Jesus, the 7 Stars and the Double-Edged Sword (Day 4)

The Seven Stars and Double-Edged Sword

 

The seven lampstands, as we now know represent the seven churches. However, each church had a leader as we do today. Therefore, the seven stars represent the angels (leaders) of the seven churches. Daniel 12:3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. (NIV) Daniel compares those who lead others to God like the stars in the sky.

            Another great example of stars and leadership is how the star led the wise men to Jesus. Matthew 2:9-10 ⁽⁹⁾After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. ⁽¹⁰⁾When they  saw the star, they were overjoyed. (NIV) The wise men had to follow the star, so that they would not lose their way and be able to give their gifts of worship to Jesus. Therefore, the stars that Jesus held signify the angel of the house of leadership that was over the churches and their responsibility as shepherds to lead their flock to God.

        Out of Jesus’ mouth came a double-edged sword. The Bible tells us that the Word of God is likened to a double-edged sword. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (NIV) Jesus never departs from the Word of God. He has and still does the will of his Father. Therefore, all that Jesus says comes from the mouth of the Father as they are One. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (NIV) We have this Word of God in tangible written form through the Bible; it is for the instruction of our lives, so that we may be submissive and perfectly aligned in the complete will of our Heavenly Father. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 ⁽¹⁶⁾All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ⁽¹⁷⁾so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (NIV)

Jesus’ face was described as the showing of brilliance. There is no darkness in Heaven. God is the Light to all who find themselves wondering in the darkness. This is why sin cannot stand in the presence of a Mighty God. His Light exposes who we are to the depths of our soul.

Moses had many talks with God, but after leaving God’s presence, his face always shined. He had to cover himself with a veil because the Children of Israel could not bear to look upon him without fear. Genesis 34:29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. (NIV) Isaiah lets us know that there is no darkness in Heaven. 

God created the sun, moon and stars for us to have as light. However, He is the constant Light that never grows dim. Isaiah 60:19 The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. (NIV) Prior to John’s vision, Jesus had shown the Father’s brilliance when he was with three of the disciples. John 17:1-2 ⁽¹⁾After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. ⁽²⁾There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. (NIV)

 Revelation 1:17-20 ⁽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. ⁽¹⁹⁾ “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. ⁽²⁰⁾The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. (NIV)

John fell as though dead

                 When in the presence of the Lord, there is a reverence that we are to display. God is not a God of foolishness. Therefore we are to come before Him in all respect and honor. However, God’s presence is so mighty that the Bible gives several instances that people fell to the ground in fear because of Him. 

a.) The Disciples – Matthew 17: 5-8 ⁽⁵⁾While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom

I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” ⁽⁶⁾When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. ⁽⁷⁾But Jesus came and

touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” ⁽⁸⁾When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. (NIV)

b.) The Roman Guards – Matthew 28:2-4 ⁽²⁾There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. ⁽³⁾His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. ⁽⁴⁾The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

(NIV)

c.) The Prophet Daniel – Daniel 8:17-18 ⁽¹⁷⁾ As he came near the place where I was standing, I was

terrified and fell prostrate. “Son of man,” he said to me, “understand that the vision concerns the time of the end.” ⁽¹⁸⁾While he was speaking to me, I was in a deep sleep, with my face to the ground.

Then he touched me and raised me to my feet. (NIV)

God never wants His children to be afraid of Him. He does require, however, that we honor, respect and be obedient to Him by offering our lives as a daily sacrifice. The type of fear that God requires is one of reverence and humility. 

 Jesus is the Alpha and Omega

                 Jesus has no beginning or end. Even though He was sent down to earth in the form of a baby, Jesus always existed. Hebrews 7:3 Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever. (NIV) We never have to worry about Jesus dying again. He conquered death when He died upon the cross, so that we may live. He rose from the grave on the third day; therefore, completing the task that His Father had sent Him to do. There are no repeats. There are no reruns. There were not mistakes made. Jesus in all His completeness did the work that man within himself could have never accomplished. This is the Gospel of Christ by which we are saved. Now that you understand what Revelation means, let’s dig into the next lesson and see what Jesus had to say to the seven churches. 

Let’s Test Your Knowledge!

Now that you have completed the lesson, let’s test your knowledge. Read each question below and fill in the blank. Pay close attention to the *(Hint), so that you can find the correct answer. You may refer back to the chapters when answering the questions. One, two, three…here we go!

1.) With a mighty voice he shouted: “ ‘___________! Fallen

      Is_________________________________!’ She has

      become a dwelling for demons and a haunt for every   

      ____________________ spirit, a haunt for every  

      unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable   

      _________________________.

      * (Hint) Revelation 18:2

2.)  Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “ ‘Come

       ______________________________, my people,’ so

       that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not

       receive any of her ______________________;

     * (Hint) Revelation 18:4

3.) ________________________ at her torment, they will

     stand far off and cry: “ ‘________________! Woe to

     you, great city, you mighty city of Babylon! In ____hour

     your doom has come!’

     *(Hint) Revelation 18:10

4.) “They will say, ‘The fruit you longed for is gone from

     you. All your __________________ and ___________     

     have vanished, never to be recovered.’

     * (Hint) Revelation 18:14

5.) Then a mighty ___________________picked up a

       ________________ the size of a large millstone and

       threw it into the sea, and said: “With such violence the

       great city of ______________will be thrown down,

       never to be found again.

      * (Hint) Revelation 18:21

6.) After this I heard what sounded like the __________ of

      a great multitude in heaven shouting: _____________!

      Salvation and glory and power belong to our ________.

     * (Hint) Revelation 19:2

7.) Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the

      _________________ of the ____________ has come,

      and his __________________ has made herself ready.

      * (Hint) Revelation 19:7

8.) Then the angel said to me, “Write this: _____________

      are those who are invited to the __________________

      supper of the_______________!” And he added,

      “These are the true words of God.”

     * (Hint) Revelation 19:9

9.)  He seized the ____________, that ancient _________,

       who is the _____________ or ____________, and

       bound him for a __________________ years.

     * (Hint) Revelation 20:2

10.)  I saw thrones on which were seated those who had

         been given authority to________________. And I saw

         the ______________ of those who had been

         _______________ because of their _______________

        about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had

        not worshiped the ____________ or its ____________

        and had not received its __________ on their     

       ________________ or their____________. They came

       to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

        * (Hint) Revelation 20:4

Tomorrow, we will dig further into the Book of Revelation and see more of what God has to say. You can purchase the complete set of this series, "Revelation: Removing the Prophetic Veil" by K L Rich on Amazon.com.