Revelation. Vision 1: Christ the Head.

[Marilyn]

Christ the Head of the Body.

As the Spirit of God begins to unfold to us the manifold glory of Christ He draws from all the wonders that we see – life, nature, scripture, heaven, the beauties of colour, fruits, jewels and radiant light. Yet these are but representations of the wondrous glory and splendour of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The first vision of Christ is His Pre-eminent position as the Royal High Priest, the Head of the Body of Christ. We are given a full view of His holy character and His perfect credentials. He triumphed over death and His trophies are pictured as the keys of hell and death.


Then we see the unfolding glory of His resplendent face in all its loveliness. Its light brings life to all creation. There is no fuller and truer presentation of the Saviour`s glorious qualifications that was ever committed to mankind.

This wonderful revelation of the Lord was given to the Apostle John. He was a prisoner on the island of Patmos for his belief in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

`I, John, both your brother and companion in tribulation,
and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ,
was on the island that is called Patmos
for the word of God & for the testimony of Jesus Christ.`
(Rev. 1: 9)

As he was waiting on the Lord, He hears a loud voice behind him, as of a trumpet, telling him to write what he sees & hears in a book. He was then to send it to the seven churches in Asia and by God`s Holy Spirit this revelation has been read by believers down through the centuries.

`I was in the Spirit on the Lord`s Day,
and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,
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:
to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
(Rev. 1: 10 & 11)


John then turns and sees a vision of the one who spoke to him. It is the glorified Lord Jesus Christ. He is seen in the midst of seven lampstands.


`Then I turned to see the voice that spoke to me.
And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands,
and in the midst of the seven lampstands one like the Son of Man...`
(Rev. 1: 12 & 13)

 

[Marilyn]

 

[Marilyn]

Christ the Royal High Priest.

The details of this vision of the Lord draws upon the imagery of the High Priest ministering in the temple. However this is but a shadow of the true minister of the sanctuary in the heavenlies – the Lord Jesus Christ. (Heb. 8: 1 & 2)

His Character.

`like the Son of Man,
clothed with a garment down to the feet
and girded about the chest with a golden band.`
(Rev. 1: 13)


As this first vision of the Lord Jesus Christ unfolds we see Him as the Royal High Priest.
He is like the Son of Man, indicative of the lowliest humility of our Saviour, yet He has obtained the highest honours in heaven and earth.


The long garment is as the priests wore, symbolic of holiness, yet Christ`s very character is holy and without spot. And the golden girdle was worn by the High Priest to indicate his high office and authority, but Christ, the eternal High Priest, ever lives to intercede, giving eternal blessings.


His Counsel.


`His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow,
And His eyes like aflame of fire;
His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace,....`
(Rev. 1: 14 & 15)


The whiteness of His head and hair symbolise the maturity of His understanding and the perfection of His intellectual knowledge. The eyes are another essential factor for discernment, if judgment is to be absolutely righteous. Christ`s vision penetrates every realm and sphere, and scans the innermost thoughts of every mind & heart.

The symbolic picture of the `feet,` refer to the uprightness of all Christ`s dealings. He is perfectly just, never misjudges, miscalculates or misunderstands any case in question. He rewards every worthy achievement and recognises the sacrificial suffering of His people.

 

[Marilyn]

The glorified Lord Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father `far above all principality and power, and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.` (Eph. 1: 20 & 21)

His Authority

`His voice as the sound of many waters;
He had in His right hand seven stars,
out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword,..`.
(Rev.1: 15 & 16)


In this amazing vision of the Lord Jesus we are shown His great authority in relation to the Body of Christ. We are told of His majestic voice, the powerful sceptre in His right hand and the awesome judgments that come forth.


The Lord speaks to many peoples on various subjects, `the sound of many waters.` (Rev. 17: 15)
He combines His sovereign commands and counsel with His heartfelt comfort as He delivers His message in authority.


Then we see the prevailing might of His right hand which supremely oversees His Church, the Body of Christ. The stars are symbols of administrative authority in spiritual things, and all such power Christ oversees and maintains.


Finally the execution of judgment or of justification is by His powerful word. With it He smites & by it He saves. The searching sight of His light operates through the `Sword of the Spirit.` No invention of man or of demon can evade the force of its thrust.



`and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.`
(Rev. 1: 16)


Here we come to the awesome sight of the Lord Jesus in His unspeakable glory. There can be no night where the Shekinah of His glowing countenance shines forth. The sun overlays all forms in the terrestrial while the light of His face adorns every life with the many diverse graces of His goodness.

 

[Marilyn]

The Apostle John was overcome by this wondrous vision of the Lord Jesus and collapsed at His feet as dead. The blinding sight of Christ`s glory, His concentrated gaze and the terrible sword protruding from the mouth all made John`s heart tremble & become terror stricken. But the Lord lays His hand upon him and reassures him that He has all things under His command.

As the `First,` Christ is the creator of all things visible & invisible, and as the `Last,` He finishes all things in heaven and on the earth. He has conquered death & hell and is alive for evermore.

`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 & the Last.
I am He who lives, & was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore.
Amen.
And I have the keys of Hades and of death.”
(Rev. 1: 17 & 18)


John was then to write what He had just seen in the first vision, and then what was happening in the churches in his time and finally he was to record what things would take place after that.


“Write the things which you have seen,
and the things which are,
and the things which will take place after this.”
(Rev. 1: 19)


The Lord Jesus then explains to John what the lampstand and stars represented. As the priest in the earthly temple would move amongst the lampstands and watch to keep their lights burning so it is that Christ, the Head of the Body, who moves amongst the churches makes sure that their lights, their witness of Him is true and clear.


And just as the seven stars, the Pleiades (Job 38: 31) control our planetary system from billions of miles away, so it is that Christ has administrative authority over the churches, His Body, supervising them over the centuries and throughout the world.


“The mystery of the seven stars you saw in my right hand,
& 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.”
(Rev. 1: 20)

 

[Marilyn]

 

[Marilyn]

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[Marilyn]

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[FredVB]

Jesus Christ is Lord, and since he is, believers should do as he says. Why do they not do all things he says? Believers should grow to more godliness.

 

[Marilyn]

Jesus Christ is Lord, and since he is, believers should do as he says. Why do they not do all things he says? Believers should grow to more godliness.

Hi Fred,

I hear what you say and agree that is where the Lord is leading us. It takes time for the believer to let the Lord deal with areas in their (our) lives. We don`t know all the things that control, drive us and it is a process of letting go of our hold on the reins of our lives and letting the Lord guide us. Some people do this quicker than others.

 

[Marilyn]

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[FredVB]

Hi Fred,

I hear what you say and agree that is where the Lord is leading us. It takes time for the believer to let the Lord deal with areas in their (our) lives. We don`t know all the things that control, drive us and it is a process of letting go of our hold on the reins of our lives and letting the Lord guide us. Some people do this quicker than others.

It would take time for most when they become believers, indeed. But hypocrisy is widespread, and there is a problem when change in their lives toward godliness is not observed for years. I am not exempting myself from this, there were years for me too, I am recognizing the problem mentioning this. There is the world all around us, and believers gather at a certain time on one day, acting a bit more like believers, and the rest of the time many among them are not living differently than they might with never being believers. So it can't be really known who are the real believers among them, until any of them walk away from the faith with some frustration from association with it or those really with the faith. So, what I think is needed is a way being known for believers to really live in a different way. There are ways God would want us to live differently.

 

[Marilyn]

It would take time for most when they become believers, indeed. But hypocrisy is widespread, and there is a problem when change in their lives toward godliness is not observed for years. I am not exempting myself from this, there were years for me too, I am recognizing the problem mentioning this. There is the world all around us, and believers gather at a certain time on one day, acting a bit more like believers, and the rest of the time many among them are not living differently than they might with never being believers. So it can't be really known who are the real believers among them, until any of them walk away from the faith with some frustration from association with it or those really with the faith. So, what I think is needed is a way being known for believers to really live in a different way. There are ways God would want us to live differently.

Hi Fred,

I agree hypocrisy is widespread however I do believe that the Head of the Body is doing a wonderful work maturing believers. So don`t let the enemy discourage you, but be encouraged -

`He who begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.` (Phil. 1: 6)

`Now to Him who is able to keep you from falling and present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy...` (Jude 24)

 

[FredVB]

Hi Fred,

I agree hypocrisy is widespread however I do believe that the Head of the Body is doing a wonderful work maturing believers. So don`t let the enemy discourage you, but be encouraged -

`He who begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.` (Phil. 1: 6)

`Now to Him who is able to keep you from falling and present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy...` (Jude 24)

Thanks for the encouragement.

Knowing we have been believers many years since coming to Christ helps with assurance of salvation and God's work with us, still it is not to be with the attitude that we have arrived at the needed change. If we are open to it God will keep showing things in our lives needing further change. This is not saying how full of sins we are, but there are hidden sins in things we can still be involved in that can come to light for us. Besides the Christian fellowship with others, which is important, there are Bible reading and studying and prayer, for communication with our God, to continue in, for growth, and fellowship, which in cases might distract from doing those things, should not ever replace those.