When I say the word ‘apology’ in the title, I’m using it to refer to two senses of the word. First, I’m using it to say “I was wrong, and I’m sorry.” Second, I’m using the word ‘apology’ to signify a defense for statements made.
So first, I greatly wronged the audience by a failure to write that talk well. When I stated that Jesus caused the World Trade Center tragedy, I did not consider my audience; I merely considered myself. And frankly, emotionally speaking, I celebrate God’s sovereign reign over disaster and suffering.
What I did was twofold – I failed to put in the time necessary to write that talk, first. Second, and as a result, I failed to take the time to consider you, the hearer, and how you would respond. In doing those things, I detracted from the glory of Christ and distracted you from him and from his word. I’m ever so sorry, and will work to never do that again; though I’m sure that before he comes back or I go to heaven, I always will poorly reflect him.
That said, let me defend the statements I made regarding the sovereignty of Christ in causing suffering and death – which specifically shook some of you when I mentioned the World Trade Center tragedy. I will do so in the immediate context of Revelation 5:9, 10; in terms of how God is working in the world through history, and finally in terms of theology in general.
First, let’s look at the immediate context. God says, “And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
The picture here takes place after Christ’s death and resurrection. He appears at God’s throne and takes a scroll from the one in a position of authority. Scrolls contained edicts or decrees of kings. The songs that are sung make it clear that Jesus has conquered and is ruling (v. 5), and owns all things, including authority (v. 12), and glory – which is garnered by what one does (v. 13). So he takes a position of authority, takes the King’s edicts, and is honored as the one who is reigning over a world and acting in it.
Then, his opening the seals causes world events. These include much suffering. And in the context of the book of Revelation, we’re dealing with Jesus judging the world – there is going to be suffering that results from that judgment.
One of these things being caused is the fear of human rulers, and they take note in v. 17 that what is being experienced is Jesus’ wrath – his just anger at humanity. And note that all this takes place before the final judgment! (The martyrs are not yet avenged – 6:9-11.)
So in the immediate context we have Jesus acting authoritatively, clearly causing suffering in the world prior to the final day of judgment, after his resurrection.
Second, let’s look at the fact of Jesus judging the world in terms of how God has worked in history. A huge thing to note is that Jesus was given all authority – or all power over all things - as a result of his death and resurrection.
Look at what Paul says in Philippians 2: “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestwed on him the name that is above every name so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord”(vv. 8-11).
And in Romans 1 Paul describes the Gospel – or Good News – and he says that it’s about Jesus, who “…was appointed to be the Son of God in authority according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead – Jesus Christ our Lord.”
We see this in Hebrews 1 in God talking of his Son as ‘begotten’ – which in this context means ‘crowned as King.’ We see it after Jesus resurrection in Matthew 28:18, where he said, “All authority/power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
That Jesus has started to use his power for judgment is evident from specific texts and from redemptive-historical theology. Some specific texts include John 3:18, 19: “The ones believing in him are not being judged; and the ones not believing have been judged already because they didn’t believe in the name of the unique son of God. And this is the judgment: that the late came into the world, and men loved the darkness more than the light.” Judgment has already begun.
Also, take a look at John 5:19-30 – Christ is judging (v. 30) and that judgment has begun in his not calling certain people to life (v. 21, etc.). He leaves some of the dead as – dead. That death will be finished on the final day (vv. 28, 29).
There are a plethora of texts in John – one significant one, right before Jesus’ death, is John 12:31: “Now is the judgment of this world. Now, the ruler of this world will be cast out.” That’s pretty clear, right?
Let’s look at one final one. 1 Peter 4:6 says that people are all judged in the flesh (they die – remember that sin leads to God taking away life – Genesis 3, Romans 5:12-14). And then, in talking about Christians suffering for their faith, Peter goes on to say in v. 17, “For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God, and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” In the context here, we suffer as if we were sinners because we model Jesus, and Jesus suffered as if he was a sinner in the place of sinners. We also see God bringing suffering and death to the world in a way that will be consummated at the final judgment.
Now, in short form – in redemptive-historical theology, judgment of the world began with Jesus’ advent – his being here. I’m not going to show this here, but hopefully the aforementioned texts will begin to help point to it.
Third and finally, let’s look at some theological facts to establish that Jesus does indeed cause suffering and death. It is clear from Scripture that God has decreed everything that happens. Amos 3:6 tells us, “Does disaster come to a city, unless YHWH has done it?” Ephesians 1:11 tells us that God is the one who “…works all things according to his purpose.” Note that he doesn’t react to things – he works the things themselves.
This of course doesn’t take away from human responsibility. Humans make choices and are responsible for them. But it is God who brings about their choices. For someone who is not a Christian, they are a slave of sin and all their choices, thus, are sinful. But God may direct their hearts in particular directions as they are motivated by sin (and as we’ve seen from John 5 – God directs things such that they would remain in sin.)
A couple examples of that include Cyrus and those who put Jesus to death.
First, Cyrus – I’m just going to cite a chunk of Isaiah 44, in which God talks about himself.
God is the one…
Is. 44:26 who confirms the word of his servant
and fulfills the counsel of his messengers,
who says of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be inhabited,’
and of the cities of Judah, ‘They shall be built,
and I will raise up their ruins’;
Is. 44:27 who says to the deep, ‘Be dry;
I will dry up your rivers’;
Is. 44:28 who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd,
and he shall fulfill all my purpose’;
saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’
and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’”
Is. 45:1 Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus,
whose right hand I have grasped,
to subdue nations before him
and to loose the belts of kings,
to open doors before him
that gates may not be closed:
Is. 45:2 “I will go before you
and level the exalted places,
I will break in pieces the doors of bronze
and cut through the bars of iron,
Is. 45:3 I will give you the treasures of darkness
and the hoards in secret places,
that you may know that it is I, the LORD,
the God of Israel, who call you by your name.
Is. 45:4 For the sake of my servant Jacob,
and Israel my chosen,
I call you by your name,
I name you, though you do not know me.
Is. 45:5 I am the LORD, and there is no other,
besides me there is no God;
I equip you, though you do not know me,
Is. 45:6 that people may know, from the rising of the sun
and from the west, that there is none besides me;
I am the LORD, and there is no other.
Is. 45:7 I form light and create darkness,
I make well-being and create calamity,
I am the LORD, who does all these things.
Many, many choices went into all that God was saying that he was causing. But note that God is the one causing all this! This confirms what God has said in Proverbs 21:1 – “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of YHWH; he turns it wherever he will.”
Note also Peter’s statement regarding Jesus’ death in Acts 2:23 about Jesus – “…delievered up according to the definite plan and forechoice of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.” We have here both God having done something – caused it – and it having been done by people. Their actions had been chosen by God.
A couple final notes: God has the right to judge the world and is doing so. Look at Romans 3:6; at Romans 1 (we’re handed over to sin more by God in his righteous wrath); and death reigns over the world because we sin (Romans 5:12-14). That death exists now as punishment for sin is clear all over Scripture. If you want another example, look at the Tower of Siloam incident in Luke 13:1-5.
So all this to say, yes, Jesus does indeed cause suffering and death. He is indeed the one that creates calamity and rules over all things. And we need to – as they did in Revelation 5:9, 10 – honor him for it. This is our King. This is the real Jesus.
But this is the real Jesus who also died for the sins of people from every tongue and tribe and people and nation – and thus has secured their entry into his Kingdom.
I realize that this is tough stuff. We don’t like considering ourselves sinners, really, when it comes down to it. We don’t like to think that God has complete rights over people to do what he pleases (Psalm 115:3). But he does, and we must worship him for it.
I do not want this all to detract from the point I was making in my talk. Jesus’ death secured the entry of a particular people from every people-group on earth into his Kingdom. He did not die for everyone. Those he died for will come into his Kingdom. They will do so by hearing the gospel from other people and believing. For this reason, evangelism is vital.
We should feel mercy for every individual. But there is a practical reality in the world – the gospel is accessible – even prevalent – in America. It does not exist in many places on earth. God is all about his glory among every people group. We need to be too. And that means that foreign missions among unreached people groups is more vital than ministry in America. Yes, people need to stay here to disciple the Church of God here. But more are needed to go.
I suggest this: go unless it is clear that God has called you to remain. (Knowing that is a subject for another blog entry, eh?) Get discipled here, learn the Scriptures, learn some practical ministry skill, and abandon comfort for the sake of the glory of Christ among every nation – and out of love for his Church.
May God grant us sinners here mercy, as we serve him ever so imperfectly – but as he brings in the fullness of his Kingdom. Amen.
*For the Scripture quotations, I either did the translating myself or cited the ESV.
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