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I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, like a trumpet saying, "What you see, write in a book and send to the seven assemblies: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and to Laodicea." (Revelation 1:10-11)
In meditating on God in the revelation brought by Jesus Christ, John opens the door of authority for Jesus to come in person to convey the most fabulous insights possibly ever shared with a human being. We have the same power and privilege given to us by our human will that can be used at any time to authorize God's will to find access to our world through and in us.
Our prayers, petitions and praises are not to manipulate God to give us what we want or do things we think need to happen. They are to open doors for God to accomplish what He knows best needs to happen. By leaving prayers open for God's will we position ourselves strategically for His benefit.
Give glory to Him is the resounding theme throughout Revelation and is to be the focus and obsession of all who want to participate in God's strategy for overcoming evil with good. This was the central theme of the life of Jesus while here on earth and continues to be His main focus all the way to the end until everything is restored to its original design of joy.
Is there any significance to the fact that the voice John heard told him to write what he would see rather than what he would hear? I just noticed again the incongruence that is so obvious in most of the advertisements on television by drug companies. I'm sure you have seen some of them, they are hard to miss if you happen to be exposed to TV anywhere. After the glowing promises of what some miracle drug can do for you, the rest of the ad is a rapid, almost monotone voice-over giving the obligatory long list of dangerous side-effects of this drug. Yet to distract everyone from even thinking about what is being said, the pictures portray visions of happy people in loving relationships having wonderful times together that have absolutely nothing to do with the horrific things being mentioned. Clearly the intent of the advertisement is to get you to not think about what is being said by overriding your imagination with what you are seeing on the screen that completely contradicts what you are hearing. This presumes that visual stimulus will have far greater impact on our decisions than auditory information given in such as way as to make it boring and irrelevant.
Curiously we find something a bit similar, though certainly not the same, as we go through this amazing book of insights about what is going on behind the scenes in the universe. We will repeatedly discover contrasts between what is heard and what is seen by John that have important implications we need to pay attention to. To sum up what we might learn from this is that things are not always as they seem in our imagination, so we need to be very careful about jumping to conclusions. Like John began to learn, we must not assume we know the answer when it comes to revelations from God. We must give God abundant opportunity to explain Himself instead of thinking we know the right answer already. In fact, the very next words start to play on this theme as John attempts to see a sound. Of course he likely had something in mind already, but what meets his gaze is quite unexpected as often becomes the case throughout the rest of this vision.
I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. Having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands. (Revelation 1:12)
Are these candlesticks or lampstands? The original word can mean either. There is no record of individual candlesticks in the sanctuary because they were all united as part of a single lampstand.
Could this represent seven menorahs representing each of the groups of believers addressed here? Each group or synagogue would typically have their own menorah, not a single candlestick. The menorah or lampstand would be like a trademark identifying them as belonging to the same religion.
I find a connection already here to another passage that in turn has close connections to key passages later in this book.
I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth." These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands, standing before the Lord of the earth. If anyone desires to harm them, fire proceeds out of their mouth and devours their enemies. If anyone desires to harm them, he must be killed in this way. These have the power to shut up the sky, that it may not rain during the days of their prophecy. They have power over the waters, to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire.
(Revelation 11:3-6)
The more familiar we become with the larger perspective given us in Revelation the more clues we will find linking key elements and agents of God's strategy for winning this war. There is a group of people introduced a few chapters later that I call accomplices of Jesus, identified as 144,000 who are learning to think, act and relate to others only like Jesus did. What helps bring together these clues are the symbols introduced here at the very beginning of the book identifying Jesus as the original that His true followers will reflect, including the lampstands and the way He looks and is dressed.
The accomplices of Jesus, the 144,000 are very likely the ones represented by the 7 angels described in chapters 15-16. There they use bowls/censers to pour out the glory of God on all aspects of the world. But in reality the glory is coming from their mouths as the fire of the glory of God is released through their prayers, petitions, gratitude and praises to honor God alone. They have learned that to devour their enemies they must rely solely on God's methods alone which is the new song unveiled in this book.
Don't seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God's wrath. For it is written, "Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord." Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head." Don't be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:19-21)
You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.
(Matthew 5:43-45)
Woe, when men speak well of you, for their fathers did the same thing to the false prophets. But I tell you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. (Luke 6:26-28)
But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, even as your Father is also merciful. Don't judge, and you won't be judged. Don't condemn, and you won't be condemned. Set free, and you will be set free. Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be given to you. For with the same measure you measure it will be measured back to you. (Luke 6:35-38)
These are really stanzas of the New Song that we find hints about all through this book. This is how God fights the war from His side, and it must be how all who choose to follow the Lamb must learn to fight. We fight contamination of the wrong spirit inside us, not those who seem to be our enemies. And we fight evil with good, not by reflecting the same spirit that comes against us. This is the message of Revelation that we must see in order to salvage it from the rampant distortions people have put on it.
Let me share one more passage related to these lampstands that ties all of things things even more closely together.
The angel who talked with me came again, and wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep. He said to me, "What do you see?" I said, "I have seen, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven lamps thereon; there are seven pipes to each of the lamps, which are on the top of it; and two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl, and the other on the left side of it."
I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, "What are these, my lord?" Then the angel who talked with me answered me, "Don't you know what these are?" I said, "No, my lord." Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, "This is the word of Yahweh to Zerubbabel, saying, 'Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says Yahweh of Armies. Who are you, great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you are a plain; and he will bring out the capstone with shouts of 'Grace, grace, to it!'" (Zechariah 4:1-7)
And among the lampstands was one like a son of man, clothed with a robe reaching down to his feet, and with a golden sash around his chest. (Revelation 1:13)
The seven angels who had the seven plagues came out, clothed with pure, bright linen, and wearing golden sashes around their breasts. (Revelation 15:6)
I am convinced these seven angels represent those on earth who have come to perfectly reflect the same character as displayed by Jesus.
But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18)
The context of this chapter is Paul contrasting two glories – the old inferior glory witnessed at Mt. Sinai eclipsed by the far superior glory revealed by Jesus. This movement from one glory to another glory parallels those in Revelation who sing the song of Moses the servant and the song of the Lamb. They transition from the old glory song over always winning over enemies as defining victory, to loving enemies and laying down their lives for them like the Lamb.
When his disciples, James and John, saw this, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from the sky, and destroy them, just as Elijah did?" But he turned and rebuked them, "You don't know of what kind of spirit you are. For the Son of Man didn't come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." They went to another village. (Luke 9:54-56)
This is the radical nature of the new song. This is what defines those represented by the 7 angels who pour out their prayers and praises of God on every aspect of this world that brings the empire of evil to its knees in defeat. They overcome, not by crushing their enemies through force and compulsion but by reflecting the truth about God's heart of love just as Jesus did.
This is really the process of judgment – bringing the light of truth about God into the open so clearly that opponents must either embrace it or hate it. And when they resist it the reaction becomes violent just as what is seen in reaction to the pouring out of the bowls in chapter 16.
with a golden sash around his chest
His delight will be in the fear of Yahweh. He will not judge by the sight of his eyes, neither decide by the hearing of his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the poor, and decide with equity for the humble of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the breath of his lips he will kill the wicked. Righteousness will be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his waist [loins]. The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat; The calf, the young lion, and the fattened calf together; and a little child will lead them. The cow and the bear will graze. Their young ones will lie down together. The lion will eat straw like the ox. The nursing child will play near a cobra's hole, and the weaned child will put his hand on the viper's den. They will not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of Yahweh, as the waters cover the sea. (Isaiah 11:3-9)
What is the theme of this passage? Non-violence is how Jesus will defeat His enemies. Notice in this next passage that we all start out as enemies of God, yet how does God respond to this?
For our transgressions are multiplied before you, and our sins testify against us; for our transgressions are with us, and as for our iniquities, we know them: transgressing and denying Yahweh, and turning away from following our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. Justice is turned away backward, and righteousness stands afar off; for truth is fallen in the street, and uprightness can't enter. Yes, truth is lacking; and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.
Yahweh saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice. He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his own arm brought salvation to him; and his righteousness, it upheld him. He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; and he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a mantle.
(Isaiah 59:12-17)
What is righteousness? Where is the golden sash Jesus is wearing located? Around the heart, the chest, the very center of bodily life. This means that at heart God is always right, always good and will always do the right thing no matter the situation. In others words, He can always be trusted.
You shall make a breastplate of judgment, the work of the skillful workman; like the work of the ephod you shall make it; of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, shall you make it.
Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment on his heart, when he goes in to the holy place, for a memorial before Yahweh continually. You shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be on Aaron's heart, when he goes in before Yahweh: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel on his heart before Yahweh continually. (Exodus 28:15, 29-30)
Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace; (Ephesians 6:14-15)
But let us, since we belong to the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and, for a helmet, the hope of salvation. (1 Thessalonians 5:8)
His head and his hair were white as white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire. His feet were like burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace. His voice was like the voice of many waters. He had seven stars in his right hand. Out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest. (Revelation 1:14-16)
Head, hair, eyes, feet, voice, hand, mouth, face.
"Come now, and let us reason together," says Yahweh: "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken it." (Isaiah 1:18-20)
Gray hair is a crown of glory. It is attained by a life of righteousness. (Proverbs 16:31)
The glory of young men is their strength. The splendor of old men is their gray hair. (Proverbs 20:29)
I saw until thrones were placed, and one who was ancient of days sat: his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and the wheels of it burning fire. (Daniel 7:9)
Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can't make one hair white or black. (Matthew 5:36)
What did Jesus mean by this? Does this have something to do with true identity?
Eyes like a flame of fire.
Gideon said to him, Oh, my lord, if Yahweh is with us, why then has all this happened to us? and where are all his wondrous works which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not Yahweh bring us up from Egypt? but now Yahweh has cast us off, and delivered us into the hand of Midian. Yahweh looked at him, and said, Go in this your might, and save Israel from the hand of Midian: have not I sent you? (Judges 6:13-14)
Elisha came to Damascus; and Benhadad the king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, The man of God is come here. The king said to Hazael, Take a present in your hand, and go, meet the man of God, and inquire of Yahweh by him, saying, Shall I recover of this sickness? So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels' burden, and came and stood before him, and said, Your son Benhadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, Shall I recover of this sickness? Elisha said to him, Go, tell him, You shall surely recover; however Yahweh has shown me that he shall surely die. He settled his gaze steadfastly on him, until he was ashamed: and the man of God wept. Hazael said, Why weeps my lord? He answered, Because I know the evil that you will do to the children of Israel: their strongholds will you set on fire, and their young men will you kill with the sword, and will dash in pieces their little ones, and rip up their women with child. Hazael said, But what is your servant, who is but a dog, that he should do this great thing? Elisha answered, Yahweh has shown me that you shall be king over Syria. (2 Kings 8:7-13)
But Peter said, "Man, I don't know what you are talking about!" Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. The Lord turned, and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the Lord's word, how he said to him, "Before the rooster crows you will deny me three times." He went out, and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:60-62)
When Jesus heard this, He said to him, "One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. And Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! "For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." (Luke 18:22-25 NAS95)
The flame of fire in His eyes parallels the sea of glass mingled with fire.
The eyes are where the most intense communication of the heart interacts between people. Fire represents the passionate love of God for all of His children. Fire produces exposing light which expels darkness to reveal everything hidden. This is the kind of light that initiates judgment (John 3:19). This entire book is about judgment, light that exposes and overcomes the kingdom of darkness.
Feet were like burnished bronze.
Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this who is glorious in his clothing, marching in the greatness of his strength? I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Why are you red in your clothing, and your garments like him who treads in the wine vat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the peoples there was no man with me: yes, I trod them in my anger, and trampled them in my wrath; and their lifeblood is sprinkled on my garments, and I have stained all my clothing. (Isaiah 63:1-3)
You make him ruler over the works of your hands. You have put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yes, and the animals of the field, The birds of the sky, the fish of the sea, and whatever passes through the paths of the seas. Yahweh, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! (Psalms 8:6-9)
Yahweh says to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool for your feet." (Psalms 110:1)
I saw in the night visions, and behold, there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. There was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13-14)
Contrast this with the feet composing the image of Daniel 2 representing the kingdoms of this world.
Whereas you saw the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, because you saw the iron mixed with miry clay. (Daniel 2:41)
The iron kingdom relies on force, coercion and violence to conquer and control people. This is not the nature of the dominion given to our first parents. Their dominion was over all the living creatures of the earth and the physical planet, not over people. Their exercise of dominion likewise was not to be coercive but to reflect God's ways of relating through kindness and firmness. This is the dominion recaptured for Jesus, not the counterfeit kind of dominion we so often seek after Satan's order. Those who desire to participate in the kingdom of Jesus must convert to using His methods and motives alone.
I came across something very fascinating when I looked up the Greek word used for burnished bronze. The Greek word from which this word bronze is derived means burnished copper or an alloy of copper and silver (or gold). This word is a combination of two words: 'chalkos' conveying the idea of hollowing out a metal such as copper or brass to use as a vessel, and 'libanos' which is the incense tree implying frankincense. This hints strongly at representing a bowl/censer for carrying incense.
The censers used in the OT were made of bronze.
Speak to Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take up the censers out of the burning, and scatter you the fire yonder; for they are holy, even the censers of these sinners against their own lives; and let them be made beaten plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before Yahweh; therefore they are holy; and they shall be a sign to the children of Israel. Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers, which those who were burnt had offered; and they beat them out for a covering of the altar, to be a memorial to the children of Israel, to the end that no stranger, who isn't of the seed of Aaron, comes near to burn incense before Yahweh; that he not be as Korah, and as his company: as Yahweh spoke to him by Moses. (Numbers 16:37-40)
Do we find a hint here at a connection between the feet of Jesus and references to censers and bowls later in Revelation? I find this both curious and compelling.
This description in reference to the feet of Jesus can also link into what feet represent elsewhere in Scripture. Consider the following passages.
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of good, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, Your God reigns! The voice of your watchmen! they lift up the voice, together do they sing; for they shall see eye to eye, when Yahweh returns to Zion. (Isaiah 52:7-8)
For though the fig tree doesn't flourish, nor fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive fails, the fields yield no food; the flocks are cut off from the fold, and there is no herd in the stalls: yet I will rejoice in Yahweh. I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! Yahweh, the Lord, is my strength. He makes my feet like deer's feet, and enables me to go in high places. (Habakkuk 3:17-19)
Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:13-14)
Therefore, put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace; above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. (Ephesians 6:13-16)
What is the common element in these references to feet? The good news of peace. This is the antidote to the fear that has pervaded all humanity ever since we bought into the lies of distrust of God's heart. Peace has been very elusive ever since, for peace can only exist and thrive when there is trust and freedom from fear. And so long as we remain infected with fear-based beliefs about God we will never enter into the peace and joy that Jesus came to give us. That is the truth that sets us free and reconciles us to God. For as we come to realize that God is not our problem but our own fearful, selfish thinking, the obstacles to peace can be removed and we can be restored into intimate fellowship with Them.
His father, Zacharias, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and worked redemption for his people; and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old), salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us; ...to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life. And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the face of the Lord to make ready his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dawn from on high will visit us, to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace." (Luke 1:67-79)
Now let's look at a compelling parallel prophetic description to what we find here in Revelation 1.
I looked, and behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, a great cloud, with flashing lightning, and a brightness round about it, and out of the midst of it as it were glowing metal, out of the midst of the fire. Out of the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. This was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man. Everyone had four faces, and each one of them had four wings. Their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot; and they sparkled like burnished brass. (Ezekiel 1:4-7)
their wings were joined one to another; they didn't turn when they went; each one went straight forward. As for the likeness of their faces, they had the face of a man; and they four had the face of a lion on the right side; and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four had also the face of an eagle. Their faces and their wings were separate above; two wings of each one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies. Each one went straight forward: where the spirit was to go, they went; they didn't turn when they went. As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches: the fire went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. The living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning. (9-14)
When the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. Wherever the spirit was to go, they went; there was the spirit to go: and the wheels were lifted up beside them; for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. (19-20)
Over the head of the living creature there was the likeness of an expanse, like the awesome crystal to look on, stretched forth over their heads above. Under the expanse were their wings straight, the one toward the other: each one had two which covered on this side, and every one had two which covered on that side, their bodies. When they went, I heard the noise of their wings like the noise of great waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a noise of tumult like the noise of an army: when they stood, they let down their wings. There was a voice above the expanse that was over their heads: when they stood, they let down their wings. Above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone; and on the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man on it above. I saw as it were glowing metal, as the appearance of fire within it round about, from the appearance of his waist and upward; and from the appearance of his waist and downward I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness round about him. As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Yahweh. When I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of one that spoke. (Ezekiel 1:22-28)
This expanse may well be partly an artificial division between a heaven and earth perspective. Or it may have many other meanings as well. We can consider other places in Scripture that describe this expanse or sea, and we can look at them more exhaustively when we get to chapter 4. What is interesting is how different people perceived this same expanse from different angles, some describing it from above and others from underneath. Here is a sample.
Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up. They saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was like a paved work of sapphire stone, like the skies for clearness. He didn't lay his hand on the nobles of the children of Israel. They saw God, and ate and drank. Yahweh said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain, and stay here, and I will give you the tables of stone with the law and the commands that I have written, that you may teach them." (Exodus 24:9-12)
He had seven stars in his right hand. Out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest. (Revelation 1:16)
The word stars includes root meanings of not only strewn or spread out but stable, steadfast, strong, solid, reliable. The stability of stars was relied on for navigation. Contrast this with fallen or wandering stars.
Right hand is a significant concept relating to authority in Scripture. By the clues I have gathered it seems to have a lot to do with representation for God. Satan is seen as standing at the right hand of God as an accuser. It was Lucifer's assignment originally to represent God to all the angels, something he later exploited to advance his own selfish ambitions. After the resurrection of Jesus He is celebrated as now being at the right hand of God, likely because of the great victory that Jesus won, dispossessing our great accuser of that position with One who is always on our side and favors us. This is a theme that runs prominently throughout the NT, though it is seldom noticed.
But here we find 7 stars in the right hand of Jesus. Later we are told that these 7 star represent the angels of the 7 assemblies. This begins the mystery of what is meant by angels throughout this entire book. Are angels literal angels in a book turned into symbols? Are angels metaphors of movements or people or something we don't yet fully grasp?
If right hand has to do with authority to represent someone, who is representing Jesus? Who in turn is representing God.
It can be easy to presume that the 7 stars in the right hand are the assemblies, but Jesus distinguishes them as being different.
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 assemblies. The seven lampstands are seven assemblies. (Revelation 1:20)
Here's a thought. If the assemblies are the lampstands, are the stars the lights emitted by the stands?
If in fact, each assembly has a full menorah rather than a single candlestick, then Jesus would be seen as standing in a beautiful array of 49 lights that could easily look like stars on the tops of the lampstands. Of course this vision offers ideas and pictures sometimes difficult to fit into our very limited capacity of imagination. But God seeks to convey important things to us through these images that I believe He wants us to grapple with to discover truths vital for our cooperation with His plans.
Speaking of this, how does God want us to relate to mysteries? Some insist that God intends for mysteries to remain out of our reach and imply it is even wrong for us to try to know what they mean. Is this the case? Is God telling us some things are mysteries to tease us but keep them hidden so as to maintain distance between us? Looking at how humans relate to mysteries is a fascinating study in itself. Even studying the book of Revelation involves approaching a very big mystery that has challenged many ever since it was written. Are we supposed to just leave it alone, or is God eager to draw us into a deeper appreciation of His mysteries to deepen our appreciation of His heart?
Out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword.
A highly productive and instructive study can be had by simply studying what comes out of the mouths of various beings just in this book of Revelation. What is important to keep in mind all through our time here is to pay attention to the methods and motives of everyone in order to test every spirit to know which side they associate with so we can sort out who is fake and who can be trusted.
Repent therefore, or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth. (Revelation 2:16)
So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:16)
Thus I saw the horses in the vision, and those who sat on them, having breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of lions. Out of their mouths proceed fire, smoke, and sulfur. By these three plagues were one third of mankind killed: by the fire, the smoke, and the sulfur, which proceeded out of their mouths. For the power of the horses is in their mouths, and in their tails. For their tails are like serpents, and have heads, and with them they harm. (Revelation 9:17-19)
If anyone desires to harm them, fire proceeds out of their mouth and devours their enemies. If anyone desires to harm them, he must be killed in this way. (Revelation 11:5)
The serpent spewed water out of his mouth after the woman like a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream. The earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon spewed out of his mouth. (Revelation 12:15-16)
The beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. (Revelation 13:2)
A mouth speaking great things and blasphemy was given to him. Authority to make war for forty-two months was given to him. He opened his mouth for blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his dwelling, those who dwell in heaven. (Revelation 13:5-6)
In their mouth was found no lie, for they are blameless. (Revelation 14:5)
I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits, something like frogs; for they are spirits of demons, performing signs; which go forth to the kings of the whole inhabited earth, to gather them together for the war of that great day of God, the Almighty. (Revelation 16:13-14)
Out of his mouth proceeds a sharp, double-edged sword, that with it he should strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He treads the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty. (Revelation 19:15)
The rest were killed with the sword of him who sat on the horse, the sword which came forth out of his mouth. All the birds were filled with their flesh. (Revelation 19:21)
Why is this sword in His mouth and not in His hand like so many assume it must be?
What is this telling us about the methods and motives of the forces of light in contrast to darkness?
How does God use His mouth? Does He use it to accuse anyone? Attack them?
Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against. Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." (Luke 2:34-35)
A careful study needs to be done on the true meaning of sword in prophecy. As is often the case, things are not as they initially appear, and this is certainly the case in this instance. We need to allow Scripture and the true Spirit of God to interpret these things rather than hastily projecting our own agenda or opinions onto what we are reading if we wish to advance further into the light offered to us.
There is no record of a literal sword piercing Mary the mother of Jesus. Yet a prophet told her a sword would pierce her. This is significant to understanding the meaning and function of swords in prophecy.
Sword actually is a symbol of judgment. But then we need to appreciate how God does judgment and more so how He does not do it. The book of Revelation is actually all about judgment if we understand the method and motives of how God judges. And when we appreciate the truth about judgment we can see how and where the symbol of a sword fits into that. It also explains why the true sword comes from the mouth of Jesus and not from His hand.
It is vital that we come to see the truth as it is in Jesus right at the beginning of any study of possibly the most important prophetic book anywhere. This chapter is the important foundation for understanding and properly interpreting the rest of this book. That is why it is so important to take time to wrestle with each symbol and its true meaning. More importantly I believe, what is most important to distill from Revelation more than deciphering symbols is to appreciate and see how different Jesus conducts warfare from how His enemies do it. This is central to any study of the meaning of sword.
This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn't come to the light, lest his works would be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God. (John 3:19-21)
For the Father judges no one, but he has given all judgment to the Son, (John 5:22)
Don't think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you, even Moses, on whom you have set your hope. (John 5:45)
You judge according to the flesh. I judge no one. (John 8:15)
Now is the judgment of this world. Now the prince of this world will be cast out. (John 12:31)
If anyone listens to my sayings, and doesn't believe, I don't judge him. For I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects me, and doesn't receive my sayings, has one who judges him. The word that I spoke, the same will judge him in the last day. (John 12:47-48)
Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
Clearly a connection can be seen here between the word of God and the sword coming out of the mouth of Jesus. The sword represents the truth in the words of Jesus that become the judge for everyone, exposing everything that tries to hide from the light of truth. Jesus does not accuse, so He does not judge like we judge. Jesus speaks the truth and then the truth itself, inherent in His words, becomes the means by which each person judges themselves based on how they choose to relate to His words.
His face was like the sun shining at its brightest. (Revelation 1:16)
This is the message which we have heard from him and announce to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)
I believe this is a good place to reference back to the original symbols used for the opposing kingdoms, as we can see in them this same distinction between pure singleness and the duplicitous nature of the counterfeit system.
Yahweh God planted a garden eastward, in Eden, and there he put the man whom he had formed. Out of the ground Yahweh God made every tree to grow that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the middle of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (Genesis 2:8-9)
Just as God is light with absolutely no darkness in Him at all, so He is also life with absolutely no death in Him at all. Light and life are synonymous in Scripture and mean pretty much the same thing. This is something most people struggle with when trying to grasp the extent of God's goodness, but it is important to understand because of the subtlety of the deceptions of the enemy that poison our ideas and feelings about God to make us afraid or suspicious of Him.
Our thinking has been so tainted by the infection from eating of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil that it is nearly impossible to convince many that God will never resort to violence, coercion or reliance on fear to gain or maintain control. The difference between the Tree of Life and the other tree highlights the difference between the two competing systems vying for our allegiance and submission. We will either come to agree and cooperate with the ways of life and life alone, or we will cling to the deceptions of the enemy that seem so sensible to our twisted perceptions that there must be punishments and rewards enforced in order for anyone to win this war.
In this first chapter introducing God's perspective on the war and offering us insights as to how He will win without violence or reliance on fear, we necessarily are introduced to the champion and general of God's side of the conflict, Jesus Christ. In this first chapter He appears very close to how He actually looks after ascending to heaven. But very soon as we shall see, He will take on a very different appearance to prophetically seize our attention in ways that alert us to the most important things about how God conducts warfare – His motives and His methods. This is the message of Revelation.
