These are the Words

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.”

“To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.”

“To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.”

“To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.”

“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.”

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.”

— Revelation 2:1; 2:8; 2:12; 3:1; 3:7; 3:14

Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King,

You are the center of the Church and You hold the Church in Your right hand. These churches belong to You, not the pastors of the churches or even the people of the churches. You hold them securely.

You are the First and the Last, eternal in character and existence. Isaiah 41:4 says, “Who has done this and carried it through, calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, the Lord—with the first of them and with the last—I am he.” Isaiah 44:6 is ever clearer, “This is what the Lord says—Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.” You were dead but death could not hold You. You rose to life and now live again, defeating death by an empty grave.

You possess a sharp, two-edged sword in Your mouth with which You confront Your Church with Your Word and they feel the sharp edges. Your word “penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

You are the Son of God and Your eyes are like blazing fire. They see into the very soul of every person. No one can look away to escape Your judgment. Your feet are like burnished bronze. They are refined in the fire, strong and steadfast, steady and unmovable. Where You stand is where You stay. You aren’t moved by anything.

You hold the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. You hold the fullness of the Holy Spirit within Yourself. You have the fullness of the Holy Spirit to give to Your Church. You hold the Church in Your hand, as represented by these seven churches. And nothing can remove Your Church from Your hand.

You are holy and true. You are unmixed, untainted, pure. You are genuine, real, fully authentic. You hold the key of David. Isaiah 22:22 says, “I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts, no one can open.” You have all power and authority to admit and to exclude.

You are the “Amen.” Everything in You is “Yes” and “Amen” (1 Cor. 1:20). You are the personification and the illumination of the truth of God. You are the Faithful and True witness. What You say is faithful and true. What you attest cannot be contradicted. You are the ruler over all of God’s creation. It has its source and origin in You. All of creation began not with You but from You. And You hold all of creation together by Your authority.

Gracious Lord Jesus, this is who You are. It is no wonder that John, as he witnessed these things and saw who You truly are “fell at Your feet as though dead” (Revelation 1:17). Lord, there will be a day when I will see You as You truly are, holding nothing back from Your full character and nature. In that day I will be undone. May I get but a glimpse of Your nature, power, authority, and character today and live in that awareness of how awesome You truly are.

— In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen!