REVELATION LESSON 4


    We will begin this lesson in Revelation chapter 1 verse 17.

    Revelation 1:17 "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:"

    In our last lesson we had seen Jesus standing in the midst of the
churches (candlesticks). His appearance was: hair white as snow, eyes
of fire, feet of brass. A very awesome figure. The majesty of His
person was overwhelming. We see here the effect that this presence had
on John.  If we were to come face to face with Jesus, this is the
effect it would have on us, as well. When anyone encounters the
presence of God, you cannot stand. Kneeling is not even enough. John
fell flat on his face at His feet. He was totally humbled by this
presence. This awesome appearance was almost too much for John.  He
appeared to be dead.

    A few years ago I was carried away in the Spirit to the throne of
God, and I, too, lay as dead at the Master's feet (so afraid). I did
not dare to look at the face of God.  I felt the presence of the Light
penetrate my skin. I was never so frightened in all of my life.  The
voice that I heard was overwhelming.  It spoke to my inner most being,
not in my ear. It was so powerful. It was like a mighty clap of
thunder. I remember very little of what was said. The one thing I do
remember was that He said, GET ON WITH IT, TIME IS RUNNING OUT. When
people tell me to have patience and wait, I have to say to them that I
cannot accept waiting.  I have to do as God told me to.

    People have difficulty bowing to God in church.  Believe me, if
you are before Him, there is no difficulty at all. He is God; we are
just people. Do not let anyone convince you that you and I are on the
level of God. It is not true.  We are now and always will be,
subordinate to Him.

    We see here that Jesus has compassion on John and reaches and
touches John with His right hand.  Just one touch from Jesus calms the
greatest fears. He reassures John when Jesus says to him, "...  Fear
not...".  Jesus is always there comforting and encouraging Christians.
    Just as Jesus said in John chapter 14:1, "Let not your heart be
troubled...".

     Fear is not of God. Peace is what Jesus brings.  We just need to
trust Him. The fear we need is of God, no one or nothing else.  The
fear of God could be better stated as reverence.  Here we see in red
Jesus speaking of Himself, "...I am the first and the last:".

    This is similar to what God told Moses when he asked God who could
he say sent him. He answered, "...I AM..." Exodus 3:14.  Am is present
tense, no beginning no end.

    The earth is the only place that there is time, as we know it.  In
 heaven there is no separation of time by light and dark.  There is
 only one eternal day. God is eternity. This is difficult for us to
 understand only because we are trapped here with a cycle of time.
 twenty-four hour day, seven day week, three hundred and sixty-five
 day year, twelve month year. Eternity cannot be understood by flesh.

    Revelation 1:18 "I [am] he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold,
I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of
death."

    Jesus is explaining here. He is the same one who took on the form
of flesh and died on the cross for our sins.  We read in Romans 10:9
what we must do to be saved, "That if thou shalt confess with thy
mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath
raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

    This is interesting. We must not only believe who He is and that
He saved us, but we must believe that He rose from the grave. You see
the hope that we have is of the resurrection. Just as he arose, we
shall arise. Jesus is eternal. His body is what died and rose again.
Jesus, when He descended into hell, took the keys of hell away from
the devil. When He arose, He did away with death. Death was the last
enemy to be done away with. The devil cannot put anyone in hell. Jesus
is the only one who can do that. Jesus has the key. No one can enter,
or exit, without Him. We will read later on how Jesus locks the devil
up for 1000 years. Jesus is the Judge. The only ones Jesus will put in
hell are the devil, the devil's angels, and those who reject Him.

    When Jesus said "...I am He that liveth...", it is life
forevermore. Jesus Christ, as the absolute living one, He has life in
Himself, He is life, He is our source of life, He has control of
everything, in heaven, earth, and hell.

    He called Lazarus' life back in him.  Jesus brought many souls out
of hell when He preached in hell.  Jesus is Life. He controls our
destiny. We choose (He controls) either heaven or hell eternally.

    Revelation 1:19 "Write the things which thou hast seen, and the
things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;"

    John is commissioned of Jesus to write these things down so that
they will be of use to all who read it. He is also telling John not to
leave anything out. Tell all that you already have seen, the things
you are seeing now, and even the future things. My grandson sings a
song "Alpha and Omega" in which John is told to write these things,
for they are faithful and true.  This is the same message here, write
it down, for it is true.

    Revelation 1:20 "The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest
in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars
are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which
thou sawest are the seven churches."

    A mystery is a hidden message.  Not for the world, but for the
church. The mystery is Jesus.  In this case it is the Truth, Word,
that is kept secret. Jesus is widely proclaimed, but few really have
the understanding or knowing of Him.

    The stars, which are angels (ministering spirits), show the Light.
Whether these are ministers in the church, or not, is hard to say.
Whoever, or whatever, they are, they spread the Light.  Jesus is the
source of this Light. He is holding and protecting these stars in His
right hand. If these are ministers of God, they have no power in
themselves. The Light that they give out comes from Him.

    This is one of the reasons that I believe preachers should be
 moved upon by the Holy Spirit of God, and receive their message for
 the church through the Spirit from God.  I do not believe that
 ministers should buy, or be sent, messages from other people to be
 used to give to the church. Jesus' Spirit is in each church, if we
are His. He knows the problem of each specific church on a given day,
and He alone knows what message needs to be brought.

    These seven candlesticks, we are told here, are the seven churches
symbolic of all churches for then and now. A candlestick is not a
light. It is the holder for the Light.  These candlesticks lift the
Light up for all to see. That is the exact purpose of the church, to
elevate the Light, Jesus. These candlesticks have to be cared for and
fueled to be able to burn.  Perhaps, the angel here symbolically means
the spirit of the church.

    The minister and the church are difficult to separate.  We know
this is speaking of the church and the ministry of the church. I
believe that the stars are ministers held in Jesus' hand.

    In the next lesson we will begin the actual letter sent to each of
the seven churches. We can see so many things in them, such as various
periods of church history.

    I believe these letters were actually written to these particular
 churches describing conditions that were going on then. A more
 important message for us to see, is the message in each of them
 dealing with the problems in our churches right now.

    We can, also, see in them the things that please God.  We know
this is extremely important for Jesus to command John to write.

    Take note of the good and bad, and examine ourselves to see where
we fall. God has promised a wonderful everlasting life if we will just
heed His warnings, and get our lives in order. Jesus is coming soon.
Be ready to meet Him in the air.

    Extra scriptures to read about God's touch are Psalms 75:10-15 and
Psalms 16:11.

    Memorize Romans 10:9


                      REVELATION QUESTIONS 4


1.  What did John do when he saw Him?
2.  What did it appear had happened to John?
3.  What did Jesus do to reassure him?
4.  John was totally ----------- by His presence.
5.  What overpowering message did the author receive from God?
6.  What message must we not let anyone convince us of?
7.  What did Jesus tell us not to do in St.  John 14:1?
8.  Fear of God is actually what?
9.  What time is it in heaven now?
10. Jesus says "I am he that liveth and was-------...".
11. What type of death was this?
12. Besides believing in Jesus, what must we do to be saved that we
    read in Romans?
13. What two things did Jesus do in hell?
14. How long will Jesus lock up the devil?
15. Who will Jesus put in hell?
16. Jesus called the life back into -----?
17. What happened when Jesus preached in hell?
18. Why did God want John to write this down?
19. Who is the mystery?
20. Who are the stars?
21. What are the seven candlesticks?
22. What do the stars do?
23. Why does the author believe we should not buy messages?
24. What is a candlestick?
25. Write Romans 10:9.
26. Write about the fears in your life that you have overcome through
    faith.