Revelation 1:9-20

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The Son of Man

Good morning and Happy Mother’s Day
To all of our moms and mother figures, thank you for all you have done, labored and sacrificed to bless those God has placed under you. You are indeed a blessing!
This morning we are returning to the book of Revelation and with it we are back in chapter 1, verses 9-20.
Now remember were we were last week, we opened the book discussing a couple facts, one we talked about John himself, receiving this letter while he is in exile on the Isle of Patmos, somewhere around 90AD.
He is there for his preaching of Jesus and, without a doubt he has been a faithful witness.
The message began by revealing Jesus, the Son of God who we know some 32 times across this book as the Lamb of God.
Jesus who laid down His life as a ransom for sin, willing and freely took our punishment and death that we might experience the forgiveness of God and blessing of eternal life.
So this morning lets open the text and listen to John as he opens the vision given to him on that day.
1. The Voice...
By this time, John is the last living apostle, and of course Jesus had foretold that he alone would not see death as a martyr some 60 years before his accession into heaven.
Here he is, still on the Isle of Patmos, there off the coast of Asia Minor and this day will be unlike any other...
Lets look at our text this morning, verses 9-11
Revelation 1:9–11 ESV
9 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. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 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.”
How beautiful to see the opening of the text, John describes himself as one of us so to speak. He is not elevating his position in the church, though he could.
But simply instead speaks to himself like us a part of the family of God. He reminds them He is a brother in the faith. He was one of them...
But he further solidifies this identity by speaking of himself as a partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus,
Persecution is a constant theme in this book. And John himself is telling those in the churches who will read this letter, I am your brother in the faith, one who shares in your suffering...
So what does this tell us… There is already suffering taking place for those in the church my friends. Christians living under the rule of Rome are facing persecution. (Domitian Caesar)
John says I am right there with you with patient endurance. My friends these are the marks of the Christian church at this time.. They have faced persecution and hardship, but they did not give up.
Instead the church bore the weight of all this with trust and endurance in Jesus Christ, refusing to give up. Friends, it wasn’t easy for the church, they suffered much but the truth of the mater is they did not give up.
Now finally John says that he was in on the Isle of Patmos when all this happens, the place of his exile for being a faithful minister of the gospel.
And John says I am writing to you to declare that happened to me that day… Look again at verses 10-11 Rev 1:10-11
Revelation 1:10–11 ESV
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 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.”
John was worshipping on the Lord’s day, the first day of the week. But what does John mean by being in the Spirit? I think as one theologian once said John- He was conscious of being surrounded my the manifest presence of the Holy Spirit.
The presence of the Holy Spirit so heavily upon John’s life, and the result of this issue is the truth that God gave visions to John.
In the midst of this day, worshipping, he was given a site that few are blessed to see and hear.
John says that behind him, he heard a voice, a voice that sounded like a loud trumpet.
And the voice said to him, write down what you see and sent it to the seven churches… those churches that sat in Asia minor...
Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.
My friends, can you imagine the voice of our Lord. The sound of his voice, ringing clear and loud with a beautiful tone to it. It was clear, distinctive and heard by John that day..
A beautiful voice.
And it didn’t end there my friends, lets look at the vision it self
2. The Vision...
That faithful morning, as john heard the voice speaking, the Scriptures tell us that he turned to see the one speaking to him...
Lets look at our text again… Verses 12-16
Revelation 1:12–16 ESV
12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 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. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 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.
John says that he turned to see the voice… and lets look at all that he sees in the vision this day..
A. Seven Golden Candlesticks or Lampstands.... John begins and says that He saw seven golden candle sticks or lampstands.... These would be like seven large menorahs.
A lampstand is an important representation of the church. The church was called to be a light in the community they stand, they were to cast the light of the gospel to all who see it.
And the believer is also called to be light, ...
Matthew 5:14–16 ESV
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
We are to be the ones spreading the light of the gospel to those around them.
These seven lampstands according to verse 20 represent the seven churches in Asia.. These churches being Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.
B. The Son of Man… John tells us in verse 13 that there was one standing among the seven lamp stands who was the Son of Man, wearing a long robe and a golden sash across his chest.
Now there is a lot to be said here about this person, we know who this is, this is Jesus. And John describes him in great detail. A hair of his head, white like wool, his eyes like fire, his feet like burnished bronze and this thunderous overwhelming voice.
Now let me take you to the Old Testament..
Daniel chapter 7, Daniel speaks of seeing the Ancient of Days, Dan 7:9
Daniel 7:9 ESV
9 “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire.
And again in verse 13 of the same chapter we find Dan 7:13
Daniel 7:13 ESV
13 “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.
So here we see Jesus in the OT, just like we same him earlier in the fiery furnace of Daniel 3.
And then if you continue in Daniel 10, we see Daniel, saw a man like this standing on the bank of the Tigris river… Dan 10:4-6
Daniel 10:4–6 ESV
4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river (that is, the Tigris) 5 I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. 6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.
Seems like the same person, correct… and then if you look at Ezekiel 9, there is a similar person, clothed in while linen...
So we see the pre-incarnate Christ, the second person of the Trinity, God the Son revealed here in those days.
John saw the majesty mighty Jesus there among the lampstands...
And so the exalted Christ is standing there in a floor length robe, and a golden sash around his chest
The head of hair, white like wool indicates He is the eternal one who existed before His incarnation. The white also reminds us that He is holy and pure.
The eyes of fire tell us of his omniscient nature, able to see at a glance and comprehend, and judge even the most hidden mysteries
His feet like burnished bronze… bronze glowing in the furnace, revealing his strength and power.
And is voice like trumpet, like the sound of a mighty rushing water way. If anyone has stood next to a water fall has heard the deafening sound of the water as is crashes to the bottom, it is loud and powerful and truly it is all that one is able to hear...
And look, our focus is directed to His right hand... in the right hand were seven stars and next from His mouth came a sharp two edged sword and His face was like the sun shinning at full strength.
His hand holds power and authority… but his mouth, the Word of God resembles a large broad sword,… The Word of God is piercing, cutting and separating, revealing and it is absolutely irresistible..
Remember from Hebrews, chapter 4 verse 12 we are told ....
Hebrews 4:12 ESV
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
The Word is powerful, able to direct and lead, able to teach and bless our lives...
And His face my friends, a face shinning like the sun at noon day, bright, unable to gaze directly into… this is the radiant glory of God....
What a beautiful day vision my friends as He has allowed to see the Son of God in His glory and brilliance.
How marvelous it must have been that Lord’s day as the John witness all this...
Now my friends, we move to one last thought as we finish up this text for today.
3. Victorious...
We have and serve a victorious Christ and we see this perfectly as we look at the rest of our text this morning.
Lets look at verses 17-20 Rev 1:17-20
Revelation 1:17–20 ESV
17 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, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. 20 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.
How beautiful my friends as the text is opened up, When I saw him John says that I fell at his feet as dead… In awe he fell at the feet of the King.. this by far is the most appropriate response of man.
Isaiah felt unworthy in front of God in Isa 6, Daniel chapter 10, Daniel fell on his face before God and In Luke 5, Peter knelt in front of Jesus declaring He was unworthy to be in the presence of Jesus..
Without a doubt there is something special to see the Lord, and friends I would remind you that every time we go to the Lord in prayer, we are in His presence.
It is of course an attitude of the heart that we humble ourselves in front of God. George Washington, felt unworthy to stand or kneel in front of God in prayer and as such he would lay down in front of the Lord, in humility.
But look!!! Look at the rest of verse 17..
To John the beloved, Jesus laid his right hand on him and told him to fear not..
I tell you my friends, John had been blessed to have been touched, maybe a pat on the back or even a handshake.. he had been touched by the Savior and this day, after 60+ years felt the hand of the Lord upon him and I tell you, I bet that was the most welcomed, comforting touch he had experienced.
He touched him. oh the old hymn comes to mind… He touched me, O’ he touched me. I bet John was blessed beyond measure
But Jesus just didn’t touch John, no… He spoke to him..
Fear not....
John had labored and had served the Lord well, at times he didn’t know what the next day held, but he knew he could trust the Lord.. He had no reason to fear....
Friends, we have no need to fear! We may not know what tomorrow holds BUT we know who holds tomorrow… Amen..
Jesus then goes on to tell John why there is no need for him to fear...
Listen to what Jesus says… I am the first and the last… Remember Jesus is reinforcing what he told him before… I am the Alpha and the Omega.. the first and the last.. I am the eternal one.. Isa 41:4 and then in Isa 44:6....
Isaiah 41:4 ESV
4 Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the Lord, the first, and with the last; I am he.
Isaiah 44:6 ESV
6 Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.
To bear that claim tells us why Jesus can tell John why he doesn’t have to have any fear.
Now lets look at verse 18...
Jesus says I am the living one… I died and behold I am alive forevermore...
Here is Jesus, the one who was eternal, the one who has always been.. but He died…
He became flesh to die as a sacrifice for sin to redeem believers from their sin. But while he died, he rose on the third day. The one who died is now alive forevermore… the first born from the dead the Scriptures tell us.
O friends, can you hear Jesus.... John don' fear ..remember who I am… John 10:18
John 10:18 ESV
18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
He is alive, and He will always live my friends...
Then one last word of encouragement for John.. John says I am alive and I have the keys to death and hades.
Now there is a lot of thought about what exactly death and hell refer too.... but in the simplest of terms we know what Jesus says here
He posses the keys,
Having the keys tells us that he liberates the captive my friends...
The keys remind us that something was once shut up tight, locked up and those in death had no hope, no redemption..
But Jesus substitutionary death on the cross forever sealed death and the grave/hell fate. The devil no longer controls it, the devil no longer can bring fear into peoples life.
Jesus raising from the dead means that all those in Christ will rise as well..
This is why Paul could write in I Cor 15:50-56
1 Corinthians 15:50–56 ESV
50 I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
Death, no longer a captor for our lives, no longer do we fear death. Death is just the threshold into the presence of the most glorious city in all the world and into the pretense of the King of kings and Lord or Lords
Jesus has set us free my friends...
Now as we look at verse 19, Jesus gives John a charge, a command....
Revelation 1:19 ESV
19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.
John record all that I show you.. it is going to be important for others to be encouraged by the truths I will share with you
And then finally in verse 20, Jesus tells us a little more information about what he has shown John. Rev 1:20
Revelation 1:20 ESV
20 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.
The seven starts are the seven angels of those churches...
Now there is a thought there, the word angel in the Greek means Messenger, and so there is some thought that it may refer to the human messengers, ie..pastors of those seven churches. In a larger sense, they are the personification of each churches identity.
And the seven lampstands are the seven churches I have mentioned to you… so these present the churches, and of course, Jesus walks, works and rules over the churches of this world.
Jesus is the all knowing all powerful one…
As he knows the churches so he know you...
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