Revelation Part 16
Eternity Online: John Edmiston (Editor)
Eternity-Inspiration for Friday 31st October 1997
Revelation Part 16
(Revelation 1:16 NRSV) {16} In his right hand he held seven
stars, and from his mouth came a sharp, two-edged sword, and his face
was like the sun shining with full force.
"from His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword". The Jesus we see in
the gospels certainly was "sharp" and His replies to the Pharisees
"cut them to the quick". When Jesus speaks it is with incisive words.
His tongue can be a surgeon's scalpel to heal or a magistrate's sword
to deliver judgement. His sharpness in speech flows from an accuracy
in perception. It is because He knows intimately what is in our
hearts that He can speak to them with such precision. The word of God
in the mouth of Jesus is a weapon that can demolish strongholds.
This image of the sharp two-edged sword immediately brings two
well-known verses to mind:
(Hebrews 4:12-13 NKJV) For the word of God is living and powerful,
and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division
of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of
the thoughts and intents of the heart. {13} And there is no creature
hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes
of Him to whom we must give account.
(Ephesians 6:17 NKJV) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword
of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
The Holy Spirit wields His sword, the word of God, to cut deeply
through to the thoughts and intentions of the heart because He knows
us at the deepest possible level and everything is open to Him. The
Holy Spirit knows the depths of God and the depths of man and puts
spiritual truths in spiritual words. (1 Cor 2:10-16) When we speak
spiritual truths with spiritual words (not special vocabulary but
Holy Spirit chosen words) we gain a sharp tactical wisdom that this
world cannot contradict (Luke 21:14,15) and it is then we can be
said to be wielding the sword of the Spirit.
In Isaiah this spiritual endowment gives the Messiah acute wisdom
and tactical ability. (Isaiah 49:2 NKJV) And He has made My mouth
like a sharp sword; In the shadow of His hand He has hidden Me, And
made Me a polished shaft; In His quiver He has hidden Me."
In Revelation the sword is used against two groups of people
1) heretics 2) the rebellious nations. Its first use is against the
proponents of the Nicolaitan heresy at Pergamos. (Revelation
2:12-17 NKJV) "And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write,
'These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:...{15} "Thus
you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which
thing I hate. {16} 'Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and
will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
Secondly the sword is used against the nations. In Revelation 19 the
returning Jesus is coming with His angels to a rebellious and
apostate world that is under the domination of the Beast.
"(Revelation 19:14-16 NKJV) And the armies in heaven, clothed in
fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. {15} Now
out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike
the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He
Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty
God. "
The sword of the Spirit, the word of God is a spiritual weapon of
immense power that, in Revelation, is something to be truly feared.
There is a sense of "or else.." to it. It is more than just quoting
a bible verse at someone. It is speaking God's words with authority
and precise accuracy into a situation just like Jesus and the
apostles did. It may involve quoting Scripture and that is precisely
how Jesus used the sword of the Spirit to defeat Satan in the
wilderness. However it is not quoting Scripture or arguing
Scripture in a theological sense. Using the sword of the Spirit
means authoritatively declaring a Scripture into a particular
situation where it fits. When Jesus said to Satan "It is also
written "You shall not test the Lord your God.", it wasn't a debate
it was a closure, a declaration, a slamming of the door. The sword of
the Spirit is precise, authoritative and final.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, we should tremble before You. Fear and reverence and
awe and worship and glory and honour are due to You. May our mouths
be like Your mouth speaking a wisdom this world cannot contradict,
sharp, Spirit-filled Truth flowing from the eternal perspective of
Heaven. Lord may we break down hard hearts and open people up to the
gospel with precise words that penetrate the heart. Give us the
sword of the Spirit Lord and teach us how to use it with skill so
that the Kingdom grows. Amen.
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