What Does Our Crown Referred To in Revelation 3:11 and Can We Lose our Crown?

“I am coming quickly. Hold on to what you have, so that no one takes your crown.” 

–Revelation 3:11

The above passage is given by Jesus to one of the seven churches in the opening of revelation, namely Philadelphia. This is one of only two churches that Jesus does not rebuke. While this passage contains no rebuke, Revelation 3:11 is a warning passage. I believe that the crown here symbolizes eternal life, it is the same idea as someone who has competed in an Olympic challenge and crowned at the end with victory (also see 1 Corinthians 9:24-25). One thing that is helpful when you read a warning passage is to read them in light of other warning passages, because each helps us understand the other. I would like to point one particular passage out to you that is of great help for understanding Revelation 3:11, namely 1 John 2:19:

“They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. However, they went out so that it might be made clear that none of them belongs to us.”

In 1 John 2: 19, the warning is that any who depart from us, though a lifestyle of sin, were actually not saved before they left us! And while true Christians may depart for a time, they will eventually come back to the flock. Think of the examples that are contrasted in Peter’s defection vs. Judas’ defection. Both Peter and Judas denied Christ, but only Peter came back to Christ and God’s people, the church! So if that is true, you may be asking yourself the question, “Why is this passage and other warning passages given to believers if we can’t fall truly fall away?” In God’s wisdom, The Lord had placed warning passages as a means to preserve God’s people. When I was a teenager up through the first part of Seminary, I would work for my father on brick and block mason crews. At times we would have to build scaffolding that was three to four stories or more high. We always had to put up safety rails on the completed scaffolding. The newer scaffolding we would crank up and it was much easier, but the older kind had to be changed out by hand! We hand to put on a safety harness, go under the walking boards at these heights and change them out. To be honest, I dreaded this task most of all, because the thought of the fall to the ground terrified me. As I would slowly climb down to assist the other laborer, I moved slow and cautiously to make the change. I would often look down at the ground, which seemed miles away, and imagine my fall and the splat that followed as I hit the ground. Of all the times I built and changed out scaffolding, I never slipped and needed my harness, nor safety rails to preserver me. The safety harness and rails were a means to provide confidence and remind me that I needed to be cautions as I did my job. In a similar manor, warning passages such as Revelation 3:11 lets us see what our fall from grace could be like, reminding us to do our work with care and caution, all while we look from the safety and security of God’s strong hands (John 10:29).

Why Does Satan Appear with the Sons of God in Job 1:6?

"One day the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them." -Job 1:6

Recently a church member who is reading the Bible on the one year recommended plan came to me with this question. This passage seems to be contradictory, to Satan being cast out of heaven until it is put into perspective with the larger redemptive narrative. Lucifer is his given name and he is described as having great beauty and wisdom (see Isaiah 14:12-14 & Ezekiel 28:12-18). In the book of Job, we get a peek into the high court of the universe as God's sons, aka his angels are gathering to give account of their ministries (see Hebrews 1:14 & 1 Kings 22:19). I am not sure if the other angels recognized him for who he was, because he can disguise himself as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14). It is important to note that wherever there is a gathering of the servants of God, there will always be at least one, sent by Satan, who will appear among them to cause trouble and division. The apostle Paul knew this when he gave a warning against "False Brothers" in the local church (Galatians 2:4). When Lucifer rebelled and took a third of heaven with him, the battle left heaven marred by his sin (Rev. 12:4). Lucifer will try one more time to take the place of God, but his plan will fail (Rev. 12:7-13). This is why there is a need for a NEW HEAVEN as well as a new earth in Revelation 21:1. As one reads Job, it becomes clear that Satan is both called into account for what he is doing and given restraints on what he can or cannot do. We are informed that he sits night and day and accuses the people of God in Revelation 12:10. This ancient story points out the fact that Satan is no threat to the throne of Heaven. When Satan is through serving God's proposes for the redemption of mankind, bringing God ultimate Glory, Satan will be rendered completely useless in influence and power (Hebrews 2:14). In fact the Bible tells us we will sit in judgment over the angels, which includes Satan. (1 Corinthians 6:3).

Men's Retreat 2014

"Be strong, and show yourself a man..."  

-1 Kings 2:2 (ESV)

Coming up on September 19-21 at FairHaven on Roan Mountain our men will gather for the first Men's Retreat that I have been able to join in with our men. I am very excited about this even! The event will be held over a three day, two night time span. I will speak on Friday night on the verses in 1 Kings 2:1-9, David's dying instruction to Solomon. David's words to his son on his deathbed is a great instruction to all men. There are at least items he instructs his son in: leadership, provision, and protection. I think it is important to note the instruction of biblical manhood for our children. There are many qualities that both boys and girls should posses, but there is special instruction for each sex. God made us both equal, but with different roles. I believe that this is modeled after the trinity, God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all equal, but clearly play different roles.

Our boys must be taught what it means to "show yourself a man." We can't take notes from television, feminism, nor our mothers on what it means to be men. So come, join us as we seek to lead, provide, and protect in our roles as men!

Can God Still Use Me Even Though I've Sinned?

"For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” -Esther 4:14 (ESV)

In the above passage, Mordecai is strongly urging the queen, whom he raised, to do the right thing and seek deliverance from destruction. There is a beautiful tension that exists in this passage, namely the sovereignty of God and our responsibility. Mordecai is not a prophet, nor the son of a prophet, but he knows that God will deliver the Jews one way or another. Why does Mordecai have this confidence? Because he knows the promises that were made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He has faith and trust in the fact that God will deliver on what God says he will deliver on; however, Mordecai knows that this will be costly to God's people.

He also states here, that if Esther keeps silent she will not get to participate in God's plan for redeeming his people, and it may cost her life. Here is the principle that arises from this text: God will get his plan accomplished, but you could miss out on the blessing of being involved with where God is working. Let me illustrate, recently I was out working on picking some tomatoes from a few plants I had put out. My kids wanted to help, and I was overjoyed to let them. I told them to pick only the red ones. While my youngest loved picking the green ones that were about golf ball sized, the red ones made it into the house. Those red tomatoes would have made it in the house without the kids helping, but they would have missed the instruction of twisting and pulling the tomato. And more importantly, we would have both missed out on the joy of the fellowship of doing this together.

In addition to this, he says perhaps you have come into the kingdom for such a time as this. We often think about the kingdom of God, but that is not where they live. They live in a pagan culture that does not worship the one true living God. Esther is unlike her Daniel counterpart in the Old Testament. Daniel had a level of moral clarity about him. We knew why he didn't eat the king's food or bow to the idols. They both worked in a pagan king's court, but Esther lacks the same clarity. She has made a series of sinful decisions which include: concealing her faith and sleeping with the king before they are married to entice him. She has to choose between the kingdom she lives in and God's kingdom, which is the decision we all face. While she has grown comfortable eating the king's food, Esther becomes the heroine through her resolve to live for God's kingdom at a great crossroad in her life. I wish I could be a Daniel, but the truth is most of us identify more with Esther than Daniel. Esther gives us hope that we can still be greatly used of God, especially if we have made sinful, bad decisions in the past. She shows us that even if we have a "past", God can use us as part of His plan to redeem others! Be encouraged beloved! The LORD has placed a world full of sinners to accomplish His will.