When it comes to our Faith. to our spiritual state. We have it all in the scripture. That does it mean, does not mean we cannot Read those who write about the scripture doesn't mean we can't learn from other sources. but it has to be filtered through the Word of God.
And if not, then you're going to open yourself up to all sorts of things. that will displease Christ. Mm. Ooh. This is Cross Reference Radio with our pastor and teacher, Rick Gaston.
Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel, Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Revelation. Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross-reference radio, specifically, how you can get a free copy of this teaching. The ultimate hero is Pastor Rick's message today, and he'll be teaching in Revelation chapter 1. Verse 11.
And this is what he heard, saying, I am the alpha and the omega, the first and the last. And what you see write in a book. and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia. To Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Bracamus, to Diatira to Sardis. to Philadelphia.
Antuleo de Sia.
Now the revelation begins to unfold. And it begins. He's been prepped up to this point. But it now begins with An affirmation of of the deity of Christ. If you take that deity away of Christ, Christ, you've messed with his identity.
You're denying who he says he is. To talk about the Trinity is everything. To talk about who Christ is. matters supremely. And this is why Jehovah's Witnesses and the Mormons are classified as heretics and cults because they deny who Christ is.
So it's not a little thing to come across this 11th verse. and dismiss it. But listen to what Isaiah says. Thus says Yahweh.
Now remember, Yahweh in the Old Testament is Jesus Christ in the New Testament. Thus says Yahweh, the king of Israel and his Redeemer. Yahweh of hosts, I The first And I the last. Besides me there is no God. That's doctrine.
From the Old Testament, that shows up repeatedly in the New Testament.
So don't be bewitched. Understand that Christ is saying, I am the beginning and the end. I am the alpha and the omega. He repeats this three other times. He already did it in verse 8.
He's going to do it twice more as we go through Revelation. What you see right in a book.
Well, this is the process of inspired Scripture. All scriptures given by God, God breathed, inspired by God. And it's profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped. You see, that's what you need, the scripture to be thoroughly equipped, to be able to.
Know your doctrine. to reprove, to correct wrong doctrine, For instruction in righteousness. It's all here. Occupy your time with studying the scripture and. with those who study the scripture.
There's great benefit. And if they were, listen, preaching is so important. These stars that are in the right hand of Christ. Those are the preachers. Those are the angels of the church.
And we'll get to that eventually. Then send to the seven churches.
Now, collectively, these will typify all churches. Revelation 22, verse 16: I, Jesus, have sent my angel. Messenger. Don't angels not always one of the spiritual beings. He continues To testify to you these things in the churches.
That's the assemblies. Critical doctrine. Don't sidestep it. This because people can be a problem in churches. Doesn't mean that's the whole story.
Don't be one of them. Within the seven churches, Come. several distinct characteristic. characteristics of people. behaviors of people unto churches.
As individual Assemblies. Through the church age, that started at Pentecost and is continuing. will continue until the church is raptured. There are traces of History in the seven churches. You got to be careful here, but you can't dismiss it on this other side, too, I don't think.
For example, The Laodicean Church is clearly the apostate Last Days Church. The church at Ephesus was the beginning church, the darling church, but after the apostles died off, she began to drift from her love. And then comes the church at Smyrna.
Well, persecution wasn't far behind.
So there is a historical pattern there also, and we'll get to some of that as we go through the churches. That's what will slow us down some. It's so rich. with vital and helpful information. What if the church left the places where she was founded Worse off.
Then before she got there. That happens. Don't be surprised if we come across corrupted churches. The seven churches of Revelation points that out. Jesus is telling us right up front: don't be surprised.
But don't be on that side either. the side of wrong. What if a church? ruin their environment. Made everybody feel good about themselves.
inspired them to do human things. But we're not mindful of the things of God, but of the things of men. That would be satanic. That's what Jesus said. Get behind me, Satan.
You're not mindful of the things of God, but of the things of men. And when a church holds true, and thank God there are enough churches still holding the line. to the scripture. When she holds true, she will impact her environment. They'll either look to snuff that church out Well there'll be more converts.
Verse 12, then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me, and having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands.
Well, Moses also turned to see the burning bush or the bush that was flaming but wasn't being consumed by the. Fire.
Well, John turns to hear a voice. Same Lord in both cases. He saw these seven golden lampstands.
Well, there's a New Testament link to Old Testament Scripture, the Temple of God. Which we said are too numerous in Revelation to really identify. You can do many of them, but they're all over.
Now the most splendid piece of furniture in the tabernacle of Moses and Solomon, was the Ark of the Covenant. Which had on top the mercy seat. Without the mercy seat, The lampstand would mean nothing. Everything would mean nothing. Without the mercy of God, what use would any of it be to us?
We'd be dead in our sins. But there is a mercy seat. There is grace and forgiveness with God. And all these things have life then breathed into them by the mercy of God. The lampstand was the most beautiful article of furniture outside of the holiest of holies.
You could say it was the second most beautiful piece of furniture. Israel was to be a beautiful light to the world. These golden lampstands represent the churches. We're told straight out in verse 20. We are supposed the church is supposed to be the beautiful light to the world.
A beautiful bride.
Now of course evil will try to flip that around. But not everybody will side with evil, and that's how converts are made. It's now what we're seeing here in Revelation is not one sevenfold lampstand, but we're seeing seven sevenfold lampstands. Each lampstand Had seven lamps on it. You could say seven candles.
Solomon had ten in his temple. But these are representing the completeness of the church Thus the seven.
Now the church is not a source of light, but it is to bear that light. Christ is the source. And All that the church Needs It's available to her. Through the Holy Spirit. Through Christ who is in her midst.
the scriptures that we have. the doctrine, the fellowship, communion and prayer. We've got everything we need, thus the seven. To the seven churches, to the seven lampstands. You got it.
But the church often behaves as though she does not have it. Colossians chapter two Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit. Is it the philosophy of the world? When the world comes up, well, let's guess about this. I think this.
The great awakening that was experienced in the 18th century was the church responding to man's age of enlightenment. where they felt that they outfigured God.
Well, coming back to this in Colossians, beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit according to the tradition of men, whether that's religion or not. According to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells the fulness of the Godhead bodily, that would be the Trinity. And you are complete in him. who is the head of all principality and power.
Well, if you're going to lay hold on not having to rely on philosophies and traditions and other things that the world throws, you're going to have to dig into the word. You won't always have to climb up the mountain, but sometimes you will. If you're going to get enough scripture to be stronger, when Peter said his divine power, 2 Peter 1, verse 3. has given to us all things that pertain to life. And godliness.
Through the knowledge of Him who called us. by glory and virtue. What part of Peter's sentence there is a lie? None of it. When it comes to our Faith.
to our spiritual state. We have it all in the scripture. That does it mean does not mean we cannot Read those who read about the scripture doesn't mean we can't learn from other sources. but it has to be filtered through the Word of God. And if not, then you're going to open yourself up to All sorts of things.
that will displease Christ. And this Christ is the ultimate hero. He is the one we want to meet. because he's the one that has done everything for us. He is the one that has loved us.
With a love that we don't deserve. In verse 13, No question. A newborn child, so loved. What has that child done to deserve it? See, there are laws that exist that are high and they are beautiful.
And there They're spread around the earth. How do we bless God? Bible says we can bless God. The same way an infant blesses you when you hold it close to you.
So these things matter. There are things that are related to each other that are superpowers against the influences of hell. And they merit our attention. They come from this hero. And we are very interested.
in what he has to say. And when John is describing him to us as best he can, It is because It made John faint. as if dead. It was that powerful. Let's make sure we get some of it.
Verse 13, and in the midst of the seven lambs stands one like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to his feet, and girded about the chest. with a band.
Well, this uh girded about the chests. Not a sash. like a European mayor might wear in some years back or something like that, this is connecting to the priest. The whole thing with the lampstand is: this is the spiritual environment. on the foundation of the prophets.
And he's girded about the chest with a golden band.
Now he's not a Jewish priest. But he is a priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
Now the priest represents spiritual authority. contact with God between man and God. God's government. Non-mans. Later he will John will mention that out of his mouth came a two edged sword, an unsheathed sword.
The warrior side of the priest. represents The ability to enforce the will of God. The language is veiled, it is symbolic. It is timeless. We don't say, well, why does it have to be so mystical?
That allows it to be timeless to speak to every generation. You won't have to look back too far. to understand what's going on if we remember these things. He says he's in the midst.
Well, true churches are Christ centred. We all know where two or more gathered, Jesus said, There I am in the midst. But how about this from Zephaniah? This is the gems that Scripture gives. It's like the New Testament gifts the Old Testament, and the Old Testament gifts the New Testament.
There's this beautiful relationship, this unity. Zephaniah. Yahweh, your God, in your midst, The mighty one will save. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will Quiet.
You with his love He will rejoice. over you with singing. It's beautiful language. It's right there in the Old Testament. God knew the New Testament saints would be reading these kinds of things.
He owns, Christ owns the non-apostate churches, and he disowns the apostate ones. It's their call. He promises, I'll come and take your lampstand away. You will not be included. In my with my light, associated with my light.
You'll have some junk going on, but I'm not going to be with you. John chapter 8, verse 12. I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness. but have the light of life.
Well, if he comes and takes your lampstand away from you, you'll be in darkness. And that's what an apostate church is and the people who support it. He says, one like the Son of Man.
Well, if you know your Old Testament, you know he's pointing back to Daniel chapter 7. With the ancient of the days. which moves from the Father into the Son, That's the Son of God. One like the Son of Man.
Now, during. the human life of Christ, he applied this title to himself 81 times. That's the kind of stuff you can't miss or you shouldn't miss. If you're familiar enough with the Scripture, you say, boy, this keeps coming up. It is a claim to deity.
It belongs to no one else. Not in the context that it's given to us. Again, it derives from Daniel chapter 9. Were it not for the Old Testament We would have no idea what John's talking about. Lampstands and s you know, uh Girded across the breast with a golden band, the Son of Man.
What is he talking about?
Well, we do know what he's talking about, because we have a foundation, and foundations. are meant to be built upon. They're useless if that's all they are, is a foundation. What can you do with that? But if you build on a foundation, You can do a lot of things.
Incredible things. All the imagery. belonging to Yahweh of the Old Testament. is lavished upon the Son of God, No Bible reader Can honestly come away from the New Testament and deny the glory of Christ. Just take the words of Christ and try putting them in the mouth of Michael the archangel or Peter.
You know, I am the way, the truth, and the life. It doesn't work. It only works if he is everything that he said he is. No man takes my life, I give it. And then he backs it up on the cross.
And he says, Father, into your hands I give my spirit. And he gave up the spirit. Nobody can do that. You can't just say, I'm going to stop living. You'll still be there.
To be laughed at, clothed with a garment down to his feet, adorned.
Somewhat again. as a Jewish priest of his age. And these descriptions are not, of course, all literal. That would just confuse us, but they are purposeful. And they are identifiable.
Poetically, they make their points. That's what God wants, to make the point. Oh, how to do that, to learn to do that. when sharing our faith, was an unbeliever. how to discern what goofy things they're saying.
And how to address them without feeling like you've got to read 500 books on how to share your faith. This one book, read the book of Acts. Read about being dependent on the Holy Spirit. Read about. Not letting anyone deceive you through philosophy and the traditions of men.
And watch and see what kind of power you come away with. And humility will be a part of it. 1 Corinthians 12. Talking about making Points, spiritual points. This is what Paul said.
These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches, but. which the Holy Spirit teaches. Comparing spiritual things with spiritual. It is powerful. I don't know if the quotation of some of these scriptures are being lost on some of you.
I know some of you it's not because you know the word, you love the word, you love to hear the scripture quoted. But maybe there's others that say, Well, I don't know these verses.
Well, you're getting a chance when you hear them read. Eager to learn what our high priest. is doing who he is? In the midst of these lampstands, verse 14. His head and hair were white like wool.
as white as snow, and his eyes like a flame of fire. Though the glory of Christ flamed out on the Mount of Transfiguration. And it's flaming out here in front of John. He makes this grand appearance. Each element describes something about him.
In Daniel in chapter 10, it's almost an exact. representation of what we have here. And that was Daniel speaking with the Jewish people. Under the law, in mind. Here in the New Testament, it is Christ showing up With the New Testament church in mind.
And the New Testament church does not move forward without the Jews. It moves forward with them and Gentiles alike. White as snow, moral purity. Doesn't take much to understand. You know, you can go out and you grab a handful of snow and you can eat it.
So long as it's white as snow. Because you are learn, you know what corruption.
Well, how can it show up in many cases? Anyway, Antichrist. He shows up. riding a white horse. But he's a counterfeit.
And all that follows. Makes that clear. How will the end time converts know that he's a fraud. 'Cause he's gonna be immoral. That's how.
The righteousness won't be there. He'll talk pompous words and just get worse and worse. He comes on the scene acting like he's a man of peace. And Jesus said, beware when they say peace, peace. Trouble's coming.
eyes like a flame of fire. His eyesight is different, a different kind of sight. It sees everything. Hebrews twelve. Our God is a consuming fire.
Fire examines everything. Find out if it's going to take past the test or not, or it's going to perish or be damaged. 1 Peter chapter 1. Verse seven That the genuineness of your faith. being much more precious than gold that perishes, Though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory.
At the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Now, he's not talking about the book of Revelation, it wasn't written then, he's talking about the coming. of Jesus Christ. This will reappear. in scripture twice more. Verse 15, his feet were like Polished brass.
That's the idea behind the Greek there where it says fine brass. It's a polished kind and got like a gold going on with it. His feet were like fine brass as if refined in a furnace, and his voice was a sound of many waters. Again, it would make no sense if we had nothing to go with. His feet are not mixed iron and clay, as the last kings of earth will be, according to Daniel chapter 2.
But this is the strength of judgment. bronze and brass, they're alloys of copper and metals zinc or Yeah. and other things to strengthen them. Copper's not very strong, but if you mix it with things, it's stronger.
Well, copper is resistant to fire, whereas other metals aren't so resistant to fire. But when you make an alloy like this, it becomes stronger And it resists fire. And it's incidentally, his feet are unshot. No sandals made from dead animals. I think that's an interesting thing from an End time view.
Right now it's fine, it's sort of a recycling system. When animals stop eating each other, I'll stop eating animals. And if you don't want to eat them, that's all fine too.
Alright, I was amused by all of that. He didn't seem to register too much with you all. But coming back to this, his feet were like polished brass. The many waters, unmistakable sound. If you've ever been around white water rapids, for example, well this alludes to Ezekiel chapter 43 verse 2 where Ezekiel uses the same language.
This has been Cross-Reference Radio with Pastor Rick Gaston. This program is a radio outreach of Calvary Chapel, Mechanicsville, in Mechanicsville, Virginia. Pastor Rick has been teaching through the book of Revelation, but if you're interested in learning about a different book of the Bible, we have hundreds of past episodes available to listen to on demand. Just visit us online at crossreferenceradio.com and you'll find an archive of Pastor Rick's past teachings. While you're there, you can also find links to follow our program on your favorite podcast app, as well as links to get connected with us on Facebook and YouTube.
There's also an interviews tab where you can learn more about Pastor Rick's heart for ministry.
Well, we hope you'll join us next time here on Cross Reference Radio. Yeah.
