REVELATION 1

Historical Background

Read Revelation 1:9-20

Revelation 1:9–20 ESV

I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.” Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. As for the mystery of the seven stars that 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 are the seven churches.

Written by John the disciple

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Was the pastor of the church in Ephesus

Dominus 81 ad became Caesar of Rome. Christians had suffered persecution under Nero but Dominus took it to another level.

Dominus saw himself as God and demanded everyone worship him. He demanded that in order to carry out business or be apart of the society, you must go to the temples that he built for himself, sprinkle incense on the alter and say, “Caesar is lord”.

Now the Roman empire was monotheistic, so it wasn’t so much a problem for them to just add another god, however, you can see how that would be a problem for Christians who believe that only Jesus is Lord. If you have ever wondered where the line is between “give unto Caesar that which is Caesar's” and “pray for those in authority over you” and “respect and submit the authority that you are under” and to not obeying authority, its right here. Where they demand that you have some other god before Him.

So this was a line that John and the early church just could not cross.

During this time, Peter and Paul had been crucified. Timothy had been beaten to death.

According to historians, 40,000 Christians had been martyred during this time.

It was one of the darkest periods of Christian history.

John, as the pastor of the Church in Ephesus and such a prominent member of the church, was seen as too great a leader to be made a martyr and raise more of a resistance in the Christian circles. So, he was exiled to the island of Patmos. Patmos was a rock quarry island that criminals were sent to was a work camp.

Patmos is positioned right off the coast of the mainland of Greece where the churches that are addressed in these chapters are located. In fact, Ephesus is today a 5 and half hour ferry ride from Patmos.

I spent sometime this weekend imagining what it may have been like in John’s mind. I obviously have no idea for sure but i can speculate as long as i tell you i’m speculating!

Thinking back on his life.

John was probably in his 20’s or younger when he started following Jesus.

Thinking about all of the things that John saw in 3 years of his life following Jesus.

Walk on water, feed thousands, heal thousands, speak to thousands of people

He also remembers the time he followed Jesus up on the mount of olives and saw Jesus transfigured into something else completely

He remembers what Jesus looked like on the cross when Jesus told John that Mary was now his responsibility to love and care for.

He remembers sitting at the last supper resting his head upon Jesus’ chest listening to the heart beat of God.

John remembers more that anything the love of Jesus. So, much that he named himself the one Jesus loved.

That was just 3 years of his life and that was over 60 years ago. And here he is exiled away from all of his friends and church family members. Knowing that they are suffering and dying. And all he can do for them is sit on the coast and stare in the direction of the mainland and pray.

I wonder if he was wondering what good can he be for the world anymore. What does the Lord have next for him if anything? He may or may not know this, but he at this time was the last remaining disciple of the original 12 from Acts chapter 1. What good can he still be in his current situation at his age?

2 main points to what John learned that can apply to us today.

John was reminded who he was talking to.

John may have been thinking about all of the physical memories about Jesus. He remembered the times of love and deep compassion. He remembered so much of the physical aspects of who Jesus was during His time on earth but here, John sees Jesus in a totally new and astounding way.

Though there are many things new about this vision of Jesus, he still recognizes Him as Jesus because of the title that he calls Him, “Son of Man”. Jesus used this title to describe Himself more that any other title in the Gospels. And its actually a fulfillment of a prophecy in Daniel 7:13-14

Daniel 7:13–14 ESV

“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

So, even though He looked totally new, He still looked enough like Jesus to be recognised.

But this new version of Jesus was too incredible to clearly describe. He reaches out to all of the Bible to try to describe this vision of Jesus.

Dressed in a long white robe with a golden sash around His chest like the priest of the temple and tabernacle described in Deuteronomy and Leviticus. To show that He is the great high priest, constantly interceding on our behalf.

The white hair of wool showing not necessarily age but wisdom and knowledge. In fact, all wisdom and knowledge. In old school church term, His “omniscience” or all-knowingness.

His eye of burning flames showing that He sees all. He can see all suffering. He can see all situations. He can see even into the heart of all. His eyes can represent the “omnipresence” of Jesus being in all places at all times.

His feet of bronze to show us His power and might over the enemy. Psalm chapter 110 and Ephesians chapter 1 talk about His enemies being a footstool for the “omnipotence” of the all-power God.

His voice was like the non-stop, un-ignorable roar of mighty waters. When He speaks, you can NOT disregard what you hear.

See John had a view of Jesus as a man that wasn’t wrong. It wasn’t incorrect. But maybe it was just incomplete.

See, this vision of Jesus was a new aspect of Jesus that John had never seen before. Jesus showed Himself to John is a way that displayed all of His power and His might and His authority. John was shown who it was that he was talking to.

And he hit his face on the ground like he was dead.

John, who knew Jesus very intimately, the one who Jesus loved, the one that rested his head on the chest of Jesus was so overcome but the power and authority of this vision of Jesus that he didn’t run into His arms. He didn’t dance a dance of Joy. He fell at His feet in worship and awe.

But John, so overcome in reverence of this moment, was touched by Jesus and reminded to “fear not”.

The Spurgeon Study Bible: Notes Chapter 1

“Fear not” (KJV) is a plant that grows plentifully in God’s garden. If we look through the lily beds of Scripture, we will continually find the sweet “fear nots” peering out from doctrines and precepts, even as violets look up from among green leaves. Seeing his Savior in glorious array, John falls at his feet in deepest reverence. John’s dread, occasioned by the majesty of the Lord Jesus, is followed by a command not to be afraid. Although he loves to see our holy awe, our Lord would not have that reverence freeze into a cold reserve or a slavish trembling. Though he is divine, he invites us to approach him without dread. Great as he is, we may dare to be free with him. Let our Lord be glorious to us, but still let him be near us.

Describe the pendulum of reverence and relationship.

2. Jesus is at the center of it all.

Recap the lampstands and Jesus being among his church.

Ephesians 1:22–23 ESV

And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

We are the body of Christ. We are His hands and feet and mouths. Each and every one of us as believers are apart of this church.

Jesus is not a detached or distant head. He is not a leader that leads from some far off place. He is involved, surrounded by, deeply invested in the church.

He was telling the early church that He saw their difficulties. He saw their pain and persecution. He saw their tribulations.

But as we will see over the next 2 chapters, He cares about what it teaches, how it interacts with each other and the world. He cares about the church’s motives and practices. He cares what they believe.

And He is the head of this church. He cares about what we believe and what we do. He is invested in us. He does care about you. He sees you. He sees your pain. He sees you difficulties.

He just wants you to see Him for who He really is and not through some extreme perspective on who He is.

Something that we need to understand and be warned about. Jesus is the Light of the world. It is Jesus who gives us, His church the light to shine into the world. It is His love and His light that is on that lampstand. We should want it to shine brightly, like He said in Matthew chapter 5.

But we as the church must shine in accordance to His headship, His motives, His leadership or… He can and will remove the light from us as a church.

I do not believe this is talking about losing your salvation. But I believe that this is talking about losing our effectiveness in this world. This is talking about losing the guidance, protection and fruit that comes when a church is following His direction and letting His true light shine brightly into this world.

I want us to be a church that shines brightly into this world. I do not want Jesus to remove our light. So let us over the coming weeks, look at ourselves and look at our church and be willing to be molded to, conformed by the word of Jesus to His church. Lets humble ourselves before this Jesus who has all authority and all power and say to Him, “Have your way Lord.”

“Do not be afraid” This is a book of hope. This is a book of encouragement for those who are in Jesus. Many people see this as a book of judgement and punishment. While it does have those sections, as a believer, it gives us hope for eternity. It gives us hope for the future.

Read from Discipleship on the Edge.

Maybe you are here and you do not have that hope for the future. Maybe you are afraid of the future and what it holds. Can i invite you to join us in a hope that is everlasting and trustworthy?