Well, thank you again for coming. Chapter one in the book of the Revelation. And we'll go right now. Get yourself a book, Bell, if you want, right there. Thank you. We'll go right now to chapter one, and I would like to begin reading at verse nine. And go to the end of the chapter, or verse ten, rather. Go to the end of the chapter where we have the record of the first vision that was given to John. I'm sure that many of you recognize in the reading of this book, It is a book of vision, most unusual vision. And may I give you this thought? I don't know whether it blesses you as it has blessed me, but I passed it on to you. If you keep your Bible open where you are, but turn to John's Gospel chapter twenty, twenty-one rather, the last chapter in the Gospel according to John. And I want you to notice something very significant. If I may read from verse twenty, After the Lord Jesus told Peter how he would die for him. Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following. Which also leaned on his breast at supper and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, Lord, what shall this man do? Jesus said unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me? Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, That that disciple should not die. Yet Jesus said not unto him he shall not die, but if I will, that he tarry till I come. What is that to thee? Well, Peter was wondering about John. The Lord had told him what was going to happen to him, but his good friend John, and the Lord told him it's none of your business, Peter. But Peter... If I will, that he tarries till I come. What's that to thee? You just follow me. But may I point out something? In the book of the Revelation, John saw all that's going to happen when Jesus comes. He tarried, as we've said, he lived longer than all the rest of the apostles. Till God gave him this great vision. All visions in the book of the Revelation. The book of the end. Tell him. And you remember the theme in verse seven, chapter one. Behold, he cometh with clouds, the public manifestation where every eye shall see him. And what you have in the unfolding of the book, John says, and we emphasize it again, he repeats, I saw, I saw, I saw. John really got almost two thousand years ahead of us, didn't he? But God gave him the vision. Now please let me say, I believe fully that in that day, that Lord's day, John, in the Spirit, entered into what was to take place. Much of it he couldn't grasp. Much of it he did. But he wrote it. And God has unfolded it through his servant John, from by the Lord Jesus, for you and for me. Now verse ten, going down the chapter, gives the first vision. It's the vision of the Son of Man. Let me read the words. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, heard behind me a great voice, as are the trumpets, saying, I'm Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. And what thou seest, write in a book, send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia, unto Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamus, Piatyrrha, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea. And I turn to see the voice that spake with me, And being turned I saw seven golden candlesticks or lampstands. And in the midst of the seven candlesticks, one like unto the son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, girded about the breast with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were as a flame of fire, his feet like unto fine brass, as if they'd burned in a furnace. and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars. Out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. He laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not, I am the first and the last. I am he that liveth and was or became dead. Behold, I am alive forever, Lord. Amen. And have the keys properly translated in the right order would be the keys of death and Hades, the dwelling place of the departed. Write the things which thou hast seen, the things which are, the things which shall be hereafter, the mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks, the seven stars of the angels of the seven churches, And the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. Now, if you will take your lesson sheet on page two, which we are following, and did begin last week, and would like to conclude, we'd like indeed to recognize on page two what the Lord Jesus revealed. That being preached. Now we look at the vision in the latter part of the page, Christ in his judicial glory. First of all, we saw the command that was given to John to write the book to the seven churches which he named. And then comes, beginning with verse twelve, then comes the vision. And we notice first of all, the Lord Jesus presented in the most spectacular manner Now may I say very frankly and for your encouragement as well as your blessing to go and seek as you possibly can as much as possible to find out more about the Lord Jesus. Remember that dear old hymn we sometimes think, more about Jesus would I know? May I say this, I remember in the city one time having lunch with one of the pastors of the city, he said to me, Brother Branhall, what's the greatest doctrine in the Bible? Well, I knew I was going to tell him something he wouldn't agree with, but that didn't bother me. I said, Brother, the greatest doctrine in the Bible is the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. I know he wanted me to say the Holy Spirit. I know that's a great doctrine. It's the greatest in the New Testament. But the Lord Jesus is found from the beginning to the end. And it's the most marvelous thing that some of our fellow believers and servants of God have done. They have written exhaustively, many of them, showing the glories of Christ from the beginning of the Bible to the end. You can find Christ in all the books of the Bible. And if you're ever looking for sermons, let me give you a clue. You've got sixty-six books in the Bible. And if you take one message out of every book, you've got sixty-six sermons. That ought to keep you going a little while. But you get the thought. Christ is the great theme of the Bible. Now there are certain places where his descriptions are given in a most marvelous manner. Three or four particularly. I'll mention one. Very gracious and blessed to a believer's heart that is spiritual. In Song of Solomon, chapter five, verse ten through sixteen, where you have the bride describing the beauty of her beloved, and you've got the wonderful metaphorical description of the perfect bridegroom typifying the Lord Jesus to the heart of a spiritual believer there are glories in those words describing the person of Christ then let me give you a second one the book of Hebrews in chapter one begins and tells how God declares the greatness of his dear son how great he is the future ruler of the universe the past creator of the world the very essence of God himself, the eternal Son of God, the effulgence of God's glory, as well as the expression of God's substance in all of its moral and deity attributes of deity. And then he's the sustainer of the world, upholding all things by the word of his power. And by himself is the great sin purger that took away our sins. And when he did that, God put him on the right hand of glory. That describes his greatness. Now when we come to the book of Revelation and our chapter before us, I commend to you to realize, and I wish to do it, the presentation of Christ in such a remarkable manner. It was so remarkable that it was an astonishing thing to John. John knew him. John writes of him in his gospel. John lived with him. John did something that none of the others seem to have done. He leaned on his bosom. I wish I could keep there. He leaned on his bosom. But as you may have noticed in our reading, when he saw him in this vision, he couldn't lean on his bosom. He fell at his feet. So he was dead. The glory of it. And I point out, it's on your lesson sheet, I believe, as a reference to the Book of Daniels. Daniel had a similar experience and saw the vision of the Son of Man. He too felt prostrate and was unable to move, not to speak, till he was touched by that divine hand as John was himself. Now look at the glories that are mentioned of our Savior. We have noted, first of all, you go to verse thirteen. In the midst of the seventh anniversary, lie under the Son of Man's clothes with a garment down to the foot. May I suggest, here we have in the first three references of his glory, references to his personal glory, clothed with a garment, and then second, and I'll repeat them, second, girdled about the breath with a golden girdle, and third, his head, his hair as white as snow. Now those are three personal glories that belong to him, as the Son of Man. Now we made our comment last week. The title Son of Man belongs to him as the greatest man that has ever been on the earth and will rule over the earth. You will find in the book of Ezekiel, I think Ezekiel is called the Son of Man about thirty-six times in his prophecy. But this is the one. And the Lord Jesus seventy times about in the Gospel speaks of it, spoke of himself as the Son of Man. Beloved, you know, I don't know how you feel about the election, but you know what? I've been thinking, no matter who wins, they're only men. They're only men. And I want to tell you, frankly, they'll never do what needs to be done either. No matter how hard they try. We need the Lord Jesus to come back. He's the only man. And thank God I put my voting for him, seven years ago. And what a joy to know. He's the one. And you have his glory. personal here in this vision is judicial glory now John remember you have we saw it in John chapter five and verse twenty two the Lord Jesus said no man the father judges no man but has committed all judgment to the son and when you think of what John saw you go back to his gospel and recalls in his gospel the life of the Lord Jesus and says The word was made flesh and dwelt a monster full of grace and truth, and we beheld his glory. You may remember too, John, Peter, with James, saw the glory of the Son of Man on the Mount of Transfiguration, his kingly glory, and his majesty. But he receives him clothed with a judicial garment. In other words, this is personal. He's the only competent judge. of all the earth. Second, and we noted this last week, the girdle that was a golden girdle around his breast, so significant, the golden significant of his righteousness, divine righteousness. And when it comes to be the judge, he can show no mercy. He has to show justice. Today, the door of mercy is wide open. As the old hymn says, regarding Calvary. Mercy there was grace and grace was free. Pardon there was multiplied to me. There my burdened soul found liberty where? At Calvary. But, oh, beloved, stop and think a minute. You and I that have found mercy, how grateful we should be. Lord, I'm glad I'm saved. I am glad I'm saved. I get glad every day, though I may not always show it, but anyway, I'm glad about that fact. But remember, There are many that are not saved. And when he comes to the earth, he's not coming to be the savior. He's coming to be the judge. And the affections are restrained. He cannot show affection. He has to show righteousness, justice, as he deals with the souls of men and the nations of the earth and his earthly people in that coming day when he descends from heaven to the earth in glory. And then the third thing, so typical as you find in Daniel's seven, where Daniel's vision saw him as the ancient of days. White his hair, white as wool, and as white as snow. Typical of his divine as well as his human wisdom. May I say again, he's the only competent judge, and his competency rests upon the fact not only of his perfect humanity, but also his dignity. Very God, but very man. That one can realize, looking at the perspective of this book, he's coming to be the judge of the earth. And in wisdom, his wisdom personified, he'll judge righteousness. May I say this lovingly? Honestly. We have complaints from many that a righteous God and a loving God will not put anyone in hell. But may I say to you, when anyone rise in hell, they'll say it's righteous. When you look at the great white throne, judgment of the lost, the books are open. And the dead are judged according to the works that are written in the book. You know, you have people sometimes tell you when you try to win them to the Lord. about getting saved. They say, I'm doing the best I can. And then you pin them down. Are you sure you've done the best? Well, maybe not. You know, who has? We're saved by grace through faith, not of worthless, any man should boast. And that judgment in the day coming for those that are lost, twill be righteous. I say it earnestly, I say it in love. It will be a righteous judge that will banish not only Satan and all of his hosts, but all the lust, the rejected, the grace and the salvation of God to a departed eternity, an eternal separation. And may I remind you that death in the Bible never means cessation. It means separation. Physical death is separation. of the spirit and soul from the body. And I may say sometimes I say, oh, I wish I could wake up dead. You know what I mean. The joy of knowing to go to be with Christ, which is far better. And then the spiritual death, the ones that are unsaved in the world today. If they don't know the Lord Jesus, they're dead. Paul writes in Ephesians two, one and two. Dead in trespasses and insane, spiritually dead. And then, of course, there's a third phase Eternal separation. And that's the final one. Well, thank God that won't be mine. And it will not be yours when you know the Lord Jesus. But here's this personal glory. But then go further. And I want you to know what follows. As you look at verse fifteen. And verse fifteen. Oh, the end of verse fourteen first of all. Note his eyes. There was a pleasant flame of fire. Note his feet. His feet like unto fine brass. Burning grass as if it burned in a furnace. And his voice as the sound of many waters. And here you have three facts regarding him again. And in relation to these, it shows his relatives. His relative glory. What for? Now please know. What are his eyes going to do? And as you also will know, please, his feet, what will they do? His voice, what will he command? Now beloved, when you look at the book of the Revelation, which we know is the book of judgment, chiefly from beginning to the end, especially in relation to the world from chapter six and on to the end, but what is he going to do as the judge? His eyes will penetrate with omniscience like eyes of fire. Look at Hebrews chapter four with me, will you please? Let me read two verses there. Hebrews chapter four verse twelve and thirteen these are two verses that are very precious to believers relative to the word of God but will you please note the statement that Paul writes verse twelve let me read verse twelve and thirteen together for the word of God is quick meaning living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword and we're going to see something about the two-edged sword in our vision piercing even to the divining of thunder, of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and the intent of the heart, neither is there any creature that is not manifest, openly understood and known in God's sight, but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him, with whom we have to do. Beloved, may I say lovingly, and I put this in a personal application, I need it to realize that my Lord Jesus is watching me every moment, and God is watching me every moment. And everything I do, naked, open to the eyes of him, to whom I must give an account, even as a believer. May I say it's a very solemn thing to realize, and particularly in relation to the world, and coming judgment. That those eyes of fire one can recognize. Then fire is so typical of judgment in the word of God. And that fire in the omniscience of the Lord. May I say this. When everyone stands before them, they won't need to tell him what they are. He knows it. They won't ever need to tell him what they've done. He knows it. Look in chapter two of John's gospel. I'm not sure whether we mentioned this last week, but let's turn to it again. Let me read with you the last three verses. John chapter two, verse twenty-three through twenty-five. Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, that is Jesus, in the feast day, many believed in his name when they saw the miracles which he did. But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men. and he needed not that any should testify of man for he knew what was in man you know there's only one person that knows you through and through perfectly and that's God and Christ now I'll tell you one thing and I need the reprimand myself I don't know myself as I should my wife knows me better than I know sure And may I say, your children may know you better than you think they do. And sometimes even a dog. That's right. We're known perfectly by God. We're known more perfectly by others than we know ourselves. And so let us remember Paul's exhortation, not to think too highly of ourselves. Get down. If you get down low enough, you never bump your head. And you can recognize the meaning of that. But Jesus knew. Knows what is in there. First, let me give you an illustration. You've got it in chapter four of John. The woman at the well. She started to talk to him about worship. Then in a little few moments he began to probe her conscience. Go and call thy husband. I don't have any husbands. She told him bluntly, I don't have any husband. He says, you're right. You've had five already, and the one you're living with is not your husband. Look. How did he know it? How did he know it? And what a wonderful grace it was that he brought it to himself, and she went away telling everybody, he's the man that told me all things that ever I did. It's not this the Christ. She saw the winning souls. and bringing the Samaritans to the Lord Jesus. He knew what was in him. And then you can recognize his eyes penetrated. And he has perfect knowledge of the subject and subjects of the judgment. And then, as you note the statement that follows in that fifteen verse, fifteen. It seemed like burning brass or copper in a burning furnace. You remember, particularly we mentioned last week, the garment that he wore went down to his feet, didn't cover his feet. And John in the vision sees the feet like burning breath. I think it's David the Psalmist in Psalm eighteen, really sometimes. And it pictures the Lord coming in judgments. And you know, it says, Darkness shall be under his feet. And the darkness of this world will be under its feet, but those feet are coming to judge it. And under its feet he will crush his enemies. Beloved let me say lovingly and earnestly, would to God I grasp it more, the poor world in which we live and our country in which we live, the whole world is going to feel the feet of divine judgment when it comes to crush his enemies. That eighteenth psalm is a beautiful one all the way through. It's firmly depicting. Someday he's coming from heaven. And in the darkness of this world he will bring divine judgment to cleanse it. Inclexible judgment. Crushing judgment. Can I make this statement? It's verified by the word of God when the judgments are finished. There's now an ungodly person left. alive on the earth. Read Matthew twenty-five, the judgment of the living nations. You remember we've had it in studies before. He judges the nations. He brings them before him. He puts the goats on the left and the sheep on the right. And to those on the right, come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom, prepared for you from the foundation of the world. On the left, depart from me, ye wicked, into everlasting fire. prepared for the devil and his angels and God never made hell for a man he made it for the devil and his angels but the devil should take him plenty of company there isn't he but the Lord Jesus he'll be the he'll be the judge and we can recognize I'm in that day he shall indeed separate the godly forever from this theme for his feet will have inflexible strength then note the third thing in this relative glory belonging to him, not only toward the whole world, not only regard to his eyes and his feet, but his voice. It's going to be a voice of authority. Look at Psalm twenty-nine. I think I've got a reference. I do have a reference on your page there. Look at Psalm twenty-nine. I want you to note something. It too is a messianic Psalm. And in Psalm twenty-nine, listen to the words of the psalmist. We read it very quickly. It won't take long, it's a short song, but I want you to know what the psalmist declares. And now by the Spirit of God, he records the thundering voice of the Lord of glory. Verse twenty, chapter twenty nine. Listen to these words. Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name. Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. The voice of the Lord is upon the waters. The God of glory thundered. The Lord is upon many waters. I want you to think. The waters represent people. The sea. The wicked are like the restless sea. Or the sea which cannot rest. Whose waters cast up my rendering. We'll come to the book of Revelation chapter thirteen. Out of the sea. The masses of the nations. There arises. A political power. Personage. in the closing days. And when the Lord comes back to deal with the nation, his voice is going to be thundering. And let me read on through the psalm. The voice of the Lord is powerful. The voice of the Lord is full of majesty. And you can read on to the end. And you can read how he will fulfill his judgments and then bless his people that are his. But I want you to think of it. Go back to Revelation one. As you have the The prophet John writing is saying, his voice is the sound of next. Mighty cataract. Mighty cat. Well, you know when the rapture comes from first Thessalonians chapter four, when the Lord comes for his bride, the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout and assembling shout. and with the voice of the archangel and the trump of God and the dead in Christ now please know the dead in Christ the redeemed who have died will rise from their graves and we which are alive we redeemed once shall be caught up together in the clouds with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air so shall we be as to be with the Lord now may I say the world's not going to hear that shout I don't know the world won't hear that shout There was an occasion in the life of the Lord Jesus. When God spoke to him, people around heard his voice. Some said it, some did. But it was the Father speaking to him. But the public didn't understand. So it will be with the rapture. We'll understand the shout. And it's the grand thing to realize I'm waiting for the shout. A shout that will call the redeemed from the grave. The living saints from the earth. To be caught up together. You know, I won't mind leaving. Blessing him. Huh? Did you say you're going away so soon? Why not want to go? Oh, the joy of knowing. That's for the redeemed of the Lord. And the bride. King of the Lord. and the bride. But when the Lord comes back to the earth. Well, I think you're a dear old preacher. A black fellow. You know those black preachers can tell you something at that time. And he's preaching away about the coming of the Lord. And he's taking that text from Matthew. The lightning shall flash. As the lightning flashes from the east to the west, so shall it be when the sun of man comes. And he told his audience, he says, this is going to be a terrific amount of thunder. And so he said, wait a minute, preacher, he doesn't say thunder. He said, look, how are you going to get all that lightning without thunder? Please let me say, very frightening, when we come further in the book, we come into chapter six. Even in the early part of the judgment, men hined in the canes. Men seek to flee to the mountains, healing the wrath of the Lamb and the wrath of God. When you look in Psalm forty-six before we come back again, I want you to notice something very precious in Psalm chapter forty-six. And that's the Messianic Psalm with the Lord coming. And as you look in chapter forty-six, let me read that latter part of the Psalm. It's the Lord coming to the earth. Let me begin at verse eight. As you can recognize what he does. And the invitation is given by the Spirit. Come. Behold the works of the Lord. What desolations he has made in the earth. He makeeth wants to cease unto the end of the earth. He breaketh the bolt. He cuttheth the spear and thunder. He burneth the chariot in the fire. Now please let me say, don't believe for a moment that men will stop building armament. They can't do it. They can't do it. It's going to take the coming of the Lord to stop it all. Then read on. Verse ten. Know these words. Be still and know that I'm God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth. You know what he said when he says, be still. He tells the whole world, shut up. Get quiet. It's going to be a great quietness. As he moves the kingdoms of the earth and judges men. But his voice will go. Oh, what a boy. Go back to Revelation then and rest realize. Let me repeat it again. Those relative glories. First of all, as we saw his eyes, omniscient, discerning. His feet, inflexible in judgment. His voice, like the sound of a mighty cataract. And then no. And I think in verse sixteen we've got his official glory that belonged to him even now. He had in his right hand seven stars. Now let me go down to verse twenty with you. Get the explanation of the seven stars. The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand. And the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches. The seven candlesticks which thou sawest, are the seven churches. And let me just very briefly, for we'll be taking up in detail as we go into the next chapter, but let me very briefly suggest, here you find his official glory relative to the churches. And those whom he calls the angels of the churches, who teach, who rule in the churches, he's the only one that can, he's the only ecclesiastical power to hold them up. I don't know what you feel, my fellow believer, but please let me say this. I wish that the church, I wish believers that they knew and which we've obeyed, appreciated, and honored the Lord Jesus as being what is taught in the New Testament by Paul, the head of the church. The head of the church. I sure don't need any pope. I don't even need a priest. I've got one. A great high priest in heaven above, the head of the church. And if every Christian was obedient to the voice and the word of the head of the church, wouldn't we have a better church on the earth? And oh, how will it seem to be, what should be, disobedient. But please, the picture is, this official glory, sustaining, Now please let me say this. Let me do it in love. But in faithfulness, whatever church you belong to, whatever assembly of saints you're a fellowship with, don't you depend on the preacher to hold that church together. And don't even depend on yourself either. Don't just depend on the elders either. Or the deacons. We need somebody from. They need it. We all need it. And here you see the picture, and we'll see it develop in the next chapter. He's the one who holds and maintains. Then let me remind you, we'll also see, as we shall see, he sometimes removes the matstaff of that local church. I dare you to find today, tell me, can you find a church at Ephesus? Can you find a church at Smyrna? Can you find a church at Pergamon? Can you find a church of Thyatira? Can you find a church of Sardis? Can you find that church of Laodicea? Literally. God. What I'd like to present before your heart and mind is the greatness of his official glory. He holds the churches in his right hand. I tell you one thing, when the preacher tries to hold it up, it'll It'll sink him down. One dear brother, I recall, made the comment, when you leave everything to the preacher, he needs the wisdom of Solomon, he needs the strength of the Samson, and he needs the patience of Job, and he needs the courage of David, and the height of a rhinoceros. Well, wasn't too far from the truth. One can make it. Please, let me say it again. Now, let me say this kindly. We're all facing it. Today the outward testimony of the church is in difficulty. I know it. I feel it. I get it from the right and left. Not just locally, but I mean over the country. From friends, fellow believers, and literature, and letters that come to me telling the problems. I can only suggest to you as well as to my own heart, keep close to the head of the church in your own heart in your own soul he holds and if he can't hold the church he can hold you and he can hold me but then note the third the next thing he goes on to say out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword now we've already commented And I believe we may have a reference to that, but we don't need to turn to it. But we've already commented on what we found in Hebrews chapter four. It's the sword of judgment. Go with me in chapter two. I think it's chapter two of the book of Revelation. Let me look at with you in verse twelve. To the angel of the church in Pergamos write, These things said he, which has the sharp sword of two edges. That sword is the word of God. Go down to verse fifteen, verse sixteen rather. Repent or else I will come unto thee quickly and will fight against them with the sword of thy mouth. And that sword is the word of God. Why is it called a two-edged sword? Well, go to Revelation nineteen, please. Let's follow the thought through. chapter nineteen where the Lord Jesus comes down from heaven to the earth in that coming day and if I may read very carefully let me look with you at verse fourteen as he comes from heaven you find the description that precedes his good you may read it as your convenience the armies of heaven which were in heaven followed him upon white horses clothed in fine linen white and clean and out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword that with it he should smite the nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, and so on. What is the sharp sword? Beloved, that sharp sword is the two-edged sword of the Word of God. The Word of God. Let me illustrate it in this way. Many of us, perhaps most, if not all of us, go back to the time when God spoke to our souls in conviction, when the Spirit of God used what? the word of God I think of my own boyhood day going to Sunday school and I do thank God he spoke to my soul in Sunday school as a young lad a faithful teacher and faithful Sunday school superintendent telling his boys you need to get saved you need the Lord Jesus as your Savior or it will be eternal health And many a week, many a month, I was under deep conviction. Many a Sunday, I went back to Sunday school, intending, but always procrastinating, I'll get saved. Never did. Until I was invited to the gospel, evangelistic service one Sunday night. And that's when God really got his sword into my soul through the preaching of that message. Of salvation. It was a sharp sword. I don't question at all that my mother would have told everybody Johnny was a nice boy and I must say it's the truth all I have to confess that she probably favored me more than my brother sometimes well my brother was always the troublemaker anyway but anyway she favored me more she would have said oh John's a nice boy yeah but John was a sinner John needed to get saved and it took the sharp sword of the word of God Pendering, John, you're lost. John, you need Christ. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life. He that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the rest of God abideth on him. And may I go further? We read particularly in chapter two, as well as in chapter nine, you've got two distinct distinctions there. You've got him coming to a church. And then you see him coming at the end to the whole world. And he judges them by the word. And my fellow Christian, let me say this. And we should see it more as we go into the next chapter. The Lord judges his people according to how they go by his words. That's right. He pays no attention to what you think. He pays no attention to what even the preacher may say. He judges the whole congregation. Are they keeping my words? Are they keeping my words? that saw this out of his mouth, that sharp two-edged sword. For the word of God is powerful and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul, the spirit. Now, that's what a surgeon can't. Did you ever find a surgeon find the soul when he cuts you open? He sure didn't. He made a hole all right. He couldn't find the soul, nor the spirit. But the word of God can and does. So, beloved, let's look, one of his official glories to realize he comes to judge his people even by his own precious word. You go to chapter three in the church of Philadelphia, he makes a commendation, they're saying, thou hast kept what? My word. And may I say this lovingly? And I don't care who listens to who doesn't listen around. Obey his word. Your responsibility and mine is to obey his word. The responsibility of every church, wherever professing to represent Christ, is to carry out the word of God. And I want to tell you something. God's told us in his word what he wants. Everything pertaining to the church. Everything pertaining to the testimony upon the earth. And you don't have to make up any rules. Just follow the book. Obey the word. It's a sharp two-edged sword. I... He gives me somewhat of a thrust once in a while. Even this morning, I say, please, Lord, forgive me. Yeah. I don't have to, I don't know, did Job have much patience? Well, James said he did, didn't he? But sometimes you and I run out of it, don't we? And what? We prove. Well, let me point out what Paul wrote to Timothy when he said, when he exhorted him, saying, All scripture is given by inspiration of God. And it's profitable for doctrine to teach you, for reproof, meaning conviction. Tell you when you're wrong. Done? You shouldn't have done that. Or maybe you folks don't have that problem. But anyway, you shouldn't do that. And then correction. Tell you how to correct that. That you might be righteous. To do righteous. Instructing in righteousness. Righteous living. It's the word we need. Beloved, let me say this lovingly. And I say it honestly. The greatest need among Christians today is to learn and be taught the Word of God. The Word of God. The Word of God. The Word of God. The Word of God. And me, I say lovingly. And I wouldn't say it in disparagement. But I am ashamed when I have to be told. Saul's old priest, and he told a lot of jokes. No, that's not the word. We need the word. We need the word. And when the Lord Jesus judges his people, it's the word by which he judges. And then last of all, you please note, his countenance, another official glory, shining as the sun, as the sun shines in its train. And here you have what you call his supreme majesty, his supreme majesty. You know that old hymn, King of my life, I crown thee now. Thine shall the glory be. Lest I forget Gethsemane, lead me to Calvary. Look, is he really the king? Does he really rule over his people as he desires? Does he rule over your heart and life and mine as he should? Supreme in his majesty. Supreme in his majesty. And may I say lovingly, and I want to do it earnestly, please, as an individual Christian, you and I owe to the Lord Jesus our religion, no matter what. On one occasion when I was in South Carolina, fifty years ago, just exactly, to preach in a certain town. I went to visit a preacher. I didn't know him, but I knew his father, who lived in my own hometown. And I had the courtesy to his dad. I went to see him. and told him I was going to have some evangelistic meetings. And the first thing he said, well, I hope you're not going to preach on this right and come in. Well, I looked at him and said, friend, I'm not going to ask you when I'm going to preach. Then he apologized. Say, that's right, I shouldn't tell you. Yeah, who's going to? Then, look, look, my fellow believer, look, let me say this. Whether you're just a humble believer, sitting in a pew, In any local testimony, you were responsible individually to the Lord. And so am I. Others may fail him, but his supreme majesty. And here John sees his glory. Those glories that were personal, those glories that were relative to the work that he was going to do in judgment, as well as official in relation to his people. Now let's look at verse eighteen, verse seventeen rather, and we get John's reaction. You have it on your page sheet, the apostle's reaction in verses seventeen through nineteen. And you note the first thing, when I saw him I fell at his feet as dead. The glory of this vision was such. John could only fall at his feet. And then, please note, he was lifted up in encouragement. And He laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not, I am the first and the last. It was the same blessed Lord Jesus that John knew, but John had never seen him in all this glory. Now, please let me go back in memory to the little song that we have at the beginning of the class. It means much to me. Show me myself and show me my Savior. Make the book lift to me, O Lord. Show me thyself within thy word. Show me myself and show me my Savior. Make the book lift to me. And beloved, right here we've had a vision given to us, written by John through the Holy Spirit. And to him it was given by the Lord Jesus. John saw it. The effect upon him was one of loneliness. as he followed his feet. But it brought words of comfort. He's the ever-living one. The first and the last. The first. May I say this? This is a statement that reveals his eternal existence. You know, you don't have an eternal existence. You had a beginning, but I agree you don't have an ending. You had a beginning. I don't think you were reincarnated, were you? No, we don't believe in that. But we do have a beginning, but no end. But here's the one. Well, let me quote the words in Hebrews thirteen, as wonderful words in verse eight. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, forever. I'm glad I've got an eternal Savior. The first and the last. Now, please know what he goes on to say. I'm He that liveth. Yes, John, I'm your Savior. I'm the living one, your resurrected Savior. And was dead. I was dead. I became dead. Behold, I'm alive forevermore. Hallelujah. What a joy to realize his death, his burial, and his resurrection as accomplished. The redemption that is yours and mine through faith in him. And he says, I'm alive forevermore. Did you ever hear the story of Martin Luther? You know, Martin Luther seemed to have a lot of trouble over the devil. He was very devil-conscious. I met some dear Christians, probably, but all they talk about is what the devil's doing. Well, let me tell you something. Don't talk about what the devil's doing so much as talk about what the law of it is. You'll feel better, and you'll act better. But anyway, Martin Luther was a man that was very gravely troubled over the power of Satan. And of course, in such moody conditions that he often was. His wife was the one that suffered the most for her. So one day she came walking right into his study, all dressed in mourning. And if you may remember, I recall when I was a boy in England and my grandmother died, oh boy, you'll see my mother go in black. Top to bottom. Don't do it in any, do they? And she walked in in mourning clothes. He looked at her and said, who's dead? Martin Luther? God is dead. The way you've been going around. Well, I think we could all get that reboot sometimes. Go away. Yeah. I'm alive forevermore. But then, no. The final instruction that he gives, I have the keys of death and Hades. I'll be alone. Go to Hebrews chapter two. Will you please? Hebrews chapter two. I want you to notice what the Lord Jesus did when he died upon the cross. And in the words of Hebrews chapter two, I may find it quickly, right after Timothy, Titus, and then comes Philemon in Hebrews. Hebrews chapter two, verse fourteen and fifteen. Note these words. Verse fourteen and fifteen. For as much then as the children of partakers of flesh and blood, He also himself likewise took part of the same, that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death. That is the devil. And delivered them who through fear of death were all their lifetimes subject of bondage. Did you ever notice something in the lives of the patriarchs, Jacob, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob? Did you ever notice how they feared death, going down into Shia? The Christian needs not to do that. Our Lord Jesus went there himself. And he came out the victory. You know the old him. Up from the grave he arose with a mighty triumph or his foes. He arose the victor or the dark domain. And he lived forever with his saints to reign. He arose, he arose. Hallelujah. Christ arose. The victor. He conquered not only sinned. in all of its penalty, but in its power, and the devil's authority, and the devil's dominion of death. Hey, did you ever think, why did the devil go to the funeral of Moses? He says, that body belongs to me. I've got the power over death. He sure did. He brought it in. The wages of sin, death. Lord Jesus got the power from him. I've got the keys. of death, Hades. And yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, what? I'll fear no evil, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. And no wonder with John, those words, amen, and we were too. Now we're going to stop right there, because I think in verse nineteen will be a good beginning for the next chapter. And it will bring out the divisions of the book too. Well, let's bow in a word of prayer. Oh, blessed Father, we thank thee for thy precious word. We thank thee most of all for him whose glories are revealed within him, the glories of thy dearly beloved Son. Oh, we would indeed say, show me myself and show me my Savior. And as we see his glories, may we, like John, fall at his feet in worship. Love and adoration. Dismiss us with thy blessing. Bring us back next week, Lord, in the will of the Lord. And keep us in thy fear and favor, walking each day. We ask in the Savior's name for his glory and honor. Amen.