“Call To Me; I Will Answer Thee”
“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 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 Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.’” (Revelation 1:10-11 NKJV)
(https://www.bible.com/bible/114/rev.1.10-11.nkjv)
The verses quoted above are part of John’s opening narrative but his description of the, “One like the Son of Man,” (verses 13-16) is the real eye-opener of this chapter. John’s reaction at seeing this One was understandable; Jesus responded to his fear as He had so many times before (and does today for us). “And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.” (Revelation 1:17 NKJV)
The appearances, actions and assertions of Jesus to His followers were often somewhat shocking and the, “Fear not,” Let not your heart be troubled,” theme was usually the immediate response. He does not want us living in fear, in any way, shape or form. Interestingly (a digression, I admit), His awe-inducing appearance to Saul was not followed with, “Don’t be afraid,” but, “Why are you persecuting me?” and then instructions. (Acts 9:3-9)
Back to the Revelation of John, following what one might call opening credits, verses 9-20 of John’s vision has inspired countless songs, poems, artwork and even science fiction and fantasy writers. Just picture this in your mind’s eye. “His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.” (Revelation 1:14-16 NKJV) Pretty awe-inspiring, huh?
Considering primarily verses 10 and 11, look at some of the interesting details. When John refers to being, “in the Spirit,” one can imagine Peter’s experience, as he travelled from Joppa near Caesarea. His group stopped for lunch mid-day (the sixth hour) and Peter went up to the roof to pray. While praying, he fell into a trance and was given a message from the Lord Himself. Peter was to preach to the Gentiles. Jews had no dealings with the Gentiles but God was telling Peter, “If I say they are clean, who are you to question me?” (Acts 10:9-23) In the same way, when John was, “in the Spirit,” he experienced not a dream but a vision from God.
Note also that this happened on the Lord’s Day, the first day of the week in early church practice. There is nothing to indicate John was at a church service when this happened. The takeaway for us – on any day or any time He chooses, when one seeks the Lord, the Spirit of God can and will move, directing what to do. It may not be in a vision or trance but it is essential to be open to hearing His voice at any time. One wonders why the voice approached from behind and not in front of John but that is for another time.
The description Jesus gives of Himself is timeless, in more ways than one. In our parlance, He said, “I am the A and the Z, the always has been and always will be.” Using the Greek alphabet as an metaphor, this matches what God answered when Moses asked who he could say was sending him. Moses was told to say, “‘I AM sent me to You,’” (Exodus 3:13-14) This same claim by Jesus was the reason Jewish leaders sought to stone Him when Jesus said to them, “‘(B)efore Abraham was, I AM.’” Dwelling outside the realm of the temporal, Jesus, “. . . was and is and is to come.’” (Revelations 1:8)
Finally, the seven churches John was commanded to write to, Ephesus being the largest city, were all in towns of Asia Minor in the same vicinity. John was the beloved elder of the church at Ephesus before being exiled to Patmos and would have been intimately familiar with all these other churches. Paul was instrumental in birthing the church in that region, but John had helped nurture and grow the new believers into solid churches. As with Apollo in Corinth, Paul planted, John watered, but God gave the increase. (I Corinthians 3:6)
The messages to those seven churches are for us today. Some seek to limit the churches and their descriptions to seven ages of the church, which has some validity, but one can easily see them being descriptive of varying churches throughout the ages, including today. The eschatology of the The Revelation of John will have to be considered at another time, but the lessons of chapters 2 and 3 are worth careful consideration both for churches and individual believers today.
John sought the Lord and the Lord truly showed Him great and mighty things. (Jeremiah 33:3) God is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8) and He will do the same for us today.
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