Sardis - Wake Up! | A Sermon on Revelation 3:1-6

Introduction
Are you awake this morning?

I'll be honest, my eyes were a little fuzzy and my voice is cracking this morning. I had a hard time waking up. Yesterday, we moved my daughter into her dorm room at the University of West Georgia. We started early, and by the time we were driving home, a deluge of rain brokethat lasted about an hour while we were driving.  It was stressful and draining.  We were driving 30 miles an hour from Rome to home. In fact, we were on the interstate doing 30 or 40 when we decided to get off early, thinking slower roads would be better.

But Cleveland Highway was flooded. We had to turn around, go all the way back, and still go home the long way. Strangely, when we finally arrived, our rain gauge said zero. Not a drop. Roads were dry. Just a few miles south--flooded! Amazing how storms can hit one spot so hard and leave another untouched.

Needless to say, I was tired. My back hurt. I took medicine for back pain, went to bed thinking I’d sleep well—and I did—but woke up groggy. So yes, I’m still trying to wake up. And I think the Lord has a sense of humor, because that’s exactly what today’s message is about.

Sardis was a real first-century church in what is now modern-day Turkey. Jesus dictated a letter to them, saying plainly, “Wake up.” He didn’t sugarcoat it.

Here’s what He said in Revelation 3:1–6:

Revelation 3:1-6
¹ “Write this letter to the angel^[a] of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the one who has the sevenfold Spirit^[b] of God and the seven stars:

“I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead. ² Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. ³ Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.

⁴ “Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. ⁵ All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine.

⁶ “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.

Sevenfold Spirit
By now, we know the One dictating letters to the seven Churches is Jesus. So with each new letter, we learn more about Jesus.  In this passage, Jesus says He is:  “…the one who has the sevenfold Spirit of God.”  The NASB and other translations say, “seven spirits of God”.

This can be confusing at first glance, but it’s really very simple.  This “sevenfold Spirit of God” is the Holy Spirit.  There is only One Spirit, but saying “seven spirits” or “sevenfold Spirit” is just a mystical way of saying the Holy Spirit who has certain major characteristics.

Seven is the number for perfection.  So sevenfold Spirit is a mystical way of saying this is the perfect Spirit of God.

Some scholars also point to  Isaiah 11:2, where we see 7 characteristics of the Holy Spirit:  Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Might, Knowledge, Fear of the Lord, and Delight in the Fear of the Lord.  

You'll notice that Fear is mentioned twice.  Let me pause on that phrase—“the fear of the Lord.”  Think of standing at the edge of something glorious and overwhelming—like Glacier National Park or the Grand Canyon or Cloudland Canyon here in Georgia. You feel awe at the magnificence of God's creation and a healthy fear of falling in all at the same time. That’s what it means to “fear the Lord”—it’s reverent awe. It's "Oooo!" and "Oh!" all at the same time.  The Spirit of God delights in that.

Reputation vs. Reality
Sardis had a good Reputation.  The were known as an active church, alive for God.

But Jesus saw through the facade. He had some harsh words for Sardis:  “You look alive, but are really dead. Almost completely dead.”

They were “really dead” because they:  “… soiled their clothes with evil.” 

Clothing is a symbol for a person’s character.  Most of the people in the Sardis church had defiled their character through sinful behavior, moral compromise, or unrepentant living.

They were going through the motions, but without true faith. They blended into the surrounding culture instead of standing out in holiness. They looked “good” by the world’s standards—but not by God’s.

And worst of all, they were unrepentant. Instead of turning away from sin, they covered it up and kept going—playing the part, but living falsely. Jesus warned them clearly: “Wake up. Repent before it’s too late.”

Closing
This message applies directly to us.

First, we need to have true faith in Jesus—not just for show, not just when people are looking. Real, authentic faith, lived out even when no one’s watching.

Second, we must not soil our garments. Avoid the sin you know you should avoid. Don’t compromise. If God says, “Go this way,” don’t go the other. Live by God’s standards, not the world’s.

Third, and maybe most importantly, when we mess up—and we all do—we must repent quickly.

·       What Is Repentance?
Repentance isn’t just feeling sorry. It’s not just regret. It’s turning around—changing direction. If you’re going the wrong way and God shows you the truth, don’t just feel bad about it. Turn around. Do what’s right.

And here’s the good news: when we truly repent, Jesus forgives. He doesn’t hold a grudge. No matter how long you’ve been living the wrong way—20, 30, 40 years—He’ll forgive it all. He sees the direction you’re going now.  And He will welcome you to go the right way if your repent.

But don’t fake it. Don’t say, “I repent,” and keep walking the same sinful path. That’s not repentance.  Jesus says, “Repent of your sins. Then come, follow me.”

Holy Communion
In Holy Communion, we remember what Christ did for us so we can repent. 
Jesus died on the cross to give us a chance to repent of sin and turn to God and be forgiven.
Just and bread and wine nourishes our body, the sacrament of Holy Communion nourishes our soul and strengthens us to repent and walk with Jesus as disciples.

If you need to repent, do it today.
And let this sacrament nourish and strengthen you to walk with the Lord from this day forward.

Smyrna - Faithful Through Suffering | A Sermon on Revelation 2:8-11

Is it real or is it cake?
We're going to start off with a game today—because, well, I just think it'll be fun.

In the following pictures several different item, some items are real and some are made of cake?  Can you tell which is real and which is cake?

Which apples are real and which are cake?

Which oranges are real and which are cake?

Which shoe is real and which is cake?

And now I'll show you the answers:

Introduction
The cake picture game ties right in with the sermon. Revelation, the book we’re studying, is a divine vision that helps us see that things in this world are not always what they seem.

Sometimes you think something’s real—but it’s cake. And sometimes you think it’s fake—but it’s real.

We can’t always believe everything we see, hear, or are told. There's more going on beneath the surface.

Even when it comes to the news, there’s always bias—on both sides. Everyone has a point of view. We try to be objective, but there’s always a lens through which we see things.

Scripture tells us that we don’t wrestle with flesh and blood alone—we’re in the middle of spiritual warfare. Revelation pulls back the curtain to show what’s really going on. What we see with our eyes isn’t the full story.

Revelation was given to the apostle John around A.D. 95–96 to encourage Christians facing severe persecution under Emperor Domitian.  These believers were suffering terribly, and Jesus was saying: There’s more going on here than what you see. Don’t give up hope. God is doing something big—something eternal.

In Revelation 1:19, Jesus says, “Write down what you have seen—both the things that are now happening and the things that will happen.”

So, this vision includes current events (for them), as well as future ones. And when we say “future,” we need to remember: that just means anything after A.D. 95—some of which may have already happened long ago from our perspective.

Of course, Revelation also includes things yet to come. But the danger is thinking it’s all about us or about the end times. It’s not just a code to crack. It’s a message for all God’s people through all time.

Let’s read Revelation 2:8–11, the message to the church in Smyrna.

Revelation 2:8-11
⁸ “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Smyrna. This is the message from the one who is the First and the Last, who was dead but is now alive:

⁹ “I know about your suffering and your poverty—but you are rich! I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan. ¹⁰ Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.

¹¹ “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.

This is the Message from the One
The people of Smyrna were suffering. The Christians in Smyrna were suffering. They needed hope so that they could endure. And Jesus reminds us, he he starts to offer them hope by reminding them who he is. 

This is what he says. He says, "This is the message from the one who is the first and the last. The one who was dead but now alive." And so He's reminding them in a subtle way, Jesus is the first and the last. 

They are suffering. It is real suffering. But He wants them to think of this in the context of eternity. What they are suffering is happening right now. But this is in within the context of eternity. 

Jesus also suffered. Remember, it was an awful suffering that He had to go through in the passion. Being tortured, being betrayed, being crucified, awful torture. It was the worst form of torture and pain you could inflict upon the human body to be nailed to a wooden cross until you die. Jesus experienced that suffering. 

And yet, Jesus was the first and the last. In other words, Jesus existed before time and he will always exist. That's a mind blowing expanse of time to think of. And yet in this one moment he experienced suffering. That doesn't take away the fact that He suffered, but it puts it in a broader scheme, a broader scale.  

These people in Smyrna were suffering. But Jesus is saying this is upon a grand scale that you can't even comprehend.  And there's going to be a time 10 billion years from now after you've been in glory in eternity for 10 billions of 10 billions of 10 billions of years. This moment of suffering is going to be forgotten.  It's not going to seem as bad. 

And Jesus also says He is the one who was dead but now is alive. And this is another reminder. Jesus went through suffering.  He even died and yet he is now alive. And this is an important thing to remind the people in Smyrna because some of them may die in the suffering but they are going if they follow Jesus just as He is alive they also are going to be alive again. we realize.

I know about your suffering and your poverty—but you are rich!
He says, "I know about your suffering and your poverty, but you are rich."  Again, this is part of how Revelation turns everything upside down. Because because when they looked at their situation, the church in Smyrna was suffering. They were being persecuted and they were poor. 

Their poverty wasn't their fault. It's not like they made a bad decision and invested in the wrong stock or the economy went south and they lost all their money. They were poor because of persecution.

So here's the situation in Smyrna in the first century.  There was not such a great distinction between Jewish people and Christian people as there is today.  In the first century most Christians were Jewish people who believed that Jesus was the Messiah.  And so Jewish people and Christian people were in the same community and they worshiped together and they worked together. They did business with one another. 

But many of the Jewish people began to resent Christian people and thought they were heretics because they believed in Jesus Christ.  And it wasn't just a theological dispute. They actually thought, "We can turn them into the Roman authorities and say that they are not legitimate Jewish people, but they're heretics, that they're atheists, that they don't believe in the Roman gods, and that they're doing all kinds of bad things."  And they would turn Christians in and the Roman government would take Christian's property, take their businesses, take their money, and oftentimes the authorities would give some of it to their Jewish neighbors. This was a great betrayal that was happening. So Christians in Smyrna weren't poor because they'd made bad decisions. They were poor because they were persecuted.  People they formerly thought of as friends and neighbors were persecuting them. And yet Jesus says, "You you are suffering and are impoverished, but actually you are rich."  He turns it all upside down. 

How can this be? How can they are rich when they have no money, and their homes have been taken from them and nobody will do business with them anymore because they are Christians?

Remember what Jesus said.  He said, "Don't store up treasures on earth where rust corrupts it and moths eat it and where thieves break in and steal it.  Don't store up treasures on earth. Store up treasures in heaven where neither rust nor moth nor thieves can destroy it. Where your treasure is, there your heart  will be also." 

And so what Jesus is saying here is that because they have suffered for the sake of God's kingdom and for Jesus Christ, they have made their bank accounts on earth may be empty but a their bank accounts in heaven are busting at the seams. Their suffering on earth is creating great deposits in heaven.

A lot of people would say, "Well, so what? There's still suffering on earth."  But the idea within the Christian faith is we need to be focused on eternity and not on just what's happening right now. Because Jesus is the beginning and the end. And eternity spans from before time began till after time ends. It goes on forever. And the suffering that we experience in this life or the wealth that we experience in this life or the poverty, it lasts but an instantand then it is gone. But what remains for us in eternity is forever.

There are Christians in our world who are poor now whom we look at and feel pity for but in eternity  they will be the richest people we know and that will last forever. There are many Christians who seem so wealthy now, who will be impoverished for eternity because they focused on what happena in this little tiny span of time we call life and didn't focus on eternity.

We need to be sure that we are investing in our heavenly wealth and less focused on our earthly wealth. And I want to point out that the poverty that Jesus is talking about here is not poverty that comes from making poor financial decisions, right?  Because we spent our money on things and didn't manage it well in this life.  That's not what he's talking about. He's talking about people who are poor because they've suffered persecution.

The Synagogue of Satan
Verse 9b – “ I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan.”

Again Jesus is saying what you see is not all that there is.  There were many people living alongside these Christians who said that they were God's people. "We are God's people because we follow the Bible. We go to synagogue every Sunday. We worship God."

Yet their actions actually opposed Jesus Christ.  They were not God's people. They were actually Satan's people because they were opposing Jesus, opposing God's plan of salvation, opposing people who were trying to turn back to God through Jesus Christ.

There were many people in the world today who claim to be religious and outwardly look religious, but they were not.  Today in our world just because someone goes to church or says they are Christian doesn't mean they are a true follower of Christ.  Everything is not necessarily as it appears. We have to ask the question: Do they really follow Jesus?  Do these people who claim to be religious truly follow Jesus live the way He calls us to live?  Do they sacrifice the way He calls us to sacrifice?  

Many who claim to be a follower of Christ actually oppose Christ and His Kingdom by their actions.

“Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer.” Why Not?
Jesus told Christians in Smyrna not to be afraid of what they are about to suffer. What He said to them applies to us too.  We need not be afraid of suffering.  And here’s why.

First, Jesus Has Already Overcome Suffering and Death
Remember who Jesus is – He is the one who “was dead and now is alive forever.”  We will live forever too if we follow Him. If we are faithful to Him in a kingdom where there is no more suffering and no more death.  So we don't need to fear suffering because Jesus has already overcome it.  Have faith!

Second, Jesus Is With Us During Our Suffering
We don't go through it alone. Remember Jesus is the one who walks among the lampstands (Rev. 2:1). In other words, He is walking among us. He is with us as we suffer and He holds the leaders of the church in his right hand.  He cares about us. He is with us. He will never leave us or forsake us. And actually, contrary to what we usually think, suffering is a benefit to us. It is a chance for us to draw closer to Christ. It is a chance for us to deposit wealth in our eternal bank account. It is a chance for us to experience Christ walking with us in a very real and intimate way.

Third, Eternal Glory Awaits the Faithful
Jesus said in Revelation 2:10, "Be faithful even to the point of death, and it will give you and I will give you the crown of life." 

Recently, I was sick. I had to go to a clinic up in Varnell. It was just seemed like it was just a cold, but it wasn't going away. And I felt terrible. Had no energy, sore throat. I got there and they did the evaluation on me and said, 'All right, we know what's wrong with you. We've got some medicine that will help make you better.  We can either give you some pills and it'll take a couple of days or we can give you a shot and it'll go to work right away. Which one do you want?"

And I thought, give me the shot! And some people would say, "Well, why would you do that? I'd rather take the pills." Well, one thing I don't really like taking pills. They're annoying. You have to remember to take them. But a shot hurts. And it's that needle. And a lot of people are really scared of those needles. And I don't like them either. And yeah, it does hurt when they stick it in your in your arm. 

But my thinking is that pain, it lasts for a few seconds and then the medicine goes to work right away and I start to feel better. I can take a little pain for a few seconds. Now, that seems like a a silly example and I don't want to belittle the suffering we face.  But when you put earthly suffering in the scheme of eternity, then our suffering becomes so so small.  It's here for a moment and then gone.

Suffering is temporary, but our reward from suffering is eternal.  Jesus promises a crown of life, eternal victory, honor, joy for those who endure suffering and remain faithful. And when our faithfulness leads to more suffering, it means that we will have even more rewards in heaven.

Closing
There is always more going on than meets the eye.  God is working behind the scenes.  We must learn to trust Him and to look with spiritual eyes and listen with spiritual ears.  God is in control.  And the Kingdom of Heaven is eternal and it is breaking into our world.  And Jesus is with us.

As we close, I want to share a responsive reading to remind us to listen and hear what the Spirit says to us today.

Responsive Reading

All:  The Spirit of Christ walks among us and speaks to our hearts.  Let anyone with ears to hear listen to the Spirit and understand.

Leader:  Even when I feel alone, I am never forsaken.
People:  Let anyone with ears to hear listen to the Spirit and understand.

Leader:  Even when the world seems dark, God’s light is still shining.
People:  Let anyone with ears to hear listen to the Spirit and understand.

Leader:  Even when I don’t see the way forward, God is already making one.
People:  Let anyone with ears to hear listen to the Spirit and understand.

Leader:  Even when I am weak, His power is made perfect.
People:  Let anyone with ears to hear listen to the Spirit and understand.

Leader:  Even when I see only loss, God is working for redemption.
People:  Let anyone with ears to hear listen to the Spirit and understand.

Leader:  Even when I feel unworthy, I am called and dearly loved.
People:  Let anyone with ears to hear listen to the Spirit and understand.

All:  There’s more going on than meets the eye.  We must look with spiritual eyes and listen with spiritual ears—not just physical ones. Behind the scenes, God is doing more than we realize.  Let anyone with ears to hear listen to the Spirit and understand.

The 7 Churches of Revelation | A Sermon on Revelation 1:9-20

Introduction
I’m really excited to kick off a brand-new message series with you today.  We’re diving into the Seven Churches of Revelation.  These 7 churches were real communities of believers. Jesus had specific words for each of them. And here’s the powerful part:
He’s still walking among His churches today, just like He was back then.
He holds us in His hand. He sees everything.
And He still speaks with wisdom we need for our lives today.

In this series, we’ll read the seven letters Jesus sent to His people nearly 2,000 years ago.  We’ll listen closely to what those letters say to us as a church called to shine in the 21^st century.  Before we dive in, let me clear up a few things that will help us read Revelation the way it was meant to be read:

First, it’s Revelation, not Revelations. There is no “S” on the end of Revelation. One vision. One message. One incredible unveiling of Jesus Christ. 

Second, this book wasn’t written as some distant, cryptic code about the end times.  It was written to encourage real Christians in the first century who were facing real persecution. Yes, it has layers of meaning that stretch across time and eternity, but it was first and foremost to help first century persecuted Christians.  And they needed real, immediate help—not a book focused on things that would happen thousands of years in the future.  That being said, Revelation can speak to us too, but only if we understand how it spoke to Christians in the first century.

Third, Revelation is full of vivid, powerful symbols. So don’t get stuck trying to picture dragons, beasts, and lampstands as literal things. Instead, look for what they represent. The meaning behind the image is where the real power lies.  OK, let’s dive right in.

Revelation 1:9-20
⁹ I, John, am your brother and your partner in suffering and in God’s Kingdom and in the patient endurance to which Jesus calls us. I was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God and for my testimony about Jesus. ¹⁰ It was the Lord’s Day, and I was worshiping in the Spirit.^[a] Suddenly, I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet blast. ¹¹ It said, “Write in a book^[b] everything you see, and send it to the seven churches in the cities of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”

¹² When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands. ¹³ And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man.^[c] He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. ¹⁴ His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire. ¹⁵ His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. ¹⁶ He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance.

¹⁷ When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. ¹⁸ I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.^[d]

¹⁹ “Write down what you have seen—both the things that are now happening and the things that will happen.^[e] 20 This is the meaning of the mystery of the seven stars you saw in my right hand and the seven gold lampstands: The seven stars are the angels^[f] of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

The Author
First of all, who wrote the book? Who received the revelation? It was John. This is a specific John—he is one of the twelve disciples. He is the one who wrote the Gospel of John, the letters of John, and here he is receiving the Revelation of Jesus Christ. John is known as the beloved disciple. He was very close to Jesus while Jesus walked upon the earth. He was in the inner circle along with his brother James and Peter, the leader of the disciples. He was there and saw Jesus being transfigured, with Moses and Elijah appearing beside Him. He was there when Jesus was crucified on the cross. Jesus said, 'This is my mother,' and in a cryptic way, He entrusted the care of His mother to John.

John is also a brother to those to whom he is writing. He’s a brother because he’s a Christian, but also because he has shared in their suffering. He is giving them a word from the Lord to help them through their persecution, but he’s not doing it as someone who has lived a comfortable, cozy life. John has faced troubles and tribulations. He has seen people he loved tortured and killed. He himself is currently in exile on the prison island of Patmos simply because he has testified that Jesus Christ is alive and that He is the Messiah and the Son of God.

As John shares this revelation with the seven churches, he is able to say, 'I know what you're going through—I'm going through it too. I'm a brother.' He received this revelation on the Lord’s Day, which is significant. It shows that Christians in New Testament times were worshiping on Sunday, the Lord’s Day. Most early Christians were Jewish and traditionally worshiped on the Sabbath (Saturday), but they began to worship on Sunday because it was the day Jesus rose from the grave. It became the Christian tradition to gather on the Lord’s Day to worship.

The 7 Churches
John is told to write this down and send it to the seven churches. These are real churches that were located in what is today modern-day Turkey. They were not the only churches at the time—there were also churches in Jerusalem, Rome, and Alexandria—but these seven were chosen to receive this revelation.

The seven churches named are: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.

It’s important to understand that in New Testament times, when they said 'church,' they weren’t talking about a building. They were talking about the gathering of believers. Today, when we say 'church,' we usually think of the building—'I’m going to church this morning'—meaning a location like Pleasant Grove Methodist or Grove Level Baptist.

But literally, 'church' means the gathering of the believers. Each city would have a gathering of believers. They might not have had a church building like we have today. They might have gathered in homes, or even in secret. Still, you would say that is the church in Jerusalem, or the church in Ephesus—it’s all the believers living in that city.

So when we talk about these seven churches, we’re talking about seven different communities of Christians—not buildings, but people—whom Jesus was addressing through John’s revelation.

7 Lampstands
There are a lot of symbols in this passage we’ve read, so let’s go through some of them. The first is the seven lampstands. Jesus tells us in the passage that these represent the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.

It’s fitting that they are represented as lampstands because they are meant to shine God’s light into a dark world. This has always been the purpose of God’s people. Even in the Old Testament, God said that the Jewish people were to be a light to the nations—a light to the Gentiles living in darkness.

In the New Testament, we see that the Church now fulfills that role. The Church is represented as candles or lampstands burning brightly for Christ, because that is the purpose of the Church. And that is the number one thing we need to receive from this today: if we are part of the Church, what is our purpose? It is to shine the light of Christ.

We sometimes get this wrong. We think the Church is where we come primarily to get fed, to get a blessing, or maybe to celebrate a tradition we love, or even to be entertained by good music or a good message. But those things, while meaningful, are not the purpose of the Church. The purpose of the Church is to shine for Jesus Christ.

Just like it was in the first century, it is for us today as well.

Son of Man
In the passage, it says that the one like the Son of Man is walking among the churches, among the lampstands. Who is this 'Son of Man' figure? It is the Messiah, Jesus Christ. From Daniel 7:13, we learn that the Messiah—Jesus, the glorified and risen Christ—is given authority by God and referred to as the Son of Man.

As we read through the description of this figure, it becomes clear that this is Jesus. He is wearing a long robe and a golden sash—garments that resemble those of a high priest and a king. Jesus is both. He is our great High Priest who intercedes for us, and He is the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Often when we picture Jesus, we think of the baby born in a manger, or the suffering Savior hanging on the cross. But in this vision, we see the glorified Lord—radiant, powerful, and full of majesty. There is nothing weak or broken about this Jesus. He wears the robe and the golden sash as our reigning Lord.

His hair is white, not from age or weakness, but as a symbol of divine wisdom and purity. His face shines like the sun—radiant with overwhelming holiness. His eyes are like flames of fire, meaning He sees into the very soul of a person. He knows the true condition of your heart, your family, your church, and your community.

His feet are like polished bronze—strong, stable, and unshakable. His voice sounds like rushing waters—majestic and authoritative. And from His mouth comes a sharp double-edged sword—not literally, but as a symbol of the power of His words. Hebrews 4:12 tells us that the Word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, able to judge the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Jesus' words pierce deeply. He speaks to the seven churches—and He speaks to us, too. To the discouraged, the distracted, the faithful, the weary, and the wandering: Jesus speaks. We don’t need to guess what He wants. We can hear it clearly in His Word, especially in the letters we’ll be studying throughout this series.

7 Stars
There is also this image: the Son of Man—Jesus Christ—is holding seven stars in His hand. The passage tells us these are the angels of the seven churches. Now, this can be a little misunderstood. What does that mean?

The word translated as 'angels' can mean heavenly beings, but it also means 'messengers.' In the New Testament world, there was an idea that each church had an angel who watched over it. That’s one interpretation. But there’s another, more practical interpretation too. The early church often saw pastors, bishops, or church leaders as the messengers of God to the churches—God’s representatives delivering His Word.

When Jesus holds these stars in His hand, it’s a powerful image. He’s holding the leaders. He’s protecting them. He’s sustaining them. And that matters especially because this letter was written to people facing intense persecution. Guess who faced the most danger? The leaders. Because leaders are the ones who step out front. They’re the ones who get noticed. And when the authorities wanted to punish someone, they went for the leaders.

So this image says something powerful: Jesus sees the leaders. He holds them in His hand. He cares for them.

I can tell you, as one of your pastors—I need your prayers. Being a messenger isn’t always easy. But it’s comforting to know that Jesus holds me in His hand. And not just me—He holds all of us. Because we’re all called to be His witnesses. We are His people, and He is walking among us.

Closing Meditation
Revelation was shared to help persecuted Christians in the first century looks past their immediate experience.  It called believers to recognize God was at work behind the scenes and that His eternal Kingdom was breaking into our world despite the awful things they were seeing the evil kingdoms of the world perpetrate.

As we close, I want to invite you to close your eyes and try to imagine what God is really doing behind the scenes in our own lives.  So, close your eyes…

… and begin to imagine this room—our church sanctuary—as it really is right now.
Not just filled with people… but filled with lampstands.
One for every believer. One for every family. One for our church.

Each lampstand is glowing because God has given it His own light to shine…
And now, look—Jesus is here…  The risen Lord. The Son of Man.
His robe flows with heavenly majesty… His sash gleams with golden light.
His eyes burn with compassion and truth. His face shines like the sun.  And He is walking…

Jesus is here.  He is not pacing in anger… not rushing by…
But gently, purposefully, walking among us, His lampstands.

He pauses beside you.  He sees you.  He knows your name.
He sees the burdens you’ve been carrying…
He sees the faith no one else noticed…
He sees the doubt you've tried to hide…

He knows your weariness.
He knows your prayers.
He knows your joy.
He knows your sin.

And still… He lays His hand on your shoulder…  and says to you,

“Don’t be afraid.  I am the First and the Last.  I am the Living One.
I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever.  I died for you, because I love you.
I rose for you, so you can live forever with me. 
And now I reign forever, and my Kingdom lives in you.”

Stay with Jesus in this moment.
Let Him speak.
Let Him comfort.
Let Him correct.
Let Him restore.

Now, in a moment, we’ll open our eyes…
but may we not forget what we’ve seen.
Because Jesus is still walking among His churches.
And He’s walking among us.

Amen.