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Seeing Jesus
- 1st – The Vision… vs. 9-11
- 1st – John our brother… vs. 9
- I – John – your brother!
- As John begins to describe what he SAW in this REVELATION of Jesus…
- He first describes himself – emphasizing that He is just LIKE us…
- He does NOT call himself an APOSTLE – or a PASTOR [titles]
- He calls himself our BROTHER [ἀδελφός] – he is just another SINNER saved by GRACE!
- John was an APOSTLE – and PASTOR – but he wanted to RELATE to us…
- And although he was given the most POWERFUL vision every recorded in the Bible…
- It was NOT because he was special – he was just a SINNER!
- We tend to like TITLES – it feels nice when people us them to address us…
- But if I am honest – I am WARRY of being called Pastor…
- The dilemma is – all TITLES do practically is cause separation…
- It puts people on a pedestal – as if they are MORE – or BETTER than others…
- They make people forget we are just like them – SINNERS who are saved by GRACE…
- Therefore ANYTHING God does in our lives – He can do in ANYONES life!
- [Our] companion in the tribulation – and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ!
- John goes on to describe THREE ways he is our COMPANION [συγκοινωνός] – 4x in NT
- The word means to be a PARTAKER with – to have something in COMMON [κοινός]
- TRIBULATION [θλῖψις] – like us John went through HARD times – John 16:33
- KINGDOM [βασιλεία] – like us John also was also a citizen of the KINGDOM of God…
- PATIENCE [ὑπομονή] – [ὑπό] is the preposition UNDER – and [μένω] means to ABIDE…
- Like us – John had to ABIDE in Jesus – as he waited for the KINGDOM to come!
- When we put our FAITH in Jesus – we become citizens of His KINGDOM…
- But until the day comes when He brings us HOME – we will go through TRIBULATION…
- That TRIBULATION – our TRIALS – teach us to CLING [μένω] to Jesus…
- As we – just like John – wait patiently for Jesus to come!
- James 1:2-3 – “Count it all joy… knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”
- I – John – your brother!
- 2nd – Patmos… vs. 9
- Was on the island that is called Patmos!
- As we mentioned in our INTRODUCTION to the book…
- PATMOS – is a small island about 70km off the coast of Ephesus [Turkey]
- The Romans used the island as a PRISON for their worst criminals!
- For the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ!
- John was banished there for teaching the WORD of God [Bible]
- And because of his WITNESS [μαρτυρία] for Jesus Christ!
- Church tradition [Tertullian] – tells us Rome tried to kill John by boiling him in oil…
- When he miraculously survived – he was exiled to PATMOS!
- John 15:20 – “If they persecuted Me – they will also persecute you.”
- Standing up for Jesus comes with a COST – the world will try and SILENCE us…
- But no matter how BAD a day we are having – what TRIALS we might face…
- At least no one has tried to BOIL us in oil – or banish us to a remote Island!
- Was on the island that is called Patmos!
- 3rd – The Lords day… vs. 10
- I was in the Spirit on the Lords Day!
- The Lords DAY – ONLY mentioned here in all of the Bible…
- It could refer to the SABBATH day – the ONE day set aside for the LORD – Exodus 20:9-10
- It could also refer to SUNDAY – when the CHURCH met to worship – Acts 20:7
- But the DAY is not important – what matters is John was in the SPIRIT…
- He was WORSHIPING the LORD – and then he SAW the LORD!
- There are people who make a BIG deal out of what DAY we meet to WORSHIP…
- But the DAY is not important – what matters is that we WORSHIP – we are in the SPIRIT!
- Colossians 2:16-17 – “Let no one judge you… regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths – which are a shadow of things to come – but the substance is of Christ.”
- 4th – Seven churches… vs. 10-11
- And I heard behind me a loud voice – as of a trumpet!
- As John was worshiping – BEHIND him he heard a MEGA [μέγας] voice…
- It was as LOUD as a TRUMPET – 110 decibels – almost as loud as a thunderclap!
- It is interesting John heard it from BEHIND – he was going the WRONG way…
- And Jesus LOUDLY got his attention to TURN him around!
- Saying [present] – I am the Alpha and the Omega – the First and the Last!
- I AM [Ἐγώ ἐιμι] – we are familiar with the SEVEN – I AM statements of the Gospel of John…
- Jesus said I AM – the Good shepherd – the light of the world – the Resurrection and the life…
- Here Jesus adds the title – the [Α] ALPHA and [Ω] OMEGA – [2nd of 4x in Revelation]
- The FIRST and LAST letters of the GREEK alphabet!
- Because Jesus was there BEFORE the BEGINNING – the [אֵ] and the [ת] – Genesis 1:1
- And He will be there AFTER the END – Revelation 22:13
- What you see – write [imperative] in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia!
- John was to record what he SAW for the SEVEN churches – interpreted in THREE ways!
- Referring to the HISTORY of the church – from PENTECOST to the RAPTURE…
- Referring to different KINDS of churches – the TOTAL [seven] church…
- Referring to SEVEN literal churches in the days of John!
- To Ephesus – to Smyrna – to Pergamos – to Thyatira – to Sardis – to Philadelphia – and Laodicea!
- Here we are given the LIST of the SEVEN literal churches…
- All located in the Roman province of Asia Minor – modern day southwest Turkey…
- They will each be individually addressed in – Revelation 2-3
- And I heard behind me a loud voice – as of a trumpet!
- 1st – John our brother… vs. 9
- 2nd – Description of Jesus… vs. 12-16
- What John SAW… vs. 12
- I turned to see the voice that spoke with me – having turned I saw seven golden lampstands!
- John TURNED around to SEE [βλέπω] – to LOOK with his eyes…
- What he SAW [εἴδω] – often translated as to KNOW…
- He SAW Jesus standing in SEVEN lampstands – more on this in a minute – Revelation 1:20
- John did not just TURN around to LOOK – he TURNED so he could KNOW – Jesus!
- There were MANY people who SAW Jesus – when He walked on the earth…
- Yet it did not CHANGE them – they moved on and FORGOT what they SAW!
- Those who TURN to Jesus – so that they can KNOW Him – truly SEE Him…
- In all His POWER – GLORY – and SPLENDOR – and they are NEVER the same again!
- John goes on to give the ONLY description of Jesus in the NT – he gives us SEVEN things:
- 1st – Son of man… vs. 13
- In the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man!
- In the MIDDLE of the LAMPSTANDS – important location – Revelation 1:20
- Was one LIKE – here is our word that tells us NOT to take it literally…
- LIKE – the Son of MAN – meaning the APPEARANCE of Jesus was HUMAN!
- But He is NOT human – He is GOD who took on the FORM of a MAN…
- So that He could be offered as a SACRIFICE for the SINS of men on the CROSS!
- Philippians 2:7-8 – “Taking the form of a bondservant – and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man – He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death – even the death of the cross.”
- 2nd – Long Robe… vs. 13
- Clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band!
- Jesus wore a LONG robe – that went all the way down to His feet…
- It had a GOLDEN belt that went around His chest!
- His clothing is reminiscent of the High Priest – Exodus 28
- The GOLDEN band around His HEART – perhaps speaking of His immeasurable LOVE for us!
- Because Jesus is our HIGH priest – who LOVES us – and LEADS us into His THRONE room!
- Hebrews 4:14 – “We have a great High Priest… Jesus the Son of God.”
- 3rd – White hair… vs. 14
- His head and hair were white like wool – as white as snow!
- Jesus had WHITE hair – LIKE the color of wool or snow…
- This could be referring to His WISDOM – the GREY hair of the elderly…
- God is described as the ANCIENT [old] of Days – with WHITE hair – Daniel 7:9
- With that AGE – comes WISDOM – because we have LEARNED from our experiences!
- Proverbs 20:29 – “The gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old.”
- Referring to His PURITY…
- The color WHITE in the Bible is used for PURITY – Isaiah 1:18
- The white HEAD and HAIR of Jesus refers to His PURE mind – there is NO evil…
- From head to toe He is all GOOD – all PURE – all WHITE!
- His head and hair were white like wool – as white as snow!
- 4th – Eyes of Fire… vs. 14
- His eyes like a flame of fire!
- His eyes were NOT on fire – the were LIKE flames of fire…
- This is the FIRST of THREE times in Revelation Jesus is described as having BURNING eyes…
- The idea being they were INTENSE – could BURN right through the exterior…
- The gaze of Jesus can penetrate and see what is INSIDE – see the HEART!
- I can imagine it is a VERY overwhelming to stand before Jesus…
- As His gaze falls on us – we KNOW – there is NOTHING hidden from Him…
- He does NOT look at the facade we create – He knows EVERYTHING about us!
- Hebrews 4:13 – “There is no creature hidden from His sight – but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”
- 5th – Brass feet… vs. 15
- His feet were like fine brass – as if refined in a furnace!
- The FEET of Jesus looked LIKE – they were made of BRASS [bronze]
- As if they had just been taken out of the FIRE – still RED hot!
- When Moses built the TABERNACLE – BRONZE was ONLY on the outside…
- The BRONZE altar – where the SACRIFICES were made for the SINS of the people…
- Because BRONZE is a picture of JUDGMENT – Exodus 27:2
- The idea being – Jesus FEET are ready to JUDGE the SINNERS of this world…
- Rebellious men who will fall under the WRATH of the KING…
- Who will bring down His RED hot BRONZE feet in the JUDGEMENT because of their SIN!
- Revelation 19:15 – “[Jesus] treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”
- 6th – Loud voice… vs. 15
- His voice as the sound of many waters!
- The VOICE of Jesus is LOUD – is sounds LIKE [as] a LOT of water!
- One of the most amazing things I have ever seen is Niagara Falls…
- Almost three MILLION liters of water fall over the falls every SECOND…
- The result is not just beautiful – it is also VERY loud – deafening!
- The point is God is NOT quiet when He speaks – His voice is VERY loud…
- To which we might answer – I have never HEARD the VOICE of the LORD…
- God does not have to SPEAK with an audible voice [although He certainly can]
- He SPEAKS through His CREATION – He speaks through His WORD – Psalm 19
- God is NOT silent – the question is are we LISTENING!
- Psalm 29:3-4 – “The God of glory thunders. He is over many waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful. The voice of the LORD is full of majesty!”
- 7th – Two edged sword… vs. 16
- He had in His right hand seven stars – out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword…
- Jesus had SEVEN stars in His right HAND – more on that in a minute – Revelation 1:20
- Out of His MOUTH – a TWO edged SWORD…
- SWORD [ῥομφαία] – a LARGE two handed broad sword…
- Not that Jesus literally has a SWORD coming out of His mouth…
- It is speaking of the POWER of His WORDS – that cut like a SWORD – Ephesians 6:17
- Because it is the WORD of God – that reveals the TRUTH…
- It is the instrument that he will use will bring the JUDGEMENT upon the world!
- Hebrews 4:12 – “The word of God is living and powerful – and sharper than any two-edged sword [μάχαιρα]… a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
- What John SAW… vs. 12
- 3rd – Reaction to Jesus… vs. 16-18
- 1st – Falling down… vs. 16-17
- His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength!
- Jesus was SHINING – like the power [δύναμις] of the noonday SUN on a cloudless day!
- A 100 watt incandescent light bulb – is considered very BRIGHT…
- The SUN has the BRIGHTNESS – of a THOUSAND 100 WATT bulbs…
- If we ever try looking up at the SUN – NOT that I recommend this…
- It is so BRIGHT – that more than just a glimpse – would blind us!
- The BRIGHTNESS of Jesus speaks of His HOLINESS…
- God is so HOLY – sinful man cannot look on the pure LIGHT of God!
- And when I saw Him – I fell at His feet as dead!
- John – seeing Jesus – FELL down and His feet overwhelmed by His HOLINESS…
- Which I find interesting – as John KNEW Jesus – they were friends – John 15:15
- John was the DISCIPLE whom Jesus LOVED – John 19:26
- But when Jesus is revealed in all His HOLINESS – NO one can stand…
- Even John fell before the FEET [judgment] of Jesus!
- Isaiah 6:5 – “Woe is me – for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips… For my eyes have seen the King – the LORD of hosts.”
- His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength!
- 2nd – Do not be afraid… vs. 17
- But He laid His right hand on me – saying to me – Do not be afraid!
- John was OVERWHELMED – but Jesus was quick to help…
- He reached DOWN and put His hand on John – NOT in ANGER but to bring him COMFORT…
- And commanded him – do NOT [imperative] be AFRAID [φοβέω]
- Yet John had EVERY reason to be AFRAID – he was a SINNER in front of a HOLY God…
- The reason he was NOT to FEAR – was because of what God had done for us!
- 3rd – God died… vs. 17-18
- I am the First and the Last.
- This is a VERY important phrase– because it is the KEY to the GOSPEL message…
- We first have to answer the question – WHO is the FIRST and the LAST…
- Isaiah 41:4 – “I the LORD [יְהוָה] – the First and the Last. I alone am He.” [NLT]
- There can be NO doubt – the Old Testament is VERY clear…
- The LORD [יְהוָה] – the ONE and ONLY God – is FIRST and the LAST – Deuteronomy 6:5
- I am He who lives – and was dead – and behold – I am alive forevermore. Amen!
- The LORD [יְהוָה] is the God who LIVES – no problem there…
- And was DEAD – wait a minute – when did God [יְהוָה] – DIE…
- To which we are commanded [imperative] and LOOK [εἴδω] and understand…
- The LORD – our GOD – is now alive forevermore [He will never die again] – Hebrews 9:28
- AMEN – [אָמֵן] – this is the TRUTH!
- Side note – there are those who try to remove the DEITY for Christ from the Bible…
- But this cross reference can still be found even in altered translations – showing Jesus is God!
- We do NOT have to FEAR – because God [יְהוָה] came down and DIED for us…
- There was NO other sacrifice that would work – NO others way…
- The ONLY hope we have – is through the blood of Jesus…
- GOD [יְהוָה] – who was alive – then DIED for us – and is now alive forever more!
- I am the First and the Last.
- 4th – They Keys… vs. 18
- I have the keys of Hades and of Death!
- The phrase HADES [ᾅδης] and DEATH [θάνατος] – appears FIVE times in the NT…
- But in every other instance the order is reversed – DEATH first – then HADES …
- Because unbelievers DIE – then they are judged and sent to HADES [hell]
- This is the SECOND death – permanent separation from God – Revelation 20:14
- The greatest fear of all men is the fear of death – because they KNOW…
- Although not everyone will admit it – they KNOW the judgement is coming!
- I have the keys of Hades and of Death!
- 1st – Falling down… vs. 16-17
- God is the KEY…
- If someone has a KEY – it means there is something locked up…
- In this case – we were the ones BOUND for HELL – which leads to the second DEATH…
- But through the SACRIFICE of GOD [יְהוָה] – the FIRST and the LAST…
- We have no need to fear DEATH – it has no power over us…
- We know DEATH is not when we are JUDGED – it is when we enter eternal LIFE!
- I Corinthians 15:55-57 – “Death – where is your sting. Hades – where is your victory… thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
- 4th – The command… vs. 19-20
- 1st – Write down… vs. 19
- Write the things which you have seen – and the things which are…
- And the things which will take place after this!
- Jesus then commanded [imperative] John – to write down these things:
- PAST – the things John HAD [aorist] seen – vison of Jesus – Revelation 1
- PRESENT – the things which ARE [present] – the SEVEN churches – Revelation 2-3
- FUTURE – the things which will take place AFTER this [μετὰ ταῦτα] – Revelation 4-22
- Having already read about the PAST – the VISION of Jesus…
- John moves right on to begin to describe the things that ARE – the MYSTERY!
- 2nd – The Mystery… vs. 20
- The mystery!
- MYSTERY [μυστήριον] – something hidden – a SECRET…
- The MYSTERY of the STARS in Jesus had – and LAMPSTANDS He is standing in!
- It is quite large – and yellow and blue – and the impact at the end can be a bit jolting…
- But so long as you do not run into anyone – it is exciting…
- If all you heard was that statement – it would be a MYSTERY…
- But if went on to say we were at the SPLASH park riding a water side – CONTEXT!
- The book of REVELATION is famous for having a LOT of MYSTERIES…
- But – the answer is often as easy as just reading the passage in CONTEXT!
- Of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand…
- The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches!
- The seven STARS Jesus is holding in His right hand [His strength] – are seven ANGELS…
- There are TWO thoughts on WHO these ANGELS are…
- FIRST – they could be guardian ANGELS – who watch over the churches…
- Just as Michael is the guardian ANGEL of Israel – Daniel 10:21
- Psalm 91:11 – “He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.”
- SECOND – they could be the PASTORS of the churches…
- ANGEL [ἄγγελος] – means messenger – one who gives Gods message…
- Therefore Jesus could be talking about SEVEN pastors – who give the churches His Word!
- The seven golden lampstands:
- And the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches!
- The seven LAMPSTAND – are the seven CHURCHES…
- Recall that Jesus is STANDING in the middle of these CHURCHES – Revelation 1:13
- Although we are going to be looking at SEVEN literal CHURCHES over the next few weeks…
- It seems unlikely Jesus was ONLY standing in the middle of THOSE churches…
- More likely – the number SEVEN – here again represents the COMPLETE church…
- Because the CHURCH is NOT a building or a denomination…
- The mystery!
- 1st – Write down… vs. 19
We are the CHURCH – and Jesus dwells inside of us – John 14:23
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