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Over this past week, our church heard from Revelation 21:10 through 22:5.  Within those verses, is verse 21:27, speaking of the New Jerusalem.  It says, “nothing unclean will enter it”.  That seems like a pretty factual statement, and one worth knowing more about…especially if we desire to enter that city someday.

The Greek word used here is “Koinos“.  Its meaning is pretty obvious and straightforward.  “Common, ordinary, belonging to generality; unhallowed, profane, Levitically unclean.”

When looking at the word, however, a larger word came to mind.  Many of us have even heard of this word, often used as a catchy name for a Sunday School or Small Group.  The word, “Koinonia“, meaning fellowship, community, joint participation, intimacy, etc.  “Koinonia”  comes from “Koinonos“, which means partner, associate, comrade, or companion.  “Koinonos” comes from “Koinos” mentioned in the previous paragraph.

Just looking at this two words then, it would seem “Koinonia” might not be a great thing to be involved in. “Fellowship of unclean”?

Then we go one step further to find out what the root of the word “Koinos” might be.  The word “soon“, which simply means “with”.  At the very root of all of this is a simple word that connects one thing to another.  Not good or bad, simply offering a relational signifier.

What we often mean – “Dear Jesus, save me from burning in hell, and help my life to make more sense.  Make me successful.  Give me super-healing powers from sickness.  Bring purpose into the road that I’m already on, and help it to smooth out a bit.”

Heard a quote from a book I’m reading this past week.  It’s from Francis Chan’s “Forgotten God”.  Chan says, “Jesus Christ did not die on the cross in order to follow us.”

So often we join our Israelite fathers in forgetting why God offers what He does.  They often missed the point, assuming God’s presence was with them for their own sake alone.  We do the same thing, assuming God offers to transform our heart and life simply for our own benefit.  How often to we pray, “God, please help me with this thing I’m about to do?” compared to how often we seek where God is working, and join in?

Salvation is a prayer that says – “God, forgive me.  Come and fill me.  Transform my nature to yours, for your sake.  Use me in the lives of others, and in creation, bringing about life, Love, forgiveness, mercy, etc.  I want to make all things “new” with you.”  (although even this prayer falls a bit short, by focusing quite a bit on “me”. In reality, our salvation is only a small part of the amazingly huge thing God is doing, that we join with.)

We make plans, and ask God to bless them.  We arrange our lives, and then ask God to come and fill it.  We launch our ships, and on the way we pray that God would fill our sails.

What if it was our nature to pray and seek where God is at work first?  Where is God bringing healing?  Where is God giving life?  Where is mercy being offered?  Where is humanity and creation being restored and made new?  Where are prisoners being set free?  Where are blind being made to see?  Where are the lame walking, and the mute speaking?

Those questions lead to others.  Where does God desire to work?  Where is brokenness?  Where is death?  Where are the offenders?  Where are suffering humans, and imperfections in them and creation?  Where are the captives?  Where are the blind?  Where are the lame?  Where are those who have no voice?

May we find those places, and pray that God would empower us to join in…

In Revelation Chapter 9, John continues to speak of what it’s like when God’s Kingdom comes in the midst of a broken, fallen Babylon, world.  I remember hearing these verses when I was young, and wondering why in the world the God of both Old and New Testaments would suddenly be interested in creating a world straight out of a horrible B-Movie you’d watch around midnight while eating way too much ice cream.

Seriously….giant horse-like, human-faced locusts?

John makes it obvious to his readers in verse 4, that these locusts are not actually locusts at all.  After all, grass/green growth/trees are about all genuine locusts are interested in devouring.  But leading into this section, verses 1 and 2 point us toward an understanding/reading that is less science fiction, and more revealing why Christ’s Kingdom coming is so needed:

Verse one – Lucifer being cast out, and given keys….not to death/hades…but simply to a “shaft” leading there.  Should be obvious here, this isn’t something that’s “going to” happen in end times.  This is something that has happened.  We continue to read with that understanding.

Verse two – the sin released impacts not only humanity, but creation as well.  This point is more expanded in the previous chapter 8, where it talks more broadly about the impact sin has had on this broken world.

Verse three – we see sin becoming more actively described here, as locusts.  Locusts that impact those whose mode of being (forehead) is not marked by Christ more harshly than those of us made free from them.

Verse five & six- humanity will not helplessly lose life simply due to sins existence.  But sin will definitely impact humanity from it’s beginning to end.  The life cycle of a locust is about 5 months, which seems to point to humanity being tortured by sins existence without a break, as long as it exists…with no relief.

Verses seven & eight – sin can begin as simply an attractive option.  Deceptively “beautiful” in many regards, comforting our egos, our wallets, and our esteem.

Verse nine – sin also allures us with promises of power, control, and dominance.

Verses ten through twelve – sin is by nature destructive, painful, leading to suffering, and evil.  It destroys individuals, relationships, and entire communities, and it’s source is the “fallen star”…who’s focus was self.

May we continue to study the Word of God, and not be afraid of the book that promises to be a Revelation of Jesus Christ…