The Revelation of Jesus Christ (Chapter 1)



Submitted by JStaller on Wed, 2008-09-24 05:29.

Alright. Here we go--the first chapter of Revelation. Highly charged imagery, dense Jewish symbolism, intense cultural and religious pressure, and a rich history of literature collide, producing (in my opinion) the greatest spiritual vision in the Christian experience. If you can enter into this vision, you will see Christ.

the angel's name

Submitted by JStaller on Fri, 2008-09-26 20:32.

Not to jump the gun, but the angel is called the Son of Man by the Revelator.

We will definitely get into this--several angelic figures appear, but none of them are named in Revelation, except Michael... "and there was war in heaven." But, if you want to skim ahead, this Son of Man, this "messenger of Jesus" appears in the flame and smoke of the collected candles (menorah-style) which represents the collective Church in Asia. So... the Son of Man... Body of Christ... Messenger of Jesus... And this angel also holds the seven churches in his hand… “And he sits in glory at the right hand of God…”

I'm giving too much of my material away...

And, by the way, the imagery of an angel appearing in smoke comes directly from the Old Testament account of an angel appearing to the parents of Samson, and we are told (both in that account and in Revelation) that this angel's name is a secret: "...name written on him, that no one knew but he himself..."

I'm still giving too much away...

So I have to stop talking :)

Justin Staller - Moderator
justinstaller@yahoo.com

Search the scriptures--for in them ye think ye have eternal life: They are they which testify of me--and ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. (John 5.39-40)

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