A Glimpse of Who Jesus is From the 7 Churches of Asia

Text: Revelation 2-3

Thesis: To note who Jesus is and why He must be heard.

Introduction:

(1)   The addresses to the seven churches in Asia in Revelation 2 & 3 contain many important messages that need to be heard today.

(2)   This morning, we will focus in on the descriptions of the one who addressed the churches, which will also help us better understand the nature of Jesus.

Discussion:

I.                   “He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands” (Rev. 2:1)

A.    Seven stars = seven angels (see Rev. 1:20)

1.      Right hand = place of honor

2.      Jesus knows these messengers and they are in His care.

B.     Seven golden lampstands = seven churches (see Rev. 1:20)

1.      “This indicates the active, constant, and persistent energy in which Christ is concerned with the welfare of every church and every Christian” (Coffman's Bible Commentary).

2.      After all, He is the head of the church (Eph. 1:21).

II.                “The First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life” (Rev. 2:8)

A.    “The first and the last”

1.      Only the Lord was and is eternal.

2.      “He was before Smyrna; he would still be when Smyrna was no more” (Taylor 96).

3.      “His primacy must be universally recognized” (Hailey 125).

B.     “Who was dead, and has come to life”

1.      “The Lord’s victory over death and His present position should inspire confidence within a church that was about to suffer imprisonment and tribulation even unto death” (Hailey 125).

2.      “As he was victorious over death, so they too can face martyrdom knowing that faithfulness is rewarded with eternal life” (Mounce 92).

III.             “He who has the sharp two-edged sword” (Rev. 2:12)

A.    The sword is the Word of God (Eph. 6:17).

1.      The Word is shaper than any two-edged sword (Heb. 4:12).

2.      It will prick the heart (Acts 2:37), but it will also cut to the heart of one (Acts 7:54).

B.     To the Romans, the sword was a symbol of authority and judgment.  This authority belongs to Christ and not to Rome (cf. Mat. 28:18).

C.     The brethren were reminded of the fact that Christ and His word are inseparable.

IV.             “The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass” (Rev. 2:18)

A.    He is the Son of God; i.e., the promised Messiah, God in the flesh.

B.     His eyes are like unto a flame of fire.

1.      Old Testament writers often associated fire with the judgment of God (e.g. Isa. 66:15-16; Psm. 97:3).

2.      Such eyes are all-knowing, penetrating, and discerning (cf. Dan. 10:5-6).

3.      One must also add that such eyes are judgmental (Heb. 4:13).

C.     His feet are like fine brass.

1.      This shows Him as a glorious Judge indeed who can “trample” all opposition.

2.      We will be judged by Christ and we need to know that He will trample all opposition and that we may even be that opposition by our way of living; thus, we need to repent (cf. John 12:48; Luk. 13:3).

V.                “He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars” (Rev. 3:1)

A.    “Seven Spirits of God” – represents the perfect Holy Spirit

1.      In Matthew 3:13-16, the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus at His baptism.

2.      After which, He declared that He was anointed with the Spirit as a fulfillment of Isaiah 61:1-2 (cf. Luke 4:18-19).

3.      According to John 3:34, Christ had the Spirit without measure.

B.     “Seven stars” – the seven angels or preachers

1.      This would seem to indicate that they are in Christ’s care, as He is head of the church.

2.      It may also represent the inner life of the churches.

VI.             “He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens” (Rev. 3:7)

A.    He is holy.

1.      Comes from the Greek word “hagios,” which means “to set apart.”

2.      A Christian is to be holy (I Pet. 1:15-16).

B.     He is true.

1.      All the promises in Him are yes (2 Cor. 1:20).

2.      He is the truth (John 14:6).

3.      Christians are to be true (Mat. 5:37).

C.     He has the key of David.

1.      “Key” is a symbol implying power and authority.

2.      Christ is now king on David’s throne (2 Sam. 7:12-14).

3.      He has all authority (Mat. 28:18).

4.      He is now ruling over the church (Eph. 1:20-22).      

VII.          “The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God” (Rev. 3:14)

A.    He is the Amen.

1.      This word is intended to express certainty.

2.      Christ is the certainty of God’s promises (2 Cor. 1:20).

3.      This name, “Amen,” gave fixity to Christ’s purpose and character; this the Laodiceans lacked.

B.     He is faithful and true witness.

1.      His testimony is absolutely trustworthy.

a.       His criticisms and warnings should be heeded.

b.      3 things necessary to be a witness:

(1)   He must have first-hand knowledge of that to which He testifies and must have seen with His own eyes that to which He attests.

(2)   He must be competent to reproduce and relate this for others.

(3)   He must be willing to make this known faithfully and truthfully.

2.      He is the beginning of creation of God.

a.       Christ is the source of all created beings and things, the active agent of God in creation.

b.      Gen. 1:1-3; John 1:1-3, 10; Col. 1:15-17

Conclusion:

(1)   Indeed, Jesus demands our attention and must be heard.

(2)   Are you listening and following Him today?