Christian Education Pre-K-12
Richmond Academy

Chapter 3 MORE CHRIST-LIKE CHARACTER

(Rev 1:9-17 KJV) "I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. {10} 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, 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; {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 twoedged 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:"

What were they going through? Tribulation! Why? For the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ! John participated with all great saints everywhere in tribulation. (He must not have had the right confession! I thought you weren't supposed to confess when things were bad.) John is confessing reality. Did you know according to psyche books to continually speak out positive confessions is a form of hypnosis? How subtle when the church says, "What you confess, you possess." That isn't truth. John wasn't only sharing in tribulation, but also in the kingdom. He was training for kingdom rule. The reign of the Lord was over him. He knew Christ was in charge of what happened in his life.

He was also a companion in patience:"waiting in perseverance." We do not know what that means because our mentality says "Things are moving too slow for me. Lord, You do not know what you are doing. I can do it better. I can make it happen." DANGER! That is not the way God operates. I do not like to learn to wait. But He requires waiting. So I must cast my cares on Him and wait. Ephesians 6:11-14 says having done all the crisis demands, stand. The Lord wants to teach you while you do nothing but stand and wait. We need to fight against "giving up" when we do not get our way, and instead, surrender to the waiting in God. When you do, you will find there is something in you that doesn't want to wait. You want to strive because you want part of the glory! DANGER! Once you give up control, only then can you worship, and the glory will be seen upon you. Then He can say, "well done." As long as you can do anything to make God's purpose come to pass, you will receive glory for it. But when you let go and God's purposes are accomplished, He is totally glorified and honored. I am not saying you should not do all you know to do; I am saying when you have done all you know, then stand and wait. THIS IS THE PATIENT ENDURANCE IN JESUS CHRIST. All of this is part of the tribulation into His Kingdom. If you do this outside of Jesus Christ, you're of another kingdom.

Verses 10‑11 ‑ These negative things were happening in John's life, but he operated in the Spirit.

Verse 12a ‑ In seeing the humanity of Christ in His glory, John saw revelation of the Father. Who are you going to see when you get to Heaven? Jesus! Why? Because God is spirit. [I am not advocating Jesus only theology]. But you do not see spirit. When Scripture speaks of Jesus at the right hand of the Father, it speaks of Christ's rank of authority. It does not mean there are three thrones and Jesus is over on the right. The Scripture says the Holy Spirit proceeds from the throne (Rev. 4:5). (John 14:9) "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?"

Verses 12b‑13 ‑ This clothing is what the High Priest wore. It shows His function. What is Jesus doing right now? Interceding and Judging what is His. The candlesticks represent the church [verse 20] where His Spirit is operating. He's not doing this in the churches that are dead. Judgment begins in the house of the Living God.

What we have seen from verses 5-13 are the functions of Christ. Now John is going to have a personal revelation of Jesus, one different from His functions. This revelation is not by what He does (we do that in praise -‑ “I am thankful for what you have done”), but now by relationship, through intimacy.

Verse 14 ‑ White hair represents purity of wisdom. You have fallen in love with the only one who knows wisdom as it should be. All the rest of the ones we love and know only know foolishness in comparison to Him. My natural mind is impure, still carnal. His eyes are like fire. Why? Because when you see Him face to face, no more facade, artificiality or phoniness remains. You cannot pretend with Him. We need this fire more and more during tribulation because fire also kindles. It re-ignites the hope and healing that we so desperately need. He brings life when we see Him face to face. How many do you know who will still look you in the face when they know how rotten you are inside? He will!

Verse 15a ‑The Priests' feet were not shod. They ministered with their feet bare. “As if burned” means purified so that He can have stability in His walk. He knows where He is going and when. "Burned" means tried and tested. There is no failure in Christ when we are tried and tested. There is no failure in what He does!

Verse 15b ‑ “His voice like many waters” How refreshing, how cleansing it is when He speaks!

The laver in the Old Testament was made of polished brass so when they leaned over to wash they could see themselves. What happens when you look at the Word? You do not see yourself the way you think you are, but the way you really are.

Verse 16

In His right hand is His authority and rule being sent forth by the angelic host to His churches.

What came out of His mouth first? His voice was as a cleansing and now the sword. How does the cleansing come but by being smitten? We cannot be healed and made whole until we are separated from all ungodliness. To the division of soul and spirit, He must continue to send His Word.

His face is light only -‑ no darkness, no manipulation is in Him, only absolute truth.

THE RESPONSE ‑ Verse 17 "I fell at his feet as dead." When people tell me they have been with the Lord and no death is produced in them, I do not believe them. Every time we get this close to the Lord we cannot stand on our own terms. Only humility remains. [The only answer I can give you at this point in my walk is that true humility breeds true humility. If you think you are humble but it doesn't show, you simply have not experienced enough humility to know what it really is.] Humility produces true worship. The church today knows how to praise. We tell Him how wonderful He is. But we do not live in worship because we will not accept His process. By rejecting His process, we also reject His intimacy. Many couples do not make it today because there is no intimacy in their relationship. When you have found true intimacy, you will not want anyone else.

Remember Peter's denial and his heartfelt repentance. After Jesus' resurrection, one day while Peter was fishing, Jesus showed up and called Peter to shore. They sat down and Jesus said, "Peter do you love (agape) me more than these?" And Peter said "Yes, Lord, you are my friend!" [You do for me and I will do for you.] That is not agape! Jesus said, "Feed my lambs” (in other words, OK you can take care of the babies).

A second time Jesus asked, "Peter, do you love (agape) me?" "Yes, Lord, you know I am your friend." Tend my sheep”(in other words, be in the fold and get close to the others and help out).

A third time Jesus asked, "Peter, do you love (agape) me?" Peter was getting upset inside (stressed, hurt, feeling less than). "Yes, Lord, I do truly love you." [his confession = “Thou knowest”]

"Feed my sheep." (in other words, Take care of what is mine.)

Until you really know agape love you cannot do this! Until that love flows out of you, what God is doing will be in conflict with what you want and what you are doing. This kind of love will not strike out at what you do not like when God is doing a work. It will join in and wait so God can receive all the glory. This is a mature progression of love. Not by intellect or giftings, but only by love can God use you.

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