Behold! He Comes - THE ALMIGHTY

Last Sabbath we went over some important keys to understanding the book of Revelation. Today we will be going through the first chapter of Revelation from where we had left off. Last week we went through who were its authors, the blessings, the Macarios, and from what we need to know in the first four verses. So I thought it was important because, as I talked about last week, the book of Revelation, the revealing, doesn't really take place until the second chapter.

That's why it's so important. A lot of times you read the first chapter and you think that starts the show. It doesn't start the show. It doesn't even really start the writing because he wanted to write this stuff down as he was instructed to. And it was to the seven churches, which we will go into a little bit later too before the fall holy days.

But today I want to give the rest of Revelation 1 in there and why it's so important. Because you go through and without understanding and piecing together, as we talked about last week, the keys and what some things meant, and then some things that were added that they don't really have any place in it. They were added by some writers so we can confuse you.

But, as I've said, every good book has a prelude and it helps you to read the prelude, which gives you the background to what the author is really trying to get across. And in the book of Revelation, chapter 1 is the prelude. It's not really the beginning chapter. It's really the prelude so that you can understand what is going on and where John is coming from as he is revealing this. And, as I said, that's the only book in the Bible that's told you you'll be blessed if you read this book and not only read but do and understand this.

So today I thought it was important that I cover the rest of one so that when we go through the others you kind of can help you to understand and that the important word in Revelation 1, they don't like what I like, they don't like what I said. Oh, I've had that too, but when I told a doctor about it, he told me I need to see a psychiatrist. So I don't know whether you have voices there.

But the importance of the word he, that is what chapter 1 is about. We will see another he chapter as we go down the route. But it's about he because he is presented in chapter 1. He is the most powerful being, and it says, Behold, he comes. Are you ready? Really ready? Are you dying to meet him? You better be because many in this room may certainly die before Jesus Christ returns. In the next waking moment, you will see him. You will be resurrected and see him. But the thrust of this chapter 1, and I hope you can understand that, is presenting not only he, but the importance of us waking up towards that, but that he is the Almighty.

He is the Almighty, and John is about to see that. But what I think is so important is John has seen, he has seen Christ. He spent three and a half years of his ministry with Christ. He saw him in the Transfiguration, didn't he? He saw what Christ was going to look like in the Kingdom of God on the Transfiguration Mountain with Peter and James. Except here, he gets another view. This is not one that he has seen before. He gets to see the Heavenly Christ, Christ in his own hometown, you might say.

I can use those words. And it is different. So if you will join me in that. Look at my watch. I had a clock over here. There's only one minute difference, so I think I can stay there. Well, no, this actually has 354, so I should be wrapping it up. That was the quickest sermon I have ever given. So let's go to Revelation 1. Revelation 1, we talked about the first four verses in the last week, so if anyone wants to know that the time is near, it's out on that video.

And obviously somebody liked it. There was almost a thousand views this week. So they are interested in the subject. That's why I decided to go and I don't look at views to go look at me. I look at views to see what people are interested in and what they would like to hear more of as I had a couple of phone calls this week about it.

So Revelation 1, I'll be reading from the New King James Version. So if you'll follow me, I'll stop. We will go through each individual verse, which means 16 verses to cover in about 50 minutes. And so let's go. The first one is very simple. It says, John, to the seven churches which are in Asia, Grace to you, and peace from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne.

Who are we talking about? No. That's what a lot of people think. It's the Father. It's God. Those very words are used to describe Christ many times. What did he say? If you've seen me, you've seen the Father. So yes, it's an easy mistake because I've had people do it. I've had a teacher teach me that one time, and I had to say something because then that is the fourth verse. He's to come. What does John say? God's coming. The Father's coming to this space this earth is taking up.

I had to phrase that right because this earth planet will not be here when God comes here in its form. But he's given us an overall view of this. That's why this prelude is so important. And so he's talking about God. He said, Grace to you in peace. And we all want more peace. And then he goes down to verse 5, And from Jesus Christ, the faithful. That's why we know this isn't talking about Jesus Christ, who you would think it would be, but no.

And I'm amazed at people that think God is Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ is God, and they have this thing kind of confused. But they are two distinct God beings. And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first born from the dead. Is he? Lazarus came from the dead. Right? Many were resurrected from the dead, but no one was ever resurrected to spirit as Jesus Christ. We will not be resurrected in a physical form. We'll be resurrected in a spiritual form. In spirit. Holy Spirit. And so he was the first that had ever done this, because Lazarus got up and walked around.

Lazarus lived his life. So did those who were raised from their graves when Jesus Christ died on the on the piece of wood. So this is the first born from the dead who will be spiritual. And then it, this is an amazing part, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. Take this place because that's, I mean, watch your place here, because this is what John is teaching us to understand is he is insane.

Christ is going to be the ruler. There's no, is to be. Christ, when he died, he replaced the God of this world, and he is the ruler of the entire universe. He is ruler over every king, every power that is today. They may not recognize it, but Christ, as the Almighty, all-powerful one, he will do to any king whatever he wants, and he will deter any plans or lay things out exactly as he wants them to go.

Every ruler is a ruler over the kings of the earth. Joe Biden doesn't realize he has a king. He has someone over him, and that is what happens to a lot of kings or presidents or rulers. They don't realize it. They can be replaced like that if they, what fits in God's plan.

So that's why it's so important that John realized this, because he got sent to the island of Patmos, the Domitian, the king, the emperor, the ruler of Rome.

And they, the emperors of Rome at that time, thought they were gods, and actually told people to worship them. They were gods. And John is letting those people know, because who was this written to? The seven churches that are still out there when he is writing this, that Domitian's not the king of the universe. He's not the ruler of the universe. God's just letting him take a little piece of this land right now. And you don't have to worry, because there's the ruler up there that's got all this. So let's go on. The ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loved us, past tense? Does he still love you? Yes. He loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood. Even he didn't know us, he still loved us and gave his life for us. Powerful statement. John's setting the groundwork here for what we pretty much need to understand.

In verse 5.

Now, you have to understand, John is telling that Jesus Christ is the ruler over all the kings. This is 60 years after he died, or around 50-60 years after Christ died, and was resurrected and sits on the right hand of God.

So people who may have at that time may have even heard John talk about Jesus the Christ and how he died for them.

And many people have a hard time realizing he's still alive.

And the life and resurrection is what enables us to live, die, and be resurrected. That's why it says he's the firstborn of Spirit beings. He's the firstborn. He came first to show it could be done, and it was going to be done. So let's go to verse 6. And has made us kings and priests to his God and Father, which is wrong. That's not in the original Greek. As a matter of fact, if you have a newer translation like the New Living Translation, and you read this, you'll go, why is the wording different? Why is the wording different? Because the New Living Translation took it linguistically straight from the Greek.

And so it's not kings and priests. That's a matter of fact, if you heard the sermonette done well this morning about singular.

This word used here is singular. It's king. It's not king. It's kingdom. That's why they had a problem. It's kingdom.

And the actual, if you want to check out your Greek, I'll be talking about that in a Bible study. I even brought it in here linearly, in case you want to look at that. But it says, and in the margin, if you have a New Living Translation with, I mean, New King James, with the margin, it says, a kingdom.

So it has made us a kingdom of priests to His God. This is the plan.

Will we be kings? Yes, He says we will reign with Him, but not in this verse. And it's amazing because this first chapter of Revelation ties so much to the last chapter of Revelation where it says, don't add or take away from these words. They do it in the very first. So whatever the translator told her, they just decide, oh, well, I guess that doesn't mean me. Or maybe, I don't care, I like plagues. Because that's what it says. Don't add or take away from the words. Yet, they have. The translators have. Some have tried to correct it, but others don't. So it's, He has made us. He's called us, chosen us, justified us, and He will glorify us, as Romans 8 says, all in that order. But the reason He's made us is that's why He's been training us to be a kingdom of priests. And if you go back to Exodus 19 before the Ten Commandments were ever given in 20, He tells the nation of Israel exactly what He wanted to do. What did He want to do? I want to make you a kingdom of priests. Just imagine that was His dream that the people would all get it. Now it's His dream that we are.

He divorced that bride upon His death.

And He gave a new covenant for His new bride, and that's us.

So let's go on through here. So He has made us a kingdom of priests to His God and the Father. To Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. And then He says that one little word, amen.

Stop! What does it mean? So be it! So be it!

Also, it's been translated, it is true. Certainly, it's means to verify.

Used to know a guy that used to have this word, he would go, book it!

He would say something, he'd go, book it! Write it down and book it!

In case you want to check it later. What I said. This is exactly what John is saying. God's telling him, write it down, amen, book it!

Is this statement is true. So be it! Says God.

As we talked before in the first verses, this is not John, this is a revelation given to John by an angel who was, Christ gave it to the angel and God gave it to Jesus Christ. So this is not John, well I think I'll put this in here. No. It's writing down exactly what God, what he'd seen and what God told him to do. So amen! We should be able to close our books, except there's more. He's not done yet, but he wants us to make sure that we understand that statement about us, about a kingdom of priests.

Book it. You can bank on it. It's kind of like someone making a statement and as they call it, a mic drop.

It's great! This is it! And we should all get excited about that. Because this is a major statement that cannot be undone.

And it involves us, and why this is so important to him.

So let's go down to verse 7, after the Amen. Then he says, Behold! What does behold mean? Yes. Talk about that a little bit later. But yes, it means, Look! But more than Look when somebody says, Behold! It's a major statement. So he already said, So be it. So now he's like moving it up even more.

And he said, Behold! He is coming with clouds. And every eye will see him, and they also who pierced him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of him. Even so, Amen, book it. It's going to happen. I remember back in high school, somebody brought this up. How is every eye going to see him? How's that going to happen? Someone said, Well, and my...

No, we didn't have CNN back then. I don't think we did. I think it was Turner Network. But back when I was in high school, I know this is silly, but you know how silly high schoolers can be? Not talking to you anymore, Junior. You're not in high school or anyone. So one of them said, I don't know how they're going to see him. He said, I do.

They're going to be watching Happy Days, because everybody was the number one show. So he's going to show up on Happy Days. You know, I can't forget that, because we all looked at him like, you're an idiot.

Back in 1976, 1977.

But every eye will see him. But you have to understand what... As we talked about last week in verse 19, John is writing all this down. He's already seen it.

He's seen all of it. Now he's going back, and he's writing it down, and he's writing this, because he's about to tell you what he's already seen. But he's seen it.

From the very beginning, all the way to God coming down in New Jerusalem.

And so he's saying, hey, look at this. Every eye will see him. Even those who pierced him... Well, basically we pierced him, didn't we, with our sins? Mankind did. But what about those guys? Is he going to see the guys who... The one who stuck his sword in to see if he was dead? Are the ones who struck him and said, oh, tell me, who did this? Put the crown of thrones on his head? Are they going to see him? Yes! But it may not be all at the same time, because those guys are dead.

People are alive when he returns. Yes, they would have pierced him by their sins, but the ones who lived before, they're going to be resurrected, are they not? Yes! And you think the guy that's going to stand there that said, guess who? Is going to enjoy standing before the Almighty? For Almighty Christ?

Glad you're a forgiving God.

So yes, every person will stand or basically kneel, as it says, we'll all kneel before.

The Messiah. He is a judge of all. God isn't judging. He's judging! God's given all judgment to Jesus Christ. He put all things under His feet. All things, all authority, everything. That's what's powerful about this. Yes. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Why? They're going to see it. They're going to know.

And no time's up. I also realize He brought them back from death in the Second Resurrection. This is a pretty big statement by John trying to get us to behold, pay attention, wake up. Because now we can have a seat to view what is going to happen in the world. Because most people in the world go, this is a crazy book.

Like there's even ministers in our... They'll say, oh no, you can't really understand that.

Huh? I can. And I think all of you can.

There's some things that's not revealed yet.

I don't think Bill Wilson is one of the two witnesses. I could be wrong! I could be wrong!

He might be. Or I might be Frank and Vic. I don't know. It doesn't say. See? You're laughing, God may say, oh, wait on you.

Because we don't know. It doesn't give their names. And it doesn't give whether it's two men. It could be a man and a woman. Doesn't say.

Is He left that open so He gets to choose? The two most righteous people on earth at the time? It's what I think. They have a very powerful position at that time.

Not many people want to follow through and have their bodies dragged through the— not that they would know—have their bodies dragged through, laid out for three days. But yeah, this is what John is trying to get across.

Now, isn't that amazing? I just think when you read this, when you read Revelation, think about it. John got to see all of it. He got to see who the two witnesses were.

He saw everything. He saw who the beast was.

He saw the false prophet. He saw all this stuff. And what he's trying to do is relate it to us. So that when these things happen in the future, we're not like, oh, I wonder what happens next. Duh!

This is what's going to happen next. And for one thing, it's not anything, as we talked about last week. He's giving it to us for knowledge, but he's giving us this so we won't fear. No reason to fear.

None. No. Oh, I hate to see the day that happens. Really? Because we know how the movie ends. You could say that. We know how it ends. We win. Let's go.

In verse 8, then.

Verse 8. I am the Alpha and the Omega. Okay. The beginning and the end. What does that mean? What does Alpha and Omega mean? Okay. Then why is it written here twice?

You would think it's emphasis. But it's not in the Greek. It's not even supposed to be there. Look at your margin. The Alpha and the Omega. And it says, the beginning and the end. What's not in the Greek? It's not in there. Why did somebody put it?

Well, maybe people won't know what Alpha and Omega means.

Maybe they... But what did God say? Don't add or take away from my Word. And what did they do? They added this. Why? Because they wanted to. And they wanted to. It says, the Lord, who is, and who was, and who is to come, thee what? The Almighty. Do you know what Almighty means?

All-powerful?

Obnipotent?

All-present? Sovereign? He's ruler over everything. He's Almighty! Almighty means Almighty! Everything! All! There is nothing higher than Him.

That means He has control over everything. He did then, He does now, and He will in the future. Should make our prayers go a little easier. Well, we want something, doesn't it?

Jesus. Nud, do you think sometimes He might want to hear? He might want to hear. Almighty! I need your help.

Couldn't hurt sometimes, could it?

He also knows, okay, I recognize you. I recognize you for the Almighty. It's put in here for a reason. You don't see it, hardly in any other place in the Bible, except here. He's the Almighty. And John wanted to make sure we knew that. It should be added to our vocabulary. It should be added to our prayers. It should be added to when we have requests.

If I could use the lousy example of going, of us going, to Elon Musk and asking for a quarter. He's worth how many hundred billions of dollars?

Could I just have a quarter?

That's what it is to God. When you're Almighty, because Elon Musk didn't, he didn't finish in the top billion compared to God.

This is a powerful word. A powerful phrase for us. And a lot of people never even put it in their vocabulary. And John's telling us, yes.

Who is to come the Almighty.

Powerful, powerful statement. As a matter of fact, go with me. It's the only time we'll leave this book. We leave this chapter one. Go with me to Isaiah. Isaiah 9. And I don't know if I even gave you this.

Isaiah 9, verse 6. Here, Isaiah is trying to lay out who this Messiah would be. And he gives us names that's not used in any descriptions and adjectives and names that's never used any other place for Jesus Christ than here.

And he says, For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government, the government. Really, there's only two places in the entire Bible where government. This is the main one. Another one is a reference. So when somebody says, well, it's the government of God. Now, there's only one government of God, and it's never been on this planet. I want you to understand that. Government of God has never been on this planet. Reason can't be it won't be until He gets here until spirit beings, like God, are running the government of God.

Let's look at it, take it for what it is. Government of God's never been on this planet.

It's that simple. You say, well, there's Adam and Eve, and did they obey?

No.

But there will be obedience in the kingdom of God.

When Christ reigns, it is supreme. He is the Almighty. Have men tried to say, well, yeah, we try to govern. I mean, when you read about the independence of the United States, I was just reading this week and going through some of the things and what they were trying to set up, and they gave God the glory for this and what He was able to accomplish, and if they follow Him, and so forth. But it's not. It hasn't been. It's probably one of the best it's been, but no. No. The government of God has not, because who did God call the God of this world? Why? Because people follow Him. Why do they follow God? Well, guess what? He's gone. Jesus is going to take His place, and then we have the government of God.

Because it will not fail, and it will not be wrong.

So unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders, and His name will be called Wonderful. Wonderful. Isn't there a TV show where this guy calls himself Mr. Wonderful? You ever seen him? It's Shark Tank or something, and this guy calls himself Mr. Wonderful? No.

Counselor. Isn't that interesting? The title of counselor? Wouldn't you like to have some counseling from God? Don't you ask Him now what to do? Wouldn't you ask Jesus to help you? I've got these problems. I've got this situation. I've got money problems. I've got marital problems. I've got this, this, this. Guess what? He's got all the right answers.

He's a counselor. Mighty God. Just like the Almighty God. Mighty God. Is there any doubt what mighty means? And then Almighty?

You don't have to be a college graduate to figure that one out.

And then Everlasting Father. Oh boy, that's their own people. I don't know how many phone calls or emails I've gotten over that. How could he be? Wait a minute. I thought it was God the Father. Who made man? The Word.

The Word created man. The Father didn't create man. Everything was created by him for him.

So he is. He is a Father. But what did he tell us when he became the Son? When you pray, pray, our Father. He didn't say, my Father. He didn't say, your Father. He said what? Our Father. What an instruction for us. I think it's great that now we can have that. And that even Jesus Christ is Almighty Father, even though he's called our elder brother. He said, well, which one is he? He's everything because he's Almighty.

That's why he's got so many titles.

Matter of fact, have you ever heard of when Prince Charles became king? They had somebody standing up giving the list of what he was and his titles, and it's like, he's this, he's this, he's this, he's this, and this. Finally, he's king. Well, in another way, that's what this is. He's everything. He's everything that can be and everything we need. The everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, and boy, does this country and this world need peace. He's bringing it. He's bringing it.

Of the increase of his government and peace, there will be no end. He's going to reign forever and ever. And the increase, how do you get increase? How do you get increase? Wait a minute. I thought there was a time when this earth is burned up and everything will be spirit, and spirit can't reproduce. How do you get increase?

That's another sermon. Let's go back to Revelation. Let's go back to Revelation. Revelation 1, let's go to verse 9. Let's go to verse 9. I, John, both your brother and companion in tribulation. So he realizes he's not the only one that got in trouble for standing up for Christ. And in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. Do we have that?

Do you know the word? Do you live by the word? And do you live by the testimony of Jesus Christ? That's the question. This, John did it. John was put in prison.

And according to historical sources, I can't tell you whether they are true or not, but there's enough of them out there that all the disciples were martyred, except for John, who was brought before the emperor. And it is believed that he wanted to kill John, the last disciples, in front of a whole colosseum of people. And so he brought him forward and he boiled oil.

And they then saw this oil boiling, tar. And so they then lowered him down in front of everybody into this vat of tar. And it was said that it was asked of him, well, if you're of God, if you're of your God, then nothing can harm you. He went down in the tar. They waited 30 seconds and brought him back up.

He was fine, except for some tar. And it scared the entire colosseum. And it scared the emperor to where he goes. We may never be able to kill him. He maybe is of God. And then they started going, their word for God or their word for this. And next thing you know, he cleaned him up and put him on the island of Patmos. That is tradition or historically what they say about how John got there. Which I don't know. Maybe true, maybe not. Find out someday.

Verse 10. Let's go there. Revelation 1 verse 10. I'm not here to start any controversy. I'm not here to tear down any bridges that were built. I'm not here to state my own opinion. Here to read what the Bible says and to talk about it. Because this is, this can be controversial. Of course, now that I'm, it's going to be recorded and I say controversial, now everybody will flock to it to see if they can make a controversy over it. But let's read verse 10. I was in the spirit on the Lord's day. And I heard behind me a loud voice as of a trumpet. So, how was he in the spirit? Visions. Visions. Yes, because we know he saw visions. Right?

Is there any other way? Visions. In the original Greek, check me if you like. I've read it from three different inter-relenials years ago. Because I couldn't figure it out. But it actually reads, I was in spirit. The was not in there. The was at it. Hmm. Does that change things for you? It changes things for me. Not that I am changing doctrine, I'm not doing this. But what I'm doing is, I'm not cornering myself and saying, well, then it's got to be this. Because what if it's not?

Uh-huh. Kathy's right. God can do anything. He can do it any way he wants.

Was there a time God did that? The time God took him up? He was in spirit? He became a spirit? But I don't know. It doesn't say. But I like to leave the option open, where I was actually chastised for this, because I brought it up one time. Oh, no, no, no. That's not what the church teaches.

I care what the Bible teaches. Okay?

And if it doesn't teach you, I'm not going to teach it. But I am going to go back, because that's what I'm supposed to do, is to study. And it's what you're supposed to do, is study it. We are Bereans. We're the 21st century Bereans, who study the Scriptures daily to prove that it's so. And if not, you bring it up.

How about the fact that you had to be in spirit and seek God's faith to live? Ah, very good, John. Everybody get that? Hopefully you were able to pick that up. Don't mind saying that again loud. I like that.

Yeah, even in a vision? Possible. So, I'm not creating a... I'm just trying to get you to read. Because you're reading it now. You're teaching it later.

And you may teach it next year. You may teach it next week. Okay, let's go. I was in spirit on the Lord's Day. Is that Sunday or Saturday?

Huh?

Oh, or is it the Lord's Day? Because there's a phrase called what? The Day of the Lord. Is this when this is started? We don't know because John's already seen it. John's already seen everything. And now he's writing it down, and he's talking about this very moment. And he hears, wait a minute. Wait a minute. Are you telling me then that maybe this, because the trumpet sounded, that it was the... you know, because you have the seven seals and the seven trumpets, and the seventh trumpet, the dead in Christ, right? Is this the seventh trumpet? Maybe he heard? Or is this the first trumpet?

No. It's not what it says. But I've heard that thought.

What does it say? Just read it. And I heard behind me a loud voice as a trumpet. You see? It wasn't a trumpet blowing. It was somebody whose voice was so strong, so powerful, that it sounded like a trumpet.

This is what he experienced. And I've read this at times and got chills as I tried to picture myself being there.

And what did this voice say? Saying, I am the Alpha, the Omega, the first and the last.

No, he didn't.

That's a lie.

That was all added.

The Alpha, the Omega, the beginning, the start and the last, that was all added. Wasn't in the original Greek. John didn't hear that. People wanted a script, wanted to add it. Okay? So let's read it as it is, as originally written by John. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice as a trumpet saying, What you see, write in a book, and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia, to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.

Write it down. Write it down. And that's exactly what he's going to do. Why is it so important to send it to these churches?

Say that again, Bill?

Yes! Why is it so important for us to read it today?

Do it again, Bill. Yes! To prepare us. That's what God's whole purpose is here. Not so how much money we can accumulate or how much weight we can gain. Or lose. It's easier gaining than losing for me. But think about this. He wants that sent to them. And he says, he heard this.

Verse 12. Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me, and having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands. I have a picture that someone in this audience today painted for me of lampstand.

So he looks and he sees this lampstand.

Lampstands do what?

Okay. What do they shine for? They give light. They reflect light that's coming from here onto something. What? This was sent... What do they call it? Okay. I saw seven golden lampstands.

They are to shine light. They were shining light. Those seven lampstands stood for... What did he just mention? The seven churches. What are those seven churches' job? To manifest light. The light comes from Christ. That's what's being manifested. That's what he's seeing there. So it's representations up there that he's seeing why God has the churches is to manifest light. Why does He have the churches today? Same thing. Same thing. We have to be doing it.

It's a beautiful picture when you get through it.

Now let's go down to 13. And in the midst of one of the lampstands, one liked the Son of Man, closed with a garment down to his feet, and girded about the chest with a golden band. Who is this?

Yes. Why does He say one like the Son of Man?

Why would He say that?

He doesn't look like what John saw on this earth. He is fully glorified. As John brought up a good point, this John, sitting here, a good point, this is a glorified state that if humans saw it, they would melt. That's basically it. Even Moses, he said, get behind the rock and just you can see the backside.

And even though he saw the backside, nobody else could hardly look on him. He had to wear a veil the rest of his life because there was so much glory coming out of there. Just by seeing a little sight. So is this amazing? One liked the Son of Man. Oh, it's something like Christ, but it's totally different. It's so much greater. Why do you think he used the word Almighty?

Almighty.

It's so very powerful. Similar, but glorified.

You may have the same form. May look similar when you're resurrected or you're changed, but you're going to be glorified. So there's a big difference. Somebody may notice you day up. No, I don't think that's him. Well, I don't know.

Let's go down to 14. I have to look at my watch.

What time do we start here? I should watch mine. We start at 2.30. Okay, better speed it up.

His head and his hair were like wool, as white as snow and his eyes like the flame of fire. Okay.

Is he described? Okay, it's like if you've ever seen a lamb, as white as that is. It's like wool. And so white, it just amazes John. And then he says his eyes were like flames of fire. Does that mean they're red? You know, you've seen these people. These red? No. What is a flame of fire like? It's so outstanding. His eyes are so piercing.

Perhaps I've seen people that you can't see. Look at them because you have to, except for their eyes. It's so piercing. Imagine this.

Could be.

Yes, because you're having a hard time seeing this. But they're piercing because when Christ is here judging, He sees in your very soul. He's going to have those piercing eyes that know everything and can look at that.

And then, verse 15, his feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace and his voice is the sound of many waters.

What are we looking at?

He's tan. He doesn't need any copper tone. All on him. This is his appearance. This is how he comes across. And it's striking because it also can be used to describe, if you've seen brass, how strong it is. So I think when you see this, it's like, whoo, this almost isn't like a man, but it's so much greater, so much stronger.

And then he says his voice.

His voice as the sound of many waters. Has anybody been to Niagara Falls? Okay, we've got a few here. I've never... You've been kidding. Okay, I've never been. I've always wanted to go. They even told me that the little boats that take you out in front of them, they have to have a speaker and have to make a phone to talk to you because the roar is so big. I can't tell you. I've just heard that. Oh, you can watch it on... Well, I guess I can say I've been there. I watch it on YouTube. So I don't need to go, right? No. If you've ever heard, and I've heard some smaller waterfalls, and you can't... When you're standing, you can't hear somebody else.

This is what his voice sounds like. So can you imagine standing before that? The appearance, the voice. See, because this Christ is not the Lamb. This Christ is the Lion. And the Lion's coming. He's not coming back as a Lamb. That was his first trip. This one, he's coming back as the Lion of Judah. And he will roar!

Matter of fact, somebody else... Matter of fact, somebody else... Even Traceline, probably, she stayed out in Africa. Did you hear the Lion's roar at any time?

I don't know, but somebody that went there, a friend of mine, went there and did that, and he said, gave me the chills. I wanted to know how close that roar was.

You know? Yes! So is this? Yes! This is the Christ. Let's go on down because I'm running out of time. Verse 17. Oh, wait a minute. Here we go. Verse 16. And he had in his right hand seven stars. Out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword. What's that symbolic of? His voice, his authority, his word, because he spoke the word of God. It's authority. This is also what he says. It talks about the word of God being a two-edged sword. It's just that's what he's going to be saying.

And his right hand are seven stars?

Seven entities? Seven? Wow! Is he that big? Did he get seven stars? Or is it that just dynamic that he's got at his access? These things. At his disposal, at his beck and call. Seven angels?

And then it says, And his countenance was like that, was like the sun shining in its full strength. You're going to need these.

You're going to need some sunglasses. We couldn't even see with the sunglasses. Have you ever looked out and you're forced to look up into the sun, and it's blinding as if this is what John was seeing?

And this is what we can see when we read this. It's that powerful. It glowed. He glows like the sun.

Verse 17, And then I saw him. I fell at his feet as dead. Didn't have any strength. You've been so worn out, you just couldn't take another step.

And you just collapse. This is what this drained the life out of him to see this. And to see what he was this close. But he laid his right hand on me, saying to me. He didn't. Okay. To me wasn't in there. Somebody added that. Okay. Take it out.

And his latest hand on me saying, Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last. He's telling us the same thing. They wanted to make it personal. Like it was to John. He didn't say that. They saying that to us, too. He wants us to read this and have the same impact. Or as close as you can get to him. And then he says in verse 18, I am he who lives and was dead, and behold! Here goes the behold. I am alive forevermore. Amen. There goes that. Amen again. And I have the keys of Hades and death.

He controls all living things. Whether you live or you die. He controls it. He has the keys.

Whether you're dead or alive, he has the keys to resurrect you. He has it all. That's what he's trying to get across. So you can worry about your death. Doesn't hurt to have good eating habits. You want to live longer? Exercise a little bit.

But he has it. He has the keys.

And then verse 19 we covered last week. Write these things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. Meaning he had seen it all before. And they are arranged in things he had seen, and things that will happen, and things not in chronological order all the time. Finally, verse 20. Because I need to get to that.

In verse 20.

The mystery. Mystery of the seven stars, which you saw in my right hand. This is what Christ is saying. Who were those? What are those seven stars which you saw in my right hand? And the seven golden lampstands? The seven stars are the angels. They are the angels of the seven churches. And the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.

Church has angels. That's what it's showing. Those churches did, who are to oversee, they report to the heavenly beings, they report to Christ, because He's ahead of the church.

They're watching what we do.

Looks like we're going to have to call a few more, because we've got some not really with it, God. I don't know what they say.

So with that said, my time is up. But they proclaim the importance of the symbols that we have heard. These angels are for God's church, Christ's church. The church answers to Him. We answer to Christ.

And the Almighty, He's coming. And the word, Behold. Behold appears 1,298 times in the Old Testament. I mean, in the Old King James.

Behold is the word I do. And it means to be sure, to wake up, as you said. Don't miss it. Pay attention. And finally, as one theologian said, it means you need to be slapped upside the head.

When he says, Behold, you better wake up. Because he's got something to tell you. From God Almighty.

So now, next time I see you, the revelation begins in chapter 2.