Read and be BLESSED.
Amazing isn't it? We have learned that those who read
this book of Revelation and the prophecies within are blessed. We may not comprehend the whole of the
blessing but we are blessed. Being blessed doesn't mean you become invincible
in this world. Being blessed doesn't mean your life will be one of ease with
limited heartache and hardship. Being blessed isn't something
materialistic. Let me correct myself,
being blessed isn't all those things but they can be a part of a blessing. Some of the people who have suffered the most
are also the most blessed. We who don't suffer as they have, might not consider
them blessed, but our idea of being blessed is what is skewed. The blessing we
long for is the blessing our Savior came to give to us, the gospel message, the
good news that we can be one with God through His sacrifice. We can have
eternal life through His redeeming grace! This is the blessing we need more
than any other blessing. This is the blessing those who suffered the most
horrific of tortures, understood they would receive.
We are BLESSED when we read this book of Revelation
and we cannot let ourselves forget this as we study. We might not comprehend
the full extent of the hows and whys of the blessing but God speaks only the
truth and it is truth that those who read, those who hear, and those who keep
the things in this book are BLESSED. May we be blessed!
Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that
hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written
therein: for the time is at hand.
Revelation 1:11-18
Verse 11
Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last:
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.
12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me.
And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
13 And 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.
14 His head and His hairs were white like wool, as
white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire;
15 And His feet like unto fine brass, as if they
burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters. 16 And He had
in His right hand seven
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stars: and out of His mouth went a sharp twoedged
sword: and His countenance was as the sun shineth in His strength.
17 And 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: 18 I am He that
liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the
keys of hell and of death.
*******
The expression, "I turned to see the voice,"
refers to the person from whom the voice came.
Seven Golden Candlesticks.--These cannot be the
antitype of the golden candlestick of the ancient typical temple service, for
that was but one candlestick with seven branches.
That is ever spoken of in the singular number.
But here are seven, and these are more properly
"lamp stands" than simply candlesticks, stands upon which lamps are
set to give light in the room. They bear no resemblance to the candlestick of
the ancient tabernacle.
On the contrary the stands are so distinct, and so far
separated one from another, that the Son of man is seen walking about in the
midst of them.
The Son of Man.--
The central and all-attractive figure of the scene now
opened before John's vision is the majestic form of the Son of man, Jesus
Christ.
The description here given of Him, with His flowing
robe, His hair white, not with age, but with the brightness of heavenly glory,
His flaming eyes, His feet glowing like molten brass, and His voice as the
sound of many waters, cannot be excelled for grandeur and sublimity.
Overcome by the presence of this august Being, and
perhaps under a keen sense of all human unworthiness, John fell at His feet as
dead, but a comforting hand is laid upon him, and a voice of sweet assurance
tells him not to fear.
It is equally the privilege of Christians today to
feel the same hand laid upon them to strengthen and comfort them in hours of
trial and affliction, and to hear the same voice saying to them, "Fear
not."
But the most cheering assurance in all these words of
consolation is the declaration of this exalted one who is alive forevermore,
that He is the arbiter of death and grave.
I have, He says, "the keys of hell, hades, the
grave and of death."
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Death is a conquered tyrant. He may gather to the
grave the precious of earth, and gloat for a season over his apparent triumph.
But he is performing a fruitless task, for the key to his dark prison house has
been wrenched from his grasp, and is now held in the hands of a mightier than
he. He is compelled to deposit his trophies in a region over which another has
absolute control; and this one is the unchanging Friend and the pledged
Redeemer of His people. Then grieve not for the righteous dead; they are in
safekeeping. An enemy takes them away for a while, but a friend holds the key
to the place of their temporary confinement.
Revelation 1:19-
Verse 19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and
the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter
A more definite command is given in this verse to John
to write the entire Revelation, which would relate chiefly to things which were
then in the future.
In some few instances, events then in the past or then
taking place were referred to; but these references were simply for the purpose
of introducing events to be fulfilled after that time, so that no link in the
chain might be lacking.
Revelation 1:20-
Verse 20 The 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.
To represent the Son of man as holding in His hand
only the ministers of seven literal churches in Asia Minor, and walking in the
midst of only those seven churches, would be to reduce the sublime
representations and declarations of this and following chapters to comparative
insignificance.
The providential care and presence of the Lord are not
with a specified number of churches only, but with all His people; not in the
days of John merely, but through all time. "Lo, I am with you alway,"
said He to His disciples, "even unto the end of the world."
*******
Prophecy.
Seven Stars- ANGELS of the Seven Churches.
Seven Golden Candlesticks- the SEVEN CHURCHES.
Symbolism.
This is the introduction of the symbolism. We are
SHOWN the symbolism. Symbolism is
necessary and the full comprehension of it is allowed as God reveals, as the
Holy Spirit bring understanding.
Stars-Angels
Candlesticks-Seven Churches.
Seven- a number of perfection, of wholeness.
The seven angels, the seven churches- a representation
of all God's angels, a representation of God's perfect church, His perfect
people made perfect through Christ and Christ alone.
Please Lord, please help us to continue reading, to
continue hearing, to continue keeping all the truth You entrust us with, all
through the power of our Savior, our Lord, Jesus Christ now and forever!
Amen!
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