was sacrifice to an idol.  No doubt these feasts would have also encouraged immorality.  Yet to get on in their particular jobs some Christians were convinced they could both serve God and participate in pagan revelry (v14)!  If that was not bad enough, some of them were following the teaching of the dreaded Nicolatians.[2]

But Christ was having none of it! The two-edged sword John referred to in 1:16 is mentioned twice in this passage.  In Hebrews 4:12-13 that metaphor is used to show the truth and the power of the Word of God.  Quite simply Christ implies the message of the Gospel will cut the arguments of those guilty of this sin to pieces!  The Church needed to repent for allowing this false teaching, which some had embraced (note: ‘them’ in v16), to have compromised the Church.

Nonetheless, Christ wants to bless his Church, with two promises: The ‘hidden manna’ probably refers to the manna that was kept in a jar during the Exodus – to remind future generations of God’s goodness to them (Exodus 16:33). This is later fulfilled in Christ in John 6:51 when Jesus says: ‘I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live for ever’.  There are several possibilities as to what the ‘white stone’ symbolises.  But one idea that appears most relevant here and makes most sense is the idea of the 12 stones that were on the breast plate of the high priest that had the names of the 12 tribes on them.  This stone would have their: ‘new name’ on it, ensuring their inclusion among God’s people.  Their future is assured, if they continue to be faithful by staying true to the Word of God.  What a great incentive this is for us today not to compromise whatever the temptation!

Want to listen to a sermon on this passage?  A Church that Tolerates False Teaching!

[1] Who was Antipas?  Some commentators have linked him to various martyrs, but to be honest we just don’t know.  It’s likely that he was a leader in the Church who had been faithful in the face of major opposition.

[2] The Nicolatians are mention here again, but Balaam may give us an indication about what they taught.  The name Balaam means: ‘lord of the people’ and the word Nicolatians means: ‘to rule the people’ which suggests they could have been teaching some form of legalism which led to a ‘cast iron’ control of people.  Warren Wiersbe, Be Victorious (Wheaton, SP Publications, 1985) 30.

“I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan” (Revelation 2:9).

First impressions are important.  A few years ago, I was looking for the right way to describe the Church, as we were setting up our new website.  I did not want to paint a false picture, so in the end I described us as a ‘small but enthusiastic Church’.  Had they had websites back in the days of the Seven Churches Smyrna’s website might have read something like this.  ‘We are small, struggling Church who has suffered persecution in the past, and are about to face persecution again.’  I wonder if this kind of image would encourage you to attend a service there?

But, such was the reality of the Church to whom Christ sends this letter. The Church had almost certainly come into being during Paul’s remarkable two year ministry at Ephesus (Acts 19:10) – but found its self in a hostile situation, as Smyrna was one of the first places to embrace Emperor Worship, and so, verse 9 highlights their problems.  Interestingly enough, however, Jesus has only words of encouragement for them.

Firstly, he reminds them of who he is.  He is: ‘the first and last, who died and came to life’ (v8).  If they were having a hard time for not worshipping Caesar as ‘lord and saviour’ they could look to one who was the real deal!  Their confidence was in one who was sovereign over everything, even life and death!  Secondly, they had encouragement of knowing that Jesus knows them and their situation.  The: ‘I know’ (of verse 9) is a common feature in these letters.  Jesus is walking among the seven lampstands which represent the Churches (1:13), so he really knows his Churches. The Lord knows they appear very poor; the text uses the Greek word: ‘ptocheia’ which means to have nothing at all.[1]  But in reality they are: “rich”, which reflects their spiritual state!  The Lord knows that they are having a hard time due to the hatred of the Jews.  He knows they are going to suffer persecution, but he reminds them that he is in control and the time will be limited (v10).

Finally, Jesus tells them their future.  For those who are faithful, there will be a: ‘crown of life’ and also the promise of being with Him forever (vs10-11).  Are you, like me wondering how they felt when they received this letter?  I imagine they would have been very encouraged.  Those believers may well have been a ‘laughing stock’ of Smyrna, and no doubt, people felt they could push them around.  However, the fact remained that Jesus was Lord, and sovereign over everything – and that made all the difference!

Sadly, in some Churches today there has been a tendency to teach that if you come to Jesus all your problems will be solved.  A false ‘gospel’ of ‘easy believe-ism’ has been substituted, for Christ’s command to deny ourselves, and take up our cross and follow him (Mark 8:34).  Anyone preaching such a falsehood would have been very quickly booted out of the Church in Smyrna, as they knew it could be tough following Christ.  Nonetheless, they would have been encouraged to keep going because the benefits were truly going to be ‘out of this world’!  Living as we do, in a situation today where Gospel preaching is often scorned and the Bible criticised, we too can take encouragement from the words of the glorified Christ to a small, struggling first-century Church in Asia Minor.  We too can appear poor, but in reality be rich, if we trust in the truth of the Gospel.

Would you like to hear a sermon on this passage?    A Church that has Real Riches despite its Appearance.

[1]  Leon Morris, Revelation (Leicester, Inter-Varsity Press, 1969) 65.

“But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first” (Revelation 2:4).

The very first Church Christ addresses is one that John would have been well acquainted with.  The Church at Ephesus would have been in existence for about forty years at this time.  It had been established by Paul, and in the two years of his ministry there, God had caused a remarkable work to happen, whereby the good news of the Gospel was heard throughout Asia Minor (Acts 19:10).  It was a Church that was undoubtedly facing persecution, but it was also a Church that was faithful!

Indeed, when we read verse 2, we get a picture of a Church that had taken Paul’s departing warnings seriously (Acts 20: 28-31) and could almost literally ‘smell’ bad teaching.  What is more, they had done all this in the face of opposition (v3).  To use an analogy, if you were looking for good Bible teaching and a ‘Reformed’ ministry, you would have been impressed by the first page of the Ephesus Church website, and doubly so by the time you had listened to one or two of their sermons!

So it comes as a bit of a shock when Jesus says: “Yet I have this against you” (v4).  Despite all their Biblically based teaching, they had fallen out of love with their Saviour.  In fact it’s worse than that as the word used is: “abandoned”.  Everything had become routine and dutiful, rather like those marriages where a husband and wife get divorced after years of being together, because, and someone comments: “they only stayed together for the children”…  This may have been a faithful Church, but it was only out of a sense of duty, rather than a deep love for the Lord!  The phrase: “Remember the height from where you have fallen” illustrates that Christ does not see this as a small thing; in fact, in the Greek this can literally be rendered as: ‘keep on remembering’.  ‘They had enjoyed a close walk with God’ and were to remember that![1]  Indeed, it was so serious that Christ threatens to remove their lampstand (v5) unless they repent.  In other words, the Church would cease to exist!

Yet, there was still hope, their love for the truth shows that they literally had the mind of God (v6)![2]  Christ leaves them with some encouragement in both the start and the finish of this letter.  Firstly, he has an intimate relationship with his Church as he: ‘walks among the seven golden lampstands’ (v1) which, as we have seen, represent the ‘Universal’ Church.  He still loves them, with the sacrificial love, which is demonstrated in 1:5, even when their love has grown cold.  Secondly, those who respond to Christ’s warning have the promise of a wonderful future with him (v7).

In conclusion, no matter how Gospel-based and ‘reformed’ we are as a Church, Jesus will find a fault with us if we are not if displaying love for him and for others.  But if you think about it, the more we understand about Christ’s love for us, as shown in the cross, our love should increase.  In other words, good ‘Cross shaped’ theology should never encourage us to be cold and unloving!

Want to listen to a sermon on this passage? A Church that has Fallen out of Love!

[1] Leon Morris, Revelation (Leicester, Inter-Varsity Press, 1969) 60.
[2] Who and what were the Nicolatians?  There are various ideas, but the truth is we just don’t know! We will encounter them again in the letter to the Church at Pergamun and that may give us a few clues!

‘When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the First and the Last, the living one. I died, and behold I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades”’ (Revelation 1:17-18).

Just put yourself in John’s shoes: you have been faithfully ministering the Gospel for many years, but now you find yourself imprisoned on a small desolate island for that very reason!  It is Sunday, and you are on your own, engaged in worship. In your heart you are concerned that what has happened to you could easily happen to the Churches where you have ministered!  What is going to happen to the Church?  That is a question believers have asked down the ages in tough times.  But what happens next changes everything!

John hears a loud voice behind him which he describes: ‘like a trumpet’ (v10).  No doubt, this would have given him quite a shock, and got his mind racing! As a Jew, John knew that before the Law was given to Moses, at Mount Sinai, there had been: ‘a very loud trumpet blast, so that the people in the camp trembled’ (Exodus 19:16).  Therefore, John would have recognised that the command for him to: “Write” what he sees, “and to send it to the Seven Churches”, (11) was very important indeed!

No doubt this was impressive, but what happens next is truly astounding!  Indeed, John can only describe it by using the word: ‘like’, as he is at a loss to describe the splendour he is seeing (vs12-16).  There is much Old Testament symbolism here (see Daniel 10:4-6) and many commentaries will happily indulge us.  But the key thing we should note is how John introduces what he sees with the words: ‘one like the son of man.’  This is a reference to Daniel 7:13-14 when, in a vision: ‘one like the son of man’ approaches the Lord and is: ‘given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations and languages should serve him’.  John is conveying this is not the Jesus he spent three years with – who embraced full humanity – but Jesus glorified, something John had only seen once before, when he had seen Jesus wonderfully transfigured (Matthew 17:1-3)!  Not surprisingly John is overwhelmed and falls on his face like the prophets who encountered the Lord in the past.

Two things are worth noting.  Firstly, Christ is walking amongst the seven lampstands which represent his Church (v20).[1]  Secondly, he places his ‘right hand’ (a sign of favour), on John, and speaks the most encouraging words he could have imagined. The phrase: “the first and last” (v17) is found several times in Isaiah, demonstrating the Lord’s authority over people and nations.[2]  Secondly, he is: “the living one” (v18) who died and now lives forever, and who holds the keys of death and Hades.  That makes Jesus the centre of history, and therefore the reason for the book!  What an encouragement and reassurance to anyone, who like John at the time, may feel worried about the future of the Church, or is facing persecution!  The all-powerful and glorified Jesus is present among his Churches!  This indicates these seven letters have something important to say to the Church in every day and age.  So next month, we will start to look at the various warnings and encouragements Jesus has for to each of these Seven Churches…

Want to listen to a sermon on this passage? Jesus Christ, the Reason for the Book.

[1] Who are the angels of the Churches mentioned in verse 20?  Some commentators think it is those who took the letters to the Churches as angel means ‘messenger’, others, the Pastors of the various churches.  I personally prefer John Richardson’s take on this: ‘On balance however, especially given the way John refers to angels in the rest of Revelation, it probably refers to a spiritual being.  We needn’t understand from this that every congregation has a ‘guardian angel’, but rather we are reminded that the life of each earthly church involves an intimate connection with heavenly realities (1 Corinthians 11:10 and Hebrews 12:22).’ John Richardson, Revelation Unwrapped, Revealing the Blessing of John’s Vision (London, Matthias Press 1996), 18.
[2]Isaiah 41:4, 44:6 and 48:12.

‘To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us a kingdom and priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen’ (Revelation 1:5b-6).

Some years ago my wife, Tracy took part in a Ladies’ Bible study group, and they decided to tackle the book of Revelation.  For a number of weeks the group soldiered through the book, until Tracy said “to be honest, I don’t think I’m getting much out of this.” This turned out to be what everyone else was thinking, so a decision was taken to abandon the book, in favour of another. Personally, I would not be surprised if this is a common reaction with people who encounter some parts of the book of Revelation; rather than being encouraged, they come away from it feeling confused and frustrated.

However, this should not be the case,  since John states, in 1:3, the book is to encourage and bless us.  We noted when we looked at the background of the book last month that this would have been important.  The Churches to whom John was writing were facing persecution, or about to face it. Therefore, John proceeds to explain that, first of all this is a message from Jesus to the Church (vs1-4).  Numbers play a big part in the book of Revelation and the number seven was seen as a symbol of completeness in Jewish thinking.  It is a bit as if I said “I have sailed the Seven Seas”– which would mean I have been just about everywhere.  There would have been about ten to thirteen Churches in Asia Minor, but seven are addressed to represent the ‘complete’ Church.

Secondly, it is about what is going to happen soon.  This causes problems for some people as we find ourselves 2000 years from the time Revelation was written.  So, how are we to understand it?  One explanation would be to say that to God all times are ‘soon’ because: ‘one day with the Lord is as a thousand years and thousand years as one day’ (2 Peter 3:8).  But the simple fact is that prophecy always means something to the people who first hear it.  The sequence of events we encounter later in the book, many of which represent persecution, was happening all around these Churches!

Verses 4-8 illustrate Jesus has brought the Church into being.  Jesus and his Holy Spirit[1] offer grace and peace because he is: ‘the firstborn of the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth’ (v5).  It is through his death that people are made holy or, as the text puts it, become: ‘a kingdom of priests’ (v6).  A day will come when Jesus returns and is acknowledged by all as the Lord (v7).  Using the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet verse 8 describes Jesus again as sovereign and: ‘as being the complete perfect and eternal revelation of God.’[2]  What an encouragement to Christian’s wondering when there might be a knock at the door – signifying that persecution was commencing!  Nothing can happen without God’s consent, as he rules and controls the whole of history!

John wants his readers to understand this, so that they feel encouraged and understand what follows.

Want to listen to a sermon on this passage?  John Explains the Purpose of the Book.

[1]The phrase: ‘the seven spirits’ (v-4) might baffle us.  John knows there is only one Spirit (John 16:13), so it is possible that the number seven represents the completeness of God’s Spirit, and also the seven aspects of God’s Spirit which are referred to in Isaiah 11:2.

[2] William Hendricksen, More than Conquerors, An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (Grand Rapids, Baker Books, 1940), 54-5.

This month we start a new series looking at the Letters to the ‘Seven Churches’ in the book of Revelation.

‘Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and to keep what is written in it, for the time is near’ (Revelation 1:3).

I wonder how you feel about the book of ‘Revelation’?  I have encountered two reactions.  The first is a reluctance to engage with the book.  This is often because these people have experienced speakers, or teachers who have formulated strange ideas, based on their interpretation of the book.  So, in their view, they see it as the domain of ‘crackpots and weirdo’s’!  The second is exactly that: a very unhealthy fascination with the stranger aspects of the book which has led to an obsessive and unbalanced interest that leads people to form extreme and strange ideas!  But neither attitude is right, because: ‘All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work’ (2 Timothy 3:16-17)!  Therefore, in the coming months, we will be looking at the opening chapters where Christ addresses the ‘Seven Churches’ in what we now call Asia Minor. Before we do this, however, we need to take the time to look carefully at the introduction to the book.

Long before becoming a Pastor, when I was starting my building and decorating business, I had the great fortune to work alongside a very experienced builder and decorator.  He taught me many things, but one has particularly stuck in my mind: “Always read the instructions!” Therefore with anything I assemble, even if I think I know the how to do it, I first check the instructions. Likewise, before we start looking at these seven Churches, we need take a look at the background of the book to understand its purpose.

Revelation is ‘apocalyptic literature’. This was very common in the first century and, as such, familiar to those the book was written to, but it is not to us!  Secondly, the Greek title of Revelation is ‘The Apocalypse’. This word often conjures up ideas of doom and destruction!  But actually the word ‘apocalypse’ simply means ‘to uncover’.  Revelation is, therefore, a book that uncovers what would normally be hidden.  The third aspect is the time John’s vision was recorded. Scholars consider there are two possibilities. The first is the persecution of the Church in the reign of the Emperor Nero (AD 54-68).  The second, and the more likely one, is the persecution during the reign of the Emperor Domitian (AD 81-96).  The key aspect, however, is that these Churches were being persecuted, or about to face persecution.

And, this background brings us to the reason for the book, which is to…encourage us!  Next month we will take a look at how we understand the introduction John has given the book.  But for now let us take Revelation 1:3 to heart: ‘Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and to keep what is written in it, for the time is near.’ Revelation’s purpose is to bless us, not confuse us or scare us witless!  So hopefully, as we look at what Christ says to these Churches we will find that to be the case!

Want to listen to a sermon on this passage? John Explains the Purpose of the Book.

‘Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two; they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated —of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should be made perfect’ (Hebrews 11:35b-40).

The writer continues to encourage his readers knowing some, if not all of them, are facing tough times!  Verses 35b-38 undoubtedly refers to those martyred during the period of history between the end of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New.  The books of Maccabees in the Apocrypha testify to the religious oppression of Antiochus Epiphanes, who desecrated the temple with a pagan sacrifice.  The Jewish nation’s struggle, and eventual triumph over the Greek tyrant, was under the leadership of Judas Maccabee.  But this intense religious zeal involved much suffering!  The phrase: ‘they were sawn in two’ is possibly a reference to the death of Isaiah, as recorded in the apocryphal book ‘The Ascension of Isaiah’ which gave rise to the tradition that he died this way during the reign of Manasseh.  However, whoever these verses refer to, the writer of the letter paints a picture of God’s people in a very beleaguered state!  But, the reality is completely different, as the writer makes clear with the phrase: ‘of whom the world was not worthy’ (v38).  He concludes that whatever the world sees in relation to God’s people, the opposite is true!  The Lord values them, even when the world does not!  Once again the writer provides a wonderful pastoral touch.

Sometimes people can portray the Christian life in an unrealistic light. However, the writer of the letter hardly paints a picture of unrelenting bliss.  These ‘Heroes of Faith’ hardly had it easy!  They sometimes suffered even to the point of death!  Therefore, verses 39-40 act as an encouragement to keep going!  Verse 39 spells it out as clearly: ‘And all these “though commended through their faith” did not receive what was promised’.  God had something much better for the recipients of the letter in the future (v40).  By this brilliant pastoral application the writer encourages the recipients of this letter to see themselves alongside their heroes from their religious heritage as they too were going to be: ‘made perfect’.  If you were a struggling, possibly persecuted, Jewish Christian living in the first century what could be better news than that!

I do not have a problem with those who preach epic sermon series’ based on this chapter.  But, its main purpose was to show that those who lived in the past faced the same issues these Jewish Christians were facing!  They exhibited faith, but did not necessarily see the full results in their lifetime!  But the writer wants his readers to know that God’s promises always deliver.  The apostle John writes: ‘the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever’ (1 John 2:17).  The theme established back in chapter 3:1, for the recipients of the letter, to: ‘consider Jesus’ is present here.  The writer would be in total agreement with the apostle Peter, when he writes: ‘Though you have not seen him, you love him.  Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls’ (1 Peter 1:8-9).  Now that is encouragement for Christians in any day or age!

Want to listen to a sermon on this passage? Conquering Faith, Imperfect Faith, Suffering Faith what Faith Achieves.

‘And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection.’ (Hebrews 11:32-35a).

By the time we get to verse 32 of this magnificent chapter the writer infers he could give many more examples – as if he was saying: “Well, I’d love to go on – there are so many people from our heritage who showed considerable faith, but, I’ve made my point – do I need to say more?!”  The writer knows, however, that lessons can be learned from these examples, and therefore, he encourages his readers to think about them – especially as some reflected ‘far-from-prefect’ faith!

Gideon was hesitant, demanding signs from the Lord then being so afraid, he carried out the Lord’s first command by night (Judges 6)!  Barak would not lead the army into battle without the prophetess Deborah to hold his hand (in a metaphorical sense), and so, he forfeited the glory of a victorious commander (Judges 4:6-9)!  Samson may have had a body that matched Arnold Schwarzenegger in his prime, but, most of the time, he had the mind-set of an adolescent!  As for Jephthah, he may have been a mighty warrior, but he had a big mouth, and made silly vows that others paid for (Judges 11:29-40)![1]  Could it be any clearer?  These people failed as much as they displayed faith, but God used them despite of this!  Samuel and David do not quite come into this category, although David had his failings, and Samuel may have made some of Eli’s mistakes and neglected to discipline his sons (1 Samuel 8:3).  David’s inclusion maybe more to do with prophecy, as his name is linked with Samuel and other unnamed prophets.

But the point is the Lord worked mighty acts though these people, whether it was by the delivering or ruling of his people.  The curious phrase: ‘stopped the mouths of lions’ is probably a reference to Daniel (Daniel 6), although Samson also had a memorable encounter with a lion (Judges 14: 5-6).  As Raymond Brown points out: ‘All six men were vastly different in human personality, social circumstances and spiritual opportunity, yet, it in various ways God used them.  He did not press them into an identical mould or demand the same response from each of them.’[2]  The reference to: ‘fire’ undoubtedly refers to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and their encounter with the fiery furnace (Daniel 3:8-27).  The phrase; ‘escaped the edge of the sword’ could easily apply to David whose life was under threat at various times before and during his reign.  However, it could also apply to others as it: ‘sums up a wide range of violent action’ and: ‘the phrase is a familiar one in the Old Testament.’[3]  Being: ‘made strong out of weakness’ might apply to King Hezekiah’s prayer for healing (2 Kings 20:1-11) and the beginning of verse 35 to the many mighty acts by those in the book of Judges or the establishment of a strong kingdom under David.  Elijah and Elisha’s ministries are clearly referenced with the phrase: ‘Women receive back their dead by resurrection’ as both of their ministries were marked by this mighty miracle indicating their considerable faith (1 Kings 17:17-24 and 2 Kings 4:18-37).

But once again the writer has reminded his readers that God works even through imperfect faith.  What a major encouragement to those who were wavering in their faith and were thinking of returning to their former Jewish beliefs.  They were to keep going and trust the Lord!

Want to listen to a sermon on this passage? Conquering Faith, Imperfect Faith, Suffering Faith, what Faith Achieves.

[1] As you can imagine much ink has been committed to paper about Jephthah’s vow.  Did he really sacrifice his daughter or was she subjected to perpetual virginity because of this rash vow?  The tragedy was that the Law did allow him a way out (Leviticus 6:2-7).  There are commentators on both sides of the argument that I respect greatly.  I personally think that it was quite possibly perpetual virginity due to his daughter’s statement and behaviour in Judges 11:36-40.  However, these were dark and desperate times when men did dark and desperate things and the passage can easily be read and understood the other way as well!

[2] Raymond Brown, The Message of Hebrews, Christ Above All, The Bible Speaks Today(Leicester, Inter-Varsity Press, 1982), 221.

[3]Donald Guthrie, The Letter to the Hebrews, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Leicester, Inter-Varsity Press, 1983), 244.

By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.  By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.  By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies’ (Hebrews 11:29-31).

In these verses the writer shifts his focus from personal faith to corporate faith, and then to what might be termed totally unexpected and extraordinary faith!

The crossing of the Red Sea was an act of incredible faith and whatever the behaviour of the people before the crossing (Exodus 14:10-13) it must have taken great faith to walk the path between the piled up walls of water even if it was: ‘as if on dry land’. Yet, as we know: ‘the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned’ (v29).  The writer then fast forwards forty years to one of the most remarkable events of Joshua’s conquest of the Promised Land, the conquest of Jericho.  The actual method that the Lord had prescribed for taking Jericho must have seemed totally ludicrous.  After all, how could walking round the city once six days in a row and on the seventh, on the seventh circuit, giving a loud shout possibly be an effective strategy (Joshua 6:1-21)?  Think about it, it sounds absolutely mad!  Surely siege-engines would have to be built to scale or breakdown the city walls and you would have to have a well-trained army!  It took faith for the people to obey instructions like that even if they had seen God at work in the past!  But that is what they did because they had faith in God and Joshua as his servant.

That now brings us to the big surprise of Hebrews chapter 11, Rahab and her monumental example of faith! Rahab and her family’s lives were spared in the conquest of Jericho due to her reaction to the Israelite spies.  She took the great risk of hiding them and covering for them (Joshua 2:8-21).  Her reaction is interesting as it is a display of great faith for someone living among a pagan people.  While all in Jericho had heard the stories of the Lord’s great deliverance of his people from Egypt only Rahab drew the right conclusion in that she: ‘so feared Yahweh’s threat that she fled to receive his mercy’.[1]  In other words she threw herself on the mercy of the living God, while the rest of Jericho panicked and locked the gates.  John Calvin notes her background was even less promising: ‘the name harlot is added to heighten the grace of God’.  He then adds: ‘it is also certain that this refers to her past life for her faith is the evidence of her repentance.’[2] So this former ‘Shady Lady’ is held up by the apostle James as a beacon of faith and rightly so (James 2:25). She is an example of faith in the most surprising place and circumstances, and a wonderful testimony to Just how far God’s grace and mercy can extend!

Want to listen to a sermon on this passage? Faith that Expects the Miraculous.

[1] Dale Ralph Davis, Joshua, No Falling Words (Fearn, Christian Focus Publications, 2000), 56.

[2] John Calvin, The Epistle of Paul to the Hebrews and the First and Second Epistle’s of St Peter, Calvin’s Commentaries (Edinburgh, Oliver and Boyd, 1963), 181.