Pondering the Lessons of the Seven Churches of Revelation

On Sunday, July 18th I copied out: "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him (Jesus Christ) to show to His bondservants the things which must shortyly take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angle to His bondservant John who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ even to all that he saw. Blessed is he who read and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and HEED the things which are written in it; for the time is near."

God gave Jesus Christ the revelation to show---to us !

things which MUST shortly take place.

He sent
He communicated

John bore (bear) witness

Blessed he who reads, hear, heed

for the time is near: certain, approaching---can't be stopped. things must take place.

Our job? see, know, see how God delegates, bear witness, know God's Word and Jesus' testimony. read. hear. heed means be responsible for and obey. (Bob commented that heed, as in heed the warning. take note. be aware)

Jesus says: Grace to you and peace from Him who was and who is, and who is to come and from the seven spirits who are before His throne.

throne: soveriegnty, ruler, power, controls history

no accidents. no hiding. purpose, plan

What picture or description of Jesus from Revelation chapter one?

Jesus Christ

alive, revealer, obedient to the Father. giver of good gifts, authority, orderliness, Witness, One who blesses.

IS

WAS

IS TO COME

always existed, is alive, and IS COMING BACK.

Faithful

Firstborn

Ruler of the kings of the earth.

Creator, Source and Giver of GRace, peace, comfort, blessing, love, and He released us from our sins by His Blood.

His Blood: His work, physical investment of time, energy, pain, obedience. His Blood, the coin of the realm, the only thing that released us, the only way. His blood: poured out, spent. His blood carried the genetics of Adam and Eve which Jesus created, invented, and took upon Himself (like the author of the play entering onto the stage).

His blood: pictured in the sacrifice of lambs, bulls, rams, throughout the Old Testament.

Promised. Willing, able.

His blood: He used His blood to release us from our sisn and He has made us a kingdom of priests to His God and Father. His blood, as a substitute for us, as our blood is not required. Our blood is tainted, with markers of the old sin nature.

Jesus Christ: eternal, always existing, enthroned, ruler, unique: He loves us ! He released us. He is coming with the clouds. He owns, deserves, has laready glory, dominion, victory. Every eye will see Him (even the blind)! Even those who pierced Him, all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him--what a strange reaction, to mourn. Did or do we pierce Him every time we sin?

What does Jesus look like? A man. clothed in a robe reaching to His feet, with a golden breastplate, hair/head like wool and snow. Feet of burnished bronze, a voice like the sound of many waters, in His right hand: seven stars, out of His mouth: 2 edged sword. Eyes like a flame of fire, and His face was like the sun shining in its strength. His face radiates inner grace, peace, all knowing, all seeing, all power. And He says to John: Do not be afraid.

Jesus says: Do not be afraid. I am the Alpha and the Omega, who is and who was and who is to come. The Almighty. I am the first and the last and the Living one and I was dead and behold, I am alive forevermore. And I have the keys of death and of Hades. Write. Write therefore the things which you have seen and the things which are and the things which shall take place after these things.