Revelation 1:17 – 20

17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. 19 Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. 20 The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.

John was so overwhelmed, with the feelings of being unprepared for this sight and sound presentation that he dropped to the ground at this time in the vision, he was still in the vision because he continued to hear and see what was happening around him.

He is told to “fear not” relax all will be ok. He identifies Himself to John. I am the First and the Last. We have already seen during the study, this refers to Christ, the Lord.

He continues, He lives but was dead, Christ died on the cross but was resurrected and never died. So He is alive but was dead. He lives forevermore.

Having the keys to a lock means that whoever has the keys to something has the authority to open or close that item. If we have the keys to a house, even if it is not ours, we are given the right to open it or lock it.

Hades is the place of departed spirits, Death is the state of the body after the spirit leaves it. This statement means that Christ has the power or control over the bodies and souls of men. That is why Christ said do not fear the one who can kill the body, but fear the one who can kill both body and soul. (Matthew 10:28)

John is told to write of things he has seen since he arrived at Patmos, things which are seen, and things which are going to happen. The past, the present, and the future. These are mysteries to him because they have not yet been explained to him what the meanings are.

The seven stars and the seven candlesticks are explained to John as the candlesticks represent the seven churches, and the seven stars represent the angels who are messengers to the churches. Each angel represents one congregation. They are singular in nature so they cannot be the elders of each congregation because the eldership for a congregation is plural.

John was told to write his message to those seven angels of the seven congregations so the message could be delivered promptly in a reliable manner. Those angels were responsible for the admonitions and encouragements sent to the congregations.