Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand, he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. (Rev 1:12–16).

John, seeing this vision, draws from the ancient texts of Zechariah, Daniel, Ezekiel, and Isaiah to describe what he was seeing.  In apocalyptic fashion, he describes the revelation of Jesus Christ as one who is in control of the future, the robe, sash, and many waters.  He is also the Ancient of Days, going back into the past, and he is the one in the present.  Here, he is taking care of the Church, with the stars in his hand and the two-edged sword, the Word, in his mouth. Fear not Church, God’s in control!

Knowing this, the seven churches should have placed their confidence in Jesus Christ, the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the one who was, is, and is to come.  In chapter two, we see the Spirit taking inventory of the seven churches to see where they stand.  Some have the Lord in their midst, others chose to do it their way, and some have fallen into sin.  Where would your church stand?