September 27: GIVE JESUS YOUR EAR
If anyone has an ear, let him hear. He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and faith of the saints. Revelation 13:9-10
The Master Teacher places a noteworthy emphasis with this opening expression. John must have heard Him say, “he who has an ear, let him hear” many times! And does anyone besides me wonder if, when Peter cut off the ear of Malchus with his sword (John 18:10), perhaps he had aimed to take off the guy’s whole head? The reflex of Malchus to lean sideways was probably a good one. And then what did Jesus do? He put the ear right back on (Luke 22:51) and said to Peter, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Matthew 26:52).
The healing of the ear of Malchus is wonderfully symbolic of the purpose of Jesus’s mission. The message of salvation had been robbed of its simplicity and made unnecessarily complicated by the uninspired additions—man-made rules—that the religious leaders had created, for example, turning Sabbath rest into a long, scary list of rules to keep: salvation by works. The message was not only discouraging and oppressive, but difficult to hear! The love of Jesus makes His gospel of grace a delight to hear and receive!
Daniel’s vision of the fourth (Daniel 7:7) beast’s final end (7:11) leaves no room for doubt as to the coming judgment of God. But that does not mean that everyone born into or associated with it is doomed. In fact, it means the very opposite if taken as a loving warning. In Revelation, the worldwide system of confusing religion is referred to as Babylon, an allusion to the tower of Babel (Genesis 11:9). And, though the fourth beast is identified as Rome, the influence of Babylonian ideas is at the core of the dragon’s strategy for gaining worship. God is calling everyone out of Babylon: “Come out of her, my people…” (Revelation 18:4) The same power that used its authority to silence God’s people with the sword throughout Medieval times of history will again rise to dominate the world, winning the allegiance of regular “everyday” people in every country.
Today’s opening verse is saying that the sure result of leading people into the captivity of sin is not going to end well for the leaders or the followers. Jesus said, “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” (Matthew 18:6)
Here is the patience and faith of the saints. John the Revelator is a tool in the hand of the Lord to show readers a marked difference between the two groups in the last days of this world’s history. God’s people of faith will indeed exercise patience, and in so doing, many more souls will be won to the winning side. In following the example of Christ, we are to act upon faith (not force) and grow in patience (not persecution).
Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Romans 12:19