Monthly Archive for September, 1998

Revelation 1:16

Published on September 30, 1998 in Revelation. 0 Comments
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“He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength“

He had in His right hand seven stars

Jesus held “seven stars” in His right hand. These “stars” are seven messengers (1:20). These messengers were probably the pastors of the seven churches. A star is a large body of light. Light declares and exposes. Light defines the object.

Preachers should show the light of God on their people. That light is the glory of God. Preachers are reflectors of the glory of God. Jesus contains the glory and the preacher reflects the glory. In legalism, we produce glory; in grace, we reflect the glory of God.

Jesus held these seven pastors in His right hand. Evidently, Jesus was right handed. That was the hand of His strength. These pastors were in good hands. Jesus holds preachers in His right hand. The right hand is the hand of sovereign control. He has responsibility for pastors. If pastors gets out of line, Jesus will discipline them with double discipline for they have double accountability.

out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword

The “sharp two-edged sword” was the Roman sword (Ephesians 6:17). The sword was the principle offensive weapon of the Roman Empire. It was a short sword for close fighting. Here it refers to the penetrating power of the Word of God. Jesus is now a man of war. He fights His war with words, for this sword comes out of His mouth.

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two- edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12)

“Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God” (Revelation 19:15).

The sword is the Word of God. Jesus speaks the Word of God for He is the Word of God (John 1:1).

and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength

No one knows what Jesus looked like. Artists have placed their imaginations of Jesus face in our minds but none of them knew what He looked like.Jesus’ face will shine as the sun. His appearance will carry majesty and splendor.

“For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).

God’s glory shines through the face of Jesus.

The Bible promises that we will see His face.

“They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads” (Revelation 22:4).


Principle:

The responsibility of every preacher of God is to communicate God’s Word.


Application:

The essence of a pastor’s role is not to be an administrator, a money raiser or a promoter, but a communicator of God’s Word. Pastors must study and preach.

The pastor is a “star,” not a doormat on which people wipe their feet. I do not think that we should carry the idea of a pastor being a “star” too far. At least, we must respect pastors as communicators of truth.

Revelation 1:15

Published on September 29, 1998 in Revelation. 0 Comments
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“His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters…“

His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace,

Jesus’ feet were like bronze purified in a furnace, which represents strong and steadfast judgment. Brass was the metal of judgment in the Old Testament. That is why we have the brazen altar. The brazen altar represents Jesus’ death on the cross. Jesus will eventually stamp out with His foot of judgment all that is contrary to His will.

and His voice as the sound of many waters

I wonder what Jesus’ voice sounds like. We know something of what His voice sounds like in judgment. Jesus will make His judgment heard with a roaring voice like a waterfall. He is not timid as many like to portray Him.


Principle:

Jesus’ strength disturbs people who like to view Him as a weak person.


Application:

The world does not like a strong Jesus. People do not like a person who exposes their dirty lives. The life of Jesus shows us up for what we are. “Why don’t you go back to Heaven, Jesus? Your life bothers me. It unnerves me. You show me up for what I am.”

John could not speak of Jesus in normal vocabulary; he had to use the language of comparison. The pastor of my home church, David D. Allen, speaks of Jesus this way: Jesus is “The sovereign, majestic, incomparable Jesus. If you delete the Lord Jesus from the Bible, you have a book without a subject, a play without a plot, music without harmony, an automobile without a motor, a ship without a rudder, and a home without a mother. Jesus Christ is the jugular vein of the Bible. He is the backbone of the Bible. He is the center and circumference of Scripture.”

Revelation 1:14

Published on September 28, 1998 in Revelation. 0 Comments
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“His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire…“

From verse 13 through to 16 we have a depiction of the Lord Jesus in His glory. John uses the word “like” five times and the word “as” four times. These are terms of analogy and symbols. Jesus shows us a full-length portrait of Himself.

His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow,

“White” depicts purity and occurs twice for emphasis.

and His eyes like a flame of fire

“Eyes like a flame of fire” indicates penetrating judgment of the church (2:18, 23).

“Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward” (cf. Proverbs 20:8) (1 Corinthians 3:12-14).


Principle:

We can hide nothing from Jesus–why try?


Application:

When it comes to His church, Jesus calls a spade a spade. He is not afraid to step on the toes of the church when it goes astray.

Jesus judges with purity and righteousness, not temper. None of us can escape the scrutiny of His perspicacity. He will expose sin with the x-ray of His omniscience. He will search us out and expose our sin for what it is.

Revelation 1:13

Published on September 27, 1998 in Revelation. 0 Comments
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“And in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band“

and in the midst of the seven lampstands

Jesus is personally present among the churches (1:20; 2:5).

“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).

Jesus cares about churches. He is in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20). He examines them to see if they are shining the light. Churches are supposed to be a testimony to the light. They are not the light, but they witness to the light. The Savior examines the light of the churches to see how bright it shines. If a church does not testify to the light, He will remove the church (2:5).

One like the Son of Man,

Daniel uses this expression in his prophecy (7:13) to refer to the Messiah. “Son of Man” depicts His humanity. It was His humanity that died upon the cross. His deity could not die. The second person of the Trinity died on the cross in a human body.

John writes the Book of Revelation about 65 years after Jesus died. He is now functioning as great High Priest ever living to make intercession for us.

“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession” (Hebrews 4:14).

“Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).

clothed with a garment down to the feet

The picture is of a priest in the Old Testament dressed in a long robe.

and girded about the chest with a golden band

This “golden band” was probably a golden sash like the breastplate of the High Priest of the Old Testament.

Revelation no longer depicts Jesus as a criminal on the cross but as the glorious Son of Man sitting at the right hand of God interceding for the saints.


Principle:

Jesus removes churches that do not shine the light of His glory.


Application:

Jesus will snuff out the light of the church that does not shine His glory. Jesus will remove its testimony completely. Eventually, all these seven churches lost their testimony. That area of the world became Muslim. Jesus completely removed their testimony.

Paul never ministered in any city longer than the city of Ephesus (three years). Today there is little testimony left there. Many churches in North America no longer have a testimony. Their churches stand as empty shells of what they once were.

If the Lord Jesus were to come to your church to examine its effectiveness in shining the light of Jesus, how would He evaluate your church? Is your church effective in reaching people for Christ? Are the Christians in your church reflecting the glory of Christ.

If your church does not measure up to Jesus’ standards, He will eventually remove your church from His plan.

Revelation 1:12

Published on September 26, 1998 in Revelation. 0 Comments
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“Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands…“

Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me.

John heard a voice behind him and turned to see who it was that spoke to him.

And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands

The first thing that John saw was “seven golden lampstands.” Evidently, there were seven individual lampstands rather than one lampstand with seven lamps as the lampstand in the temple.

Verse 20 interprets the symbols of “lampstands” as churches. The lampstands may refer to the light of truth they cast both upon non-Christians and Christians. Churches are truth-oriented. Churches are not the light; they only carry the light. Thus, churches reflect the glory of God.

“Golden” may refer to the value these churches hold in the eyes of Jesus. They are precious to Him.


Principle:

The purpose of the church is to glorify the Lord Jesus to the world.


Application:

The picture is the Lord standing in the midst of churches judging them for their aberrance. Lamps are for the dark. If churches cast darkness, they lose their purpose.

Churches are not the light; they only carry the light (Matthew 5:14). Jesus is the light of the world. Darkness will continue until Jesus comes. We need to remember that the program of the church is not the light. If they teach the Word, they shine the light of God who is Jesus the Lord.

Revelation 1:11

Published on September 25, 1998 in Revelation. 0 Comments
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“Saying, ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,’ and, ‘What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea‘”

saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega

This is the title of Jesus that we find in verse eight. Jesus transcends time because He exists from before time and after time. He began before time and created all things (John 1:1,3; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:10).

the First and the Last

At the beginning of the message of Revelation, Jesus states His credentials. He is Lord of time and history. He is Lord over the Roman Empire. Jesus knew all events of the Roman Empire before time began.

It is interesting that a message of prophecy that begins with these great credentials, and thus bearing great weight, evangelical Christians ignore and some even denigrate.

and, What you see, write in a book:

Jesus tells John to write what he sees. Evidently, Jesus was the first person to use an overhead projector when He preached! Jesus wants John to get this down on paper (or parchment, if you prefer).

and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia

“Asia” is not the Asia of today but refers to an area of western Turkey. This is the Roman province of Asia. God gives John the responsibility to minister to the churches near his little rocky prison. All of the other apostles may now be dead.

Jesus gives John his orders to write the Book of Revelation and to send it to certain churches.

to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea

John does not choose these churches for their importance. Troy and Miletus were more populous than Thyatira and Philadelphia.

John names these churches according to a geographical order. He begins with Ephesus on the coast and goes north on a half circle and ends in Laodicea in the east. These cities, connected by superb roads, had vigorous communication between them.

These churches are seven representative churches for all time. Jesus will discipline each church for a specific problem. Jesus will put out their light if they are not faithful to His purposes.


Principle:

Jesus, as the Sovereign Son of God, knows everything we face from eternity.


Application:

Although John suffered persecution from the Roman Empire, Jesus knew it before time began. This was no capricious event in history. The Sovereign Son of God placed John’s situation in time for His own purposes. Jesus understands his situation thoroughly. John had no excuse to feel self-pity or go over to a corner to sulk.

Jesus is aware of our situation at all times. There never was a time when He was not perfectly aware of our situation. He always has a perfect solution for any problem we might have.

Revelation 1:10

Published on September 24, 1998 in Revelation. 0 Comments
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“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet…“

I was in the Spirit

The word “was” means to come to be. John entered a state where the Holy Spirit could reveal Scripture to Him. He was in a state characterized by the Holy Spirit’s control over him.

“In the Spirit” means that John was in an attitude of worship, not in a state of ecstasy. He was in a state of honoring God by thinking about Him, His majesty and power. This phrase may mean that he was filled with the Spirit. He may have been out of fellowship with the Lord and came into fellowship on this Sunday. We should never go to church without being filled with the Spirit. Otherwise, we will not benefit from the service.

“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24).

John was in a condition where God could give him the visions of Revelation. As an apostle, he had the authority to write Scripture.

on the Lord’s Day,

The only occurrence of the “Lord’s Day” in the Bible is found here. The word “Lord’s” means belonging to the Lord, as in the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:20).The “Lord’s Day” here is Sunday, not the Sabbath. Sabbath means seven and that is Saturday, the seventh day. The Jews worshipped on Saturday. That never changed. The Sabbath was a commemoration of creation.

Sunday is not a day of rest. Sunday is a day we set aside for the Lord Himself. Christians worship on Sunday and that has never changed. The work of salvation is different from the work of creation. As we do not bring lambs to slaughter in church, neither do we worship on Saturday. Saturday is passé to the New Testament Christian.

The day Jesus rose from the dead is referred to as the first day of the week (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2,9; Luke 24:1; John 20:1,19; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1,2). The Lord’s Supper was normally observed on the first day of the week. The only time the New Testament uses the term “Lord’s” is for the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:20).

Some people make the Sabbath by this they mean Sunday a holy day. These same people support blue laws. This obscures the work of grace in Christ.

and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet

John heard a voice behind him like a blaring military trumpet. This is the voice of the Lord Jesus.


Principle:

The Christian worships on Sunday because of the work of grace in Christ.


Application:

The mature believer regards every day alike (Romans 14). There is no difference between Sunday and any other day (Colossians 3). Some people feel it is sin to go to a professional baseball game on Sunday. Sunday is different in one sense only — that is the day for assembly worship.

We need to be careful about how we handle the idea of Sunday. We should not make rules about what we do on Sunday. Some people love to make Sunday a miserable day. They drive young people away from the Lord by their legalism.

Some people legalistically worship on Sunday but act differently all week long. Sunday is not a day “to make it up to God.” Sunday is just another day except for worship.

Revelation 1:9b

Published on September 23, 1998 in Revelation. 0 Comments
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“I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ“

was on the island that is called Patmos

Patmos was a tiny (six kilometres wide and eight kilometres long) rocky island in the Aegean Sea about 80 to 100 km southwest of Ephesus (in modern Turkey). The Roman government banished John there for his witness for Christ. He was in exile for Christ.

for the word of God

The Roman government banished John to Patmos for two reasons: 1) “for the word of God” and 2) “for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” John’s suffering came from proclamation of his faith in the Word and his testimony of Jesus Christ.

The word “for” in the Greek means because of. It was because of the Word of God that he ended in exile. John came under persecution for taking a stand on the Word of God. He was faithful to the Word. He did not compromise it.

“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God…” (2 Timothy 1:8).

and for the testimony of Jesus Christ

The word “for” again means because of. Rome banished Peter to Patmos because of his testimony for Christ.


Principle:

Those who live by faith can endure being an outcast from society.


Application:

The world asks for our allegiance. When we do not give it, they view us as outcasts. There is no neutrality when it comes to sharing our faith. It is a case of paying the price of an outcast to faithfully proclaim God’s Word.

A person who shares his faith enters open warfare. There is no neutrality because of the mutually exclusive message of Christ.

Do you feel like you are an outcast because of your testimony for Christ? Join the apostle John, for he was an outcast as well. He was willing to suffer for Christ because Christ meant something to him. The issue boils down to our love and appreciation for Jesus Christ.

Revelation 1:9

Published on September 22, 1998 in Revelation. 0 Comments
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“I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ”

I, John,

This is the first of three times John refers to himself as the human author of the Book of Revelation (cf. 21:2; 22:8).

both your brother and companion

John identifies himself as a “brother and companion” to the seven churches to whom he writes. “Companion” comes from two words: with and to partake. A companion is someone who partakes of the same thing as another.

John partakes in three things with his readers. He closely identifies himself with suffering Christians, with the kingdom and with the patience (tenacity) of Jesus Christ. John writes as a co-sufferer in these three areas with his readers.

First, John identifies himself as a “brother.” A brother is a person who comes from the same womb. In this case, the womb is spiritual birth. He is talking to those who have been born spiritually in Christ. There is a unique suffering that comes to those who claim Christ as their Savior.

in the tribulation

Secondly, John identifies himself as a “companion” in three categories. First, he is a companion in “tribulation.” “Tribulation” means to put under pressure. The Domitian reign (81-96 AD) put pressure on him. Domitian regarded Christianity as a threat to the Roman Empire. John says in effect, “I am a partner with you in your tribulation. Look at me, I am banished to this Isle of Patmos. I have it difficult, just like you.”

and kingdom

The second area where John was a “companion” is in the area of the “kingdom.” “I share the true kingdom with you. The kingdom of Rome cannot daunt us.” The “kingdom” is God’s plan for man beginning with salvation and ending in His glory. He had confidence that God had a plan for his suffering.

“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love…” (Colossians 1:13).

and patience of Jesus Christ,

The third area where John was a “companion” was in “patience.” Our English word “patience” is a weak idea compared to the Greek idea. The Greek idea carries the ideas of tenacity. God gives those who walk by faith a bulldog-like tenacity of soul.

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (June 16:33).

John knew how to be tenacious in his soul when it came to suffering. “Patience” means endurance. Since sin reigns unchecked, the Christian is in a war. Our tenacity of soul comes from our relationship to and our confidence in Jesus.

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Patience comes from faith in God’s provision. Pressures cannot get to those who operate by faith.

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

God’s Word was in John’s soul before persecution came. He could cope with pressure by applying principles of God’s Word to His experience.


Principle:

Affliction, kingdom and patience are the best things to equip us to enter the kingdom.


Application:

Jesus is King over the church. He knows what it is going through. He is too wise to make a mistake and too good to do wrong. We can place confidence in Him because He is faithful to us.

Revelation 1:8

Published on September 21, 1998 in Revelation. 2 Comments
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‘”I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,’ says the Lord, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty‘”

God now signs the Book of Revelation. No other book of the Bible has the imprimatur of God. This is God’s autograph. Jesus signs in as God Almighty.

I am the Alpha

The “Alpha” is the first letter of the Greek alphabet. The New Testament uses Alpha as the first in a series with the idea of significance or importance. Secular literature designated Alpha and Omega as the entire universe. This title could mean that Jesus holds dominion over the entire universe. He is the “A” and “Z” of everything.Revelation uses Alpha and Omega of both the Father (21:6; cf. 22:13) and the Son (1:17; cf. 2:8).

Alpha then is a title of Christ (1:8,11; 21:6; 22:13). It is both a designation of God (1:8; 21:6) and of Christ (22:13) with the same parallel (first and last). This affirms the deity of Christ. What the Holy Spirit applies to the Father, He applies to the Son. These terms refer to the eternal God. It comprehends His dynamic activity in all creation.

“For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen” (Romans 11:36).

and the Omega,

Omega is the last letter of the Greek alphabet. God is the end of all things. God is both the beginning (Alpha) and the end of all things. God is both the source and the goal of all creation. Nothing transcends Him. He is absolute God. Omega figuratively means “last.” God is both the beginning and the end of all things. God’s glory is the goal of all creation.

The title Alpha and Omega refers to the all-comprehensiveness of Christ (Revelation 1:8,11; 21:6; 22:13). He is all-inclusive in His sphere of authority and status. Only John uses this name for God (1:8; 21:6). He also applies this term to Jesus (22:13; cf. 1:17; 2:8). Jesus calls Himself “Alpha and Omega” four times in the Book of Revelation.

the Beginning and the End, says the Lord,

The use of Alpha and Omega with the “first and last” defines its meaning. God is the beginning and the end of all things. “First and last” occurs in Isaiah 41:4; and 44:6.

This statement is similar to “Alpha and Omega.” Jesus is the start and finish (1:17; 21:6).

“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

Jesus originates and consummates our faith.


Principle:

Jesus Christ is the goal of all creation.


Application:

The purpose of creation is that we recognize God’s glory in the world. That is the purpose of our individual lives. We should make God known to the world for what He is. His glory is majestic; we should make it majestic to those we know.