Simple Keys to Understanding the Book of Revelation — Part 4
Cared for by the Master
There are two Hebrew words in the Old Testament for “servant.” The word sakiyr denotes a hired servant. The Hebrew word ‘ebed is the word for bond servant. In the New Testament there are several words translated “servant,” but the word doulos indicates a bond servant relationship. This is the word that the apostles used to describe themselves in the introductions of their letters. It was not a title to be taken lightly as it indicated that these believers had given up all rights to their own lives in exchange for the opportunities to serve their Lord Jesus Christ, whom they loved.
“Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus … “ (Romans 1:1 AMP)
“Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus … “ (Philippians 1:1 AMP)
“Paul, a bond-servant of God … “ (Titus 1:1 AMP)“
“James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ … ” (James 1:1 AMP)
“Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Jesus Christ,” (2 Peter 1:1 AMP)
“Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ … “ (Jude 1:1 AMP)
*“[This is] the revelation of Jesus Christ [His unveiling of the divine mysteries]. God gave it to Him to disclose and make known ****to His bond servants ***certain things which must shortly and speedily come to pass in their entirety. And He sent and communicated it through His angel (messenger) to His bond servant John,” (Revelation 1:1 AMPC)
The life of a bond servant is a life of extreme commitment. The Lord even warned the Israelites that if their brother fell on hard times and sold himself as a servant to pay off his debts, he should not be treated as a bond servant who had no rights, but he should be treated as a hired servant instead (Leviticus 25:39-43).
But once the commitment is made to be forever a bond servant to the master, the master takes on the responsibility of caring for the bond servant’s needs.
“Therefore, the Lord God says this,
“Listen carefully, My servants will eat, but you will be hungry; Indeed, My servants will drink, but you will be thirsty; Indeed, My servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame.
“Indeed, My servants will shout for joy from a happy heart, But you will cry out with a heavy heart, And you shall wail and howl from a broken spirit.”—Isaiah 65:13-14 (AMP)
The centurion who sent a request to Jesus in Luke chapter 7 was pleading on behalf of his “bond servant who was held in honor and highly valued by him, who was sick and at the point of death.” (Luke 7:2 AMPC).
In Revelation 7:3, God forbids any harm to come to the earth until His bond servants are sealed in their foreheads in order to ensure their protection.
*“No weapon that is formed against you will succeed; And every tongue that rises against you in judgment you will condemn. This [peace, righteousness, security, and triumph over opposition] ****is the heritage of the (bond)servants of the Lord, ***And this is their vindication from Me,” says the Lord.”—Isaiah 54:17 (AMP)
Great Favor with the Master
Those in a bond servant relationship with the Lord have a privileged basis for appeal to God.
“For the Lord will judge and vindicate His people, and He will delay His judgments [manifesting His righteousness and mercy] and take into favor His servants [those who meet His terms of separation unto Him].”—Psalm 135:14 (AMPC)
“Let Your face shine on Your servant; save me for Your mercy’s sake and in Your loving-kindness.”—Psalm 31:16 (AMPC)
“Don’t hide your face from me, your servant,** because I’m in deep trouble. Answer me quickly!”—Psalm 69:17 (CEB)
*“Protect my life (soul), for I am godly and faithful; O You my God, ****save Your servant, ***who trusts in You [believing in You and relying on You, confidently committing everything to You].”—Psalm 86:2 (AMP)
*“In your lovingkindness, silence and destroy my enemies And destroy all those who afflict my life, For I am Your servant.”—Psalm 143:12 (AMP) *
“Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in you.”—Psalm 86:4 (NIV)
*“Show that you hear me and be kind to me. ***I am your servant, so give me strength. I am your slave, as my mother was, so save me! **** Lord, show me a sign that you care for me. My enemies will see it and be disappointed, because you helped and comforted me.”—Psalm 86:16-17 (ERV)
“Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word [treasuring it and being guided by it day by day].”—Psalm 119:17 (AMP)
“Remember what you said to your servant, by which you caused me to hope.”—Psalm 119:49 (ISV)
“O may Your lovingkindness and graciousness comfort me, According to Your word (promise) to Your servant.”—Psalm 119:76 (AMP)
“I am Your servant; give me understanding [the ability to learn and a teachable heart] That I may know Your testimonies.”—Psalm 119:125 (AMP)
“Make Your face shine [with pleasure] upon Your servant, And teach me Your statutes.”—Psalm 119:135 (AMP)
*“Let Your work [the signs of Your power] be revealed ***to Your servants **** And Your [glorious] majesty to their children.”—Psalm 90:16 (AMP)
“The Lord redeems the lives of His servants, and none of those who take refuge and trust in Him shall be condemned or held guilty.”—Psalm 34:22 (AMPC)
The word translated “servant” in each of these verses is the word for “bond servant” in the original language.
Trusted with Great Responsibility
Trusted bond servants are given great responsibility in their master’s household. Abraham’s bond servant was such a person. It is written in Genesis 24 that Abraham’s bond servant “ruled over all that he had” (vs. 2) and “all the goods of his master were in his hand” (vs. 10). He was also entrusted with the task of choosing a wife for his master’s son, Isaac. Abraham’s trust was well-placed in this servant because this servant looked out for his master’s interests above his own, as Gen 24 demonstrates.
“And the Lord said, ‘Who then is that faithful and wise steward (bond servant), whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has.’”—Luke 12:42-44 (NKJV)
This is a similar type of relationship that Joseph had with Potiphar (Gen 39:4-6), and later with the keeper of the prison (Gen 39:22-23). Joseph was a bond servant trusted with great responsibility. As Joseph continued to prove himself to be a faithful bond servant in a hostile land, he was eventually given responsibility over the entire realm (Genesis 41:41). King Darius thought to do the same for Daniel (Daniel 6:3).
Moses’ relationship with God gives us insight into the trust that God places in his faithful bond servants and the special revelation that is given to them.
*“God said, ‘Listen to me! You will have prophets. I, the Lord, will let them learn about me through visions. I will speak to them in dreams. But Moses is not like that. ****He is my faithful [bond]servant—I trust him with everyone in my house. When I speak to him, I talk face to face with him. ***I don’t use stories with hidden meanings—I show him clearly what I want him to know. And Moses can look at the very image of the Lord. So why were you brave enough to speak against my [bond]servant Moses?’”—Numbers 12:6-8 (ERV)
When Jesus came to Earth, He took upon Him the form of a bond servant, not a hired servant, as we are told in Philippians 2:6-8 (NKJV):
“who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
In this way, He became a servant of servants, fulfilling His own words in Matthew 23:11-12 (NKJV), “But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
The bond servant is the lowest of the low, but as we see in the example of Jesus, one who humbles himself as a faithful bond servant to God will be highly exalted in the end.
“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave (bond servant). You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’”—Matthew 25:21 (NASB)
The individuals in the Bible who were closest to the Lord and shared His confidence were spoken of as having this bond servant relationship with Him.
· Abraham – Gen 26:24
· Moses – Deuteronomy 34:5
· Joshua – Joshua 24:29
· Caleb – Numbers 14:24
· David – Psalm 89:20
· Job – Job 1:8
· Daniel – Dan 6:21
· Isaiah – Isaiah 20:3
· Jesus – Zechariah 3:8; Isaiah 42:1
· Many unnamed prophets – Jeremiah 7:25
Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon states that in the bond servant, “there is the added notion of a familiar servant chosen and beloved of God, on account of piety and approved fidelity, to accomplish his objects.”
The bond servant commitment is necessary to understand the deep mysteries of God and to partake of the hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge spoken of in Colossians 2:3. A bond servant’s commitment is total. A bond servant has obeyed the exhortation of Romans 12:1 to present his body as a living sacrifice to the Lord Jesus Christ. His life is no longer his own. He has given up all rights to his life and laid it at the feet of the Lord he loves. This is not a commitment to take lightly. Count the cost. There is no turning back from a bond servant commitment. It is total and complete commitment for life. If you decide that it is worth the price to lay down everything at the feet of the Lord you love, then there are deeper mysteries and hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge waiting to be opened up to you.
