Episode Transcript
[00:00:12] Speaker A: Hey, everybody. Pastor Chuck Allen here, and I'm in day two and walking through the Book of the Revelation. Thanks so much for joining me on the weekday podcast today, where I want to talk about you are not alone in the dark because Jesus stands among the lampstands.
[00:00:30] Speaker B: Yesterday we talked a little bit about how the Book of the Revelation isn't scary, but it's literally about Jesus and faithfulness and walking with Christ. Today we're going to talk about a unique fact from the Book of Revelation
[00:00:45] Speaker A: that's found in the very first vision John receives. Now, John's on the island of Patmos. He tells us he was there because of his testimony about Jesus. He's totally isolated. He's been radically exiled, and he's separated from the churches that he loves, those seven churches we talked about yesterday. And then he sees something remarkable, because in Revelation book or chapter one, John says that he sees seven gold lampstands.
[00:01:14] Speaker B: Standing among them is someone like the Son of Man. Now, that phrase Son of Man is one Jesus used for himself.
It also connects this vision to the Book of Ben Daniel, where the Son of Man receives authority and an everlasting kingdom.
[00:01:31] Speaker A: But the detail I really want us to focus on today is not just that Jesus appears, it's where he appears. He is standing among the lampstands. And at the end of the first chapter, Jesus explains this symbol. The seven lampstands are representative of the seven churches.
Jesus is standing among his churches. Now, that sounds like a tiny detail, but it's one of the most comforting pictures in Scripture that Jesus is not standing far away.
[00:02:05] Speaker B: He's not looking at his church, his people, from a distance that's safe and away from the mess. He's in the thick of it with us. He's not watching from some other universe.
[00:02:18] Speaker A: He's here among the lampstands. He's present in this picture, which is beautifully illustrative. The Book of Revelation. He's present among his folks.
So the churches in the Book of the Revelation, they're not perfect. In the chapters that follow in the Book of the Revelation, Jesus is going to commend some of them. He's going to correct all of them. He's going to warn most of them, and he's going to encourage them.
Now, some of these churches, like some of our churches today, are faithful.
[00:02:48] Speaker B: Some of them are just weary, worn out and tired. Some of them lost their first love, and they're kind of wandering in the desert. Some were wealthy, but totally spiritually void. And some were suffering deeply in hurt and agony. And Pain.
[00:03:03] Speaker A: And Jesus is still among all of them. That means the presence of Jesus isn't reserved for churches that have it all together, not big honkin churches that have great music ministries or superstar preachers.
It means the presence of Jesus is about everything together.
He's not just present when worship is flawless and the notes are perfect, or when the sermon is just spot on, or he's not there when everybody smiles
[00:03:33] Speaker B: and you have a group photo. He's present in struggling churches. Now the upside that we should grab from that is the recognition that he's among churches filled with people like us, discouraged families and folks that are trying to rebuild trust, and folks that have
[00:03:50] Speaker A: been hurt and folks that are wounded. And he's present when faith feels a little bit more like endurance than celebration. And Jesus stands among the lampstands. And then John sees Jesus holding seven stars in his right hand. Again.
Imagine the illustrative nature of this book. Jesus explains. These stars represent the angels or the messengers. And of the seven churches.
Now, this illustrative picture is something we need to grasp.
[00:04:22] Speaker B: It is a picture of authority, but it's also a picture of care.
Jesus holds what belongs to him.
He holds us.
He holds his church.
[00:04:35] Speaker A: He holds that church's leaders and he holds the witness of the church.
The image here isn't about sentimentality.
Jesus isn't ignoring their failures, but he's also not abandoning the folks in the church because of them. He's close enough to speak truth, but strong enough to sustain them.
Then John says he falls at Jesus's feet as if he were dead.
[00:05:06] Speaker B: Sounds a little dramatic, doesn't it? But. But honestly, it makes a ton of sense. John sees the risen Jesus in glory and the experience just blows his mind.
Jesus reaches out and touches him.
[00:05:20] Speaker A: And listen to what Jesus says.
Don't be afraid.
I stinking love that. I mean, the first thing Jesus does with a terrified disciple is not give him a chart to figure out what all the illustrative nature of the book is.
He gives him comfort. Don't be afraid.
And then Jesus says, I am the first and the last.
I am the living one. I died, but look, I am alive forever and ever.
[00:05:52] Speaker B: And I hold the keys of death and the grave.
Now, I can't even begin to tell you how cool this is, especially if you're John. Jesus is saying, I hold the keys.
I got it all.
[00:06:06] Speaker A: Death doesn't win. Suffering doesn't win. I mean, the Roman Empire doesn't win. Political power isn't going to win. Not the worst thing that's ever happened to you wins. I got the keys. Trust me.
So here's the encouragement for today. If you belong to Jesus, you're not navigating in the darkness alone. He's got the keys. He's got the light. He's got the way. He's got the truth.
And if you maybe are out there and you're serving in a community, or you're caring for a family, or you're a caregiver for parent, or maybe you
[00:06:38] Speaker B: help lead in your church, or maybe you're just trying to live faithfully at work.
Friend, listen. Jesus stands among the lampstands and holds the stars in his hand.
He's not merely waiting for you to
[00:06:52] Speaker A: finish up and all of a sudden at heaven, it's all over because it all just leads to that.
Because, listen, he's among the lampstands now.
The church is fragile, no doubt, but Jesus, not your faith, can feel pretty doggone tiny at times. The cool new thing is that Jesus isn't small.
So when your courage comes and your courage goes, because mine does, the thing that we need to wrap our head
[00:07:22] Speaker B: around is that Jesus remains through it all.
So no matter what room you're walking into today, Jesus is already there, friend, standing among the lampstands with folks that are hurting, folks that are confused, folks that are anxious, folks like me and you.
[00:07:38] Speaker A: He's already there. And when you gather with your church, he's already there. And when you feel alone, listen to these words again that he said to John. Don't be afraid, friend. I'll see you back tomorrow. As we continue a chat through the Book of the Revelation, we're going to talk about the strength of the lamb, the lion who appears as a lamb. God bless you, friend. Thanks so much for joining me on today's weekday podcast.
