The Authority of Jesus in the churches
Revelation Chapter 1
We are almost done with the introduction to this series and ready to move on to the churches. Actually, I was done but got lost on a small rabbit trail. So, next time readers can go down that trail with me!
Jesus is the head of His church, and his churches. That seems self-evident from scripture, yet somehow along the way that seems to have fallen by the wayside some. I write from the perspective of the work I am part of. One of the things we believe is that Jesus formed His church personally during His earthly ministry. We also believe that each church is an independent body and that no higher ecclesiastical authority can exercise authority over them. I know other works are organized differently in terms of ecclesiastical authority, and that’s fine. Nonetheless, Jesus has full authority over His churches. Regardless of how we have organized within our various tribes of Christianity, ultimately His churches report to Him and Him alone.
In the opening chapter of Revelation, we see that authority claimed quite explicitly by Jesus.
First Jesus claims divine authority as he prepares John to write down the letters He will dictate to the Apostle. “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8. Jesus repeats this declaration again in verse 11. This is the same way God answered Moses when asked who He was. “I am.” Jesus establishes His credentials as the preexistent and eternal God in this section.
The imagery here practically shouts the power and glory of God. “His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. ” Revelation 1:14-16. The hair white as snow seems to represent the holiness of God. We see eyes like a flame of fire that can see all that His churches are doing, even what they may think is hidden. Quite a few scholars see the brass feet represent the judgment of God, and possible judgment on sin in His churches. Not all agree on every particular of the meaning of all the imagery, but all agree of what it represents, and that is the power, holiness, and authority of God. Jesus being endowed with all of these things clearly established Jesus’ authority as well.
As we alluded to before, the fact that Jesus sent seven letters is likely no accident. Since seven represents the completeness of God, this seems to be an allusion to Jesus’ authority over all churches at all times.
Revelation 1:20 “The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.”
That the seven candlesticks are the churches is easy and clear; the meaning of the stars might be ambiguous, but I don’t think so. Angels can be translated as messengers. Since we don’t see any evidence elsewhere that actual angels have ever had authority in the churches, it seems likely this is a referral to the pastors, elders or other leaders of these congregations. Jesus is walking among the candlesticks; today He is still among and within His churches. Jesus literally holds the angels in His hand; He is in control of His churches and its leaders.
Friends, our congregations are not alone. Jesus even today is walking among them and has full control of what is happening in them. There is nothing going on, good or bad, that He is not in full awareness of.
Jesus had words to say to His churches then. Some were good words, and some were not good words. In this opening chapter, He clearly established His full presence with, knowledge of, and authority over the churches. In the following two chapters we will see what he had to say to the seven churches of Asia, and by default what He has to say to us today.
July 22, 2019 at 10:07
Love it, Wally!
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July 22, 2019 at 10:56
Thanks Ben
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July 22, 2019 at 11:15
I’ve forgotten work you are a part of, but I agree. We attend a non-denominational church (www.bvg.org)and while it still has elements of what Frank Viola and George Barna describe as “Pagan Christianity” it meets our needs. Lately, the senior pastor has really been emphasizing our mission “to make disciples.”
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July 22, 2019 at 11:17
Well our historical roots from a century ago are Independent Baptist if the helps. I like what your senior pastor is up to Don.
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July 22, 2019 at 11:55
That name seems to explain a lot. I’m not sure of the complete history of our church, but I do know that it was birthed as a German Breathern congregation and several are still on staff and attend. We planted another church in a neighboring community several years ago that is independent and are in the process of opening an extended campus in another neighboring city. Rather than broadcasting our service, they will have their own staff from our existing staff and will be meeting in the City’s Community Center. Our Men’s Pastor has already started to meet with the guys over there. Attendance is about 40 every morning at 0600. We average about 180 on Monday nights and another 100 on Tuesday morning at our location. The key to Men’s is that we are at an assigned table of 8 that allows us to form a Band of Brothers. I started there because of the Men’s Pastor. We worked together at the City of Modesto. He was a Battalion Chief in the Fire Department and I was the Risk Manager and also served as the Chief Negotiator for the City in negotiations with the Fire Union. Attended Men’s one and one-half years before ever going to a service. Have left since. I know, TMI, but it felt good sharing.
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July 22, 2019 at 12:17
Don you feel free to share anyways. I have a Facebook friend who belongs to a Brethren church but I’m not very familiar
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July 22, 2019 at 14:35
Neither am I. I’m not familiar with their doctrine, but the are very conservative in their dress. Most of the women wear very modest ankle-length dresses and wear a white bonnet on their heads. Mean are usually dressed in their Sunday best and have beards.
It seems many of them are farmers.
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July 22, 2019 at 14:36
That sounds like Mennonites. We have a lot in our area
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July 22, 2019 at 12:05
I’m really interested in your perspective of the seven letters.
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July 22, 2019 at 12:58
Reblogged this on a simple man of God and commented:
The only thought I would add to Wally’s commentary is that it is good for pastors to know and meet with other leaders, for accountability and encouragement. Both are helpful and needed for Christ’s Church. Otherwise, here is his continuation of the series on the Seven Churches of Revelation.
Daniel
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July 22, 2019 at 13:09
Thanks Daniel I totally agree. In fact, we form associations at the local, state and national level just for the purpose of agreement on issues, accountability and conducting businesses. Its just that the association doesn’t exercise authority over the local churches. Churches may withdraw and conversely any association may withdraw fellowship from a church that goes over the edge in doctrine or conduct.
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July 22, 2019 at 13:18
You could say I was adding clarification! Non-denominational churches clearly operate the same way (full disclosure: we currently are members of a non-denom. church … in fact, we are some of the newest in the congregation, but we were the first to officially become members with the newly made membership!) One of the reasons we were happy to come serve with this church is that Pastor Scott regularly meets with other pastors and leaders around town and even the state. I like associations and denominations for the all of these reasons of accountability, encouragement, and discipline as necessary. The only way for a single, non-denom. church to really deal with poor/bad/false teaching is for the congregation to leave. This can lead to other issues, as well …
But the point is this is a great post!
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July 22, 2019 at 13:19
Great conversation too!
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July 22, 2019 at 13:43
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
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July 22, 2019 at 13:43
Thanks brother Vincent
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July 22, 2019 at 16:16
Reblogged this on Logos Speaks.
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July 22, 2019 at 16:17
Thanks so much
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July 22, 2019 at 16:22
Amen. The Word is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. I does not change.:)
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July 22, 2019 at 16:22
Nope
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July 22, 2019 at 17:58
Well written.
What John witnessed was what he described. Much like Daniel and the prophets of Old, John was a scribe of the future. This is why Christ told John that what he was to record was for a future generation that should see the end of days. His description of the King of kings is not metaphorical. It was a direct description of what John saw.
Yeshua our Messiah is seated high upon his Jasper throne, shining like the light of a thousand stars. His eyes are blazes of fire. His feet like polished brass burnt in a fire. Head and hair white as wool. White robe dipped in blood. his name is Righteous and True. He is seated upon a white horse. He judgeth and maketh war. HalluluJah
Gloria Adonai
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July 22, 2019 at 18:07
Well I concur John saw exactly what he said. Great comment thank you
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July 22, 2019 at 18:08
Yes sir. Jesus Christ is Lord. May God Bless you richly in all spiritual wisdom. -John
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July 22, 2019 at 22:47
Amen! “Friends, our congregations are not alone. Jesus even today is walking among them and has full control of what is happening in them. There is nothing going on, good or bad, that He is not in full awareness of.” The whole world in fact!
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July 23, 2019 at 06:43
For sure
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July 23, 2019 at 02:11
This gave me great comfort: That the church belongs to Christ
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July 23, 2019 at 06:44
It sure does. Yet some act like it belongs to some preacher, bishop or Pope
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July 23, 2019 at 12:36
Yep. That’s going to go in a bad direction
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July 23, 2019 at 09:00
Reblogged this on Broken Pieces and commented:
More great thoughts from Wally Fry
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July 23, 2019 at 09:03
Thanks much!
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July 30, 2019 at 12:20
As always, i am a bit late to the party 😉 but i just wanted to add this little bit to the discussion…
I have heard an argument made that the verse where Jesus says “the stars arent stars, theyre angels (= messengers = pastors, that is, “preachers of the Word”) and the candlesticks arent candlesticks (theyre churches, where the light of the word shines, that is, the Word is preached), that in this verse Jesus is giving us a “key” by which we can “decode” his message, and that the original Jewish Christian readers would have immediately understood the allusions to Old Testament imagery and made the connections. And just as a personal observation, this lines up with my own experience – the better i know my OT scriptures, the better i understand the message in the Revelation.
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July 30, 2019 at 12:28
Thanks!
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