May I please God to be with us
this evening as we meditate for a few moments in the last few
verses in the first chapter of the book of the Revelation. So
the book of the Revelation, the first chapter and reading verses
18, 19 and 20. So 18, 19 and 20 in the first
chapter in the Revelation. I am he that liveth and was dead. And behold, I'm alive forevermore. Amen. And have the keys of hell
and of death. Write the things which thou hast
seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be
hereafter. 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. So these few verses conclude
really the introduction to this book and the revelation that
John was given when he was on the Isle of Patmos. And this
18th verse commences really with a wonderful and glorious statement
of the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. And he says, I am he
that liveth and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore.
Well, we know that the Lord Jesus Christ ever lived from eternity. It's a great mystery beyond your
and my understanding. But nonetheless, it's quite clear
in scripture. And we should be thankful to
realize we have such a great almighty God. who liveth and
then was dead. As we know, he died upon that
cross at Calvary in his human body. Of course, his Godhead
did not die, but his body did. And therefore, he was dead. And
as we know, he rose again the third day. And then we read,
and behold, I am alive forevermore. And that again is a grand statement
because it's very clear about the eternity of Almighty God. And because of that, the eternity
for ourselves, for our souls to realise that we shall live
forevermore. There will be no escape if we
wanted to. If we're in glory, I'm sure we
would not want to escape. But if we were found in hell,
I'm sure we would want to escape. But there is no escape. And so,
therefore, we have this great statement about the Saviour.
I am he that liveth and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Very clear, isn't it? Amen. So let it be. And then we're
told, and he has the keys of hell and death. He knows our
eternal destiny. He knows where we will spend
eternity. Either in hell or with the Saviour
in glory. And the Saviour, you see, tells
us then, He has the keys of hell and death. And what a tragic
scene that will be. if we find ourselves in that
awful place, having heard the Gospel, having listened to the
Gospel, having read the Word of God, having meditated on the
glory of the Saviour. But oh, what a blessing if God
comes and gives us that believing heart. so that we believe the
great truths of the Gospel. As the Philippian Jailer said,
what must I do to be saved? And my friends, we all have said
that, or if you haven't as yet, say it soon. And to realise,
what must I do to be saved? And the Apostle said, believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ. and thou shalt be saved. What
a wonderful, wonderful truth that is and what
a blessing it is if you and I are given faith. We must be given
faith and we need to be given faith to believe. And so he then
says, write the things which thou hast seen and the things
which are and the things which shall be hereafter. And he was
therefore to write all those things which are recorded in
the remaining 21 chapters in the Revelation. Those things
which will come, things which are, and the things which shall
be hereafter. The Apostle was given this vision,
a little sight, you and me today to realise those things which
are to come. And what a blessing again if
as we read these great truths and realise the solemnity of
them and the truth of them And it speaks about those things
which will come upon the earth. And then he says, the mystery
of the seven stars, which thou sawest in thy right hand. Well, the mystery of the seven
stars are indeed the seven angels, or the seven ministers. And it's a great blessing, therefore,
to realize that God has sent these into the world. The mystery
of the seven stars, which thou sawest in my right hand, and
the seven golden candlesticks. And so the seven stars are the
angels of the seven churches. And the seven candlesticks, which
thou sawest, are the seven churches. We may ask, why were only seven
churches mentioned? Well, we don't know is the answer.
I mean, we could wonder why there's no mention of Corinth or Antioch
or Rome, but nonetheless the Scriptures are silent on these
things. And we have to be thankful that
we have got those letters which were written to the seven churches. We know there was one written
to the church from Laodicea, but we don't have a record of
that. So we should be thankful again that God has revealed these
great truths to instruct us and to encourage us as you and I
journey through this world. Well, these very simple words
which conclude this first chapter of the Book of Revelation. And
may they have and abide in our minds and realize the reality
of such words. They're not just figments of
our imagination. but they are the Word of God
that John saw, John heard when he was on the Isle of Patmos
and was able to write them down and we today are able to read
those words some 2,000 years ago and how applicable they are
for us today and especially as we come nearer and nearer to
the end of all things on this earth, when indeed that word
will be spoken, the trumpet will be sounded, and time shall be
no more. Well, may he, if he comes while
we're on the earth, the Lord says, be also ready. May that be our great concern,
to be ready when that call shall come.