Dec
30
Revelation 1:11-20
Filed Under Book of Revelation
v11 “What thou seest, write in a book” how often do we forget to write down what happens. In College I studied Physics, and as a scientist everything is recorded, and I mean everything, recorded and measured. Without seeking for a sign, we must still record God’s goodness and mercy in our lives, lest we forget. My personal life is overflowing with examples where I had a prayer answered and didn’t write it down and weeks or months later I had forgotten the blessing I had received, and was reminded by my sweet wife. If we don’t write down our feelings, thoughts, and certainly witnesses that Jesus is the Messiah, then we are liable to forget them. Writing transcends generations, we must take advantage of that, like John was commanded to.
v12 7 golden candlesticks probably not candle sticks but a oil lamp, since in Israel they would have used oil lamps instead of wax candle it is probably a Minorah-like “candlestick”
v13-16 Jesus described; Clothed in white with Gold, white hair, eyes as a flame of fire (bright), feet like unto fine brass as if they burned in a furnace (reflecting/creating light), voice as the sound of many waters (loud and constant), in right hand 7 stars, out of his mouth a sharp 2 edged sword (2 edged for cutting one for the righteous and one for the wicked), countenance as the sun (again bright).
v17-18 I am the first and the last, (all encompassing), I am he that liveth and was dead. More so than any thing he could use to identify him self he uses his having broken the bands of death. I find it interesting that he didn’t say he was the one who had paid the price of sin, but the one who had risen from the dead. The resurrection that we will obtain because of the Lord Jesus is the center of his sacrifice. Although we now benefit much from his having paid for our sins, it will apparently mean less to us in the future than will the great and final overcoming of death. I assume that we won’t know how great that deliverance is until we experience it. He has the keys of Death and Hell see Isaiah 22:21-25 for some idea what that might mean.
v19 Again John is commanded to write what he witnesses.
v20 7 stars = seven angels of the churches: 7 candlesticks = seven churches. In the book of revelation we have to be sure to look for the symbols that are explained. Here we get 2 explanations, so we can then so and start piecing together the rest of the symbolic picture of the Savior in v13-16.
