Ruling over 3 Realms. (Name of God, Name of the City of God, the New Jerusalem and Christ`s New Name. Rev.3: 12)
`He who overcomes, .....
I will write on him the name of my God,
and the name of the city of my God, th
Christ`s Holy Priests. (Pillar in God`s Temple. Rev.3: 12)
`He who overcomes,
I will make a pillar in the temple of my God,
and he shall go out no more.`
(Rev. 3: 12)
The Temple was Israel`s storehouse of national treas
Christ the Judge. (Name in Book of Life. Rev.3: 5)
`He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments,
and I will not blot out his name from the book of life,
but will confess his name before my Father and before His angels.`
(Rev. 3: 5)
Christ Appearing for Israel and the Nations. (Power over the Nations. Rev.2: 26 & 27)
The Lord`s coming for the Body of Christ is as the `Morning Star.` However when He comes to deliver Israel and bring judgment upon the nations He is described as `the Sun of Righteousness.`
`For behold the day is coming, burning like an oven,
and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble.
Christ Appearing for the Body of Christ. (The Morning Star. Rev. 2: 28)
`I will give him the morning star.` (Rev. 2: 28)
The morning star is the herald of the coming day. It is seen only by the `watchers,` or the early risers.
In the spiritual heavens, Christ is also the Bright and Morning Star.
`I am the bright and Morning Star.` (Rev. 22: 16)
He is the One whom we eagerly await. We look to H
Christ Likeness and Function. (The White Stone with our New Name. Rev.2: 17)
`To him who overcomes ...
I will give him a white stone,
and on the stone a new name written
which no one knows except him who receives it. `
Christ`s Character. (The Hidden Manna. Rev.2: 17)
`To him who overcomes i will give some of the hidden manna to eat.` (Rev. 2: 17)
`Jesus said,
“ I am the bread of life.
Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead.....
Christ`s Authority. (The Crown of Life. Rev. 2: 10)
This crown represents the authority to rule and reign with Christ. We are called of Christ to be King Priests, and then empowered with His authority. Each overcomer will also be given specific authority and responsibility for specific areas of service. These are represented by other `crowns,` which we will receive in relation to our obedience to the Holy Spirit.
Crowns – Gk. `stepho,`
Christ the Reward. (Rev. 2 & 3)
Christ`s promises of a reward to the seven churches encompass the full inheritance to every overcomer. This includes a new body, an incorruptible one that can dwell in the realms of the third heaven.
`For this corruptible must put on incorruption,
and this mortal must put on immortality...`
7. Laodicea - Man`s Purposes. (Rev. 3: 14 – 19)
Christ reveals Himself to this group as the Originator (Beginning) & the one who will Terminate all things, (Amen) plus the one who oversees all in between. It is His purposes that will prevail, not man`s.
`These things says the Amen, ......the Beginning of the creation of God.`
6. Philadelphia – Christ`s Purposes. (Rev. 3: 7 – 13)
Christ reveals His Character (Holy) & His Purposes (True) to this group of believers, and then He opens up to them His riches of wisdom & knowledge.
`These things says He who is Holy, He who is true, .....
See I have set before you an open door...`
5. Sardis - Denominations. (Rev. 3: 1 – 6)
Christ comes to this group of believers telling them He is the one with the Spirit of God & the administrative power over the Body of Christ.
“These things says He who has the 7 (fold) Spirits of God & the 7 stars.`
4. Thyatira – Idolatry & Witchcraft. (Rev. 2: 18 – 29)
Christ highlights His deity to these believers. He tells them that He is searching their motives & will judge those who are worshipping Satan.
`These things says the Son of God,
who has eyes like a flame of fire, & His feet like fine brass;`
3. Pergamos – False Doctrines. (Rev. 2: 12 – 17)
Christ is revealed to these believers, as their judge, with the authority of His Word.
`He who has the sharp two-edged sword.` (Rev. 2: 12)
He commends them for professing His name & not denying their faith in Him. However, in their midst are those teaching wrong doctrine.
The Doctrine of Balaam – Worldly (2 Peter 12 – 22)
2. Smyrna – Persecution (Rev. 2: 8 – 11)
Christ is not only the Commencer and Consummator of life as the First and Last, but also the conqueror of death. Where death reigns as the enemy`s power, all mankind are held in bondage. But Christ is the Originator of life as the First and the Overseer as the Last. He is also the Overcomer who was dead and is alive. So He presents Himself as the prevailing Victor that He may make His people victo
Christ`s Counsel to the Body of Christ. (Rev. 2 & 3)
We will now look at the Lord dealing with each of the 7 groups. He encourages & comforts, or warns & exposes error, while revealing Himself afresh to each group as the answer to their problem. If we are a part of the Body of Christ then even today we are to heed what the Spirit is saying.
1. Ephesus – Division. (Rev. 2: 1 – 7)
Christ re
The 7 Stages of the Body of Christ. (Rev. 2 & 3)
The Lord Jesus Christ, the Head, has planned & is now building together the Body. The 7 cities, Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea, represent this Body at different stages throughout the past two centuries. It is a complete overview, beginning at Pentecost & finally culminating when the Body will be `caught away,` to its eternal setting in glory.
Christ the Competent Administrator.
The Lord Jesus Christ, the founder and perfector of the Church is now shown as its competent Administrator. He is shown walking amongst the seven golden lampstands. Each lampstand fitted on to a common base representing the complete Church, the Body of Christ. The number seven in Hebrew means complete.
Thus looking back through history we can see that these seven churches are an overview, showing the entire histor
The Apostle John was overcome by this wondrous vision of the Lord Jesus and collapsed at His feet as dead. The blinding sight of Christ`s glory, His concentrated gaze and the terrible sword protruding from the mouth all made John`s heart tremble & become terror stricken. But the Lord lays His hand upon him and reassures him that He has all things under His command.
As the `First,` Christ is the creator of all things visible & invisible, and as the `Last,` He finishes all thi
The glorified Lord Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father `far above all principality and power, and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.` (Eph. 1: 20 & 21)
His Authority
`His voice as the sound of many waters;
He had in His right hand seven stars,
His Counsel.
`His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow,
And His eyes like aflame of fire;
His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace,....`
(Rev. 1: 14 & 15)
The whiteness of His hea
Christ the Royal High Priest.
The details of this vision of the Lord draws upon the imagery of the High Priest ministering in the temple. However this is but a shadow of the true minister of the sanctuary in the heavenlies – the Lord Jesus Christ. (Heb. 8: 1 & 2)
His Character.
`like the Son of Man,
clothed with a garment down to the feet
Christ the Head of the Body.
As the Spirit of God begins to unfold to us the manifold glory of Christ He draws from all the wonders that we see – life, nature, scripture, heaven, the beauties of colour, fruits, jewels and radiant light. Yet these are but representations of the wondrous glory and splendour of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The first vision of Christ is His Pre-eminent position as the Royal High Priest, the Head of the Body of Christ. We are given a full v
Christ`s Signature
Christ would now have us to see His eternal attributes. This is His Deity that was hidden behind the `veil` of His flesh while on earth. He is the all- knowing, all powerful One throughout time & eternity. The `I am.`
“I am the Alpha & Omega, the beginning & the End,” says the Lord,
“who is & who was & who is to come, the Almighty”
The 3 Groups of People.
The Apostle John now gives a hymn of praise to the Lord, bringing out the three different groups that Christ is dealing with – the Body of Christ, Israel & the Nations. Throughout the book of Revelation we will see how the Lord deals with each group & what their outcome will be.
1. The Body of Christ.
John gives praise to our Lord Jesus Christ, for it is He who loves us & gave His life for us.
He has made us kings & prie
