THE SEVEN-FOLD SALUTATION

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=80 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="03c00500dvldtc.png"> <div> <B>Revelation</B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>     |     </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#00FF00" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Revelation"><U><B>home</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="seven_salutations.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE SEVENFOLD SALUTATION"><U><B>THE SEVEN-FOLD SALUTATION</B></U></A><B> / </B><A HREF="the_seven_churches.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="JESUS IN THE MIDST OF THE LAMP STANDS"><U><B>JESUS IN THE MIDST OF THE LAMP STANDS</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="03dd2c00dvldtc.png"> <div> <A HREF="what_has_been.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE THINGS WHICH THOU HAST SEEN"><U>Previous Page</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="the_seven_churches.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="JESUS IN THE MIDST OF THE LAMP STANDS"><U>Next Page</U></A></div> <div>   <P><CENTER><A href="http://www.christiansunite.com/hit/" target="_top"><IMG src="http://www.christiansunite.com/hit/count.cgi?account=bryant_family_2&code=site&count=1" border=0 width=96 height=40 alt="The Christian Counter"></A><BR><font size=1><A href="http://www.christiansunite.com/hit/" target="_top">The Christian Counter</font></A></CENTER><P>   </div> <bR> <div> <B>Revelation 1:9-13</B>, "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.  I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,  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.  And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;  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."</div> </td> <td valign="top" height=400 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <B><U>THE SEVEN-FOLD SALUTATION</U></B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="08edfed0.jpg" border=0 width="223" height="237" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.revelationillustrated.com/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.revelationillustrated.com/"><U>Art used by permission by Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright 1992.</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Wing0a73007600f066ccff00.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The First Salutation:</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Revelation 1:1-3</B>, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:  Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.  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.”</div> <bR> <div> This first salutation given in the book of Revelation is a record of who gave the revelation and for what time it is intended. The angel who bares record with the word of God and the testimony of Jesus says that the revelation was given for the time was at hand.</div> <bR> <div> The term `Revelation' in the Greek is, apokalupsis {ap-ok-al'-oop-sis} and is where we get the term apocalypse. The term means to unveil or to uncover. It implies a lifting up of a curtain so all can see alike what is uncovered. This is akin to lifting the curtain on a stage before a performance. When applied to writing it means to reveal or to make clear. See <B>Eph. 3:3</B> and <B>Gal. 1:12</B>. When used of a person it denotes physical presence. See <B>II Thes. 1:7</B> and <B>I Pet. 1:7,13</B>.</div> <bR> <div> The words <B>“…of Jesus Christ”</B> indicate that the revelation is not altogether concerning Christ, but one from Him. The person of Christ is not the main topic addressed in the book of Revelation. God gave this unveiling, to show His servants <U>things</U> that must shortly come to pass or more precisely a series of events, which must begin quickly. The true prophetic nature of the revelation are the events, which are described by Jesus to John in detail.</div> <bR> <div> Strong's Exhaustive Concordance gives the following definition for the word `prophecy' found in verse 3:</div> <div> Propheteia {prof-ay-ti'-ah}</div> <div> 1) Prophecy</div> <div>     1a) A discourse emanating from divine inspiration and declaring the purposes of God, whether by reproving and admonishing the wicked, or comforting the afflicted, or revealing things        hidden; esp. by foretelling future events.</div> <bR> <div> The Book of Revelation is derived from God and declares the purposes of God. It reproves the wicked, comforts the afflicted and reveals things that are hidden. Revelation tells of the future events in the world and gives us a superstructure upon which we erect the apocalyptic events of the entire Bible. </div> <bR> <div> <B><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Wing0a73007600f066ccff00.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The Second Salutation:</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Revelation 1:4-6</B>, “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;  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,  And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”</div> <bR> <div> The second salutation specifically specifies to whom the Revelation is to be sent. That is to the seven churches. It also identifies that it was the Father eternal, the seven-fold Holy Spirit and the Son who dictated the Revelation.</div> <bR> <div> The Revelation came from God to Christ to the angel to John to the Churches and then to us. These verses also show the triune nature of God. John states that the revelation came from:</div> <div> Him which is, and which was and which is to come… This is a representation of God the father.</div> <div> And from the seven Spirits which are before his throne… This represents the Holy Spirit. The phrase “seven Spirits of God”, also known as the Sevenfold Holy Spirit is used four times in the Book of Revelation, <B>Rev. 1:4, 3:1, 4:5 and 5:6</B>. The sevenfold Holy Spirit is an attribute to the Messiah in <I><B>Isaiah 11:2</B></I><I>. “And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him - The Spirit of </I><I><U>wisdom</U></I><I> and </I><I><U>understanding</U></I><I>, the Spirit of </I><I><U>counsel</U></I><I> and </I><I><U>might</U></I><I>, the Spirit of </I><I><U>Knowledge</U></I><I> and the </I><I><U>reverential</U></I><I> and </I><I><U>obedient fear</U></I><I> of the Lord -… Amplified”</I> So we see that the seven characteristics of the Holy Spirit are <U>Wisdom</U>, <U>Understanding</U>, <U>Counsel</U>, <U>Might</U>, <U>Knowledge</U>, <U>Reverence</U> and <U>Obedience</U>.</div> <div> And from Jesus Christ… In this verse Jesus is called, The faithful witness, the first begotten of the dead and the prince of the kings of the earth. Prince here in the Greek is archon {ar'-khone} which means, a ruler, commander, chief, or leader. </div> <bR> <div> As a side note it is from the Greek root archon we also get the term archangel. There were three archangels and their names are Michael, Gabriel and Satan. Each archangel ruled over a third of the angels in heaven. We realize that when Satan fell he took his third of the angels with him<I> </I><I><B>Revelation 12:4</B></I><I>, “And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven,”</I> and <I><B>Revelation 12:7-9</B></I><I>, “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,  And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”</I> The third of angels that were cast out of heaven are those who followed Lucifer and they subsequently became demons.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Wing0a73007600f066ccff00.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The Third Salutation:</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Revelation 1:7, </B>"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."</div> <bR> <div> The third salutation gives the scope of the Revelation. The entire world will have knowledge of this event. There will not be a group of people that do not know of the events that are contained in this Revelation.</div> <bR> <div> This verse states that when Jesus returns every eye will see Him. When used collectively the term `every' indicates that there will be some, of all types of people, that see him. Consider the following quote from C.H. Spurgeon concerning the word “every”:</div> <bR> <div> <I>“... “the whole world has gone after him” Did all the world go after Christ?  “then went all Judea, and were baptized of him in Jordan.” Was all Judea, or all Jerusalem, baptized in Jordan? “Ye are of God, little children”, and the whole world lieth in the wicked one”. Does the whole world there mean everybody? The words “world” and “all” are used in some seven or eight senses in Scripture, and it is very rarely the “all” means all persons, taken individually. The words are generally used to signify that Christ has redeemed some of all sorts-some Jews, some Gentiles, some rich, some poor, and has not restricted His redemption to either Jew or Gentile ...”</I></div> <div> <I>C.H. Spurgeon from a sermon on Particular Redemption.</I></div> <bR> <div> Verse seven goes on to specifically indicate the Jews and the Romans by stating “and they also which pierced him:” Notice the use of the word “they” in this verse. Israel could not execute Jesus without the permission of the Roman government and in this instance; the nation of Israel and Rome became allies. This is a foretaste of what will happen when the Beast from the Sea signs a seven-year covenant with Israel. This is what is commonly known as the Great Tribulation.</div> <bR> <div> You might wonder how the Romans will be able to see Christ coming a second time since the Roman Empire no longer exists.</div> <bR> <div> At one time Israel was considered a dead nation and Hebrew a dead language. The people of Israel had been scattered to the four winds in the Diaspora. During this time the area where Israel had been located was known as Palestine and was given over to the Gentiles. But in a single day the nation of Israel was reestablished and the Jews once again had a homeland. </div> <bR> <div> It is not beyond comprehension to believe that Rome could once again come into being. When we discuss the two witnesses of <B>Rev. 11</B> we will address how Rome will once again come to the forefront of world events in the future.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Wing0a73007600f066ccff00.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The Fourth Salutation:</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Revelation 1:8, </B>"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."</div> <bR> <div> Here we have a salutation straight from the throne of God in which God Himself is giving his endorsement of this revelation of Jesus Christ. He gives his official titles of the Alpha and Omega explaining that his endorsement spans all time from the single creative moment at the beginning of time in <B>Genesis 1:1 </B>"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” ; until the end of time when all days climax in one final act of renewal <B>Revelation 21:1</B>, "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea."</div> <bR> <div> <B><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Wing0a73007600f066ccff00.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The Fifth Salutation:</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Revelation 1:9,</B> "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."</div> <bR> <div> Here the Apostle John gives a personal salutation to the seven churches and thus endorsing the letter again with his own name and title.</div> <bR> <div> John had been banished to the isle of Patmos. The Easton's Bible dictionary gives the following description of Patmos.</div> <bR> <div> “A small rocky and barren island, one of the group called the “Sporades,” in the AEgean Sea. It is mentioned in Scripture only in <B>Rev. 1:9</B>. It was on this island, to which John was banished by the emperor Domitian (A.D. 95), that he received from God the wondrous revelation recorded in his book. This has naturally invested it with the deepest interest for all time. It is now called Patmo”</div> <bR> <div> <B><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Wing0a73007600f066ccff00.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The Sixth Salutation:</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Revelation 1:10-17</B>, "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,  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.  And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;  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.  His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;  And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.  And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.  And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead."</div> <bR> <div> This sixth salutation gives a description of what happened to John during this Sabbath time of prayer.</div> <bR> <div> John tells us that he had been banished to Patmos for the Word of God. John was in the Spirit on the Sabbath when he got a clear and unmistakable order from God to write down in a book what he saw and to send it to the seven churches in Asia.</div> <bR> <div> As John turned he saw seven golden lampstands which represent the seven Churches. Jesus stood in the midst of the Churches clothed in a robe that reached to his feet and with a golden girdle hanging over his chest. A girdle is a symbol of strength and power <B>(Job 12:18, 21; 30:11; Isa. 22:21; 45:5)</B>.  <B>Isaiah 11:5</B> states that “Righteousness and faithfulness” are the girdle of the Messiah. Gold represents purity as well as riches. That Jesus wore a girdle of gold tells us of his strength and power. It tells of His Righteousness and faithfulness and it also tells us of his majesty and riches.</div> <bR> <div> John further describes Jesus in this passage. Jesus' head and hair where white like wool, as white as snow and this indicates purity. On the mount of transfiguration the Lord appeared in raiment white as light <B>Matthew 17:2</B>. </div> <bR> <div> Fire was used to consume a sacrifice and for purification. It is a symbol of persecution and of God's vengeance. It is a sign of destruction as when the following cities were destroyed. Jericho <B>(Josh. 6:24)</B>, Ai <B>(Josh. 8:19)</B>, Hazor <B>(Josh. 11:11)</B>, Laish <B>(Judg. 18:27)</B>, etc. Fire is used in scripture to destroy the evil and to refine the good. Fire used in a personal sense to put to death the old man with fiery trials and the fire of persecution also refines the new creation in Christ.</div> <bR> <div> Jesus' feet are described as being like unto brass. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc and is stronger than either copper or zinc alone. Brass is used in the figurative sense to describe a strength that is acquired by the melding of corruptible man and incorruptible God. Jesus walked among men and he was God incarnate or the Word become flesh. <B>John 1:14</B>, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth.” Jesus is an alloy of God and man and by the strength of God, we too can be made a stronger, new creation.</div> <bR> <div> Jesus' voice was described as the sound of many waters. This term “many waters” is used when talking of many peoples or ethnic groups. Refer to the following verses: </div> <bR> <div> <B>Numbers 24:7</B> He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in <U>many waters</U>, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.</div> <bR> <div> <B>2 Samuel 22:17</B> He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of <U>many waters</U>;</div> <bR> <div> <B>Isaiah 17:13</B> The nations shall rush like the rushing of <U>many waters</U>: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Ezekiel 43:2</B> And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of <U>many waters</U>: and the earth shined with his glory.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Revelation 14:2</B> And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of <U>many waters</U>, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: </div> <bR> <div> <B>Revelation 17:1</B> And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon <U>many waters</U>:</div> <div>  </div> <div> <B>Revelation 19:6</B> And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of <U>many waters</U>, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.</div> <bR> <div> Jesus is worshipped in the entire world by all peoples. Don't get me wrong. I am not saying that all people worship Jesus. That would be absurd. I am saying though that there are at least some people in all ethnic groups that worship the Lord Jesus Christ. They speak his word in boldness to their fellow man so that Jesus' voice might be heard. </div> <bR> <div> In verse twenty of chapter one Jesus defines for us what the seven lampstands represent and what the seven stars signify. The seven stars are the angels or messengers of the seven churches. The seven lampstands represent the seven churches themselves. </div> <bR> <div> The two-edged sword spoken of in the above verse is a direct reference to the Word of God. See this verse in Hebrews:</div> <bR> <div> <B>Hebrews 4:12</B>, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”</div> <bR> <div> The face of Jesus is so radiant that you cannot even look at it any more than you could look directly into the sun at noon. This is similar to the effect of God's presence on Moses' face when he came down from the mountain and the people of Israel could not bear to look at him.</div> <bR> <div> At the end of the above passage John states that he fell down at the feet of Jesus as if he were dead.</div> <bR> <div> When I was in chemistry class our instructor brought into class one day some liquid nitrogen. At first we were somewhat hesitant to touch it or even go near it until our instructor rolled up his sleeve and placed his hand directly into the container. We all gasped as he withdrew his hand and explained that our body temperature when compared to liquid nitrogen is like that of the surface of the sun compared to our body temperature. If we were to be dropped onto the surface of the sun we would be instantly vaporized. This is the same thing that happed to the liquid nitrogen when our instructor put his hand into it. The liquid nitrogen that came into contact with his skin was instantly vaporized. </div> <bR> <div> In the same way, when corruptible flesh comes into the presence of an almighty God, it is the flesh that gives out. When John was taken into Christ's presence his earthly body could not stand the strain of being in the presence of deity. It simply ceased to function. Jesus himself raised John up in order that he might get the message out to the Church.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Wing0a73007600f066ccff00.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The Seventh Salutation:</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Revelation 1:17b-20 </B>"...And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:,<B> </B>"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.  Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;  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."</div> <bR> <div> This last salutation comes directly from the Lord Jesus. Here he is giving his endorsement of the material contained in the Revelation. Included in this endorsement is Jesus' description of himself. He uses the term “I am...” three times indicating his unity with God the Father.</div> <bR> <div> Jesus states “I am the first and the last”. He was there at the beginning of creation and will be there at the end. Jesus states that "I am he that liveth, and was dead,” He was an actual person and He did die on the cross for the redemption of sin. Jesus then states that he overcame death by saying,  “I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”</div> <bR> <div> This was Jesus' calling card to John. If ever you need to tell someone who Jesus is these three points sum it up rather well. These are Jesus' credentials. These three statements are what specifically set Jesus apart from all other world religious leaders who cannot even begin to fill his shoes. These three credentials also set Jesus apart from the Beast from the Sea who will come later and try to deceive even the very elect if that were possible.</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>