jamdixon

1. The significance is an exalted Jesus walking among the lampstands diring the period discussed in revelation is the same Jesus walking among us now. He is with us now and will be with us then. He is always with us. 2. Christ is the head of the church. We are to look to Him always! 3. Same as #1 and 2. He is our everything!

1. Here we find a totally different Jesus than during His earthly ministry, before He was meek and humbled, in revelation, after conquering death and hell, He returns ready to conquer the beast and execute the judgement promised by the Father; and His appearance represents just that. 2. As head of the church, knowing that Jesus is in the midst of the lampstands (the church) is enough for all of us to go on and endure whatever. Knowing He is in the midst of us reassures me that we will be more than conquerers and will prevail. That is enough to give me a joyful and victorious emotional outlook. 3. Jesus paid the penalty that we owe so that we will have a right to the tree of life. Knowing that He walked this earth for you and me, came out victorious, qualified as the only righteous one to deliver us in the final days, the only one eligible to open the seals, hold the keys, and execute judgement. That is a balanced faith, knowing that He did, and will deliver us.

The situation in Iraq comes to mind. There you have two muslim groups fighting each other, can you imagine what a christian in the REGION goes through. But the country that really troubles me is China, there christians are worshipping in homes, much like the early christians, and are being persecuted unmercifully, even unto death. They have to keep moving from house to house and town to town. But they are holding on to their faith, and that is an encouragement; therefore I believe that the words of revelation is of great benefit to many around the world, eveidenced by the fact that they are still worshipping and praising our Lord continually and faithfully.

1. v. 8 tells us that GOD is the Alpha and Omega, the beginninig and the ending, which is, was, and is to come. GOD is every thing, fro, creation to the ends of the world, and everything that dwells and dwelt therein. In other words, GOD is... 2. Jesus is described just like GOD the father, the first and the last, signifying his diety along with His father. John 1 say's, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." v. 2 "The same was in the beginning with God." v. 3 "All things were made by Him;and without Him was not any thing made that was made." Verses 8 and 17 show the father and son in the trinity, equal but sub existent.

1. The theme of testimony and witness are important for the purpose of edification to someone else. Our testimony is our experiences; what happened, why it happened, and the result of what happened. Our witness comes when we testify to something to keep someone else from doing the same thing. It is using our experiences to help someone else. 2. Jesus is the "faithful witness" because it was He that experienced the death and hell that we were to pay, and He was faithful in doing so. And it is Jesus that is to return to deliver us and conquer the enemy. So who better to witness this than He fulfilled prophesy and will fulfill the final prophesy. Jesus holds our destiny in His all powerful hands, thats encouragement enough, and no one can encourage us more than He who will deliver us. 3. Sometimes acceptance keeps us from being clear witnesses. Things that are accepted in society are tolerated in the church. It should'nt be.