The Glorified Christ
Notes
Transcript
Have you ever thought you knew someone, only to find that there was much more to the person than you knew. I don’t mean in a bad way (although that happens) but I mean in a good way. You might have been around someone for years, and then maybe you see them on their job, or learn of some skill they have and you are in awe. I’ve been that way listening to someone whom I had no idea could SANG. I’ve watched people I’ve known a long time operate equipment and been fascinated.
I believe it can be that way with Jesus. We know certain things about Him. His love and tender mercies. His death on the cross. The meek and lowly Jesus. But perhaps we have an incomplete picture of Him. John the Revelator was that way. In the opening vision of Revelation, John saw and heard Jesus in a way he never had before.
The Voice of the Lord
The Voice of the Lord
9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation, kingdom, and endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of God’s word and the testimony about Jesus.
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard a loud voice behind me like a trumpet
11 saying, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”
A little background: John- I believe this is the aged Apostle John. He saw Jesus heal, preach, teach, cast out demons, raise people from the dead. He was there at the crucifixion and Jesus gave him responsibility for caring for Mary. He has traveled and pastored churches in Asia Minor. He has written the Gospel of John, 1,2,3 John and now is told to write the Revelation.
How did this come about . Well John says
He’s a brother and partner in tribulation (not great tribulation) but ongoing suffering for Christ, the kingdom and endurance. John wanted the 7 churches to know he struggled and suffered for Christ and His Kingdom with them. I’m reminded that we were not promised a lack of problems in this world, but we were told to be of good cheer because He has overcome the world. John will soon see this.
He’s on an island called Patmos. It is 30-40 miles of the coast of Asia Minor. He is there because of God’s word and the testimony about Jesus. He in essence has been banished there (common practice) because he wouldn’t back down from preaching and teaching about Jesus. As long as Christianity was simply a spin-off of Judaism it was tolerated as a permitted religion. But Rome had started treating Christianity with increasing hostility. John is banished, but don’t feel too sorry for Him. It is on the island of Patmos that God lets him see Jesus like he has never seen him before. I believe God let’s us go through the valley because it is there that He shows us things and teaches us things we could never learn about Him otherwise.
He’s in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day. Boy Baptists want to run from this, but God supernaturally showed up in John’s life in a vision. Nothing John saw in vision was contrary to the Word of God. Nothing he saw was meaningless, nondescript or silly. He had a powerful encounter with the Lord. I don’t think we ought to discount those kinds of experiences. There is no evidence that John sought out this experience, but he had no doubt it was from God. This happened on the Lord’s Day. It may be that as he worshipped the Lord, God showed up in a powerful way.
The voice he heard was described as a trumpet, and cascading waters. LOUDER THAN ANYTHING AROUND and it caught John’s complete attention.
That voice told him to write down what he saw and send it to 7 churches, Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. This leads to what John saw.
The Appearance of the Lord
The Appearance of the Lord
12 I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me. When I turned I saw seven gold lampstands,
13 and among the lampstands was One like the Son of Man, dressed in a long robe and with a gold sash wrapped around His chest.
14 His head and hair were white like wool—white as snow —and His eyes like a fiery flame.
15 His feet were like fine bronze as it is fired in a furnace, and His voice like the sound of cascading waters.
16 He had seven stars in His right hand; a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth, and His face was shining like the sun at midday.
17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. He laid His right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last,
To put it simply he saw Jesus. But not like he knew Him before.
Standing among 7 lampstands. More on this in just a minute.
He is seen as both the son of man, a picture of his humanity, and one with white hair, with fiery eyes representing His deity. John’s mind would have no doubt connected this scene to the one Daniel had in the Old Teastment in Daniel 7.13.
He is seen as the one who has gone through the fire (feet of fired bronze). And no doubt the one who purifies His church.
He’s got stars in his hand, a double edged sword coming out of his mouth (speaking words of judgment and division), and a face as bright as the son.
WHAT A PICTURE.
SO JOHN, who had known Jesus since a very young man, does what anyone who realizes that they are seeing Jesus as He really is for the first time, falls to the ground at the feet of King Jesus. What about you, when is the last time you considered Jesus for who He really is? In all his power? in all his holiness? as the lamb who died and the lion who reigns?
This leads to the second time John hears Jesus speak in this vision.
The Voice of the Lord
The Voice of the Lord
17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. He laid His right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last,
18 and the Living One. I was dead, but look—I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades.
19 Therefore write what you have seen, what is, and what will take place after this.
20 The secret of the seven stars you saw in My right hand and of the seven gold lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Lest we wonder what was going through John’s mind, Jesus speaks to it! Don’t be afraid. There are many examples of people fearing when they get too close to God as He really is. The Israelites at Sinai. Isaiah in his vision in the Temple, and now John.
Jesus speaks calming words. First and last. Living one. Lord of death, hell, and the grave.
Verse 19 serves as a great outline for Revelation. What yo have seen (chapter 1) what is (chapters 2-3; letters to the churches) and things to come (chapters 4 and ff.)
Verse 20 interprets the vision
Stars- angels of the churches. Now you will note that chapters 2 and 3 have John writing to the angels of the churches. IF this is angels in the normal sense, then it seems almost backward. Angels are messengers of God. Supernatural angels are God’s messengers to man. It seems odd that Jesus would have John write a letter to a supernatural angel. In the context of Revelation 1-3 I believe the angels of the churches are the human messengers, or the pastors. (That means I am a star and an angel lol) In all seriousness, God sees the pastor of each of these churches as His messengers. Oh that preachers and people alike would realize that when the preacher stands up full of the Word of God, laboring to give birth to the sermon God has planted in His bones.
lampstands are the churches. Lamp-stands hold lamps. The church is supposed to hold forth the uncompromising light of Christ to the world. Even when the world loves darkness rather than the light. We are to keep shining the light of Christ. This is not a building, but the people of God in a particular place. We shine forth with the good news of the Gospel. We are to do so with the resolve, dependability,and care that honors Jesus.
By the way will remember that John saw Jesus as among the lampstands. He is with us. He is the Lord of the church. And we will learn that He has messages to deliver to the 7 churches. We might learn that he has some things to say to us. But what a blessing to know He is among His churches. We are not alone as we shine His light.
Jesus is much more than we have ever realized. He wants to be your Savior, He wants to be your Lord. He is with you when you God through the good times and the bad. He wants to show you more and more of Himself and His will for you. He is here in our church, leading and guiding us. He is both the son of man and the ancient of days. He identifies with you, but He knows what’s best and what is ahead.