He held the past, He holds the present, He holds the future!
April 28th, 2010 by Kristi Stephens
Remember back to your English classes in school when you were told to write a thesis statement at the end of your introductory paragraph for a 5 paragraph essay? In your thesis statement you would outline the points you would cover in more detail in the remainder of your essay.
In Revelation 1:19, we find the “thesis statement” for the book of Revelation.
Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.
- “What John has seen”- this seems to cover the vision of Jesus recorded in Revelation one.
- “What is now” – chapters 2 and 3 are letters to seven literal churches which were present in John’s day.
- “What will take place later” – this statement seems to cover the rest of the book, chapters 4-22.
In coming posts we will begin to look more closely at the letters to the seven churches and then begin looking at the third section of “what will take place later.”
For today, I’d like to end with Jesus’ explanation of a portion of John’s initial vision in chapter one:
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 of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
John MacArthur and the commentary of Jamison, Fausset, Brown both agree that the “angels” of the seven churches are not members of the angelic host, but would be better translated “messengers” as they seem to refer to overseeing pastors of these local churches. [In the letters to the churches these individuals are charged with wrongdoing at times, and this would not fit an interpretation of holy angels.]
Jesus holds these overseers of His church in His right hand – He is fully in control. He is ruling His Church and each local body of believers. Verse 13 describes Jesus as walking among the lampstands. Jesus is present and active in the midst of His Church.
I don’t know about you, but I find great comfort in the fact that Jesus is in the midst of His church, that He holds the leadership in His hands, that He is in the midst of the local bodies of believers.
Let me tell you a secret: Every church has issues. As we will see in the letters to the churches in Revelation 2 and 3, some churches have huge, terminal issues and some are healthy overall. But every church is full of people who are saved by grace alone and stumble in many ways.
If you’re struggling in your current church home, let me encourage you to lift your eyes to Jesus, the Lord of the Church. He knows. Pray for your pastors. Love your flawed and sinful brothers and sisters in Christ. Rest in God’s sovereignty and cling to Truth!
He has a plan. He held the past, He holds the present, He holds the future. He is the I Am!
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Art used (with permission) by Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright 1992. To order prints visit her “Revelation Illustrated” site, http://revelationillustrated.com.
- 9 Comments »
- Posted in Revelation
April 28th, 2010 at 7:07 am
Thank you for your words of encouragement. We’ve struggled with our church for years. I needed the reminder that He knows.
.-= Shelli @ Hopefully Devoted´s last blog ..One Thousand Gifts :: Spring =-.
April 28th, 2010 at 7:15 am
Thanks for the reminder to pray for our churches. My dad and I were heavy hearted last night for a few sister churches. May we be people who take seriously the “ministry of reconciliation” as we hold fast to the Truth (the Word and the Person) and show grace to our fellow imperfect Saints. So thankful that God has given us historical examples of other churches where that same grace and need for dependence on Him were needed. Gives us an example to follow today. Thank you Kristi.
April 28th, 2010 at 8:03 am
See, I liked it and I am still leaving a comment… ha!
To pray, to love, to trust, we are the church.
Ginger
(Thanks for the RT for Jamie. Pls cont. to do so and lift her up in prayer, as we believe for complete and total deliverance.)
April 28th, 2010 at 9:37 am
My heart is with yours … I find great comfort in this, and it helps to guide my prayers for His will to be done and rest in His sovereignty. He is so patient with us!
.-= Julie´s last blog ..God Moments at Target =-.
April 28th, 2010 at 11:39 am
Link here from Julie’s blog and your comments on Marriage Monday. I was one of the guest posters that day.
Just read your lead article this morning. Looks very good. I’m impressed with anyone who would tackle Revelation for an open study! I will check back and read what you are writing here.
Thanks,
Warren
.-= Warren Baldwin´s last blog ..In Memory of Hugo Alfredo Tale-Yax =-.
April 28th, 2010 at 7:57 pm
I have been struggling with my church for over a year now. Can I be honest and say I don’t want to pray for them because then God might change them and we’d stay? Totally just realized I’m being like Jonah right now. Your post both encouraged and convicted me. It’s easier for me to gripe and grumble then to bend my stubborn knees and bow my stiff neck to pray for those God has placed in leadership over me. I feel hopeless about them and think, “Nothing can make them change.” There I’m doubting the power of God. Thank you for this…I’ll be working on it.
.-= Melissa Brotherton´s last blog ..Release from the bridle =-.
April 28th, 2010 at 8:15 pm
Oh, Melissa – thank you so much for your honesty and vulnerability. I totally understand and have been there!! These letters to the churches are such encouragement and convict my heart, too – it brings me back to remembering that I can’t change the churches we have been in, only God can! May He encourage your heart and show you specific ways to minister to the body of Christ in your church through prayer!
April 29th, 2010 at 6:06 am
[...] Yesterday we discussed that Christ is the ruling Lord of the Church. He is walking among the lampstands – He is in the midst of the local bodies of believers, holding the individuals over each church body in His sovereign right hand. [...]
April 29th, 2010 at 6:30 pm
Another great post, Kristi. I, too, have “been there and done that” with churches in my lifetime. I’ve come to realize that no church is perfect, and that I am not perfect. I just have to look past all of the negative and keep my eyes focused on Jesus.
I love the fact that He is present and active in the midst of His Church…the incredible body of Christ.