Christ Alive Forevermore (Revelation 1:17-20)

“And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.” (Revelation 1:17-20 NKJV)

Who can live when seeing the holy God? John was not an exception. When he saw the brilliant and awesome image of Christ Jesus, he felt at His feet as dead. Prophet Isaiah did, Jeremiah did, Apostle Paul did as well. When the fallen race was exposed to the holiness of God, the immediate reaction was the fall of death. Then, the mercy of God comes with the gentle touch of His hand to make the dead alive. Without the mercy of God no one can live. We can’t stand before the holy God without experiencing death. For that reason, Christ died in our place for us to be able to stand before the throne of grace with confidence and boldness.

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:1-2 NKJV)

Adam immediately died in spirit and hid himself from the face of God. He couldn’t stand any longer before the holy God. He could stand again only after God killed the animals to make the clothes for them. The killing of the animals and shedding the blood symbolize the death of the Son Christ Jesus. King David immediately experienced death until Prophet Nathan pointed out his double sins and repented honestly before God.

“For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;

You do not delight in burnt offering.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,

A broken and a contrite heart—

These, O God, You will not despise. (Psalm 51:16-17 NKJV)

The prodigal son immediately experienced all forms of death when he left his father and wasted his life, squandering the money. Shame, guilt, despair, emptiness, loneliness overshadowed and overwhelmed his body, soul, and spirit. He was lost and dead. But there was a hope in the father’s house and he repented and came back to the father who restored everything as son. That’s the gospel. There is no one left without hope in the gospel of God of Christ Jesus the Lord.

Apostle John was told to speak up the mysteries of the seven stars and the seven lampstands. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which John saw are the seven churches. The prophecy of Christ reveals the truths and realities of the churches throughout twenty centuries in history. The word of prophecy was given for the readers to understand and be blessed in these latter days.