Revelation 20 - The Park Forum

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Genesis 3 Listen: (4:14), Read: John 3 Listen:( 4:41)

Links for this weekend’s readings:

Read: Genesis 4 Listen: (3:54), Read: John 4 Listen: (6:37)
Read: Genesis 5 Listen: (3:18), Read: John 5 Listen: (5:42)

Scripture Focus: Genesis 3.8-15

8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”
10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”
11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”
The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,
“Cursed are you above all livestock
and all wild animals!
You will crawl on your belly
and you will eat dust
all the days of your life.
15 And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.”

Revelation 20.2, 10

2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years…

10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Reflection: Ending the Serpent’s Cycle

By John Tillman

The Ouroboros is an ancient image of a serpent eating its tail. It was well-known in Egypt and Greece, symbolizing the cycle of death and rebirth.

John connects the Serpent at the beginning of scripture to the one at the end by calling Satan, “That old Serpent.” Satan is introduced in Genesis 3 and defeated in Revelation 20. We live in the chapters in between where the cycle of sin feels repetitive and inescapable. How do we break out?

All things in this world are under Satan’s influence and he can make any of them a destructive tool. Where there is love, he spawns lust. Where there is passion, he births oppression. The world’s kingdoms are his and he tempts everyone with their power, including Jesus. (Luke 4.5-8)

If we do not resist him, whatever is true, he uses to deceive, whatever is noble, he corrupts, whatever is right, he uses wrongly, whatever is pure, he sullies, whatever is lovely, he scars, whatever is admirable, he debases. (Philippians 4.8)

Revelation warns us that Satan is thrown down to Earth, knowing his time is shortened, filled with rage and intent to deceive as many as possible. (Revelation 12.12) He is the father of lies and hates those who are in the truth. (John 8.44) He means to do us harm.

How do we deal with his devilish influences? How do we shed shame and fight fear?

After watching Adam and Eve fall, we see them fight. We fight the same way if we only recognize the steps. When God calls, “Where are you?” stop hiding. Call out and come to him. When God says, “What is this you have done?” confess. Tell the truth and call the Devil a liar.

Scripture tells us to flee temptation and evil desires (2 Timothy 2.22), but don’t confuse fleeing evil desires with fleeing the Devil. We don’t flee the serpent. When we resist him, he flees us. (James 4.7)

This serpent’s cycle is doomed and he knows it. We resist the father of lies by reminding him of the truth. Even if Satan fools us temporarily, the truth will set us free and Jesus will straighten, repair, and restore everything twisted, damaged, and stolen.

The image of the Ouroboros is a lie. The cycle of the serpent is not eternal. The serpent’s end is assured. His head will be crushed, to eat no more.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

I sought the Lord, and he delivered me out of all my terror. — Psalm 34.4

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

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Read more: Christmas and Kaiju

He will not be a monster of rage, revenge, and havoc, but the same messiah of love, protection, and care revealed to us in the gospels.

Christmas and Kaiju — Love of Advent

Scripture Focus: Luke 4.18-20
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
    to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Reflection: Unwrapping Christ’s Gifts :: Epiphany
By John Tillman

The Annunciation of the birth of the King of Kings had come quietly to Mary, a young girl in Nazareth, and when that King’s time had come, he announced his kingdom in the same synagogue he studied in as a young boy. Mary’s son chose to announce his true identity to those who knew him best. He chose to proclaim the presence of the kingdom of God in a town from which true Israelites believed nothing good could come.

It should not surprise us that Jesus chose to make one of his earliest and most direct claims to being the Messiah not in a rabbinical school, not in the temple, not in a court of law, nor in the courts of political power.

Jesus consistently chose to minister in out of the way places to people life had pushed out of the way. But here in Nazareth, Jesus wasn’t burying the lead; he was burying a treasure in a field. Those who studied the prophecies knew that the Messianic ministry would dawn like a light in Galilee. Christ’s seeming retreat from more important locations, is actually a marker of his true nature as the foretold Messiah.

Christ’s gifts to us are at first concealed, like gifts under a Christmas tree. They are hidden in plain sight for us to wonder at, to shake, to puzzle over, and ultimately to open and rejoice over. But, after opening, gifts become a part of you when you accept them. Whether it is a tool that is used regularly, an item of clothing that is worn often, or a book, game, or other entertainment that engages our mind and imagination, good gifts integrate themselves into our lives and identities.

Christ’s gifts are meant to become integral to our lives and to become manifestations of himself to our family, friends, and communities. As we approach Epiphany over the next ten days, may we wear Christ’s gifts prominently, like new and well-loved items of clothing. Through the wearing, may we allow them to transform us into the manifestation of the giver.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer
Bless the Lord, you angels of his, you mighty ones who do his bidding, and hearken to the voice of his word.
Bless the Lord, all you his hosts, you ministers of his who do his will.
Bless the Lord, all you works of his, in all places of his dominion… — Psalm 103.20-22

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Today’s Readings
2 Chronicles 32 (Listen -5:58)
Revelation 18 (Listen -4:48)

This Weekend’s Readings
2 Chronicles 33 (Listen -4:01) Revelation 19 (Listen -3:47)
2 Chronicles 34 (Listen -6:23) Revelation 20 (Listen -2:49)

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Read more about The Purchase Price of Peace :: Peace of Advent
The peace God spoke would come at a cost, and shedding his glory and light to be born in a dim and dirty animal stall, was only the down payment.

The Purchase Price of Peace :: Peace of Advent

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