Revive Us Again: Daily Thoughts from Revelation (Revelation 1:17-20)

Oh, Lord Jesus, would you appear to us, your struggling church, your sometimes faithless followers, your holy yet still sin-ridden people? We are embarrassed at our failure to bring honor to you, blessed that you still own us as your church, despite our failures, but long to fulfill the purpose for which you called us. Revive us again.

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.  (Revelation 1:17-20 ESV)

When human beings experience an unmitigated presence of God or angels it results in bodily shock.  Our system is overwhelmed and we are unable to remain fully conscious.  I presume that our senses have too much to process and our minds cannot adequately put together what we are experiencing.

But Jesus puts his hand on John and speaks to him and this seems to help him recover.  He tells him not to be afraid.  Sometimes that is enough to help us recover, if we know what we are seeing is not of danger to us.

Jesus’ other message to John is a personal description, one which has a message to a fainting John, but also to all believers.  He is the first and the last, words that only Yahweh speaks of Himself (Isa 44:6).  He is the living one who died but now lives forever and owns death, possessing its keys.  John cannot remain dead-like in the presence of Life.

Consequently, he instructs John to write the things he has seen (this vision), the things that are (the messages to the churches), and what is to take place after these things (the judgments and coming kingdom).  He begins by explaining that the seven stars in his right hand are the angels of the seven churches and the seven golden lampstands are the seven churches.

Angels figure largely in what follows of the revelation, making announcements, leading in worship of God, and enacting judgments.  But there are also angels who oversee the churches, an angel to a church.  This highlights how important the churches are and also how involved they are in the cosmic war being waged.

The churches are lampstands because they are to shine the light of Jesus himself throughout the world.  They are to bear the truth and love that lightens all people through the darkness.  That is our job in the world.

Are we still moved by our relationship to the risen Lord to be his lampstands and shine forth his glory? Why do we do so many other stupid things other than this? We all need a refreshing vision of Jesus.