The Christ Among The Churches
John was given an awesome look at the Glorified Christ on the Isle of Patmos. The description John wrote was not only descriptive of Christ's glory but of His relationship to the churches of His day and churches of all ages. He is AMONG us if we will let Him be. Sadly, at the end of the messages to the seven churches of Asia Minor, Jesus is knocking at the door wanting to get in AMONG His own.
By Chris McDonald
TEXT: Rev. 1:13-18 - 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 stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shines 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 lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
John was given an awesome look at the Glorified Christ on the Isle of Patmos. The description John wrote was not only descriptive of Christ's glory but of His relationship to the churches of His day and churches of all ages. He is AMONG us if we well let HIM take that place. Sadly, Christ, as He was pictured near the end of the seven messages to the churches in Asia Minor, is outside the door of the church today as we near the end as well. He doesn't want to be knocking, He wants to be AMONG us!
The description John saw of Christ is similar to that recorded in Daniel 7:13,14 and Daniel 10:5-10 and Revelation chapter 10.
Daniel 7:13-15
- I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. [14] And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
[15] I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.
Daniel 10:5-10 - Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz: [6] His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in
color to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. [7] And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. [8] Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength. [9] Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.
[10] And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.
Both Daniel and John fell at his feet as dead when they saw this revelation of Jesus. When we see Him in all His glory, the effect on us will be the same. We will humble ourselves before Him. All that the Father loves and haves is IN THE SON! When we behold Him, we are beholding ALL OF Heaven's beauty and power and grace. In relation to this, when a child of God, names the name of Jesus, THIS IS THE CHRIST, the enemy sees! Our human efforts to portray Him in pictures pales to the majestic, KINGLY Son of the Living God. He came as a servant. He now reigns as King. And one day, He is coming back - crowned KING OF KINGS, LORD OF LORDS.
The message of what John saw on Patmos is very relevant to our walk with Jesus today for this description of Christ is graphically descriptive, not only of Christ in His glory, but of His relationship to the churches of His day and churches of all ages. The elements of His being represent to us the nature of His care, concern and communication He has for the Church. Jesus loves the church. Jesus loves His Body. Jesus loves His children. He loves the ones the Father has given unto Him. The Christ John saw is the one interceding in Heaven for you and I today. When we behold Him this is what He will look like. And I am sure, we will do just what John and Daniel did - fall on our faces as if we were dead! (That's how we are to be today in His presence. He only dwells AMONG THE HUMBLE)
The Ten Characteristics of Christ Envisioned To John
As John turned to see who it was speaking to him, he saw seven golden lampstands and a person in their midst. He lists ten details of that person who are most descriptive. Only the stars and the lampstands are interpreted for us. Nothing about the person of Christ is interpreted. Why? Because the Holy Spirit has already interpreted those for us throughout the canon of scripture up to this point. The Word of God was not given to us to be so mysterious we couldn't understand it. We must dig for the truth sometime, but that is in the Father's plan. He wants us to come to HIM for the interpretation of His word. He never wanted the Word to take the place of Him.
Someone "Like a Son of Man"
Rev. 1:13a - And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man...
Indicates this person was not a grotesque creature of the supernatural world; rather, He was human in His appearance. "Son of Man" is one of the most frequent titles Jesus applied to Himself. It is used of the Messiah in all four Gospels as well as in Daniel 7:13. It denotes His humanity, a fact that really has our redemption in its foundation. Jesus could not have come to earth to save us as God. The first Adam sinned and fell. So for man to be redeemed under God's economy in heaven a like figure had to come to deliver us from sin. That is why Jesus makes an eternal High Priest. He has felt every emotion we feel as humans - yet without sin. He has shed tears just like we have. He has tasted the effects of the powers of darkness and has overcome. He has felt the pain of being betrayed by one close to Him. He has felt the pain of loneliness when it seems like everyone He thought He could count on would stay - but they didn't. He felt the joy of seeing those who would believe Him receive greater revelation from the Father concerning Jesus' real nature and character. He took "part of the same" stock me and you are made of today. That's why He is such a wonderful Saviour to us. That's why we owe Him more than just our acts of service. We owe Him our lives so He can use them for the furtherance of His Kingdom.
Hebrews 2:14-15
- Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the
same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; [15] And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
That's why Jesus took
on the form of a servant. It was this human side of Jesus that caused the
Pharisees and religious to miss Him. He was among the sinners, but He was set
apart from them. Being set apart though did not make Him inaccessible. He took
them the TRUTH of His life and many received Him. Only the proud, arrogant and
religious rejected Him. Christ Jesus didn't come to save the righteous, He came
to save sinners and thank God for it, for as Paul wrote to Titus, I was the
worst of them. By His grace though one day I will stand before my faithful High
Priest who has secured my salvation before God with His intercession, blood and
WORD. GLORY TO GOD. He's not done this as the Son of God, He did it on earth
through His death as the SON OF MAN!
That's why John saw Him as this on Patmos. It was Jesus' humanity that made Calvary real. It was Jesus' human blood that made our salvation REAL. He could have died as God and it would not have profited fallen, sinful, wicked HUMANITY anything. He had to come to earth as a human soul. Glory to God. Don't you feel that? Pause a minute. Think about it. Forever and forever when we see Him in heaven He will bare the marks of His humanity on earth. The nail scars will still be in His hands. The scar from the spear will be still be in His side. His humanity never took away from His divinity as the Son of God, but He came to redeem man like a man so we may inherit eternal life through Him.
Heb 7:26-28 - Such a high priest meets our need-- one who is
holy, blameless, pure, set apart from
sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.
28 For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.
1 Tim 1:15-16 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-- of whom I am the worst.
16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.
Jesus'
Humanity Means We Can Have Victory Over Sin
1 Pet 4:1-5 - Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.
As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.
For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do-- living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.
They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you.
But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
Christ suffered IN THE BODY (flesh), but never sinned. We are to "arm" ourselves with the same attitude. Jesus is DONE with sin. He put it away from us. He conquered it. Paul said in Romans, "sin shall NOT have dominion over you!" It's not we have an advocate WHEN we sin, but IF we sin, then we have someone who is praying for us. Blatant open rebellion will be judged friend. Don't think that God will wink at our willful rejection of His word. We will pay a price! And if we continue in that sin, the wages of that sin will be DEATH! Eternal death. Hell fire. Get the picture? His grace is able to keep us from falling and His mercy is able to keep us when we fall. But we have to approach our walk with God in an attitude that Jesus had here on earth - we're not going to sin! Some may say, "well, we're living in the day of Grace and God doesn't feel the same way about sin as He did under the law." NOT! If anything we will be held to a higher level of accountability in this day and age because we have been given the HOLY GHOST who LIVES inside us to help us overcome sin! We will be judged MORE harshly than those under the law will be judged. To whom much is given MUCH WILL BE REQUIRED! Jesus as the Son of Man did not live his earthly life for evil human desires - He lived it FOR THE WILL OF GOD! When John saw Him on Patmos, this is the Jesus he saw!
He Had A Garment Down To the Foot
Rev. 1:13-14 - ...clothed with a garment down to the foot,
The garment John saw on Jesus represented His work as our Great High Priest. The garment was typical of the long robes of the high priests as they ministered in the Holy Place in the Temple. Hebrews tells us Jesus is our great high priest pertaining to ALL THINGS in our relationship with God.
Heb 5:1-10 - Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness.
This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.
No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was.
So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father."
And he says in another place, "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."
During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.
Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him
and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
This is too deep to get into here in a few paragraphs (another journal coming soon I'm sure) but Jesus is our Great High Priest before God. His work as Priest involves intercession for the saints and acting as our mediator before the Father. ALL MATTERS relating to God in relationship to our lives comes through JESUS! Wow. In the days of Aaron, the high priest on earth was able to deal gently with those who were ignorant and going astray because the priest under the Old Covenant was also weak. He had to offer sacrifices not only for the sins of the people but for his own sins. That's why the modern day practice of priests, laity and popes is a farce. NO HUMAN BEING CAN STAND IN THE PLACE OF OUR MEDIATOR BEFORE GOD!
1 Tim 2:5-7 - For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
who gave himself as a ransom for all men-- the testimony given in its proper time.
And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle-- I am telling the truth, I am not lying-- and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.
That human mediator is just as flawed and sinful as we are. Most Protestants clap their hands at that statement and say "boy, that's right, tell those Catholics and Episcopalians they're wrong for confessing to priests." Before you clap too loud, the Protestants are just as bad if not worse. We claim we have been liberated from those things yet we set our pastors and other leaders in the church in a place that they become our go-between between us and God. Some pastors seem to think since they are in a place of leadership they can control people's lives and tell them what to believe and what not to believe about God and Jesus. I got news for you. I'm not letting a man tell me what to believe about God. I'm going to submit to my pastor and my fellowship's authority but I'm going to pursue GOD for ME! They are human and are subject to mistakes and error just like me. But I have a HIGH PRIEST IN HEAVEN who is NOT SUBJECT to error and flaws - and His name is THE TRUTH! When I pursue Him and come to HIM then I know my sins are forgiven before God!
How dare we as the modern church try to preach a God to the people we know little of ourselves? Before we start telling others how to live, we need to take inventory of our own lives! God is a personal God. Jesus is a personal Saviour. The Holy Ghost dwells inside each of us INDIVIDUALLY and as we come together He dwells among us corporately. We're under a NEW COVENANT with a NEW PROMISE based on better conditions. We don't come to a man anymore - we can walk right on in to the throne room ourselves. That's the job of the church! Not to become the source of our salvation - but to LEAD US and INSTRUCT US and to MINISTER to US the TRUE SOURCE OF OUR SALVATION - JESUS CHRIST!!!!!!! I can't say it enough. There is no salvation in the "church." The church is not the final say-so on matters pertaining to God - the Lord Jesus is! If that church you are attending is listening to Jesus and the Holy Spirit you are more than likely in a place where individual worship and growth is emphasized over submission to an earthly institution. I know of certain pastors now who cause their people to live in fear of them if someone disagrees with them.
The reason they fear the people disagreeing with them is because of their own insecurity. What happens though is that insecurity usually creates tyrants and the sheep are punished, not lead. A TRUE SHEPHERD OF THE FAITH WILL LEAD YOU TO JESUS! A TRUE SHEPHERD recognizes that His authority as your pastor or leader was given to him by the GREAT SHEPHERD! There is no salvation or mediation in the church. The church cannot forgive you of your sins! The church cannot heal you. The church cannot set you free from darkness. The church cannot open your blinded spiritual eyes that they may see. ONLY JESUS CAN DO THAT! (I'm not advocating rebellion or not fellowshipping with believers here. We need the fellowship of the saints. But when that fellowship of the saints keeps us from our true pursuit of CHRIST then we need to take inventory of the group we submitting to.
When Jesus stood before John He was standing in a robe saying to John - "I have made it to heaven and have become you're high priest." The Holy Spirit had already given John this revelation for John had written in his first epistle - "we have an advocate before the Father!"
I John 1:7-2:2 - 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
2:1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin,
we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense-- Jesus Christ, the Righteous
One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
He Had A Golden Sash Around His Chest
Rev. 1:13c - ...and girt about the paps with a golden girdle (NIV - sash around His chest)
Matt 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.""
While on earth Jesus exhibited this authority when He taught. He did not brag or boast of His authority. When He spoke His words were so full of life the people around Him knew He had this authority!
Matt 7:28-29 - When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,
because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
Not only did Jesus speak with authority which made even hell shake, He had authority on earth to forgive sins. He is the only one with that authority now as well. MAN CANNOT FORGIVE YOU OF YOUR SINS! You cannot confess to a priest and have your sins forgiven. You cannot confess to a pastor and have his prayers cover your sin. YOU MUST CONFESS YOUR SINS TO GOD YOURSELF! And when you confess you must repent or turn from the sins you are confessing. Only Jesus has the authority to forgive you. A Pope doesn't. A Rabbi doesn't. Your pastor doesn't. Only JESUS
Matt 9:6-7 - But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home."
And the man got up and went home.
The same authority Jesus gave the 12 disciples to heal the sick has been given to us as His believers. When we abide in Jesus we will walk in that same authority He walked with here on earth. His authority is always rooted and grounded in LOVE. Jesus never abused the authority the Father gave Him. He always used it to minister to others.
Matt 10:1 - He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
The authority of Jesus was called
into question many times during His earthly ministry:
Matt 21:23-27 - Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. "By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave you this authority?"
Jesus replied, "I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
John's baptism-- where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or from men?" They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?'
But if we say, 'From men'-- we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet."
So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Then he said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
John 10:18 - No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
That authority is still being questioned today. Sadly, it's not being questioned by heathen or cultic denominations but within many mainline denominations where the power of God is denied and the validity of miracles and signs and wonders is questioned. I've wrote many times in past journals that we are not in pursuit of "fads" or "exhibitions," but folks the power of God is REAL and it's REAL TODAY. Jesus STILL has the authority to heal the sick and raise the dead and cleanse lepers. He STILL has the authority to fill people with the Holy Spirit. He STILL has the authority to set the sinner free and set at liberty those who have been bruised. WE AS HIS BODY have failed the world around us because we have denied that authority today! Preachers preach that God did all these things in the past, He may do them again in the future but He just "don't do those things today." All I have to say is let every man be a liar and let GOD BE TRUE. God has not gone out of the healing business. God has not gone out of the FILLING business. God has not gone out of the deliverance business. God has not gone out of the salvation business. FOR THIS PURPOSE WAS THE SON OF GOD MANIFESTED THAT HE MIGHT DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL. And if we as His BODY, the organism of His power, the conduit of HIS SPIRIT will but shake off the dust of unbelief we will see His glory and authority established throughout the earth! Glory to God. Glory to God. Are you hearing me? Jesus is real. Jesus is alive today. Jesus lives inside the heart of every true born-again child of God through the Holy Ghost. Jesus STILL walks AMONG the churches who let Him. He STILL MOVES where He is welcomed. But He must be given PLACE to operate. When we question His authority today, we choke out the move of God among us. We cut off our anointing. We hinder the grace of God.
His Head and Hair Were White Like Wool
The color of Christ's hair speaks of "antiquity and wisdom - conveys the thought of antiquity and reminds us of the vision of Daniel 7:9-13 where Christ is called "the Ancient of Days." Jesus is our wisdom. He just doesn't give us wisdom, HE IS our wisdom! (1 Cor. 1:30-31) When the church stops depending on CHRIST as the source of our wisdom, we become DELUDED and DECEIVED. Every false doctrine of man has at its root an idea that man knows better than God. I'm not talking so much about the sinner here as I am about the leadership in most churches - especially in America. For us to boast about how wise we are we really do act very stupid. For us to boast about how much we know we really don't know much at all. We must allow the CHRIST AMONG THE CHURCHES to become our wisdom.
You see the wisdom of God does not divide. It unifies us all in CHRIST! Man's earthly wisdom genders strife, envy, discord and deceit. James said it is "earthly, sensual, and DEMONIC." When man starts thinking he knows it all and starts making doctrines and creeds based upon that human knowledge, there will be confusion and every EVIL WORK! When Christ is allowed to become our wisdom we will have purity, peace, love, mercy, good fruits, no partiality and NO HYPOCRISY!
James 3:12-18
- Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. [13] Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him
show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. [14] But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. [15] This wisdom
descends not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. [16] For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. [17] But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be
intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. [18] And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
The whiteness
in Christ's hair also speaks of the righteousness of God, who is from everlasting to everlasting.
Jesus exhorted the church at Laodicea to buy of Him "gold tried in
the fire and white raiment." Our self-righteousness in the church will
never hide our shame from the CHRIST among the churches. We have become so smug
in the church today. We can do it all in America even if God don't show up. We
can keep the machinery going and marching on even if God is no where to be found
in what we are doing and teaching. We boast of our spirituality when we really
need to be repenting our our arrogance and attitude that we can do ANYTHING
without JESUS! The truth is the only goodness in ANY of us - is that part of us
that has been taken over by THE SON - THE CHRIST AMONG THE CHURCHES!
Rev. 3:17-22
- Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and
do not know that you art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: [18] I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire,
that you may be rich; and white raiment, that
you may be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with
eye salve, that you may see. [19] As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. [20] Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. [21] To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. [22] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Man's fig leaves today will STILL NOT HIDE HIS NAKEDNESS! The efforts of our own
hands will never compensate God for our lack of obedience to Him. All our
giving, all our building, all our singing, all our works will never keep us
justified before God. It's the righteousness of CHRIST that clothes us and keeps
us clothed before God. I'm afraid the reason we have so much falling and failure
in the church is because we don't know how to approach God. We are scared of God
just like Adam was in the garden. Adam sinned but instead of coming to His Maker
confessing, Adam hid. When that didn't work, Adam and Eve made fig leaves to
hide their sin. That didn't work either. We must come back to a simple
child-like faith in the blood of the Lamb. For the blood alone COVERS US and
HIDES US and CLOTHES US and WASHES US that we might not be ashamed and naked
before God. It's still the blood of Jesus. It's still the blood of Jesus that
covers our sin and delivers us from evil.
His
Eyes Were as a Flame of Fire
This of course represents the fact that the Christ among the churches was all-seeing! The Greek says, "His eyes shot fire." indicating that Christ was indignant over something. When Jesus sees His church, He loves the church, but JESUS KNOWS OUR TRUE CONDITION! We cannot "play church" and think we are getting away with anything. Jesus sees the indifference and in some cases the plain out apostasy of those movements who claim to be His. We need to repent before Him and ask Him to "anoint" our eyes with His eye salve that we can see our condition. I believe when we do this we will not be boasting. We will not be arrogant. We will not be smug. We will not be having victory chants with a tom-tom like we're playing some kind of spiritual warfare game of Cowboy and Indians. Folks, Jesus sees what is going on. He's not fooled by our activity and emotion. He is always looking at the HEART of man. He's not impressed with show. He is moved by our LOVE FOR HIM!
His eyes pierce our souls. One day when we stand before Him He will penetrate our very being with those eyes. We won't be able to hide our hidden motives or secret misdeeds. We won't be able to manipulate Him on that day when He shoots the fire of His eyes over our lives. CHURCH, it's better we repent NOW of the areas that are not like HIM and let Him judge us NOW instead of later. His judgment is rooted in His LOVE and He knows all things. He is the CHRIST AMONG THE CHURCHES and HIS EYES ARE A FLAME OF FIRE
His Feet Was Like Unto Fine Brass
When John saw Jesus he said His feet were like fine brass. This speaks of JUDGMENT in the sense that BRONZE represents the brazen altar in the tabernacle where SIN WAS JUDGED. We don't understand the judgment of the CHRIST AMONG THE CHURCHES! As a well-known Christian author once wrote, "for us to stay on the path of life, we must understand both the severity and goodness of Christ." In other words there is a side of Jesus that JUDGES US. His Spirit and Light judges the hidden motives of our heart. Whatever is there that is selfish and self-seeking can be revealed when we ask the Lord for His judgment or assessment of our lives. That is so hard to do sometime because when we do He makes us very uncomfortable with what He says to us. But THIS IS THE PATH TO LIFE! We will either do this now on earth or suffer loss at the JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST when HE WILL BEAR OUR HEARTS before Him.
1 Cor. 3:13-15 - Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. [14] If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. [15] If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
The CHRIST AMONG THE CHURCHES wants us to JUDGE OURSELVES! He wants us to examine ourselves to see whether we are IN HIM! God does not bless our messes, He judges our messes! Paul wrote a great deal of information concerning judgment and the role we must play in not only God's judgment of our lives, but our own judgment of our lives. The purpose of us judging ourselves now is so God will not have to judge us later and condemn us along with the world:
1 Cor. 11:31-34 - For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. [32] But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
The CHRIST AMONG THE CHURCHES rebukes and chastens those He loves! When we go without chastisement and judgment we are not of HIM! Paul calls us "bastards." Strong language there, but the point is, that when we were sinners we could go to the honky-tonks, drink our beer, tell our dirty jokes, have sex with everything that moved and live like hell itself and have very little happen to us at the hand of God in the sense of "judging" us. We reaped our choices but we did not belong to the Heavenly Father, we belonged to another father - the devil! But when we were born-again our father was no longer the devil but GOD! We now belong to HIM! And NOW when we get out of the path of life and do those things believe me - JESUS WILL JUDGE AND CHASTEN HIS CHILDREN! That's the CHRIST AMONG THE CHURCHES with the feet like unto brass!
His Voice Was As The Sound of Many Waters
Tim LaHaye likened this part of John's vision to an illustration concerning Niagara Falls:
"When you come to the edge of the great falls, all other sounds are eliminated from your hearing as you are engulfed by the deafening roar of the turbulent waters. This figure seems to indicate the attitude of the Son of God as He comes on the Day of the Lord in judgment. Far too many cannot hear His voice today, but one day they will hear it then. The call of worldliness, materialism, science, education, psychology, and all other voices calling to the souls of human beings seem to take precedence over the voice of Jesus Christ today. In beings seem to take precedence over the voice of Jesus Christ today. In that day all other voices will be stilled by the deafening, overpowering voice of the Son of God, to whom all people will give heed, for they will be entering into their hour of judgment. However, the church of Christian that so desires can hear His voice today if he or she will but listen."
The voice of the Son of God MAKES the difference! When Jesus speaks, demons tremble! When Jesus speaks the worlds come to a halt! When Jesus speaks all of heaven and earth take notice! When Jesus speaks the birds stop chirping and come to attention. When Jesus speaks darkness becomes LIGHT. When Jesus speaks, sin becomes SALVATION! When Jesus speaks Hell becomes HEAVEN! When Jesus speaks anger, malice and bitterness become LOVE. John heard this voice and fell at His feet as DEAD. We need to LISTEN to Him because He will keep us from falling if we will but hear what HIS SPIRIT is saying to the CHURCH! When we stop listening, we DIE. When we stop listening, we become like Laodicea - self-righteous, rich and DEAD.
In His Hands Were Seven Stars
The Lord Himself interpreted to John the meaning of the seven stars. In verse 20, "the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches." The meaning of the Greek word translated angel is "messenger." While most Bible scholars believe these angels are the pastors or leaders of the seven churches, it is possible these angels could be supernatural beings assigned to protect the various churches, just as the angelic beings who are assigned to protect Godly nations. Michael is Israel's "ANGEL." He is called the "PRINCE" in Daniel 12:1. The main objection of the angels would be to keep the church pure. However, angels are not divine nor can they supercede the human will because this is a liberty given only by God. If Christ has subjected Himself to the position of being on the outside of the door of the church, knocking for entrance (Rev. 3:20), we can scarcely imagine the angels doing more. If a church has fallen and failed in its mission, it is not because its angel has been irresponsible, but because the church has rejected the Holy Spirit's leading. I believe both meanings could be accurate here. I would like to think that we are the church have a specially assigned angel working for us. Certainly we need one! The other meaning to this is that these if these angels are the pastors, then it is a clear fact that JESUS HOLDS THEM IN HIS HANDS. Jesus is the HEAD of the church.
The saddest indictment of the 21rst Century Church, especially here in America is we can continue with all our machinery and activity even if Jesus isn't present. That's really sad. Our machinery and activity will never set men free from their sin. Our machinery and activity may keep people from being bored, but it won't keep them out of hell. Jesus must be in our midst. The Christ among the churches must be given His place in our services and our lives. Without Him, we become apostate.
Out Of His Mouth – A Sharp two-edged Sword – The proceeding word of the Lord
Ephesians 6 refers to the Word of God as the "sword of the Spirit." Hebrews 4:12 tells us that the Word of God is "sharper than any double-edged sword." Evidently the spoken word of Christ will go forth as a sharp sword against which there will be no defense in the day of judgment. Thus we can see that there will really be no battle with the Antichrist, for he will be indefensible against the presence of Christ at His Coming (Rev. 19-20). His WORD will be our JUDGE in the day of judgment. We need to hear and OBEY what He says to us!
When we are pursuing the WORD, the living "proceeding" word of the Lord, we will not stray from life. It's when we taken the written word of God and start tinkering with its meaning and foundation we always wind up in error. Our pursuit is Jesus, not doctrine! Our pursuit is Jesus, not scripture. When we are pursuing Jesus, Jesus will always give us a hunger for His word AND keep us enlightened ABOUT His word. I've always said this - which is more important - the BOOK or the AUTHOR OF THE BOOK?????? So many want to know the BOOK, but very few churches major in pursuing the AUTHOR of the BOOK! Guess what? The author is still speaking TODAY. He just didn't move on the hearts of men to pen 66 books of His canon of scripture and then say, "Ok, that's all I want them to know." There is no "higher" or "better" source of information about God than the Bible. The Bible however is a tool the Lord wants to get us to pursue HIM. That's why there are so many areas in the Bible that have no "clear" interpretation. Why do you think Peter wrote then "there is no private interpretation of scripture?" Because the interpretation of scripture rests with JESUS and quite honestly Jesus has not given the "WHOLE" part of truth to one camp. He wants His Body to come together. The Baptists know the fundamentals of salvation like the back of their hand. Pentecostals have been given great light on the Holy Spirit. Methodists tend to know a great deal about sanctification. Now, where the Catholics and Episcopalians come in I'm not sure but I'm sure those truly born-again in those movements could help the other parts of the Body with the light the Lord has given them. The point is the WORD IS JESUS!!!!! The word coming out His mouth was HIS BREATH! He will destroy the ANTICHRIST with HIS WORDS! His WORDS are SPIRIT AND LIFE! Remember that.
I'm not even hinting we should not take the Bible and hold it high in its importance in our lives. God forbid. What I am saying is when we become so "grounded" in knowing doctrine and knowledge, it always leads to PRIDE and ARROGANCE! When we start becoming grounded IN HIM, it sets us free. Jesus said, "I am the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE." In another passage, He said, "the truth will set you free." Guess what? THE TRUTH IS JESUS. It's not some man-made, man-concocted "doctrine" our forefathers passed on down through their generations. It's the POWER OF HIS WORD and it will set the church free from her division, bondage and delusion in this hour!
His Face Was Like The Sun Shining In All His Brilliance
This speaks of the divine nature of Christ and reminds us of the event that took place on the Mount of Transfiguration, where Christ "was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light." (Matthew 17:2). For just a moment during His earthly ministry, Peter, James and John saw Jesus in His divine glory; just as John saw Him here in this vision. Let there be no doubt about it; This is Jesus the Christ, the divine Son of God, AMEN!
When John saw this vision, he fell at the feet of Jesus as he were
"dead." No matter how important we think we are or have become in the
Kingdom, we will ALL willingly worship at the feet of Jesus one day. This John
who prostrated himself at the feet of the resurrected Christ is the same John
who was familiar enough with the Lord Jesus to lay his head on His breast in the
upper room. Now we find John falling on his feet as DEAD, knocked out cold by
His glory. John you might say was "SLAIN in the SPIRIT!" Anyone truly
in touch with the Spirit of God instinctively bows in adoration to Jesus Christ.
Any spirit that motivates one in defiance of Christ is not the Holy Spirit!
In the Midst Of the Seven Golden Candlesticks
The
seven golden candlesticks were symbols of the seven churches to which John was
to send the message. Jesus is shown standing in the middle of the churches.
Christ is the head of the church. He is active, not passive, involved in the
actions of His body, the church, EVEN TODAY!
Eph
1:20-23 - Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set
him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
At
the beginning of this passage, Christ is in the midst of the candlesticks (the
churches), and at the conclusion, He is on the outside knocking, trying to get
in. (Rev. 3:20) There is a conspiracy against the supernatural of God in this
last hour before Jesus comes. The psychics and witches can parade on television
claiming their powers are real. Why does the church then turn in the face of
this and deny the power of God is real?
Some even deny John’s
vision of Revelation is real today. We have become adept to depending on our
“awesome” knowledge of the Bible instead of allowing the Christ among the
churches to communicate to
us in any way He sees fit. The Bible is infallible. Most who deny the power of
God say that no one living today has the authority of an Old Testament prophet
or New Testament apostle. I personally believe that the Bible is more reliable
than anyone else’s vision. However, serving a sovereign God, you don’t
always get to choose the way He speaks to us, as John didn’t choose this
plight of being on Patmos and being told to write down some of the most awesome
visions ever given to a human being.
John 15:3-6
- Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. [4] Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. [5] I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that
abides in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do
nothing. [6] If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
Paul wrote the Corinthians
warning them he was deeply concerned Satan had taken them away from a simple
devotion to the Christ. As a result they had starting pursuing "another
gospel, another spirit and another Jesus." Would he say the same thing to
us today? Have we been so caught up in our activity in the 21rst Century with
all our electronic gadgets that we have ceased to pursue the TRUE SOURCE of life
- the CHRIST AMONG THE CHURCHES?
"Fear Not...."
Cold, naked fear grips the hearts of human beings everywhere today because of chaotic world conditions. For the first time in human history the proliferation of nuclear bombs makes it possible for terrorists or rogue nations to destroy cities or whole nations. Those without Christ have every right to fear. This never should be the case for the child of God! "For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but a spirit of POWER, of love and of self-discipline."(2 Tim 1:7).
As Jesus laid His right hand on John and said to him, "Do not be afraid," He was enunciating in the form of His essential diety what He had announced to the disciples on many occasions while in His incarnate state. He often used the terms "do not be afraid," "peace be with you," and "do not let your heart be troubled." These messages not only admonished the disciples in Jesus' day but reflect the attitude that should characterize His disciples in EVERY age. The personal presence of Jesus is the cure for fear. Jesus gave John four sold reasons why we should not be troubled about what is coming:
I Am The First and the Last - This speaks of Christ's eternity. He is before all things; and after all things are through, He will still be in control.
I Am The Living One; I Was Dead - This speaks of Christ's sacrificial death for our sins and His resurrection. This phrase attests to the fact that we worship a risen, living Christ!
I Am Alive For Ever And Ever! - This Scripture tells us that Chris "died for sins once for all" (1 Peter 3:18). He will not die again. He will not change His state. He will always be! Oh, that people might realize the decision of accepting or rejecting Jesus as an eternal decision; just as He is able to save "for ever and ever," so He is able to damn forever those who reject Him.
I Hold The Keys Of Death And Hades (Hell) - This is a detail John did not record in his description, but Jesus stated that in His hand He held "the keys of death and Hades." These keys were evidently purchased with His own blood, for according to Hebrews 2:14-15, "by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death - that is, the devil - and FREE those who all their lives were held in slavery by their FEAR of DEATH."
The Christian need not fear death or Hades. The unseen abode of the unbelieving dead currently is Hades, often called "hell." After the Great White Throne Judgment of Revelation 20 death and HELL will be "thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death." Those outside Jesus Christ have EVERY reason to fear death. It's like going into a jail visiting an inmate. The residents of the institution fear the institution because they cannot get out. However, even if you go through 16 steel doors and the representative of the warden's office has the keys to let you out, you can get out and you don't have to fear that place. Jesus holds those same keys to unlock the door to Hell and death for His children who have placed their faith and trust in HIM.
In Closing
This is a simple journal yet one I'm afraid most Christians have taken very much for granted. The church needs to return to the source of her life - THE HEAD! The Head of the Church wants so desperately to walk among us and help us in this hour. Why do we fight the very source of life that can set us free from our delusion and deception? Do you know the Christ among the Churches? Have you made Him Lord and Saviour of your life today? Neighbor, it's getting so late that it would scare you how close we are to the Great Tribulation period. Neighbor, this is not a game - it's about life or death, heaven or hell. Your soul is worth more than the priceless rubies and wealth of this earth - Jesus said you could never give ANYTHING in exchange for your soul!
Abide in Jesus if you are a Christian. If you have strayed from a simple love of Jesus - come back to Him today. He's a personal Saviour and a gentle friend. There is no condemnation in His hand - only Grace. Grace that covers and cleanses from sin - and sets us free from the darkness that binds us. HE IS OUR ONLY HOPE TO SEE THE HARVEST REAPED BEFORE HE COMES! God bless.