Revelation 1: The Things Which John Saw

Revelation 1  •  7 min. read  •  grade level: 7
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“Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth” (Rev. 1:55And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (Revelation 1:5)). What wondrous titles! “Faithful witness”: witness of God for us, yet witness of the wrath of God against all sin, witness of God justifying us; in perfect righteousness. As the risen Son of God He takes His place, and title, “the first begotten from among the dead. Behold, he cometh with clouds” (Rev. 1:77Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. (Revelation 1:7)): “the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending” (Rev. 1:88I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. (Revelation 1:8)). What themes for holy contemplation! Long might we linger; and often may we, with adoring worship, thus contemplate this revelation of Jesus Christ. Hearken! John first hears a voice, and that not a whisper, but a great voice as of a trumpet. It is the Lord announcing Himself as “the first and last” (Rev. 1:1111Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. (Revelation 1:11)). Do we thus own Jesus the eternal God? He commands him to write what he sees, and send it to the seven churches of Asia. When John turned to see the voice that spoke, he saw a remarkable sight—”Seven golden candlesticks” (Rev. 1:1212And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; (Revelation 1:12)), and one like unto the Son of Man in the midst of them. Have you ever seen Jesus, the true center of the Church of God in its completeness? What is your center? Is it Jesus? If we look awhile at the Lord as thus revealed, we shall observe He is not now before us so much as a Savior, but as a Judge. But how can we look at Him in this character if we have not first known Him as the one who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood? And if washed from our sins, are we able to bear the eyes as a flame of fire, from which nothing can be hid? The servant John said, “When I saw Him, I fell at his feet as dead” (Rev. 1:1717And 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: (Revelation 1:17)). Yes, he needed to hear those words of comfort — words which took him back to the day of His resurrection — Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am He that liveth, and was dead (Rev. 1:17-1817And 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: 18I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. (Revelation 1:17‑18)). Look at this revelation of Jesus; look at Him as the Ancient of days (Dan. 7:99I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. (Daniel 7:9)) of Daniel, clothed with judicial robes, girt with divine righteousness, nothing hid from His eyes, His own walk brightest holiness, a voice that shall be heard, the right of administration in His own hands, power to execute judgment, His countenance of majesty, supremacy, and strength. This is the one to whom I now introduce you. Look at Him, and remember it is not of prophecy I now write, but to see, and hear, the revelation of Jesus Christ.
The Things That Are
Before we go on to the addresses to the seven assemblies of Asia, it will be profitable to consider Revelation 1:2020The 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. (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.” We must go to the Scriptures of truth for the Holy Spirit’s meaning of these symbols; not to the opinions or practices of men. Is not the scriptural meaning of the symbol, a star, or stars, very plain in Daniel 12:33And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. (Daniel 12:3)? “They that turn many to righteousness, as the stars forever and ever.” In this period then the seven stars would be all such as the Lord thus used in turning many to righteousness. John in his time saw these in their completeness, in the right hand of Christ the Lord. Have you thought of this? Have you seen the administration of all the gifts, at the commencement of the history of the Church, in the right hand of Christ? Concerning these gifts or stars, we read that “no man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost” (1 Cor. 12:33Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. (1 Corinthians 12:3)). “And there are differences of administrations [or ministries], but the same Lord” (1 Cor. 12:55And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. (1 Corinthians 12:5)). This subject is fully stated in 1 Corinthians 12-14. We have the same primitive fact clearly stated in Ephesians 4: “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore He saith, When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men” (Eph. 4:7-87But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Ephesians 4:7‑8)). “He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers” (Eph. 4:1111And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (Ephesians 4:11)). These are the stars: and when we think of what has taken place since as to ministry, we may say truly, “What a mystery!” Do you now see this revelation of Jesus Christ, holding in His right hand the seven stars: the risen and glorified Lord exercising the complete administration of the Church? Well, now there is another term used: the seven stars are the angels of the seven assemblies. What does this term angel mean? I know there is a common thought that this means a clergyman. But then at that time there were no clergymen. In the New Testament there is no person that answers in the least degree to a modern clergyman. There were apostles, evangelists, teachers, pastors, and elders; but no such person as a clergyman. There is not the most distant reference to a district of the world being called a parish; and a person ordained over that parish. Perhaps you say, the term angel of the Church may mean a dissenting minister, or a minister ordained over a congregation or church. But the same objection meets us as before. We find no such character in the New Testament times. Not in one single instance was there such a minister ordained over a church. Elders were ordained by apostles or their delegates; these were the recognized gifts of Christ; and those whom the Holy Spirit had made overseers, to feed the flock, the Church of God. Surely departure from this would be sin. I do not discuss the practices of men; I only state well known facts, seen and proved in the Holy Scriptures; as it is only from Scripture we can understand these symbols or words.
The Scriptures use the word angel in the sense of a representative. It was so used when Peter stood knocking at the gate; they said, “It is His angel.” So the Lord uses it when speaking of little ones, He says, “Their angels do always behold the face of My Father which is in heaven.” In this sense we shall find the Lord addressing that, or those, who represent the Church during its entire history; and we shall find it a term of great force and meaning. And now as to the symbol of the seven golden candlesticks. If we turn to the pattern of heavenly things, we find the beautiful golden candlestick, with its center shaft, and six branches, and its seven lamps, was one beaten work of pure gold — made from one talent of pure gold. Now was not this very fine, as a figure of Christ and the Church, all of one; both He that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified? The veil was on the face of Moses; and that candlestick which was in the tabernacle was still hid from the sight of men: its light never shone into the world. But now the glory of God is revealed in the face of Jesus Christ. O what ought the Church to be! “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:66For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6)). As each branch was of the same piece of pure gold — as each lamp was supplied with the same pure oil — so is the Church one with Christ, and the one Spirit dwells in each member of His body. What a witness for God should the Church as a candlestick be! All this is about to be judged, tested, by the revelation of Jesus Christ.