Revelation is a book about Triumph

 

During a word search study today in 1 John 4:4 I came across this word: νενικήκατε. 

The Theological Dictionary of the NT Abridged has this to say about this word: 

B. NT Usage. In the Lucan version of the parable of the strong man, the stronger “overcomes” him (Lk. 11:22; “binds” in Mt. 12:29). This is an obvious victory, but the victory of Jesus which it illustrates is not obvious to his opponents, who advance a theory that would mean discord in the kingdom of evil. The same decisive victory of Jesus is in view in Jn. 16:33. Revelation talks about provisional victories of evil, e.g., in 6:2; 11:7; 13:7. But these victories are “allowed” and therefore restricted. Terrible though they are, the Lion has won the final victory (5:5; cf. 17:14). The beast may thus seem to be victorious, but by the crystal sea are those who have overcome him (15:2). Promises may thus be given in all the churches to those who overcome (2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21). This victory will be achieved in the new heaven and earth (21:7). The victory is eschatological, but Christ has won it already with his blood (3:21; 12:11), and it is already present (1 Jn. 5:4–5). The young men have overcome the evil one (1 Jn. 2:13–14), and evil is overcome by good (Rom. 12:21). The use of níkē is similar to that of nikáō. On the basis of Is. 42:1ff., Mt. 12:20 speaks of the victory of God’s servant Christ, while on the basis of Is. 25:8 Paul in 1 Cor. 15:54ff. refers to the victory over death. Faith itself is níkē in 1 Jn. 5:4. So great is the victory that is secured by the loving work of Christ that Paul in Rom. 8:37 finds nikáō too weak a term. He thus adopts the rare hypernikáō. In every test we win the supreme victory; we are “more than conquerors.”

Gerhard Kittel, Gerhard Friedrich, and Geoffrey William Bromiley, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Abridged in One Volume (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 1985), 635.

This word (νενικήκατε) occurs MOST in Revelation (17 times)

So often I read, see, and get questions that are in response to devastating, horrific, terrible occurrences in our world. These questions typically sound something like "Did you hear about this latest awful thing? Isn't this another part of the end times? Doesn't the Bible say things are going to get really bad?"

In general, we need to remember that the Bible should inform our thinking about God's plan more than the news. When we read about tragedies in the world, we need to search the scriptures and seriously consider what the emphasis and messages written in the Bible convey. 

If the book of Revelation was mostly about things getting WORSE, with accompanying DEFEATS, then you'd think most of the word usage and imagery would point in that direction. However when we read the text, we find just the opposite. The drama and sweeping narrative of Revelation is one of a triumphant conquest by God's messiah over every evil rebellious force. While there are those who are mentioned as having died throughout this great conflict, the trajectory of Revelation doesn't leave these casualties in a place of doom. Even those who have died in service to the Lamb have a great hope of participating in life everlasting with the final celebration of the Messiah's victory. 

In the summer I'll have the opportunity to preach and teach about the book of Revelation and I'm excited. Not because Revelation is a book about doom and gloom, but because it's a book about God's victory in Christ, through Christ, and for Christ's people. 

As wars rage, as plagues fester, as famine and drought strike, all of these are indeed creation "groaning as in the pains of childbirth" (Romans 8:22). These are things that should make us seek out God's plan and purposes as revealed in his word. But these things should cause us to dive into God's word, rather than dive further into the news cycle! 

Maybe, just maybe, by the time we've thoroughly studied Revelation this summer, someone will come up to me after a baptism, after a new member joins a church, after a new church is planted, after a mature Christian dies well, after a loved one recovers from illness in answer to prayer and say "Did you hear about this latest amazing thing? Isn't this another part of the end times? Doesn't the Bible say God's Kingdom is triumphant, victorious, and is filled with those who overcome?" and I'll smile and say "Yup". 

I'll close today citing showing you just a few of the scenes of "νενικήκατε" (Triumph, Overcoming, Victory) in Revelation. 

Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”  [Rev 5:1–5]

I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!” 2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest. [Rev 6:1–2]

 9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: 

         “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. 11 They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. [Rev 12:9–11]

 5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. [Rev 21:5–7]