The Political Apocalypse

I think a lot of people are anxious about the election this year. Even if it’s not talked about directly, I see it in people’s eyes when current events come up. Eyes get wider, or narrow, or roll. I want to provide you with an image that is helping me be less anxious in this seemingly high-stakes political season from an unlikely place: the book of Revelation. 

Here’s the basics of this much-misunderstood book: John is writing to seven churches who are undergoing various trials to encourage and, more importantly, give a different perspective on what was going on. To put that more strongly, John wants to reveal to them what was the true reality, hence the name of the book: an “apocalypse” in the Greek, from whence we translate “revelation.” The prime pressure these churches were experiencing was from the great power of the day: Rome. Some churches where in places where worship of the Caesar (who was officially called “Lord of Lords” and “Savior of the world”) was demanded in order to buy or sell in the marketplace. Some churches were in places where Christians were killed for their faith. That’s some intense pressure. 

So what does John want to reveal to this church? That Rome (who is represented in the book of Revelation predominantly by a blood-thirsty whore called “Babylon”) is not in charge. Instead, the dominant super-power in the world is a bloodied lamb seated on a heavenly throne. Again and again (28 times), Jesus is referred to as the Lamb, more than he’s named as simply Jesus (7 times). Again and again in Revelation, the scene returns to the throne room where the Lamb is seated.

What does this reveal to us, now? Whoever is in charge is not actually in charge. And here’s where we come to the image that gives me comfort. I’ll give you a little shorthand way of saying this that I like (which I cannot take credit for): neither a donkey nor an elephant, but a lamb. Neither the donkey nor the elephant are the hope of the world. Neither the donkey nor the elephant deserve our allegiance. Whatever power the donkey or the elephant have is fleeting. 

Now, I do not think I (nor John) am advocating for a kind of quietism, to just lay down and let things happen. Unlike the early Christians, we have the unique privilege to vote, and we should. (Sidebar, I could make a case that both political parties have elements of Christian ethics, as well as very un-Christian policies, which is why sincere followers of Jesus end up on either side of the spectrum. But that’s a conversation for another time.) However, voting is not our hope. The Lamb is our hope. 

Furthermore, remember that the same Christians John wrote to persevered and ultimately changed their culture and government without any power to vote or representation in the government at all. How? In a word: discipleship. Dallas Willard said, in his book The Great Omission, that “The greatest issue facing the world today, with all its heartbreaking needs, is whether those who, by profession or culture, are identified as ‘Christians’ will become disciples – students, apprentices, practitioners – of Jesus Christ, steadily learning from him how to live the life of the Kingdom of the Heavens into every corner of human existence.” They did that well enough in the first three centuries, conforming their lives to the Lamb. It changed everything. Truly! The world has completely changed because of people following Jesus. Check out The Air We Breathe for more on that.

The problem facing American politics doesn’t begin at the top; it begins in your soul. And mine. And your neighbor’s. This is why we put our hope not in a donkey, nor an elephant, but in the Lamb.

Pastor Larry