The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches

Revelation 1:9-20

I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

John's Revelation takes the form of a letter 'to the seven churches in the province of Asia. The focus, from the outset, is on Jesus Christ: his death which 'freed us from our sin', his resurrection his kingly rule, his coming again in flory.

Verse 9 vision, when God's Spirit came upon him on the Lord's Day - the visions he was to write down and send to the churches. The radiant figure 'like a man', with it echoes of Daniel 7 and 10 is Chris himself, the Master of life and death and human destiny.

Why?

It is Jesus Christ who shows the image and word to John on the island of Patmos.

John was asked to write seven letters to seven churches.

Jesus holds the keys of death and Hades, now Jesus Christ has the right to die and live.

John was the chosen one to write the word of Jesus and reveal to us the mystery of the future in the world.

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v-9-10 約翰在什麼情形下蒙召，因為耶穌基督，為神的道做見證，正在被逼迫的時候。雖然被困，卻被神啟示。時間是主日。神的道不會被綑綁，仍然可以用書信傳揚神的道。

v11-16 七個金燈台，是七個教會，神要教會照亮世界。耶穌全然聖潔，眼目如火焰，注視教會，腳如光明的銅，銅代表審判。銀代表救贖、金代表尊貴榮耀。七星是七個教會的使者，或是教會的帶領者。在神手中，就是有保護。主的口中有刀。分別善惡，令人害怕的形像。

v17-21 約翰撲倒在耶穌面前。耶穌以掌管生命的權柄、時間的權柄來顯明給約翰看，還是可以為主做見證。把使命託付給約翰。

我們是否想看見耶穌，是否期待?我們都期待，但是看到後要做什麼? 可以堅定我們的心，聖經中每次向人顯現，都有神要託付的事情。神不是要放約翰出去，但是神不是讓他不受逼迫，而是神的道才是人活下去，有盼望的根基，天上的耶穌基督再來。其他門徒都殉道，只留下他，就是神有使命交給他。真正的盼望是在耶穌基督裏，領受神的呼召。不是僅僅被釋放。愈是安逸的生活，人反而愈來愈墜落！不是求苦難除去，而是讓我們看見生命之道。

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How?

Jesus is the Lord he is the first and the last, alive forever and ever.