While doing the washing up this morning I had a meditation. I know some of you will be surprised I had a meditation… What!! I even hear some of you saying to yourselves – Martin doing the washing up, it must be a sign of the end of all things! Shame on you…
Once we move beyond (abandon) the book of Revelation as some kind of history written in advance and allow it to be a revelation that opens our eyes / imagination to all things pertinent at all times we can have a few insights that do more than fill us with fear. (When was fear ever the context in which we were to make decisions?)
Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting… (Rev. 19:6).
Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits by many waters (Rev. 17:2).
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb (Rev. 7:9).
The above are a sample of Scriptures from Revelation. The sound like the roar of rushing water: I have written on this before, the diversity of sound, the languages together, no language above another. That is the sound of heaven. In contrast Babylon sits on (Gk.: epi) many waters. Using power but to only express one aspect.
The multitude made up of, the oft-repeated phrase in Revelation, those from every nation, tribe, people and language.
How far do we have to go for ‘on earth as in heaven’. I was meditating this morning on a city that has a tremendous ethnic diversity, and considering the prominent expression of the body of Christ there. If I contrast my meditation with that of Revelation:
- I heard the sound like that of many waters
- I heard the sound and it was one voice that I heard
- I saw the make up of the people – cultural, ethnic, color and language diversity
- I saw a monochrome people.
I do not write this though as critical of anywhere. My meditation took me to my own house and context. We must continue to pray ‘on earth as in heaven’ – then make room for the wonderful mess. Waters coming together are always dangerous.
I am focused too on a future trip to Brazil. So much going on there. A key is the voice of Brazil, not the Portuguese translation of a voice from elsewhere.
Heaven on earth. Now that is a dream (for the old) or a vision (for the youth).
So true. The only vision for the kingdom that lifts my spirit above the dissonance of the current status of Western culture and politics (unfortunately infiltrating Christianity) is one of that magnificent diversity you speak about in reference to Revelation . This also spoken of in Isaiah 25 where the prophet mentions the mountain of the Lord including all people. Only in a unified inclusive culture will we be able to see the kingdom come.