Uno Reverse: Rethinking Power in Revelation 17:13-14
The Dissidents Guide to Revelation, part 11
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For the New subscribers (glad to have you!), here’s Part 1.
Revelation 17:13-14
“They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”
As Johns's fantastical story unfolds, the purpose of the Beast of Babylon is revealed: to give authority to the Beast (v13). The beast gathers the rich, the powerful, heads of state, and military might under her control. And she forever wages war against the hero of our story, “the Lamb” (v14).
Enter the Lamb
Who is this lamb?
And why are the forces of the world being gathered against something so fragile as a lamb?
Over one hundred and fifty times, he is referred to as the famed “lion of Judah,” a fierce conqueror. But now, he is described as a mere lamb, albeit, one who can still lay waste to the beast. It is obvious that John is making a mockery of Roman might and power by describing the beast (Rome) losing the war to a Lamb (Jesus), but he is also being truthful.
Lamb Power
The power that the lamb displays appear as a weakness to those discipled in the ways of Babylon. In Babylon, strength is displayed in the act of killing and domineering over our enemies. But for those whose king is the Lamb, strength is displayed in your ability to love your enemies and reconcile with them, even at significant cost to yourself.
We call this lamb power. Lamb power works like an uno reverse card, turning the power of the world in on itself.
Let me explain.
Jesus has revealed to us that God's power is not coercive power over others. He does not attempt to manipulate ones behavior through violence, like Rome. Rome eliminated their enemies by killing them; Jesus eliminated his enemies by loving them all the way to his dinner table.
Fear can get others to do what you want, but only love can change them. Love builds an allegiance that is not easily betrayed, and faithfulness built on love will go farther than allegiance ever could. Fear and violence turn enemies into subjects, but love turns enemies into sibblings.
Lamb power is displayed in ones ability to love their enemies. This is a kind of power that cannot be defeated, for even in defeating it one proves it’s legitimacy. The one who died truly did love the one who killed him. They have shown how much they love you, even enough to die rather than kill. In this is truth; that the Lamb is in the right, and the way of the Beast is wrong, for hate is universaly abhored but love is universally celebrated.
The power of the beast is exposed as false power, deserving of destruction.
The Powerless Beast
The Beast is powerless against a creature that wins by losing. So in chapter 17 we find the powers of the rich and royal — each with their military garrisons — being brought together under Babylon to wage war against the Beast, “but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings” (Re 17:14).
The two missions of the Lamb isare(1) to embody the lamb and (2) to teach his followers to do the same.
Becoming a Part of the Story
John ends these verses by writing his audience into the story: “and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers” (v14b). This is his way of encouraging displays of Lamb power; of dissident patterns of living that turn the world on its head.
By including them in the story in verse 14, John is saying: “Embody the lamb, not the beast, and his victory will be yours!”
Dissidents turn everything upsidedown. They make mountains out of molehills, saints out of sinners, and gardens out of junkyards. They embody a lamb and stand in defiance of the beast because God is with them.
See you thursday!