I Am Alive Forevermore | Revelation 1:12-20 | Pastor Daniel Batarseh (Revelation Series)

For an undisclosed period of time, the apostle John has been exiled to prison on an island called Patmos. We don't know the duration of his sentencing or if he was even granted a release date, but one thing is for certain, this man was mindful of his time while in exile, especially when the first day of the week came around. And we have reason to believe that John did his best to give praise and thanksgiving to his God, especially on the Lord's day, recognizing the resurrection. Even though he was usually surrounded by hardened criminals and merciless Roman guards. Again, we don't know if he was here for weeks, months, maybe longer, but he does do something for us.

He documents a particular Lord's day where everything would change for him and for the world, really. One of the things that moves me about the book of Revelation, especially with John's story, is that he was on this island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Here you have a man between his between the age of 80 and 90 who was willing to go to prison so that he wouldn't not deny the gospel. And more than that, when Rome attempted to subdue the spread of the gospel, it was in that very place, Patmos, where the revelation of Jesus Christ came to John and spread to the church. It was the means by which one of the greatest messages ever came about.

The word of God cannot be bound. And here John is trying to explain to us what happened to him on this particular Sunday, and the best way that he could describe it is this, I was in the spirit. I was in the spirit. Now this is me and my sanctified imagination. I like to think that John being an elderly man, an older prisoner, had some free time.

And perhaps on one Sunday afternoon, he was sitting on the rocky edges there of the island, island looking out into the Aegean Sea, meditating and praying silently. But suddenly, the background noise of jailers and prisoners chiseling into stones and minerals mixed with the clamoring commands of Roman guards, was swiftly caught up, drowned out by a voice unlike anything John has ever heard. The best way that John could describe this voice is that it had the commanding force of a trumpet blast. It demanded the cessation of any internal or external activity. And as this precious man of God was ready to turn around to confirm the source of this voice, he also realized that he was miraculously transported into another realm.

And what John saw, he tells us beginning in Revelation one verse 12. Let's turn there together and read it. Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me. And on turning, I saw seven golden lampstands. And in the midst of the lampstands, one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.

The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire. His feet were like burnished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand, he held seven stars. From his mouth came a sharp two edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

You would expect that once John turns to see the voice that spoke to him that he would behold Jesus Christ. That's not what immediately caught his attention. The object, if you will, that came about and seized him is what we find again here in verse 12. I saw seven golden lampstands. Now we can confirm that these lampstands are not just decorative pieces to this vision.

They carry rich meaning and the interpretation of these symbols is found in the same text. You just have to scroll down to verse 20. Notice what Jesus says to John as he gives him the meaning of these things. As for the mystery of the seven stars that 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 are the seven churches. Meaning, the seven churches that John would write to in the immediate context in Asia Minor.

Now, the fact that John initially hears the voice of Jesus, but immediately saw these seven golden lampstands which represent the church is a profound thought. Because it speaks to the oneness of Christ and his church. And I believe what John though, it was unique to him. This revelation, this vision, what he experienced, everyone should experience. What do I mean by that?

That when anybody comes into contact with the church of Jesus Christ, they should hear the voice of Jesus Christ. And the way in which the voice of Jesus Christ is heard from the church is when the church honors the word of God, obeys the word of God, and unashamedly declares the word of God. That's how the voice of God is known. And so, think about this. He hears Christ, but when he turns he sees the church.

And in the same way when people come to the gathering of the saints where they come into contact with us, there should be a measure of experience of Christ himself. Here's what this means for us. That if we want God's favorable presence in our midst and if we want his power to manifest among us, then we must first establish this. We will cherish and uphold his word above all. Have you ever considered how these letters, these small report cards in chapter two and three begin each time?

Let's get a sample. Go to chapter two beginning in verse one. To the angel of the church in Ephesus write the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. Go to verse eight. And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write the words of the first and the last who died and came to life.

Go to verse 12. And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write the words of him who has the sharp two edged sword. Verse 18. And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write the words of the son of God who has eyes like a flame of fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. You get the idea I hope.

The words of him appears in the start of every single one of these addresses. And I'm convinced that this repetitive introduction is not just meant to confirm the identity of the author. This is not just Christ saying, hey, it's me Christ. It's me your Lord. It's me your savior.

Yes, that's clear. But I believe it's deeper than that. Here you have a seven fold reminder of the authority of Christ words, which must preside over every local church. The words, the words, the words of him, of him, of him, of him, for every single church to say what? It's my word that is above all.

It's my word that governs everything. It's my words by which you will be held accountable. The words of him. Now I've met many people, wonderful believers who have expressed the hunger to see the Holy Spirit move in greater ways in their own lives and even in their church meetings. That's a honorable desire.

But I want to confirm something to you and if that's you in this place, please hear me very carefully. For the Spirit of God to truly work in our midst, we must first genuinely esteem the Word. He does not work apart from the Word. And if any kind of minister or ministry attempts to do so, it is artificial. Whatever manifestation it may be, no matter how you may feel in such a setting, no matter what kind of mood they put you in, if the word is not preeminent, then you have reason to question whatever is moving in that place.

And the spirit of God who knows all things is aware when a church pays lip service to the word. When the church just uses it as a footnote. When the church acknowledges its authority but not its sufficiency And really, it's not really authoritative, unless we agree with it. He can see past through all that. But when you have the combination of a minister who faithfully and lovingly submits and heralds a word, and eager listeners who receive it and are ready to obey, miracles can happen.

Miracles can happen. I want I want you to be reminded of this as well that every time we come and do this, life and death hangs in the balance. In this very space, people can be saved for eternity. In this very place, people can be delivered from so many vices and chains and bondages in this place By what means? The transmission of the word.

I'm reminded of Peter when he was called by Christ to go to the household of Cornelius and to give these Gentiles the gospel. And as Cornelius, this man who was hungry to know the truth, gathered his close friends and family to hear the Apostle Peter speak, something happened. The Holy Spirit interrupted his sermon. And I want you to hear what happens in Acts ten forty four. While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard what?

The word. The Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. What does that tell me? That the Holy Spirit longs to confirm the word, and he moves in a place where the word is cherished, loved, applied, received. Oh, we can camp here for a while, can't we?

But let's consider one more detail before we move on. John didn't just see seven lampstands. He saw seven golden lampstands. That detail is not insignificant. Why was it that these symbols of the church were plastered with gold?

It's very simple. Gold is a precious metal. And what Christ is even communicating here by revealing this to John and to us is that the church, this entity made up of people who have been forgiven, who have received the grace of God in Christ Jesus, are so valuable to him, so precious to him, so cherished by him, that he even wants to try to communicate it by saying, the church is gold to me. Now, here's the temptation for us as the church that we hear that and we fail to realize the personal element of it. As though Christ, yes, he has a heart for church, this universal institution, this large gathering of people, this movement called the church.

And I'm here to tell you that God even looks at you and I on individual basis as precious gold. Not just his church, but every single one of us. Do you know where I get that from? A book you wouldn't think you would find it in. The book of Lamentations chapter four.

If you can find Lamentations, meet me there. In verse two, and look at this interesting statement, the precious sons of Zion worth their weight in fine gold. How they are regarded as earth and pots, the work of a potter's hands. So we see here in Revelation that the church is seen as gold. But back in the Old Testament even, it's the sons, the spiritual sons of God who are worth their weight in fine gold.

This is meant to convince you that the Lord does not treat you or me indifferently. He doesn't handle our lives carelessly. You know, any responsible owner of something as precious as gold would not leave it exposed for thieves to take or for it to be potentially lost, nor would such an owner of gold poorly invest or allow just anybody to handle it. No. He would monitor it.

He will secure it. He will polish it because he realizes how valuable it is. Do you know how valuable you and I are to God? We're told that he purchased us with his own blood. You.

Me. Oh, for the church. Yeah. But remember Lamentations, you and I are seen as fine gold on a personal level. And we see here that Christ so loves his church that he died for her and he still sees her as gold.

You know what's amazing? These churches that we're gonna study were far from perfect, but they were still so precious to Christ. Be very be very careful criticizing the church. Be very slow to do that because Jesus sees her as beautiful. Yes, he will chastise her.

Yes, he will point out things. But there are some people who say very concerning things about the church, And I would not do that seeing how Christ sees her. But these lampstands are not the only thing that are gold. After seeing initially these churches, John looks a little bit more carefully and he sees what? Come back to Revelation one with me in in verse 13.

And in the midst of the lampstands, one like a son of man. There's somebody who looks like a human that's standing there, but he's more than human. He's like a son of man. And one of the first things that stand out to John about this one like a son of man is his wardrobe. He was clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.

Now if you're familiar with the Old Testament, then this should ring a bell. This attire sounds very similar to that of the Levitical priest. So he has this long robe. Now you can debate, is that the robe of a prophet? Is that a robe of a king?

No. No. No. No. What makes a difference is this sash, this ornamental kind of cloth that would be wrapped around the chest or sometimes sit across the shoulder.

Jesus had a sash. And we have to think, have I seen this before? Remember, what's gonna help you and I understand Revelation is that when there isn't an immediate explanation to something, you have to think, where have I seen these details before? And you're gonna usually find in the Old Testament. And now we're going to see how God commanded the sons of Aaron what they were to wear because everything that they wore had a message.

Can we turn there together? Please, let's go to Exodus, and let's go to chapter 28, this chapter that provides us the elaborate description of the garments of the priests. Exodus 28 beginning in verse two. And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother for glory and for beauty. You shall speak to all the skillful whom I filled with the spirit of skill that they make Aaron's garments to consecrate him from my priesthood.

These are the garments that they shall make a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a coat of checker work, a turban, and a what? And a sash. They shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons to serve me as priest. Everything has intention. Everything has a purpose for glory and for beauty and it's supposed to point to something.

We don't have time to get into it. But if you stick in Exodus long enough, if you faithfully finish this book, then later on in the same book you'll learn what these clothings were to be made of. And so you go to chapter 39 verse 27. It will be worth it, I assure you. Exodus thirty nine twenty seven.

This is when they begin to now implement and make the the things that God commanded them to make, including the clothing of the priest. Here we have it in verse 27. They also made the coats woven of fine linen for Aaron and his sons, and the turban of fine linen, and the caps of fine linen, and the linen undergarments of fine twined linen, and the sash of fine twined linen and a blue and purple and scarlet yarns, embroidered with needlework as the Lord had commanded Moses. How much more detail can you get than that? With great precision, we are told here that these sashes were made of fine linen sewn with blue and purple and scarlet yarn.

And those colors have a meaning, but let's just stop here. Now that we know what the priest under the Levitical code looked like as they ministered, pause and think and compare with Christ. He had a sash, but what was it made of? Gold. Gold.

Complete gold. To signify what? That as the high priest in the new covenant, he is more superior than that of Aaron and his sons. His ministry as the high priest is far more glorious, far more effective, far more permanent. Who knew that you can learn something with the colors in the book of Revelation?

Yes, his sash was gold. Telling us what? That his sacrifice was sufficient. Telling us what? That our guarantee into the presence of God has been determined.

Telling us what? That we have absolute confidence that what he has done and how he mediates for us is eternal. The golden sash signifying the superiority of the priesthood of Jesus Christ in the new covenant. Now if John's description of Christ being like one, like a son of man, if that reminds you of of Daniel's vision of the Messiah, then you're onto something. You're actually right.

See, John received a similar vision to Daniel. There's many parallels between the book of Daniel and the book of Revelation and this is one of them. But what John sees here, there are added details to this one like a son of man. Because you see the Lord Jesus was not just standing in the midst of his church signifying his presence among his people. We also get an understanding that yes, he is high priest, but he also looks like someone else.

And that's what you find here in verse 14. The hairs of his head were white like white wool like snow. He's emphasizing something. He could have just said it once, but he says it in three different ways. The hairs of his head were white like white wool, like snow.

In other words, don't ignore this. There's something very important upon about what Christ was wearing on his head, namely his hair. And again, here here's where we have to stop and think, what am I supposed to make out of this? Well, ask yourself, is there any other place in the Bible where I see this connection of one like a son of man and hair like white wool? Answer?

Yes. The book of Daniel. So we have to go there. So meet me in Daniel seven. Daniel seven verse nine.

He says here, as I look this is Daniel speaking now in a night vision. As I looked, thrones were placed and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was white as snow and the hair of his head like pure wool. His throne was fiery flames. Its wheels were burning fire.

Now go to verse 13. I saw in the night visions and behold with the clouds of heaven, there came one like a son of man. And he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him, and 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 one that shall not be destroyed. Let's gather our thoughts here.

Daniel had a vision of the Ancient of Days which is a title that is exclusive to the Lord God. And he's watching the Ancient of Days take his seat on a throne. And out of all the characteristics that John or rather Daniel could have recorded about the ancient of days, what stands out to him is the clothing, how it was white, and what? His hair being white like wool. Now this is not without purpose.

The whiteness of that hair speaks of the eternality of God's wisdom and purity. It emphasizes how he was and is and always will be. But shortly after Daniel, as he's watching this, now sees one like a son of man. Who is this human figure? People are still debating it.

We know. But this human like individual who is more than a human now is ushered in with the clouds and he approaches the Ancient of Days. And whoever this man was, we're told that he would receive an eternal kingdom with everlasting worship. Surely, he is more than just a mere man. And hundreds of years now, fast forward.

What do we see? John, who receives a revelation. And we're told in the beginning of his book that he saw one like a son of man. Surely he's referring to the same one Daniel saw. But now he sees something different or at least something more.

Not the ancient of days, but the one like a son of man also has hair that is white like wool. And here's what John wants you and I to do. As we see Christ here and think about what Daniel saw, we are to conclude that this Jesus shares the same nature as the ancient of days. In other words, for the Lord to reflect the same characteristics as God Almighty leads us to one truth. He is divine.

He is God himself. He is one like a son of man, but he is not just a man. He is distinct from the father yet one in essence with him in terms of deity. And two thousand years ago, he chose to come down and take on flesh forever. This is Christ in his description to show us I am Yahweh.

Not the father, but God. And from his hair, John scans down and is gripped by something else. The eyes. The eyes of Christ. It says here in the second part of verse 14, his eyes were like a flame of fire.

Now there have been a few times in my life where I have watched somebody who in a moment of rage had eyes like fire. But Christ's emotional condition is not what's being highlighted here. It's not speaking about his rage, his anger, his wrath necessarily. Christ's eyes here are meant to convey his piercing knowledge. How he is able to with complete and total awareness see all things.

In the same way that fire devours and it exposes Christ's knowledge of what takes place in the world, especially his church cannot be concealed. He has x-ray vision. He sees through it all. And this is the message that John wants to convey to these churches. No one can hide anything from Christ.

No one. And that is a repeated truth in the New Testament. Here's one way of summarizing it in Hebrews four thirteen. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. He sees absolutely everything.

And this is the message for the church. He's not speaking to the world. So you know what that tells me? I know we think that church is just an hour and a half, maybe forty five minutes, maybe if it's communion two hours, that Jesus sees everything that takes place here in those two hours. No.

You're the church when you're here and when you're not here. When I'm here, when I'm not here. So Christ sees it all. He sees what we're like outside of these walls. He sees what's happening behind that door.

He sees what happens when the money is being counted. He sees what happens in counseling sessions. He sees what happens when we hang out outside of the meetings. He sees absolutely everything. But, oh, if you and I are afraid of this, we have to take heart.

Because to the unrepentant, to the sinner, to the one who is hiding their iniquity, this verse should be alarming. But for those who truly belong to the Lord and love him and wanna obey him, even though you may believe that Christ has perfect knowledge of your ways and mine, even our past failures and sins, we should not be shaken. Do you know why? Because the same one who has eyes like a flame of fire is wearing a long robe with a golden sash. So what are you talking about?

I'm saying this sovereign scrutinizer is also your great high priest who has paid a high price for you to be seen by God as Christ himself. And that's precisely what the author of Hebrews says immediately after informing us that everything is naked before his eyes. Remember I quoted that to you in Hebrews four thirteen, but listen to the words of Hebrews four fourteen. Right after he says, God sees everything and he's gonna hold you accountable for it, he mentions what? Listen to Hebrews four fourteen.

Since then, we have a great high priest. So right after he says, the all knowing one takes into account what we do and what we say and how we do. After all of that, right away, before we even think for a moment, oh, I'm doomed, he says, but since we have a great high priest. In other words, I'm safe. I don't have to worry about Christ standing before me as my executioner.

He is my savior. He has redeemed me forever and I belong to him. And that's something you and I are to take comfort in. Yes, his eyes are flames of fire, but he is also the one who stands in the gap for you and I. So he looks at these eyes of fire and that theme of judgment continues in verse 15 of Revelation one.

His feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace and his voice was like the roar of many waters. So when I came to this point, I thought this could be overwhelming for people. Maybe not now because hopefully you're getting explanation that's clear, but just for your engagement with the word of God until, like, how how am I supposed to interpret these things? I need some kind of guidance here and and and and I'm aware that people feel that way about some portions of the scripture. And I'm also aware that there are people who are overly confident and want to make the Bible say anything that they want.

And that's dangerous. But please, let me point you to something. It's a simple rule. When you come to something like this, like his feet are like burnished bronze refined in a furnace, and you heard me say that this is referring to judgment. How did I come to that conclusion?

It's very simple. I'm looking at the wider and the more immediate context to see if there are any clues. Is there anything that I can work with that can bring me to a clearer conclusion? And and there are clues out there. So here's one example.

More frequently than not, whenever you see the material bronze mentioned in the scriptures, it refers to an object of judgment. So in the tabernacle, that altar, which was the platform for all these animal sacrifices to be placed on, that altar was made out of bronze. Or when you think about Moses leading the people through the wilderness and they once again express their unbelief, and then God released serpents to bite them, Moses was instructed to craft a serpent, to place it on a pole and to raise it up, so that all who would look upon it would be healed. What was that serpent made out of? Bronze.

It's a picture of the cross. So bronze bronze, that's the dominant connection with judgment, with wrath. And then we come to this description of Jesus's feet and we're told that they were burnished like burnished bronze. K. I'm a step closer now.

Is there anything in this neighborhood that can help me understand what's happening here? Yes. Because the feet like burnished bronze is mentioned in another section and it's tied to the eyes of flaming fire, which we already heard what it's about. It's about judgment. Where do we find that?

Look at Revelation two and look at verse 18 quickly. And to the angel of the church in Thyatira, write the words of the Son of God who has eyes like a flame of fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. And what is he ready to tell this church? You have false teaching in there, and there's a false teacher who is seducing my servants, and you're not doing anything about it though I gave you time to repent. So I'm introducing myself to you in this way, I see everything.

And if eyes speak of knowledge, then feet surely speak of action. It's not just I see what's happening, I'm gonna do something about it. And that is exactly what we have here. Jesus Christ is always ready to purify his people by making his way towards those who are sinning and subduing them. Sin and sinners within because he moves throughout his church as the constant guardian of it.

Go to Revelation two one. Notice what he does with his feet. To the angel of the church in Ephesus write the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who does what? Who walks. Who walks among the seven golden lampstands.

So what is he doing? He's surveying his entire church. The Lord Jesus Christ is in our midst even now. And he's at the church down the street at the same time. And he's at the church in China and another church in Africa.

He's there. He's walking among the seven golden lampstands. You know where my my mind went when I was looking at this the other night? When Satan approached God in the book of Job and the Lord asked him, where where have you been? And he said, what?

Walking to and fro on the earth. So Satan is is always walking, always watching, always looking for an opportunity to tempt, to destroy, to steal. That's what he's doing. The world is his domain. And though Christ, yes, he is omniscient, he's omnipresent, he's he pays special attention to his church.

He's walking among his people. And his feet are glowing. They are pure. And his church must be holy ground. And so his eyes speak of knowledge.

His feet speak of action. And I wanna let you know that Christ, since he penned this, has been working in his church. Whenever you see a scandal exposed in a church and ministers disqualify themselves, that is Christ with his feet like burnished bronze moving and acting in that church. Whenever you see those in the church who tolerate sin, who cause division, who who are not truly of the Lord, and things are revealed and things are dealt with, that is Christ purging his church. He has been doing it for thousands of years.

He will continue to do it until he returns. His feet are like burnished bronze. But John's gaze moves from Christ's feet to his right hand, then to his mouth, then back to his face. He he's trying to capture every aspect of his glory. It's as though John is overwhelmed.

He's just looking up and down at Christ. And so yes, he sees his feet but his eyes now bounce to his hand. And what does he see especially in his right hand? Verse 16 of Revelation one. In his right hand, he held seven stars.

From his mouth came a sharp two edged sword and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. Let's look at these quickly. In his right hand, he held seven stars. Jesus gave the interpretation in verse 20. The seven lampstands are the seven churches, but what about the seven stars?

They are the angels of the seven churches. Angels of the seven churches. So if you're not careful, you may interpret this as, well, every single local church has been assigned a guardian angel. Some believe that. But here's the problem with that.

John was asked to take this book and to write it to the angels of each of these churches. We read it earlier that every letter begins with to the angel of the church and wherever. So to imagine that John was to receive this revelation from Christ only to give it back to a celestial creature for that celestial being to now give it to the church seems doesn't seem right. And it's very difficult to reconcile how angels are considered leaders in the local church. Here's where if we knew and read Greek would help.

Because if we had this in the Greek, then it would make a little bit more sense because the word angel in the Greek simply is and it means messenger. And throughout the New Testament, that word is primarily used for spiritual beings, heavenly beings. Yes. But it's also used for human agents. So if you're taking those, list these references for you to look at it for yourself.

In Luke chapter seven in verse 24, when John's disciples came to Christ to ask, are you the one or are we supposed to wait for another? In Luke seven twenty four, it says, when John's messengers had gone. That word messengers is the same one as Angelos here, as angel. And then when Jesus goes on to describe the faithfulness and the uniqueness of John's office, he says in Luke seven twenty seven, this is he of whom it is written, behold I send my messenger. Angelos.

I send my messenger. Same word. You you even find it in the book of James, when Rahab is being praised for her faith And we're told there in James chapter two twenty five that when she received the messengers, once again the same word, angelos. So when you see the word angel, what you're really seeing is messenger. And depending on the context, you'll know that this is a heavenly messenger or this is an earthly messenger.

And I'm more convinced that what Jesus is referring to here are earthly messengers, more specifically, the elders and the pastors of these churches. Especially the elder of the church who is responsible for speaking to the people of God. So who is Jesus holding in his right hand? Pastors. That means a few things.

One, it means that he's in control of pastors. Let me let me say it this way. Jesus Christ hires and fires pastors. I know you can get a degree and you can look for a job by vacation and God can use that to bring a faithful pastor to a flock. But ultimately, he's the CEO of his church.

He hires, he fires always. But not just that, it speaks of how he provides pastors. So something in my hand signifies I own it, but it can also mean that I can extend it. Jesus Christ gives pastors to people. It's an extension of his grace and gift.

That sounds a little awkward as I say it, but it's just an objective truth that he gives these kind of ministers to build up the body of Christ. Lastly, it speaks here of his protection His protection of his under shepherds. Yes. Every single one of us are in the grip of Christ's hand and no one can pluck us out of his hand. Amen?

But what this also means, what's being emphasized here is that those who stand in the front lines are in the grip of the almighty. Those who take the most hits, those who have to deal with the forces of Satan as they guard and protect to the best of their ability by the grace of God, the people that are responsible to them. Christ wants to let these pastors know I'm holding you. I'm with you. And speaking of protection, that is exactly what the next part is all about.

From his mouth has come a two edged sword that speaks of the power of his word namely in judgment. And this two edged sword here is primarily for the church of Jesus Christ and his defense of the church. You're gonna find in Revelation 19 when he strikes the nations that come against his people. But before you go to Revelation 19, you actually find it mentioned here with these churches. You're saying where?

Look at chapter two verse 16. He says here, therefore, repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. Why is he saying that to this church? Because again, there are false teachers in it, sowing discord, sowing false teaching, promoting false doctrine.

And Jesus is telling these specific individuals, I will go to war with you because I am passionate about the purity of my church. So what the sword of his mouth means is that he will single out people who cause trouble in his church and he will successfully conquer them. As he's holding his pastors and as he's walking with those eyes of fire and those feet like burnished bronze, he will also look out for those that cause harm and deal with them accordingly. You know, if you were the original readers of this and hearing about persecution, what Rome is doing to believers, this would highly encourage you, wouldn't it? We're safe.

And and and if and if anything happens to us, it's because our great God permitted it for his glory. Can I say one more thing? What was in his right hand? Seven stars. But notice the last description of verse 16, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

Do stars illuminate? Yes. They do. They give out light. But what is outshining the stars?

The face of Jesus Christ. You may love your pastor. You may think that he is gifted. You may think that without them you couldn't be this or you couldn't know that. Can I tell you something?

They are nothing in comparison to Christ. His light outshines that of the greatest of ministers. And if you see any goodness come from a minister, you have to realize that the source of that light comes from the one whose face outshines them all. If you're gonna fall in love with anybody, if you're gonna be moved and impressed by anybody's preaching or character or love or counsel or wisdom, let it be Christ. Always Christ.

So these stars, I I can imagine how, yes, John recognized them, but they paled in comparison to what was radiating from the face of Jesus. May that be our vision always. This also reminds us of what John experienced while Christ was on earth. Peter, James and John were the inner circle of Christ's disciples and one day he brings them up to the top of a mountain to reveal his glory. We know it to be the mount of transfiguration.

And one of the descriptions that of that experience is that he shone like the sun. But I want you to see the reaction of John in this case. It says here in verse 17, when I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead, But he laid his right hand on me saying, fear not. I am the first and the last. If you actually go back to Matthew 17 verse six, you don't have to turn there.

When the disciples witnessed Christ in his glory and this glory cloud overshadowed him and Elijah and Moses, and a voice came from that cloud saying, this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him. We're told there in Matthew 17 that they fell and were terrified. The same John who witnessed that on that mountain, now in this vision, he falls, but is he terrified? No.

He falls as though he died. Why? Because as glorious as the mount of Transfiguration was, this is more glorious. He is so overtaken, so overwhelmed by the sight that he crumbles at the feet of Jesus. And many people come to this verse to point out John's reaction to the pure presence of Christ, and rightfully so.

But I'm afraid that people in wanting to emphasize the holiness of Christ miss out on Jesus' reaction to John's reaction. So John responds in this way, but notice how Christ responds to John. Says here in verse 17 saying, fear not, I am the first and the last. Now listen, I shared this on a Wednesday night prayer evening. If I see somebody distressed, it's one thing for me to look at them in their distress and say it's gonna be okay.

But wouldn't you say it would be completely different in terms of counsel and comfort and assurance If I stoop down to that poor soul and put my hand on them and said, it's going to be okay. Jesus didn't just look at John and say, fear not. Jesus reached out his hand, touched him and says, fear not. What are you to make of that? That this Jesus and all his splendor and majesty and brilliance and power, you can't even stand there and register it before you collapse.

This Jesus is approachable. This Jesus, though he is far more, infinitely more glorious than us, does not want a distance between us. He wants you to feel the boldness and the confidence to come near to him and he longs to draw near to us at a touching distance, if you will. Is that how you see Christ and his glory today? Is that how you view Jesus in all his moral majesty?

Do you believe that he is actually this tenderhearted towards you? Or do you feel like there's a gap? Oh, yeah. I know Jesus died on the cross and he made the bridge between man and God so that we can be reconciled to him. I'm talking on a personal relational level.

Do you see yourself in John's shoes here? Not just stunned by his beauty, but also moved by his compassion. He reaches out his hand, he says, fear not. And the reason why he can say fear not is because he reminds John of who he had just witnessed. John, I'm the first and the last.

Another autograph concerning his deity. I am the first and the last. That is a title that exclusively belongs to the Lord in the old testament. If anybody ever comes up to you and says, you tell me where Jesus said I am God. Gladly.

Revelation one verse 17. Jesus himself said, I am the first and the last. Where do you find that? In Isaiah 44 verse six. Write it down and don't you dare forget it.

Where Yahweh says about himself that he, the king of Israel and his redeemer, the Lord of hosts, I am the first and I am the last. Besides me there is no God. But hold on, you're telling me Revelation one seventeen is about Christ being God? Does God die? Because verse 18 says, and the living one I died and behold I am alive forevermore and I had the keys of death and Hades.

No. We don't believe God died. Hold on. But we do believe that He took on flesh and with that body being laid down as a sacrifice for a redemptive purpose, yes, He did die only to resurrect and remain flesh forever as an emblem of his great love and sacrifice toward us. The only way you can explain someone who claims to be the first and the last dying and coming back to life is Christ.

There's no other way. There's no other person who fits this. And that's the point. Jesus is emphasizing his divine nature, but also reminding John, I'm the same one that you saw, that you walk with, that you ate with. I die, but I'm alive now.

And not just alive, I'm alive forever more. He's never gonna die again. There's no other sacrifice that needs to be made again. And here's the thing, we will share in that eternal promise. In what sense?

Well, we'll have a resurrection like his. So in the same way that he is alive forevermore, if we are in him and we'll be raised by him, then we too will never die again. In fact, there's a day coming where this glorious Christ with his voice according to John chapter five will call out to the tombs and all those tombs will respond. Some unto the resurrection of life, others unto the resurrection of judgment. I missed it, didn't I?

Where he talks about in verse 15, his voice was like the roar of many waters. That's powerful. I was born and raised in Canada, and many people wanna see Niagara Falls. I've seen it many times. And apart from the sight of that amount of water that's just continually gushing, it's the sound.

It's just otherworldly. You can almost feel it, the base in your chest. That's Jesus's voice and one day it's gonna call out to the graves and they're all gonna respond. In fact, if you wanna do more Old Testament study, voice like the roar of many waters, that's ascribed to the voice of God in Ezekiel. Meaning what?

Well, he's God if you haven't got it yet. Now what happens next? He says I have the keys of death and Hades. In other words, because I conquered death, I am now the owner of death and the grave, Which means many things. Can I tell you how it comforts me?

If I belong to him, then he determines the timing of my death and the means of my death. So why are you afraid of a future potential doctor report? Why are you afraid of accidents? Why are you concerned about your safety to the degree that it paralyzes you in life? Death lost its keys.

Hades, the grave, lost its keys. Christ has it in his hand. In the same way he has those pastors and he has you in his hands, he has that domain in his possession. So what does that mean? When it's time, he'll put the key in the keyhole, open it up and says, it's time for you to go.

You? Not yet. I still have more work for you to do. But when you're ready to go, it's time for you to go. Let's go.

Isn't that freeing? It freed me this week. But then he goes on to see something that we've covered before. Right therefore in verse 19, the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this, We confirm that this is the outline of the book of Revelation, but let me add something else. Don't you find it interesting that Jesus, revealing himself in this way to John, doesn't do it to these churches?

Let me put it this way. Is it possible that Christ could appear to the church in Ephesus, in Smyrna, in Pergamum, in the middle of a meeting, show up in the same way that he revealed himself to John? Yeah. He could've. Who says he can't?

He chooses not to though. He peers like this before a credible eyewitness, one of his apostles, for the apostle then to write it down and then give it to the church. Here's what this tells me. That God's primary way of revealing his glory to his people is in a book. This is the window that you will look through in order to behold the glory of Christ.

That's what he designed. Even in the early church, he goes right at John and let this book be the means by which people will see who I am. So do you wanna experience the glory of Christ? Do do you want to study all that he is and how that relates to you? You're not gonna get it any other way than through this book.

Write it down. And that's why we have bible in the name of our church. Because this is how God wants to communicate to us and how we experience him. And here's the encouraging part. Look at verse 20.

As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and the seven golden lamp stands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. What's Jesus doing here? He's explaining. John, I know that that was a mystery to you seeing those seven stars and those seven golden lampstands, but here I'm here to tell you what they mean. Jesus Christ is ready to teach you and I his word.

And you have to believe that. If this is the means by which we experience him and see him, then surely he will be gracious enough to help us see him and hear him. There's a promise that Paul made to Timothy and he makes it to us. He says, and I'll just quote it to you, in second Timothy two seven, think over what I say for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. That's after he hurried in giving him metaphors of what the Christian life is like.

And he says, Timothy, if you do your part to take this seriously enough to think about it, meditate on it, compare it, talk about it, here's God's promise to you. I'm gonna give you understanding in it. Now here's what's important as we continue in Revelation, that verse doesn't promise us when he's gonna give us understanding. Some of us want understanding right away. It doesn't happen like that.

He will do it at the right time. Nor does he promise the way in which he will do it. You know, I have some people who refuse to learn anything about God's word unless they have it in their own subjective experience, unless it comes straight here, downloaded here. That's the only way that they wanna receive truth. But but God's ways are large and in our ways.

He can give you and I understanding here. When somebody preaches and you learn, you go, that's the Lord giving me understanding. He can do it when somebody hands you books of men that God has used to explain things in the scriptures. He can do it in a time of prayer. He can do it over a cup of coffee when you're talking to a spirit filled brother, and they bring up something about something you never knew about, or something that you were confused about.

God uses him to bring you understanding. But here's the promise. If God wants to speak to us through this, he will indeed reveal himself if you desire it. If you desire it. Well, I think that's enough for one Sunday.

Let's give him thanks for all that he has done and how he has revealed himself to us in his word. Lord, we sometimes feel the daunting task of trying to describe your son, Jesus Christ. Keep us from all error, from all human interpretation. We pray Lord that we would have the Spirit's help in our journey of knowing who you are. Lord, if if our hearts are not captivated by who you are, we do ask for your help.

Change us. And Lord, help us believe that you are in the midst of your church. Help us believe that you're holding on to us. Help us believe that even when we fall apart, when we realize how we come short of your glory, you're right there ready to bring us up again and comfort us. You remind us that you have conquered death, that we belong to you not because of what we've done, but because what you've done on our behalf.

So, Lord, with our attempt to try to understand who you are, help us now sing to you in the way that you deserve. And we believe that you, the living Christ, see us and hear us. And, Lord, we do pray for your special protection over this church that it would be what you want it to be. And as we prepare to study the churches of Asia, help us in humility and hunger conform to your ways so that you would be pleased by this place. We love you, Lord, and we wanna express it now to you in song.

In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Let's stand church. If I can be transparent and share my experience this week in preparation for this Sunday in a good way, it was overwhelming. And I thought to myself, if it's overwhelming for me to look at the descriptions with black ink on white pages, what was it like for John to see it with his own eyes?

And we're gonna see him one day. But not just see him one day. What you just heard this Sunday is what Christ is doing in his church now. He's walking. He's purging.

He's strengthening. He's protecting. And for the next few weeks, we're gonna look at what Christ is saying to his church. And he's gonna be speaking to us in many ways, and I'm looking forward to it. I gotta tell you something.

Once Sunday finishes, I'm already thinking about next Sunday. It I am serious. I'm already thinking, Lord, what are you gonna show me this week? What are you gonna show me this week? I wanna see it, and he's faithful to show it to me.

If you think over what he says, he promises to give you understanding in all things. I can tell you after twelve years of walking with Christ, he has never failed me. Oh, there have been there have been times I've paced back and forth in my room wondering, lord, what does this mean? I don't get it. Or I look at somebody else and they have understanding, I think to myself, oh, how did they get there?

But he knows exactly what I am able to digest and what I need and when I need it. And then I gotta remember, this is not about me just gaining knowledge. This is about me falling deeper and deeper in love with Christ. That's what it's about. Don't miss it.

You know who missed it? The church of Ephesus. Oh, they had a lot of knowledge. They knew what to do, but they missed their first love. I better be careful.

I'm gonna preach next week's message. Let's pray, shall we? How many thanks can we give to you, oh Lord, for all the things that you've done for us? But if there's one final thing we should say thank you for, it's this church. Oh Lord, to be in a group of people every week who want the sermon to be longer, who want the service to extend because they hunger and thirst for your truth.

Lord, we pray that that would never die, that that would never shrink, that it only excel more and more. Lord, as we fellowship, please bless our food, bless this time, and would you be gracious, Lord, to even allow us to experience your presence there. Bring us back together, Lord, And we ask, Lord, that if you choose to come, we prefer that. Maranatha, come Lord Jesus. In Jesus' name we pray.

Amen.