Our Bible Text …
“17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. 19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; 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.”
This Paragraph leads us into a seven Lesson series on the Churches of Asia Minor. Three of these “Churches” are specifically reminded of Jesus’ Second Coming!
Thyatira … Revelation 2:25 … But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
Sardis … Revelation 3:3 … Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
Philadelphia … Revelation 3:11 … Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
I forgot to mention this fact in our most recent Lesson!
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Here is the full list of people who saw the Lord or were in His Presence … and their reactions:
Abraham
Genesis 17:3 … And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying
Manoah and his Wife (Samson’s Parents)
Judges 13:20 … For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground.
Ezekiel (many times)
Ezekiel 3:23 … Then I arose, and went forth into the plain: and, behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, as the glory which I saw by the river of Chebar: and I fell on my face.
Daniel (repeatedly)
Daniel 8:17 … So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.
The Disciples (At the Transfiguration)
Matthew 17:6 … And when the disciples heard it (God’s Voice) , they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
Gideon
Judges 6:22-23 … And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord GOD! for because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face. 23 And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.
Job
Job 42:5-6 … I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
Isaiah
Isaiah 6:5 … Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
Zacharias, father of John the Baptist
Luke 1:12 … And when Zacharias saw him (the Angel of the Lord), he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
Peter
Luke 5:8 … When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
Even this, the wicked during the Tribulation…
Revelation 6:16-17 … And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
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Jesus defeating the devil, particularly on the Cross …
Hebrews 2:14 … Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy (abolish 3x, cease 1x = root = kata + argeo = to render inactive, to make idle, to delay) him that had the power of death, that is, the devil …
Praise the Lord!
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The Book of Revelation is literally built on the number “seven!” It realistically contains …
Seven Churches!
Seven Seals!
Seven Trumpets!
Seven Personages!
Seven Vials (Bowls of Judgment)!
Seven Dooms!
Seven New Things!
More about these seven groups of seven as we study the whole Book of Revelation here in class!
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I enjoyed this thought …
Remember, candlesticks in that bygone day needed oil! No oil, no light! Such was their fuel! And so do our Churches today need the Oil of the Holy Spirit to radiate the Light of Jesus to the world!
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Watch the Lesson now …
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
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