Revelation 1 and Beholding Christ

Rev_1_-Beholding_Christ_in_Revelation  [This is the Word Document]

Beholding Christ in Revelation

 

1:1       Jesus receives from God to give to us

1:1       Jesus has angels

1:1       Jesus has servants

1:4       Jesus, by John, sends us Grace and Peace

1:5       Jesus is a Faithful Witness TIHI 3:14

1:5       Jesus is the First Begotten from the Dead

1:5       Jesus is the Prince of the Kings of the Earth

1:5       Jesus is the one that loved us

1:5       Jesus washed us from our sins in His own blood

1:6       Jesus made us Kings and Priests to His Father

1:6       Jesus is to receive glory and dominion for ever and ever

1:7       Jesus is coming with clouds

1:7       Jesus will be seen by every eye, including the eyes of his opponents

1:7       Jesus will be a cause of mourning for the world

1:8, 11             Jesus says “I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending”

1:8       Jesus says “I am, I was, I am to come; I am the Almighty”

1:9       Jesus shares his kingdom with those that share his endurance

1:9       Jesus has a Testimony that caused Johns imprisonment

1:10     Jesus has a special day

1:10     Jesus has a voice like a trumpet

1:11, 12           Jesus cares for his scattered churches

1:13     Jesus dresses ‘to the foot’

1:13     Jesus dresses like a priest

1:13     Jesus bears the ephod with stones representing his people

1:13     Jesus is the Son of Man

1:13     Jesus is “in the midst” of his church – TIHI 2:1

1:14     Jesus’ head and hair are very white, reminding us of Is. 1:18

1:14     Jesus’ eyes are like a flame of fire – TIHI 2:18

1:15     Jesus’ feet are like still-burning brass – TIHI 2:18

1:15     Jesus’ voice is like the sound of many waters

1:16     Jesus holds his messengers in a position of honor – TIHI 2:1; 3:1

1:16     Jesus’ mouth issues a sharp two-edged sword

1:16     Jesus’ face shines like the noon-day summer sun

1:17     Jesus’ appearance is utterly overwhelming

1:17     Jesus stoops to touch and lift the overwhelmed

1:17     Jesus says “Fear Not, I am the First and the Last” – TIHI 2:8

1:18     Jesus says “I live, I died, Behold, I live for evermore.” – TIHI 2:8

1:18     Jesus says “I have the keys of hell and death.” – TIHI 3:7 [‘of David’]

1:19     Jesus reveals the present and the future

1:20     Jesus explains the symbols he introduces

2:2       Jesus recognizes virtues even in those that have lost their first love

2:2, 3   Jesus super-values work, hard work, for His sake and unfailing endurance

2:2       Jesus commends the exposing of false pretensions to inspiration

2:2       Jesus commends church discipline

2:4       Sustained love by his people is required and desired by Jesus

2:5       Jesus offers critically needed warnings to repent

2:5       Jesus threatens to remove an unrepentant church from its position as his church

2:6       Jesus hates the deeds of men that deny the Law of God

2:6       Jesus commends his church for hating those deeds also

2:7-etc Jesus speaks by the Spirit and says “Listen if you can”. He says this to every age.

2:7, 11 Jesus promises eternal life to the overcomers

2:9-etc Jesus knows our works. He reminds every age of this. 2:2, 9, 13, 19; 3:1, 8, 15

2:9       Jesus recognizes when His own are persecuted

2:9       Jesus recognizes the poverty of his faithful and commends their spiritual wealth

2:9       Jesus regards false profession as blasphemy

2:10     Jesus foretells some future suffering, but only to console his people by doing so

2:10     Jesus explains our suffering as a means of trying our faith

2:10     Jesus says “Fear not” future suffering; “Be faithful to death” and receive “life.”

2:12     Jesus can discern even the thoughts and intents of the heart

2:12     Jesus is able to cut away our false intents and evil thoughts

2:12     Jesus sends division into the world by means of the enmity in the gospel

2:12     Jesus uses the Word of God to do the work of fighting the enemy

2:13     Jesus commends faithfulness in those surrounded by unfaithfulness and evil

2:13     Jesus has tender regard for his faithful witness martyrs slain by Satan

2:14, 2 Jesus commends faithfulness before rebuking failures.

2:14, 20           Jesus rebukes the suffrage of false doctrines that corrupt his people

2:14, 20           Jesus rebukes the suffrage of false teachers that corrupt his people

2:15     Jesus rebukes the suffrage of those opposing Law and hates their doctrine

2:16, 21           Jesus gives time for repentance before sending the judgments in the Word

2:17     Jesus offers special knowledge of His character to overcomers

2:17     Jesus offers unique privileges of eternal growth to the overcomers.

2:18     Jesus is the Son of God

2:19     Jesus commends reformation in his people and notes the improved works

2:19     Jesus associates commendable reformation with love and faith and service

2:20     Jesus despises the type of authority represented by the life of Jezebel

2:22     Friendship with world-loving leaders is enmity with Jesus

2:23     Members that imitate the world-loving leaders will be destroyed by Jesus

2:23     In the Judgment all will know that Jesus searches motives and reads hearts

2:23     In the Judgment Jesus will reward all ‘according to their works.’

2:24-25            Jesus commends those that have resisted false doctrines and does not give them greater burdens than to hold their pure faith to the end

2:26-27            Jesus promises future civil authority to those that have overcome the temptation to unite with civil powers here.

2:28     Jesus promises Himself, through the teaching of His special messengers, to the overcomers

3:1       Jesus has the ‘seven spirits of God’ [Isaiah 11:2-3?]

3:1       Jesus recognizes and exposes to us the hollowness of our pretensions

3:2       Jesus says “Be watchful.”

3:2       Jesus says “Strengthen the remaining things that are ready to die.”

3:2       Jesus weighs his people and looks for whole-heartedness in our works

3:3       Jesus counsels us to remember His past teachings in our personal lives

3:3       Jesus reprimands us for losing ground and calls us to repent and come back up

3:4       Jesus promises the little faithful flock that they will walk with Him and that they are worthy.

3:5       Jesus promises white raiment to the overcomers

3:5       Jesus blots the names of the finally defeated ones from the book of life

3:5       Jesus will plead the case of victors before the Father and angels in the judgment

3:7       Jesus is Holy

3:7       Jesus is True

3:7       Jesus alone manages the doors to the sanctuary

3:7-8    Jesus sends desperately needed messages at just the right time

3:8       Jesus admits weak men, faithful to his Word and to his character, to the Most Holy Place where he is

3:8       Jesus reminds weak faithful men that no-one can keep them out of that place

3:9       Jesus will vindicate his faithful by showing his love to them before their oppressors

3:9       Jesus identifies false professions to Christianity as a ‘lie.’

3:10     Jesus recognizes those that have used their strength to stand firm during times of terrible trial. He will not permit them to be overborne by the final test. He will lay them safely in the grave to save them.

3:11     Jesus says “Behold! I come quickly!”

3:11     Jesus says “Hold fast what you have” for men will try to dissuade you

3:11     Jesus warns that our crowns may be taken from us by deceivers

3:12     Jesus promises the overcomers that they will with him minister, administer, and share his glory in his glorious place without end

3:14     Jesus is the Amen

3:14     Jesus wants us to think of his preeminent role as Creator

3:15     Jesus prefers faithfulness to disgust and disgust to ambivalence or indifference

3:16     Jesus will not stomach ambivalence or indifference for long; there is real danger

3:17     Jesus pities self-deluded Laodiceans and tells them the truth

3:18     Jesus is a heavenly salesman offering the best wares at unbeatable prices

3:18     Jesus offers love and faith to the destitute. The cost: Paying close attention to what he says and accepting his Testimony.

3:18     Jesus offers a lovely character to the unlovely doubters. The cost: Paying close attention to what he says and accepting his Testimony.

3:18     Jesus offers the Holy Spirit to the self-deluded. The cost: Paying close attention to what he says and accepting his Testimony.

3:19     Jesus loves his own enough to rebuke and chasten them

3:19     Jesus invites us to respond to his love to zealous labor in repentance

3:20     Jesus takes the initiative to win those that are paying him no attention

3:20     Jesus patiently waits for those that pay him no attention…but not forever

3:20     Jesus will come in to our experience when we (A) hear his voice to us in his Testimonies and (B) open our hearts by accepting and repenting

3:20     Jesus offers special experiences of fellowship to the door-openers

3:21     Jesus offers a place on his throne to the overcomers in the last age

 

5:5       Jesus is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah

5:5       Jesus is the Root of David

5:5       Jesus alone among men has prevailed to open the book of the prophetic history of the world

5:6       Jesus represents himself as a Lamb that has been slain and that has seven eyes and seven horns. The eyes represent the way he sees us in the world—by means of the Holy Spirit.

5:9       Jesus receives the worship of bowing angel priests

5:9       We are redeemed by Christ’s blood

5:9       Jesus has no racial prejudice

5:12     100,000,000+ angels ascribe great Worthiness to Jesus

5:12     Jesus deserves things that I need—power, wisdom, riches, strength, glory, honor, blessing.

5:13     Jesus is associated with He who sits on the throne by the intelligences of the universe

 

 

 

 

[122 items]

 

 

“Genuine faith in Jesus leads to denial of self; but however high the profession may be, if self is exalted and indulged, the faith of Jesus is not in the heart. The true Christian manifests by a life of daily consecration that he is bought with a price, and is not his own. He realizes that an infinite sacrifice has been made for him, and that his life is of inestimable value, through the merits of Jesus’ blood, intercession, and righteousness. But while he comprehends the exalted privileges of the sons of God, his soul is filled with humility. There is no boasting of holiness from the lips of those who walk in the shadow of Calvary’s cross. They feel that it was their sin which caused the agony that broke the heart of the Son of God, and their comeliness is turned to corruption. Those who live nearest to Jesus, feel most deeply their own unworthiness, and their only hope is in the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour. Like Moses, they have had a view of the awful majesty of holiness, and they see their own insufficiency in contrast with the purity and exalted loveliness of Jesus. “(RH, 1888.3.6)

 

“There is nothing true but God; for Christ, the revelation of God, is “the truth.” He is also the reality, the fullness, of everything that is, because he is the life – the whole of life. He is, and without him there is nothing. There is but one true God, and but one true love, “the love of God,” because “God is love.” So there is but one rightful Lord; but one faith – “the faith of Jesus;” and but one real hope – the hope of our calling in God. Eph. 4:4-7.”(RH, 1902.6.24)

 

“The grief and anger of the Jews because of the conversion of Paul knew no bounds. But he was firm as a rock, and flattered himself that when he related his wonderful experience to his friends, they would change their faith as he had done, and believe on Jesus. He had been strictly conscientious in his opposition to Christ and his followers, and when he was arrested and convicted of his sin, he immediately forsook his evil ways, and professed the faith of Jesus. He now fully believed that when his friends and former associates heard the circumstances of his marvelous conversion, and saw how changed he was from the proud Pharisee who persecuted and delivered unto death those who believed in Jesus as the Son of God, they would also become convicted of their error, and join the ranks of the believers.”(LP, 35)

 

I want to say a few words. God has left a few of the old pioneers who know something of the fanaticism which existed in the early days of this message. Here is Brother Prescott; he knows something about it. He is acquainted with phase after phase of the fanaticism that has taken place. Here is Brother Haskell. He knows something about it, and there are various ones of our older brethren who have passed over the ground, and they understand something of what we have had to meet and contend with. Then there is Brother Corliss; I speak of him because he knows something about fanaticism, not only in the early days, but in our later experience.

Let every one of us remember the men of gray hairs. Do not set them back in a corner, and say, We do not need you, because you are too old to be active workers. If on only one occasion these men of experience can stand and tell you what the right way is, it is worth to the cause of God more than you would pay a dozen laborers who have little or no experience in this work. God wants us to come to our senses. I thank God that there are a few who know what we have passed through in the beginning of the history of this work; God wants you to cherish them, and I want you to cherish them. God wants you to feel that it is a sacred duty to look after them, and not to ignore them or put them out of sight.

You may think that they have made mistakes. Have you made any? May God let His melting Spirit come into our hearts. May God come to us with His comforting power. What we want is not hearts of steel, but hearts of flesh. I hope that not a soul will go away from this meeting until he can say for himself, I know that I am Christ’s in God.

When persons are in our midst who are moved by the Spirit of God, through whom the great treasures of His word are unfolded to us, increasing in every phase, let us not take the position that we know all that is worth knowing, and what we do not know is not worth knowing, hindering the very ones who are digging for the truth as for hidden treasure. The word of God is opening more and more to us. Just as long as we live on the earth, we shall be able to find a whole treasure-house of beautiful things. Some will see beauty in one truth, some in another, and some will look at it in another way. We are not all constituted alike. But some think that what they have is all there is to acquire. They say of others, Do not let them come into our meetings; we do not want them here. They do not believe as we do. I wish to say. Hands off. Let God work through human instrumentalities according to His will.

Read the seventeenth chapter of John, and you will see that God has given us the privilege of being united in Christian love, brethren with brethren, all being bound together by the golden chain of love which has been let down from heaven to unite the believers. God wants you to be like himself. He wants to keep you unspotted from the world, to forgive your sins, and to draw you to himself, that you may step off the ladder into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.—RH 4-30-1901

 

“I call upon those who have been held at Battle Creek to gird on the armor. It is high time that they went forth into needy fields to labor for the Lord. It is not pleasing to God for them to stay in a place that has been worked over and over again, encouraging others to drift into Battle Creek to become unbelievers in the Testimonies God has given to his people, or perhaps infidels. Those who are fully established in the truth may gain a good education there, but there are others who go away infidels. By some, the truths that lie at the very foundation of our faith are being sacrificed.

Our Periodicals

God has given me light regarding our periodicals. What is it?–He has said that the dead are to speak. How?–Their works shall follow them. We are to repeat the words of the pioneers in our work, who knew what it cost to search for the truth as for hidden treasure, and who labored to lay the foundation of our work. They moved forward step by step under the influence of the Spirit of God. One by one these pioneers are passing away. The word given me is, Let that which these men have written in the past be reproduced. And in The Signs of the Times let not the articles be long or the print fine. Do not try to crowd everything into one number of the paper. Let the print be good, and let earnest, living experiences be put into the paper.

Not long ago I took up a copy of the Bible Echo. As I looked it through, I saw an article by Elder Haskell and one by Elder Corliss. As I laid the paper down, I said, These articles must be reproduced. There is truth and power in them. Men spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

Let the truths that are the foundation of our faith be kept before the people. Some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. They talk science, and the enemy comes in and gives them an abundance of science; but it is not the science of salvation. It is not the science of humility, of consecration, or of the sanctification of the Spirit. We are now to understand what the pillars of our faith are,–the truths that have made us as a people what we are, leading us on step by step.

Early Experiences

After the passing of the time in 1844 we searched for the truth as for hidden treasure. I met with the brethren, and we studied and prayed earnestly. Often we remained together until late at night, and sometimes through the entire night, praying for light and studying the Word. Again and again these brethren came together to study the Bible, in order that they might know its meaning, and be prepared to teach it with power. When they came to the point in their study where they said, “We can do nothing more,” the Spirit of the Lord would come upon me. I would be taken off in vision, and a clear explanation of the passages we had been studying would be given me, with instruction as to how we were to labor and teach effectively. Thus light was given that helped us to understand the scriptures in regard to Christ, his mission, and his priesthood. A line of truth extending from that time to the time when we shall enter the city of God, was made plain to me, and I gave to others the instruction that the Lord had given me.

During this whole time I could not understand the reasoning of the brethren. My mind was locked, as it were, and I could not comprehend the meaning of the scriptures we were studying. This was one of the greatest sorrows of my life. I was in this condition of mind until all the principal points of our faith were made clear to our minds, in harmony with the Word of God. The brethren knew that, when not in vision, I could not understand these matters, and they accepted, as light directly from heaven, the revelations given.

Many errors arose, and though I was then little more than a child, I was sent by the Lord from place to place to rebuke those who were holding these false doctrines. There were those who were in danger of going into fanaticism, and I was bidden in the name of the Lord to give them a warning from heaven.

 

“I call upon those who have been held at Battle Creek to gird on the armor. It is high time that they went forth into needy fields to labor for the Lord. It is not pleasing to God for them to stay in a place that has been worked over and over again, encouraging others to drift into Battle Creek to become unbelievers in the Testimonies God has given to his people, or perhaps infidels. Those who are fully established in the truth may gain a good education there, but there are others who go away infidels. By some, the truths that lie at the very foundation of our faith are being sacrificed.

God has given me light regarding our periodicals. What is it?–He has said that the dead are to speak. How?–Their works shall follow them. We are to repeat the words of the pioneers in our work, who knew what it cost to search for the truth as for hidden treasure, and who labored to lay the foundation of our work. They moved forward step by step under the influence of the Spirit of God. One by one these pioneers are passing away. The word given me is, Let that which these men have written in the past be reproduced. And in The Signs of the Times let not the articles be long or the print fine. Do not try to crowd everything into one number of the paper. Let the print be good, and let earnest, living experiences be put into the paper.

Not long ago I took up a copy of the Bible Echo. As I looked it through, I saw an article by Elder Haskell and one by Elder Corliss. As I laid the paper down, I said, These articles must be reproduced. There is truth and power in them. Men spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

Let the truths that are the foundation of our faith be kept before the people. Some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. They talk science, and the enemy comes in and gives them an abundance of science; but it is not the science of salvation. It is not the science of humility, of consecration, or of the sanctification of the Spirit. We are now to understand what the pillars of our faith are,–the truths that have made us as a people what we are, leading us on step by step.

Early Experiences

After the passing of the time in 1844 we searched for the truth as for hidden treasure. I met with the brethren, and we studied and prayed earnestly. Often we remained together until late at night, and sometimes through the entire night, praying for light and studying the Word. Again and again these brethren came together to study the Bible, in order that they might know its meaning, and be prepared to teach it with power. When they came to the point in their study where they said, “We can do nothing more,” the Spirit of the Lord would come upon me. I would be taken off in vision, and a clear explanation of the passages we had been studying would be given me, with instruction as to how we were to labor and teach effectively. Thus light was given that helped us to understand the scriptures in regard to Christ, his mission, and his priesthood. A line of truth extending from that time to the time when we shall enter the city of God, was made plain to me, and I gave to others the instruction that the Lord had given me.

During this whole time I could not understand the reasoning of the brethren. My mind was locked, as it were, and I could not comprehend the meaning of the scriptures we were studying. This was one of the greatest sorrows of my life. I was in this condition of mind until all the principal points of our faith were made clear to our minds, in harmony with the Word of God. The brethren knew that, when not in vision, I could not understand these matters, and they accepted, as light directly from heaven, the revelations given.

Many errors arose, and though I was then little more than a child, I was sent by the Lord from place to place to rebuke those who were holding these false doctrines. There were those who were in danger of going into fanaticism, and I was bidden in the name of the Lord to give them a warning from heaven.

We shall have to meet these same false doctrines again. There will be those who will claim to have visions. When God gives you clear evidence that the vision is from him, you may accept it, but do not accept it on any other evidence; for people are going to be led more and more astray in foreign countries and in America. The Lord wants his people to act like men and women of sense.” RH, 1905.5.25)