I Saw The Lord

“And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw …”

During the ruthless reign and rule of the Roman Emperor Domitian (the last year of his reign in the year A.D. 95) something momentous and marvelous happened: the Risen Christ pulled back the veil of mystery which separates the Obvious from the Actual to reveal Himself to one called John the Theologian.

John Saw the Lord in the midst of a Rough Time. Domitian, the head of the Roman government-an agent of the Devil, Had Declared War on the Church.

Let me interject this corresponding note. I am learning from observation, and especially from observing the tactics of two presidential administrations, that when an administration is having trouble at home, it invariably declares war of some type on someone to divert attention away from its failures and boost or enhance its popularity. What better way to solidify nationalism, unite divided interests and rally support than to declare war. Nelson Mandela commented on this policy recently when rebuking President Bush. In a speech to the International Women’s Forum he said: “One power with a president who has no foresight and cannot think properly, is now wanting to plunge the world into a holocaust.”

Domitian was a Great Political Strategist. He saw his empire crumbling, detected his influence and popularity waning, witnessed the economy faltering, and so, he picked out a Scapegoat. He pointed his malicious finger at the Church of Jesus Christ and blamed them for everything.

Being a shrewd politician, Domitian declared war on a people whom he thought he could easily defeat. He picked on those --

Who had beaten their swords into plowshares;

Who had become doves rather than hawks;

Who were peacemakers and not peace breakers;

Who were meek, kind and tenderhearted;

Who would turn the other cheek when slapped;

Who would bless when cursed;

Who would pray when persecuted.

He picked on those --

Who had exchanged their weapons for the Word;

Whose helmet was salvation, breastplate righteousness, girdle truth, shield faith and shoes a ready witness.

He picked on those --

Whose banner was the Cross;

Whose Anthem was Amazing Grace;

And whose Leader was the Suffering Savior.

He picked on a people whom he thought he could easily defeat. So he Declared War on the Church!

A.D. 95 was a Rough Time for the Church. She was --

Chained in dungeons, made sport of in Coliseums;

Fed to lions, chased by wild dogs;

Tarred and feathered, lit up as human torches,

Crucified on crosses, tortured on racks;

Beheaded, speared and beaten,

Banished, excommunicated and exiled

Starved, made homeless and jobless.

Yes, A.D. 95 Was A Rough Time for the Church!

Even John himself was not left untouched. For Domitian personally saw to it that this ninety year old man called John would suffer. According to Irenaeus, an early church father and historian, before Domitian placed John on Patmos for life, he first tried to kill him by placing John in a boiling pot of oil. But miraculously the oil could not hurt him. So Domitian decided that since John was an old man that he didn’t have long to live; so he gave John a life sentence and exiled him to the isle called Patmos. But history records that the next year, A.D. 96, Domitian died and his successor, Nerva, pardoned John. Domitian died but John lived on and died of natural causes.

But A.D. 95 Was A Rough Time for John and for the Church. And it was in the midst of this Rough Time that John writes and says: “And being turned, I saw …”

Now the relevance of this passage of Scripture is this: THE LORD STILL REVEALS HIMSELF IN ROUGH TIMES. And certainly, the infant days of this Twenty-First Century are ROUGH TIMES!

When Pits become Prisons, He still leans over the hole of hopelessness to show His face and extend His hand.

When Hannahs are shut up with Penninahs, He still opens barren wombs.

When Josephs are downtrodden, He still lifts them up.

When saints are weary of rowing in the midnight of some storm of life, He still shows Himself by walking on the storms and calms the elements.

When cupboards become bare and the cruse is oil-less, He still causes the oil to flow and puts meal in the cabinet.

When brooks run dry, He still has a Cherith and ravens to feed you.

When sickness and disease take you captive and lay you low, He still shows up saying “Rise, take up your bed and walk!”

Yes, Jesus Still Reveals Himself In Rough Times! In Fact, HE LOVES ROUGH TIMES AND TOUGH PROBLEMS! It is then He asks us “Is anything too hard for Me?” He can take the rough and make it smooth, the tough and make it tender. When we have given up and buried people or plans or dreams or desires in the tomb of finality, He still says “Show It To Me!” Yes, Jesus LOVES TO SHOW UP AT MIDNIGHT, or SITS BY A WELL AT MIDDAY, or STEPS INTO A SITUATION WHEN IT HAS TURNED TO A CRISIS, or SLIPS THRU THE WALLS WHEN DOORS ARE LOCKED! JESUS LOVES ROUGH TIMES!!!