Verse 9
John is identifying himself by name for the third time.
Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ submit to the Kingdom of God willingly and joyfully.
Their life in the Kingdom of God involves patient suffering and waiting for the king to return.
His present imprisonment on Patmos Island was because of the Kingdom of God.
Verse 10
“I was in the Spirit” means he might be sensing the Holy Spirit with him and carrying him to a totally different realm.
Holy Spirit is controlling his mind and his vision to see what he cannot see naturally.
Verse11
A clear instruction to write it on a scroll “what you see” and send it to 7 churches.
A message of warning and caution was given to the 7 churches
The same warning comes to the church in 21st century today.
Verses 12-16
We get glimpse of the Lord thru the eyes of John.
12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands,
These are individual golden lampstands represent those in churches.
In the eyes of the Lord every church in this world is very precious and dear to Him because it glorifies God to the world.
Church is full of people burdened with kingdom of God.
13 and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robereaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.
Lord Jesus is among the lampstands means He is with the Churches.
He dresses like a High Priest of the Old Testament with a golden sash around His chest.
14 The hairon HIS head was white like wool, as white as snow, and HIS eyes were like blazing fire.
The double emphasis of whiteness is for ‘purity’.
John sees the glorious picture of the Lord and he declares that Lord Jesus is HOLY.
One scholar says that this letter was for believers only and the fire represents Lord’s evaluation of the believer’s works and lives.
The fire in the Lord’s eyes represents judgment not for sin but for the life of a believer.
15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of rushing waters.
Bronze represents judgment in Old Testament.
Those who were at Niagara Falls understand the sound of the rushing waters.
16 In His right hand He held seven stars, and coming out of His mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
The 7 stars in the right hand of the Lord talk about a strong message for the 7 churches.
The sword is Word of God and as John 1:1 says He is the Word of God.
When John looked at the face of glorified Jesus he could not see it because it was shining like brilliant sun.
What I presume is that John could not see HIS face how looked in HIS glory.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then HE placed HIS right hand on me and said:
“Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.
18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
John collapsed to the ground in response to what he was seeing and hearing.
His response was sheer reverence and submission at the feet of whom once he touched, spoke with and leaned.
Lord Jesus repeats what Lord God Almighty said in verse 8.
That is the autograph of the Living God and it is the same autograph Lord Jesus uses here.
Because of HIS death and Resurrection, HE says with authority that HE alone controls both realms of death and Hades the temporary holding place of unbelievers’ souls.
When a believer dies, Lord opens up the door of Paradise.
When an unbeliever dies, Lord opens up the door of Hades the temporary holding place.
Lord holds the keys to death and life after.
No one dies until the Lord says so.
19 “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.
Lord commands John to write all t he is seeing and hearing.
SUMMARY
Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ submit to the Kingdom of God willingly and joyfully.
Their life in the Kingdom of God involves patient suffering and waiting for the king to return.
Holy Spirit is controlling John’s mind and his vision to see what he cannot see naturally.
In the eyes of the Lord every church is very precious and dear to Him because it glorifies God to the world.
Every church is full of people burdened with kingdom of God.
That is why HE is always in the church and with the church and amongst the church.
A message of warning and caution comes to the church if they lose their focus on that.
Lord Jesus in HIS glorified state is a Righteous Judge who is going to judge the believer for his/her works and lives.
He holds our death and the life after.
He is HOLY and His Word is holy and His is the Living One for ever and ever.
S0 the business of His church is to witness for the Lord, glorify God and bring more to His Kingdom to come.
The message of warning to the 7 churches is the same to our church when it fails in its mission and message.