Wednesday, June 7, 2023

Look to Jesus - Chapter Two


by Michael C. Garrett


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Your Church Shouldn’t Be the Focus


I hope that we can talk to you today about some things that are interesting to you – that are educational. Hopefully inspiring. That you can take great heart about what we read about from the Bible. And think – that’s fantastic! And we’re going to continue today what we began in chapter one. Look to JESUS. And this comes from Hebrews 12:2, “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, …”

What we are trying to point out is: the religion of God’s living word focuses totally and completely upon Jesus Christ. There’s a whole lot of people who go to a church – all different types of churches; Muslims as they go into their mosques; or Jewish people as they go into their synagogues or temples; Protestants of all types, there’re hundreds of different Protestant churches. We are talking about Catholics, and also people of whom I have once known and been with. This is across the board. Any religious flavor that you might come up with. They all teach that they’re correct. Now, isn’t this ironic!? Surely all of you have thought about that. How is it that the Catholics say they’re right, the Baptists say that they’re right, the Pentecostals say they’re right, and the Methodists believe that they’re right – just go down the list. They’re always correct, their group, their church, their minister, their church leader – by whatever title he goes by. I guess it’s a form of self-preservation. Surely, if the minister got up at the podium and said, “Well, we’re so glad you’re here today. And some of you drove fifteen miles, and just a mile down the road from where you live there’s another church. A different denomination, but, from now on save some gas and go there.” Well, he’d be cutting his own throat – as it were. His congregation would all of a sudden dwindle down to nothing. And then he wouldn’t have any tithes coming in, and so he and his family wouldn’t have any money. And, all of a sudden he’s out of a job! So these churches want to keep everyone with them.

Now, ever-so-often you get these hard-core groups that want to throw people out of the church. I once knew of a group that had to make a big scene about marking people. That’s what they called it. And that meant that the person couldn’t come back to services – and it also meant that everyone in that church congregation must turn their back on the person they used to call their friend. Now, some of these people have an odd definition of friendship. Friendship should be eternal. The LORD God’s love is eternal. God doesn’t look down upon us and one week say, ‘Well, I love you today, but tomorrow I hate you!’ The LORD God does not turn Their back on people! The truth of the matter is: people get themselves twisted in their minds – for some reason – and end up turning their backs on the LORD God! And I’m sure that if you’ve been around a church setting you’ve probably known people who at one time professed to be “true believers,” and then life goes on a few months or years and they never darken the door of that church building again. Here I just used the word church but I added the word building. A lot of people think that the church is a building. Now, if you were out in the desert camping – could you have church!? The answer is yes. In the Book of Acts, it speaks of the “church in the wilderness.” Referring to the children of Israel as they wandered through the desert of Sinai. The word church comes from the Greek word ekklēsia which means an assembly; a group of people gathered together. A body of people who have been called out to be different than the rest of the world. So, you don’t need a building to have a church or church service. Our Lord Jesus Christ says, “’ For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I AM there in the midst of them’” – Matthew 18:20. And if you think about it – if our Lord Jesus is there in Spirit, and if God the Father is there in Spirit, just one person could have a church service. If that person is dedicated to the Word of God, the Truth of God, and the Plan of God.

Jesus Christ is the focus of everything in the Bible.

God’s living word talks about the Holy Days. Some are in the spring and early summer, and some are in the fall. All of the Holy Days are Christocentric. Meaning they are centered in some way around CHRIST. A lot of people just simply don’t know that.

What I’m trying to get to in this series of sermons is to point out to you that your church should not be the focus of your religious life. And this goes contrary to almost everyone who thinks about going to church, or who is a member of a “church.” Their life focuses on being at the church services – maybe there is Sunday school before church. Maybe there is a Wednesday evening get-together – like a Bible study. They might have a church dance on the weekend. Or a church picnic. Or they might all meet at a restaurant and have a church meal together or a potluck. So, all of their so-called religious experiences revolve around this organization which is called a church. And they think – well, if I go to church, or Sunday school, or I show up at the church bingo, or attend the church dinner. Then I’m in good with God! And yet, as I said in chapter one, all of that has nothing to do with the religion of the Bible! What is presented to you in God’s living word is: we, as humble servants of God, focus EVERYTHING upon Jesus Christ. And we look to Jesus Christ for everything that we have – and everything of which we someday hope to have. Speaking about eternal life.

Hebrews 12:2 – “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.”

Now, there are some places in God’s living word that give Jesus Christ the complete preeminence. That describes Jesus as being at the top of our thinking! Top priority. If you would, turn to the Book of Revelation.

Now, to be more factual – for some 1,992 years, most people don’t have a clue what the Book of Revelation is even talking about. I recently spoke to someone who told me how excited he was because his church minister was going through a series on the Book of Revelation. And he believed that he was learning a great deal! Certainly, what that so-called minister was attempting to speak on wasn’t even close to the real message of the Book of Revelation! Now, I will admit that in my younger years, a lot of the Book of Revelation was confusing to me. I don’t think that the Book of Revelation was meant to be understood for a large part of human history. But now at this time, I think the Book of Revelation is meant by Jesus Christ to be understood. Most of it is prophecy which is soon going to happen!

Or, as it says in verse 1 of chapter 1 – “ … to show His servants ─ things which must shortly take place.” As I said, I don’t think 1,992 years ago people were meant to understand the Book of Revelation. But, at this time, in this present evil age, I think people NEED to begin understanding it. Because these events portrayed in the Book of Revelation are going to have a direct bearing on anyone and everyone who is alive! That means you, your family members, your loved ones, your co-workers. Everyone you know! Your town, your state, your nation! But, in this part, I just want to cover chapter one of the Book of Revelation. And point out – that even in the very first chapter, Jesus Christ is placed upon the highest pedestal. I think every writer in the New Testament – one of their main themes – was to elevate the preeminence of Jesus Christ.

Now, I know of at least one organization – headquartered down in the eastern part of the state of Texas – where the leader of that group is loath to even say the name JESUS. And I just don’t understand that! I don’t understand why he’s in that mindset. Because he is setting himself up for utter destruction! Along with the people who follow him like brain-dead sheep. They’re being set up for utter and complete destruction. And I hate to even contemplate that. They will no longer have any communication with me because I will not walk in lockstep looking at the back of his head as my leader. I told his father at one time, who is no longer with us, “I’ll walk with you shoulder to shoulder, and I will take on the enemies that appear before you using whatever means is necessary – if that be words, thoughts, ideas, or weapons. I’ll be there with you. But I will NEVER walk blindly behind you staring at the back of your head!” And at the end of this conversation, he said, “Mike, that’s the way it’s supposed to be!” And I said, “Well, I know it! And, apparently, you know it! – but there are a great many people who attend your organization who don’t know that!” They in fact worship him. Remembering a verse we mentioned in part one from Exodus 20 or Deuteronomy 5 – “’ You shall have no other gods before Me.’” Including a church leader! And there are a whole plethora of churches that do that! Just think of the alliance that the Catholics have with the pope. Or like in the nation of Iran – called Persia in the Bible – they have their Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The Mormons have their Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and then they have their top-ranking leader – by whatever title they place upon him. And they think just as the Catholics – when their leader speaks it’s like it’s coming straight from God. And they are in grave error when they do this – badly! Well, if you want to hear the voice of the LORD God, the words of the LORD God, and the ideas of the LORD God, open your Bible and read it – study it! Don’t read it like a novel. But study it like God tells us in the Book of Isaiah, “’ For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little’” – Isaiah 28:10.

Choose a subject. Like, What is the proper day of worship!? Most people presume it means Sunday. The Muslims think it means Friday. And yet, God’s living word – the Holy Bible – says it’s the day we call Saturday. The seventh day of the week. The weekly Sabbath – which is the Hebrew word šabbāt, which means the seventh day of the week in the Hebrew calendar (modern Saturday) with a focus on this day as a day of rest and worship.

So, the Book of Revelation – the Greek word is apokalypsis. In English, Apocalypse. You certainly hear a lot of people throw that word around. And they think it means the end of the world. They will often announce with verbal abuse, “THE APOCALYPSE IS COMING!” Friends, the world isn’t going away now, or a thousand years from now! This place we call Earth is so important – that a few years down the road, and we can’t tell you just how many – the very thrones of God Almighty and Jesus Christ are coming to the Earth! To reside upon the Earth! And this is another truth of the LORD God that so many religions – with even the Muslims having their concept of “going to paradise” or their “garden of pleasure” and receiving their 72 virgins – including the Catholics and the Protestants of all types. If you were to ask them, “Why are you doing these religious things!?” They would probably end up telling you, “Well, I want to go to heaven.” Yet, all those who have died before us are but dead. They haven’t gone to heaven! Because, “’ No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is the Son of Man who is in heaven’” – John 3:13. How many of you believe that!? This is a quote directly from the Lord our God – the King of kings and the Lord of lords! Speaking to all of us! He says, “’ No one has ascended to heaven.’” Now, is there any ambiguity in this statement!? And yet, this Sunday, millions of people will go to church – thinking that they are doing what God wants them to do – yet, how many times will it be said telling the people that they’re going to heaven!? It’s not true. We are not going off to heaven – and nobody has gone off to heaven, and nobody will go off to heaven!

But someday ─ here is a part of the gospel, the good news, the kingdom of God, the throne of the LORD God, is coming to the Earth! “’ Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit THE EARTH’” – Matthew 5:5. He did not say that they would inherit heaven. It’s nowhere in the Bible! Yet, generation after generation – a child grows up in a church that his grandparents and parents went to, and he is taught, “Well, you’re going up to heaven!” So, he grows up believing that he’s going off to heaven. This same child when he gets older might become a minister himself, and he’ll get up behind the pull pit (as they say down south) and he’ll tell the people in his congregation, “You’re going to heaven!” And it’s not true! We hate to call that person a liar. Because to truly be called a liar you must be telling untruths knowing that you are telling untruths. The majority of them, when they get up behind the pull pit, they probably truly believe they’re going off to heaven! Glance at the obituary section of your newspaper. Every day there will be multiple people who have died, and in many of the notices of the people provided by the family members, it reads as an example – ‘and Josephine left the earth and is now back at home with the Lord in heaven.’ They announce it in different ways. And I know that people want to believe that their loved one is in heaven. Because they think that is the ultimate prize. But that is not where they are – and it’s not where they’re going. “’ No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is the Son of Man who is in heaven’” – John 3:13.

Except JESUS CHRIST!

In fact, there is a passage – which is also in the Book of Revelation.

TO JESUS BE THE GLORY

Revelation 4, beginning in verse 2 – “Immediately I was in the Spirit; …”

The Apostle John is saying, ‘I was given understanding far beyond my earthly state.’ He was being guided by the Spirit of God to see things that other people could not see – looking into the future.

“ … and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. 3) And He who sat there was like a jasper [reddish brown in color] and a sardius stone [like a carnelian; a brownish-red mineral commonly used as a semi-precious gemstone] in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald [green in color].” Rich, beautiful, and fantastic colors!

Verse 4 – “Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders …”

And these are very special angelic beings – high-ranking angelic beings. 1

And their job, probably, is to have conversations with the LORD God. They might ask them a question and their job – to the best of their ability – is to give an answer.

“ … sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.” – again, very important beings who hold a tremendous amount of responsibility.

Verse 5 – “And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, …” – very poetic language – speaking about seven very special angels. Who has a very special role. And their mission is often referred to in this Book of Revelation. “ … which are the seven Spirits of God.”

These are highly chosen angelic beings that have a very important end-time mission which the Book of Revelation often speaks about.

Verse 6 – “Before the throne, there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures …” – the Authorized Version, the King James Version renders this “beasts.” A terrible translation! A much better translation is “living creatures.” These too are super angelic beings. “ … full of eyes in front and in back.”

So, one of their characteristics is that they have a lot of eyes – they can see things very well. And I’m sure they also help advise God the Father and Jesus Christ. And we can think: there are upon the earth right now some 8 Billion people. There are a whole lot of things happening all around the earth, and it’s possible that God the Father and Jesus Christ have chosen to have these special beings right at the thrones of the LORD God, which have assignments. Telling them, ‘Look over the things which are happening in the United States of America, or in Russia, or Iran. And report back.’ Now, we are just surmising.

It goes on to talk about just what these four living creatures look like. One was like a lion in verse 7. I add here that domesticated cats have the face of a lion – and vice versa. The second living creature was like a calf. Or a bovine – an animal related to or resembling cattle, such as cows, oxen, or buffalo. The third living creature had a face like a man. And the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. And, if you’ve ever looked into the face of an eagle, they have this presence about them. Those piercing eyes.

Verse 8 – “The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: ‘Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!’”

Now, just what does that mean!? The One we call Jesus Christ, for all intents and purposes, is the God of the Old Testament! When the Prophet Moses was interacting with God, he was interacting with the being which would be eventually Jesus Christ. When Patriarch Abraham was interacting with God, he was interacting with the being which would be eventually Jesus Christ. He once was. And He is now – sitting at the right hand of God the Father at the throne of God. And is to come. This same being, who dealt with Adam and Eve, Moses, Abraham, and all the different prophets of God, who became Jesus Christ, and then was horribly tortured and sacrificed, returning back to the throne of God – is coming again to this Earth. And He is not doing a fly-by – like the people who talk about the false notion of the Rapture. The Rapture is not a correct biblical concept! In fact, the concept isn’t even that old. To our knowledge, the concept began in the early 1900s. And it caught on with a great many religious groups. There are some groups that will not have a thing to do with the concept of the Rapture – such as the Catholics. And, to that extent, they are correct. Our Lord Jesus Christ isn’t just going to swoop by in this giant yellow bus and gather up people! He is coming back to the Earth. Remember, the gospel – the good news – that Jesus Christ is going to be King of kings and Lord of lords and is our Savior! “And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives” – which is in Jerusalem. And when He does – with the blowing of the SEVENTH TRUMP – all the people, past, present, and future, whose names are written in the Book of Life, will be changed from mortal (or from dead) to being spiritually alive forever! This is the resurrection. And, it’s not going off to heaven. It will take place upon the earth, and once they’re changed into living beings – eternal beings – members of the family of God, they will live for eternity as a part of the kingdom of God.

This is the TRUE MESSAGE OF GOD’S LIVING WORD!

We’re here to tell you – that if you hear us say this, directly from the living word of God, it is true. It is certain. It is factual. It is bedrock truth. Truly, in the history of mankind – with a guesstimate of some 117 billion people – have been deceived (cf. 2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 12:9) in believing a false gospel! They believe in FAKE NEWS! The word gospel in Greek is euangelion, meaning good news. But the overwhelming majority of people believe in a false gospel. And this false gospel is being taught to them by false ministers, false priests, or false prophets who are a part of false churches. And you can certainly say to yourself – look at the multiple millions of people who believe one idea, and here you are and your affiliated churches – tiny voices shouting out in the wilderness – that all of these religious things I believe are nothing more than spiritual fairy tales! But, you don’t have to believe us. Believe your Bible!

Verse 9 – “Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10) the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:

‘You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, …”

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Creator God! He was called by a different name back then. But, in this scene which we are reading here, the super archangels of God – these fantastic beings; the twenty-four elders – fall down before Him and they worship Him! They praise Him! And I’m sure at times they sing songs to Him! Speaking about a heavenly choir.

Returning back to the Book of Revelation chapter 1.

Verse 4 – “ … from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before the throne.”

These seven Spirits are special angelic beings that have a lot of mention within the Book of Revelation.

Verse 5 – “ … and has made us …” – or rather, will make us. The verb tense, sometimes, is not correct because the people who actually did the translating didn’t understand completely what was going on. They often times messed up the tense of the verb. So, “has made us [or, will make us] kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

The Apostle John was inspired to write these words which are worshipful towards Jesus!

IT’S ALL ABOUT JESUS!

It’s not a church. It’s not an organization. It’s not some ecclesiastical title – like pope or imam, or priest, preacher, or pastor. That is not where your attention should be! Your focus should be, your worship should be, OF JESUS CHRIST! Because of Him, you have the opportunity to have your sins removed – and every one of us has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God! Without the intervention of Jesus Christ and His shed blood, every one of us would deserve the death penalty! And would indeed receive the death penalty! But because of Jesus Christ, because of what He did – that heroic and brave thing which He did – allowing Himself to be tortured to death. Now, He could have easily stopped it! Remember, when the Roman soldiers came to arrest Him, He could have called upon His angels – a whole legion of angels – and those soldiers and those of the temple elite would have been eviscerated and lying bleeding on the ground, and our Lord Jesus could have just walked away. But, He knew we had to have a Savior. He had to be the sacrifice. He allowed that to happen, and He suffered a horrible death. And He did this because of His love – humans. And because of what He did all of us – except for just a small few – will have the opportunity to receive the Spirit of God, and someday to graduate into the family of God. I like to use that word graduate. And for all of us, our diploma will be an invitation to eternal life in the kingdom of God. Now, it won’t happen to everybody at the same time. It will happen to one group of people, and then later on down the road, it will happen to another group of people. – cf. 1 Corinthians 15:23. Most people don’t understand that.

Revelation 1:5 – “ … has made us [or, will make us] kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

It’s the only hope we have!

Verse 7 – “Behold, He is [or will come] …” – again the verb tense. It’s not always perfectly accurate. “ … coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.”

They will be frightened to death! And, do you know what Jesus Christ will be perceived as!? He will be perceived as an alien from outer space! We are amazed at how many television programs are obsessed with UFOs and alien creatures! And, since the 1950s people have been primed to believe that there is some type of alien life in outer space that’s going to come and invade the earth. Well, guess what! There is! But, They aren’t little Martians or ETs! It’s God the Father and Jesus Christ and the holy angels. They are going to invade the earth! They are going to put down all rebellion and all militaries. They are going to establish in Jerusalem the City of God! New Jerusalem.

God’s living word speaks of the word Armageddon. The word Armageddon comes from the word – from the Book of Revelation – in Greek Harmagedōn, meaning Mount Megiddo or Tel Megiddo. Megiddo is a plain about 86 miles north of Jerusalem where someday millions of military personnel will gather. They will have been fighting each other for dominance, and then they turn their attention to this returning “alien.” Armageddon is actually talking about a time when God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ will return to the Earth! And these misplaced humans are trying to destroy Jesus Christ. They won’t succeed. And they indeed will be destroyed. But, in the aftermath of that terrible calamity, Jesus Christ will begin setting up the kingdom of God! And, somewhere within there, the first group of saints are resurrected and they join Jesus Christ as members of the family of God for all eternity.

Verse 8 – “’ I AM the Alpha and the Omega, …’” – Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet. And Omega is the 24th and final letter in the Greek alphabet. The beginning and the end – everything in between. “ … ‘ the Beginning and the End,’ says the Lord, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.’” – Again, the same thing we read up in verse 4.

Nowhere in God’s living word does it say that we are going up to heaven! And, it’s nothing like the song that Billy Graham used all the time, “Just As I Am.” The song appeared to have a hypnotic effect on the crowd, and they walked down the aisle and stood before their god. Billy Graham. They weren’t standing before Jesus Christ! Now, some of you might be offended by that remark. But, just be honest. Who were they worshiping!? Who were they following!? To whom were they listening!? We have no hatred against Billy Graham. But, he wasn’t right. He had a false gospel message. And he was a false prophet.

So, right here, our Lord Jesus Christ is referred to in the Book of Revelation as the Almighty! I know we normally reserve that name or title to God the Father. But, when it comes to the Plan of Salvation Jesus Christ is the supreme being! Now, God the Father is in complete support of what He is doing, and He’s there working with Him – but our focus, “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.”

Verse 9 – “I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos …”

The Apostle John had been exiled there by the Roman government in approximately AD 95 during the reign of Emperor Domitian because they despised what he was proclaiming. John was probably in his 90s when he wrote the Book of Revelation.

Why was he exiled to the island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea!?

“ … for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

All of the writers of the New Testament glorify, magnify, praise, and worship JESUS CHRIST!

Verse 10 – “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, …”

Sadly, a great many people – especially the Protestants – take this verse and say, ‘Oh, he was on Sunday!’ No. The Lord’s Day can just as well be translated Day of the Lord. And this is what the Book of Revelation is talking about – the Day of the Lord! Meaning that time period near the end of this present evil age is when God Almighty and Jesus Christ return to the Earth while there is complete chaos and bedlam upon the Earth! “’ For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.’” And millions and millions of people die from warfare, famines, pestilences, and naturally occurring catastrophes like massive earthquakes, erupting volcanoes, tsunamis, along with asteroids striking the earth! A fearful and dreadful thing!

But, if you have the LORD God’s Spirit and divine protection you will be protected! Except for a very small handful of people – and this is our term; not a biblical term, yet it is described over and over – the end-time prophets.

There will be a collection of prophets in the end time that carries an end-time message to the governments and the leaders of this world. And they will all be with one accord – ‘Jesus Christ is returning and your dominance will be destroyed!’ And all but two prophets are martyred in the service of the LORD God. And the two that remain – God’s living word calls the Two Witnesses. And in the end, they too will be murdered! Only to be brought back to life! And we believe that these Two Witnesses will be the first people who are resurrected and allowed to have a personal meeting with Jesus Christ and God the Father! This brings tears to our eyes – this very concept.

Verse 11 – “saying, ‘I AM the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,’ and ‘What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia …’” – which was called Asia Minor or Turkey today. “ … ‘to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.’”

So, chapters 2 & 3 in the Book of Revelation have messages for all of these church groups in these towns or cities in ancient Turkey.

Verse 12 – “Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands.”

So, here we go back to these seven special angelic beings who have a powerful job in the end time. 2 Their mission is spoken of more as you go through the Book of Revelation.

Verse 13 – “and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, …” – meaning, our Lord Jesus Christ. “ … clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 14) His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire.”

When Jesus Christ puts on the Ritz, He is an awesome looking being! In fact, so awesome that the Apostle John fell at His feet as dead.

Verse 15 – “His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters.”

Think about the deafening sound of Niagara Falls! The constant roar.

Verse 16 – “He had in His right hand seven stars, and out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, …”

Meaning, His commands.

“ … and His countenance was like the sun shining in its full strength.”

If one were to gaze upon the sun very long it can easily lead to solar retinopathy, pterygium, cataracts, and eventual blindness. The awesome countenance of Jesus!

Now, He doesn’t always appear this way. There are times when He has appeared just as a human being. But, in His glorified state, His countenance is awesome!

Verse 17 – “And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, ‘Do not be afraid; I AM the First and the Last.’”

Again, phrases that describe to you – from God’s living word – of just how great and magnificent Jesus truly is!

Verse 18 – “’ I AM He who lives, and was dead, …’”

I was once down in the eastern part of the state of Texas, speaking before this group, and the title of that sermon was also “Look to Jesus.” And, that sermon was never published. But, after that sermon, the two top-ranking leaders came up and said, “Well Mike, you said that Jesus was dead!” I said to them, “Were you not listening!?” Again, “’ I AM He who lives, and was dead.’” Our Lord Jesus Christ says that for three days and for three nights He was dead! Dead as a doornail. He was as dead as Earth's Moon - conventional wisdom says the Moon is dead. And they didn’t understand that!? These are the two top-ranking leaders of that organization. And I thought – how biblically illiterate are you!? And I had read this very verse! Thank you Father God and Lord Jesus for rescuing me from that den of vipers!

“ … ‘and behold, I AM alive forevermore. Amen. …’”

“ … ‘ And I have the keys of Hades [the grave] and of Death.’”

Verse 19 – “’ Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. 20) The mystery of the seven stars which 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 which you saw are the seven churches.’”

So, the seven stars and the seven golden candlesticks all refer to these very special angelic beings and they take a prominent role in the unfolding of the end-time events. □

To be continued.

Additional Sources:

1) Be sure to read our article Revelation – A Book of the Past and the Future (Part 3), in which we explain just who it could be here sitting on the thrones.

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