Well, as the Lord may be pleased to bless us together this evening, we'll continue our meditation in the first chapter of the book of the Revelation. So the first chapter in the book of the Revelation, and we'll just read three verses. That's from 16 to 18. So the first chapter in Revelation, and reading from verse 16 to verse 18. And he had in his right hand seven stars, and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword. And his countenance was as the sun shining in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not, I am the first and the last. I am he that liveth and was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore. Amen. Well, we'll leave it there. So we continue really the wonderful picture and description we have of the Lord Jesus Christ that the Apostle John was blessed to observe when he was on the Isle of Patmos and you may remember he was there and he heard this voice behind him and then he turned to see the voice that spoke with him And being turned, he tells us he saw first the seven golden candlesticks. And we're told later on the seven candlesticks represent the seven churches. And in the midst of the seven candlesticks, one like unto the Son of God, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about with a golden girdle. His head and his hair were white as wool, like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were as a flame of fire, and his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace, and his voice as the sound of many waters. and then we came to verse 16 and we're told and he had in his right hand the seven stars which describes to us as the angels or it can be translated as the servants of God in indeed his right hand and here we have this picture of God holding his servants in his right hand And how wonderful to think that God does control everything. All his servants who preach everlasting gospel are controlled by Almighty God. His hand is upon them. That's a very humbling thought and consideration, isn't it? And then we're told, and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword. Well, we're told about the sword in the Word of God in the Ephesians and in the sixth chapter in verse 17 we're told and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. So we can be sure that as John heard this voice he heard the Word of God from the mouth of the Saviour and of course that is a sharp sword it's a sharp word it contains sharp reproofs for sin severe threatenings against it and gives cutting convictions of it and is a two-edged one by its two edges may be meant the law and the gospel the law lays open the sins of men fills with grief and anguish if they're under the influence of the work of the Holy Spirit. And yet, not only wounds, but kills. And the Gospel cuts down the best of man in his wisdom, holiness, righteousness, and carnal privileges. So we see this two-edged sword, the word spoken by the Saviour, how powerful they are and how wonderful it is if you and I recognize the truth of it and bow down before it. And so John was wonderfully favored to have this vision and to hear this voice speaking to him. And we're told then his countenance was like the sun shining in his strength. we can imagine what that was like we have a little view of it really in the conversion of Paul Paul was converted on that Damascus road and he tells us when he gave his testimony that the light was above the midday sun and what it meant was it was indeed the Savior speaking to him because we're told, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks so Paul was witness to this great and glorious light and of course it is a great and glorious light beyond our comprehension because we just have to think that in the creation of the world sun and moon weren't those things which were created first but there was light and that emanated nonetheless from the Savior himself and then of course to realize that the Lord Jesus Christ is the light of the world he shines into the hearts of all his people and what a blessing for you and me if that light has shone into our hearts and has revealed the glory of the Saviour what an amazing and what a wonderful favour and what a wonderful blessing that is and so tonight may we really rejoice in it and realise that the counsel of the Saviour is as the sun shining in its strength well it just gives us a little view of what it means and of course we know that in the end when this world is all burnt up new heavens and a new earth there'll be no sun and moon because the Savior will be the light what a light that will be and then we're told and when I saw him I fell at his feet as dead. When God reveals himself to us as the all-powerful God, as the all-sufficient Saviour, what do we do? We fall down. We bow down before the ruler of the universe. the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And here we have John falling down as one dead. Yes, it had such an impact upon him. He was there in the presence of Almighty God. It's a good thing when God gives us a view, a little view, of the greatness of Almighty God. And the Lord comes, And he says to Peter, fear not, fear not. And we don't have anything to fear really, if Christ has died for us, if he's redeemed us, because we're told he's gone before, he's gone to prepare a place for us in glory. And he says, if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again. and receive you unto myself that where I am there ye may be also. So it's a wonderful prospect to realise that wonderful truth and therefore as the Holy Spirit may speak to our heart we have no reason to fear as we come before this great God who always was and always will be. And he tells us, I am he that liveth and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Well, that's the great and glorious Savior, who we know did die upon Calvary. He gave his life to pay the price required for our sin. What a Saviour, what a Saviour we have, so willing to die for such unworthy sinners. And so we know that the Saviour does live and we know that because of the effect in our own hearts, the privilege of coming in prayer and to realise that He is the One that stands between us and a holy God, our Father in heaven, and intercedes for us. I am He that liveth and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. Well, so let it be. What a great blessing it is to have these truths. And as I said when we began our meditation in the Revelation, how few people really realize the wonderful words which are contained in this first chapter in Revelation. It's good to consider it and it's good to study it. So may we truly thank God for it. We'll leave our remarks there.