This is unique Scripture …

12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. 14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; 15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. 16 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.

Talk about candlesticks, about being “light” …

Paul wrote to the Philippian Church … in Philippians 2:15 … “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world ….”

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In our Text Jesus is described much along the same lines as God the Father, the Ancient of Days, back in Daniel 7:9-10 …

Yes, here is God the Father … rarely described …

Daniel 7:9-10 … I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him …

No wonder Jesus said … in John 14:9 … “He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father.”

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Here are the two verses I mentioned about honoring the elderly, particularly the godly elderly …

Leviticus 19:32 … Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD.

Proverbs 16:31 … The hoary head (gray hair) is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.

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Jesus (the Master Expositor) will further explain the seven stars in our next Lesson, in 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.”

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And as I generally say, watch the video Lesson now …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Keep in mind the fact that John may have been as old as 90 (years) while he was being imprisoned on the little island of Patmos! And history would indicate that he was a slave laborer there as well. How cruel, yet God can get Glory out of some unusual circumstances!

Here’s our Text, Revelation 1:9-11 …

9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

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“WRITE IN A BOOK” … Verse 11 … this is the first of twelve commands in the book of Revelation for John to write what he saw (again in 1:19; then 2:1, 8, 12, 18; Revelation 3:1, 7, 14; then 14:13; 19:9; and 21:5); and on one other occasion he was forbidden to write (10:4).

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The little island of Patmos … only 13 square miles! (7 miles by 3 miles) Elongated, vertical, hourglass shaped! 37 miles southwest of Miletus! But just 30 miles from nearest land! Mountainous, rocky and barren! (What John had been faithfully doing for sixty years, preaching Jesus, is now a criminal activity punishable by imprisonment or death!)

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I really did not omit much from the video class. It’s really best to watch it anyway …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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I am late posting the Column today because of technical difficulties here at the motel in North Carolina.

Our Text …

“7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. 8 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.”

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Here at the end of verse 8 Jesus calls Himself “Almighty” … in Greek that’s spelled pan (pas) + kratos. It means “all power!” Back in John’s Day the Roman emperors spoke of themselves with the word auto + kratos (“an absolute ruler”). John may be attributing to Jesus this exalted Title that is rightfully our Lord’s in spite of the prevailing “politically correct” attitude!

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Dr. John Morris says there are several (more) great “I AM” Statements of Jesus in Revelation!

Here in verse 8 is the first!

Alpha and Omega … repeated after 1:8 here … 1:11 (nearly again in 1:17), 21:6, and 22:13!

Revelation 1:18 … I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen.

Revelation 2:23 … And all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

Revelation 22:16 … I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

Wow!

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I was surprised (and amazed) to learn this.

The word “GRACE” is only found 2 times in the whole Book of Revelation, at least in King James Version!

Revelation 1:4 … John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you …

Revelation 22:21 … The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Bookends, inclusio!

The Book of Judgment both begins and ends with Grace!

Hallelujah!

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That’s about all I forgot to say!

But you can watch …

Dr. Mike Bagwell

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In Class we already discussed the Three Titles of Jesus as given here. And the three mighty Things He has done for us!

Our Text …

“5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

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But when discussing the fact of our being “washed” in the Blood of Jesus, I meant to share with you the probable Old Testament Reference for this vital Word Picture.

Here is Jacob’s dying “blessing” on his son Judah! (Jesus was born out of the tribe of Judah! This is the Royal Tribe that provided Kings for the Jewish Nation!)

Genesis 49:8-12 …

“8 Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall bow down before thee. 9 Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? 10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. 11 Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass’s colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: 12 His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.”

See the “washing” metaphor?

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Jesus’ Resurrection guarantees our future resurrection as well!

1 Corinthians 15:20 … But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

John 14:19 … Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

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In the New Testament there is not the slightest hint of a division between “regular” believers and a so-called “special class” of priests. Rather, all believers are priests!

1 Peter 2:5 … Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:9 … But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light …

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I sure enjoyed teaching this Text. And I sincerely invite you to watch the whole Class now …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Our Bible Text …

3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. 4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; 5 And from Jesus Christ, who is …

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The Beatitudes (the Promises that begin with a “blessing”) in Revelation form an inclusio! (I am saying that the Book of Revelation both begins and ends with a “Blessed” Statement.)

Here and Revelation 22:14 … Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

In fact, there are 7 such Beatitudes in the Book of Revelation! In our next class we might take a quick overview of all of them. They nearly form the “backbone” of Revelation!

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Paul in his Epistles often includes a Blessing of some kind from God, a sweet word of encouragement. But John makes a point of mentioning the Trinity in his opening Benediction! Father, Spirit and Son, in that unusual order. I suspect Jesus came last because John has so much to say about Him! Our whole upcoming class, in fact!

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Here is the Verse I mentioned with reference to the “seven Spirits” (John’s way of depicting the Holy Spirit of God here in his introduction) …

Isaiah 11:2 … And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD …

Count His Attributes!

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In Bible jargon … “hearing” means “heeding!”  To “keep” God’s Word … to take to heart!

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There may be “linkage” between John’s 7 Beatitudes in Revelation and Jesus’ Rewards to Overcomers in Revelation chapters 2 and 3! (I hope to explore any possible connections in my personal Bible Study, the Lord willing. I don’t know if we will have time to do so in class. It’s called “extra credit,” I think!)

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Daniel 2:28 … “But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets … “ (And we have the distinct honor of learning from that God, from His Spirit, from His Book!)

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Back to John’s “blessed” Verses …

“Blessed” is quite compatible with the Books of Wisdom and Poetry …

Proverbs 3:13 … Happy (esher, asher = means blessed) is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

Proverbs 8:34 … Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

Psalm 1:1-2 … Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

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On the public reading of God’s Word in the ancient Churches …

Synagogue reading of Scripture, the Old Testament …

Jesus … Luke 4:16 … And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read (anaginos’ko).

Acts 13:15 … And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on …

Acts 15:21 … For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

Leading up to …

The New Testament Practice, but adding the Gospels and Epistles and now Revelation …

As in 1 Thessalonians 5:27 … I charge (horki’zo = to force to take an oath) you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. 

Also Colossians 4:16 … And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.

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The noun “prophecy” is found 7 times in the Book of Revelation! (I did count!)

Here’s the complete list: Revelation 1:3; 11:6; Revelation 19:10; 22:7, Revelation 22:10, 18 and 19.

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Back to the Seven Spirits …

He is mentioned here in Revelation 1:4, then in Revelation 3:1 and 4:5 and yet again in Revelation 5:6!

The “exact Name” Holy Spirit is not used in the Book of Revelation! Nor in John’s Gospel or three Epistles!

Instead, other adjectives are ascribed to Him! Such as “Seven” … indicating the Sufficiency, the Fullness of the Holy Spirit, just stated differently!

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And as I generally say, it is best to watch the whole class …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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