Parallels

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 “</FONT><B>From the </B><B><U>seven Spirits</U></B><B> of God who are before the Throne</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >”  and 3:1  “</FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>He who has the </B><B><U>seven Spirits</U></B><B> of God</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >”  [Sardis]</FONT></div> <bR> <div> I<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" >n 1:4, the seven Spirits seem to be mentioned as part of the Trinity.  “Him who is and who was and who is coming” is the Father, the seven Spirits of God is the Holy Spirit (Christ as the Spirit 2 Corinthians 3:17-18), and 1:5 states that Jesus Christ, the faithful Witness, etc. are all present at the throne of God.  In 3:1 John writes “He [Christ] who has the seven Spirits of God” again implying the Trinity or Triune God operating to enliven and enlighten His saints in the darkness of the church age and the world. </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">1:5  “<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>The faithful Witness</B></FONT>”  and 3:14  “<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>The faithful and true Witness</B></FONT>”  [Laodicea]</div> <bR> <div> In 1:5 Christ is the faithful Witness of God the Father.  If we desire to know God and His economy or plan, we surely need to seek the faithful Witness.  Christ is absolutely faithful to God … we are not.  The word “witness” is the same Greek word as “martyr”, meaning that to witness requires us to deny the self, to die to self and live to another.  Christ did this every day while on earth and now He is such an example and witness to us.  The church in Laodicea needs a faithful witness because it is an age of "the people speak” (lao  dicea  in Greek).  Church after church today has their opinion of God's economy and their “say” as to what is important to God.  The bottom line is that Christ is the faithful witness who speaks forth and on behalf of God the Father.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">1:13  “<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>In the midst of the lampstands</B></FONT>”  also 2:1 [Ephesus]</div> <bR> <div> The context of 1:13 seems to describe a priest (clothed with a garment reaching to the feet, and girded about at the breasts with a golden girdle).  He is also described as “One like the Son of Man” which again implies a human representing us before God.  In 2:1, “He who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands” could utilize the figure given in 1:13 to reveal Christ as the Priest walking in the midst of the churches.  Christ is God, but also man.  He is not just seated in the heavenlies (Ephesians 2:6) [<I>showing His redemptive work on earth was finished</I>], but He is also walking, moving, taking care of, the churches.  We surely need the perfect priesthood to minister God to us and to bring us to God.  The churches are God's children, who are regenerated, but still need growth in life (2 Peter 3:18), transformation (Romans 12:2) and conformation to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29).</div> <bR> <div> It is important for believers to realize that Christ's redemptive work is two sided.  1) His earthly ministry as priest is over and complete.  2) Now, He is the heavenly High Priest (Hebrews 10:21), working His salvation into each of us.  It is a day by day, ongoing process which does not end until we are with Him in the heavenlies.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">1:14b-15  “<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Eyes with a flame of fire and feet like shining bronze</B></FONT>” also in 2:18 [Thyatira]</div> <bR> <div> This metaphor most likely represents Christ's searching, enlightening, convicting eyes which can pierce our souls, penetrate our hardened outer shell of flesh.  As the heavenly Priest (described previously), Christ is proactive in cultivating His righteousness, holiness and justice in His saints.  The church in Thyatira seems to be the most distressing.  She is filled with tolerance of evil things, evil practices, and evil associations.  The Lord must search us, enlighten us and convict us by His piercing, penetrating life to save us from such an evil age that has encompassed the church.  Surely, the world has fully infiltrated the church.  It is often difficult to separate the church from the world.  It seems that whatever you find in the world is also being practiced and upheld by the Lord's children.  What has happened to the “salt and light of the earth” (Matthew 5:1-16)?</div> <bR> <div> Sometimes, I get so depressed because it seems the Lord's church has become one with the world.  Where is our impact as God's children?  Where is our influence as God's people?  Why does the evil prevail while we are standing in its midst?  Then, I realize that our battle is FIRSTLY INWARD where Christ is acting as Priest with “eyes with a flame of fire and feet like shining bronze.”  His judgment begins with the house of God, the church (1 Peter 4:17).  We need to allow the Lord's life to penetrate our person so He can shine and have His way in us.  The outward church has failed because it is an organizational rather than a living entity.  God's people are the reality of the church and it is there that He is working.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">1:16  “<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>holds the seven stars in His right hand</B></FONT>” also in 2:1  [Ephesus]</div> <bR> <div> Stars shine in the darkness.  Usually, the `right' hand shows the delegation of authority and identification with the person.  The stars are the messengers whom God has spoken His word.  They identify with Christ and they bring His authority through His word.  Let's face it, the church is in a dark age.  We are all blinded by the flesh, the natural man, the old creation, etc.  However, once it is dark enough, we can see the stars.  The stars never moved, they are present all day long and all year long.  However, we only see them at night when darkness prevails.  It's a scary thought, but it rings true:  we live in an age where darkness prevails.  Therefore, we need to look to the `stars', in particular we need to seek out the WORD of the Lord that the stars bring.  It is not the stars themselves, but the WORD of God they carry that is utmost.  We should never worship the stars (as so many do these days), but we should listen and take heed to the word spoken (Hebrews 3:7-19).</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">1:16  “<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>a sharp two edged sword</B></FONT>” also in 2:12  [Pergamos] … both sections imply the sword is coming out of His mouth </div> <bR> <div> This phrase confirms that it is the WORD of the Lord that is so crucial these days.  The two-edged sword proceeds from the mouth of Christ.  Matthew 4:4 speaks of this very issue.  “<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>Man shall not live by bread … but by every WORD that proceeds from the mouth of God</B></FONT>.”  We must be `eating' the word of Christ daily for our sustenance.  But even more so, “<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>the word of `God is living and operative and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing and dividing soul from spirit</B></FONT>” (Hebrews 4:12).  The living word pierces, divides and penetrates our inmost being separating out our soulish life from the life of Christ that is operative within us.  It is noteworthy to see again, that it is not by following the `star' or `minister', but by taking in the word of Christ and it will do its work:  pierce, divide.  </div> <bR> <div> Pergamos is a church where mixture runs rampant.  The things of the world are mixed into the practices and teachings of the church.  This produces confusion and ultimately division.  Why?  Because the saints are not seeking out and giving heed to the word of Christ that is the sharp two-edged sword.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">1:17  “<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>First and the Last</B></FONT>”  also in 2:8  [Smyrna]  … also mentions the matter of becoming dead and living again in both sections</div> <bR> <div> To me, the phrase “First and the Last” shows the preeminence of Christ and the resurrection life of Christ.  Again, due to the evil, dark age we live in, Christ is not held as preeminent nor is resurrection life the dominating theme.  When evil prevails, we must realize that death and resurrection is God's way of salvation.  The Lord loves us and sometimes I feel that means I get a free pass from suffering.  On the contrary, the only way of salvation is through death and resurrection.  Therefore, suffering is the theme of our lives.  Suffering brings us into death (to our self) and life (in Christ).</div> <bR> <div> The church in Smyrna faced ten days of suffering (2:10).  They knew tribulation and poverty and slander from religious ones.  The Lord admonished them not to fear what they were about to suffer (2:10).  I don't like this thought, but my experience tells me that it is God's divine way to gain our hearts in this age.  Suffering comes in many forms (physical, emotional, career, home, children, spouse, loneliness, fear, anxiety, etc.).  All these are means to gain the Lord's resurrection life and realize His preeminence in our lives.  He is in control, NOT US or any other person or thing.  Suffering usually causes us to question God's preeminence, but in reality, if we wait and see the outcome, we see God's almighty, omnipotent hand directing our lives.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">1:18  “<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>keys of death and of Hades</B></FONT>” as compared to “<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Key of David</B></FONT>” in 3:7  [Philadelphia]</div> <bR> <div> This parallel was not easy because they do not seem to match except for the word key.  In 1:18 there are `keys' versus 3:7 with one `key.'  I'm not going to pretend that I understand these verses, but I do feel that the Lord is the owner and handler of the key and keys.  In 1:18, it is Christ as priest who holds the keys of death and Hades.  To me this shows again His preeminence.  Despite the world seeming to have its way, seeming to rule through fame, power, glory of its own, the Lord is actually in charge behind the scenes.  Christ death and resurrection gave Him the authority to handle the keys of death and Hades.</div> <bR> <div> The `key of David' is a positive, wonderful key to the kingdom of the heavens (Matthew 16:19).  David was king in the Old Testament and he was a type of Christ being king in the church age and into eternity.  I think it is reasonable to say that the key of David is the key to Christ's kingdom which is in our midst (inward).  The church in Philadelphia mentions the key of David which to me is so significant.  Philadelphia, brotherly love, is the means to access the key of David.  Love is inclusive, not exclusive.  Many groups have identified themselves as the church in Philadelphia and then become exclusive.  This is proof that they are not the church in Philadelphia.  As believers, Christ uses the key to open doors that no one can shut.  Therefore, He is inclusive.  He brings in all of His willing children no matter their background, previous experiences and faults.  This reminds me of Romans 14 where we are instructed to receive all whom God has received and it is NOT our place to judge another's servant.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id758.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Revelation 1 3"><U>Revelation 1 -3</U></A></div> </td> </tr></table></body>