Revelation 3v1-6 – Jesus, to the church in Sardis

Photo by Krzysztof Szkurlatowski; 12frames.eu; RGBStock

The article is based on the podcast, Revelation 3v1-6 – Jesus, to the church in Sardis.

Context

Welcome to this Light and Life Bible Ministries message. Our aim is to help you have a clear understanding of the Bible. This message focuses on what Jesus said to the church in Sardis. Let’s start by reading Revelation Chapter 3, verses 1 to 6. I’m reading in the English Standard Version.

¹“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.

“‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. ²Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. ³Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. ⁴Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. ⁵The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. ⁶He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Jesus instructs John to write to “the angel of the church in Sardis.” In His introduction, He references Himself as “him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.” In so doing, Jesus highlights His relationship to “the seven spirits,” which, we previously saw, is a depiction of the Holy Spirit, and to “the seven stars,” who, Jesus previously explained, are “the angels of the churches.”

Jesus Exposes and Threatens the Church

Jesus cuts to the chase, saying to them, “You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” This is perhaps why He references the Holy Spirit. For it is only by the Spirit that they will find true life in God. After all, John, in his gospel, recorded Jesus saying, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all” (John 6:63).

Jesus then says, “Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.” He warns them to wake from their spiritual sleep and says their works are unfinished. Jesus reminds them of what they knew to do, saying, “Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent.” He warns, “If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.” This is a threat of unexpected judgment upon the church.

Jesus Praises the Faithful

Jesus acknowledges the faithful among them, saying, “Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments . . . they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.” The implication is that those who are unfaithful have soiled garments and are not worthy of walking with Him. This should be seen as disciplinary rather than permanent for this analogy precedes the eternal promise, of wearing white garments, given to the entire church.

Jesus Reminds of Promises in Him

Jesus gives these promises for those who conquer, in other words, all Christians, saying, “The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.”

Finally, Jesus says, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches,” making all that He said to this church applicable to the seven churches and, by implication, His entire Church throughout history.

Rob Morley

Find the podcast here.

Revelation 2v8-11 – Jesus, to the Church in Smyrna

Image by KIMOLOS, RGBStock

(The following article is based on this podcast)

Context

Welcome to this Light and Life Bible Ministries message. Our aim is to help you have a clear understanding of the Bible. In our previous message, we looked at Jesus’ words to the church in Ephesus, who were diligent in service but had lost the love they once had.

This message focuses on what Jesus said to the church in Smyrna. Let’s start by reading Revelation Chapter 2, verses 8 to 11. I’m reading in the English Standard Version.

⁸“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.

⁹“‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. ¹⁰Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. ¹¹He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’”

Jesus instructs John to write to “the angel of the church in Smyrna” and then references the words He had said to John only moments before, saying, “The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.” Here Jesus intentionally refers to His eternal nature and His death and resurrection in light of what He is about to ask of this persecuted church.

Persecuted and Poor, yet Rich

But before He gets there, Jesus says to them, “I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not.” Here Jesus shows He has intimate knowledge of their difficult circumstances and encourages them in their true wealth by saying they are rich. Regarding this wealth, Jesus is likely referencing their spiritual demeanor rather than their position in Him, for the wider context indicates that He has inspected the behavior of the seven churches and is giving prophetic feedback to them.

Jesus is aware of the slander by Jews who had not come to Christ, calling them “a synagogue of Satan,” which is apt for those who speak evil of His followers who are witnesses of the Truth. Saying that these Jews were not Jews echoes God’s word in Romans 9:6, where Paul wrote, “not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel.”

Satanic Influence

As “the first and the last,” like God the Father, Jesus knows all things and warns them, saying, “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation.”

Jesus speaks of impending imprisonment at the hands of the devil. He goes straight to the source of what they are about to suffer. Having called certain Jews the synagogue of Satan, it may well be that local religious leaders of the synagogue will be unwittingly led by the devil and have some of them imprisoned.

In the Gospels, Jesus warned of persecution from the Jews, which often happened in the book of Acts. Jesus’ reference to the unseen devil is not unlike God’s word through Paul, who, in Ephesians 6:12, wrote, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

Later, symbolism in Revelation indicates that political and religious leaders are, at times, used by Satan as instruments for his twisted purposes.

Be Faithful Unto Death

Jesus refers to their approaching imprisonment as a test, like the testing that Job experienced at the hands of Satan but under God’s oversight. However, though the imprisonment will be short, in that Jesus spoke of “ten days” (symbolizing a complete but short period), it may lead to death. For Jesus lovingly implored them, saying, “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Paradoxically, although Jesus indicates that their imprisonment may lead to death, He can promise them “the crown of life.” After all, He is the One “who died and came to life” and now reigns.

Broadening Reach of Message

Jesus addresses all seven churches and, by implication, His entire Church throughout history when He says, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” In other words, what He said to this church, in particular, is to be a guide to all churches going through similar circumstances.

Reminding of Promise in Christ

Jesus concludes with a promise, saying, “The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.” Though it encompasses the future, this promise speaks of what they already have in Him. After all, this same author records Jesus in his Gospel, saying, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life” (John 5:24).

Rob Morley

Find the podcast here

Revelation 2v1-7 – Jesus, to the Church in Ephesus

Photo by Dez Pain, RGBStock

(The following article is based on this podcast)

Context

In our previous message, we looked at Jesus’ instruction to John to write what he saw. This included the vision of Jesus amid His churches. Born out of that vision, in this message we consider how Jesus addressed the first of the seven churches. Let’s start by reading Revelation Chapter 2, verses to 7. I’m reading in the English Standard Version.

¹To 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. ²‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. ³I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. ⁴But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. ⁵Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. ⁶Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. ⁷He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’

Of note is that all the words in this passage are Jesus’ and form part of an unbroken dialogue that began in Chapter 1v17 after John saw Him symbolically depicted in the midst of the His churches, and only finishes at the end of Chapter 3.

Jesus Addresses Church in Ephesus

Jesus instructs John to write to “the angel of the church in Ephesus.” You will note that Jesus addresses Ephesus with reference to the first vision, saying, “The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.”

Addressing Ephesus first and using this picture that depicts Jesus’ broad reach, may reference the fact that they were the mother church to the others. If we look ahead, we will see that Jesus likewise addresses all the other churches too with reference to the vision or what He has said about Himself.

Jesus addresses the church’s behavior by commending, admonishing, urging, and warning them, before reminding them of the promise that they have in Him.

Commending Hard Work and Resistance to Evil

He commends them, saying, “I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary.”

Admonishing for Abandoning First Love

However, despite what looks like a stellar record, especially against falsehood and evil, He immediately admonishes them, saying, “But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.”

This is a huge indictment because it is the breaking of God’s command to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength . . . [and] . . . your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12: 30-31).

Some translations read, “You have abandoned your first love,” which implies the breaking of the first commandment. Either way is equally sad and sobering considering how well they were doing.

Urging to Love

Jesus, then, urges them, saying, “⁵Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.” Here love is equated to “works.” After all, though we are not saved by works, works are the fruit of true faith.

Warning of Loss

He then warns, saying, “If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.” This may be a reference to removing their ability to be an influence as light in their world.

Encouraging Again

Then, encouragingly, Jesus again commends them, saying, “⁶Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.” Here, Jesus highlights a particular evil in their midst, pleased that they hate what He hates.

Broadening Reach of Message

Finally, Jesus addresses all seven churches, and by implication His entire Church throughout history, when He says, “⁷He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” In other words, what He said to this church, in particular, is to be a guide to all churches.

Reminding of Promise in Christ

And, He concludes with a promise, “To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” This is not a promise for the future, but a reminder of what they already have in Him and ought to be experiencing by faith. For Romans 8:37 teaches that “in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us,” and 1 John 5:4 says, “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” We are those who conquer and are able to access Jesus, “the tree of Life, which is in the paradise of God.”

Rob Morley

Find the podcast here

Revelation 1v19-20 – Jesus Instructs John

Picture by fangol @RGBStock

(The following article is based on this podcast)

Context

In our previous message, we looked at John’s response to the extraordinary vision he saw of Jesus in the midst of the candlesticks and Jesus’ interaction with him. This message considers Jesus’ instruction to John and His explanation of the vision. Let’s start by reading Revelation Chapter 1, verses 19 to 20. I’m reading in the English Standard Version.

‘¹⁹Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. ²⁰As 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.’

Jesus Instructs John to Write

Jesus instructs John to write about 1) what he had seen, 2) what was current to the churches, and 3) what was to take place. We noted in Rev. 1:3 that the entire book is called a prophecy and that prophecy is not only predictive but, perhaps more importantly, addresses the behavior of God’s people along with giving insight, warnings, and hope.

Jesus begins by explaining the initial vision, saying, “the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.” As previously mentioned, though the “seven churches” were actual churches in Asia Minor, it is significant that seven churches get addressed because the book uses numbers to convey meaning. The number seven speaks of God’s qualitative fullness. Consequently, the image of Jesus in the midst of the “seven churches” depicts Christ with His entire Church throughout history.

As for the “seven angels,” the term “angel” means messenger. These angels are understood to be human messengers (possibly teachers or pastors) who would take the message to their churches, instead of actual angels. In Daniel 12:3, the wise and those who lead others into righteousness are depicted as stars. It reads, “And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” Sadly, it also gets used in Jude 1:13 of false teachers who get described as “wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.”

But not here. These messengers get designated with the most profound Revelation of Jesus Christ since His incarnation, death, resurrection, and ascension. They have a message that will help the seven churches understand what they were about to go through and, by extension, a message for the entire Church and what they will have to face throughout history, knowing Jesus Christ is in their midst.

Rob Morley

Find the podcast here.

Revelation 1v17-18 – John and Jesus Interact

Picture by Adrian van Leen @ RGBStock

Context

In our previous message, we continued looking at the initial vision in the book of Revelation of “one like a son of man” in the midst of the seven candlesticks. This depicts Jesus in the midst of His Church.

In this message, we’ll look at John’s response to this extraordinary vision and we will see Jesus’ interaction with John which further indicates that Jesus is not only equal to God but is, in fact, God.

Let’s start by reading Chapter 1 verses 17 to 18. I’m reading in the English Standard Version.

¹⁷When 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, ¹⁸and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.’

Having turned to see the voice speaking to him, John fell, as though dead, at the feet of this overwhelming depiction of Jesus. This is not unlike the response of the prophets when they found themselves in the presence of God. Isaiah said, “Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts” (Isaiah 6:5, KJV).

Jesus Comforts John

Ezekiel responded similarly, writing, “Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face” (Ezek. 1:28b).

Jesus’ response to John is one of reaffirming grace and mercy, just as God had been toward the prophets in the Old Testament. John wrote, “he laid his right hand on me.” This was a touch of care as seen by the accompanying words, “Fear not.” And, the assuring hand carried authority, depicted by John saying Jesus reached out with His “right hand,” which is a symbol of authority.

Jesus’ words, “I am the first and the last,” echo the words of God in the Old Testament when He says in Isaiah 44:6, “Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel . . . I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.” By using the same words, Jesus is unequivocally saying that He is God.

Also, by calling Himself “the living one,” Jesus depicts Himself as the originator of life, who, like God, has life in Himself. John had written similarly in his Gospel, saying, “In him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4) and “I am . . . the life” (John 14:6).

“I am” prefaces “the living one” and reflects the other “I am” sayings that John used in his Gospel, and later in Revelation, to depict Jesus as God. In Rev. 21:6, Jesus says, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.” And, in Rev. 22.13, Jesus used the words that God used to describe Himself in Rev. 1:8, saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

In keeping with One who has life in Himself, Jesus said, “I died, and behold I am alive forevermore.” This reiterates the great work of salvation that he did in dying and rising, thereby conquering death.

By saying “I have the keys of Death and Hades,” Jesus indicates that He has authority over these entities. These are comforting words not dissimilar to those in 1 Cor. 15:55, where Paul wrote, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” or, as in the NKJV, “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”

If nothing else, these verses in Revelation clearly depict Jesus as God by His actions and what He says about Himself.

Rob Morley

A Time of Peace, Joy, Judgment, and Wrath

Photo by criscris1 (Cristiano Galbiati), Rgbstock

Come to the Temple of God

One of the most beautiful pictures of restoration between people and God and between one another is found in the following passage in Isaiah 2:2-5.

In the last days
the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established
as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills,
and all nations will stream to it.
Many peoples will come and say,
‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths.’
The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He will judge between the nations
and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore.
Come, descendants of Jacob,
let us walk in the light of the Lord. (Isaiah 2:2-5 NIV)

It is primarily a prophecy “concerning Judah and Jerusalem” (Isa. 2:1) and fulfilled in Christ. The New Testament authors describe the era since Christ as the “last days” (Isa. 2:2 cf. Acts 2:17, 2 Tim. 3) and speak of Jesus and the Church as the temple of God (see John 2:19, Rev. 21:22, and 1 Cor. 3:16, 1 Pet. 2:5).

Isaiah 2 describes peace and joy for all people of every nation who go “up” to God and have their hearts and ways changed toward Him and one another. It does not claim a time of worldwide peace and joy for everyone. Corroborating this, the book of Revelation indicates that both the righteous and unrighteous will exist alongside each other until they are both judged, as do other passages in the New Testament (Matt. 13:29).

We see the fulfillment of Isaiah 2 as people from every nation come to Christ’s Church, “the New Jerusalem” (Rev. 21:2), and “Israel of God” (Gal. 6:16). Those in Christ have changed hearts and learn not to war with each other. Isaiah 2 captures the idea of a time of change rather than a final outcome, for those who go to God are being taught new ways, and disputes are being settled (Isa. 2:3-4).

The Church Reigns as Priests in God’s Kingdom of Peace

This passage matches the 1000-year reign of Christ and His saints (i.e. the Church) in Revelation 20 where John used the number 1000 to symbolically refer to the entire Church period in which all believers are a kingdom of priests (Rev. 20:4; 1 cf. Pet. 2:5,9). During this age, Satan is “bound” (Rev. 20:2) by Christ and the power of the gospel (Rom. 1:16) and “the kingdom of God of . . . righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:10) is extended to all who believe (John 1:12).

Note: The idea of a literal 1000-year reign that some teach undermines the full extent of the message of peace and joy entirely applicable to the whole Church era. It also undermines the idea that it is the entire Church who are the “priests of God and of Christ [who] reign with Him for a thousand years” (Rev. 20:5). For it is the Church who “[sing] a new song: ‘Worthy are You . . . because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign upon the earth’” (Rev. 5:9-10).

A Metaphor of Salvation and Judgment

Sadly, this passage that metaphorically begins by so beautifully describing those who receive salvation gets immediately contrasted with verses of wrath toward those “of Jacob” (Isa. 2:6) who reject God and who, under judgment, “flee . . . from the fearful presence of the Lord” (Isa. 2:19,21).

The entire picture in Isaiah 2 is a metaphor pointing forward to the Church era where people are coming to Christ and being changed by Him, while He simultaneously brings judgment on those who reject God. As for this latter issue, Jesus Christ has been deemed “[w]orthy to take the scroll and open its seals” (Rev. 5:9) which are the judgments He brings upon the peoples of the earth, as He has on “the descendants of Jacob” (Isa. 2:6) who rejected Him.

This is not foreign to the rest of the word of God, for Hebrews 10:30-31 says, “For we know him who said, ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ and again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’ It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

So, although these passages of salvation and judgment were initially intended for Judah, they are, by implication, extension, and application, for everyone who likewise accepts or rejects God and His salvation in Christ. May everyone consider God’s gift of salvation available to all who come to Him.

Rob Morley

Revelation 1:14b-16 – Vision of Son of Man Contd.

Image by alexbruda, RGBStock.

Context

In our previous post began looking at the vision of ‘seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man.’ We quickly saw that this depicted Jesus in the midst of His Church. In this post we’ll continue looking at the description given of this ‘son of man.’

‘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’ (Rev.  1:14b-16).

More About This Son of Man

‘His eyes were like a flame of fire,’ refers to His role as judge, seeing evil with an eye to destroy it. Throughout the Bible, fire is associated with God’s vengeance, who, it says in Hebrews, is an all-consuming fire. Now, Jesus ‘is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead’ (Acts 10:42).

‘His feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace.’ His feet were bare like the priests of the Old Testament. ‘Bronze’ depicts strength, while ‘refined in a furnace’ depicts Jesus having walked a hard road and having been baptized in the fire of God’s judgement on our behalf.

‘His voice was like the roar of many waters’ is another way of describing the volume in sound and weight of speech that came from Him. He, being the Word, and God, spoke God’s word most perfectly.

‘In his right hand he held seven stars.’ The ‘seven stars’ get interpreted a few verses later as the seven angels of the seven churches, which are messengers to the churches. Once again we see the use of numerology to depict meaning. ‘Here, ‘seven,’ a number associated with God’s qualitative fullness, is being used in association with Jesus to depict Jesus’ own divinity. Being ‘in his right hand’ depicts that they have His authority. Of note is that, just as the angels do the bidding of the Father, they are under Jesus’ authority too.

‘From his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword’ speaks of the word of God that precedes from His mouth. Hebrews declares, ‘For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword.’ Coming from the mouth is most suited to Jesus, who said that He doesn’t speak of His own accord, but whatever the Father tells Him to speak.

‘And his face was like the sun shining in full strength’ clearly represents Jesus of whom it says in Hebrews, ‘He is the radiance of the glory of God.’ He was similarly depicted by the prophet Malachi, who wrote, ‘But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness (note: ‘sun’ not son) shall rise with healing in its wings.’ The sun is the image of the greatest light, being the source of life giving light and warmth, unlike the moon that only reflects the glory of the sun. Jesus doesn’t merely reflect the glory of God; being God, He fully embodies it.

Rob Morley

Revelation 1:12-14a – Son of Man in Midst of Seven Golden Candlesticks

Image by Kimolo at Rgbstock

Context

In our previous post we began to look at the first of several visions in the book of Revelation. It began with John, who was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, hearing a voice behind him like a trumpet saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches…’

We’ll continue by looking at Chapter 1:12-14a in the English Standard Version. It reads, ‘¹²Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, ¹³and 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. ¹⁴The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow.’

Seven Golden Lampstands

John turned to see this voice of authority and describes what he saw. Keep in mind that we are dealing with imagery depicting a deeper meaning. He first describes seeing seven golden lampstands, which are explained by Jesus, just a few verses later, as the seven churches. The book often explains the imagery for us. However, where it doesn’t, the other Scriptures are generally the source to understanding much of the imagery.

Being golden lampstands, each church is shown to be of high value and radiant in beauty, like royalty. And, each church, being a lampstand, is individually a source of light, which is in keeping with Jesus’ words, “You are the light of the world.” Of note is that a lampstand requires that someone light it. It isn’t innately a source of light. We are only the light because Jesus lights us.

The seven golden lampstands are understood to be joined together. It’s the Jewish menorah being used to symbolize the uniqueness of each church as well as the unity of the entire Church, the Israel of God. This is in keeping with the truth that all who are born again are united into one body, regardless of location, doctrinal divisions or denominations. Also, clearly the unity of the seven lampstands offers so much more light. We should, therefore, harness this unity that we have in Christ by working together.

Son of Man

John then said that he saw ‘in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man.’ This description takes precedent and, as the description unfolds, it becomes more and more apparent that this is Jesus. The term ‘son of man’ was used by the prophet Daniel to describe Jesus in a vision some 600 years before His incarnation. The term is also used to describe Jesus by three of the gospel writers.

Being ‘in the midst of the lampstands,’ depicts Jesus’ association with each church. He is the head of each church individually and of all seven churches corporately, in other words the entire Church. Also, by Jesus being depicted alongside them, rather than above, portrays His familial connection as a brother to each and every church member.

He is clothed with a long robe and a golden sash around His chest. The long robe represents His high priestly office, as well as His royalty and the opulence of His kingdom. This golden sash is a priestly sash, but of the highest honour and royal.  It was bestowed on Him as the perfect high priest whose perfect life became the perfect offering. He is the prefect King-Priest.

‘The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow,’ is also how God is described in the vision that Daniel had of ‘the son of man.’ In Revelation, however, it’s ‘the son of man’ that is depicted in this way. It’s another sign in Revelation to the exact likeness of the Father and the Son. If you have seen the one, you have seen the other.

Proverbs says that ‘Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life’ (Prov. 16:31 ESV). Proverbs also depicts wisdom associated with an elder. Grey hair explains Jesus as the righteous one who has always existed. The brightness of His hair also depicts the Lord’s glory, as at the transfiguration, only, now permanently unveiled.

Rob Morley

Shortened version on YouTube: Revelation 1v12-14a

Shortened version as an Anchor podcast: Revelation 1v12-14a

Revelation 1:9-11 – John to Write What He Saw

Image by coloniera at Rgbstock

Revelation’s 1^st Vision

In the previous post we completed looking at the prologue to Revelation. This time we’ll be looking at the beginning of the first of several visions that unfold before John throughout the book.

‘⁹I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. ¹⁰I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet ¹¹saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea” (Rev. 1:9-11 ESV).

In verse 9 we have John speaking in first person to the recipients of the Revelation. These, we learned in verse 1, are Jesus Christ’s servants, His Church. They are also depicted in verse 4 as ‘the 7 churches’ and though they existed as literal churches, being 7 they represent the entire Church of Jesus Christ.

People of the Tribulation, Kingdom and Patient Endurance

John calls himself a brother and partner with them ‘in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus.’ This is in keeping with John’s gospel account in which he recorded Jesus having said, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 ESV).

Concerning ‘the kingdom,’ verse 6 indicates the type of kingdom that the Church is on earth when it says that Jesus Christ has ‘made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father.’ Furthermore, the Church is part of the kingdom of God, concerning which Paul says that we are seated with God in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

‘Patient endurance’ speaks of our perseverance in Christ. As it says in the book of Hebrews, ‘we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls’ (Heb. 10:39 ESV). It speaks of an enduring peace that is found in Jesus, despite suffering and life’s challenges.

John says that he ‘was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.’ Patmos was a penal colony where serious convicts of the state were sent. Clearly, teaching and preaching God’s word and witnessing to Jesus had been the cause of his banishment. This explains why he referenced being a ‘partner in the tribulation… and patient endurance.’ It appears to have been a particularly hard time for Christians in general.

In the Spirit

Then, his natural experience is swallowed up when he writes, ‘I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet.’ Paul says of every Christian, ‘You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you,’ and ‘Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him’ (Rom. 8:9). Therefore, in one sense, all Christians are always ‘in the Spirit.’ This, then, cannot be what John meant here, for such a fact would be too obvious to need mentioning.

Instead, John must have meant that he was full of the Spirit when he said that he ‘was in the Spirit.’ This is the only plausible explanation. For, though Christians are always in the Spirit (in the sense that our spirit is forever joined to God’s Spirit), our entire being is not automatically ‘in the Spirit.’ Such an experience requires intention and prayer. In fact, we are told to continually be filled with the Spirit and walk in step with the Spirit so that our thoughts, emotions and conduct can be empowered by His indwelling presence. Our soul needs to receive the rivers of living water coming from within.

The Lord’s Day

John references ‘the Lord’s day,’ which is the only time this term is used in the Bible. Being a Jew, if he had meant the Sabbath, he would have called it that, as he had so often done in his gospel account. Instead, this is the 1st day of the week, the day that Jesus rose from the dead. It is called ‘the Lord’s day’ in honour of that. It had apparently become custom to meet and celebrate Jesus’ resurrection on that day.

Whether intentional or not, it follows a pattern set by Jesus. After His resurrection on the 1st day of the week, He appeared to His disciples and then again on the 1st day of the following week. Later, in Acts, it describes how Paul and his partners were in a place called Troas for seven days and ‘On the first day of the week…were gathered together to break bread’ (Acts 20:7 ESV). This appears to be an intentional choice to remember the Lord on the 1^st day of the week. If so, it demonstrates the significance that Christians had placed on this day. Paul also puts emphasis on this day when he says, ‘On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come’ (1 Cor. 16:2).

Loud Voice Like a Trumpet

Then John says, ‘I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet.’ First of all that’s not a normal voice. A trumpet is a very distinct sound often associated with the military. This sound, and especially that it was loud, served to amplify the fact that it was a command being given. Moreover, it especially emphasized the significance of the Person giving the command.

The command was, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.” The command to ‘write what you see’ would have indicated to John that he was going to experience something visual. And, the instruction to write what was essentially for seven churches ‘in a [single] book’ would have carried with it the idea of unity, the implication being that everything in it was for all seven churches and, by implication, all of Christ’s Church.

Finally, the churches mentioned are named after the respective towns in which they reside in Asia Minor. These churches were associated with John’s ministry. He was a church leader in Ephesus, the town from which the gospel had spread during Paul’s ministry into to all of Asia Minor.

Rob Morley

Shortened version on YouTube: Revelation 1v9-11

Shortened version as a podcast: Revelation 1v9-11

Revelation 1:4-5 – To the Seven Churches

Image: Adrian van Leen, RGBStock

What’s With The Number Seven?

In the previous post, we looked at the opening verses of Revelation, specifically, chapter 1 verses 1-3. In this post we are going to be looking at verse 4 and part of 5.

‘⁴John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, ⁵and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth’ (Rev. 1:4-5 ESV).

Prophecy, Letter and Drama

This is how a typical New Testament letter would begin. But, unusually, it appears here only after an introduction explaining that the revelation of Jesus Christ is a prophecy. This unusual structure of having an introduction before the letter begins, suggests that this construct was more than a letter. I am aware that as we go on in the book, we will be introduced to a series of scenes that are full of imagery, one after another. It is a drama. This is likely because John had been a church leader in Ephesus, one of the churches being addressed, and Ephesus was a place of great theatre productions. So, a drama was a genre fitting for that audience.

Someone Else’s Before Its Ours

However, being a letter, we must remember that letters always have specific recipients in mind and they always address specific issues related to the recipients. We cannot directly impose what we read onto ourselves. That said, God’s word is living and active and we can certainly be instructed and encouraged by what we read.

Important here is the significance of John addressing seven churches. This is the first of several uses of the number seven in Revelation. In the case of the seven churches, these literal seven churches existed in Asia. Nevertheless, it is odd that other churches that also existed in this region were not included.

Figurative Language

At this point, I want to back track to verse 1 where it says that ‘he (Jesus) made it known.’ This is also translated, ‘he sent and signified.’ In others words, this Revelation is full of signs pointing to meaning. It is important, therefore, that we consider what ‘seven churches’ might mean if ‘seven’ is intended to have more than its literal meaning.

It may not be immediately obvious that ‘seven’ also has an intended figurative meaning, nevertheless, as we go on we will see many terms being used figuratively, including numbers. Sometimes the terms are exclusively figurative, however, in this instance these actual churches did exist.

So, what is being conveyed beyond the literal meaning? Before we consider what seven might mean, let’s first look at the next section where the number ‘seven’ is again used peculiarly.

Greeting

The words ‘grace to you’ are typical of a New Testament letter where they are used in the greeting with reference to members of the Godhead, usually God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. In this case we see all three members of the Godhead described in particularly unique ways as follows:

‘…from him who is and who was and who is to come,’ is another way of saying, ‘from I am.’ This is, by deduction, God the Father, because Jesus is mentioned later in the greeting and the next reference appears to be about the Holy Spirit. It reads, ‘from the seven spirits who are before his throne.’ As this is where God is referenced in the salutation and as the text follows in verse 5 with, ‘and from Jesus Christ,’ ‘seven spirits’ is clearly an intentionally unusual way of referring to the Holy Spirit.

Seven Is Perfect Fullness

Here, we again have the use of the number ‘seven,’ only this time it is apparent that it must be figurative, because God, who is one, consists of the three persons of the Trinity and there are not a literal ‘seven spirits’ anywhere in the Godhead. This is clear evidence of numbers being used figuratively in Revelation. Being the number of days of creation, the day God rested, and the day of rest in honour of God, ‘seven’ was a way of referencing God. It represented God’s qualitative fullness in what He does.

This kind of numerological usage, where certain numbers carried particular figurative meaning, was commonly understood. Clearly, this was the person of the Holy Spirit, who was sent by God at the request of Jesus to be with His church. By indicating ‘seven spirits’ immediately after referencing the ‘seven churches’, the idea conveyed is that God’s presence is with each church through the presence of the Holy Spirit. This brings us back to why God only referenced ‘seven churches.’ In other words, everything that was said, was intended for the entire Church.

Rob Morley

Also on YouTube at: Revelation 1v4-5

Also as a podcast at: Revelation 1v4-5