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Midweek Discipleship Study

Be The Church

Special Study Series: Be The Church

Isaiah: Chapters 13-14, Chapters 15-17, Chapter 18, Chapters 19-20, Chapter 21, Chapter 22, Chapter 23, Chapter 24, Chapter 25-26

 

Revelation 1:12-19: The Lord of Glory

John head a voice and turned to see who it was that was speaking to him

  • Remember, the voice (Rev. 1:10) was like that of a trumpet

  • John knew that the voice was Christ

    • John was familiar with the sound of Christ's voice

    • John was probably overjoyed to hear the voice of his Lord and Savior and friend again

    • John was probably excited to see his Lord and Savior and friend again

Notice what John saw

  • John saw seven golden lampstands

    • What were these lampstands?

      • These lampstands were not simply candlesticks

      • These lampstands were not menorahs

      • These lampstands were seven free-standing oil lampstands

    • This image reminds us of the golden lampstand that stood in the Tabernacle and in the Temple (Exodus 25:31-27)

      • The Old Covenant lampstand was one lampstand with seven lamps

      • In the New Covenant we see seven individual lampstands

    • The lampstands are a wonderful picture of the church

      • The light doesn't come from the lampstands (the church)

      • The light comes from the oil lamps (Christ)

      • The stands (the church) merely makes the light (Christ) more visible (John 12:32)

  • John saw One like the Son of Man (Daniel 7:13-14)

    • He was clothed with a garment down to his feet

      • Long garments were only worn by those who did not have to work much

      • Long garments were a picture of great status and authority

    • He was girded about the chest with a golden band

      • Possibly a reference to the garments of the High Priest

        • Exodus 29:5

        • Exodus 39:1-5

      • One of the duties of the Old Testament Priests was to tend to the golden lampstands in the Tabernacle and Temple

        • They filled the oil

        • They cleaned the soot

        • They trimmed the wicks

        • They cared for the lamps so that they would burn continually before God

      • Christ, our High Priest, is in the midst of these seven lampstands, carefully inspecting and caring for the lamps, helping them to always burn brightly before God

John describes Christ (Rev. 1:14-16)

  • His head and hair were while like wool

    • White hair = old age

      • Implied great wisdom

      • Implied timelessness

      • White hair also connected with the Ancient of Days (Dan. 7:9)

    • White as snow = the idea of purity (Is. 1:18)

  • His eyes were like a flame of fire

    • Fire is often associated in God's Word with judgment

      • Matthew 5:22

      • 2 Peter 3:7

    • Jesus' eyes display the fire of searching, penetrating judgment

  • His feet were like fine brass

    • This is a reference to someone who has been through the fires of judgment and has come through with a refined purity

    • Brass

      • A metal connected with judgment and sacrifice (Ex. 27:1-6)

      • A strong metal, the strongest know metal in the ancient world

      • Brass was considered to be the most durable of all metallic substances

  • His voice was as the sound of many waters

    • His voice had power

    • His voice had majesty

  • He had in His right hand seven stars

    • Stars

      • These are the leaders (pastors) of the seven churches mentioned in Rev. 1:20

      • The stars are secure in the hand of Christ

    • Seven

      • Seven is the number of perfection or completion

      • We could say that Christ has the whole church in His hand

  • Out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword

    • The New Testament uses two words for sword

      • Machaira (Heb. 4:12) - This was a smaller sword that was more tactical and precise

      • Rhomphaia - This was a larger and heavier sword that was mainly used to kill and destroy

    • Jesus is not walking around with a sword in His mouth

    • The sword is a reference to the Word of God (Eph. 6:17)

  • His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength (Matt. 17:2)

Look at John's reaction and Jesus' assurance (Rev. 1:17-18)

  • John fell at His feet as dead

  • Christ comforted John – He laid His right hand on me

  • Christ commanded John – do not be afraid

  • Christ describes Himself

    • I am the First and the Last

    • I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore

    • I have the keys of Hades and Death

 

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