The Book of Job, Job 38 through 42, Revelation 20
Earlier this week, Mia and I were sharing within our virtual "Morning Brew with Alpha Women" group via Marco Polo. (We jokingly-not jokingly have named this for our group of two because we are both strong women of business as followers of Christ.) On Sunday October 3rd, Pastor Joby Martin of the Church of Eleven22 shared some facts about the crucifixion and Roman times that neither Mia and I had ever heard before. Not that these facts are questionable or fabricated by Joby but because, many teaching pastors neglect to provide contextual facts either because they don't know these facts or simply don't think the facts are important. Sadly, that decision to not convey facts, distorts the important meaning of the action. The profoundness is diminished. The communication is misleading. It puts punctuation to Revelation 22:18-19,
"I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll."
As we chatted back-and-forth about the two facts we learned through Joby, we landed on that people knew innately right from wrong; some chose right and some chose wrong.
I also brought into the conversation something that impacted me in my daily reading. I was in Revelation reading 19 through 22 where Chapter 20 struck me in its contrasts of significance versus insignificance and by its brevity compared to the previous chapters.
I was amazed that Revelation chapters 1 through 19 cover about seven years of the tribulation period along with Jesus's return to earth, and the end of Satan's reign on earth by throwing the beast and the false prophet into the lake of fire, and binding Satan, throwing him into the abyss and sealing that abyss for one-thousand years. In Chapter 20, Jesus ushers in the millennial reign of a thousand years, where the believers who died during the tribulation, will reign with Jesus during that millennial time; He gives these believers (these non-deniers of Jesus as Lord God) the position of authority for rebuilding and repopulating the earth, reporting to Him as Sovereign Ruler over earth.
What amazes me is that the millennial time - a one-thousand-year period - received one chapter of 15 verses to describe this time period and yet, the previous seven years received 19 chapters with 340 verses of explanation.
Satan's end is just as poignant in its insignificance. The great enemy of God and mankind just ends. Once God decides "this is it," there is nothing more powerful than He that can alter that decision and, God provides minimal details in Satan's demise which highlights that sovereign power God has. When it's time for evil on earth to end, an unknown angel from heaven has the key to the abyss along with the authoritative power to seize, bind, throw and seal Satan into the abyss to remain there for 1,000 years. The angel wasn't named. We are not told if this angel is as an archangel, such as Michael or Gabriel, who are chief among angels with leadership power and authority vested on them by God. No. This angel appears to be an "ordinary" angel given this position with its tasks and authority to be carried out at the designated time and command by God.
And Satan cannot overcome this angel, even though Satan was created as an archangel himself. As powerful as Satan is, God's supreme sovereign authority, power and position are unmatched.
What also struck me was the response of the people born during the millennial time and their reaction at the conclusion of this time period when Satan is released from the abyss prison and allowed to deceive people once again. Consider what is said and not said in Revelation 20; what exists and does not exist during the millennial period on earth. The beast and false prophet have been permanently judged, sentenced and vanquished to hell's lake of fire. Satan is sealed within the abyss without the ability to roam the earth; he cannot influence any person, animal or environment - he no longer rules the earth. Jesus Himself is present on earth and the supreme sovereign ruling authority. People see Him, hear His voice, can spend time with Him; the people existing on earth during this time are in the very presence of Jesus. The resurrected people, who died during the tribulation for their faith in Jesus - their refusal to worship Satan's beast - are alive and are ruling over the restoration, re-population and rebuilding of earth. (This is the first resurrection.) The people born during this time are not exposed to evil whatsoever. At least not the external evil influenced by Satan.
And yet, in verses 20:7-9 when Satan is released from the abyss for an undefined moment in time, he is able to deceive "the nations in the four corners of the earth... to gather them to battle" (against Jesus and His people). The number of people deceived by Satan "are like the sand on the seashore". In other words, during the millennial period the population grows significantly to constitute nations. And following 1,000 years of Jesus ruling in person on earth, Satan is able to deceive so many millennial-born people that the amount is innumerable by human standards.
These three verses made me think. In a world where external evil does not exist. In a world where Jesus is present, visible and operating. People are still born with the ability to choose self over everything else. To think and cause evil, to be off of perfection, to sin - syn. People still choose to rebel. People still choose to want to solely govern themselves and not have God govern them whatsoever. People still want to usurp the authority of Lord God Jesus and take His authority as their own. People choose "I don't need you Jesus. I don't want you in my life. I am the ruler of my life." People still think they can live a life without God; a life given to them by God where they live in the very presence of God and yet choose self over God. People selfishly choose to follow a rebellion when everything has been given to them; everything they need is at their disposal. Thinking they want and deserve more. And what they each have, is not enough for them; for us. Not enough for we humans.
This made me think about the contrast of Job versus Satan outlined in the Book of Job. I wrote a piece about the Book of Job in November 2010 called Dirt Proves Satan Wrong. Job is one of my favorite books of the Bible. Although it's difficult for me to understand the first 37 chapters because it's sometimes difficult to know who is speaking - Job or one of his friends - and, what is said by Job and his friends is some truth, some misperception about God and, some false information all twisted together. These human conversations sound like the conversations that Satan had with Eve and Eve had with Adam causing the break in relationship with God. Yet, in Chapter 38, God steps into the conversation to correctly state the truth - His truth. Because He is the standard of truth. You can read God's sense of humor, his power, authority, and the details He provides about His act of creation with the joy that His creation brings Him. This is always mind boggling and amazing to me.
God enters the perceived educated conversation with sarcasm and correction telling a palatable description of His creation.
It is evident that Job has not been suffering away from the presence of God. On the contrary, God was present with Job and heard Job's prayers and the conversation between he and his friends. It's almost as if Job and his three friends were talking about God forgetting that God was sitting there listening. Like those times when you're with a group of friends who forget you're sitting with them and they begin to talk about you and something you experienced, changing the details to suit themselves and then when you enter the conversation to correct the shared details, they rebuff you because they like their version better.
God starts with, "Where were you when I created the world. Certainly you were there. Go ahead; tell me how I created the world and everything in it while the morning stars sang." (Rose's paraphrase) And then God describes the environment during creation and some of the aspects He created and why.
I love this because you see the artist within God. Prior to creating the universe and everything in it, God created the angels, gave them roles, duties and responsibilities. One of those duties is to witness God in the very act of creating while corporately cheering and providing the creation music. The angels sang worship music and that worship music provided an artistic environment for God as He creates all of creation.
As an artist, when I create art, I set my environment to foster creating. I pull out my tools and supplies, arranging them to see everything I need, know where everything is and can grab what is needed while creating. I set up my canvas or tape my paper onto my drafting table. I ensure the room has enough light, both daylight and man made light. And, I select a playlist of music, set up the speakers and volume to create a room of sound to inspire and set the rhythm for creating. While I create art, I use both hands, sometimes sing along, my body moves to the rhythm of the music and sometimes I dance. I see, hear and feel the art of creation stepping into it to become one with it. The experience is amazing.
It seems God does the same thing. And why not? If I am created in the image of the Triune God. If God has gifted me with the ability to create art. If God allows me to taste the art of creation as He is the master creator. Then why would not the innate desire to create an atmosphere to foster creation not be a part of that process? Not mimic God's act of creation?
In Job 38:6-7, God tells Job and his friends that the morning stars sang and the angels shouted for joy, as God created all of creation. I think that is really significant and inspiring. I can almost hear God say, "Watch this!" and as He creates, the angels shout in awe and sing joyfully because of what they witnessed.
However, the overall theme of Job to me is the reality that some beings choose God and some do not. Some people, faced with insurmountable pain and suffering, choose God while others who live a blessed life choose self over God. And the same thing can be said in reverse. Some people (and angelic beings) ultimately choose God as God. They believe in Him - who He is, who He says He is - at their very core of self. And whether life is easy or hard, they know God is God and choose a life with God rather than a life without God. While others choose a life where they are the gods of their own lives.
Revelation 20 and Job illustrate that difference to me.
The one thing that really strikes me is the difference between angelic beings and human beings. The angelic beings were created before all of creation with the purpose of witnessing God creating while also providing the musical environment with which God enjoyed creating. They saw God create the seen and the unseen. The stars, planets, moons, suns, galaxies. The earth, the atmosphere, the land, the seas and the fresh water bodies. They saw God step onto earth, dig into the dirt He just created and model a man out of clay; a piece of artwork that in someway resembled God Himself. They saw God stoop down to this clay model of Himself, cup His hands around the head of this clay figure and kiss it while breathing into it. Suddenly, the clay softens and bends transforming from dirt to flesh and the artwork becomes alive. Human being is created and, when that being opens his eyes and takes in his first breath, he sees God Himself looking back at him. Adam's first breath and first sight is of God looking back at him, lovingly holding him in His arms.
The angels stand in awe. They shout for amazing joy! They sing praising God for what they just witnessed and for God being God of all creation including themselves and now this being.
Since Satan was also called the Morning Star and an archangel in charge of leading the angelic worship team, perhaps he asked God if this human being would be under his authority. The angelic beings reported to him so maybe Satan thought man would report to him also. Maybe he asked God, what is that and is he mine?
We do know that one-third of all of the angelic beings, who see God face-to-face and live in his presence at all times, chose to rebel against God following Satan's lead. They all want to be there own gods. These angels witnessed God creating, see Him on His throne, know His love and power and yet they choose to want to usurp God's supreme authority over them. After all, they are created beings as well and yet they think they can attain a God-like status above Him, instead of Him, replacing Him.
And here is man, where aside from Adam and Eve, we don't see God. Unlike those that saw, heard and walked with Jesus, we don't see Him. We see the evidence of God yet we don't see Him. We don't hear God's voice audibly speak to us. We don't smell God's presence. So when we choose to believe, trust and follow God, our faith is in some ways greater than the faith of angels.
Yet, even though Satan rebels, is thrown to earth where he roams and influences the earth - seeking to kill and destroy, trying to take as many of God's beloved human creation with him. It's an, "if I can't have them then you can't have them," bent on destruction. Even though Satan is quite powerful, he has no authority over God. He cannot attain the power God has. He must ask God for permission to do anything.
In Job, Satan asks God if he can harm Job and he's given permission to take Job to the edge of death itself. But God knows that Job will choose God over self. Even in Job's misperception of God. Even in Job's amazing pain, anguish and suffering. Even when there seems to be no reason to believe in, trust and choose God.
To me, it's as if God is saying to Satan and the rebellious angels, "You see me all the time. You were there with me when I created the universes and everything in it. You know who I am and yet, you choose to walk away and try to take what is mine claiming it as yours. Here is my beloved Job. A man, created out of the dirt. You have thrown everything you can at him and yet, Job still chooses me. Job still knows I am God. Dirt is better than you."
Innately, we all know the difference between right and wrong. Innately, we know the difference between truth and not-truth. Innately, we know God is God and no one can usurp God's authority and sovereign position. Innately, we know God is the very definition of love. And yet, God allows us to choose to love, follow and believe Him at His very being and word. His love for us is so deep that He is willing to allow us that choice. A choice with profound implications yet, we are given that choice.
Perhaps because those of us who choose God whether we are angelic beings or fashioned from the clay of the earth, we choose God out of love for Him. With everything stripped down - both blessings and sufferings removed - we choose God so therefor, our love for God is pure.
And perhaps this is the ultimate outcome God seeks. Pure love for Him. So we can experience pure love from Him to us for ever and ever.
After all, this is why we were created.
