Revelation 1:16 – Part 2
Audio Links
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Video Links
Out of His Mouth Went a Two Edged Sword
Updated October 13, 2023
Rev 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shining in his strength.
Introduction
Last week we covered the stars in the right hand of “one like unto the Son of Man,” who was “in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks.” We saw that verses 4 and 5 of Revelation 1 demonstrate that this whole book is from Christ, and it is addressed to Christ, His anointed:
Joh 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
We also saw that the “book in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne [Christ] was given to the Lamb [Christ (Col 1:24)] to open the seven seals and to give us the revelation of Jesus Christ. We saw that the words, “He had in His right hand seven stars” in chapter 1, is the same ‘right hand’ we read of in chapter 5 where we are told: “I saw in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne a book” (Rev 5:1). Both the seven stars and the book are in Christ’s right hand. We saw that the seven angels of the seven churches are also the seven angels which blow the seven trumpets and pour out the seven plagues of God. We saw that even though Abraham has only “one seed,” Christ, that we are all one in that “one seed.” We also saw that all the “books” are actually in God’s one book. What we are slowly learning is the truth of these verses:
Rev 17:1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
Rev 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.
It is these “seven angels” which show us “the judgment of the great whore… and… the bride… the Lamb’s wife.” “The bride the Lamb’s wife” is the seven angels and the seven churches. It is through these seven angels that we are shown this entire revelation of Jesus Christ. We know this because “the angel which showed me these things” tells us so.
Rev 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him [the angel]. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Rev 22:8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
Rev 22:9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
So it is only “through the church” that “the manifold wisdom of God is made known” to us all.
Eph 3:9 And to make all men see [“The spirit of prophecy… Which showed me these things”] what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Eph 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly [places] might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
The seven spirits of God are a Biblical symbol of the completed work of the one spirit of God in us:
1Co 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether [we be] bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
The seven churches are the one body of Christ.
1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
1Co 12:20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
Eph 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
Rev 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
The Greek root word for stars is ‘aster.’ It is principally understood as a light in the heavens. Jesus Himself claims the title of the bright and morning star, which is seen in His face shining as the sun in the last part of this verse, the sun being the star that provides light and life for the earth.
Rev 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
Christ is the light of the world:
Joh 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Probably the most well known mention of stars in the New Testament is the single star that led the wise men to the birthplace of the Lord Jesus Christ. As such, it helps us define stars spiritually as a supernatural light for leading us to Christ.
Mat 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east toJerusalem,
Mat 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
Later Christ informs us that “we are now that light of the world.”
Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
The apostle Paul reaffirms this truth.
Php 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
If we understand that as He is so are we in this world (1Jn 4:17), we ought to have little difficulty seeing these stars as the chosen elect of Christ, anointed to be luminaries, whose purpose is to reveal Christ and His Father to mankind:
Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Christ proclaims us as such. He proclaims us to be as He is in this world.
1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
That the number seven is used here in Revelation 1:16 signifies that the perfection of the chosen of Christ is in view.
Act 13:47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, [saying], I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
Act 26:18 To open their eyes, [and] to turn [them] from darkness to light, and [from] the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
… And out of his mouth went a sharp two edged sword:
What always comes out of the mouth of the Lord is God’s words.
Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Joh 14:24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
God’s Word is what rules the lives of His elect. It is His word, His sword in His mouth, which also disciplines His elect as “the rod of His mouth.”
Pro 2:6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
Isa 11:4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
Those words “out of His mouth” in the New Testament are called “the sword of the spirit.”
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Rev 19:15 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 he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Rev 19:21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
At the very beginning of God’s Word we are told that this sword in the mouth of Christ is a fiery sword which guards the way of the Tree of Life:
Gen 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
There is no way to get to the Tree of Life except going through that fiery sword, and that fiery sword will burn out all of the wood, hay and stubble in our lives. It is the cherubim, a type of God’s elect, who are equipped with that flaming sword. We read this about “the sword of the spirit which is the word of God.“
Jer 5:14 Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.
Once again, “as He is so are we,” and so we are told in Isaiah…
Isa 49:2 And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;
…And later in Revelation 11:
Rev 11:3 And I will give [power] unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
Rev 11:4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth [Zec 4:3].
Rev 11:5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
It is all the revelation of Jesus Christ. The sword that is in His mouth is “a flaming sword.”
… And His countenance was as the sun shining in his strength.
The Sun is the brightest of all the stars of heaven. It shines light on all darkness and drives away all darkness. The Sun of Righteousness is the light of the world:
Mal 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
Who is this “Sun of Righteousness?”
Mat 17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
Mat 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
God’s elect are “as He is… in this world” (1Jn 4:17).
Ecc 8:1 Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man’s wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.
“Christ is [us]… makes [our] face to shine” with His glory in us.
If we are in Christ and He is in us, then we are with Christ at His Father’s right hand, “dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto.” That light being His word burns up all that pertains to man and the things of his flesh.
1Ti 6:13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and [before] Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
1Ti 6:14 That thou keep [this] commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
1Ti 6:15 Which in his times he shall shew, [who is] the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
1Ti 6:16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
Lastly, we are told that Christ’s countenance was as the sun. This reference is nothing more than a visual representation of the magnitude of His apparent glory, and we see this confirmed throughout scripture.
Psa 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
Rev 10:1 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
We will learn later what it means to have died with Christ, and to have His right hand with the seven stars “laid upon us.”
Rev 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
Conclusion
We have seen in this study that stars are lights in our heavens. We saw that those lights in our heavens are Christ coming to His elect through His elect, and then later through His elect “to all men.”
We have also seen in this study that the “two edged sword” is the word of God, who, once again, is Christ. In the end, Christ and His words are once again in us and come out of our mouths as a flaming sword which will destroy and is destroying our enemies and will burn and is burning out all that will burn.
We have seen that “His countenance was as the sun shining in his strength” is again the light of God’s word in us, driving away anything that is darkness.
Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their [our] deeds were evil.
In conclusion, the message of the revelation of Jesus Christ is the revelation that He is in us, and that as His Father has sent Him, He has sent us. The revelation of Jesus Christ is that “as He is, so are we in this world.” The revelation of Jesus Christ as having the seven stars in His right hand, as a sword in His mouth, or as the sun in its strength, is all “Christ in you the hope of glory.”
Next week, Lord willing, we will learn what it means to be “as dead at the feet of Christ,” and to have His right hand, holding those seven stars, and that book “laid upon us.”
Rev 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
Other related posts
- The Souls Under The Altar 2013 (July 11, 2005)
- The Revelation Of Jesus Christ Part 1 Introduction (January 14, 2007)
- Revelation 9:5-12 (March 20, 2010)
- Revelation 9:3-4 (March 20, 2010)
- Revelation 9:17-21 (March 27, 2010)
- Revelation 9:13-16 (March 19, 2010)
- Revelation 9:1-2 (February 12, 2010)
- Revelation 8:8-9 (January 15, 2010)
- Revelation 8:7 (January 8, 2010)
- Revelation 8:3-4 (December 29, 2009)
- Revelation 8:12-13 (February 12, 2010)
- Revelation 8:10-11 (January 22, 2010)
- Revelation 8:1-6 - Part 2 (December 26, 2009)
- Revelation 8:1-6 - Part 1 (February 11, 2010)
- Revelation 7:9-17 - I Beheld, and, lo, a Great Multitude (December 13, 2009)
- Revelation 7:4-8 - Who Are The 144,000 - Part 1 (February 11, 2010)
- Revelation 7:4-8 - Part 3 - Who Are The 144,000 (November 23, 2009)
- Revelation 7:4-8 - Part 2 - Who Are The 144,000 (December 25, 2009)
- Revelation 7:1-3 - Part 5 - What Is The Seal of Our God? (November 25, 2009)
- Revelation 7:1-3 - Part 3 and 4 - What Hurts The Earth, Sea, And Trees? (November 18, 2009)
- Revelation 7:1-3 - Part 2 (November 18, 2009)
- Revelation 7:1-3 - Part 1 (November 18, 2009)
- Revelation 6:9-11 - The Souls Under the Altar (November 18, 2009)
- Revelation 6:5-6 The Black Horse (November 18, 2009)
- Revelation 6:12-17 - Part 2 (November 18, 2009)
- Revelation 6:12-17 - Part 1 (November 18, 2009)
- Revelation 6:1-4 (August 22, 2009)
- Revelation 5:7-10 (July 31, 2009)
- Revelation 5:4-6 (August 4, 2009)
- Revelation 5:11-14 (August 8, 2009)
- Revelation 5:1-3 - Who Can Open the Book? Part 1 (July 4, 2009)
- Revelation 4:8-9 Wings of the Seraphim (June 25, 2009)
- Revelation 4:6-7 - Four Beasts - Part 6 (June 14, 2009)
- Revelation 4:6-7 - Four Beasts - Part 5 (June 14, 2009)
- Revelation 4:6-7 - Four Beasts - Part 4 (May 23, 2009)
- Revelation 4:6-7 - Four Beasts - Part 3 (May 16, 2009)
- Revelation 4:6-7 - Four Beasts - Part 2A (May 9, 2009)
- Revelation 4:6-7 - Four Beasts - Part 1 (May 7, 2009)
- Revelation 4:6 - Sea of Glass - Part 2 (May 2, 2009)
- Revelation 4:6 - Sea of Glass - Part 1 (April 30, 2009)
- Revelation 4:4-5 Four and Twenty Elders (April 11, 2009)
- Revelation 4:10-11 (June 28, 2009)
- Revelation 4:1-3 His Throne in Heaven - Part 1 (April 7, 2009)
- Revelation 3:7-9 (February 13, 2009)
- Revelation 3:4-6 - Sardis, Part 3 (February 7, 2009)
- Revelation 3:3 - Sardis, Part 2 (January 30, 2009)
- Revelation 3:19-22 Laodicea, Part 3 (March 21, 2009)
- Revelation 3:18 (March 14, 2009)
- Revelation 3:14-18 (March 21, 2009)
- Revelation 3:10-13 - Philadelphia, Part 2 (February 19, 2009)
- Revelation 3:1-2 Sardis, Part 1 (January 30, 2009)
- Revelation 2:8-11 - Smyrna (December 24, 2008)
- Revelation 2:26-29 (January 17, 2009)
- Revelation 2:21-25 (January 10, 2009)
- Revelation 2:18-20 (January 6, 2009)
- Revelation 2:12-17 - Part 2 (December 26, 2008)
- Revelation 2:12-17 - Part 1 (December 24, 2008)
- Revelation 2:1-7 (December 24, 2008)
- Revelation 22:6-10 (June 4, 2011)
- Revelation 22:16-21 (June 25, 2011)
- Revelation 22:11-15 (June 11, 2011)
- Revelation 22:1-5 (May 26, 2011)
- Revelation 21:9-12 (May 26, 2011)
- Revelation 21:4-8 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 21:23-27 (May 15, 2011)
- Revelation 21:18-22 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 21:13-17 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 21:1-3 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 20:7-10 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 20:11-15 (October 26, 2011)
- Revelation 20:1-6 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 1:9 - Part 2 (August 8, 2008)
- Revelation 1:9 - Part 1 (August 8, 2008)
- Revelation 1:8 (July 25, 2008)
- Revelation 1:7 - Behold, He Cometh with Clouds... (July 19, 2008)
- Revelation 1:6 (July 10, 2008)
- Revelation 1:5 - Part 2 - First Begotten of the Dead (July 10, 2008)
- Revelation 1:5 - Part 1 (June 20, 2008)
- Revelation 1:4 Part 2 (January 22, 2009)
- Revelation 1:4 Part 1 (June 6, 2008)
- Revelation 1:18-20 (December 6, 2008)
- Revelation 1:17 (November 24, 2008)
- Revelation 1:16 - Part 2 (November 15, 2008)
- Revelation 1:16 - Part 1 (January 22, 2009)
- Revelation 1:15 (November 1, 2008)
- Revelation 1:14 (October 25, 2008)
- Revelation 1:13, Part 2 - One Like unto the Son of Man (October 3, 2008)
- Revelation 1:13 - Part 4 (November 17, 2008)
- Revelation 1:13 - Part 1 (September 19, 2008)
- Revelation 1:11-12 (September 13, 2008)
- Revelation 1:10 - Part 3 (October 23, 2008)
- Revelation 1:10 - Part 2 (August 23, 2008)
- Revelation 1:10 - Part 1 (August 15, 2008)
- Revelation 1:1-2 - Read, Hear and Keep These Words (July 24, 2008)
- Revelation 19:6-10 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 19:20 (November 13, 2011)
- Revelation 19:17-21 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 19:11-16 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 19:1-5 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 18:9-14 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 18:5-8 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 18:24 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 18:20-23 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 18:15-19 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 18:1-4 (December 29, 2010)
- Revelation 17:7-11 (December 10, 2010)
- Revelation 17:12-18 (December 29, 2010)
- Revelation 17:1-6 (December 10, 2010)
- Revelation 16:4-9 (October 22, 2010)
- Revelation 16:17-21 (November 13, 2010)
- Revelation 16:10-16 (November 7, 2010)
- Revelation 16:1-3 (October 15, 2010)
- Revelation 15:5-8 to Revelation 16:1-3 (October 15, 2010)
- Revelation 15:1-4 (October 9, 2010)
- Revelation 14:6-12 (September 16, 2010)
- Revelation 14:13-20 (September 23, 2010)
- Revelation 14:1-5 (September 11, 2010)
- Revelation 13:6-9 (August 6, 2010)
- Revelation 13:3-5 (July 29, 2010)
- Revelation 13:14-18 (September 3, 2010)
- Revelation 13:10-13 (August 19, 2010)
- Revelation 13:1-2 (July 22, 2010)
- Revelation 12:7-9 (July 2, 2010)
- Revelation 12:14-17 (July 16, 2010)
- Revelation 12:10-13 (July 9, 2010)
- Revelation 12:1-6 (June 25, 2010)
- Revelation 11:7-14 (May 8, 2010)
- Revelation 11:5-6 (April 30, 2010)
- Revelation 11:4 (April 22, 2010)
- Revelation 11:15-17 (June 12, 2010)
- Revelation 11:1-3 (April 18, 2010)
- Revelation 10:5-11 (April 9, 2010)
- Revelation 10:1-4 (April 12, 2010)
- Rev 1:3 How do we Keep the Sayings of this Book? (January 22, 2009)
- Rev 1:13, Part3 - Christ Revealed in the Law of the Offerings (October 11, 2008)