CHRIST AMIDST THE CANDALSTICKS

REVELATION REVEALED

YESHUA (CHRIST) AMIDST THE SEVEN CANDLESTICKS (Rev. 1:9-20)

Observe the following:- 1. John was “in the Spirit” on the Lord’s Day. This would seem to be a reference to the “Day of the Lord” rather than to Sunday. John was projected forward to the coming Day of the Lord, which includes the Lord’s Return, the Tribulation and Millennium. 2. He heard Christ saying in a “great voice as of a trumpet” “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last.” 3. John was commanded to write all that was to be revealed to him in a book and send it to the Seven* Churches in Asia. 4. John turned and saw seven* “golden candlesticks” in other words, churches. They are not of themselves the light, nor do they contain the oil which gives the light, but they are the “lamps” which contain, and are to burn the light-giving “ “oil” of the Spirit. (rev. 1:12) 5. John saw Christ glorified in their midst, with seven* “stars”, (which are the ministers or “messengers” of the seven churches) in His right hand and a sharp, two-edged sword proceeding from His Mouth – The Sword of the Spirit – God’s Word. (Tow-edged because it can cut both ways, in condemnation or justification!) 6. The Lord said, “Fear not; I am the First and the Last; I am He that liveth and was dead; and behold I am alive forevermore, Amen and have the Keys of Hell and of Death.” (Rev. 1; 17-18). 7. John was told to write of what he had seen, of the things that are (today as well as then!), and which shall be hereafter. * (Mark well in both Revelation and in Daniel the recurrence of God’s Divine Seal of Seven – the perfect number).

REVELATION REVEALED

THE LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES (Rev.2&3)

These were Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. They were actual churches in John’s time and yet when we look more closely at them, as Christ salutes each one, we see that they also REPRESENT not only Churches history, but also of Church conditions today ! In each case, Christ’s message comprised the following six points: 1) The Salutation: 2) The Commendation: 3) The Complaint: 4) The Warning: 5) The Praise; and 6) The Promise. We will not take time to consider each message in detail, but broadly we see the essence of the warning or exhortation to each: EPHESUS: - THE BACKSLIDER CHURCH. “You have lost sight of your objective, and unless you repent, I will take away what little you have in the way of Divine Blessing. SMYRNA: - THE PERSECUTED CHURCH. “Don’t be afraid of what the enemy does to you for he will certainly torment you. Be ever faithful, even to death and I’ll give you a Crown of Life.” PERGAMOS: - THE LICENTIOUS CHURCH. “You have some who are heathen and wicked in your midst. Repent: - Or I shall come quickly Myself and sort you out! You are indulging in Spiritual Fornication”! (Adopting pagan rituals and festivals into your services, lapsing into apostasy) THYATIRA: - THE EASY, LAX CHURCH. “You are going along with pernicious doctrines; you are letting bad prophets insert the leaven of false teaching into your church. If you continue to allow this, I shall see that you get your just desserts!” SARDIS: - THE DEAD CHURCH. “You are dead – alive in name only! You must hold onto what little life remains and try to fan some life back into the members – I find you most Imperfect before God. You have only the form of Godliness but no real power! Hold fast: hang onto what’s left and repent, because if you don’t watch out, I will descend upon you without warning!” PHILADELPHIA: - THE ZEALOUS CHURCH. Not one word of condemnation. “Behold, I have set before thee an open door!” LAODICEA: - THE LUKEWARM CHURCH. “You are neither ablaze with zeal, nor spiritually dead; you are too casual toward Me. You lean toward the security of wealth and money; instead of Me. Don’t you know without Me you have nothing? Repent, or I will spew you out of My mouth!”