A thorough study of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show his servants things which must shortly come to pass. (Rev. 1:1)
Welcome to our study of the Revelation of Jesus Christ given unto Apostle John.
I am Phillip Smith, your host and fellow servant of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
We have seen Jesus is in the midst of all congregations of the ‘church’; body of Christ. Each congregation and all members of the body are represented by the seven candles on the candlestick.
We have seen the ‘seven churches’ representing seven congregations to whom John was to send a copy of this Revelation. However, the ‘seven’ congregations represent the attitudes and behaviors of their members, or the attitudes and behaviors of all individual members of the ‘body of Christ’. All congregations, wherever they are found on the earth, will show signs of having one or more of these different attitudes or behaviors within them. These attitudes make up every good or bad attitude of the entire body of Christ in any location.
We realize there are not Seven Churches but only one church. Jesus Christ is the Head of His church which is the members of the body; not the congregational locations. Therefore, the attitudes of a general location can have within it one or more of these behaviors whether good or bad. Each congregation will be known for their individual attitude or behavior. And, Jesus is in the midst of each congregation.
Matthew 18:20 King James Version 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Rev. 1:12-13. I saw seven golden candlesticks; 13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. Vs. 20. 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.
Once again we are reminded the ‘seven’ represents complete, whole, perfection. With a multitude of congregations around the earth, Jesus has an angel to represent and be a messenger for each congregation. Jesus is in the midst of each congregation. There are and were not just seven congregations when John wrote these congregations. Apostle Paul had started many congregations of which we know some of their names; they were other than these.
Let us look into the closing phrase Jesus spoke to each congregation.
Rev. 2:7. 7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;
Rev. 2:11. 11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;
Rev. 2:17. 17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;
Rev. 2:29. 29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Rev. 3:6. 6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Rev. 3:13. 13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Rev. 3:22. 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Jesus spoke the same phrase to each congregation. Why?
Jesus wanted each congregation to hear the Spirit; not man. Only the Holy Spirit of God, which dwells within each righteous member, who makes up the congregations of the Lord’s church in every location, has the ability to hear–truly understand Spiritual matters. Jesus wants each member to truly understand the Spirit as it speaks unto them and teaches them everything they need in this life to be righteous.
John 14:16 King James Version 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
John 14:26 King James Version 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Acts 2:38 King James Version 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
The Holy Ghost; the very same as the Comforter. He is the very same who is the gift from the Father unto each believer who is baptized for the remission of their sins.
John 16:7 King James Version 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
This Revelation unto the ‘church’, all of it, being written in Spiritual language, is of Spirit nature. To an unbeliever it cannot be understood. These congregations understood this. To them it was told to ‘hear what the Spirit says to the churches’. It is therefore a Spiritual message and is to be understood by the righteous by the means of the Spirit.
‘Seven’ to the ones receiving the revelation of Jesus Christ by John meant it was a message–Spiritual message–unto all members of the ‘body’, the ‘Church’.
Does it require more understanding? You did the exercise trying to recognize spirit. How did you do recognizing the spirit nature?
It needs a lesson in ‘Parables’. Man requires an identifier to recognize physical things. To recognize Spiritual things, one needs a likeness from the physical world, also. Therefore, Jesus uses spirit language and provides physical identifiers for our understanding.
We need to find, in scripture, these spirit identifiers and memorize them. With them, we can begin to understand the teachings Jesus offers to each and every congregation where a righteous soul may be found. The recipients of the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John quickly recognized this and immediately understood.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
As we continue the study of Revelation, let us hear what the Spirit says to us as a member of the church, the body and bride of Christ.
Now let us turn to chapter 4.
Rev. 4:1. 4 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
The letter to be given unto each of the named congregations is a means to release this Revelation to the body of Christ. As we understand the term ‘seven’ to mean complete, and whole, we recognize it to be for us today, also. Notice what is said here:
After this–following the command of Christ for John to write down what he hears and sees, and to have it delivered to the ‘seven’ churches or congregations named, John, in the spirit, sees Heaven opened for his viewing.
A voice speaks unto him to enter Heaven
The forecast of ‘things which must be hereafter’ is given.
There is no indication of an end to the things to be seen at this time
Indicating all things to be hereafter–until the end
Rev. 4:2-3. 2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
John, in the spirit, witnesses the Throne of the Most High. he sees one sitting upon this throne. It is God by the descriptions of the things surrounding the throne.
With all scripture speaking of the fear the people had of seeing God face-to-face, it is probable John did not see God face-to-face here but an image of the most powerful creator. He is described as looking like jasper and a sardine stone–most beautiful gems. A rainbow surrounded the throne, looking like the glow of an emerald. No doubt, John saw the radiance of the living God.
Rev. 4:4. 4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
Four and twenty–24; twelve (12) times (x) two (2)
What do we identify with twelve? Twelve children of Jacob (12 Tribes) and twelve Apostles. Twelve, here, identifies with those belonging to God and Jesus. The twelve Tribes of Israel–Jacob, surnamed–are the Children of God. and, the twelve Apostles are the chosen of Jesus. ‘Twelve’ belongs to God.
‘Twelve’ is a descriptor to remember–they belong to God.
These two ‘twelves’ are on individual thrones and this signifies twenty four judges. They have been redeemed to judge their respective people of their respective dispensations. (clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold) The Mosaical Dispensation lived under a different set of standards than the Christian Dispensation. The Law for each is slightly different; thus a different judgment.
Rev. 4:5. 5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
‘Lightnings, thunderings and voices’–activities. As the world stands, there will be activities happening around the throne as angels, being ministering spirits, come and go, delivering messages to and from the Throne of God. John does not say he comprehended these voices and activities but that he witnessed them.
The ‘seven’ Spirits of God–Spirits in caps–’seven’ which once again represents complete and whole, along with the identifier, Spirits (capitalized) belonging to God. All of the Holy Spirit of God in all its manifest manners of observation are around the throne.
Ezekiel gave a description of the Spirits of God; written in his respective observation and description. (Ezekiel 1)
Rev. 4:6-8. Here John gives his description of the Spirits of God around the throne.
6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. 7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. 8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
In comparison of John’s description and Ezekiels, we see similarities and small differences, depending on their respective observation of these Spirits. (all the Spirits of God)
Upon the appearance of glass, reflecting the Glory of the one sitting upon the Throne, these Spirits, filled with eyes before and behind are able to see everything and miss nothing. God, with the aid of His Spirit, is omnipresent–present everywhere at all times. Thus the descriptions of eyes before and behind.
Each description of the Spirit as visualized on all sides is indicated by different physical attributes we as humans can identify with. Each is a representation of differing power and strength; differing abilities and purpose. Each of the four beasts had six wings to move in any given direction at any moment’s notice. The beasts were in constant lookout over the universe all the time; they rested not day nor night.
Lord, God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come–God is forever. He made the universe, He is alive today, and He will live for eternity. (vs. 9)
Rev. 4:9-11. 9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
John identifies the one who sat on the throne–He who liveth forever and ever–God.
When the Spirits of God glorify God, the twenty-four elders bow in reverence to God and worship Him. Their reverence includes casting off their crowns, signifying subordination to the all mighty and powerful creator of the universe–God.
We today need to be honoring God in a like manner; casting off our pride and believed position over others and saying only God is worthy of praise because He made all things for His pleasure.
