Revelation 1:11-20
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Good morning church!
It is so good to see everyone this morning, We are continuing our study on the book of Revelation this morning and we are in Revelation 1 and we are going to pick up where we left off.
But lets pray and we will get started
(Pray)
So we left off last week right in the middle of chapter 1 verse 12
But I am going to go back to verse 9 just to give us context as to where we are and we will get a running start.
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.
So here we have the apostle John he is the last surviving apostle who actually walked with JEsus and was called into ministry by Jesus personally when Christ was in the flesh.
Here John gives us a key point Everybody say listen up, HE says something here that I think we all need to be reminded of HE says I john your brother (salvation relationship) and companion...
He is our companion in the Kingdom of the lord Jesus Christ, He is our partner or companion in the patience of Jesus Christ meaning He is patiently enduring this world until Christ returns or takes Him home....
But he most importantly says I AM YOUR COMPANION IN THE TRIBULATION
This is something we do not like to hear but it is something we desperately need to hear if we follow Jesus we will have tribulation, we will go through tribulations, and we will have to patiently endure tribulations.
The Bible never shys away from this the Bible never says that we will be sucked up before tribulation strikes it says that God will carry us through tribulation something we will learn later.
John has been been relegated to this prison camp where He is basically on a rock in the middle of the Agean sea, not much grows there at all and so one miracle is that the Lord took care of John long enough for John to get this vision and prophecy from the Lord JEsus Christ Himself.
There he is banished in his 90’s
It says there
I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,
He is writing on Sunday and He is in the Spirit and in the greek the word “the” is not there so it literally reads I was in Spirit on the Lords day.
In other words God had given Him more than just a vision, God had somehow while He was worshipping the Lord supernatually lifted Him into another plane, and He is able to see and behold and witness these events which he writes about.
So he is in Spirit on the Lord day and he hears behind him a loud voice as of a trumpet...
It wasnt a trumpet but it was so loud and peircing that is sounded like a trumpet
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.”
Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands,
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.
So here is John and he turns around to see this voice but he doesnt see anything except these golden lampstands now these are manorahs...
It is a seven branched candle (explain)
It was the only source of light in the temple, but by this point the temple has been destroyed but when the temple was standing the manorah made out of Gold was the only source of light in the Temple and John sees seven of these, now it tells us further down what exactly the 7 lampstands represent
The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.
So he sees literally 7 manorahs bc they are going to represent what we get to in 2-3 7 different churches and Jesus is going to give John letters to these churches and these churches are represented by a lampstand or manorah.
Now this is important why?
Well what did Jesus say about us?
Jesus not only says He is the light of the world but when He was still alive he says to His followers YOUR ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD A CITY SET UPON A HILL CANNOT BE HIDDEN...
LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE BEFORE MEN THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN
What do Lampstands do?
They do nothing they simply hold up the light, and so it is our job as the church of Jesus Christ to simply hold up the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ to have a testimony
The church is to be the light in a dark world we are commanded to be the light in the midst of darkness. Have you noticed how dark our world is? Have you noticed it is becoming darker?
The answer is you dont scream at the darkness, the answer is you turn on the light and the light that we are to hold up is Jesus for when Jesus is held up the Bible says He will draw all men unto Himself.
So this is what He sees 7 golden lampstands which are 7 churches and again
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.
ONE LIKE THE SON OF MAN
Now this is a Messianic title it was Jesus’ favorite name for Himself since H is the MEssiah the chosen one the one who will make everything in the world right again.
( HE IS WITH US)
So He sees Jesus and now there is this great description here between 13-16
(13) - Jesus’ Majesty
(14)- His Purity
(15) His Authority
(16) His glory
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.
His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;
This is not meek and mild Jesus This is Jesus in full glory white hair eyes like a flame of fire this carries with it the idea of judgement. He is coming now in judgment
His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters;
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.
The seven stars were going to look at later but he says out of his mouth he has a sword, now Jesus is not a pirate this doesnt mean he has a sword in His teeth but out from His mouth comes a sword
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.
Jesus is the Word
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Now were going to come back to this but jump ahead with me to verse 19
Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 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. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS
So John sees Jesus like this
And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.
I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
So Jesus declares Himself to be the risen Lord and this is what sets apart Christianity from other religions BUDDAH IS DEAD, MUHAMMED IS DEAD, CONFUCIOUS IS DEAD, aND JESUS IS ALIVE AMEN!
Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.
(explain)
(12 times John is told to write this down)
If you are seeing all of these incredible visions you are so dumbfounded sometimes you need to be told ok KEEP WRITING KEEP WRITING
The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.
Now the word angels there doesnt mean as it normally does these spirit beings who are messengers for the Lord and circulates through the Spirit realm.
Now we will see how I know that
“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,
‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:
So the word there is the word Agalos this word translates Messenger in the context of these 7 letters they dont mean angels are appointed to churches meaning hevenly angels
The word messenger can also refer to a human vessel who is communicating something on behalf of the Lord. Angels never oversaw churches now no doubt there are angels in the spriitual realm that we cant see even here now, who watch over us and our church.
But Jesus is not going to dictate a letter to a spirit being. HE dictates a letter to a messenger and the messenger to the church is the pastor.
Everytime you read a letter to an angel this is a word given by the Lord to the pastor of this church.
So the reason why we take Gods word so seriously here is bc when something is wrong with the church it is my name the letter has on it not yours.
Now just so you know I am not making this up Jesus called JTB this same word in the gospels… AGALOS
For this is he of whom it is written:
‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’
As we get here in 2-3 I wanna set the stage for you
When we talk about these 7 churches they were literal churches these are real churches from a real point in history.
These 7 churches existed and the letter was sent to all of these churches and circulated.
Now in addition to them being literal churches each church addresses issues that every church deals with today.
When the Lord commends them for some things and rebukes them for somethings these are for us today, because we want to address these issues within our church so that as the scriptures teach us we can be found faithful and pure at the day o His coming.
WE NEED TO WAKE UP AND TAKE NOTICE OF THE THINGS HE COMMENDS AND REBUKES BC WE WANT TO BE A FAITHFUL CHURCH AMEN
But it is also important to understand the Historical backround as each church dealt with issues unique to thier day but we find that nothing much has changed today and so we can deal with this stuff in our day as well.
The Setting
The Setting
“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,
‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:
RIGHT HAND!!
INtimacy WALKS IN THE MIDST OF THE CHURCHES
Commendation
Commendation
“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;
and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.
Now if your in first baptist Ephesus your feeling pretty good i mean listen to this Jesus starts our letter our commending us for doing something right
Thats what I am talking about
But I want you to notice what He commends them for
HARD WORK FOR GODS KINGDOM
AND PATIENCE
Listen it is very hard to be a light in the midst of the darkness when you are living in a world where society wants you dead. Yet they are patiently persevering.
They are working hard for the Lord they are sharing their faith and getting after for God.
But He also commends them for thier
Willingness to stand for what is righteous and that they are willing to take a stand against what is wrong!
CANNOT BEAR THOSE WHO ARE EVIL, YOU HAVE TESTED THEM WHO SAY THEY ARE APOSTLES AND ARE NOT AND HAVE FOUND THEM TO BE LIARS.
Now I want to be clear on something, we never want to condemn another church Heaven knows we have plenty that people could point out about Union Hill being wrong.
But here Jesus is commending them for calling out falsehood and condemning false teaching.
Now I want you to know that here at Union Hill we believe it is our job and duty to tell you when something does not line up with scripture.
(Joel Osteen)
Encouraging word
IM TELLING YOU WHAT WE DONT NEED IS AN ENCOURAGING WORD WE NEED THE TRUTH OF GODS WORD THE TRUTH THAT HEALS AND THE TRUTH THAT REVEALS WE NEED TO TRUTH THAT UPLIFTS AND THE TRUTH THAT BRINGS US LOW IN REPENTANCE
and here Jesus commends churches who do that
He says I am commending you this is great you are behaving right!
He commends them for right beliefs
THEY HAD PUT TO TEST THESE PEOPLE AND FOUND THEM TO BE LIARS
He commends them for right behavior and right beliefs and you think what could possibly be wrong!
I mean dont you want people who behave right and act right ?
What Possibly could be wrong?
They are behaving right and believing right.
The Condemnation
The Condemnation
They are sitting there these are real people and then the elder reads this line
Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
Now notice who is saying this....
Jesus is saying this
Ive got a problem with you and its a big deal
Ive got a big problem with you, and now if you are sitting there in that house church your probably going hold up he just told us we were doing good...
What could the problem be?
He says my problem with you is that you have left or abandoned your first love
Think about this now
My problem with you is that you have left your first love.
YOU HAVE LEFT YOUR FIRST LOVE
YOU HAVE MADE AN EXCHANGE, YOU HAVE MADE RIGHT BEHAVIOR AND RIGHT BELIEVING THE DESTINATION
YOU LOVE WHAT YOU DO FOR ME MORE THAN YOU LOVE ME!
YOU HAVE LEFT YOUR FIRST LOVE
He didnt say you lost your first love, you WALKED AWAY
Leaving something implies distraction, YOU GOT DISTRACTED BY SOMETHING
YOU GOT DISTRACTED BY WHAT YOU DO FOR ME AND YOUR FORGOT ME!
BE CAREFUL BE CAREFUL OF MAKING THE SECONDARY THE PRIMARY!
The measure of your ministry is only measured by the faithfulness in the spot you know He has placed you, not faithfulness to the place or position or tasks but to HIM!!!
Dont love the process more than the person of Jesus Christ
Dont seek the position more than the person
Not your brilliance or your next startegy or your next move
The eternal value of what you do springs forth from your commuinon with God
You have left your first love....
Remember when you stayed up late to pray with me?
Remember when you stayed up wanting nothing more than to hear from me… remember being so caught up in the idea that I would speak to you that it was all you thought about?
That term first love it means that number one thing that establishes all other priorities.
It is a core essential to who you are and what you do?
I am telling you everything in your life has to flow from whose you are, not who you are.
Im not a dad who is a Christian I am a Christian who also is a dad.
Im not a baseball player who goes to church, but I am a Christian being blessed to play the game of baseball.
YOU HAVE LEFT YOUR FIRST LOVE
He says look at you man you guys in ephesus living in that cesspool of society look at you your squeaky clean...
Man you got your beliefs down you know so much
Jesus says WHERE AM I?
WHERE AM I?
Well man it started off good but this aint good news is it?
Jesus said YOU CANNOT COAST OFF THE FUMES OF PAST SUCCESS, YOU CANNOT COAST IN THE WORLD ON THE FUMES OF WHAT ONCE WAS A CLOSER WALK WITH ME, BC NOW IT HAS TURNED INTO RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY DEVOID OF ME.
YOUR HEARTS NOT IN IT
YOUVE GOTTEN DISTRACTED, YOUVE DRIFTED
SO you might be listening this morning, and you look at your life and you think holy cow how did I get here. I am really in a bad spot.
SO WHAT DO WE DO NOW?
Heres where Jesus pours out grace, He says heres the way to get back on track...
CURE
CURE
Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
REMEMBER WHERE YOU WERE AND SEE HOW FAR YOUVE FALLEN!
REPENT!!!!
He says you can get back alinged with me.
He says you have the right stuff in you but it is in the wrong place, you value many other things over me.
3 Things;
Remember
Repent
Redo
REMEMBER ( Salvartion Lilly of the valley!!)
STOP DONT KEEP GOING FASTER IN THE WRONG DIRECTION, DONT KEEP DOING MORE THINKING YOUR GOING TO GET BETTER
You need to take inventory of your soul.
Go back I want you to think about what you were I want you to recall who delivered you!
But theres a active part of remember it means to reherse that
Listen dont ever get so cute so comfortable in church that you forget the miracle of Calvary in your life!
It is that Gospel it is the work of Christ His deliverance of your soul!!!
Keep it fresh
DL MOODY
“Before I came to cross I worked toward the cross, after I was saved I worked from the cross”
REPENT!
MEtanoia change your mind about how your doing what your doing
(baseball)
Repentance implies sorrow concernign an offense
(BAseball student of the game)
HOWS YOUR MIND?
If God is showing you that you are not in the right place with Him then change your mind
Do the works you did at first now what does he mean by that?
Fundamentals
Jesus is saying you have left your first love go back and treat me the way you used to.
Go back and have affections again for me
When you first got saved and you were on fire passion for me!
There is an old song I only remembered one part of it but the singer says
YOU DONT SEND ME FLOWERS ANYMORE
what is your heart tempreature for Jesus?
(Picture of me and Amy)
I wonder what it would look like if we had a picture of us and JEsus the day after we got saved or the night we were saved if it would look different today...
In JEsus name REMEMBER, REPENT, REDO
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’
LEts pray!