Verse by verse through the Book of Revelation - Sermon Five
Revelation 1:12-2:1
You should recall John was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day and he heard a great voice as of a trumpet behind him saying, “I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: (Note: Just to emphasize again the fact Jesus is God, equal with the Father and the Spirit, the Lord God refers to himself as the first and the last in Isaiah 48:12; the glorified Christ whom John sees in this vision remains God incarnate) 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.”
Now look at our text:
12And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
13And 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.
14His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
15And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
16And 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.
17And 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:
18I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
19Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
20The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
And now chapter two, verse one:
1Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
As we begin, look again at verse 12. As John turned to see the voice that spoke to him, he saw seven golden candlesticks.
In verse 13 John saw one like unto the Son of man in the midst of the candlesticks. Then in verse 20 the Lord indicates the candlesticks represent the seven churches to whom John is to write.
And finally, in verse one of chapter two, the Bible says that Jesus is “walking in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks.” We will finish the message in a few minutes with an appropriate emphasis on this picture of Jesus walking in the midst of the candlesticks.
Looking again at verse 13 we should take note that John sees the glorified Son of man clothed with a garment down to his feet and a girdle about his chest. These garments are fitting for him as our great High Priest. Jesus is our great high priest who has appeared in heaven for us.
In Exodus 28:2-4, we discover special garments were prepared for Aaron the high priest. The Lord says in that passage these special garments were for “glory and for beauty.” The Lord goes on to say that he fitted Aaron with those garments “that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.”
Why does the Holy Spirit give us these details of our Lord’s garments in heaven? I would suggest to you it is for the purpose of drawing attention to his present ministry in heaven as our great High Priest. The Old Testament high priests pictured our Lord’s current ministry as our great high priest in heaven.
This is not a point of trivia. It is not a side note to be glossed over by the saints. In fact, we are to slow down and “consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus” (Heb.3:1).
Let me make this point and we will move on: Jesus came to earth to die for our sins to save us; today he is in heaven where he ever lives to make intercession for us to keep us saved!
Now look with me at verse 14 which says his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow. White always speaks of purity and in the case of our Lord it speaks of the glory radiating from his absolute purity. In the Spirit John was privileged to see Jesus in all his glory.
You may recall John was on the mount when Jesus was transfigured before him and Peter and James. On that occasion Jesus pulled back the veil of his humanity for a moment and allowed the glory of his intrinsic deity to shine forth. However, as recorded here in Revelation one, John sees the glory of our Lord in all its fullness. There is no veil, rather the God-man shines forth in glorified humanity wed to the manifestation of his full deity.
The Lord said through his prophet Isaiah, “Now will I arise . . . now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself.” And the prophet goes on to say that the righteous shall dwell on high and their “eyes shall see the king in his beauty.” My friends, we are destined to one day see the king in all his beauty. His glory is the centerpiece of heaven and one day we will be satisfied when we awake in his likeness!
Next, notice in verse 14 that his eyes are as “a flame of fire.” It is interesting to note that our works will be tested by fire at the judgment seat of Christ. The Lord will examine our works to determine the motive with which they were performed. The book of Hebrews says, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”
Nothing can escape the eyes of our Lord and his eyes see things as they really are. In time He will return according to 2 Thessalonians, “in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and they that obey not the gospel” (2 Thess. 1:8).
Verse 15 goes on to say his feet are like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace and his voice as the sound of many waters. My friends, as you meditate on these descriptive words it is obvious the Lord’s ministry as a humble servant in his first coming has now gave way to his exalted position in heaven from whence he shall return as the Lion of the tribe of Judah!
Verse 16 says out of his mouth goes a sharp two-edged sword. This speaks of the power of his word with which he will smite the nations at his return. Finally, John says his countenance was as the sun shines in his strength. Upon seeing this vision of Christ, John fell at his feet as a dead man.
Conclusion
Now let’s conclude with verses 17-2:1 . . .
Please look at the picture Jesus paints for us in chapter two, verse one. He says, “these things sayeth he . . . who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks.”
May I remind you that Jesus Christ is building his church today . . . he alone can separate the wheat from the tares that exist in the visible church . . . he alone can discern who belongs to him. In fact, many who participated in the visible church in past generations did not know him and many who populate the visible church today DO NOT KNOW HIM.
No one can fool the Lord. He knows if you are his.
Revelation 1:12-2:1
You should recall John was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day and he heard a great voice as of a trumpet behind him saying, “I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: (Note: Just to emphasize again the fact Jesus is God, equal with the Father and the Spirit, the Lord God refers to himself as the first and the last in Isaiah 48:12; the glorified Christ whom John sees in this vision remains God incarnate) 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.”
Now look at our text:
12And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
13And 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.
14His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
15And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
16And 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.
17And 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:
18I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
19Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
20The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
And now chapter two, verse one:
1Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
As we begin, look again at verse 12. As John turned to see the voice that spoke to him, he saw seven golden candlesticks.
In verse 13 John saw one like unto the Son of man in the midst of the candlesticks. Then in verse 20 the Lord indicates the candlesticks represent the seven churches to whom John is to write.
And finally, in verse one of chapter two, the Bible says that Jesus is “walking in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks.” We will finish the message in a few minutes with an appropriate emphasis on this picture of Jesus walking in the midst of the candlesticks.
Looking again at verse 13 we should take note that John sees the glorified Son of man clothed with a garment down to his feet and a girdle about his chest. These garments are fitting for him as our great High Priest. Jesus is our great high priest who has appeared in heaven for us.
In Exodus 28:2-4, we discover special garments were prepared for Aaron the high priest. The Lord says in that passage these special garments were for “glory and for beauty.” The Lord goes on to say that he fitted Aaron with those garments “that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.”
Why does the Holy Spirit give us these details of our Lord’s garments in heaven? I would suggest to you it is for the purpose of drawing attention to his present ministry in heaven as our great High Priest. The Old Testament high priests pictured our Lord’s current ministry as our great high priest in heaven.
This is not a point of trivia. It is not a side note to be glossed over by the saints. In fact, we are to slow down and “consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus” (Heb.3:1).
Let me make this point and we will move on: Jesus came to earth to die for our sins to save us; today he is in heaven where he ever lives to make intercession for us to keep us saved!
Now look with me at verse 14 which says his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow. White always speaks of purity and in the case of our Lord it speaks of the glory radiating from his absolute purity. In the Spirit John was privileged to see Jesus in all his glory.
You may recall John was on the mount when Jesus was transfigured before him and Peter and James. On that occasion Jesus pulled back the veil of his humanity for a moment and allowed the glory of his intrinsic deity to shine forth. However, as recorded here in Revelation one, John sees the glory of our Lord in all its fullness. There is no veil, rather the God-man shines forth in glorified humanity wed to the manifestation of his full deity.
The Lord said through his prophet Isaiah, “Now will I arise . . . now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself.” And the prophet goes on to say that the righteous shall dwell on high and their “eyes shall see the king in his beauty.” My friends, we are destined to one day see the king in all his beauty. His glory is the centerpiece of heaven and one day we will be satisfied when we awake in his likeness!
Next, notice in verse 14 that his eyes are as “a flame of fire.” It is interesting to note that our works will be tested by fire at the judgment seat of Christ. The Lord will examine our works to determine the motive with which they were performed. The book of Hebrews says, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”
Nothing can escape the eyes of our Lord and his eyes see things as they really are. In time He will return according to 2 Thessalonians, “in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and they that obey not the gospel” (2 Thess. 1:8).
Verse 15 goes on to say his feet are like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace and his voice as the sound of many waters. My friends, as you meditate on these descriptive words it is obvious the Lord’s ministry as a humble servant in his first coming has now gave way to his exalted position in heaven from whence he shall return as the Lion of the tribe of Judah!
Verse 16 says out of his mouth goes a sharp two-edged sword. This speaks of the power of his word with which he will smite the nations at his return. Finally, John says his countenance was as the sun shines in his strength. Upon seeing this vision of Christ, John fell at his feet as a dead man.
Conclusion
Now let’s conclude with verses 17-2:1 . . .
Please look at the picture Jesus paints for us in chapter two, verse one. He says, “these things sayeth he . . . who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks.”
May I remind you that Jesus Christ is building his church today . . . he alone can separate the wheat from the tares that exist in the visible church . . . he alone can discern who belongs to him. In fact, many who participated in the visible church in past generations did not know him and many who populate the visible church today DO NOT KNOW HIM.
No one can fool the Lord. He knows if you are his.
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