Jesus, the First and the Last

{Revelation 1:9-20 ESV}

I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, "Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea."

Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

[Rev. Dwight Yoo]

Who is this Jesus? (This is the passage.)

How does what we see affect what we are going through?

ver 12-13 - John sees an image of Jesus among golden lampstands. The seven churches. Seven is a number of perfection rather than an actual number. Jesus could have shown any image. What does this mean? Jesus is PRESENT among us...now.
Contextually, the church was struggling. There was persecution. Romans were killing christians. Internally there was false teachers.

In our own church, this is an encouragement to me. Our church is not being persecuted. But in our times, there are many churches closing. Christianity is not very popular. In many academic circles, being a christian is considered intellectually suicide. Our own lives have struggles personally. Our hope is not in any one person or any plan. Our hope is in Christ. He is among us and He is the caretaker and the priest of the church.

Lampstands represent the light of knowledge which gives light to the world. In those times, the priests take care of these lampstands. He is to keep the lamps lit and care for them. Jesus now does this as the head priest of the church. He keeps our lights lit. It is He who keeps the church spiritually lit and shining.

ver 14 - Jesus SEES and SPEAKS. Back then, white hair symbolized wisdom. The full head of white hair is full of infinite wisdom. The eyes were flames of fire... eyes of judgment. Nothing is hidden from Him. He sees everything. We can trick other people by pretending... but Christ sees all. He is not fooled. But not only does He see... He also speaks. His mouth is a sword that sounds like rushing waters. This is authority. He gives both encouragement as well as rebuke. He sees faithfulness... We are not condemned, but this does not mean Jesus says only nice things. Jesus also rebukes! God will also have harsh things to say to us. God also disciplines us because He loves us. He will does what is best for us, even when we want something else.

Our prayer should be like Samuel. "Speak, your servant is listening..." We should listen to God. Like the first beatitude... "Blessed are those who hear and take it to heart".

ver 16-17 - The glowing face is a CONQUEROR. The vanquishing warrior. This is Jesus. On one hand, we can say... the natural reaction of one to God is like dropping dead. Through Christ however, we can say that God comes like a Father. one who comes to us gently. You don't need to fear, because I have conquered everything... even death. God is saying something like this: "Do not fear any situations. Fear me." Consider the story of the boat in the storm. Jesus is asleep and the boat is being tossed to and fro. The disciples waken Him and Jesus wakes up. Then Jesus tells the storm to be still. And all is still. Then the disciples are afraid of Jesus... who is this Jesus. There is a healthy fear/respect for God which displaces all the other fears in our lives. Fear about our job situation. Fear about ourselves & our evil hearts. Fear about how we appear before others. Christ says... "Look at me. Don't fear what you are going through. You don't even have to fear death. I have conquered death." There is nothing to fear with a heavenly Father of such power & authority. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom." Wisdom is knowing how to handle any situation that comes up in life. When you start with seeing Christ for who He is... everything comes into perspective. We will live lives as more than conquerors as a result.

When Jesus says He is first & last. It means He created the world and will also bring the world to judgement. It also means that Jesus has been through human suffering. If you feel disowned by your father, Christ can say He has been there. The people of the church are being martyred. Jesus also says... I have been there. Not only has Jesus been through it, He has won. You will have the victory through Him. He will have the final say, the final word.