The Church of John the apostle's time was rejected, persecuted and outlawed as they worshiped God alone. By and large today's culture is not only shunning anything Christian but also is staring to become antagonistic towards Christians. John's encounter with Jesus as described in Rev.1 is relevant for all Christians through all ages. While Jesus was going to address specifically every single church through all church periods (Rev. 2-3) He gave to John the message which is of universal imporance for all churches and for all times. What is it whitin this message that gives gives a global significance to it? Here is the message recorde in Rev. 1:9-20: I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.” 12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. 20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. Historical Context: Time of the emperor Domitian (81 - 96 AD). Severe persecution of Christians John exiled to the isle of Patmos (65 km from Ephesus) in Aegean Sea. Christians were rejected and outlawed. They were asked and forced to worship the emperor. Jesus reveals Himself to John at this time with a relevant and timely message both for His time and all future periods. “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.” (1:1-3) What must Christians of All Ages Hear and Keep? Jesus is alert and not indifferent and He is active in the life of His people. “His eyes were like a flame of fire…” (14) “And in the midst of the lampstand one like a Son of Man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash… “The hair of His head were white, like white wool, like snow.” (14) … His feet were like burnished bronze, refined in furnace and His voice was like the roar of many waters.” (13.14) … in His right hand He held seven stars, from His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword…” (16) So, what does Jesus' alertness and activity accomplish for His Church through all ages? 1. Jesus is the Saviour Who Makes Us Righteous 2. Jesus is the Judge Who Declares Us Righteous 3. Jesus is the Creator Who Makes us New 1. Jesus is the Saviour Who Makes Us Righteous What is the purpose of lampstand/church? It's to shine the light for others. What specifically gives light or lights the lampstand so it can shine its light? Bearing in mind this the following text, the imporance of this question is relevant: “For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.” (Eph. 5:8) Each section of the sanctuary was dominated by light. But what sparked the light for the whole sanctuary? It was the light of the Atonement gives light to the Sanctuary. So, what gives light to the church to shine its light? It is Jesus crucified who makes us righteous. More specifically, we are embraced by God in Jesus when our sin He took and in exchange He gave us His perfect life. This is what gives our lives light. Only through this do we become the light of the world. > "You are the light of the world." > 2. Jesus is the Judge Who Declares Us Righteous “The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow…” (Rev. 1: 14) The description of Jesus of Revelation and the Ancient of Days is almost identical. “… His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head like pure wool.” (7:9) Perfect and wise judge declares those who accept Jesus the saviour as righteous. White robe represents righteousness of God. White hair represents wisdom. Where is the wisdom of God in this? We are declared right by wise God because through repentance we exchange sin for righteousness of Jesus. This is gospel which is ‘foolishness to this world.’ “And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High.” ### 3. Jesus, The Creator Who Makes Us New “His voice was like the roar of many waters.” (15) The Creator's vocie who said, ‘let there be light’ in the beggining is the same Creator who makes those who have been redeemed by Jesus into new creation. So, Jesus the saviour who brought ligth into our lives by making us righteous is the Creator God who makes us into a new creation. The Roman emperors orderedto be worshiped but Creatorwho created us& makes us new is only One worthy of worship The message of The Saviour,Judge and Creatoror Rev. 1 will culminate in the universal 3 Angel’s Messageof the End Time Rev. 14