https://ccoutreach87.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/8-12-15-machiavelli-n-jesus.zip  Machiavelli or Jesus? Cast the crown.

In this chapter we see God on the throne- and 24 leaders ruling with him- in ‘white robes’ and having crowns on their heads.

If you remember- these are the promises that were made to the believers who overcome [letters I covered already in chapters 2-3].

So- we see believers [24 could be representative of the Jewish people- 12 tribes- and the apostles- 12. Showing in Christ that God made out of 2 peoples- one new man [Ephesians].

The rulers/elders now have the authority promised to them- and what do they do with it?

They give it away [cast their crowns].

This theme I have been covering in the gospel of John- Jesus gave us the example himself- in Philippians we read he had the same authority and glory that the Father had-

Yet he laid it down [cast the crown] and became a man- and humbled himself unto the death of the Cross.

Because of this- he regained his authority- rose from the dead and is seated at the right hand of God.

So- as opposed to the world’s way of exercising power [that’s how I fit Machiavelli in] thru brute force and ruthlessness-

We gain authority in the kingdom thru serving- and not using our rights for our own welfare.

Paul wrote the Corinthians [who were taking each other to court] and said ‘take the wrong- don’t demand your rights’.

So when we exercise leadership in the church- we have to purposely avoid the slippery path of it all being about us.

It’s easy for believers to become enamored with gifted people [those who have crowns]-

And it is a temptation for the gifted people to ‘keep their crowns’ [draw attention to themselves].

But the crown /authority given to us- is for the benefit of others- and your gift will only benefit them- when in the end- you cast it down.

NOTE on Machiavelli- he was a political thinker during the time of the Renaissance- which I taught in the past.

He lived in the 15/16^th centuries- and resided in Florence- the city where the Medici family ruled for years.

They were a political family with much influence- and very corrupt.

At this time in history the city states battled the Holy Roman Empire and the influence of the Pope- and wanted independence.

This led some political thinkers [Hobbes- Locke] to try and strike a balance between being ruled by Rome- or ruled by their own ‘sovereign’.

Some advocated for their own king to have complete control over their state- in both political and religious decisions.

The king should decide the religion of the people type thing.

Today we of course reject this thinking- but at the time there were actual wars fought over these things-

The Protestant Reformation caused states to have to take sides.

So- Machiavelli took a strong stand for a strong ruler [his famous work- The Prince talks about a ruthless type ruler] as a ‘safety’ measure against anarchy among the states that were breaking away from Rome.

I heard this quote from Machiavelli the other day while watching a course on Political Theory from a Yale professor-

I’ll paste it here- thought it was good.

When evening comes, I go back home, and go to my study. On the threshold, I take off my work clothes, covered in mud and filth, and I put on the clothes an ambassador would wear. Decently dressed, I enter the ancient courts of rulers who have long since died. There, I am warmly welcomed, and I feed on the only food I find nourishing and was born to savor. I am not ashamed to talk to them and ask them to explain their actions and they, out of kindness, answer me. Four hours go by without my feeling any anxiety. I forget every worry. I am no longer afraid of poverty or frightened of death. I live entirely through them.^[7]

 He lived in a day where it was hard to obtain good books for your own personal study- yet many of the great thinkers managed to develop their own studies/libraries.

We live in a day where you can access all of it- in a moment- thru the Web-

Yet we often don’t see the value of the good stuff all around us [like the free Yale courses I’m viewing thru the internet].

Proverbs says wisdom is on every corner- calling to the simple ones- yet they pass by-

He taught that ‘the ends justify the means’ and that leaders at times should act unjustly- in order to establish rule.

He was critical of the ‘ideal’ society that former political theorists spoke about [Aristotle- Plato] and he did not believe that morality and religion were a foundation for rule.

In some ways he was a realist- he rejected the underlying ideas of ethics and said we should simply look at ‘reality’ and do what it takes to get the job done.

In the Yale course- the teacher gave a list of other rulers that Machiavelli admired- he had Moses on the list- but not Jesus.

I found it interesting that the teacher- who is not teaching a course on religion- said that Jesus established a rule- based on non-violence and ethics- and it worked.

Revelation 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
Revelation 4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
Revelation 4:3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
Revelation 4:4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
Revelation 4:5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
Revelation 4:6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
Revelation 4:7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
Revelation 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
Revelation 4:9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
Revelation 4:10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

In the morning I usually read a Psalm for the day- I thought this one fit well with today’s teaching. There are many scriptures that talk about Just rule- this is a theme all thru out the bible.
Rulers/governments that stray away from ethics- biblical morals- eventually collapse.
There's a verse that says ‘if the foundations are destroyed what will the people do’ [something like that].
We live in a day where we see the TV preachers railing against things- and we laugh- and become desensitized. The latest Planned Parenthood video talked about frozen babies [they refer to ‘it’ as specimens].
We think these things are simply ‘right/left’ issues on the political spectrum. But in a very real way- societies that do stuff like this will indeed collapse- over time.
God allows us- believers- to have rule/authority in the kingdom- when we have ‘White robes’ [walking in righteousness].
And when we use it for the benefit of others- not for self-glory.

Psalm 15:1 Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?

Psalm 15:2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.

Psalm 15:3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.

Psalm 15:4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.

Psalm 15:5 He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

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