I really enjoyed the reading this morning. Firstly, that Jesus gave you such an important message for understanding who and what Jesus was saying – “to the messenger of the Assembly in….” Jesus was talking specifically to the pastors over the Assemblies and not directly to the congregation. That is so good, and most importantly, to know who Jesus is talking to. And then the love from Jesus for his pastors and their congregation that he explained what he was going to do and what would happen to them if they overcame. And then he gives the message about his coming (which is yet to come in our reading)! There is much love from Jesus for his pastors in these admonishments, but also stern and sober lessons to be learned.
As we were reading, I started noticing how Jesus told every time who he was and his authority! I went back and underlined them all and put them together. Here is who Jesus said he was taken from Revelation 2:1-3:22:
“I am the one who holds the seven stars in my right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lamp stands, who was dead and is alive, who holds the sharp-double edged sword, who has eyes like a flame of fire and whose feet are as fine brass (I am the one who examines the minds and hearts and I will give to each of you according to your deeds.), who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars, who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one closes, and closes and no one opens, the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God, I say these things.”
Whew! That is so good! Jesus lets them know upfront who is talking. And then he says that “he who overcomes” will have this:
“To those who overcome, I will give you to eat of the tree of life that is in the paradise of my God. I will give you the crown of life. You will not be harmed by the Second Death. I will give you to eat of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written which no one knows except the one who receives it. I will give you authority over nations and you will rule with an iron rod (like potters’ vessels, they will be shattered), as I also received from my Father, and I will give you the morning star. You shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot your name out of the Book of Life, but will confess your name before my Father and before His angels. I will make you a pillar in the temple of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the New Jerusalem that is coming down out of heaven from my God, and my new name. And I will grant you to sit with me on my throne, as I also overcame and sat with my Father on His throne.
He who has an ear, let him hear.”
I love that! Jesus is so encouraging! He said to them as he is now saying to us: “Be watchful; Be faithful unto death; Hold fast; Hold on to what you have; Remember; Repent!” He wants us to make it. If we can “hold on to what we know”, as you have told us, we can make it home to be with him, his Father, and each other.
Amy B.
Note: Pastor John’s third edition of his book, Revelation should be available soon at: Going to Jesus.com – Revelation