Unity ARP

The Glory of Christ: the Alpha and Omega

Revelation 1:9-20

12/07/97

The vision which the apostle John had of Jesus that day on the lonely isle of Patmos was a lot different than the vision which the average Christian has of Christ today. At this time of year especially, many like to think of Christ as a babe lying in a manger. Many like to think of Him as meek and mild Jesus. But the vision which John saw of Christ was much different than we tend to think of Him.

I read an article this week in a Christian newspaper that spoke of the three stages of Christ’s work: 1) His work of creation, 2) His 1st coming into the world to teach, heal, die on the cross, then 3) His future work which will be when He comes again in glory to the earth. I scratched my head, and thought to myself, “So what’s Christ doing now, nothing? Does He not have a ministry now?” Sure He does - He is interceding for us at the right hand of the Father as our Great High Priest. But that is not all. Our passage this morning shows us that He is actively involved in the midst of the churches. He is present in our midst today is He not? Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst.” (NKJV)

In Revelation 1:13, John said he saw “IN THE MIDST OF THE SEVEN LAMPSTANDS ONE LIKE THE SON OF MAN.” In other words, He saw Jesus in the middle of these seven churches of Asia. Verse 20 tells us that the seven lampstands are the seven churches. He is standing among the true churches of the world today as well. Jesus said in Matthew 28:20, “and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Revelation 1:9-20 presents Jesus Christ as He is now, in the midst of His churches - He is the Alpha and Omega, and His presence is awesome to consider this morning. Let’s go through this passage verse by verse so that we can begin to grasp something of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

VERSE 9- It seems that John the aged apostle had been exiled to the barren island of Patmos. Patmos was a “small, bleak and rocky island about 10 miles long and 6 miles wide. It was a place where prisoners and undesirables were placed and forced to work in the mines.” John was put there, he said, “FOR THE WORD OF GOD AND THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST.” “In the times of the Roman emperors Nero & Domitian the Christians were confronted with the choice: Caesar or Christ. Once a year everyone in the Empire was supposed to appear before the magistrates in order to burn a pinch of incense to the godhead of Caesar, and to say: ‘Caesar is Lord.’ The only people exempt from participation were the Jews. But, by the time of John’s vision the Christians were no longer being recognized as a sect of Judaism. Thus when the Christians refused to conform to this worldly demand of loyalty they were often persecuted and killed.” (Max A. Forsythe) So John had suffered persecution as a follower of Jesus Christ, as had many other Christians in the first century A.D. He said he was a companion with them in the tribulation. He understood what they were going through. Though the book of Revelation speaks of many future events, its’ main purpose was to comfort and encourage those churches and believers who lived during that time. John gave them the most comforting assurance he could give them, that the risen Lord Jesus was powerfully and personally among them. Whatever we will go through here at Unity Presbyterian, we must always remember that we have the abiding presence of our risen, conquering Lord! Whatever you are going through personally, remember that He is with you and He said, “I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU OR FORSAKE YOU.” The purpose of this message is to show you just who it is who is with you. VERSE 10- John was “in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day”. It was the Christian Sabbath, the Lord’s Day, but John was without the opportunity to gather with God’s people in worship. Nevertheless, he was in the Spirit. To be in the Spirit means to be in communion with Him and under His power and direction. Though John was unable to gather with other believers in Christ, he still was able to enjoy the presence of God and worship by himself. His reward that day was a special revelation and vision of the risen Lord Himself. Are you in the Spirit this morning? Have you prepared your heart in prayer and Bible study this week? Have you yielded yourself to Him and come here this morning asking Him to teach you, to strengthen you and to fill you with His Spirit? It is the person who prepares his or her heart, and comes to church in the Spirit, who will truly get something out of the service. Those who are bored with church often are the one who are simply bored with God. But show me a person who is excited about knowing and loving God and I’ll show you a person who is thrilled to be in church worshiping Him! On a different note, I wonder if God is ever bored with us when we come to church and give Him sleepy, halfhearted worship? Though John was alone, he didn’t neglect to keep the Sabbath. This shows us that even if we are out of town, and even if we cannot find a Bible believing church to worship in, we should still worship God. The Lord’s Day is holy and if we seek Him on that day, we are sure to find Him. God can and will meet with you anywhere you happen to be, though it is always best to be in your own home church worshiping God with brothers and sisters in Christ. John was in the Spirit, probably praying and praising God when he heard a loud voice behind him that sounded like a trumpet. The trumpet was used in the Old Testament to assemble the people of God for worship or for war. The trumpet sound signified a note of triumph and it was used to get John’s attention. The voice said, “I AM THE ALPHA AND OMEGA, THE FIRST AND THE LAST.” The Alpha is the first word in the Greek alphabet and Omega is the last. He is one who is eternal. He was before all time and He will exist after time is no more. He opened and and He will close human history. He created the world, and He will come back to end it. He rules over all time and history. He is ruling right now. According to Dr. Philip Edgcumbe Hughes, the title Alpha and Omega “designates god’s absolute uniqueness and self-sufficiency.” In the Old Testament book of Isaiah we read these words: “BEFORE ME NO GOD WAS FORMED, NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY AFTER ME.” In Isaiah 44:6 God said, “I AM THE FIRST AND THE LAST; BESIDES ME THEIR IS NO GOD.” As you can see, Jesus is equating Himself with God. No one but Deity could utter these words about himself. Christ in this vision is none other than God Almighty. He had the first word and it is He who will have the last word, because it is He alone who has eternal sovereign existence. After Christ announced who He was to John, He commanded him to write down what he saw in a book and send it to the seven churches mentioned in verse 11.

VERSE 12 - As soon as John heard the voice, he turned to see the One speaking. The first thing he mentioned that he saw was the seven golden lampstands. In verse 20 Jesus told John that these seven golden lampstands represented the seven churches. In other words they were symbolic. Gold to represent the purity they were to have, and the light shows that the church is to let its’ light shine in the world. So, in the very first chapter of the book of Revelation, we find symbolism. This is eastern or Oriental imagery. Most of the symbols in this book find their origin in Old Testament images. Therefore, this vision of Christ which follows, is not to be taken as a literal picture to think of in our mind, or to paint in a portrait, but this description is given to teach us important truths about Christ and to communicate the glory and majesty of our Lord. What an awesome sight of Christ we have in these verses! The meaning of this vision of Christ can be summed up this way: “The holy, majestic, omniscient, authoritative, powerful Christ stands in the midst of the churches, holding their destiny in His hands. He says to them, and to us today, ‘Quit being afraid. I was dead but now am alive forever. I hold the keys of death and the grave in My hands. You shouldn’t be afraid to go to any place to which I hold the key. You may suffer as believers, but I will remain your King. I am in control of the situation!’”

VERSE 13 - In the middle of the seven lampstands John saw One like the Son of Man. He is no longer like the Son of Man who walked on the earth. He looks familiar, but He is no longer the meek and mild Jesus, but the triumphant warrior King standing in the midst of His church to defend them and conquer their enemies. He was clothed with the long robe of a Priest and the golden band or “girdle” of a king around His chest.
VERSE 15 - “HIS HEAD AND HAIR WERE WHITE LIKE WOOL, AS WHITE AS SNOW.” This corresponds to the vision in Daniel 7:9 of the Ancient of Days. Daniel had a vision of Christ and said, “I watched until the thrones were thrown up, and the Ancient of Days sat, whose robe was white as snow, and the hair of His head like the pure wool. His throne was like flames of fire.” (NKJV) This represents His eternal wisdom, the wisdom of age. White stands for His Divine purity and holiness. He was and is and will always be without sin. This One who is holy calls us to be holy. Are you seeking to live a life of purity and holiness unto the Lord? He knows whether you are seeking holiness or not. His eyes of flaming fire are even now piercing and burning their way into the innermost secrets of your heart this morning. The Bible says in Hebrews 4:13, “And there is nothing made which is not completely clear to him; there is nothing covered, but all things are open to the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” (BBE) Christ is the Lord God omniscient and he is omnipresent. He knows whether you are just a formal professor of religion, or whether you really know Him as your Lord and Savior. He knows the difference between true faith and an empty pretense of faith. You cannot hide from the flaming, fiery eyes of Jesus Christ. You may try to run and hide from Him while in this life, but a time is coming when He will return to earth and search you out and find you. Revelation 6:16 says when Jesus returns that unbelievers will say, “And they said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us and hide us from [the] face of Him sitting on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.” (NKJV) My prayer for each of you this morning would be that you catch a glimpse of His fiery eyes looking at you. The apostle Peter experience this gaze of Christ. Peter was warming himself beside the fire the night when Jesus had been betrayed and arrested. Luke 22:61&62 says, “And the Lord turned and looked on Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, Before the cock crows, you shall deny Me three times. And Peter went out and wept bitterly.” (NKJV) My prayer is that you would catch His eye and that He would melt your heart so that you would grieve over your sins. Better to see His gaze now and repent of sin than to wait until His second coming and see His eyes of wrath and vengeance when He brings swift and sudden destruction upon all who did not know Him. VERSE 15 - Verse 15 says His “FEET WERE LIKE FINE BRASS, AS IF REFINED IN A FURNACE,” Brass was the strongest known metal of that day. This represents Christ’s ability to tread down all opposition. “HIS VOICE AS THE SOUND OF MANY WATERS.” “His voice as John heard it was like a mighty waterfall. As the water of Niagara Falls is so loud that it silences all voices around, so this portrays Jesus Christ as the absolute voice of authority to which all human authority must bow.” VERSE 16 - “HE HAD IN HIS RIGHT HAND SEVEN STARS.”

In verse 20 Jesus told John that the mystery of the seven stars is that they are the “angels of the seven churches”. The word used for angel in that verse simply means “messenger”. It could be referring to the pastors of each of the seven churches. Dr. Hughes said, “Suffice it to say that the right hand is a symbol of power and that this imagery teaches that Christ is Lord of the Church.” No one, no elder, no pastor, no group of people run the church - Christ does! He is the Head. “Out of His mouth went a sharp, two-edged sword”. Again, this is battle imagery and the sword represents the Word of God. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God [is] living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to [the] dividing apart of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (NKJV) The Scripture has two sharp edges: 1) The Law and 2) the gospel. The Law of God cuts us open and lays the fatal wound to our souls because by it we are convicted of sin, and the wages of sin is death. The Gospel, on the other side, is the edge of the surgeon’s scalpel which cuts in order to heal. To all who will submit their hearts to the knife of the Great Physician, their sins will be cut away. “The Gospel cuts down the best in man, his wisdom, holiness, righteousness, and good works, in which he trusts; and the worst in man, teaching him to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts.” (Gill) The sword of the Lord hangs over your soul at this very moment. If it falls on you, will it cut with the edge of salvation or of destruction? The longer you remain in an unconverted state, the closer God’s sword of divine justice and wrath comes to bring you down into hell. Will you not repent of your sins and seek the mercy and salvation of Christ today? Psalm 2:12 says, Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish [from] the way, when His wrath is kindled in but a little time. Blessed [are] all who put their trust in Him. (NKJV) When you trust Him as your Lord and Savior then His sword will be be turned away from you and used to defend and protect you all the rest of your days on earth. John said, “AND HIS COUNTENANCE WAS LIKE THE SUN SHINING IN ITS STRENGTH.” Actually, the sun cannot compare with the brilliance of the glory of the Son of God. It was simply the brightest thing that John knew of to compare Him to. The brightness of the glory of Christ blinded the Saul of Taursus on the road to Damascus. How did this incredible vision of the Son of God impact John?

VERSE 17 - John said, “And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead.” Do you want to know something? If you saw Him as He really is, as John saw Him, you would fall at His feet as though dead too! Every encounter in the Bible that man had with God left the individual devastated, humbled and helpless before Him. Have you encountered this risen, powerful, holy God? Sometimes I wonder if some people who claim to be Christians have truly encountered the Living God. If they had, they wouldn’t be so proud - boasting about all the great things they have done. Instead, they would talk more about the great things that Christ had done for them. As John was laying half-dead before the Lord, Christ laid His right hand upon John and said, “DO NOT BE AFRAID; I AM THE FIRST AND THE LAST. I AM HE WHO LIVES, AND WAS DEAD, AND BEHOLD, I AM ALIVE FOREVERMORE. AMEN. AND I HAVE THE KEYS OF HADES AND OF DEATH.” If you are afraid as you think about standing before this mighty King and this holy Judge this morning - good. If you are not afraid, or have never been afraid of Him, then I fear for you! If you have not repented of your sins and pleaded for Christ to have mercy on you, then you ought to be afraid, because you are hanging over the pit of hell. The same One who can send you to eternal flames is the only One that can save you this morning. He says to you, “DO NOT BE AFRAID OF DYING. I HAVE DIED AND CONQUERED DEATH. I HAVE RISEN AGAIN TO GIVE YOU LIFE. I HOLD THE KEYS OF HADES, DEATH, HEAVEN AND LIFE. COME TO ME AND TRUST IN ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND I WILL OPEN THE WAY TO ETERNAL LIFE, FOR I AM THE LIFE.” Will you turn from your sins this morning and ask Christ to come into your heart to save you from your sins? Will you trust Him and Him alone to forgive you of all your sins and accept you as His child? Hear the promise of God’s Word, “THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH, BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.” “John 1:12, “But as many as received Him, He gave to them authority to become the children of God, to those who believe on His name.” (NKJV) 1John 5:11 -12 “And this is the record, that God has given to us everlasting life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (NKJV)

This entry was posted on Sunday, December 7th, 1997 at 7:51 pm and is filed under Glory of Christ Series, Sermon Text.