Greetings everyone from Deeper Waters. Tonight, we’re going to begin looking at the seven churches in the book of Revelation and see what we can learn about the person of Jesus in our Trinitarian Commentary. I ask for your prayers before that however. First, as usual, for my continued Christlikeness. (Which could be a good blog topic seeing as someone asked me what I plan to do after I’m done with the Trinitarian Commentary.) Second, for my finances. Third, for success in another area in my life. For now, we go to Revelation 2:1 where we hear how Jesus describes himself to the church in Ephesus.
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands:
When I was reading through Revelation last, I was struck by all the ways Christ described himself to the churches. Each description reveals something about who he is. As I have said earlier in this blog, there is plenty of eschatology in Revelation, but let us not forget that eschatology is secondary to Christology. Our eschatology should reveal to us something about Christ. That is what Revelation does as well. It glorifies Christ.
Christ here writes to this church and he states he is the one who holds the seven stars. This would refer to angels as there are seven churches who are getting this letter. The idea of holding indicates a strong grip that Christ has on them. The church is to hold on to Christ, but he has a stronger hold on the church than the church can have on him.
This should be a warning to those of us who are in some capacity of ministry. I find great comfort in the thought that God does not need me. If I was to vanish from the face of the Earth, his ministry would do just fine. I am in the place I am in by his grace only. That does not mean that I am infallible of course, but it does mean that I should watch myself and not think of myself more highly than I ought.
He walks among the seven lampstands also, which are the seven churches. We should take our churches seriously. Christ is the Lord of the church and as he is walking, he is capable of judging, which is indeed one of the threats given to the church at Ephesus. If they do not repent, they will lose their position. He will judge them.
What can be learned? Christ is Lord simply. The church is to do what they do for his name, as the Ephesian church endured hardships for his name. While this is not an outright claim of deity, it does lend itself to that as it refers to his likely omniscience in being in charge of the placing of leaders and to his omnipresence as being able to be present fully with each church for judgment.
Tomorrow, we shall see what is said to the church in Smyrna about Christ.
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