August 10, 2008
Sermon text: Revelation 1
Amidst training my child to sit still during the Sunday service for the last several months, I somehow manage to catch the main points of the sermon. I attribute this to my pastor's explicit enumeration of the key thoughts..."My first point...point three is...and finally..."
Pastor John Olson wants to make this point clear: Our Lamb has conquered; Let us follow Him. This is the central message of Revelation for Christians in every age. His five points are as follows:
1. We are to follow Him "on our faces." Revelation 1:17, Matthew 17:1-8
2. We are to follow Him in faith and repentance. (Did not catch the citation.)
3. We are to follow Him with confidence. Revelation 4 & 5
4. We are to follow Him with perseverance. Revelation 12:10-11
5. We are to follow Him in hope. Revelation 17-22
This was a great reaffirmation of truths that most Christians already know. That does not make the sermon less noteworthy. What is noteworthy however is that the five points fit the Five Point Covenant Model. Most Christians even Reformed Christians are unaware of what the Covenant really is (Reformed Theology/Calvinism aka. "Covenant Theology").
The Five Point Covenant Model:
1. Transcendence
2. Hierarchy
3. Ethics
4. Oath
5. Succession
What is the point of knowing this? Well, what is the point of knowing about the trinity? It enriches our understanding of Biblical truths, that is the point. When we survey the Scriptures we see patterns of "threes" all throughout. This comes to mind because we know the significance of what trinitarian "three-ness" represents. The Five Point Covenant Model shows us significance of things of five.
It has also been noted that the near eastern suzerainty treaties resemble this Biblical model. The suzerainty treaties have been broken down as preamble, historical prologue, [ethical] stipulations, curses and blessings or sanctions, and provisions or succession arrangements.
The Hittite treaties have six characteristic elements, though the order in which they occur is not fixed.
1. Preamble: this element identifies the author of the covenant.
2. Historical Prologue: this describes the previous relations between the two parties.
The historical prologue places great emphasis upon the benevolent deeds which the suzerain has performed for the benefit of the vassal. It is never lacking in any of the Hittite treaties, though it has been minimized or is often absent in later Assyrian treaties. The historical prologue functions to give the reasons for which the vassal should be loyal to the suzerain. That is, the vassal will promise future obedience to specific commands for the past benefits which he received without any real right. The language of this section is usually in the I - Thou form of address. The covenant is thought of as a personal relationship of friendship rather than an objective, impersonal statement of law. In the parity treaty this element is much more brief, for the obvious reason that the previous relationship between the two parties was generally one of antagonism.
3. Stipulations: this section states in detail the obligation imposed upon and accepted by the vassal.
The treaty typically includes the prohibition that the vassal cannot establish treaty relations with other foreign states. The suzerain does not want the vassal to have divided loyalties. Other typical stipulations of the treaty include: the prohibition of enmity against anything under the sovereignty of the great king; the vassal must answer any call to arms sent him by the king; the vassal must hold lasting and unlimited trust in the king; the vassal must not give asylum to refugees whatever their origin; the vassal must appear before the king once a year, probably on the occasion of annual tribute; and controversies between vassals are without exception to be submitted to the king for judgment.
4. Provision for deposit in the temple and perodic public reading: the treaty was under the protection of the deity, thus it was deposited as a sacred item in the temple of the vassal.
The treaty was to be read publicly, usually once a year on the anniversary of the treaty, in order to remind the people of their obligation to the suzerain.
5. List of gods as witnesses: both the gods of the suzerain and the vassal are listed.
6. Curses and Blessings: treated as the action of the gods, though the suzerain might himself serve as the agent in administering the curses.
It is not very difficult to see that the unbelieving Hittites loosely followed a God-given model of the covenant. For the benefit of the western world this suzerainty treaty structure should be studied and understood. Of course you should not force the Bible to a human conception but you should merely benefit from a brief study of this ancient form.
Transcendence (includes the idea that God is a witness) and Preamble
Hierarchy and Historical Prologue
Ethics (includes the idea that man is a witness) and Stipulations
Oath and Sanctions
Succession and Provisions
Now that we understand a little something of the covenant model, how did Pastor Olson's exposition fit this model?
1. When we follow on our faces we are affirming the transcendence of God. He is in charge and we will follow Him.
2. When we follow in faith and repentance we are affirming that we are sinners saved through faith and are bound to a code of ethics requiring our repentance.
3. When we follow with confidence we are affirming that we know our place in the hierarchy of the Kingdom of God. We know what God had done for us and we know our place before Him, coram deo.
4. When we follow with perseverance we are affirming by how we live the succession of the covenant. We love Him because He first loved us. We will keep His commandments because we love Him and we will not neglect to teach them to our children.
5. When we follow in hope we are affirming that we know the oath that God has made to us as believers. We know there are curses for disobedience but more so do we look to the blessings of obedience. In this there is much hope, even maybe a puritan/postmillenial hope.
We know God's word is sure. We know that God has promised a new heaven and a new earth. We know that He has taught us to pray "Thy kingdom come...on earth as it is in heaven..." We know that there is much more in Revelation than meets the eye.
Pastor Olson I eagerly look forward to your exposition of Revelation.
Notes:
Source: Introduction to Days of Vengeance, by David Chilton;
For more information read That You May Prosper, by Ray Sutton; Treaty of the Great King, by Meredith Kline; definitions of parity treaty, suzerainty treaty and covenant formulary.
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