Bible Study: Revelation Chapter 1, Part 2

[Pastor Dave Honey]

Rev 1:12-20

12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and 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. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; 16 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. 17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. 19 Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. 20 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.

And if that were not enough, John musters up the courage to turn and see who it is that is speaking to him in this most unusual way! Turning around to witness incredible imagery of seven golden lamp stands and a magnificently brilliant image of One like the Son of Man! In His brilliance, He holds seven stars in His right hand and a two-edged sword protruding from His mouth! It is no wonder that John fell as a dead man at His feet! As Jesus revives John with a touch of His hand, He commissions John to write the Book of Revelation!

Jesus' most common reference to Himself was "Son of Man". He will not refer to Himself as the "Son of God" until chapter 2:18 when He address the fourth church of Thyatira. John's incredible description of Jesus includes wonderful imagery of the absolute holiness and sovereignty of a God who not only comes on the wings of judgement as seen in His glowing, white-hot feet of fine brass, but He comes in like a cloud of glory, or Shekinah Glory as seen in His head and hair which glow white like wool. I believe that the most revealing testimony of Jesus' incredible love and genuine concern for His church (His children) are His eyes which burn red like flames of fire. His penetrating stare will see clearly into the uttermost depths of His church!

Jesus refers to His Own resurrection as One Who will live forevermore! The keys to hades and Death which Jesus holds are not to lock up souls, but rather to set souls free! There are those who continually teach that God is an angry, vengeful God who looks for opportunity to lock away, punish and destroy sinners! The truth be known, God has done All that He could do to set us free from the bondage of sin and separation from Him! Sin separates us so completely from the Father that even His Son cried out from the cross when He became sin in our place;

Matt 27:46
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"

The two-edged sword protruding from Jesus' mouth is of course is the Word of God. We will study this further when we reach chapter nineteen and the second coming of Christ!

The seven stars in Jesus' right hand represent the seven angels of the seven churches.

Ephesians 6:10-12 describes a particular hierarchy of fallen angels or demons that have charge over various things. I believe this is just another attempt by Satan to counterfeit the realm of God's angelic army. As with any good army, there are infantrymen and there are generals, as well as all ranks in between. I believe that the seven stars or angels are those angels given a particular charge over the churches within the church age. Some also believe that the seven stars refer to the human shepherds or pastors of all Christian churches during the time of the church age.

Finally, the seven lampstands are the seven churches. As Jesus walks in the midst of the seven lampstands or churches, I see Him in the midst of, not only the whole church age, but also in the midst of every heart that has or will call Him Lord and Savior!

As we continue through chapters two and three, we will take a much closer look at the seven churches and what they each represent to the growth and evolution of the church age.

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Blessings as you journey with me through this incredible book!

 

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