Who saw Jesus?

The Gospels, Acts 1, and 1 Corinthians 15 leave us with the record of at least ten separate appearances of the resurrected Christ between his rising from the tomb and the occasion of his ascension to Heaven.

The New Testament further refers to three people who had visions of the resurrected Christ in Heaven, after his ascension. The three were Stephen, Saul of Tarsus (Paul) and John the Apostle. The Bible is silent about any other such appearances, but there is no Biblical reason to exclude the possibility of Christ giving such a vision to anyone at any time.

What Stephen saw, he briefly described, but was promptly stoned to death. Paul's vision blinded him for three days, but indelibly impressed upon him an exalted view of Christ as the last Adam and also the eternal Son of God.

John saw the resurrected Christ as a warrior king, in grandeur; and issuing from his mouth his Word as a two-edged sword, a word described by Paul as "the sword of the Spirit", and by Hebrews as a sword that "divides between soul and spirit".

His appearances from Heaven had a strong connection with discipleship and suffering

What did the resurrected Jesus say from Heaven?

We do not know if he spoke to Stephen. He spoke to Saul of Tarsus, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, but rise and enter the city, and you will be told what to do" (Acts 9: 5-6). Note that persecution of believers is also persecution of the ascended Christ! He spoke to John at length and his words to John extend from Revelation 1: 11 - 3: 22. They are messages for seven churches. For any others?

Listen to what the Lord from Heaven says to the Churches

Churches in Need of Repair

Ephesus church: You have lost your first love.
Pergamum: You have compromised with idolatry and immorality.
Thyatira: You have followed a seductive spirit.
Sardis church: You are not the alive church of your reputation.
Laodicea church: You are luke-warm and have no passion.
All are invited to repent, and then to persevere!

Commended Churches

Smyrna church: Do not fear! Be faithful unto death!
Philadelphia church: I have set before you an open door. You have kept my word of patient endurance.

Lindsay Johnstone

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