JESUS HIS OUTLINE, YOUR OUTLINE- THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS

REVELATION

A Verse by Verse Study

My own personal journey

"A journey of studying what’s revealed to me!"

Jesus, His Outline for the Church, Your Outline for the Church

THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS

REVELATION 2 “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: ² “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; ³ and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. ⁴ Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. ⁵ 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. ⁶ But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

⁷ “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.”

Did you know that if you are a saved, born again Christian who calls Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior, you are not alone!  You are part of the church.  Jesus addressed seven churches in the book of Revelation.  We KNOW there were more than seven churches.  We also KNOW that there is a church today called the Body of Christ.  For further study look up the phrase body of Christ or Christ’s body.  We are called to be in fellowship with one another.  We aren’t called to stand alone but to be a part of the Body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12: 20-27 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. ²¹ And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” ²² No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. ²³ And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, ²⁴ but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, ²⁵ that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. ²⁶ And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

Now you weren’t alive when the letters were written to the churches but as I have said before, those letters were distributed among the body of Christ and by the councils of wise scholars were included by divine plan in the Canon of Scripture.  This Word is for you!  Everything in the book of Revelation is for you individually and for the body of Christ at large and in whole.

You can find in each passage, as Jesus addresses each church there is an outline.  We can look at this outline and locate ourselves.  The Word says in Hebrews 4:12-13 that the Word of God can locate us in our spiritual condition. The Word of God can locate our hearts.  Read the outline to each church and locate yourself!  Then ask the Holy Spirit to change you where you need to change, to root out anything that doesn’t belong.  Repent if necessary, be encouraged when appropriate and carry on in his strength.  We must be strong in the Lord and the power of his might if we are to be effective in his body!

Hebrews 4: 12  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. ¹³ And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Each church will be addressed with the following outline:

·         THINGS COMMENDABLE

·         THINGS CORRECTABLE

·         ADVICE, INSTRUCTION, WARNINGS

·         ENCOURAGEMENT

As Jesus addresses Ephesus, where there truly was a church, a group of people, a part of the Body of Christ who referred to themselves as Christians.

1.      HE COMMENDS

a.      Good works, labor and patience

b.      Can’t bear evil

c.       Labored for his name’s sake without becoming weary

d.      Able to spot false apostles by testing them.

2.      HE CORRECTS (OR REBUKES)

a.      YOU HAVE LEFT YOUR FIRST LOVE

3.      HE WARNS

a.      Remember from where you are fallen.

b.      Repent and do the first works or else…

c.      Without repentance he will remove their lampstand.

d.      Listen and pay attention to what the Spirit of God says.

5.      ENCOURAGEMENT

a.      Overcomers will get to eat from the tree of life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.

This was a church, a Christian Church, but they were chilling and drying up.  They had lost their first love, yet they still did good deeds.  Remember in the beginning when the Holy Spirit was first poured out, everyone was excited about Jesus. They loved him and wanted to fellowship and fell his presence.  They came together for prayer and fasting and things shook.  Miracles happened as the Good News was spread.  Was it that way with me? Was it that way with you?  Is it still that way?  If we are not on fire for God with a passion for him as our first love, we might find ourselves located in the letter to the church at Ephesus.

Notice that he even acknowledged they were able to spot false apostles.  There are many that take pride in trying to knock down every preacher they can.  Being able to spot false prophets and apostles without being on fire for and deeply in love with Jesus may locate you in the book of Ephesus.  Some find themselves critical of many without even asking themselves “Am I what I once was or should be in my relationship with Christ?”  “Have I grown cold about the things of God?”  However, Jesus commended their ability to spot false apostles.  Discernment is important and there will always be false prophets.  The Devil will always be sending in his anti-christ spirit to try to disrupt and divide the body of Christ.  If we were all full of the Spirit and able to discern there would be no problem.  We’d spot false prophets but be so full of love for Christ, we wouldn’t spend more time tearing down false prophets than we did in fellowship, prayer and fasting.

His warning was to repent.  His warning was to fall in love with Jesus all over again.  At the time of the letter they still had a lampstand in the presence of God.  It had not been removed, however Jesus warned them that the chilling wouldn’t stop without repentance.  The fire would go out.  They would fall completely out of love and become just a religious group of people with no life and only good works.  They would think they were a Christian Church but their lampstand would be removed, making them not stand in the presence of the living God!

Don’t let the fact that we don’t see him walking on earth personally cause us to grow cold.  Be on fire. Be filled with his presence.  Spend time with him daily.  Tell others about him.  This is how the fire is spread and this is how the fire keeps burning. Be in love with Jesus who is loveable. Don’t be a cold, spiritually dying Christian. 

Be encouraged to stay lit.  Be encouraged to fall in love again.  Be encouraged to  keep the fire burning and be assured of the promise to eat from the tree of life in the paradise of God.

There will be many that think they are going to the paradise of God but will find they let their lamps go out.  Just look at the ten virgins parable:

Matthew 25:1-13

New International Version (NIV)

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. ² Five of them were foolish and five were wise. ³ The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. ⁴ The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. ⁵ The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

⁶ “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

⁷ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

⁹ “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

¹⁰ “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

¹¹ “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

¹² “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

¹³ “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

Did I recently hear that the Pope said Jesus wasn’t coming back? I’m not sure if I heard that or not but there have been reports of many saying Jesus isn’t coming back.  Maybe that was the problem with the church at Ephesus. Maybe they were growing cold because Jesus didn’t come back in their timing? Maybe he became just a figurehead.  I don’t know.

I do know in the parable, Jesus return is likened to a wedding when the bride goes out to meet her groom, hearing of his return but she isn’t ready. Five have no light.  Five miss the wedding.  This is only a parable. It’s a picture of a wedding and one of the parties doesn’t attend.   For that person it’s as if the wedding never took place.

Shall we instead choose to stay lit and attend the wedding, sit down to a feast and eat from the tree of life in the paradise of God?

Lisa Kimbrell Hutchinson

aka Joyreaper

I WILL BE EVEN MORE UNDIGNIFIED THAN THIS

2 Samuel 6:14-22

¹⁴ And David danced before the Lord with all his might, clad in a linen ephod [a priest’s upper garment].

¹⁵ So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.¹⁶ As the ark of the Lord came into the City of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter [David’s wife], looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart.

¹⁷ They brought in the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent which David had pitched for it, and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.¹⁸ When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name [and presence] of the Lord of hosts,¹⁹ And distributed among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both to men and women, to each a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins. So all the people departed, each to his house.

²⁰ Then David returned to bless his household. And [his wife] Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, How glorious was the king of Israel today, who stripped himself of his kingly robes and uncovered himself in the eyes of his servants’ maids as one of the worthless fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!

²¹ David said to Michal, It was before the Lord, Who chose me above your father and all his house to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the Lord. Therefore will I make merry [in pure enjoyment] before the Lord.²² I will be still more lightly esteemed than this, and will humble and lower myself in my own sight [and yours]. But by the maids you mentioned, I will be held in honor.

MY NOTES: Because of David’s example, the people he led also praised God with shouting and on musical instruments. 

David danced with all his might before the Lord’s presence.  How often do we see church services where people are dancing with all their might in the Lord’s presence?  Yet, many will go to a bar and dance before each other!   The ark represents God’s presence which is far more worthy of celebration of people or a band!  Prior to this David had attempted to bring the ark to Jerusalem but Uzziah had tried to control the ark with his hands (the hand of man) and Uzziah died right there.  Many preachers have tried to control God’s presence and the place seems dead when you go to church.  There’s no flow of the Spirit, no obvious touch of God upon God’s people and no life giving Spirit flowing in the place at all, much less enough to make people dance and rejoice with all their might.  David sent the ark to Obededum’s.  Obededum watched over the presence of God in his house and he was blessed. David realized that the ark must be handled God’s way rather than man’s way and ordered the ark brought up to Jerusalem again. This time they carried it God’s way and here David danced before the Lord with all his might.

David was a King in Israel. All eyes were upon him yet he wasn’t embarrassed to dance before the presence of God with all his might clothed only in a linen ephod

First, David blessed the Lord with offerings and then he turned to bless the people.  The desire to be a blessing continued at the return of the presence of God.  The presence of God in a person’s life should inspire a desire to give and bless!  If a person’s heart continues in greed they probably haven’t let go completely to God!

David’s desire to bless continued as he was enjoying God’s presence.  His desire was to bless his family.  Sadly his wife rejected the rejoicing and mocked David.  She accused him of nakedness and being undignified.  This was an exaggeration as he was wearing an ephod. Jealousy often causes exaggeration.  She accused him of acting shamelessly yet the word says he was dancing before the Lord with all his might.  And you can see that at this behavior no one died as they did when man tried to control the presence.  God had accepted David’s praise and undignified dancing yet his wife, Michal mocked.

We should be very careful in mocking the things of God.  It’s wise to consider what the word says rather than what the world will think or say.  Michal was more concerned with dignity than she was at what was happening in the Lord.  She was more concerned with dignity than at realizing that the presence of God was returning to bring great blessing.  You can also see a touch of jealousy in her heart at the fact that time was spent being a blessing and bringing a blessing to the women of Israel even though David did nothing wrong.  Her jealousy was at the fact he was blessing and being blessed in their presence.  She had refused to enter in to the blessing David and the others were enjoying and became critical rather than being blessed herself.

David did not yield or accept his wife’s mockery.  Instead he told her the truth that it was before the Lord that he was dancing and praising and doing what she thought foolish.  He confronted her jealousy over her father’s house and reminded her that it was the Lord that had chosen him and he also did not care what she said about him or how she mocked.  He said, “Therefore I will play before the lord.”  He was saying, “I will be what you call undignified before the lord and even more so.”  “I will play in God’s presence if that’s where the blessing is.”

It must have hurt David to have even one that was closest to him that he loved so much criticize and mock yet he didn’t back down or change because of it.

He desired Michal to be his wife because he had sent for her when he became victorious and took her back away from Saul’s house who had stolen her.  Instead of appreciating him and loving him, she despised and was jealous of him.

Here he says “I will be more vile than this and base in my own eyes.”  He wasn’t going to let pride and concern of what other might think stop him from enjoying the presence of God and being a blessing to God and a blessing to others.  He noted that although she dishonored him, those that entered into God’s presence and the celebration of God’s presence would honor him.

HIS POWER- A HORSE STORY YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS

HIS POWER:
A HORSE STORY YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS

I want to talk about HIS POWER. Yes, I am speaking of God’s power but at the same time I’m speaking of His Power, a horse nicknamed Peyton that was given the name “His Power,” by his breeder. I know His Power because I board my horses, Dolly & Sunny at Pam Greene Bacon's barn who is His Power (Peyton’s) owner.

Saturday morning, we headed out to a Southern Obstacle Challenges show together, truck, trailer and three horses in tow. The show was near Ocala and we were leaving from Plant City. For some reason, Pam and I talked about nothing but God. We talked about the fact she had a feeling during the night it wasn’t going to be a good road day and she had been up in the night praying. We talked about the many occasions we knew of where angelic intervention had been responsible for changing an outcome of a bad situation. For three hours we told story after story. It seemed as if God’s presence filled the air and I know not only did it seem that way, it was so!

By 3:30 p.m. we were finished and ready to head home! Whew what an early day! It had been hot so we decided for the short drive down the lane, we’d let the horses hang their heads out. We were just speaking of closing the windows.
Going at approximately 10-15 miles per hour, we came too close to a tree. Dolly, (my horse,) saw the tree and pulled her head in. She ended up with a little scrape. His Power wasn’t so fortunate. The tree hit his head and knocked him into shock and then the tree pinned his head against the frame of the window and bent the window. Pam had at that precise second looked into the rear view mirror. That in itself is a miracle and a display of HIS POWER. Had we continued moving forward at that exact moment Peyton would be dead! We moved backward a little to clear the tree and free His Power (Peyton’s) head.

Peyton was in shock. He was groaning and in terrible pain. Pam was in shock. She literally thought he was dying. He thought he was dying as he tried to lay down. Pam held him up knowing her presence would keep him on his feet as she tugged his halter. I just prayed, but not just any prayer. I laid hands on him and prayed for HIS POWER to touch this horse, saying, “God you care about all of your creation. Let your power touch Peyton right now, in Jesus name.”

By now we had drawn a crowd because we were blocking the way for others. Fortunately one of Pam’s long-time friends, Carrie, was right behind her and I motioned for her help. We were all able to get calm enough to pull up to a clearing so others could pass. There we unloaded Peyton from the trailer.

A vet tech was nearby and was able to give him 10 cc of banamine. A vet was there but with no tools so she called a mobile vet. The mobile vet came and did all she could, giving him additional pain medicine. Peyton seemed to be slowly coming out of shock but seemed unsteady on his feet. I think most people drugged up can get a little unsteady on their feet!!

The mobile vet did take control of the situation and I’m sure she felt she was just doing her job. She was afraid of broken neck bones that could cause neurological damage but Peyton being a slower smart mover over steps anyway and also having a natural walk like a drunken sailor tends to confuse vets.
The mobile vet told Pam, “This horse is not going home tonight without first going to…..” and she named Place A and Place B. She also said, “I don’t see you riding this horse for at least 6 months!” I think we ended up at Equine Medical Center of Ocala.

By the time we arrived at the hospital, Peyton was alert, relaxed and back to himself. Pam still had the vet x-ray his neck and head. Miraculously there were no broken bones and we were allowed to go home.

It is our wholehearted belief God knew and warned us beforehand of a bad road day. He had Pam pray the night before. He didn’t stop us from going but he went with us. He listened to our conversations about HIS POWER on the way up. He heard the prayers of those standing around praying and crying out for Peyton’s life.

God displayed HIS POWER on behalf of His Power who was prophetically named. This is a story God wants everyone to hear! This is not the first time God has shown HIS POWER to and through His Power. Peyton has been used in orphan ministry and had been a blessing to many! God has shown HIS POWER to and through His Power mostly to his owner Pam Greene Bacon and God’s not finished showing His Power (HIS POWER) yet.

In fact, this next weekend Pam will be showing His Power in a FWRHA show! Everyone there will see a testimony in His Power by HIS POWER. To God be all the glory!

Malachi 3:16 Then those who feared the Lord talked often one to another; and the Lord listened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who reverenced and worshipfully feared the Lord and who thought on His name.

Please share this wonderful story!

JESUS, HIS CHURCH YOUR FAMILY

REVELATION

A Verse by Verse Study

My own personal journey

"A journey of studying what’s revealed to me!"

Jesus, His Church, Your Family

Revelation 1:20 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^[j] are the seven churches.

What is a mystery? Mesterion in Greek means a hidden thing that is not obvious.

The first word of this verse indicates that we are dealing in symbolism that goes beyond the obvious.  Yes, there were seven actual churches John’s letter would be delivered to but there was less obvious hidden meanings to the symbolism of the lampstands and stars.

Jesus told his disciples about mysteries in Matthew 13:11

He answered and said unto them, because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

When Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams, the King of Babylon recognized Daniel’s God as a revealer of mysteries.  Remember the same ability to understand mysteries was given to Joseph and is what brought the King of Egypt’s attention to him, eventually leading him to the 2^nd highest office in the land.  Even foreign leaders are known to recognize that our God is a revealer of mysteries.  Here in the book of Revelation, John is being given the interpretation of a mystery and that is “The Church!”

Daniel 2:47 The king answered Daniel, Of a truth your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a Revealer of secret mysteries, seeing that you could reveal this secret mystery!

We know, we are supposed to be able to read the bible and understand mysteries so let’s look at the information given and try to understand, knowing that according to this, there ARE some hidden meanings.  He tells us the answer when he says, “The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.”

ROMANS 16:25 Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began…

1 Corinthians 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory!

God has given us the ability to know & speak the mysteries of God and here he reveals he’s speaking of His Church!  In verse 11, he tells John he wants these letters delivered to THE SEVEN churches (which are in Asia,) and names them.  He doesn’t name every church that was in existence but the 7 in Asia:

Revelation 1:11 send it to the seven churches which are in Asia—to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.

We know there were seven candlesticks and seven stars. He clearly tells us the seven stars are angels of the churches and the candlesticks are the churches.  We read the scripture above that the gospel of Jesus Christ IS the mystery that the world did not know for thousands of years but now was made known.  That Christ came, gave his life so we could have eternal life was planned by God since before time began but was revealed through the gospel after Jesus death and resurrection.  That we could be saved and be made part of his body, his church is a mystery the bible tells us even angels desire to look into.

If these candlesticks are a Menorah (seven candlesticks on a base,) then we know this represents the WHOLE church.  Historically studies of the number seven usually reveal seven as God’s perfect number. It represents perfection, goodness, completion and wholeness. He created the earth in 6 days and on the 7^th rested from his work. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1) and on the 7^th day God finished his work (Genesis 2:2.)  Usually there’s a law of first mention in the bible that gives a frame of reference for interpretation.  On the 7^th day, God rested and finished.  His work was complete.  

Hebrews 4:10

For he that is entered into his rest hath himself also rested from his works, as God did from his.

You could say, “In the beginning, God laid the foundation for his church and on the 7^th day, his work in his church is complete!”  There is much revealed concerning the events of the last days in Revelation but there’s no Revelation of the exact day. A completed work in his church is revealed though and it causes us to cry out, “Even so come Lord Jesus!”  His work was complete on the 7^th day of creation and he’s done a thorough work for his church.  Until he returns, he’s continuing to draw new people into his church through the preaching of the mystery through his church.  His mystery is spoken both in preaching and through their lives.  Through Jesus God’s work is finished.  Jesus sacrifice has given us rest and as we “Come to him,” we are able to lay down our weariness and burdens and rest in his love. 

There are really many ways to interpret why God addressed 7 churches but I think we can all agree he is addressing his entire, perfectly complete body; his church, his bride!  God doesn’t only desire to speak to 7 out of millions of churches or the people of seven churches, leaving out the millions in other churches.  God desires to speak to the entire body of Christ.  The candlesticks stand on a base. The base is the foundation and represents Christ.  Outside of Christ we are nothing.   Each church is a part of his body.  We know there were many churches in that day that weren’t mentioned yet we know that through letters written to and in the church, we as modern day Christians have the whole canon of Scripture.  I believe each church had different issues and through these issues God was able to in completion and perfection cover things that through the ages would reach his whole church.  The whole lampstand was seven but was one!  There was no candlestick broken off making the whole incomplete.  The base wasn’t missing.   There was nothing missing.  It represented “his churches,” and it was complete with one base.  Jesus walked among these candlesticks and had his angels assigned to each part of the candlestick.  There was one star (angel) for each church. There was no church without an angel.  I believe the whole of the 7 candlesticks, with one foundation (Christ,) with the angels of God assigned to them, represent the entire body of Christ then and through the ages and the entire body of Christ has the ability to know the mysteries of God found in his Revelation!  Now just think about that!  Each part of the body of Christ, Christ’s church has an angel assigned to it!  My friend, you have an angel assigned to you to help you and to carry out his Word over your life!  Whether the number 7 represents 7, 1000 year periods or 7 church age periods, to me is not the fullness of the Revelation but that God knows his church, has revealed himself and his will to his church, has placed angels on assignment for his church and walks among his church is the issue!!!  He addresses his church with the Revelation the church needs!  He calls out to his church and walks among her!  This Revelation is powerful because it shows God knows right where we are when we fail and when we succeed; when we are close and when we are slipping away.  He gives what we need to come to him and to walk with him in fullness and power. Even though he was dead, he was alive and he is alive today and walks among us!  If God’s church ever came into the full Revelation of who we are, the lost would quickly be saved and we’d see miracles in great numbers!  All Christians would be on fire, walking in close relationship with him on a personal basis and walking in great power and love. As he addresses us through his Word, what he has to say will speak to every member of the body of Christ no matter which church age we are in.  His Word is alive and powerful and is able to locate the condition of our heart and change us by his power.  Therefore in addition to understanding eschatology may we understand ourselves as we are found in him!  What good is it for us to understand all mysteries concerning his coming if we aren’t going to be found in him when he comes back.  May we understand where we stand and may we understand who we are.  May we look into his eyes and as John did see the fire within that burns for his bride, his church!  Let this book speak to us each on a personal level as part of the whole candlestick with angels assigned.  Let us see that when he had John write his letters to his churches, he was writing his letter to us!

Now let’s take this a step further and see that if we are “in him,” and he “in us,” then we should have the same love for one another that he has for us.  The “church,” the “body of Christ,” is a part of us.  We are brothers and sisters in the Lord.  Too often the church has become competitive and divisive.  How many ministers are estranged from one another over doctrine, or competitiveness or even misunderstanding? Brothers and sisters in Christ should be able to look past flaws as he did and see our need (as the great songwriter Dottie Rambo sang!)   When we look at one another we should be looking through the eyes of Christ filtered with the same love for one another as he has for us.  The bible says we are known of the world by our love for one another.  Therefore let’s take this Revelation of his church and purpose in our hearts to love one another as he has loved us which according to the bible, along with loving God sums up and fulfills all of the law of God!

John 13:35 ³⁵ By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves].

Before going on to read what Jesus said to his churches, let’s first take the step to view the body of Christ as one body. Let’s recognize that Jesus has angels on assignment to his entire body.  Let’s recognize his will is that we be one and that we love one another.  It’s not his will that even one should be disconnected or left out.  Unity is truly one of the things that is lacking in the modern day church.  It’s also what makes the church powerful.  Little children, let us be one and let us love one another that the world may know that we are his disciples! Let us not hate over our differences but recognize that although we are all different, just as the 7 churches were different, we all are joined together through our base, Jesus Christ! Amen!

REVELATION 1: 17-18 JESUS, HIS HAND YOUR COMFORT

REVELATION

A Verse by Verse Study

My own personal journey

"A journey of studying what’s revealed to me!"

Jesus, His Hand, Your Comfort

Revelation 1: 17- 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. ¹⁸ 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.

He Laid His Right Hand on Me

When Jesus laid his hand on John I don’t believe this was in the context of the doctrine of “laying on of hands,” for all the different reasons we practice this in the New Testament Church.  I believe this was in the context of what Jesus said next, “Do not be afraid!” Yes, I know John had fallen down because of the awesomeness of what was happening.  There was Jesus appearing to him!  That same Jesus he had watched ascend into heaven was now back on earth appearing to him.  We’ve described his appearance in other notes so John had every reason to fall on his face!  Jesus laid his hand on him and said, “Do not be afraid!”  When Jesus walks into your living room, there may be at first a tendency to be afraid but when his love overwhelms you, you fear no more!

I don’t believe that was the only reason Jesus appeared to John (to show his awesomeness, make John afraid, and then tell him not to fear!)  I believe (and of course have 22 chapters of proof,) there was more needing to be said.  I also believe there was more to the touch.  I believe this was a comforting touch. In the Old Testament it was identification’s foreshadow.  The person laid their hand on the sacrificial lamb to identify with the one that would be slain.  Jesus was the one slain but here, instead of John identifying with him, he was identifying with John.  He was saying, “I know where you’re at! I’m alive and well and will be for all eternity.”  He was letting John know this wasn’t the end of the story.  Well he also knows where you’re at! He knows your address and this isn’t the end of the story! John was in prison. He had given his all to follow Jesus and it seemed things weren’t ending well.  Jesus was letting John know first of all: the experience was real; second: there was no reason to fear, and third: everything that had happened since John dropped everything to follow Jesus had not been in vain. In fact in our next study we’ll see Jesus telling John to “Write these things!”  He actually had more for John to do when John thought he was through.  You can apply that to your life as well. You may think you’ve done all you can for the kingdom and that your usefulness is through but God has more for you to do. Just as he goes on to tell John to “Write,” there is something he will ask you to do!

Here, Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid; I am the First and the Last.  I am he who lives and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. The Amen here literally means to “Stop and think on that!”  Let’s do that. Let’s stop and think on that!  It’s not over.  Jesus may have come and gone from this earth but he’s alive and well!  The story’s not over. He’s alive forevermore and the most exciting times are in the future! Hey!

If you’re in a place where things haven’t gone as expected, take some time with him today. I’m sure he’ll touch you just as he touched John. Let Jesus lay his hand on you today and comfort you.  Let him tell you, “Don’t be afraid.  I am he who lives and I am with you! I am the first and the last and you’re going to make it to the end of this present trial. It’s a good ending. I have the keys!”  He may also let you know, “The best is yet to come! There are exciting days ahead!” “Look to the horizon and you will see we will share an eternity of awesomeness!”  In fact he told John, “I am alive forevermore!” Wow! We have forever ahead of us! 

He Knows “The End” From “The Beginning”

For the body of Christ, that’s good news.  It’s not necessarily good news to those who won’t accept him.  There’s more to this story. We may have reached a climax but we haven’t reached the end.  For those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, there’s a good ending.  Just as in most books you can turn to the last page and know the end before you reach it, so we have been given the bible and we can know the end from the beginning!  Believe me, God knows!

Isaiah 46:9, 10  Remember the former things of old,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like Me,
¹⁰ Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things that are not yet done,
Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,
And I will do all My pleasure,’

God clearly does know the end from the beginning. If any of us were to look back on our lives, we would see that any time we received a sure Word from God it came to pass.  Many things God has told us have not come to pass but if he said it, it will come to pass!  So it is with the end times. It will end just as the back of the book says.

In light of that, I believe the hand on John was a hand of comfort.  When you are troubled, there’s nothing like a friend just laying their hand on you.  Somehow it takes away the fear and some of the pain.  Jesus was letting John know that even though he was in prison, the story wasn’t over.  Think on that. John is in prison no more! He’s in glory. At the time the hand was laid on him, he was still exiled but now at this moment he’s with Jesus before the throne of God!

You may be in the midst of your greatest trial but if you’re in the midst, you haven’t reached the end.  John was in the middle of his trial but now it’s over and the ending was good.  God has a hope and a future for you too! He has good plans for you just as he does for his entire body!

Jeremiah 29:11 for I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Things may not go the way you expected them to go just as they didn’t for John and all of the Christians of that day but the ending is good.  He gives us a future. He gives us a hope. He has plans for peace and not evil.  Just as the early church had to endure, so we may have to endure but there is an end and it is good.  It is peaceful.  We have something to hope for as a body and as an individual and it is good!  Just think, in the beginning, God said, “It is good,” and in the end we can say, “It is good!”  In the middle, we can say, “It is well with my soul because I have no fear! God has a hope and a future and it is good! He knows the end from the beginning and he has already declared it!”

Jesus goes on to say, “I have the keys of hell and death!”  For John that must have been a great comfort.  At the moment it seemed evil was loose and he and Jesus were standing together in the place of exile.  Jesus had been killed.  It was true he had risen, but yet, for the moment John was in prison.

Hell is a prison.  Once there a person will not be able to get out. The devil will be thrown there once and for all one day and will not be let out. So will millions that don’t choose Jesus.  For those that have chosen Jesus no matter where their lives are now, they will be free forever. There will never be another tear and there will never be another sorrow.  If there is anything you fear right now, (and John of all people had every reason to fear,) throw it at the feet of Jesus. Let him comfort you. He has the key and the story isn’t over.  He isn’t on the cross and he isn’t bound by chains, gates, bars or a stone. He’s alive forevermore and he has the keys.

He says, “I am the one who lives! I was dead but I’m not dead anymore! I’m alive!”  Jesus is alive and well and able to help. He says, “I’m the First and the Last!”  I can change that to modern English slang and say, “It ain’t over till it’s over!”  It ain’t over folks.  Things may at times look dim and grim.  Even as we move closer to the coming of the Lord we may see dark clouds on the horizon but it ain’t over!  There’s much to be done and we need to know that although we’re in the middle of the story, the story ends well.  Let’s allow Jesus to encourage us with these Words!  Let’s allow him to show us the back of the book.  Then let’s fear not and get on with the business of doing what he’s called us to do until we reach the end of the story.  Turn to the back of the book (the Bible,) and look at what it says:

Revelation 22:20, 21 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!  ²¹ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.  Amen.

It says I come quickly!  That’s the back of the book my friend, for both the body of Christ and for your trials.  The end comes quickly and so does the eternity of peace, so fear not! Amen!