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Read Introduction to Revelation

 

“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 (Re 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 get 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 principal 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 like 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.

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