Have We Ever Fallen At His Feet?
Rev 1:17 KJV – And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
Christ In The Book Of Hebrews: “Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:”
Heb 9:24 KJV – For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
Christ did not simply entered a human temple to minister for His people, but He has entered into heaven to make eternal intercession before God !
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The Revelation Of Jesus Christ: When I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead.
Rev 1:17 KJV
(17) And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
When John sees Christ in His greatness, he responds by falling at Christ’s feet as if he were dead. This was very similar to Ezekiel’s response when he saw the Lord (Ezekiel 1:28) and the disciples reaction at the Mount of Transfiguration when they saw the glorified Lord (Matthew 17:2-6).
We can all understand why seeing the Lord in all His glory would bring about such a response. When we see Him in His greatness we are reminded of our shameful sinful condition, our impotence, our frailty, and our mortality. Isaiah described it best when he described fallen mankind as “a drop in the bucket”, “the small dust of a balance”, “as nothing”, “less than nothing and vanity”, and “grasshoppers” (Isa 40:15,17,22) in comparison to the greatness of Jehovah, our Creator, Sustainer, Savior and Lord.
Although none of us have ever personally seen the risen Christ in all His glory, we certainly can “see” Him with our spiritual eyes. By looking to the Scriptures and coming to an understanding of His greatness, we too can come to a realistic understanding of our needy condition before God.
Why is it so important that we all come to a moment where we fall on our faces before Him? It is only when we see our true needy condition before Him that will lead to our salvation and will be a constant reminder of our need to rely totally upon Him as we live our lives on earth.
The Lord, Himself, reminded us of this same principle in John 15:5, when He said… “…without me ye can do nothing”.
Folks, as we go about our day do we ALWAYS have in our minds that we are in constant need of our Lord to intervene in our lives? The continuing forgiveness of our many sins, our decision making, our physical strength, health and life, our opportunities of service, and so many more areas of our lives depend entirely on the Lord’s merciful intervention.
May we all, as John see the greatness of our Lord anew, recognize our weakness and desperate need of Him every minute of our day, and learn to rely upon Him as our sole source for all our daily needs. Just as the Apostle Paul had learned during the course of his life…
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13)
May the Lord bless us as we seek to serve Him, the One that is so clearly revealed to us in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
For an in depth look at this section of the Revelation:
The Word Of God Is Powerful!
Rev 1:16 KJV – And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
Christ In The Book Of Hebrews: “by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions”
Heb 9:15 KJV – And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
Christ died to pay the ransom for our sins!
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The Revelation Of Jesus Christ: out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword
Rev 1:16 KJV
(16) And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
In John’s vision, we can see that a two-edged sword proceeded out of the mouth of our Lord. What does this represent for us? It shows us the powerful Word of God that is spoken by Christ. This is clearly explained for us in Hebrews:
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” (Hebrews 4:12-13 KJV )
This same powerful Word can be used by God’s people to successfully enter into spiritual warfare against the powers of the darkness:
“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:” (Eph 6:17 KJV)
“Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me; And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” (Isa 49:1-3 KJV)
Folks, may we never forget the power of God’s Word when it is put into effect in our service to Christ. To be a successful servant of Christ, His Word must be proclaimed either with our mouths or in our actions or a combination of both (based upon the individual opportunity of service we are given).
As we minister to others, if Christ (as revealed in His Word) is not presented, we have failed in our service to Him. Period.
It does not matter what outward results of our ministry we may see take place, what good words others might say about us, or what exalted position may be given to us as the result of our ministry… If the Word’s revelation of Christ is not given to others, we have failed miserably. Those we have ministered to have received no spiritual benefit, but are now simply two-fold more the children of hell…
“But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves”. (Mat 23:13-15 KJV)
As we go about our day, seeking areas of opportunity to serve Him, let’s all keep in the forefront of our mind the importance of speaking and living out the Word’s testimony of Christ. By doing this, we can be assured of great spiritual success in our ministry and can know that we are pleasing to the Lord and helping those who come our way.
May the Lord bless us as we seek to serve Him, the One that is so clearly revealed to us in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
For an in depth look at this section of the Revelation:
The Ministering Spirits of God
Did you ever feel alone in this world? If you are a Christian, there are many reasons why you can know that you are never alone. The Lord promises that He will come and dwell with all those that place there trust in him (John 14:16-20). Also, the Lord promises His people that they are in the hand of the Father, He will be always watching over them protecting and keeping them (John 10:26-29).
So for the Christian, knowing that we have our Lord dwelling within us (in the person of the Holy Spirit) and knowing that we are always protected in the hand of the Father, results in our assurance that we are never alone on this earth. Even when it appears as if the entire world has forsaken us, we know that our Lord will never turn from us. (Hebs 13:5)
However, there is another reason why we can rest assured we are never alone on this earth. In the little read book of Zechariah (and several other books of the Bible), we find that God has sent His ministering angels to oppose the forces of evil in this sinful world.
SCRIPTURES:
Zech 1:7-11 (KJV) 7) Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which [is] the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, 8) I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that [were] in the bottom; and behind him [were there] red horses, speckled, and white. 9) Then said I, O my lord, what [are] these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these [be]. 10) And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These [are they] whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth. 11) And they answered the angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.
Zech 6:1-8 (KJV) And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains [were] mountains of brass. 2) In the first chariot [were] red horses; and in the second chariot black horses; 3) And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses. 4) Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What [are] these, my lord? 5) And the angel answered and said unto me, These [are] the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth. 6) The black horses which [are] therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country. 7) And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth. 8)Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.
Dan 10:10-14 (KJV) 10) And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and [upon] the palms of my hands. 11) And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. 12) Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. 13) But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. 14) Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision [is] for [many] days.
Ps 103:20-21 (KJV) 20) Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. 21) Bless ye the LORD, all [ye] his hosts; [ye] ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
Heb 1:7-14 (KJV) 7) And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire……. 14) Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
THE STUDY:
Twice in the book of Zechariah we find references to angels sent by God to minister to His people. The first reference is found in Zechariah 1:7-11…
7) Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which [is] the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,
8) I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that [were] in the bottom; and behind him [were there] red horses, speckled, and white.
9) Then said I, O my lord, what [are] these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these [be].
10) And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These [are they] whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.
11)And they answered the angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.
Here we read of God’s ministering angels described as a “man riding on a red horse” being followed by many other horsemen. The angel explains to Zechariah that “These [are they] whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.” Please note that the phrase of walking to and fro through the earth is not only used to describe the ministry of God’s angels, but also of the workings of Satan, the fallen angel opposed to the will and ways of God (Job 1:6-7, Job 2:1-2).
Why would the ministry of God’s angels be similarly described with the workings of the chief fallen angel? I believe, it is to help us understand the correlation between God’s angels and the angels working to oppose God. There work is similar yet in direct opposition to one another.
It is made clear throughout Scripture that there is a spiritual warfare taking place on this earth. This warfare involves the powers of darkness (Satan and other demons, as well as the other sinful forces in this world) versus the powers of light (The Lord, his angels and the powers that are working for good) (Eph 6:10-12, Col 2:13-15)
One of the great reasons that God sends His angels to work for Him on the earth is to intervene and hinder the workings of the powers of darkness. We can clearly see this in an account found in the Book of Daniel…
Dan 10:10-14 (KJV)
10) And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and [upon] the palms of my hands.
11) And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.
12) Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
13) But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
14) Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision [is] for [many] days.
Please note that, here a messenger (perhaps an angel), sent from God to deliver a message to Daniel, is stopped by the “Prince of the Kingdom of Persia” a wicked King that was led by the powers of darkness. (Some believe this is a description for Satan himself). Anyway, do you notice how Michael, an angel from the Lord, was sent to intervene on behalf of God’s messenger? This allowed the messenger to continue on his way and bring God’s words to Daniel. This is a clear example of an angel of God intervening and helping mankind in the war against the powers of darkness.
Zechariah’s other account of God sending His angels to aid man is found in Zech 6:1-8 (KJV)…
1) And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains [were] mountains of brass.
2) In the first chariot [were] red horses; and in the second chariot black horses;
3) And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses.
4) Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What [are] these, my lord?
5) And the angel answered and said unto me, These [are] the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.
6) The black horses which [are] therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country.
7) And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.
8)Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.
Here, we can see the Lord sending forth His angels to minster to man throughout the earth. The Lord says that His spirit had been quieted as a result of their ministry. What did the Lord mean by this statement? Ezekiel 16:42 helps us to understand what is meant by this phrase…
(42) So will I make my fury toward thee to rest, and my jealousy shall depart from thee, and I will be quiet, and will be no more angry.
According to this verse, to quiet the spirit of God is referring to dispensing His judgment against wrongdoing, thereby allowing his just, holy, righteous spirit to be at rest within Him.
Not only does He send His angels to protect and keep us, but also to punish those who are opposed to His people and His will for the earth. These are the two great reasons for the sending of His angels to earth. These two purposes are both mentioned in Hebrews…
Heb 1:7-14 (KJV)
7) And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire…….
(14) Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
Here, His angels are described in two ways…. ministering spirits (ie those who care for his people) and ministers a flame of fire (ie those who execute his punishments upon those who are opposed to His people and His will)
Once we understand these two truths, other verses about His ministering spirits take on a more clear meaning for us all….
Ps 103:20-21 (KJV)
20) Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
21) Bless ye the LORD, all [ye] his hosts; [ye] ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
For those who have been saved by God’s grace, there is no reason to feel alone anymore… you have the indwelling Spirit within you, you have the Almighty God holding you in his hand… and you also have His ministering spirits sent throughout the earth to protect, care and control the situations surrounding you. You truly are not alone.
If you have not been saved by God’s grace, look to him for your salvation. You too can then claim the blessed promise that you will never be alone.
If you have any questions about salvation, I have a tab available on my blog that gives in depth information on what salvation is and what you must do to be saved. Please click on this link for more information about salvation.
If you continue to have questions or concerns about your salvation, find a Bible-believing church in your area. The Pastor would be glad to share Christ and the way of salvation with you. If you feel more comfortable communicating through email, you are always welcome to email me at settledinheaven@gmail.com.
May the Lord bless you as you seek His truth.
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Is Christ In The Midst Of Your Local Church?
Rev 1:13 KJV – And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
Christ In The Book Of Hebrews: “He is the Mediator of the new testament”
Heb 9:15 KJV – And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
Christ’s work brought about a new, better agreement that involved the permanent purification of sins and an eternal acceptance of man by God.
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The Revelation Of Jesus Christ: in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man
Rev 1:13 KJV – And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
In John’s vision of Christ, John sees that Christ is standing “in the midst of the seven candlesticks”. Later in John’s vision, we learn that the candlesticks represent the seven local churches to which Revelation is addressed.
If we could picture John’s vision in our mind, it would be something like this. We would have the seven candlesticks (churches) forming a circle with Christ standing in the center of that circle. This simple understanding of the vision teaches us that He enjoys a close relationship to His churches and has direct access to each church and vice-versa.
Nothing stands between Christ and His local church. He can directly intervene and work within them. Likewise, each church can directly approach Christ and enjoy fellowship with Him. This very principle is presented to us when the Bible says…
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20)
Anytime we meet together in His name (meet together under His authority) He promises to be present in our midst. Think about it, every time we meet as a local assembly, the Lord meets with us and we enjoy a unique level of communion with Him. This is just one of many reasons why we should never take membership in the Lord’s local church for granted or forsake it. Although all Christians enjoy fellowship with the Lord, those who are members of His assemblies can enjoy an enhanced type of fellowship with Him.
Another great blessing of church membership also involves fellowship with the people of God. Certainly we can enjoy Christian friendships and acquaintances apart from church membership, but nothing can be compared to be a part of a group of Christians that meet together to worship the Lord and are unified in a desire to glorify and honor Him. It is when we serve side by side for His glory, unified in our desires and ministries, that we enjoy a very special sharing relationship with our fellow laborers.
“ Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added [unto them] about three thousand souls.
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all [men], as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people.
And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
(Acts 2:41-47)
May we always take local church membership very seriously, enjoying its many benefits and being faithful in its many responsibilities.
May the Lord bless us as we seek to serve Him, the One that is so clearly revealed to us in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
For an in depth look at this section of the Revelation:
What have we suffered for the sake of Christ?
Rev 1:9 KJV – I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
Christ In The Book Of Hebrews: “… shall the blood of Christ… purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
Heb 9:14 KJV – How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
It is through the shed blood of Christ, that our conscience can be cleansed for our old acts of sin and made profitable in our service to the Lord.
“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” (Titus 2:13-14)
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Revelation 1: Summary
SUMMARY OF THE CHAPTER:
In our previous studies we have seen that Revelation chapter 1:, the introductory chapter of the book of Revelation, contains 4 main divisions:
- Revelation 1:1-6 – John’s introduction to this book
- Revelation 1:7-8 – John describes Christ’s second coming in wrath against sinners
- Revelation 1:9-11 – John’s commission (calling) to write the book of Revelation
- Revelation 1:12-20 – John’s vision of Christ in the midst of His local churches
SUMMARY OF EACH DIVISION OF CHAPTER:
1. Revelation 1:1-6 – John’s introduction to this book
In this section of Revelation, we saw the book’s author was God and was written to seven local assemblies of believers in existence in John’s day.
We also saw how the book was handed down from God to Jesus Christ, to His angel, to the Apostle John. John was then to deliver this message to seven specific local churches of Asia.
Also, we had the true nature of the book revealed to us. It was a book that’s purpose was to reveal Christ through the use of symbolism.
Finally we saw John’s greetings to these churches. His greeting centered on the great blessings the members of the churches had received through the ministry of the Holy Spirit and the sacrificial death of Jesus. He closed his greeting by describing many different blessings that come to man through the death of Christ through faith in Him.
For a much more in-depth look at this section of Scripture:
2. Revelation 1:7-8 – John describes Christ’s second coming in wrath against sinners
In this section of Revelation, we are given a warning about the second coming of Christ, and His great wrath that will fall upon sinful mankind.
Also, we saw a reminder of Christ postion as Creator, Originator and Perpetuator of all creation.
All of these truths of Christ reveal Him as the Almighty God.
For a much more in-depth look at this section of Scripture:
3. Revelation 1:9-11 – John’s commission (calling) to write the book of Revelation
In this section of Revelation, we are told of John’s current condition, being a prisoner held on the isle of Patmos.
Also, John explains to us that he received a vision from God that directly called Him to deliver this message to the seven local churches of Asia: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.
For a much more in-depth look at this section of Scripture:
4. Revelation 1:12-20 – John’s vision of Christ in the midst of His local churches
In this section of Revelation, John receives a vision of Christ which emphasizes His close relationship and communion with His assemblies.
In this vision, we saw Christ standing in the middle of a circle of candlesticks, each representing local assemblies. The pastors of these assemblies are symbolized by seven stars that are being held in the hand of Christ.
Much can be learned about Christ through the symbolic description we are given. In this vision, we see Christ as perfectly righteous; our great High Priest; pure and without blemish of any kind; possessing perfect truth, understanding, and wisdom; flawless in rendering and executing judgment upon mankind.
And, finally, in this vision we see the great authority, power and importance of the Word of God being symbolized through the sharp, two-edged sword that is seen coming out of the mouth of Christ.
This section is a perfect introduction to the individual messages to the church that will be given to John in chapters 2: and 3:
For a much more in-depth look at this section of Scripture:
WHAT’S COMING NEXT IN THIS SERIES?:
In our next lesson, we will begin looking at Revelation 2:. In Revelation 2: and 3: we will be reading the personalized letters written to each of the seven local churches of Asia. A very basic table of the contents of these letters follows:
| Church Location | Name Meaning | Areas of Faithfulness | Areas of Unfaithfulness | Possible Punishment | Reward To Overcomers (proof of genuine salvation) |
| Ephesus | Desired or Allowed | Many areas of faithful outward service. Hate doctrine of Nicolaitanes. | Left first love (Christ)Service not motivated by love for Christ. | Removal of candlestick (church no longer enjoying fellowship w God) | Eat of Tree of Life in Paradise |
| Smyrna | Myrrh | Spiritually rich | N/A | N/A | Not hurt by second death |
| Pergamos | Fortified Tower | Faithfulness in face of persecution | Allowing doctrine of Balaam and Nicolaitans(physical and spiritual fornication) | Will war against those who hold false teaching | Be given hidden manna and white stone with new name |
| Thyatira | Sacrifice, Offering, Corpse | Works of love, service, faith, patience | False Prophetess in midst. (sexual immorality and idol worship) | Sickness, tribulation and death upon her and her followers. | Be given power over the nations |
| Sardis | Depart, Escape, Exit | A few faithful areas of service remain. A few faithful members remain. | Testimony that they are spiritually alive but really dead. Their works not “perfect” before God. | Will come upon them as a thief (implied removing anything of value leaving spiritually destitute) | White garments. Name not blotted out of book, confess his name before the Father |
| Philadelphia | Love Of The Brethren | Kept Word not denied name of Christ. Persevered in trials | N/A | N/A | Permanent pillar in temple of God. Name of God and New Jerusalem upon them. New name given to them |
| Laodicea | Judgment Of The People | N/A | Lukewarm service. Blinded to their spiritual destitution. | Spew out of Lord’s mouth. Rebuking and chastening from Lord. | Sit with Christ in throne. |
We will see that each message contains four basic parts:
- Description of Christ
- Commendation for faithfulness and consequences
- Exposing unfaithfulness and consequences
- Promise to Overcomers
May the Lord continue to bless us as we continue in our study of The Revelation Of Jesus Christ!
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Revelation 1:12-20:“Christ In The Midst Of His Churches”
THE TEXT:
The Vision Of Christ, the Candlesticks, and the Stars…
Rev 1:12-20 KJV
(12) And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
(13) And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
(14) His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
(15) And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
(16) And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
(17) And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
(18) I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
(19) Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
(20) The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
THE INTRODUCTION:
John’s Vision of Christ and His Churches…
- The Vision Of Christ (v 12-16)
- John’s Reaction To The Vision (v 17a)
- Christ Comforting Words (v 17b-18)
- The Vision Explained (v 19-20)
THE EXPOSITORY STUDY:
Revelation 1: –
(12) And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
John now turns his attention to the voice that sounded like a trumpet. As he turned, he saw seven lampstands made of gold.
In verse 20, we are told these candlesticks symbolize the seven local churches…
- Gold is a symbol of great value and a symbol of the divine. The Lord’s local assemblies are valuable possessions of God. They are divine instruments of service. Their existence and continuance are through God’s grace and intervention.
- Seven is the number of completion, perfection and fullness. Each local church is to strive for perfection and will reach their goal in eternity (Eph 5:27). The characteristics of these churches, when taken together, represent a complete representation of the churches that exist on earth. Every church on earth can be likened to one or a combination of these local assemblies.
- Candlesticks (Lampstands) uphold and send forth light into the world around us. The first and greatest responsibility is to fulfill the Great Commission (upholding and sending forth the gospel message and all doctrinal truth into the sin darkened world). How do they do this? They are put into service by Christ (as a lamp being lit) and then continue in the power of the Holy Spirit (as the oil that is burned in the lamp)
These symbols teach us that local assemblies are God’s institutions in which He intervenes and enjoys fellowship with His people. They were established to hold forth the light of His Word into the sin darkened world. They are to strive for perfection which will be finally achieved at their entrance into eternity.
(13) And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man,
John sees Christ standing among the seven candlesticks. Christ is described as “One like unto the Son of Man”. This is an OT description of Christ found in Daniel 7:13.
We know that Christ is called “the Son of Man” in reference to His human nature (John 8:28), but why would He be said to be “like unto the Son of Man”? Christ, as God Himself, was sinless… He was not a fallen sinful man, in that sense, He was only “like a man” (Romans 8:3).
This title helps us to see Christ’s deity, sinlessness and humanity.
clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
In this vision, Christ is symbolized as wearing a garment down to His feet and a golden girdle around His loins. This comes from Daniel 10:5.
- The garment that extends down to His feet – robes symbolize righteousness and priestly garments. Christ is the perfectly righteous One. He is our Priest, the One who stands between sinful man and a Holy God making peace.
- Gold is a symbol of great value and a symbol of the divine. – Christ is the priest accepted and sanctioned by God
- The girdle is a symbol of the Priesthood and strength – Christ is the strong priest who was successful in doing the work necessary to bring fallen mankind into communion with a Holy God.
These symbols help us to see Christ as our great divine Priest, who stands in the presence of His churches, intervening on their behalf and bringing about communion and fellowship with Almighty God.
(14) His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
Christ’s appearance continues to be described…
- Snow white hair – The color snow white is a picture of purity, perfection, completion. White hair is symbolic of old age and the wisdom that comes from it. Christ is not only sinless, but also He possesses all knowledge and wisdom that are perfect and complete. They are error free.
- Eyes as a flame of fire – Eyes are symbolic of perception, knowledge. Fire is a symbol of judgment, revealing, and purity. Christ’s perception is perfect. He can see clearly the true nature of all things. He can see where no man can see (our hearts, minds, unknowable truths etc etc).
These symbols reveal to us Christ as the possessor and source of all perfect and complete knowledge, understanding and wisdom.
(15) And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; John now describes the vision’s representation of Christ’s feet …
1. The feet are representative of Christ’s walk of life (His works that He has and will perform)
2. Fine brass burned in a furnace is a picture of perfect judgment bringing about perfection. Christ, as supreme judge tramples down His enemies taking perfect vengeance against them.
In this vision, we can see that Christ’s works are always just, fair and lawful. We can also see a glimpse of His coming judgment against lost mankind which will result in the renovation (purification) of this world in preparation for eternity.
and his voice as the sound of many waters.
and His voice…
1. the voice is representative of His revealed Word
2. sound of many waters (very loud that drowns out all other sounds) pictures demanding attention and possessing great authority
Here, we have the authority, power and importance of Christ’s Word being symbolized.
(16) And he had in his right hand seven stars:
Christ’s hand held seven stars. In verse 20, we find the stars are the “angels” or “messengers” of the churches. These refer to the pastors of the churches.
- seven stars – put forth a much smaller light than the sun. This is the role of the pastor to share whatever truths they are given from the Lord. Any one pastor only knows a small amount of the entire set of truths of God. It is his responsibility to shine as a light in the midst of the assembly declaring these truths to the members. There are seven pastors which represents one for each of the seven assemblies.
2. right hand – this is the powerful hand, the one with which work is done. Pastors are one of the most important tools that the Lord uses within the assembly to feed, protect and lead His assemblies.
The Pastors of Christ’s assemblies lead, feed and protect the assembly by proclaiming God’s Word in their midst.
and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword:
The sword coming out of Christ’s mouth…
- out of His mouth – is indicating His word is being spoken of
- two-edged sharp sword – is describing the power of the Word (Hebs 4:12)… it can both take life or give life (much like a weapon or a scalpel) This sword is said to be used by the Holy Spirit to do God’s bidding in the lives of the hearers (Eph 6:17)
As the Word is proclaimed, God, in the person of the Holy Spirit, applies His Word to the lives of the hearers.
and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
Christ’s face shown like the sun…
- countenance (face) – pictures for us the person of Christ. We recognize people by looking at their face, likewise we can recognize Christ by seeing His face.
- sun shining brightly – bright light pictures His greatness (glory), holiness, and truth
This teaches us that, when we see the true Christ, we are looking at God Himself in all His glory, the sinless One, the Truth.
(17) And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead.
John’s response to this glorious vision of Christ is fearful reverence, humility and awe. As he falls at His feet we can see a reverent and humble response. To fall “as dead” seems to imply a time of silence and non-movement which helps us see a humble and awe-filled response.
He is shocked, speechless, and guilt-ridden as He recognizes the greatness of His Lord and his own sinful, unworthy, condition.
And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not;
Christ’s hand of comfort, acceptance and power comes upon John. Christ continues to comfort John by telling him that there is nothing to fear.
Christ is not only the Sovereign, Glorious God and King over all, but He is also the compassionate Lord who cares and reassures His servants.
I am the first and the last: (18) I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Christ now begins to describe Himself. This is meant to remind John of His Lordship. Christ begins this threefold description of Himself:
- I am the first and the last – He is the beginning and the ending of all things including all events in history.
- I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; – He is the One that was alive, died on the cross for sinners, was resurrected and is now living and will live throughout eternity.
- and have the keys of hell and of death.
He is the one that is in control of the afterlife. He is in control of the condition and location of the spirit and physical body of those who have died. He will, someday, resurrect both lost and saved, He will preside over their final judgment and consign them to their eternal destiny.
In all of these descriptions, we see Jesus as the living absolute Sovereign over all mankind throughout history and the eternity that is to come.
(19) Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
Jesus has already personally given John the commission to write down the visions that make up the Book of the Revelation (v 11- “what thou seest, write in a book”). Christ now, more fully explains to John the content of the visions that he is receiving…
- the things which thou hast seen – Some of the visions describe events that HAVE ALREADY TAKEN PLACE before the Revelation was penned. They are events, that John had perceived through personal experience, the verbal accounts of others, or through the historical records that existed in John’s day.
This includes events throughout history between creation of the world to just prior to the writing of Revelation (approx. 92 AD).
2. The things which are – Some of these visions describe events that were CURRENTLY TAKING PLACE, as John penned the Book of Revelation.
This includes events that took place approx. in 92-95 AD. This is the approx. time period in which Revelation was written by John.
3. the things which shall be hereafter – Some of the visions describe events that WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE FUTURE (after the penning of Revelation is completed.)
In other words, these events include events that have taken place in history from approx. 96 AD into eternity future.
In the book of Revelation we will see many events in the history of mankind being recorded in the form of visionary symbols. These include events that span all time and reach into eternity future.
(20) The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
Christ now helps John to more fully understand the vision he has just seen (v 10-16). The seven stars that were seen in the right hand of Christ were representative of the “angels” (messengers) of the seven churches. Also, the seven golden candlesticks represent seven local assemblies of the Lord, with Christ standing in their midst communing with them.
Please note: by using the term “mystery” the Lord is simply saying that the interpretation of the candlesticks and stars is not understood by all men, but only those who are taught these things. To the lost and the untaught saved, it is a mystery, but not to all mankind.
CHRIST REVEALED:
In this vision, we see Christ presented as God Himself, interceding on behalf His people as their Great High Priest. As such, He is standing in the midst of His people and His local assemblies on earth enjoying communion and fellowship with them.
THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION (SUMMARY)
May we all recognize Jesus, the True God over all, who has so graciously worked to grant us communion and fellowship with Him. He did this by taking upon Himself the office of Great High Priest, sacrificing Himself on the cross for our sins, arising the third day in victory and constantly intervening on behalf of those for whom He died.
Also, may we all see the importance of local church membership to our enjoyment of a full, close relationship with the Lord. Through this vision we can see that the Lord meets with His local assemblies in a very special way as they worship and honor Him. This truth is also seen in Matthew 18:20… For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
May the Lord bless us as we seek to see Jesus in the pages of the book of Revelation.
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The Revelation Of Jesus Christ: John, … for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ
Rev 1:9 KJV – I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
John describes a life situation he did not share in common with the church members… he was banished to an island (Patmos) because he proclaimed the word of God and testified of his prior experiences during the first coming of Christ. What a wonderful example of a living sacrifice!
Folks, there are times that we all need to stop and be honest with ourselves. We need to be willing to search our hearts and come to an honest evaluation of what lies within us. For this morning, can we take a moment and HONESTLY answer this question… How much are we willing to suffer for Christ?
Are we willing to suffer mockery? How about rejection by our friends or our family? Are we willing to suffer defamation of our motives and character? What about loss of a promotion, a raise, or even our job? What about physical suffering, imprisonment, or torture, as do some missionaries who face persecution every day? Or, of course, are we willing to make the ultimate sacrifice… physical death of a loved one or ourselves?
Going down through these questions (and many others we could ask) is a very sobering exercise for us all, probably for myself more than for any other.
My desire is not for us to say “Yes, I would be willing to suffer all these things for His name’s sake.” To do this would be to think much too highly of ourselves and set ourselves up for a great fall…
Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18)
Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. (1 Corinthians 10:12)
Anyone who is brutally honest in this evaluation will come to the conclusion that, it would only be by God’s intervening grace that we would be willing to suffer these things for His name’s sake…
“But in all [things] approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and [yet] true; As unknown, and [yet] well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and [yet] possessing all things.” (2 Corinthians 6:4-10)
Apart from His intervention, NO ONE could stand under these things. Let us all acknowlege the truth and say, “We are totally deficient, but our Lord is perfectly sufficient to meet our every need” …
“And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency [is] of God; “ (2 Corinthians 3:4-5)
“ And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
(2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
May we all enter our day fully trusting in the Lord… We realize that opposition to our testimony may come our way, our only hope of remaining faithful will be His gracious enabling.
May the Lord bless us as we seek to serve Him, the One that is so clearly revealed to us in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
For an in depth look at this section of the Revelation:
Do We Share In The Patience Of Christ When We Face Hardships?
Rev 1:9 KJV – I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
Christ In The Book Of Hebrews: “who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God”
Heb 9:14 KJV – How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Christ, through the leadership and enabling of the Holy Spirit, gave Himself as the perfectly sinless sacrifice.
“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” (Titus 2:13-14)
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The Revelation Of Jesus Christ: John, … a companion in the patience of Jesus Christ…
Rev 1:9 KJV – I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
John, while under the persecution of the Roman government, was called upon to exercise a tremendous amount of patience. He knew that the churches of Asia were exercising great patience as well in the midst of the opposition that they faced. Because of this, John described himself as a “companion in the patience of Christ”.
Folks, when we face opposition to our service to Christ, one of the most important spiritual fruits we are to exercise is the fruit of patience. The Apostle Paul remembered this truth when he recalled his past sufferings for the cause of Christ…
“But in all [things] approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and [yet] true; As unknown, and [yet] well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and [yet] possessing all things.” (2 Corinthians 6:4-10)
In these verses, Paul explains that the exercise of patience in the midst of hardships results in “approving ourselves as the ministers of God”. In other words, when others see our patience in the midst of persecution for the faith, it proves to them we are genuine followers of Christ.
When we patiently endure persecution, we are following the example that Christ Himself has set for us…
“ For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not;…” (1 Peter 2:21-24)
By being patient in tribulations, we are living representations of what Christ has done for His people. In other words, through the possession of a patient, calm demeanor, we are displaying to a lost and dying world the tremendous love and grace that Christ has shown towards us as He faced such great pain and suffering without complaint or regret.
There are, basically, two areas of belief allow us to patiently endure suffering, our 1 Peter text continues by giving us the first basis of our patience…
“…but committed [himself] to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
First of all, we can be patient in tribulation because we are trusting in our Lord to accompany us, care for us, and allow only what is for our good into our lives.
Paul helps us to understand the second basis of our patience during hardships..
“ For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, [then] do we with patience wait for [it].” (Romans 8:24-25)
Secondly, we find that we can be patient in times of trials because we have hope of a wonderful future. Someday, these trials will pass away and we will enjoy eternal life in glorified bodies, in the presence of our Lord!
May we all seek to live lives of patient enduring during times of hardship, knowing that we are showing Christ to all who are around us.
May the Lord bless us as we seek to serve Him, the One that is so clearly revealed to us in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
For an in depth look at this section of the Revelation:
Christ Is Our King and We Are In His Kingdom…
Rev 1:9 KJV – I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
Settled In Heaven Blog 