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Jesus was known of His disciples as the man they had spent three and a half years with while He ministered here on earth. This was the only context they had known Him in. They saw glimpses of His divinity, but never the full picture of it. John was now to reveal Jesus Christ to the masses, out of the context of the friend he knew, and in the role of the God we worship. John begins with his introduction in verse 9 of his book Revelations in chapter one saying … “I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. [verse 10] I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,” John begins by identifying himself as our brother, not as our leader, or our prophet, or as the bishop of the church, or as any other hierarchical figure in Christianity, but merely as our brother. He further states that he too suffers in tribulation (both physical and spiritual) in the waiting for Jesus Christ. He was in the Roman prison colony of Patmos because of his preaching of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ. John witnessed to what he saw of the life of Jesus, but he also used scripture to illuminate the truth of Jesus Christ.
John then goes on, and says that he was “in the Spirit”; given the prophecy that follows, this is likely to be interpreted as being touched by the Holy Spirit, or filled with the Holy Spirit. It happened on “the Lord’s Day”. The only day throughout all of scripture to be directly associated with God was the Sabbath set at creation, verified in the law, and rested upon by Christ even during His sleep of death while in His work to redeem us. Nowhere in scripture is found any directives to change this day, or discontinue its observance. And so, both the early Christian church, as well as the traditional Jewish faith continued to observe the Sabbath to try to keep it Holy. Though the Christian church had a bit different perspective on what that meant in terms of service to others. John continues that behind him he hears a great voice, as of a trumpet. Trumpets are loud. They are clear. They are musical. It is not just a large crash, or big bang of something falling that grabs John’s attention – instead he refers to it as a voice. A voice has purpose, and clarity. But in this instance, the voice is loud, and requires attention. The voice has structure and meaning and will continue to reveal to John a deeper of picture of Jesus Christ.
John repeats what the voice states in verse 11 … “Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.” The voice is that of Jesus Christ already identified as the Alpha and Omega, the first and last of our salvation, and of existence. John is directed to write what is revealed in a book. A book implies that this will not fit in a traditional letter, it is going to be more content that a letter would usually contain. And it’s audience would be the seven churches, or the Christian church of his time. Now the key centers of Christianity in that day that comprise the church of Christ are revealed by name. All seven were in reasonably close proximity in the Roman province referred to as Asia, sometimes called Asia minor. On a recent map all of them would be located within the country of Turkey. What is most interesting personally about the designation of these seven churches to me, is that none of them were tied to any political centers of power, either historical, current or emerging. Jerusalem was once the capital of Israel and housed the Ark of the Covenant within the temple Solomon built. The actual Mercy Seat where the physical presence of God dwelt with His people was there for years. But no more. Regardless of where God had been, or who comprised His church before, His current church was now only to be made up of those who follow Christ.
Rome was the current political power of the day, Athens and Babylon preceded it. No churches of Christ were identified in any of these political capitals as being part of the seven. Instead, seven cities, of no special significance, located in a province of no special significance, but each containing followers of Jesus Christ made up the representation of His church. The marriage modern Christianity would appear to love to nourish between the power of the state and the morality and values of Christianity does not reflect what the leader Christ revealed about Himself or His church. Christ was never interested in politics, or the power of the state. He was however always interested in people and whether they would allow Him to give them the gifts of perfection through the submission of their will to Him. Following Christ, not leading Him, or attempting to compel others to join with Him, or attempting to mandate the morality of others in His name – no, Following Him implies submission. It is in our submission we find salvation, not in our vain attempts at control or power. Christ built His church under the pagan power of the Roman empire. Politics were not in support of His church, and rather were determined to see it ended. Yet Christ did nothing to overturn Roman rule while here on earth or after His ascension. Instead He did what really matters, He focused on turning only the hearts of His followers. This would one day change the entire world.
John now knows who will be the immediate audience for book he is to write. But as this voice was coming from behind him, he wishes to see who is speaking and turns around. He continues to pen what he sees in verse 12 … “And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;” There is often a distinction made between the Old and New Testaments regarding the covenant between God and His people. But it is interesting that the symbolism used in the Old Testament sanctuary finds new purpose in the New Testament revelation of Christ. John sees seven golden candlesticks, it is easy to picture a Menorah in this instance in some variation. For one just like it is described in the original sanctuary worship service of the Old Testament days of Moses and what would follow.
Having seen the candlesticks, John turns his attention to Christ in verse 13 he continues … “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.” John identifies the person in the midst or middle of the candlestick as “like” the Son of Man. He resembles Jesus that John knows, and uses language that was used by the King of Babylon in the days of Daniel’s three friends who were cast into the fiery furnace; one who is like unto the Son of Man. Nebuchadnezzar recognized Christ, even without ever having met Him that we know of, and John recognizes Him as well. Next John sets about describing the attire he sees, eerily similar to that of a traditional temple priest. Clothed with garment down to the foot, and wearing about the waist and thighs a “golden girdle”. It was not long ago that Christ had girded himself with a simple towel to wash the feet of his disciples, now that same implement seems to show He is still working in service to His church, and for their salvation.
John then sets about to describe Jesus the Man he knows as God continuing in verse 14 … “His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; [verse 15] And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.” The purity of God is reflected in his head and hair as they are white as snow. This is not to designate Christ as being of Arian decent, nor to decry his Palestinian heritage or perhaps previously olive complexion. It is instead to remind us, that our God is not bound by our divisions or national ideas, or heritage of ethnicity. Instead He bears characteristics that we do not find in ourselves. He has a head and hair, though white as snow. But his eyes are neither brown, green, nor blue; they are instead as a flame of fire. John cannot see much of His skin due to the full length garment, but His feet are as fine brass, still burning in a furnace. In our day the CGI effects in movies like the Terminator where seemingly liquid metal gels into the appearance of a man might be a good allegory. And again John reminds us that His voice, is not merely the voice of a man, but as the sound of many waters.
John then describes items Jesus is carrying in verse 16 … “And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.” In the right hand of Christ are seven stars, John does not know what this means at first, nor does he fully understand the imagery of the candlesticks as yet. But out of His mouth went a two-edged sword. Coming from the mouth of Christ are the words and teachings of Christ. I AM that I AM had given His laws once to His people. But in the life of Christ, was revealed the motives behind the laws, and the lesson of what it means to love and serve others, even to the point of offering His life for them and us. Those words of Christ and teachings of Christ were a TWO edged sword. Or in other words, they CUT both ways. They both liberate and condemn. They both save and judge. Those who will hear the word of Christ, will be saved by His power to cut the evil out of the minds and hearts. Those who will refuse to hear the words of Christ, are cutting themselves off from the only source of their salvation and are dooming themselves to be cut off from His presence forever. The teaching of Christ, the fulfillment of the mission of Messiah, is that we ALL need a savior. We are NOT to save ourselves. This is a lesson even modern Christianity could stand to re-learn. Those who put self at the center of their religion find no room for Christ there, and thus find only the doom of isolation from Christ.
The sun is difficult to stare at when it shines without clouds at noon day. If you attempt it, you will likely lose your sight altogether. The countenance of Christ is so bright, John can only describe it in that way. His purity, His love is so intense, that as you gaze upon it, it is too bright for the selfishness still within us to stand. Our evil compels us to recoil or withdraw from the presence of such purity. As such John falls prostrate as he describes in verse 17 … “And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:” John sees in himself the unworthiness of standing in the presence of perfect love and purity, and falls before God expecting to be dead. Instead, the familiar hand of the one he loves placed upon him, perhaps helping him up, and the familiar greeting … “Fear not”. How often John has heard those words from the voice of God, and how often they were needed. Even before the message is delivered to John, Christ pays attention to the needs of John, and FIRST assuages his fears. Then He continues saying again He is the first and the last, the beginning and ending of our salvation, of our transformation, of our perfection, and of our existence.
Christ continues in verse 18 … “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” Christ identifies himself as the man they knew and the life he spent with them. He reminds them that He died for us, and is now risen for us. He also states that He will be alive forevermore, there will be no future death for Him again. And in addition He holds the keys of “hell” and of “death”. “Keys” are needed to open prison doors. They are needed for our freedom. Hell is the condition of life while separated from God. Any existence cut off from the presence and author of love, is ALREADY hell. You do not need fire and flames to torture the flesh, if you are unable to love and be loved, and know only the pain of self-love and the slavery it causes. You are already alive in hell. You are already the prisoner of hell. And no prisoner ever frees himself from this condition or state of existence. However, Christ holds the keys to freedom from it. Death, or the sleep of non-existence, is also something that Christ can free us from. He can raise us from the dead, both our minds and bodies, but also from the death of our spiritual condition of self-focus. He can raise us from the death we have embraced of our spiritual nature, and put life in its place, life that is found, rooted, and grounded in Christ alone.
Notice Christ does not hand John the keys. No angel holds the keys. We are not to be partners with Christ in freeing ourselves from our conditions of hell or of death. We are to be freed BY Christ from these conditions and from Him alone. Buddha, and Mohammed, and Moses, do not carry these keys. There is no path to self-enlightenment. There is no level of self-denial that will result in freedom from hell or death. There is only Christ. The two-edged sword has the power to cure us, or if we reject it, the inevitable result of seeing us trapped where we are, cut off from His presence. The whole goal of our salvation was to bring us home to Him, to restore us into the presence of that kind of purity, without the stain of self to cause us to wither away and recoil.
Christ then gives John his mission in verse 19 … “Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;” John is to record everything that has just transpired. The timeframe for relevance will be … “things which are” … or messages that are needed today in the present timeframe of the audience of John. But also they are “things which shall be hereafter”, or messages that are intended for those who will live beyond the immediacy of the audience of John’s readers. Again the messages of these revelations have meaning in more than one timeframe, but key to any interpretation is the central premise of revealing Jesus Christ. Outside of Jesus Christ, there can be no proper interpretation of scripture, the law, or the prophecies contained here.
Christ then reveals the meaning of the symbolism John has just witnessed to him as He continues in verse 20 … “The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.” The seven stars represent seven angels that work and minister to each of the seven churches, one a piece. The seven candlesticks that Christ was walking amidst are His churches that he has just listed before. Christ is establishing that these churches belong to Him. He has assigned angels to minister to those churches. He does not designate that each church belongs to its current pastor, or evangelist, or its founder, or committee of church board members, or elders, or deacons, or even its members. Each church belongs to Christ. Each member, or leader, all belong equally to Christ, to be led by Christ, and taught by Christ, and saved by Christ. It is not the structure of the governance of the church that saves us, but the only real leader, Christ. It is not our position of service that makes us any more or less important than other members of the church, our value is found in the love of our leader, Christ. We belong only to Him. We are His. It is that which gives us value.
And the revelations of Christ had only just started …
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