Hello Friends!
To kick off the new year,
we’ll begin a new
8-part series surrounding the powerful final
words spoken by our “Savior” to His “church” found in the book of Revelation as we consider how – “Jesus Speaks to His Church!”
Imagine if your congregation received a letter from the Lord of the “church,”
Jesus Christ Himself. What would He say about your “love“ for God’s Word,
your “endurance” in trials and your “faithfulness” in service for Him?
What about your commitment to “discerning” biblical truth from false “doctrine” and lies? How seriously
do you consider “sin” to be in the life of a
true “believer” and is it Biblically addressed
as necessary? With all things considered, would the “words” of Jesus Christ bring a
comforting commendation – Or a convicting condemnation?
We do indeed have such a letter! Jesus’ words to the “seven churches” in the book of Revelation are as relevant today as they were to those first-century “fellowships” 2000 years ago. We have God’s timeless Biblical “truth” to help us experience His blessing, avoid His rebuke and selflessly serve Him effectively in a culture that’s increasingly hostile towards Him and – The Gospel of Jesus Christ!
Revelation:
Jesus Speaks to His Church! (Chapter 1:9-20)
This week we will begin
our reading of verses 9-20 in chapter 1 of
Revelation where Jesus Works Within His Church…
The
“church” of Jesus Christ in the first
century existed from its very outset within a highly godless
environment. The “church” in Jerusalem was
surrounded by apostate Judaism and the “church”
in the Gentile world was entrenched by staunch paganism. These true
“believers” were the enemies of the “world” as severe persecution broke
out in their midst. The Apostles were virtually all rejected and most
of them were martyred, with these atrocities continuing to this
very day. And although Jesus Christ has everything under His Sovereign control concerning His “bride” and has not abandoned her, this is
no doubt an important time for “us”
to take an honest look at the “church”
from a Biblical perspective by asking the question – What will the church become?
To
find the answer to this very important question, we
must turn to the book of Revelation to learn what our Lord Jesus
Christ is doing in His “church”
and what He has to say to His “church”
– Especially today!
As
the exiled and elderly last living Apostle, John begins this wonderful book of Revelation written in the year 95 A.D. with a
recognition of these many concerns in mind. And in chapter 1 he humbly
introduces himself as the “Apostle“
John, a “disciple” of Jesus Christ and “also”
our “brother”:
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 – Revelation 1:9
BIBLICAL BACKGROUND: John doesn’t write only as one who has authority, he also writes as one who is a personal eye witness of the post-resurrected Jesus Christ! In 70 A.D. the Jerusalem temple was destroyed and many Jews were slaughtered. Now, 25 years later, John finds himself incarcerated on a rock island about five miles wide by ten miles long located in the Aegean Sea. The most-hated Apostle John has outlived all his fellow apostles, as they too were systematically terminated in the most fierce of persecutions under Domitian. John writes this incredible book as a man who personally experienced these incredible “revelations” of the Lord Jesus Christ. John had been a “pastor” and “leader” of the “churches” in Asia Minor – modern day Turkey – where these “seven churches” had been established – In the midst of severe persecution!
Next
John finds himself in the “Spirit on the
Lord's day” which is a simple way to say this is not a normal
human experience! John receives a personal visit from the “Alpha and Omega” Himself:
I was in the Spirit on the
Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am
Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book,
and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto
Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto
Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea – Revelation 1:10-11
There
is a clarity in all 12 outstanding “visions”
in this amazing book. John sees actual images of which he is
commanded to “write” down with clarity
of “interpretation” & “understanding” that comes to him in
another dimension. Remember, there were no copy machines on Patmos! Therefore,
John was to “write” the book of Revelation by hand seven times!
Incidentally, the “church” had been “worshipping” on the first day of the
week – “the Lord's day “ – since
Jesus Christ had “risen” from the grave – It was Sunday on Patmos!
Sadly,
in the coming years of these “seven churches”
being established, tragedy had taken hold:
The
“church” in Ephesus
had left its first love – And Jesus Christ
would remove them!
The
“church” in
Pergamos had become idolatrous and immoral – And Jesus Christ would fight against them!
The
“church” in
Thyatira had compromised with sin and worldliness – And Jesus Christ would judge them!
The
“church” in Sardis
was dead for God – And Jesus Christ was angry with them!
The
“church” in Laodicea
was nauseating to God – And Jesus Christ
was sick of them!
IMPORTANT
NOTE: Five out of these initial
seven
“churches” were in dire condition! Only “Smyrna” and “Philadelphia”
received a positive response from Jesus Christ! We will further
address these details accordingly in our future EC-1
studies concerning this new series.
Then
John “turned” as he hears a voice
– a piercing, penetrating voice. The voice of the Lord Himself:
And I turned to see the voice
that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 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. His
head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as
a flame of fire; and His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a
furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters. 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 – Revelation 1:12-16
Evidently,
John’s back was to the “voice”
and he “turned” around to see a “vision” of the glorified
Son of God the “Son of man”
among the “seven golden candlesticks”
as the preeminent One in dignity,
rank
and as ruler over all. He is holy, wise
and omniscient
– Prophet, King and High Priest!
Why seven? Because the number seven
often refers to completeness throughout
God’s Word! This “Son of man” is quite unlike
the Jesus Christ that John saw before His ascension to
heaven. This time Jesus Christ is now in His full
glory! There appears to be a striking difference between
a post-resurrection Jesus Christ and His full glory representative in John’s “vision” described here. Incidentally, the
title “Son of man” is a messianic
title given ONLY to the Lord Jesus Christ. Why?
Because He is the complete fulfillment of the prophecy fond in Daniel chapter 7!
Jesus
Christ also exercises judgment in His “church” and He “intercedes”
to protect,
purify
and discipline
His own. When He speaks with a “voice”
as a “sharp twoedged sword” of authority,
the “church” must listen! Jesus Christ has not
abandoned His “church” and He is still speaking
to His true “church” through His Word,
which is His authoritative command. Therefore, this “vision”
is also to remind us that the “church”
is the “light in the world” of “wicked” darkness. God’s people are
assembled in local “churches” as Gospel “lights” in the world! And here we see that
no matter what is taking place in His “church”
- The Lord Jesus is fully aware!
And
John is overwhelmed as he falls over like a “dead” man… Which is what men such as Isaiah and Ezekiel
of the Old Testament experienced when they had “visions”
of the Lord! Overwhelmed by the majestic “glory”
of the “vision” he encounters, John
is motionless “as dead” and is shocked into
lifelessness:
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: 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 – Revelation 1:17-18
But
John really has nothing to “fear”
here. Why? Because the Lord placed
His “right hand” on him as the “first and the last” and is “alive for evermore, Amen” Why is that important? Because Jesus has
already “died” and “risen” again for His own! Even in our
current fallen state as “sinners,”
we have nothing to fear! That’s why John says earlier of Jesus:
And
from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the
dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved us, and
washed us from our sins in His own blood – Revelation 1:5
Finally,
John is told to “Write the things”
as he has “seen”
in the past, “which are”
in John’s “vision” and which “shall be” long into
the future.
This “mystery”
is identified as the “the seven stars”
and “seven golden candlesticks”
of which represent the “seven churches”
this letter addresses:
Write
the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which
shall be hereafter. 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 – Revelation
1:19-20
POINTS TO PONDER: This is none other than Jesus Christ moving within His “church” as God! And it is instructive to such a degree, that there is no other text in Scripture that gives “us” a more complete glimpse of what Jesus Christ is doing not only among the “seven churches” of Asia Minor to which the book of Revelation was given, but to the whole of His “church” today. This passage of Scripture is given to comfort “believers” and the “angels” (pastors) in the midst of “tribulation,” “persecution” & “trouble” in life. Even when pastors themselves are imprisoned or even executed – The Lord is at work in His church!
In closing:
True
“godliness,” a clear “gospel”
and “sound doctrine” are indeed rare in the “church” today. Sober “worship”
is very difficult to find.
Serious “selfishness” is rampant.
Wicked “worldliness” dominates most people as well as many leaders within the professing “church” itself. Faithful “pastors” and “believers”
look on in wonder and concern.
REAL REFLECTIONS: With this in mind,
what is the true “church” to expect in the future
as the hostility increases and “unbelievers”
see Biblical
Christianity as an “alien”
enemy, making laws against what we “believe”
and how we “live” for Jesus Christ? – How are we to respond?
To
answer these questions, we must go back to the book of Revelation
to “learn” what our Lord is doing
in His “church” and what our Lord
has to say to His “church”
– AMEN!
With
this information as a foundation for your personal studies, please read through verses 9-20 of the first chapter of Revelation.
We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!
If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com
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Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><
Encouraging Concepts
Truth for Today
"Living Life From a Biblical Worldview"Lighthouse Publications <><
