Revelation 1:16 – Part 1

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Revelation 1:16, Part 1 – And he had in his right hand seven stars…

Updated October 11, 2023

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.

Introduction

As always we are learning about Jesus Christ as that name and title applies to us “keeping the things which are written therein.” In these studies we are not at liberty to guess about what is being signified by the symbols of the things written therein, simply because we are not at liberty to “think above what is written.” That is a critically important principle which we must keep in mind in these times when personal revelation so commonly trumps the words of scripture.

1Co 4:6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and [to] Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think [of men] above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

Lord willing, we will never “think above that which is written” and will instead give the scriptures which explain the signification of every symbol in this Revelation of Jesus Christ.

In the last study, we saw that Christ in us walks with “feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace”, and He speaks within us with a voice which is as the sound of many waters.

Rev 1:15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

We saw that Christ’s feet are as brass because “we have this treasure [Christ] in earthen vessels.” Brass [copper] signifies flesh at its most useful peak. Through Christ in us we become the “feet” or the sockets of the pillars of the door of the temple. We enter into the presence of God through sin and death, through corruptible flesh and blood which, even at its best state – that being the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ – the Truth remains that “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.”

1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

2Co 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

We saw that Christ dwells in and walks around “in this world… in us,” His body, and we saw that we are His feet as fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace, because:

1Co 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

Our “walk” with our “feet” is our “work.”

1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

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.

We also saw that the voice coming out of that “body, which is the church” is as the “voice of many waters.” It is the voice of Christ’s words being given to mankind “by the church.”

Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery [Greek: mustērion, secret], 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,
Eph 3:11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

God is “NOW” making known to the powers in the heavens the manifold wisdom of God; that “manifold wisdom” being “Christ in you, the hope of glory” and all which that entails. He is NOW making this known “by the church.” Paul is not speaking of some future time. He said, “NOW.” God is using “the church, which is His body” to bring this secret to each generation of mankind. That is the secret which has been hidden from the beginning of the world, but is now being made known to us in whom He dwells. It is through those who now know this “secret of His will” that God will, in His time, “make all men to see what is the fellowship of that mystery.” Here is verse 5 of Ephesians 3, and here is the same message in Colossians 1.

Eph 3:5 Which in other ages [Greek: genea, generations] was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

Col 1:26 Even the mystery [Greek: mustērion, secret] which hath been hid from ages [Greek: aions, ages] and from generations [Greek: genea], but now is made manifest to his saints:
Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory
Col 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
Col 1:29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Why does Paul say “His working… works in me mightily?” That brings us to this verse we are covering today:

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 secret Paul speaks of in Ephesians 3 and Colossians 1 is Christ in us. If Christ is in us and we are in Him, where does that place us?

Mat 22:44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?

Mat 25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Mat 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Mat 26:64 Jesus saith unto him [the high priest], Thou hast said [I am the Messiah]: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Mar 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

If Christ is in us, then we, too, are sitting with Him at God’s right hand of power “in the heavens.”

Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Eph 2:6 And He raised us up together and seated us together in the heavenlies [or, heavenly (realms)] in Christ Jesus, (ALT)

What good is that? What advantage is there to being seated with Christ at the Father’s right hand in the heavens? Here is what that accomplishes in us”

The body is one, and hath many members

1Co 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also [is] 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 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many.

This same principle applies to “one seed” with many in that one seed:

Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

Christ is that “one seed.” He alone can receive the promises. So where does that leave us? Same chapter:

Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Everything must be “in Jesus Christ” or it is not accepted by God. That is why we are told…

Php 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

“From Him… Unto Him…”

This is why we see Christ handing the book to His christ.

Rev 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
Rev 5:2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
Rev 5:3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
Rev 5:4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
Rev 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
Rev 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
Rev 5:7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
Rev 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four [and] twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
Rev 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

It is Christ who is on the throne. This is proven by comparing the last two verses of the previous chapter with Colossians 1:16.

Rev 4:10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

By whom and for whom were all things created?

Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

Look at the similarities between these two sections of scripture. Both are from Christ to Christ, and both finish by telling us that we will be kings and priests with and in Christ. In other words, these two sections of scripture are telling those who can see it that Christ identifies completely with “the church which is His body.”

Col 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

The seven stars in His right hand are the book in His right hand

What are these seven stars, and why are we told they are in Christ’s right hand? What is the significance of being in Christ’s right hand?

Here is the first place in God’s word which gives us the spiritual significance of what God is telling us when He inspires the phrase “His right hand.”

Gen 48:8 And Israel beheld Joseph’s sons, and said, Who [are] these?
Gen 48:9 And Joseph said unto his father, They [are] my sons, whom God hath given me in this [place]. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them.

Israel, Joseph’s father who before was called Jacob, is about to teach us two very important spiritual principles, if we can receive them. He is about to tell us what the spiritual significance is of the younger brother and what the spiritual significance is of the right hand.

Gen 48:10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them.
Gen 48:11 And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed.
Gen 48:12 And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.
Gen 48:13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near unto him.
Gen 48:14 And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn.
Gen 48:15 And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,
Gen 48:16 The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.
Gen 48:17 And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head unto Manasseh’s head.
Gen 48:18 And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.
Gen 48:19 And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.
Gen 48:20 And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.

This is not a history lesson even though it is a historical fact. These stories are not ministering to the principles involved at that time. “They ministered not to themselves but to us.” Jacob could not even see well enough to distinguish his grandsons. However, God had revealed to Jacob the principle involved in the birth of His uncle, Ishmael, and his brother Esau. So, for our benefit, to minister not to himself or his own physical descendants but to minister to us, he knowingly crossed his hands and blessed the younger over the elder.

1Pe 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, [even] the salvation of [your] souls.
1Pe 1:10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
1Pe 1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
1Pe 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
1Pe 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

‘The younger brother shall be greater’ is not concerned with Ephraim being greater than Manasseh, even though that did become the case physically and historically. ‘The younger brother shall be greater’ is a principle which has been being revealed to us from the very beginning. Abel was greater than his older brother, Cain. Isaac was greater than his older brother, Ishmael, and Jacob was greater than his older twin, Esau. This principle is even revealed to us in Jacob’s wives. Rachel, the second wife, the mother of Joseph, was greater than Leah, Jacob’s first wife. None of these historical people are the spiritual point being given to us though. Here is the point which the holy spirit is making for those with eyes to see and ears to hear:

1Co 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
1Co 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
1Co 15:46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
1Co 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
1Co 15:48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
1Co 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

That is the point that is being made over and over, but which is still so very little understood or believed. The inward and spiritual are always preceded by the natural, the earthy, the carnal man. This is true in every generation.

Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

God’s Word is not outward or historical or relevant only to a certain time or place. “This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled” and “my words shall not pass away” will be true in every generation since Christ, and those words will be true right up to and through the purging fires of the lake of fire.

Being “all things to all men”

Being at Christ’s right hand signifies that we have been made to be “all things to all men.” The significance of being in and at Christ’s right hand is that the younger, prodigal brother, who comes to work at the eleventh hour only after being a prodigal son, is the first to be given power which is not given to the older brother. This is true only because all those who are at Christ’s right hand see themselves as having been both the older son and the prodigal son. They see themselves as having been both the self-righteous Pharisee and the lowly publican. They see themselves as having been both the Jews wanting to stone the adulterous woman and the adulterous woman. Those who are at Christ’s right hand will acknowledge that it was they who have been party to the death of all the prophets (Mat 11:50, Rev 18:24) and to the death of Christ, Who we are now imitating and following:

1Pe 2:21  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

Being at and in Christ’s right hand necessitates that we all come to see ourselves as having been “chief of sinners…” acknowledging that “every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” is in our flesh:

Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

1Ti 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

God’s elect acknowledge that they have been guilty of both complaining about “having born the heat of the day,” and yet, through “Christ in us” we are also blessed to become those who afterward “receive their wages first” and through “being seated with Him at His Father’s right hand of power, “work mightily… more abundantly than they all.”

1Co 9:22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

Paul did not become weak, but Paul knew he was in a body of weak flesh and blood, and had been weak, and he could easily identify with all who were weak. Paul could be “made all things to all men” by simply acknowledging that all sin was in his flesh. Christ is now in us, and we can now, being at His right hand, “have all power” and do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens [us].

The right hand represents the power under which we are submitted, be it for good or for evil. The right hand is the power which dominates our minds:

Rev 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

What is the spiritual significance of being in or at God’s or Christ’s right hand?  According to the scriptures, the right hand of God is the source of power, strength and righteousness.

Exo 15:6 Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.

Psa 48:10 According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness.

Isa 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

What are the seven stars in Christ’s right hand?

Now let’s see how this phrase is used elsewhere here in the book of Revelation. In this same chapter we are told what these stars are:

Rev 1:20 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: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

Rev 2:1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

Rev 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

Christ did not lay down the seven stars so He could pick up a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. The seven stars are always in His right hand, and the book is also always in His right hand. As we have just been told, the seven stars are the seven angels to the seven churches, and those seven angels, as we are later informed, are “our fellow servants who keep the sayings of this book.”

The word ‘angel’ means ‘messenger’. The messengers to the seven churches are the messengers “which show [us] these things”:

Rev 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These [things this angel is showing John… the judgment of the great whore of chapters 17 and 18] are the true sayings of God.
Rev 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. 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 [“the seven angels of the seven churches”].

Twice we are informed that these angels are our fellow servants, our brothers who have the testimony of Jesus Christ and of them that keep the sayings of this book.

Someone will be certain to point out that the book is taken out of the hand of the man on the throne.

Rev 4:9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
Rev 4:10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Verse 11 identifies the person on the throne as Christ because of what we are told about Christ in Colossians:

Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

Who is it who takes the book out of the hand of Him that sits on the throne? It is John, and who is John? John signifies the fellowservant who is keeping the sayings of the prophecy of this book. It is John who brings this book to the seven churches. John, and you and I as his fellowservants keeping what is written therein, are the messengers to the seven churches. Where does that place us? It places us in the right hand of Him who walks in the midst of the seven churches and who sits on the throne of heaven.

It is Christ who sits on that throne, and it is Christ who holds the seven angels in His right hand. It is Christ who holds the book in His right hand, and it is Christ in us who takes the words of the sayings of the prophecy of this book to the seven churches.

The lives of all God’s elect are written on the pages of God’s book (Psa 139:16). God’s elect “keep the things which are written therein”, and live by every word which proceeds out of the mouth of God, as revealed in His book, which is in His right hand, which is sealed with seven seals and is opened only to those in whom that Lamb dwells.

Here is that same book as mentioned in the book of Psalms. We learn that God has predestined that we will all keep what is written in His book.

Psa 139:16 Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day. (MSG)

There is a “book of life” which contains only the names of the few who will be raised to life, but God has only one book by which all men will be tried in both the resurrection to life and the resurrection to judgment:

Joh 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
Joh 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation [Greek: krino, judgment].

Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

There is no difference between “the things written therein”, which must be kept by those who are blessed (Rev 1:3), and “the days ordained for me in thy book.” Both amount to nothing less than “every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”

God’s book is like His seed. God has but one seed, and that seed is Christ and those in Him.

Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

In the same way, God has only one book that must be kept, and that one book is “the revelation of Jesus Christ… sealed with seven seals… in His right hand of power.” Here is Psalm 139:16 in the ASV:

Psa 139:16 Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in thy book they were all written, Even the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was none of them.

Here is what we all do with the words of that book which has written in it, “even the days that were ordained for us before there were any of them.”

Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep the things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

We must all eat of both the tree of the knowledge of good and evil as well as the tree of life. If we as God’s elect are to “keep the things which are written therein”, and if mankind is to “live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God”, and if we are all to come to see ourselves as “chief of sinners”, then this next verse should begin to make much more sense to us all:

Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Those whose names are written in the book of life came up in “the resurrection of life” (Joh 5:29) over a thousand years before the resurrection that comes after the thousand-year reign of our Lord and His christ. They come up in “the resurrection of life” because they were the few who were judged in this present time:

1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
1Pe 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

This is what we are told of those in “the resurrection of life”:

Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

“The books were opened” refers to every life of every man who has ever lived who had not been in “the first resurrection.” “Another book was opened, which is the book of life” is Christ’s spotless, sinless life, lived in sinful flesh and blood, the same as the children. “The dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works” is each of us seeing that we were all in Adam before we became “in Christ.”

Both the life of our spotless Savior, and our own very spotted lives, are all in Christ’s word and are therefore all in Christ. The scriptures declare this to be so again and again:

Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

Pro 16:4 The LORD hath made all [things] for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

Rom 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom [be] glory for ever. Amen.

Joh 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch [in me] that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

Act 17:28 For in him we [Paul and you and me and the Pagan Athenians] live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

Adam, and all who are in Adam, “are His offspring.”

Luk 3:38 Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

It is our spotless Savior who “makes peace and creates evil.” It is Christ who has “made the wicked [Mike Vinson] for the day of evil [within Mike Vinson]. It is our spotless Savior “of whom, through whom and to whom are all things.” It is Christ, our spotless Savior, who has “in Him branches that bear not fruit.” “In Him” we all “live and move and have our being.” It is a mind which is devoid of understanding of the sovereignty of God, and the application of that sovereignty, which cannot understand how a spotless Savior can “create evil.” It is a mind which does not know the scriptural definition of “all things are of God” (1Co 11:12, 2Co 5:18) which therefore denies that all this is “in Him.” Here is how Paul deals with this spirit:

Rom 9:19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
Rom 9:20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Rom 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour

God has only one book. That one book is “the revelation of Jesus Christ.” We are not at liberty to pick and choose which parts of the sayings of the prophecy of this book we will keep. We will all “live by every word which proceeds out of the mouth of God.” If to us any of this is ‘out there’ only in the lives of others and is not being applied within us, then we have taken that part out of the sayings of the prophecy of this book, and we will acknowledge that part in this book as being for us in the later judgment, in the lake of fire. The ‘fire’ of “the lake of fire” is the same ‘fire’ that judges us in this present time. The only difference is the timing and the rewards promised to those who are in that “blessed and holy first resurrection” (Rev 20:6). Those who are in the first resurrection, the resurrection of life, will not be hurt of the second death/lake of fire which is the great white throne judgment, and they will be given power over the nations for a thousand years with Christ:

Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Rev 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Rev 2:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
Rev 2:28 And I will give him the morning star [Christ (Rev 22:16)].
Rev 2:29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches

Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book.

Conclusion

We have seen that the right hand of God is the source of all power, strength and righteousness. We have seen that being in Christ’s right hand, we are also at God’s right hand. We have also seen that the seven stars are the seven angels to the seven churches, and we saw that Revelation 19:10 and Revelation 22:9 tell us that the seven angels are the messengers to the seven churches who are our fellowservants who keep the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

We have seen that the days ordained for us in God’s book and the commission to “keep the things written therein” and the declaration by Christ that all men “shall live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” are in fact all one and the same exhortation.

We have seen that the scriptures are completely Christ-centric, and that just as the seed of Abraham is singular, so too, is God’s book by which “every man” will be judged (1Co 3:13-15). We have seen that God has only one seed, and He has only one book. That one seed and that one book are both Christ and those who are in Him:

Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

Knowing that “all our days are written in His book” (Psa 139:16) we can paraphrase that thusly: ‘He saith not books as of many; but as of one book, and to thy book, which is ‘the revelation of Jesus Christ… every Word that proceeds out of God.’

We saw that “the books” mentioned in Revelation 20:12 are us in Christ, and “the book” against which we are judged is our sinless Savior and His doctrines and His Words.

Next study, Lord willing, we will learn what is the sharp two-edged sword which comes out of the mouth of Christ, and why we are told that He is as the sun in its strength.

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