What Kind of Church - A Churh that knows Jesus.

Revelation 1:9–18 KJV (WS)

9 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. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 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. 12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 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. 14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; 15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. 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. 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: 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.

Introduction

John sets the stage for what he experienced. 9-12

First, he identifies himself.

John’s words are self-deprecating.

He wants to highlight that none of what is about to be recorded happened because he is a super-saint.

To his readers, he is their brother.

He is their companion in tribulation.

He is on the Island of Patmos as an exile.

Traditionally he was sent there after being boiled in oil.

John is in his 90’s by this point.

His identity wasn’t just as a sufferer, though.

He was also their fellow citizen of God’s kingdom.

He was a co-recipient of the patience of Jesus.

Next, he explains what he was doing when this occurred.

He was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day.

There is some debate as to whether he was in the Spirit and saw the vision, or he saw the vision which ushered him into the spirit.

Since he identifies the fact that it was the Lord’s day, I would tend to believe that John was marking the day that is claimed for Christ by the Bible.

While praying, singing, or meditating on the scripture, John is granted this vision.

This vision interrupts John’s Sunday.

The first thing that got John’s attention was the sound of a voice behind him.

It was like the sound of a great trumpet.

When I think of the sound of a trumpet, i think of words like “strong, clear, piercing.”

I think of an instrument that has been used since ancient times to communicate on a battlefield because of it’s power.

This voice calls out to John with a message.

I am the Alpha and Omega.

Write you are about to see and send it to the churches.

If that doesn’t pique your interest, I don’t know what will.

John’s mind must have immediately begun racing.

Turning around, John sees 7 candlesticks with a familiar-looking individual standing in the middle of them.

John describes the appearance of the individual who had spoken to him. 13-16

The first thing John says is that the person he saw looked like Jesus.

John knew what Jesus looked like.

He had spent 3 years with Him on this earth.

As we look at his description though, we see that Jesus was recognizable but there are some significant…upgrades to His appearance.

How was Jesus’ appearance different than John remembered?

He was wearing a white garment held up by a golden girdle.

This is a combined message of Jesus’ status as priest and king.

The white garment being representative of his role as our Great High Priest.

The golden girdle reminding John’s readers that He is the King of Kings.

His hair was white as wool.

This feature communicates His agelessness.

He is the first and last, the eternal God that existed outside of time.

His eyes were a flame of fire.

Fire is usually a picture of purity or intensity.

Jesus is not the soft-eyed hippy of the paintings.

His feet were like fine brass.

Most connect this with the judgment and justice of Jesus.

He is priest and king, but the Bible also, regularly makes it clear that He is also the judge.

His voice like the sound of many waters.

Not a trickle or a drip.

The sound of water bursting through a dam.

The sound of tidal waves crashing against a sea wall.

Jesus also had some accessories to go with his outfit.

In His hand were seven stars.

These are the 7 pastors of the 7 churches Asia.

They are in his right hand a place of protection and honor.

They are not perfect, in fact, if you were to read the next few chapters, you would find that they are very flawed.

He holds them anyway.

Out of his mouth went a two edged sword.

This is the picture of the word of God.

We challenged ourselves last week to read more of the Bible.

Many of you have interacted with us in that Bible reading plan.

His countenance shone like the sun.

John recounts his reaction to what he saw. 17-18

John fell at the feet of Jesus as a dead man.

Jesus laid his hand on John and comforted him.

Fear not.

You don’t tell someone to stop being afraid, unless they are afraid.

Though John knew Jesus, he had leaned on his chest all those years ago, he couldn’t help but be afraid at Jesus’ appearance.

I am the first and the last.

Jesus is bigger than any problem John might be facing.

He is the author of the beginning and the end of human history.

I was dead, but now I am alive forevermore.

He is the champion over man’s greatest enemy.

He won the war with death by dying and coming back to life.

I have the keys to hell and death.

Everything you could fear has been defeated by Jesus.

What is the point of looking at this passage?

I think it’s important for us to invest as much of our lives as possible into knowing Jesus.

We all have an image of Jesus in our minds.

When I say the name Jesus, or preach about Jesus you picture someone in your mind.

I would venture to guess that all of us are lacking in our concept of who Jesus is.

You can’t exhaust an infinite being.

But, is it possible that we have become complacent in our relationship with Jesus?

When was the last time your knowledge of Jesus took a step forward.

Think about how well John knew Jesus before the Sunday when he reunited with him on the Island of Patmos.

They had spent 3 years together during Jesus’ earthly ministry.

John had been one of three disciples taken up to the Mt. of transfiguration to see Jesus glorified.

He had been the only disciple to stand as an eye witness of Jesus’ crucifixion.

He had spent the next 60 years preaching about and studying the truth of Jesus.

On this day, when Jesus appeared to him, how did John respond?

He fell on his face as dead.

You cannot exhaust the infinite nature of Jesus.

No matter how long you have walked with Him, there can still be a newness to your relationship.

No matter how much you have studied the Bible, Jesus can still teach you more about himself.

I have no doubt if Jesus physically appeared to us tonight, some things would definitely happen.

We would all respond by worshipping Him.

We would all be afraid.

We would all want to tell other people what we had seen as soon as it was over.

It shouldn’t take a physical manifestation of Jesus for us to have this reaction however.

Jesus is no less desirous of a relationship with us as he was with John.

He has given us His word and His Spirit.

We can talk to Him and He speaks to us through HIs word.

If we knew Jesus better then we would...

worship him more consistently.

fear him more genuinely.

Tell others about him more passionately.