The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Revelation 3:22,
"Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
Revelation 2 and 3 contain seven letters to seven churches. There are parallels in these letters both thematically and structurally.
As far as structurally, each is addressed to the angel of which ever church is being addressed: the church in Ephesus, the church in Smyrna, the church in Pergamum, the church in Thyatira, the church in Sardis, the church in Philadelphia and the church in Laodicea.
Following the address, there is an introduction of the author (who is Jesus Christ in all) provided by description: "These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.", "These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.", "These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.", "These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.", "These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.", "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." "These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation." Much can be learned about the risen Christ by how he introduces himself in these fascinating letters.
In the body of these letters are various observations by Jesus of these churches, both good points and bad. In all, he gives the churches direction.
What captures my attention this morning is the closing phrase in each of these seven letters, "Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches." It is his admonition that what he says in these letters needs to be listened to and adhered to, and then discloses that the Spirit is speaking to the churches.
I am reminded that it is the Holy Spirit that is closely associated with our triune God's heavenly communication to us. All the books in our Bibles are acknowledged to have been authored by the Holy Spirit. In a passage that I often quote and find myself fascinated with is 2 Peter 1:20-21, "Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."
"Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
Revelation 2 and 3 contain seven letters to seven churches. There are parallels in these letters both thematically and structurally.
As far as structurally, each is addressed to the angel of which ever church is being addressed: the church in Ephesus, the church in Smyrna, the church in Pergamum, the church in Thyatira, the church in Sardis, the church in Philadelphia and the church in Laodicea.
Following the address, there is an introduction of the author (who is Jesus Christ in all) provided by description: "These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.", "These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.", "These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.", "These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.", "These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.", "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." "These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation." Much can be learned about the risen Christ by how he introduces himself in these fascinating letters.
In the body of these letters are various observations by Jesus of these churches, both good points and bad. In all, he gives the churches direction.
What captures my attention this morning is the closing phrase in each of these seven letters, "Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches." It is his admonition that what he says in these letters needs to be listened to and adhered to, and then discloses that the Spirit is speaking to the churches.
I am reminded that it is the Holy Spirit that is closely associated with our triune God's heavenly communication to us. All the books in our Bibles are acknowledged to have been authored by the Holy Spirit. In a passage that I often quote and find myself fascinated with is 2 Peter 1:20-21, "Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."
The Holy Spirit speaks! Are we listening?
A blog with my ruminations over the years can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
A blog with my ruminations over the years can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
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