Introduction
John saw our Lord as the “Son of man” and it had been 60 years since John had last seen the Lord and now he sees Him as the glorified Son of God.
Scripture
I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
[11] Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, (bib-lee’-on) 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.
[12] And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks (lampstands);
[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.
[14] His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
[15] And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
[16] And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
[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:
[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. Revelation 1:10-18
Prayer
I. The Risen Christ
He is not in the grave like all the other gods of this world. He had victory over dead, just as he said, rose again and was seen of many as he walked among them before he ascended to his throne.
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. Revelation 1:18
II. The Reigning Christ
I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last Revelation 1:11a
Jesus is no longer the carpenter from Galilee. He is Lord of lords and King of kings.
The first time He came, He came to a crucifixion. When He comes again, he will come to a coronation.
The first time He came to a tree. The second time He will come to a throne.
The first time He wore a crown of thrones. Now He wears a diadem.
The first time He came to redeem. The second time, He will come to rule and reign!
III. The Righteous Christ
Why does the text go into detail about the color of His hare being white like wool?
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Isaiah 1:18
Jesus is no longer the suffering servant with the sins of the world upon His shoulders He is the risen Lord, exhaled on high.
IV. The Revealing Christ
John tells us in Revelation 1:14 that: His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
This means that our Lord has penetrating eyesight. When He looks at you right this moment, He knows exactly what you’re thinking.
There is nothing you can hide from the Risen Christ.
Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Hebrews 4:13
You can hide things from a watching world, but you can’t hide things from your savior.
V. The Relentless Christ
And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. Revelation 1:15
In the outer court of the tabernacle, there was a brass altar upon which the animals were sacrificed.
The fires that burned on the altar represented the anger of God against the sin.
The feet of our Lord Jesus are like moten brass glowing with the fires of God’s wrath.
Our lord is going forth to judge.
There is absolutely nothing that can stop Him (Acts 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.)
How can we know Jesus is going to judge the world?
Because God raised Him from the dead!
VI. The Regulating Christ
John said Jesus was holding seven stars in His right hand.
Do you know anyone who can hold seven stars in the palm of his hand?
Our Lord runs the universe!
Nothing is out of the control of Jesus.
The symbolic meaning of these seven stars is revealed in 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.
Our Lord has the seven churches in His hands – building them so that the gates of hell will not prevail against them Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
VII. The Revenging Christ
In His mouth is a sword – the Word of God. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Be careful how you handle the Word of God. It is a sharp. two-edged sword. That blessed blade cuts both ways – if it doesn’t bless you to save you, it will cut you and condemn you
Revelation 19:11-16
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
[12] His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
[13] And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. [14] And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
[15] And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
[16] And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
2 Thessalonians 1:7-8
And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, [8] In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Jesus is more than the Savior, He’s the judge. Sin cannot win.
VIII. The Resplendent Christ
If you were to look at Christ right now with your non-resurrected eyes, you would go blind! Just like what happen to the Apostle Paul as recorded in Acts chapter 9.
Oh how bright is the Shekinah glory of our risen lord! You dare not dream how glorious is our Great God.
None of us can describe His resplendent glory, but those of us who have been saved have experienced it.
IX. The Reassuring Christ
When John saw Jesus in all of His splendor and awesomeness – he fell at Jesus’ feet Revelation 1:17-18 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: [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.
Conclusion/Invitation
Look again at his countenance as he appeared to John;
[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.
[14] His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
[15] And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
[16] And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. Revelation 1:13-16
1. The Risen Christ
2. The Reigning Christ
3. The Righteous Christ
4. The Revealing Christ
5. The Relentless Christ
6. The Regulating Christ
7. The Revenging Christ
8. The Resplendent Christ
9. The Reassuring Christ
Do you know the characteristics of our Lord? Is he the Lord of your Life?
How do you approach the Lord? And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. Revelation 1:17a
We must approach our Lord with total reverence.
