What can we discover about Christ in His revelations to the churches.
Notice that each message to the churches starts with a description of Christ.
Ephesus 1. (2:1)...he that holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
This refers back to chapter one where John sees Christ walking among the candlesticks holding the seven stars.
1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 1:13 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. 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars:
The candlesticks represent the seven churches. The stars represent God's undershepherds in those churches. The message is particularly to the "undershepherds" of the churches, though all who read and hear them and respond will reap the blessing.
"The Divine Son of God is seen walking amid the seven golden candlesticks. Jesus Himself supplies the oil to these burning lamps. He it is that kindles the flame. "No candlestick, no church shines of itself. From Christ emanates all its light. "God has not given His church into the hands of men. Christ, the One who gave His life for the world, that all who believe in Him may not perish but have everlasting life, is the watchman of the house. (RH Ma 26, 1903)
"His ministers are instruments in His hands, and all the good they accomplish is done through His power. Through them His light is to shine forth. The Savior is to be their efficiency. If they will look to Him as He looked to the Father they will be enabled to do His work. As they make God their dependence, He will give them His brightness to reflect to the world. (AA 587)
What can we discover about Christ in His revelations to the churches. Notice that each message to the churches starts with a description of Christ.
SMYRNA
2:8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
Again John takes us back to the scene in chapter one
1:17....Fear not; I am the first and the last: 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen;
The message is wonderful -- yes, Christ died and is alive again. And because He died and is alive we can have life everlasting with Him! How precious this message was to the persecuted church of Smyrna where many had to die because of their faith.
Because Jesus died and rose again He could say; "be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
"'I know that my Redeemer liveth,' and because He lives, I shall live also." What an assurance is this.
"Jesus lives; and because he lives, we shall live also. He is to us not a Saviour in Joseph's new tomb, closed with a great stone, and sealed with the Roman seal. Mourn not as those who are hopeless and helpless; never, under any circumstances, give way to despair; but from grateful hearts, from lips touched with holy fire, let the glad song ring out, "Jesus is risen; he lives to make intercession for us." Grasp this hope, and it will hold the soul like a sure, tried anchor. Believe, and thou shalt "see the glory of God." {RH, July 22, 1884 par. 14}
"And because he lives we shall live also. He has conquered Satan in our behalf, let not the devil conquer us. Let us not disgrace our Lord and Leader; but we will triumph in His holy name, and come off more than conqueror." {from OHC 41.3}
Rev. 2:12 These things saith he which has the sharp sword with two edges; 2:13 I know thy works...
Again we are taken back to chapter one --
Rev. 1:16..and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: ..
Two edged sword is symbolic of the power of the Word of God. It can cut to the heart and arouse the senses, cutting them lose from the lethargy and sin that has deadened them.
Hebrews 4:11-12 For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
"It is the naked truth which, like a sharp, two-edged sword, cuts both ways, arousing to spiritual life those who are dead in trespasses and sins. Men will recognize the gospel when it is brought to them in a way that is in harmony with God's purposes. GW313
"When Christ preached, His message was like a sharp, two-edged sword, piercing the consciences of men and revealing their inmost thoughts. The work that Christ did His faithful messengers will have to do. In simplicity, purity, and the strictest integrity they are to preach the Word. (2SM 159)
"Their words must not be rugged and sharp. In their presentation of truth they must manifest the love and meekness and gentleness of Christ. Let the truth do the cutting; the word of God is as a sharp, two-edged sword and will cut its way to the heart. Those who know that they have the truth should not, by the use of harsh and severe expressions, give Satan one chance to misinterpret their spirit. {9T 239.2}
Jesus reveals Himself to the church of Thyatira --
2:18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
Again we are taken back to chapter one:
Rev. 1:14 and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
1:15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace;
Eyes of fire symbolizes the intensity of Jesus gaze.
"The ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He pondereth all his goings" (Prov. 5:21). "The eyes of the Lord are in every place" (Prov. 15:3). "He looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven" (Job 28:24). "The Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts" (1 Chron. 28:9)
Nothing escapes His observation. He can see past the pretense,. He sees past the front we may present to others. His gaze penetrates to the very core of our being.
"His eyes were as a flame of fire, which searched His children through and through. {1T 60.1}
"God cannot be deceived. He reads character correctly. He weighs motives. Nothing escapes His all-seeing eye; the thoughts, the intents and purposes of the hearts--all are discerned by Him. {4T 583.2}
"For a moment the divinity of Christ flashed through His guise of humanity. The high priest quailed before the penetrating eyes of the Saviour. That look seemed to read his hidden thoughts, and burn into his heart. Never in afterlife did he forget that searching glance of the persecuted Son of God. {DA 707.2}
Feet of brass represents standing in the very center of holiness. Christ's glorious feet remind us that Christ walks upon holy ground, He stands in the throne room of the universe, He walks in purity, under His feet impurity is stamped out.
The heavenly creatures in Ezekiel also have feet with the appearance of burnished brass. The covering cherub of Ez. 28:14 "walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire". God's "throne is like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. (Daniel 7:10) The glorious holiness of God's throne has the appearance of fire.
Those glorious feet of Christ, are swift to provide divine aid for the struggling human who is on his knees.
But those feet will also tread out the wrath of God upon the unsaved.
The eyes of fire and feet like fine brass suggest impending judgment. His piercing vision sees all and can therefore not fail to judge rightly, while His feet will ultimately tread upon the wicked in the winepress of God's wrath.
Rev. 19:15 …"and he treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God."
Isaiah 63:3 I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.
63:4 For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.
Christ was indeed compelled to tread the winepress alone, and of the people there was none with Him when all the forces of evil rose up against Him and put Him to death. Yet He defeated those principalities and powers of darkness. "And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2:15)
"God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ," 1 Thess. 5:9 .
But when the work of salvation is complete and all who would be saved are saved, those glorious feet will utterly stamp out sin and evil.
This is a wonderful revelation for the church of Thyatira, for during this time period the true church is in the wilderness, while an apostate church reigns. It seemed apostasy was winning, and even creeping into the wilderness church. Yet, there is the assurance that Jesus sees all, in the end truth will triumph, and evil will be no more.
3:1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars…. Be watchful…else I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
3:4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
The Apocalypse reveals Christ as our High Priest. In chapter one He stands before John on the Isle of Patmos dressed in the priestly garment and wearing the girdle of priestly service. Here in the address to Sardis He again refers back to chapter one as being the One there portrayed.
Rev. 1: 1:16 "And he had in his right hand seven stars:"
The seven stars are the under-shepherds of Christ's churches, but what do the seven Spirits represent ?
They are mentioned in:
Rev. 1:4 "peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
Rev. 4:5 "and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God."
Rev. 5:6 "a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
The seven spirits of God are symbolic of the Holy Spirit. The Bible, and especially the Book of Revelation, uses the number seven to refer to perfection and completion.
The "seven spirits" refer to the One Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:4)–who is The perfect Spirit of the Lord.
He is "the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of power,
the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord." Isaiah 11:2 And "the Spirit of Truth" John 15:26
The seven stars (ministers in the churches) must have the Holy Spirit, and Christ holds both in combination in His hand.
John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father, he shall testify of me:
Without the Holy Spirit, we are spiritually dead. And that is the case with Sardis.
Of Sardis it is said: "thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead" Rev. 3:1
Christ is shown ready to give the Holy Spirit to the dead church. A church largely without the Holy Spirit is spiritually dead, with spiritually dead sermons being preached to spiritually dead listeners in the pews all living in a kind of momentum given to it long ago when it was in a state of life, but now simply automatically following the rituals with no spiritual power. The stars – ministers – need the Holy Spirit to breath spiritual life into the church body.
It is urgent that people have spiritual life, for Jesus, as the High Priest is telling them that soon the "hour of judgment will begin". (See Rev. 14:7) Christ, is announcing the soon beginning of the "Day of Atonement" in the heavenly sanctuary work. It will come upon people as a thief if they do not wake up!
Rev. 3:3 Be watchful…else I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
There are a few who have not soiled their garments – they will be vindicated in the judgment. Their names will be presented before the Father, by Jesus, as worthy to inherit the kingdom Christ purchased for them with His own blood. Their names remain in the book of life and they will live with Christ for throughout eternity!
Rev. 3:4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things says he that is holy, he that is true, he that has the key of David, he that opens, and no man shuts; and shuts, and no man opens; …. 3:8 I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: …. I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
The judgment announced in the fifth church now commences. Notice the connection between Rev. 3:7 and Rev. 6:10. This is speaking of the One why is holy and true.
Rev. 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
Jesus is holy. Jesus is true.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
Jesus has the keys – as we read in the first chapter of Rev.
Rev. 1:18 I am he that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
It was as a man that Christ Jesus, who has the keys of hell and death, secured those keys. It was as a man that Jesus Christ entered into the realm of death and plucked out its terrible stinger. It was as a man that Christ Jesus suffered the equivalent of hell for his people. As our representative he has gone into the kingdom of death and hell and taken them captive.
1 Cor. 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, [and] become the firstfruits of them that slept.
15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where [is] thy victory?
The keys signify Christ's power to open the graves of death in the resurrection. They symbolize His authority to determine eternal life or death for each individual. As He said:
John 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, in the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, in the resurrection of damnation.
5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
And now, as our High Priest, Judge as well as Advocate, He has entered through another door in the heavenly sanctuary, to present the names of the overcomers before the Father and the Holy Angels and determine whose names remain in the book of life (As we read in the message to the Sardis church)
THE DOORS
Some have tried to explain the open door as missionary opportunities. Unfortunately however, doors of missionary opportunity have a way of being closed by all sorts of people and circumstances, but the door, in Rev.3:7, NO ONE IS ABLE TO SHUT.
For identification of the doors, it would be wise to look in Revelation itself. Revelation 4:1 says:
"Lo, IN HEAVEN, an open door and a voice saying come up here and see what will take place."
Yes, here we see an open door in the sanctuary in heaven.
Revelation 4 shows the beginning of Christ's ministry in the heavenly sanctuary. In these chapters (Rev. 4 and 5) Christ is inaugurated as the "ONLY ONE WORTHY" to fulfil the tasks of salvation, for He is the Lamb slain. Indeed the whole book of Revelation is focused on the work Christ is doing in the heavenly temple during the entire Christian era until all things are restored and the temple is no longer needed once the plan of salvation is complete.
At Christ's ascension to heaven the door of the heavenly sanctuary holy place was opened for mankind. A new and living way had been opened to the fallen race. All sacrificial offerings terminated in the one great offering of the Son of God. And Jesus entered by His own blood into the heavenly sanctuary. In Rev. 4 we see Christ by the seven lamps before the throne. We see the golden vials of incense. We see Christ, the Lamb slain, declared worthy to take up the work of salvation. The setting is in the HOLY PLACE!
Yet, during the Philadelphia period Christ closes a door and opens another door.
What does this signify?
We can look in Revelation 11 for our explanation.
Revelation chapter eleven first refers to the 1260 year period (the prophetic years oft repeated in both Daniel and Revelation as the time of the church's oppressive dominion from AD 538-1798) This period is now ended as we come to the Philadelphia period. Then we hear the 24 elders announcing that the time of judgment has come to judge the dead.
Rev. 11:19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament:
Yes, at this time another door in the temple of God is opened and what do we see? We see the ark of His testament. This is in the Most Holy Place.
In the service of the earthly sanctuary, which, as we have seen, is a figure of the service in the heavenly, when the high priest on the Day of Atonement entered the most holy place, the ministration in the first apartment ceased. God commanded: "There shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he comes out." Leviticus 16:17.
So when Christ entered the holy of holies to perform the closing work of the atonement, He ceased His ministration in the first apartment. But when the ministration in the first apartment ended, the ministration in the second apartment began. When in the typical service the high priest left the holy on the Day of Atonement, he went in before God to present the blood of the sin offering in behalf of all Israel who truly repented of their sins. So Christ had only completed one part of His work as our intercessor, to enter upon another portion of the work, and He still pleaded His blood before the Father in behalf of sinners. {GC 428.3}
Many and earnest were the efforts made to overthrow their faith. None could fail to see that if the earthly sanctuary was a figure or pattern of the heavenly, the law deposited in the ark on earth was an exact transcript of the law in the ark in heaven; and that an acceptance of the truth concerning the heavenly sanctuary involved an acknowledgment of the claims of God's law and the obligation of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. Here was the secret of the bitter and determined opposition to the harmonious exposition of the Scriptures that revealed the ministration of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary.
Men sought to close the door which God had opened, and to open the door which He had closed. But "He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth," had declared: "Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it." Revelation 3:7, 8. Christ had opened the door, or ministration, of the most holy place, light was shining from that open door of the sanctuary in heaven, and the fourth commandment was shown to be included in the law which is there enshrined; what God had established, no man could overthrow. {GC 435.1}
"I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 3:15 I know thy works, … 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 3:21…. I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
While we see Christ in all the messages to the churches, it is the seventh church that focuses the most upon Christ.
The Amen
The word "Amen" is a Hebrew word signifying "firm truth". "Amen" and "Verily" are the same in the original language. Jesus often said "Verily, verily, I say unto you." Or "truly, truly I say" "Amen and Amen I say".
This title for Christ as the Amen, shows He has the final word of truth in all matters! He is the Creator and sustainer of all things and, therefore, it is appropriate that He have the final word of truth and warning for the churches.
Rev. 1:7 " Even so, Amen."
The True and Faithful Witness
The first description of Jesus in the book of Revelations is that of being "the faithful witness"
Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness
Now in the message to the Laodiceans the emphases is upon the fact that Christ is verily the truth, and what He says is the true and faithful report of the condition of His people.
The self deceived Laodicean Church believes it is in need of nothing and their spiritual life is great. Jesus will tell them things they don't want to believe – but He is the faithful and true witness of the true condition.
A faithful witness is consistent and honest in the matter represented. .A true and faithful witness will truthful tell what people need to know for their salvation, He does not pamper them in their self-deceptive comfort.
The beginning of the creation of God
The Greek word for "beginning" is arche which means "first in position" or "leader". Alternate meanings include "origin" or "cause."
Jesus is presenting His authority over creation as Creator.
During the seventh church era evolution was taking the scientific world by storm, but Jesus tells us He is the Creator, and we need to listen to Him for He speaks truth.
Colossians 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.
Hebrews 1:1-2 God… has in these last days spoken unto us by his Son… by whom also he made the worlds;
I KNOW ….I COUNSEL
Christ knows our condition and our needs. He doesn't leave us to our problems, but comes with the needed supplies and counsels us to apply these items to our lives.
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten
Christ loves us. He loves us too much to leave us in our condition. Therefore He rebukes. Rebuke is not usually appreciated, but when it comes from the true and faithful witness Who loves us, we need to take note and accept it for Christ's desire for us is to give us eternal life with Him.
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and eat with him.
This text has inspired artists through the centuries – Jesus standing outside a door, patiently knocking.
Yet, we need to remember, the True Witness is addressing the church. He is addressing people who carry the name Christian. He is addressing the ministers of the last church. How could He be outside patiently waiting to be invited in?
He is not repulsed by scorn or turned aside by threatening, but continually seeks the lost ones, saying, "How shall I give thee up?" Hosea.
And so He keeps knocking on the door of a people who call themselves by His name, and do lip service of their Christianity, but their hearts are far from Him and they don't even realize it!
Jesus wants to come in. Not just into the porch, but into the very hub of activity. To eat with us. To have a vital real relationship
