The Lord's day in the NT is a Sunday. So, it was on a Sunday, and John heard what seemed like a loud trumpet behind him, only it was a voice.
And, the voice said, " I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last" Here the Lord is identifying Himself as being God, the eternal one, the start and the finish if you will. The Greek alphabet starts with Alpha and ends with Omega.
The Lord went on to tell John, what you see, ( and of course, John was being given this vision, ) write it in a book, and then send it to the seven churches which are located in what would be modern day Turkey.
So, what we have written down for us in this book known as "The Book of Revelation" is a record in great detail of what John was given to see by God.
It was at this moment that John turned to see the voice that was speaking with him. Thus what had happened was just like when someone comes up behind you and starts talking, and you hear them, and you then turn around to see the person who is talking to you, That's what John did, and what we have next, is what John saw.
By the way, sometimes God speaks to us in a very direct, focused, distinct manner also. And, we hear Him, and we can turn to Him as it were, and we can see Him ( by faith ) and we can focus our lives upon Him, and seek to understand Him etc, etc. He is speaking, and wants to speak to us today, and every day, and He wants us to know Him.
I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of them was "One like the Son of Man "
The lampstand was used in the OT to symbolize the nation of Israel's function of being a light. Lamps give light, and the lampstands ( 7 of the ) represent the 7 churches mentioned, and the 7 churches represented are also believed to represent the complete period of the churches history, from start to finish. So, Christ is in His church.
The Son of Man, Jesus Christ was clothed with a garment down to His feet. He was completely clothed if you will. And, We are completely clothed with His righteous also. What He is, we are. He is holy, and so are we. He is God Son, and we are also God's children, He is accepted by God and so are we, etc, etc.
He also had a golden band that He was girded with. This band was around His chest. What could this possibly mean, or symbolize? Gold is a favorite color of the Lord. He used it in the OT creation of the Tabernacle, and the Temple. It's used as pavement in heaven for the main street that runs through heaven. But, here it is upon or around the chest of Jesus. Girding in the NT was used to help make movement easier. One would gird or pull up their robe and tuck it in under the belt and thus be more able to move and to walk to work and to run, to fight etc. So, it was function you might say.
It's possible that this might speak of the function and help that God has for each of us. He wants to gird us up day by day, to help us in whatever we do. He has and does provide all the heavenly resources we need in order to function in His will for us.
One other thing about this robe. It reminds of the priests and the judges in the OT among God's people. Jesus is of course the High Priest of our faith, and He is the Judge into whose hands all judgment has been committed.
A few other devotional/applicational thoughts.
1. The Lord's day is a great day to hear God's Voice.
2. We gather to worship in song, to fellowship, and to hear His Word.
3. He wants us to see Him, and hear Him.
4. Strength is given to us by God's Holy Spirit.
5. He has work for us to do.
6. We are running in a race to heaven if you will.
7. God's strength and power make it easier to walk, work, run, and battle.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia
1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,
1:11 saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
1:12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands,
1:13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.
