Revelation 1:11-19

John turned to see the speaker whose voice had startled him, and his eyes rested upon. vision of surpassing glory. He beheld seven golden lamps, and among them walked one "like unto the Son of Man." He was not like the Son of Man as he had seen him when he walked in humility upon the earth with his divine glory veiled by the likeness which he had assumed to sinful flesh, but more like the transfigured Christ as he had appeared on the holy mount to his wondering disciples. He was arrayed in. kingly robe and girt with. girdle of gold. Heavenly purity was indicated by the dazzling whiteness of his head and hair, and the splendor that shone from his countenance was like that of the unclouded sun. Every manifestation of the divine glory is accompanied with brilliancy and splendor. "In him there is no darkness at all." The burning bush of Horeb, the glory of Sinai, the Shekinah of the tabernacle, the City of which God and the Lamb are the light, the transfigured Savior of Hermon, the Son of Man of Patmos, and all the visions of the prophets of both covenants, indicate that whenever Deity manifests itself, there is. revelation of heavenly splendor. The Son of Man, the Man of Sorrows, the Lamb of God, is also the Bright and Morning Star, and the Sun of Righteousness. It is thus, crowned with majesty, garbed in light, and shining as the sun, that John beholds the Son of Man walking amid the golden candlesticks and holding the seven stars in his hands. Though he had been familiar with the lowly Jesus is brother with brother, had leaned upon his bosom, and had seen the glory of the transfiguration; when he beheld the wonderful vision of Patmos, his heart sank within him and he fell to the earth as one whose life had fled; but when the hand that held the seven stars was laid upon him, it was with the same familiar tenderness that he had known in the bygone years in the earthly Christ. Then the Lord declared the purpose of his coming, saying:

Fear not;. am the first and the last;. am he that liveth and was dead; and behold,. am alive forevermore, Amen; and. have the keys of hell and death. Write the things which, thou hast men; the things that are, and the things that shall be hereafter.

A careful study of the first chapter shows:

1. That Revelation is. message of the Lord;

2. It is made directly to the seven churches of Asia;

3. It is written to the seven stars of the churches;

4. The book records what John had seen, or the vision of the Son of Man on Patmos; the things that are, or the condition of the churches as unfolded by Christ, and the things that shall be, or. revelation of events yet concealed in the womb of the future;

5. The vision of the Savior walking among the golden candlesticks and holding the seven stars in his hand, teaches. lesson of trust in him. He is with his people always; always in the midst of the churches.

The letters written to the angels of the seven churches occupy the second and third Chapter s.. shall not consider these in detail, but there are certain matters which pertain to all of them, that it is not proper to pass over.