Bible Tuesday - Revelation Part 4

See these keys in my hand? They open and lock Death’s doors, they open and lock Hell’s gates.
Revelation 1:18

John is seeing Jesus for the first time in many years.  And John hasn't exactly had an easy time of it, has he?  But watch how this reunion goes down.  They don't embrace.  They don't relax and talk about old times.  John doesn't even get an update about all his friends in heaven or an 'atta boy' for all his perserverance.  But I think he gets something even better. In this verse, Jesus confims who he is...once again.  He tells his servant John "Don't worry.  I am in control."  Because, honestly, don't you think John may have been a tiny bit concerned?  I don't mean to imply that John doubted Jesus.  Only that he may have wondered if he had misunderstood.  Jesus makes it very clear to John that he has not.  I think that very often we want that fuzzy kinda love from Jesus but what we get is the same thing John got...the truth.  There will be plenty of time for John and Jesus to reminisce and fellowship.  But right now, there is work to do.  And Jesus is there to give John his orders.


Now write down everything you see: things that are, things about to be. The Seven Stars you saw in my right hand and the seven-branched gold menorah—do you want to know what’s behind them? The Seven Stars are the Angels of the seven churches; the menorah’s seven branches are the seven churches.”
Revelation 1:18-20

Jesus' first concern in this revelation is the church.  It's important here to stop and clarify.  Jesus LOVES the church.  Jesus DIED for the church.  He has not now nor will he ever give up on the church.

But maybe you have?  Maybe you are so sick of the church that you wanna beome a Wiccan or something.  I understand and I hardly blame you.  We haven't done a real good job have we?  And I am real sorry about that.  But, in our defense, the church is doing good all over the world and you probably never hear anything about it.  One Baptist housewife mobilizing a town to collect, sort and send shoes overseas is not going to be the lead story on any news hour.  And that kind of thing happens all day every day.  The Holy Spirit is alive and well.   It is working in the hearts and lives of so many people.  If you looked, it would be had to NOT find an example of that work every day.

But hating the church is so much easier.  Maybe I shouldn't say 'hate'.  But certainly disdain, pity, anger and ridicule would be appropriate terms.

Jesus has some stuff to say to the churches.  He's not letting the church off the hook.  But he's not giving up on them either.