Last week we kicked off the Book of Revelation, “Revelation” not “Revelations” as it is often mispronounced. There is only one “Revelation” not multiple “Revelations” in the Book of Revelation.
In our kickoff meeting last week we learned that the Greek word for “Revelation” is “apokalupsis” which means, laying bear, making naked, a disclosure of truth. It is an unveiling. A revealing or revelation of truth by God to man by insight, vision, dream, ecstasy that man would have no ability of otherwise knowing or understanding.
This is quite a different meaning then our English word “apocalypse” which is defined be Webster as “A cosmic cataclysm in which God destroys the ruling powers of evil.” Because of this and many of today’s books and movies we often associate the word “apocalypse” and the Book of Revelation with future calamity, catastrophe and danger more then it’s true intended meaning of an unveiling look at the behind the scenes view of heaven and spiritual things and the future revelation of the person Jesus Christ as King of Kings, Lord of Lords to the entire world, his person, his power and his plan for the future.
This is the true intention of the book of Revelation as stated in Revelation 1:1 “To show unto his servants the things which must shortly come to pass.” This in itself shows the favor we have with God that he would show us and reveal to us his plans to us as he would a friend. It brings to mind John’s own gospel in John 15:14-15 where Jesus tells the disciples, “ No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”
The book of Revelation itself falls under the genre of what is called apocalyptic literature. Some people call it prophecy, and although it contains prophecy apocalyptic literature is much more than that. It not only reveals truths about the future, but also about the past and the present in highly symbolic terms and pictures in much the same way a dream communicates to us through symbolic pictures drawing from our past to reveal our present anxieties. Apocalyptic literature however, usually needs to be interpreted by God himself, an angel, or other authorized being, a prophet or servant of God in order to gain understanding of it. Apocalyptic visions and dreams are usually given by God in times of great calamity or distress of his people in order to bring them encouragement. It is a light usually given in and preserved for a very dark time when God’s people are facing great suffering, great persecutions and losing hope that it will ever end and that they will ever see victory. The apocalyptic vision shows them the end of the story, like the last page in the book and promises them salvation from a heavenly source.
Because of this, if we would understand the book of Revelation, we must first understand and take into consideration what it meant to the original recipients of the letter. We have to understand or at least have an idea of what circumstances they were facing at the time the letter was written and what it would have meant to them, especially with the symbols. We have to be careful not to interpret the symbols according to our own understanding and times, but according to their understanding and their times. Because of this, the symbols of locusts are more likely not helicopters. Most of the symbols are already interpreted for us already as in tonight’s verses 1-9. We must remember that God’s purpose in giving us the Book of Revelation is not to confound us, not to confuse us but to reveal, to unveil his word to us. So we have God’s light, his word and his spirit to help us understand the book as we go through it and that gives us confidence.
Mark 4:11 ““To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables.”
May Jesus now open our mind to understand the scripture.
9 I, John, your brother and partner(companion, co-participant)
Who is John? (See “Who is John” Page 12) According to church history and church tradition, the Book of Revelation was written by the Apostle John. He was the brother of James and the only one of the three inner disciples who were closest to Jesus to write a Gospel. Interestingly, in his gospels he never refers to himself by name as except as “the beloved disciple” or “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” Yet in this book of Revelation he identifies himself not just once but three times. John wanted his readers to know it was him writing this letter.
One of the reasons for this is because by this time, John being old in age, was the last living apostle. All the other apostles had died by martydom, including his brother James, who was the first to die and the only one who’s death is recorded by the bible. At this time the church was under and had been under great persection by Nero and now by Domitian. Any confessing Christian and any known descendent of David was by law to be put to death.
During this time there was also much apocalyptic literature going around at this time, much false teaching and I think John was wanted his voice to be heard and his apostolic authority to be known. He wasn’t just another Christian writer. This was John, their brother and partner and companion, their co-participant in suffering who was patiently enduring with them. He knew their suffering and was still sharing in their suffering. He had their attention.
in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus,
John is their companion and co participant in suffering. He is sharing in their suffering. He is not removed from it. He is not removed from them.
was on the island called Patmos
What is the island of Patmos. Patmos is a tiny sterile island off the coast of West Turkey. It measures only 13 square miles. Being of volcanic origin it, was very barren, rocky and full of cliffs, and pretty much deserted. It’s very name means “my killing.” Because of it’s poor conditions it was a favorite place to banish both political and religious prisoners to much like our Alcatraz.
Back then it was a very lonely and desolate place to be. However today, thanks to John, it is a big tourist attraction now. It has a population of about 2900 and in 2009 it was named by Forbes as “Europe’s Most Idyllic Place to live, due to the fact that “Patmos has evolved over the centuries but has not lost its air of quiet tranquility, which is one reason why people that know it return again and again.”
Isn’t it interesting that God would choose such a desolate, barren and lonely place to pour out his revelation to John?
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day,
Here we see John’s disposition when God’s revelation came to him. There is a quote about revival that I have written in my bible from a convention I once attended that this reminds me of. The quote says, “God’s wind blows where ever it pleases but we must set our sails to capture that wind. That is the secret of revival.” I would say that this is the same, if we would capture God’s spirit, or if we would be prepared for God to communicate to us and grant us revelation. We must set ourselves daily in his path before him. Proverbs 8:34 comes to mind, “Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.”
If you were the only person who showed up at church one Sunday morning, would you stay and worship alone or would you leave and go home? Here we see John with no other eye upon him but God worshipping God on the Lord’s Day, which would have been the first day of the week, and he came to be in the spirit, which is the literal translation. How he came to be in the spirit we do not know for it is a mystery and a miracle of God. John probably would not be able to answer the question either, one moment he may have been reading, worshiping, praying, setting his heart like a sail towards God and the next moment he was in the spirit.
and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet
The Lord’s voice often comes to us in a sweet gentle whisper, as we read his word and as we pray. He often speaks to our heart through our conscious by His Spirit encouraging us, correcting, guiding us, teaching us, counseling us as we read his word and pray. But here it says the Lord’s voice came to John like a loud trumpet behind him which surely must have caught him off guard and startled him out of his devotions, immediately obtaining his full attention.
11 saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”
John receives the commands write a book specifically intended for seven churches that God has chosen. We will learn more about each of these churches in the weeks to come as we look at them individually.
The number seven is significant throughout the book of Revelation. It is a symbol itself representing the number of perfection or completeness. So not only is God sending this letter to theses specific seven churches that actually existed during this time, this letter also applies to the complete church universal.Justified
12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man,
John turns to see the voice that was speaking behind him and when he turned he sees seven golden lampstands and in the midst of these lampstands he sees one like a son of man walking in their midst. Verse 20 will tell us what the symbol of lampstand stands for the churches. It also identifies the meaning of the seven stars that he is holding in his right hand from verse 16 which we have not reached yet but are going to go ahead and identify anyway so we can keep this in context. The first part of verse 20 says ”as for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”
Once again we see the number seven, seven golden lampstands, seven symbolizing perfection or completeness. So this would refer to the complete church that he is walking in the midst of as he walks in the midst of the lampstands. He is in direct relationship with each of the seven churches.
The Golden Candlestick of the Old Testament belonging to the sanctuary found in (Exodus 25:31-40) is a type of Christ and needs to be understood to understand this text fully. B. Keach gives a great short explanation.
I. It was the only thing that held the light which enlightened the sanctuary! From Christ all the light of grace comes for the benefit of His Church.
II. It had seven lamps (verse 37), to signify that perfection of light that is in Christ.
III. It was placed in the sanctuary. So is Christ as a glorious light placed in His Church.
IV. It had an upright stem, which bore the many branches issuing from it.
V. The branches were adorned with bowls, knobs, flowers, etc. So are Christ’s ministers adorned with many graces.
VI. Aaron dressed those lamps and renewed their oil daily. So our High Priest is the only enlightener of His faithful ministers.
VII. The candlestick had snuffers and snuff-dishes of pure gold; which might figure forth the good and godly discipline of the Church whereby evil persons who hinder its glory are taken away. (B. Keach.)
It’s pictured again in Zechariah’s vision
Zechariah 4:2-6 “2 And he said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. 3 And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” 4 And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” 5 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.
However, this is not the same Golden Lampstand of the tabernacle. (Exodus 25:31-40) or from Zechariah’s vision since that was a single base with seven candles representing Christ and the seven spirits. These are seven individual lampstands.
Ironside states:
If I understand it correctly, these were not like the candlesticks in the temple and in the tabernacle. Those were seven-branched-six side branches and the central shaft. But John saw seven separate lampstands. Christ is represented by the seven-branched candlestick in the holy place, and the Spirit of God is represented by the seven lamps on it. But during His absence-during the time of His priesthood in Heaven-His people are to be lights for Him in this world. So John saw in this first vision not one candlestick with seven branches, but seven distinct lampstands in the form of a circle. In the middle of them he saw One like the Son of man with a golden sash around His chest. It was a vision of the Lord judging in the middle of His assemblies. – Ironside
Here instead of seeing one lampstand with seven candlesticks representing Christ holding the fullness of seven spirits, we see seven separate candlesticks, each representing a separate church and each having it’s own separate angel or spirit guiding it as represented by the stars. They are separate but they are unified by the completeness of the holy spirit dispersed amongst them and their body. No church is complete in and of itself but are diverse and spread out, but together make up the whole universal church of Christ. Each church serves as a part of a larger body and in the New Testament would rely on one another for graces, for financial help, for teaching as they had need. There was no completion among them but they saw themselves as part of the Universal Church of Christ and helped each other.
I. The light was derived light; and it was fed. We have a priest who walks in His temple and trims the lamps. The condition of the light is keeping close to Christ, and it is because there is such a gap between you and Him that there is so little brightness in you. The candlestick was really a lamp fed by oil; that symbol, as Zechariah tells us, stands for the Divine influence of God’s quickening Spirit.
III. The light was clustered light. The seven-branched candlestick represented the rigid, formal unity of the Jewish Church. In the New Testament we have the seven candlesticks diverse, but made one because Jesus Christ is in the midst of them. In this slight diversity of emblem we get the whole difference between the hard external unity of the ancient Jewish polity and the free variety in unity and diversity of the Christian Church, with its individual development as well as with its binding association. (A. Maclaren, D. D.)
Keep in mind the purpose of the lampstand. It is an instrument to bear light. It does not have the light in itself and has no ability to give light of itself, it must receive the light it gives. The light of the world, and the light of the church is Christ. It is him we are called to lift high. It is his light and presence that enables us to see in this dark world. If our church is not lifting him up, then what are we lifting up?
This is also a reminder as a church of what are purpose is; why we have been left in the world and what we are to be doing while we wait for the return for Christ, and that is to be lights, not only as a church body that blazes when it comes to together, but as individual members as we disperse to our dark neighborhoods, work areas, homes and any other place and position God has placed us in for it is God who arranges the positions of his lights and lamp stands in this dark world. We would all remain together in one place but he would spread us out and disperse across a city and nation.
It is also an opportunity to exam ourselves if we are not shining as lamp stands and to see why, what is blocking our light? What sin has been cast over our light both as a church and as individuals? Is it apathy? Are we indifferent? Is it distraction? Is it busyness? Is it fear? Is it our worldliness? What is preventing others from seeing God’s light inside us? One thing we can know for certain, is that our failure to witness is not from a lack of opportunity; for this world is a dark place and opportunity is all around.
Luke 10:2 – “ And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
W Mudge lays out some heart examining questions for us to examine our hearts by:
1. Have I seriously and deliberately sought the illumination of my understanding in the things of God from above? I read, “If thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God” (Pro 2:3-5). Do I thus cry and lift up my voice in supplication for heavenly wisdom? And is God’s Law really better to me than thousands of gold or silver? The blessing is annexed to the precept; can I expect the one without a compliance with the other?
2. Am I walking in the light and comfort of the Holy Ghost? As both a Teacher and a Comforter is the Spirit given. Does He lead me in the way everlasting (Psa 139:24), and cheer me with tokens of good (Psa 86:17)?
3. Do I realize the constant inspection of the Son of Man amidst the congregations of His people? He walks among the golden candlesticks. Is the preacher free from all unbecoming fear of his fellow-mortals on the one hand, and is there no lurking latent aiming after worldly popularity on the other? Does the hearer listen as for life, cultivating a child-like spirit before the Lord, and cherishing no needless or refined fastidiousness about voice or manner in the teacher? (W. Mudge.)
Notice where Christ is in this verse? In our midst. Walking in the midst of the churches as he would walk in the midst of the Garden of Eden. In the next few verses we will see more of what he is doing as he walks among us. This should be a great comfort to us and reminds us that Christ is in our midst, he walks among his churches, tending to them as needed. We know the poor condition of the five out of seven of these churches which should also encourage us that Jesus has not abandoned any of his churches, instead we see Jesus tending to his churches.
This implies His presence with His people (Exo 33:14-15; Psa 132:13-14; Isa 43:1-2). He is in the midst of the golden candlesticks as the great High Priest, trimming, preparing, and lighting the lamps – BI
Jesus was in the midst on the Cross; He is in the midst where two or three are gathered; He is the Lamb “ in the midst of the throne” but He is, also in the midst of the collective life of the Church in her earthly ministry and warfare. – Day by Day
1 Cor. 3:16 – Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?
Luke 17:21 – nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”
Here John draws from similar language found in Daniel’s vision of the Son of Man referring to Christ. Daniel 7:13-14 and he will draw on it even more in Revelation 1: 14.
“I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
14 And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.
clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.
Have you ever wondered what Jesus looked like? The gospels do not touch his appearance. But we have an impressionistic portrait of him below.
Compare this description with Daniel in Daniel 10:6
Daniel 10:5 – “I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. “
The golden sash and girdle are both symbols and dress of a high priest. The long length of it down to his feet shows his high rank as does the golden sash worn around his chest instead of his of around his waist. It is also said to depict a readiness for action. The longer the garment the higher ranking the priest.
“He is seen in the long, white garments of the high priest with the golden sash around his chest. The sash or girdle speaks of service. We read of the servant girding himself and waiting on the table (Luk 17:8 ). In Revelation the girdle represents a high-priestly service. Our blessed Lord is now serving us at God’s right hand. The girdle is a golden one, representing the fact that Christ’s service is in full accord with God’s holy and righteous ways. Looking back to the cross where Jesus hung in sacrifice for us, we rejoice to remember His dying words, “It is finished.” Nothing can be added to and nothing taken away from that completed work. But there is another work He is now carrying on for His people. Although up in glory, He is serving us still. His people need His help all along the way. The moment you belong to the Lord Jesus, you are brought into living union with our great High Priest at God’s right hand. “He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Heb 7:25 ). He does not ask you to live in your own strength. Trust Him as Savior, and let Him fill your heart and control your life. He will live His life in you to His praise and glory. We are to come boldly to a throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find seasonable help.” – Ironside
Christ is acting as a high priest as he walks amount the lamp stands interceding for his churches, and tending to them as a High Priest would tend to the lampstand of the alter making sure it stays lit. So Christ tends to us and pours out his oil upon us. He is our inspiring influence.
Hebrews 4:14-16 – “14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Because of our position in Christ, we too are called to be high-priests and to intercede for others as Christ does for us.
Exodus 19:6 – “and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”
1 Peter 2:5 – “you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 2:9 – “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
How than shall we live?
14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow.
The hairs on his head are white, like wool. I’m thinking of a lamb. But the whiteness shows his purity but white hair is also symbolic of old age in the bible he is the Ancient of Days in Daniel 7:13-14.
Daniel 7:9
“As I looked,
thrones were placed,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat;
his clothing was white as snow,
and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames;
its wheels were burning fire.
His eyes were like a flame of fire,
Daniel 10:6 “6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.
Christ’s eyes look at us intensely, piercing, the fire speaks of judgment and purification,
Heb. 12:29 – “for our God is a consuming fire.”
It is also a reminder that Christ our Master’s eye is upon us and will judge our works with fire. Chris’s judgment of the world begins with the church, with the family of God, even as begins examining the church now in this letter before he addresses the condition of the world, he addresses and examines condition.
1 Cor. 3:13-15 – “13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.”
This is a call to examine ourselves while are under grace and have opportunity for grace, to bring all our sins before God so they may be dealt with by grace in this temporary world. Though it may be painful, our pain is only temporary; we will not want to face the pain that is eternal for undealt with sins. And although if we are saved, we will not face the eternal file, we will suffer great eternal loss and there will be no more grace in this judgment offered by Christ. Now is the opportunity to seek and receive grace for our sins. There will be no more opportunity given.
15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace,
Daniel 10:6 “6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.
Bronze is in the Old Testament was a symbol of judgment. The Brazen alter in the OT and other items for sacrifice were overlaid with bronze because it could withstand the fire that burned continuously. Here we see Christ’s perfect holiness, him who walks in the midst of the flames and is not harmed by them.
Heb. 12:29 – “for our God is a consuming fire.”
The reference here is to the method of refining metals and minerals in a crucible, and it is the emblem of untarnished and unmingled truth of which Jesus Christ is the source and the administrator. – Foy Wallce
The reference to his feet shows that that he tramples sin and wickedness.
and his voice was like the roar of many waters.
Daniel 10:6 “6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.
As John was on that small island. I wonder if he is drawing his comparison of Christ’s voice to the waves crashing on the shore all around him. Both similes indicate the loudness and the authority behind Christ’s voice, you could hear it over a multitude. It takes several voices to make up a multitude but the voice of Christ is a multitude in its self. It crashes over you like a wave.
16 In his right hand he held seven stars,
See vs. 20
from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword,
This speaks this speaks to the power of the word of Christ. Imagine two armies coming together with their leaders meeting in the middle with one another to negotiate before the battle begins. Both with swords on their sides prepared for war. Christ would need no sword for his word is his sword. He commands and creation obeys. Such is the power Christ’s word alone.
Isa. 49:2 – “He made my mouth like a sharp sword;”
Heb. 4: 12 – “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
Remember the Mount of Transfiguration?
Matt. 17:2 “ And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.”
Daniel 10:6 “6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.
The shining of Jesus’ face speaks to his holiness and deity. He is the light of the world and our source of righteousness. Can you imagine what it will be like when he is our sun?
Revelation 21:23 – “And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.”
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead.
What an awesome appearance. This is John’s response to seeing the glory of Christ. Compare Daniel’s response.
Daniel 10:8-9 “So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and no strength was left in me. My radiant appearance was fearfully changed, and I retained no strength. 9 Then I heard the sound of his words, and as I heard the sound of his words, I fell on my face in deep sleep with my face to the ground.”
But he laid his right hand on me, saying,
A hand of comfort and of healing…
Daniel 10:10-11 – “10 And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11 And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling.”
“Fear not, I am the first and the last,
He reminds John that he the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Not only is our beginning found in Christ, but also our end is found in Christ. We should have no fear of death before our time.
We should be confident like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when they answered the king in Daniel 3:16-18, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
This is a living an example of Revelation 2:10 “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” And the kind of faith that God seeks to mature in us. Revelation 12:11 “And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.”
There will come a time when either the appearance or the actuality of death stands before you and you will be forced to choose to trust in Jesus, obey and follow him or deny him and have a comfortable life, pleasure, safety offered by the world. Do not hide behind the world. Do not seek refuge in the world or for the world to save you, no matter what it offers. It is only a fleeting temporary mock safety. Genuine safety is found in Jesus alone and anyone outside of him is not safe. It may seem like a safe decision, but denying Christ is never a safe decision.
The Book of Revelation is about overcoming. Overcoming persecution and the world. We must be overcomers.
18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore,
Here we see the resurrected Christ? How important is the resurrected Christ? Without the resurrected Christ there is no Christianity.
1 Cor. 15:14-19 – “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope[b] in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.”
To think, John sees Christ standing before him in all his glory. One day we will too!
John 20:29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
Here Jesus says he holds the keys to Death and Hades. Holding the keys is a symbol of his authority. No one enters or exists Death or Hades without his authority. Death is a condition while Hades is a place where the dead go to.
Luke 10:15 –And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades.
Luke 16:23 – “and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.”
Jesus destroyed the one who had power over death, which was sin.
Hebrews 2:14-15 – “14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery”
1 Cor. 15:55 – “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.
This shows the divisions of the book of Revelation. The things we have discussed tonight are the things that are seen, as we read the letters to the churches in chapters 2 and 3 it will be in reference to the things that are, current circumstances and events as Christ address and gives a review of each church and then in the chapters 4 through 20 Christ will address the things that are to take place after this. These would be future events
20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands,
As Daniel said in Daniel 2:28 toKing Nebuchadnezzar regarding the meaning of his dream, “ there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, “ And so God reveals his mysteries to us.
Isa: 48:6 “You have heard; now see all this;
and will you not declare it?
From this time forth I announce to you new things,
hidden things that you have not known.
the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches,
The word “Angel” in the Greek language is messengers.
The most common interpretation is that the angels are the prominent men, the ministers of the church, the pastors, the leaders of the church who act as messengers and guides for the church and these are who the letter addressed to. (Messengers as men ref. Matt. 11:10, Mark 1:2, Luke 7:24, 27: 9:52, 2 Cor. 8:23; James 2:25)
Stars appear when the sun has withdrawn himself; so Christian ministers are the ambassadors of Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, praying men, in Christ’s stead, to be reconciled to God. Of what service are the stars to the mariner, as he sails over the trackless deep! The Christian is a mariner, voyaging over the sea of life, anxiously tending towards the haven of the skies, yet fearing lest he should make shipwreck of faith. The ministers of Christ are stars. Their peculiar office is to hold forth the light of God’s truth, and, by their course in the world, by their life and conversation, to be examples and guides to their flocks. Christian ministers are stars, and have, therefore, orbits assigned them in which to move. The Head of the Church plants each in His proper place within it. – BI
In his right hand, we see Jesus holding the stars or angels of the seven churches. His right hand represents his power, holding them shows his ownership, his possessiveness of them and his protection of these angels. No one can snatch them out of his hand.
Another interpretation, not as accepted is that the Angels actually refer to in a guardian angel that is assigned to each of the churches much like Daniel 10:13 which makes mention of a Prince of Persia who withstood the angel sent to Daniel. The problem with this is what make no sense for John to receive a revelation from Jesus intended for John to direct towards an actual Angel.
A third and final explanation is that it refers to the Spirit of the Church.. The main problem with this is that there are 77 references made to angelos in the book of Revelation but they all refer to supernatural beings and not men. The church in and of itself, is a supernatural being in this world of divine origin and a messenger of God. In this interpretation this is another way of addressing the church itself. In chapter 2 we will see the letters addressed to the angels of the churches and the pronoun “you” used in reference to the individual church body or spirit of the church.
and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
(See Revelation 1:12)
