THE VISION OF CHRIST, THE REDEEMING LAMB

#721                       THE VISION OF CHRIST, THE REDEEMING LAMB                                       

Scripture  Revelation 1:9-20, NIV                                                                                 Orig. 9/3/1978

                                                                                                                                   Rewr. 2/5/1989

Passage: 9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11 which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: 

to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”  12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man,[a] dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

19 “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. 20 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels[b] of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”

Purpose: Continuing a series of lessons for adults in Church Training, here showing John’s detailed description of the Christ.

Keywords:        Christ, Authority         Christ, Nature             Christ, Suffering

Timeline/Series:           Revelation

Introduction

            I know of one preacher who makes it plain that his knowledge of Bible languages is limited.  Because the scriptural material was originally written in Hebrew and Greek, however, there has to be some use of these languages to teach a Bible passage.  The preacher then explained that he did know a little Hebrew and a little Greek.  The little Hebrew has a dry goods store in Lake Providence, and the little Greek owns a hotdog stand in Delhi.

            To know enough to know where to look is a major factor in interpreting Revelation.  Whatever position millennially that we hold, the book was written in code, and we have to work at breaking this code.

            A series of programs was on public television recently that had to do with governments and their secret communications.  One program had to do with Germany during World War II.  A major step toward victory was achieved when their military codes were broken and the Allies knew what the next moves would be.  Another program addressed the crisis between the USA and Russia over compromised military information.

            John wrote in a code known by the early church.  He spoke in a language that was the major means of communication throughout the Roman world.  Culturally, most of these people shared the same evolving cycle.  The early history of the church was Jewish.  But the last half of The Book of Acts clearly reveals a change to a gentile church.  There were Jewish believers, the leaders were Jewish, but the largest numbers of the converts were coming from gentile or pagan backgrounds.  The message given to John was with these multitudes in mind.

I.          Last Major Reading in Lesson II was “The Christ John Knew.”  V4 “From the One who is, . . . was, . .   will be; . . . and from Jesus.” 

            V5a      Who is:            “faithful witness”

            V5b      Who was:         “firstborn from the dead”

            V5c      Who will be:    “prince of kings”

II.         This Lesson Begins with the Christ John Heard.  V10 “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet.”

            We must not be in too much hurry, and pass by such a significant truth.  John was in the Spirit (pneumati).  It was the Lord’s day.  What happens in our measure of understanding—the awe of expectancy, the authenticity of divinity.

            How John came to Patmos (Aegean Sea).  Description: covers about 13 square miles of Dodecanese Islands (12), 70 miles southwest of Ephesus, 160 miles ESE of Athens.  Circumstance: (a) by command of God; (b) in order to preach; (c) as punishment for preaching.

            What John is to do with the revelation.  He was to write it down.  Then, it would be available to seven congregations:  Ephesus (70 miles SE on coast of  Asia Minor); Smyrna (40 miles north on coast); Pergamum (50 miles north, inland); Thyatira (30 miles ESE); Sardis (40 miles SSE—65 miles east of Smyrna);  Philadelphia (60 miles ESE); Laodicea (30 miles ESE—100 miles east of Ephesus).  Its circulation was not limited to these seven churches; they were not time warps of the church; they were churches manifesting the many problems needing confrontation.  The word, write (graphon) is imperative—1:11/1:19/seven times in 2-3/14:13/19:9. 

            One thing more, John’s mention of tribulation (thilipsei)—pictures grindstone: 54-68 Nero—persecutions (fire), 81-96 Domitian—persecutions (Caesar is Lord).  Issues with which John deals in letters—lukewarmness, wealth, backsliding, poverty, false doctrine.

III.       The Next Lesson is the Christ John Saw.  V12 “I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me.”

            John shows us the posture of a learner.  He turns as is necessary for fuller comprehension.  The word: epistrepsas—to turn.  Same word used by James 5:19, 20—“He which converteth the sinner from.”  We must be careful with the application, but John intended to be in a learning posture.

            What we can make of what John saw. 

            Seven golden candlesticks—v20 tells us: these are the churches, seven the mystic number of completeness.  They, of course, represent light in darkness.  “An unlighted candlestick is just something else to run over in the dark.”

·         There are the symbols of royalty. 

·         The tribunal garments of the judge—“a robe reaching to his feet with a golden sash about his chest.” Lad in New Iberia leading music for Rod.  The girdle encircles his heart as an expression of fidelity of love.  Various factors of appearance.  Hair: white (purity) eternality, similar to Daniel 7:9c.

·         Eyes were as flame of fire: suggesting infallible knowledge.  Matthew 6:22 “If thine eye be single”; Matthew 7:5 “Cast out the beam”; Matthew 18:9 “If  thine eye offend.”  Hebrews 4:13 (GNV) “There is nothing that can be hid from God; everything in all creation is exposed and lies open before his eyes.”

·         His feet: like brass which is symbol of judgment. Serpent John 3:14; see Revelation 19:15 “tread the winepress.”

·         His voice: many waters—gentle rain/driven storm, brook/flood/hurricane season.  Mississippi off Sullivan’s Island.

·         There are symbolisms of deity; 1:8 “alpha and omega” (no v11) bounds of vocabulary/communication; the link with Jehovah God—Three times vv. 8, 17, 18; “I am” used for “being” not “becoming.”  “Almighty” v8 equivalent “El Shaddai”: Genesis 17:1f “I am the Almighty.”  Exodus 3:14 “I am hath sent me.”

IV.       There Follows from This Christ His Message to the Churches.  V17f “Fear not; I am the first and the last: . . . he that liveth, . . . having the keys of hell and death. Write what you have seen, . . . what is, . . . what will be.”

            A reassuring statement of sovereignty. As John has perceived him.  He is all that and more.

            There is a reminder of his humanity and of his suffering. V18 “I am he that liveth, and was dead.”  Gospel writers attest to that life.  Foregleam of Suffering  Servant—Isaiah 53.

            An attestation of the ultimate victory that awaits the people of faith.  “I am alive forevermore, . . . (I) have the keys of hell and of death.” V18

·         Ephesus: “he that holdeth the seven stars. V16 “he had in right hand seven stars.”

·         Smyrna: “the first and the last, dead but alive.” 17c/18a “I am the first/last.”

·         Pergamum: “having the sharp two-edged sword.”  V16 “Out of his mouth went the sharp two-edged sword.”  The word both saves and slays.  Emblem: Ephesians 6:17, Hebrews 4:12.

·         Thyatira: “eyes as flaming fire, feet of bronze,” V14b-15a as above.

·         Sardis: “Seven spirits and seven stars,” v16, 20; seven stars, v4, seven spirits.

·         Philadelphia: “key of David,” v18 “keys of hell and of death.”

·         Laodicea: “Faithful and true witness,” v5 “faithful witness.”

·         a) 1:18, The living one with “keys” of hell and death.

·         b) 3:7, The one with “the key of David.”

·         c) 3:20, Must stand outside the church at Laodicea and knock to gain entrance.

Conclusion

            The last verse gives us the promise of the revealed word.  We are to search where not made plain.