The church is the incubator of the new creation. It is the womb of a new world, where the new creation gestates.
But it can also be an incubator of monsters and witches. That’s the message of the letters to the churches. As Austin Farrer and others point out, the letters anticipate later portions of Revelation. First there are “beasts” in the church at Pergamum; later, there are even fiercer beasts outside attacking the church. First there’s a Jezebel in Thyatira; later, a world-harlot appears drinking the blood of saints and enticing the kings of the earth to immorality. First there’s Satanic influence in the church; later the dragon calls up a beast from the sea that kills the saints. First there’s Stalin the seminary student; later, Stalin the bloodthirsty.
The strange beast slouching toward Bethlehem is heading home .
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