Lord of the Church

Lord of the Church

Revelation 2-3

In Matthew 16, Jesus speaks of the Church for the first time. He says:

Matthew 16:18 (NKJV) “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

The word translated “church” in this verse is the Greek word “ἐκκλησίαν” (ekklēsían). “Ekklesian” is a compound word meaning “to call out.” In the case of the New Testament Church, Jesus uses this word to denote a people called out of the world to Himself.  

Our English word “church” comes from the Greek word “Kurios”, which means Lord, Master, or of the Lord. Webster gives this short history of the word:

Middle English chirche, from Old English cirice, ultimately from Late Greek kyriakon, from Greek, neuter of kyriakos of the lord, from kyrios lord, master

Jesus said He would build His gathering of “called out ones,” and we have come to call that the “Church,” which means “of the Lord.” I like that designation, just as I like being called “Christian,” which means “of Christ.”

In the New Testament, the Church is called the “Body of Christ” and the “Bride of Christ.” Ephesians says:

Ephesians 1:22 (NKJV) And He put all [things] under His feet, and gave Him [to be] head over all [things] to the church,

Jesus is the head of the Church, which is also stated in Ephesians 5:23.

Ephesians 5:23 (NKJV) For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.

In Revelation 2 and 3, we see Jesus functioning as the head of the Church. He holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. Then as we move into chapters 2 and 3, Jesus directly addresses each church. 

The message to each church is fitted to the circumstances of that locale, but the structure of the message is similar.

First, the location is addressed with the statement, “To the angel of the church in ….”

Second, there is a statement of “The words of ….” “He who…”, the words that follow this beginning phrase are a description of Jesus taken from the vision of the first chapter of Revelation that fits the circumstances in that particular church. For example, Revelation 2 starts out:

Revelation 2:1 (NKJV) “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:

Third, each message begins with the expression, “I know your works….”

Fourth each message has a commendation where Jesus affirms their positive works. However, the letters to Sardis and Laodicea have no commendation.

Fifth, each message has a condemnation where Jesus points out their particular sin. However, the letters to Smyrna and Philadelphia contain no condemnation.

Sixth, each message has a promise that begins, “He who overcomes….”

Finally, each message concludes with the statement, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” 

This is outlined like this:

1. To the angel of the church in…
2. The words of He who… 
3. I know your works…
4. Commendation (except Sardis and Laodicea) 
5. Condemnation (except Smyrna and Philadelphia)
6. He who overcomes…
7. He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

As we read through the letters to each church, keep these elements in mind. Remember that these letters were also written for our benefit. We can look at our own lives and the life of our church and with the Lord’s help apply them to our situation.

First, let’s look at the church at Ephesus.

Revelation 2:1-7 (NKJV) 1 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 “and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 “Nevertheless I have [this] against you, that you have left your first love. 5 “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent. 6 “But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’

Each of us can examine ourselves by the standard of this letter and should ask ourselves, “Have I left my first love?”

Let’s consider the church at Smyrna.

Revelation 2:8-11 (NKJV) 8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: 9 “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and [I know] the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but [are] a synagogue of Satan. 10 “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw [some] of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” ’

At any time, the world can turn and we could suffer persecution. Are we ready to suffer for the name of Christ?

To the church at Pergamos John wrote.

Revelation 2:12-17 (NKJV) 12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: 13 “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne [is.] And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas [was] My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 “But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15 “Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 “Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. 17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives [it.]” ’ (secret knowledge)

This church was guilty of embracing sexual immorality. Many churches in the United States have taken this stance. Have you compromised morally?

Next, to the church at Thyatira John wrote:

Revelation 2:18-29 (NKJV) 18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, ‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: 19 “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and [as] for your works, the last [are] more than the first. 20 “Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman (your wife) Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 “And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 “Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 23 “I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. 24 “Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. 25 “But hold fast what you have till I come. 26 “And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations-- 27 ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’-- as I also have received from My Father; 28 “and I will give him the morning star. 29 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ (divine power in life)

The problem with this church is that they accepted a false prophet, a false teacher. Each of us, along with Thyatira, must examine our own heart and doctrine against Scripture to see if we have abandoned sound doctrine.

Next, to the church in Sardis John wrote:

Revelation 3:1-6 (NKJV) 1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 3 “Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4 “You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5 “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. 6 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ (complete trust in Jesus)

This is very serious. Are you pretending to have faith without having faith or the Spirit of God? Have you deceived yourself?

To the church in Philadelphia Jesus says:

Revelation 3:7-13 (NKJV) 7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: 8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9 “Indeed I will make [those] of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie--indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. 12 “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And [I will write on him] My new name. 13 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ (strength and honor)

We must pray for an open door that no one can shut, and then when God opens that door, we must go through it. What is your open door to preach the gospel? Where is the Lord working?

Finally, to the church in Laodicea, Jesus says:

Revelation 3:14-22 (NKJV) 14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 “So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’--and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked-- 18 “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, [that] the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ” (sit in the very presence of Jesus)

Jesus stands at the door and knocks because these people did not believe they needed Him. We must make a habit of relying fully on Jesus.

A link to a video of this message.

Among the Lampstands

 

Revelation 1:20

Last week we considered different visions of God, given throughout the Bible, and we saw that John’s vision is consistent with all of these. However, one difference is that the One who John saw is Jesus.

Jesus presents Himself with the exact words that God uses of Himself.

Revelation 1:11 (NKJV) saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,”

 

Let’s revisit the setting where Revelation chapter one is taking place. John was on the island of Patmos and was in the spirit on the Lord’s day. He heard a loud voice behind him. Let’s read what he saw.

Revelation 1:12-13 (NKJV) ¹²Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, ¹³and in the midst of the seven lampstands [One] like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.

Revelation 1:16 (NKJV) He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance [was] like the sun shining in its strength.

John saw One like the Son of Man.

Jesus called Himself “Son of Man.” This name comes from the Old Testament prophet Daniel. Daniel says:

Daniel 7:13-14 (NKJV) ¹³“I was watching in the night visions, and behold, [One] like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. ¹⁴Then 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 [the] [one] which shall not be destroyed.

From this passage, we understand that the “Son of Man” is the Messiah, the One anointed by God to be king. When Jesus was in Judea with John and the other disciples, He referred to Himself as the Son of Man, saying things like:

Matthew 25:13 (NKJV) “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

When John saw Jesus among the lampstands, he noted that he saw One like the Son of Man. According to Daniel, the Son of Man is to be given a dominion and glory and a kingdom. This is the Son of Man who is among the lampstands. Revelation 1 verse 20 tells us:

Revelation 1:20 (NKJV) “The mystery of the seven stars which 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 which you saw are the seven churches.

I noted previously that lampstands hold the light but do not produce the light. At one time, Jesus said:

Matthew 5:14 (NKJV) “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

We, the Church, are the light of the world. As the body of Christ, we carry the light. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit and said:

Acts 1:8 (NKJV) “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

God speaks to the world in a number of ways. He speaks through creation, and He speaks through His written word. He also gives people dreams and visions. The Church’s role in carrying the light to all people is crucial. God chooses to work through us.

Because of this crucial role, keeping His Church pure is paramount to Jesus. He walks among the lampstands and holds the seven stars in His hands. When He ascended to heaven, Jesus said, “Behold, I am with you always.” We are never out of His sight and care.

Revelation 1:20 says, “The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches.” 

Revelation 1:20 (NKJV) “The mystery of the seven stars which 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 which you saw are the seven churches.

The word translated as “angel” means “messenger.” In the New Testament, this word is used almost exclusively of God’s spirit messengers that we call angels. However, there are places where it is used of men who carry messages from God. For example, in Mark 1:20 and Luke 7:27, this same word is used of John the Baptist who was God’s messenger.

Jesus has John write a letter to the seven churches, and at the beginning of each portion directed to a particular church, He says, “To the angel of the church of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, etc. Why would Jesus write a letter to heavenly angels? No place in Scripture has such a strange thing. Now, we know that the Revelation given to John is unusual, but, like the rest of Scripture, it is intended for humans. A heavenly (spirit) angel, would not be sent a letter from the Lord. We do not get to read their mail. However, God has a human messenger in each church. Sometimes the word for this human messenger is translated “bishop” and in other places referred to as “pastor” or “shepherd.” Bishop and pastor are synonymous (two different words that point to the same office or position). The word translated as “bishop” is more literally rendered as “overseer.”

Jesus’ commendation and warnings for each church are directed to the pastor (the “messenger”) of that church. The overseer, or shepherd, of a church is responsible for the condition of that church.

As we look at chapter 2 and 3, each church is addressed by the Lord Jesus according to the characteristics of Jesus that are most fit for that church.

The church in Ephesus is addressed from Jesus as “He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands.” (Verse 2:1)

The church in Smyrna is addressed from Jesus as “the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life.” (Verse 2:8)

The church in Pergamos is addressed from Jesus as “He who has the sharp two-edged sword.” (Verse 2:12)

The church in Thyatira is addressed from Jesus as “the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass.” (Verse 18)

The church in Sardis is addressed from Jesus as “He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars.” (Verse 3:1)

The church in Philadelphia is addressed by Jesus as “He who is holy, He who is true, He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens.” (Verse 3:7)

The church in Laodicea is addressed by Jesus as “the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God.” (Verse 3:14)

Each church is addressed according to the condition of the fellowship. The focus is on the church’s corporate “heart” toward the Lord Jesus. The circumstances or setting of each church was not as important as their attitude toward the Lord Jesus.

However, part of the key to understanding the condition of each church is understanding the city of that church.

As believers, we are called to be holy as God is holy. We say we are to be “in” but not “of” the world. However, we see in the seven churches that we are influenced by our environment. 

Each culture or people group is distinguished by some trait or “personality.” 

For example, if you will forgive me for making sweeping generalizations, the Germans are generally known for Engineering, the Italians for clothing or food, the French for food or romance. Accordingly, there are differences in German, French or Italian churches that reflect their culture. I must put in a disclaimer here that these are outlandishly broad generalizations to make a point and we need to be careful not to judge people as being one way because of ethnicity, language or national background. The point remains though that a person from California will, in general, be different from a person from Chicago, who will also be different from a person from New York, who is different from a person from London. While all speak English, they speak with different accents and use some words differently. 

Now, let’s take this difference in the use of the English language a little farther. When I was a boy, television was black and white and broadcasts were produced locally. A family moved to Idaho (where I was) from Alabama, and they had a son a year or two older than me. When he talked, I could not understand him; his accent was too thick. Now, jump forward to the present. Television is international. I can watch police dramas from Wales, Miami, Hawaii, and Los Angeles, and, as a result, accents have become a non-issue in speaking with people from other areas because we are all watching the same shows.

Television has conformed our language to a more uniform or common usage.

As the Church living in the world, our thinking, our language, and our morals are affected by the culture and neighborhood we live in. In just the last fifteen years, our world has been completely transformed by the smart-phone and internet. And, the Church is moving along with the world. Being Christians does not keep us from watching the same videos and looking at the same media.

This new and changing world situation demands that we take particular care not to be conformed to this world. As the Scriptures say in Romans 12:1-2:

Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV) ¹I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, [which is] your reasonable service. ²And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what [is] that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

In Revelation 2 and 3, we see Jesus among the lampstands. These lampstands are the seven churches or seven different cities. Each church was shaped by its environment.

Ephesus - was the most important city of Asia Minor, but it had a port that kept silting in and so had to struggle to keep its position. The church also started out as the first and most important church of the region, but in the business of maintaining that position lost its passion. Thus the warning from Jesus to return to their first love.

Smyrna - was a city fiercely devoted to Rome and Emperor worship. They did not tolerate other gods, so the church in Smyrna was persecuted and forced (persecuted) to be separate. They received no rebuke, only encouragement.

Pergama - was the capital city of Asia Minor and its greatest city. It was well aware of its status so it accepted various outside influences. The church also did not maintain moral purity but compromised.

Thyatira - was a prosperous city that was not easily defended. Business was run by guilds and so to be in business in Thyatira meant one had to be in the guilds, and to be in the guilds Christians compromised doctrinal purity.

Sardis - as a city appeared prosperous but because of shifting politics and trade it was as good as dead. The church also had once been alive and active, but at the time of the letter was active but dead. 

Philadelphia - was a young city, that had a lot going for it. The church in Philadelphia was small yet faithful. Like the city it showed great promise.

Laodicea - was rich. The city was so very prosperous that when it was destroyed by an earthquake, instead of accepting aid from Rome, they funded their own reconstruction. They were very self-sufficient. So, was the church; they hardly needed Jesus.

We will look some more at how Jesus was the answer for each of these churches, but for now we need to recognize that the characteristic of Himself that Jesus uses to open His words to each church is of utmost importance. In that particular characteristic is the answer for the problems of that church.

Every church can be classified as being similar in character to one of these seven churches, and just like these churches, the answer to the problems is found in the character of Jesus.

He walks among the churches to help, strengthen, encourage, and correct us. But do we have ears to hear?

How have we been conformed to the world?

Bow your head right now and ask the Lord to show you where you are at spiritually. Have you abandoned your first love for Him? Have you compromised morally to fit in? Have you adopted false doctrine for conveniences sake? Have you remained busy in the Lord’s work, but without any real relationship with the Lord? Are you in a place spiritually that you find that you have no needs or anything that causes you to cry out to the Lord for help? 

Start here with these questions.

Do I love the Lord with all my heart?

Do I love my neighbor as myself?

Am I growing as a disciple of Jesus?

Visions of God

Revelation 1:12-22

In the introduction to Revelation, John says:

Revelation 1:1 (NKJV) The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants--things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified [it] by His angel to His servant John,

This opening tells us that this is the Revelation of Jesus Christ. The book’s main character is Jesus Christ, and it records His works. In addition, Revelation reveals much concerning Jesus’ nature and person. Another way of saying this is to say, “Revelation adds to our Theology (knowledge of God).” 

Revelation builds on our knowledge of God by visually representing things and events in heaven and the spiritual realm’s interaction with the earth. 

One of the most shocking and startling visual representations is the opening vision of Jesus Christ. It is shocking in the sense that He is pictured as having “eyes like flames of fire” and a “sharp two-edged sword” coming from His mouth. This visual representation of Jesus is also startling in that up to this point in the New Testament, Jesus has been gentle, humble, and compassionate. While His grace and compassion are unchanging, the picture of a sword and fire does not suggest these characteristics.

While we are beginning with the eyes like flames of fire and sharp two-edged sword,” other features are mentioned that communicate truth. We are reminded of what Hebrews 1 tells us of Jesus.

Hebrews 1:1-3 (NKJV) ¹God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, ²has in these last days spoken to us by [His] Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; ³who being the brightness of [His] glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Look at verse 3 again. Jesus is the brightness of God’s glory and the express image of His person. In John 14, Jesus tells us, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).

Think about what that means! He who has seen Jesus has seen the Father!

When God sent His Son, He sent him as one of us in a humble, gentle manner in order to invite us to accept His mercy and grace. However, some of the visual revelations of God throughout the Bible are anything but humble and gentle. 

In Exodus, when God met with Israel at Mount Sinai, we are told:

Exodus 19:16 (NKJV) Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who [were] in the camp trembled.

As Israel stood before the mountain, the Lord descended and was manifested in the physical world. The lightning was real (not imaginary or visionary); the smoke, sound, and trembling took place in this physical realm.

God is a person, not a human person, but a person in the sense that He thinks, feels, and has His own being inside Himself (i.e., He is self-aware). He sent His Son so that we can understand that we are created in His image. But, this is where the similarity ends because He is the Almighty Creator and has no physical limits. So, when God gives glimpses of Himself in the world or in visions, these glimpses are both terrifying and difficult to describe.

In addition to Sinai, two revelations of God stand out: Isaiah’s vision in Isaiah 6 and Ezekiel’s vision in Ezekiel 1.

First, let’s read what Isaiah saw.

Isaiah 6:1-5 (NKJV) ¹In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His [robe] filled the temple. ²Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. ³And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy [is] the LORD of hosts; The whole earth [is] full of His glory!” ⁴And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. ⁵So I said: “Woe [is] me, for I am undone! Because I [am] a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts.”

The Lord was sitting on a throne, seraphim stood around Him covering face and feet with wings, and the Lord’s presence caused smoke to fill the house. Isaiah’s response was, “Woe is me, for I am undone!”

Next, look at how Ezekiel describes what He saw.

Ezekiel 1:26-28 (NKJV) ²⁶And above the firmament over their heads [was] the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne [was] a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it. ²⁷Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around. ²⁸Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so [was] the appearance of the brightness all around it. This [was] the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. So when I saw [it,] I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One speaking.

Brightness and glory that overwhelms the human mind surround the Lord God. Notice Ezekiel’s response to what he saw. “So when I saw it, I fell on my face.”

In the Gospel accounts, we are introduced to God in the flesh. However, Peter, James, and John were given a glimpse of the glory of God in Jesus. At the Mount of Transfiguration, they were given a glimpse of who Jesus is.

Matthew 17:1-6 (NKJV) ¹…Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; ²and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. ³And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. ⁴Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” ⁵While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” ⁶And when the disciples heard [it,] they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.

These men, who were Jesus’ closest companions, fell on their faces and were greatly afraid! In Revelation, around 60 years later, John sees Jesus’ glory once again. And, once again, he is overwhelmed to the point that He fell at Jesus’ feet as dead. Here is how John describes what he saw.

Revelation 1:12-16 (NKJV) ¹²Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, ¹³and in the midst of the seven lampstands [One] like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. ¹⁴His head and hair [were] white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; ¹⁵His feet [were] like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; ¹⁶He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance [was] like the sun shining in its strength.

This description of Jesus reminds us of Israel, Isaiah, and Ezekiel’s visions of God. However, a difference that we see in John’s narrative is that it is clear that this vision is enhanced with symbols. For example, a physical sword from our physical world is not sticking out of Jesus’ mouth. While I do not profess to know what Jesus’ eyes are made of, they are not made out of physical fire. These images are given to communicate truth about Jesus in His person.

Jesus tells us that some things that John is seeing are symbolic. He says:

Revelation 1:20 (NKJV) “The mystery of the seven stars which 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 which you saw are the seven churches.

The seven lampstands are us, the Church. As an important side note, we should notice that the lampstand holds up the light as a “light bearer” but is not the source of the light. We are the light of the world because we carry the Spirit in our persons and corporately as a body. The source of the light, however, is Jesus. We will consider some of the implications of this as we look at the seven churches.

However, as John beholds His Savior, He notices His eyes. When I meet a person, I like to look in their eyes, and by this act, I seek to connect with that person; even if briefly, I fix my attention on that person. When we connect with Jesus, He sees into our souls. He knows our thoughts, intentions, and desires. This is the fire. It is a refining fire because everything about us is laid open and bare before Him who is perfect in holiness and power. He is our judge, the One we lived in fear of before the cross. Even as believers, we are refined by this fire. As Peter says:

1 Peter 1:6-7 (NKJV) ⁶In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷that the genuineness of your faith, [being] much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ…

We are to be found to praise, honor, and glory God, but this means we must be refined like gold in the fire. Jesus, who began a good work in us, will continue that work until it is complete, as Philippians 1:6 tells us.

Related to this is the sharp two-edged sword that is seen coming from Jesus’ mouth. Ephesians 6 tells us what our spiritual armor is. Of all the armor, the only offensive weapon we are described as having is a sword, which is said to be “the word of God.” Hebrews tells us this:

Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) For the word of God [is] living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Jesus is the Word, He is with God, and He is God. We see Him thus in Revelation, and the sword coming from His mouth reminds us of this. The word from His mouth vanquishes His foes and lays bare before Him all our thoughts and intentions. 

We would despair but for other elements of His appearance. For one, His garment is a robe down to His feet with a gold sash. Oh! Such a glory! These are the robes of a priest! He is our high priest. In Exodus, the priest’s robes are described, and the one difference is the Old Testament priests wore a plate with stones representing the 12 tribes of Israel on their chest. But Jesus, Oh Jesus, He wears a gold sash over His chest because His is the perfect priesthood, and He represents all the tribes and nations of the earth before the throne of God.

His loud voice speaks of His absolute victory over sin, death, and the grave, and His white hair speaks of His purity. The feet are the feet of the mighty warrior who conquers the earth and all His (our) enemies. 

These things are terrifying to His enemies and the glory of us who He calls His friends.

I want to draw a very brief and sudden conclusion to this talk. 

We, like John, should fall as dead before our great and glorious God and Savior, and then getting up as He has raised us, we need to tell people, publish far and wide, what we have seen, the things that are, and the things that will be. 

Jesus is the only hope of this world, and He has us here as His Church to be people who help people know Jesus. It really is as simple as that.

Our great commandments are to love God and People, and our great commission is to disciple, baptize, and teach. We are people who help people know Jesus.

How are you doing with this?

The first step is to accept Jesus.

The second step is to learn how to walk by:

1. joining with other believers (church membership, our combined efforts go much further than our individual efforts ever could, plus Jesus works through His Church)
2. finding a place to serve (we serve Jesus by serving others as part of His body)
3. teaching others to do as we have done.

In the Spirit

Revelation 1:9-11

Revelation 1:9 (NKJV) I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

John was on the island of Patmos. Having been Jesus’ closest friend and companion, John was a long way from Judea. He had traveled many miles and spent many years serving Jesus as an Apostle. He was now approximately 96 years old and historians from around 100 years after these events testified that at one time John was dipped in boiling oil and miraculously did not die.

As he gives his account, notice the humility with which he approaches us. He was an Apostle, chosen by Jesus, and He wrote one gospel and three epistles in the New Testament. However, he does not claim any position or authority but counts himself as a brother and a companion with us in the tribulation, kingdom, and patience of Jesus Christ.

Let’s consider tribulations, since John was suffering for the sake of the gospel at the time he received the Revelation. The Lord Jesus and the Apostles stressed that we must go through trials. For example, Acts 14:22 says:

Acts 14:22 (NKJV) “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”

John knew what suffering is. He witnessed the suffering of Jesus, he knew of the deaths of all the other Apostles (who were his friends and companions), and he, himself, was exiled as a criminal. John MacArthur says the following in his commentary on Revelation. 

John was probably sent to Patmos as a criminal (as a Christian, he was a member of an illegal religious sect). If so, the conditions under which he lived would have been harsh. Exhausting labor under the watchful eye (and ready whip) of a Roman overseer, insufficient food and clothing, and having to sleep on the bare ground would have taken their toll on a ninety-year-old man. (John MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Revelation 1)

These comments from John MacArthur are consistent with what historians from that era have recorded. 

 

This is what has become of the cave where John is believed to have received the Revelation!

What is important to us is the brotherhood we have in our suffering for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. We are members of a kingdom this world cannot see. As for the kingdom, the gospel of Luke gives the following account.

Luke 17:20-21 (NKJV) ²⁰Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; ²¹“nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

In this passage, Jesus says the kingdom of God is within us. As members of God’s kingdom, we have values, goals, and objective that the world does not accept or understand. While the world persecutes us because of these differences, we must remember that we wrestle not against flesh and blood. The world lies in the power of the evil one and as members of God’s kingdom, we are at war with the evil one. Jesus said that He will build His church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. In other words, the devil is doing everything he can to stop us.

Gates are built to protect against invasion. In 2 Corinthians 10 we are told:

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NKJV) ³For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. ⁴For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, ⁵casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

In Christ Jesus, we have overcome the world; the victory is already ours.

Our tribulation is for the kingdom, filling up what is lacking in Christ sufferings,(Colossians 1:24 (NKJV) I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,). As the body of Christ on earth, we are advancing His kingdom and saving souls from destruction. 

(Going back to Rev. 1:9) According to John, we labor for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. He says, that he is, our “brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:9). The labor he speaks of requires perseverance. (The NKJV says “patience” but this “patience” means not quitting or giving up.) We bear up under tribulation because we know that we are victors in Christ Jesus. Revelation tells of the victory of the Lord Jesus Christ over all His enemies. The benefit for us of reading and knowing this book is that we gain courage to persevere because we know the end of the story.

In order to receive the Revelation, John first was “in the Spirit.” He serves as an example for us. We are commanded to walk by the Spirit and we need to learn what this means. We know that we are to abide in Jesus by obeying His word, and the key to walking by the Spirit is found in yielding our will to God and obeying His word even if our flesh wants to do something else.

While in the Spirit, John was given the Revelation and saw things that for God are history, but to us are still future. God is not limited by time. For this reason, Jesus said, “before Abraham was born, I AM.” Jesus spoke these words more than a thousand years after Abraham’s day, but He speaks in the present tense. In the same way, the things that John saw while “in the Spirit” were more than a dream, according to Jesus, John was seeing things which were, things which are, and things yet to come.

Revelation 1:19 (NKJV) “Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.”

By recording what he saw, John wrote things which are, were, and will be. John saw these things with spiritual eyes and says:

Revelation 1:10 (NKJV) I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,

He was in the Spirit. The things that John saw were not seen with his physical eyes, but with spiritual eyes. In 2 Corinthians 12, the Apostle Paul tells of seeing visions and not knowing whether or not he was in the body or in the Spirit. While John was aware that he was in the Spirit, the things that he saw were more certain than what we see with our physical eyes. Seeing with spiritual eyes is a significant part of the book of Revelation. Four times, John reminds us that he was shown things “in the Spirit.”

Revelation 1:10 (NKJV) I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet

Revelation 4:2 (NKJV) And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and [one] sat on the throne.

Revelation 17:3 (NKJV) So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

Revelation 21:10 (NKJV) And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God…

Revelation must be understood with spiritual eyes. As is true with all the word of God, we must have the help of the Holy Spirit to understand what is being said. With each of the four verses referring to being in the Spirit, what John is seeing changes. These changes mark transitions that help us as we work through the text of Revelation.

On the Lord’s day that John tells us about in chapter one, while in the Spirit, he heard a voice. We are told that the voice was loud, like a trumpet, and it was behind him.

When Elijah was on the mountain, God sent fire, wind, and earthquake, but God was not in any of these.  God came in a still, small voice. The Holy Spirit whispers to our inner man saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” However, when Jesus comes for His Church, He will come with a shout, the voice of an archangel, and a trumpet sound. At that time, the dead in Christ will rise first, and then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). This does not say anything about the unbelieving dead, nor those who do not believe, but speaks exclusively to those who belong to Christ. And this is one occasion where the Lord uses a loud voice. He does this to call His people from every part of the earth. In John 11:43, Jesus called Lazarus out of the tomb with a loud voice. The Lord Jesus did not need to raise His voice to bring Lazarus out. He shouted for the benefit of those around Him so that there was no question what was happening. A loud voice is meant to get our attention, and a trumpet is used for the same thing. When the events of 1 Thessalonians 4 take place, only those who are in Christ Jesus will answer the call. When John heard the voice, only He answered the call.

John was in the Spirit when He heard the voice so it is apparent that he was waiting quietly before the Lord, which is a good practice for the Lord’s Day. When John heard the voice, it was behind him. The Lord Jesus was not trying to sneak up on John, rather like all of us when we come before the Lord, we do not know where the Lord will come from. We must wait before the Lord in humility. In our conceit and pride, we tend to anticipate where the Lord will come from, and find that He comes in a way and from a direction we did not anticipate. For some reason, John was not facing the Lord when He came.

The voice said:

Revelation 1:11 (NKJV) saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send [it] to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”

This is Jesus; the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last. He says something similar in verse 18.

Revelation 1:18 (NKJV) “I [am] He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. 

John introduces Him in his gospel account as:

John 1:1 (NKJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

As we observed in the introduction to Revelation, in the gospels we see the suffering Savior who was despised and rejected by men. Now, in Revelation we see the risen, triumphant Lord and King; we see the beginning and the end, the everlasting Father.

Jesus tells John to put what he sees in a book, and that is the book we hold in our hands today. John wrote it in Greek, but if you have the ESV, NASB, NKJV, KJV and other literal translations, you have as close as we can get to a word-for-word rendering of what John recorded in the book he was commanded to write. 

As we observed in the introduction, there were more than seven churches in Asia, but the number seven represents completeness or fullness and therefore these seven stand for the whole Church throughout history. We are represented in those who are to receive the book and indeed we have.

John was on Patmos, exiled for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. The rest of the Apostles had been killed for their testimony and John was the last of those who had walked with Jesus. Twelve men gave their lives for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. We are called on to do the same. As John was instructed to write what he saw, we are commanded to teach what we have been taught concerning the way. We are commanded to give testimony to the truth.

We do not have much time. The days of the book of Revelation are upon us; therefore, we must be prepared to leave this earth soon. We need to spend more time in the Spirit and less time pursuing the things of the flesh. There are only a few things that really matter.

1. Love God
2. Love your neighbor
3. Tell others about Jesus
4. Teach others how to walk with Jesus.

We have been left with these commandments. This is what we are to be doing.