Brother Gideon Levytam concludes the first chapter of the Book of Revelation (הִתְגַּלּוּת, Hitgalut) with verses 17 to 20. When John saw the glorified Messiah, he fell at His feet as dead. The Lord laid His right hand upon him and said, "Fear not; I am the first and the last." In Isaiah these are God's own words, and here the Messiah speaks them of Himself. He was dead, and behold, He is alive forevermore, never to die again. He holds the keys of hell and of death. Through His death He broke the devil's power of death and freed all who lived in fear of it (Hebrews 2:14-15). For believers, death has become a servant that ushers them into the presence of the Lord. Gideon then turns to verse 19, where the Lord Himself gives John the division of the whole book. John is to write the things he has seen, the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter. The things which are belong to the present church age, in the letters of chapters 2 and 3. In verse 20, the seven golden lampstands are the seven assemblies, called to give light in a dark world. The seven stars are their angels, malachim (מַלְאָכִים), a word that also means messengers. They are those who shepherd each assembly, held in the Lord's right hand. Each letter that follows is addressed to the angel of its assembly and calls, "He that hath an ear, let him hear."
Revelation 1:17-20 - Fear Not, I Am the First and the Last
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