Revelation 1:9-20 October 13, 2025
Notes
Transcript
Community Scripture Reading
Community Scripture Reading
4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,
5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood
6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Introduction
Introduction
OK last week we got into the introduction to the Book of Revelation and we talked about how revelation is all about the revelation of the king. It's about revealing Jesus in all his splendor. Is about understanding what Jesus will look and be like in his power. Now in order to tell this story we have a series of scenes of moments throughout the book that are captured in different revelations of the book and in this first scene we will see Jesus among the churches. We'll see Jesus appearing to John and John responding in worship to what he has seen.
Jesus Among His Churches
Jesus Among His Churches
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.
Throughout his writing John likes to stress his similarities to the people he writes to in order to encourage them.
13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.
The reality is it seems to our modern ears like this is a funny way of encouraging. This is actually the first time that tribulation is mentioned in the book of revelation. And what we need to remember is that tribulation is part of the common experience of Christians. Practicing endurance is Christian faith.
The emperor at the time do mission he considered himself savior and Lord and demanded that people worship him. One of the reasons he persecuted Christians so much is because Christians use those terms to describe Jesus and not him. He's likely the reason that John has been exiled to the island of patmos.
You know kind of circling back to the topic of persecution we want to avoid persecution don't we. We pray and we act as citizens of America to make America a place where we won't be persecuted. We act to protect and to help other Christians who are persecuted. We want to avoid it just like we want to avoid pain in general.
But when we look at the Bible we cannot get away from the reality that it was in exile on the island of patmos that John was able to receive revelation from God. It was in prison that Paul wrote ephesians philippians colossians and philemon.
While it is entirely appropriate to ask for protection from God. It's entirely appropriate for us to ask God for healing. While God wants us to pray to him he also wants us to see that some of the greatest works he does are through the suffering of believers not despite the suffering of believers.
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet
By this time the Christians had already begun to offer to the first day of the week as the Lord's day the special day for worship.
7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.
So, this phrase in this spirit is actually referred to several other times 3 to be exact in the Book of Revelation and it's a phrase that Indicates the form different visions That organize the Book of Revelation.
This is also a vision that begins not with a sight but with a sound 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 has given explicit instructions here to write down what he hears so that it can be transmitted to these seven churches. These are all churches that were evangelized by Paul and now this written this letter is written to be shared with all of them
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.
It's likely that each of the 7 golden lamp stands was a 7 branched Candelabra similar to what was used in the Tabernacle in the Old Testament.
36 Their calyxes and their branches shall be of one piece with it, the whole of it a single piece of hammered work of pure gold.
37 You shall make seven lamps for it. And the lamps shall be set up so as to give light on the space in front of it.
38 Its tongs and their trays shall be of pure gold.
39 It shall be made, with all these utensils, out of a talent of pure gold.
40 And see that you make them after the pattern for them, which is being shown you on the mountain.
that represented Israel. This was a 7 candle that represented israel
2 And he said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it.
In the same way that this candelabra represented Israel, each of these lampstands now represents one of the churches
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.
We need to see that just as a lampstand would bring light to a house, Jesus’ church brings a light in a wicked world.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
This is what we are called to do period to bring our moral perspective to a crazy world pointing them to an amazing savior.
Artists throughout history have had to artists throughout history have attempted to draw what Jesus looked like. It's difficult because the gospel message doesn't take much time to tell us what Jesus looked like it's simply not important to the gospel writers. And so also when we look at this passage right here the importance is not a literal description. But we should notice how many times he uses the word like.
Let’s walk through the vision
Location
Location
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.
I love that the first place we see Jesus in the visions the verse image we have of Jesus and by the way this son of man language describes Jesus. With a golden sash around his chest symbolizes and shows Jesus not as battling evil or sitting on the throne but as present and among his churches. In the middle of the lamp stands is an image of Jesus among the churches.
Shape
Shape
The image we have of Jesus like I said before is like a son of man. He looked like a human and this language explicitly ties both to what Jesus said about himself back in the book of John and back way into the Old Testament in the book of Daniel there is this figure called the son of man described throughout his prophecy this image that Jesus takes on as his identity.
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.
Is fascinating the same Jesus that walked in Galilee and on whose lap children played is now described as someone who comes on the clouds someone with Marvel Comics level power!
Clothing
Clothing
The language of a robe reaching down to his feet with a golden sash or on his chest connects back to the high priest in the old testament
2 He made the ephod of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen.
3 And they hammered out gold leaf, and he cut it into threads to work into the blue and purple and the scarlet yarns, and into the fine twined linen, in skilled design.
4 They made for the ephod attaching shoulder pieces, joined to it at its two edges.
In this chapter Jesus has already been described as a priest. And now when we see him wearing the garments of a priest it simply reminds us what a high priest did. And if you need a reminder the high priest is the one that made a sacrifice for the sins of the entire country! He was the go between between Israel the nation and God offering an atonement for sins. This was before the cross of jesus. Now was used as wearing this garment he stands constantly representing his people before God the father. This is the image we see in the end times of Jesus. As one of immense majesty and power who stands doing a work of not fighting off galactic monsters but standing before God in heaven on our behalf
Hair
Hair
14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire,
His hair is described as wool white as snow. And in the ancient world white hair symbolize the respect that we owe to the age for their wisdom. Portraying Jesus as the high priest with white hair screams the respect that he is deserved because he is ancient of days.
31 Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.
This also points to the omniscience of Jesus knowing what is best for His people.
Eyes
Eyes
His eyes appear like blazing fire that means he sees everything there is to see he's everywhere he sees the evil of this world he sees people in their distress and will respond with righteous furry someday.
Feet
Feet
15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters.
Back in Psalms we have this verse:
1 The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”
A powerful king is one whose enemies are nothing more than a foot stroll. Jesus with bronze feet symbolizes a Jesus who will triumph over all enemies natural and supernatural alike. His hair symbolizes his knowledge his eyes his omnipresence and his feet represents his omnipotence his power over his enemies.
Voice
Voice
Earlier in the chapter his voice was a trumpet that could not be ignored period now it's like the sound of rushing roaring waters. John lived on an island and probably had a pretty clear understanding of how unavoidable the sound of water is. In the same way the voice of Jesus is God's word which can't be ignored.
Hands
Hands
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.
Verse 20 explains these stars as the angels of the seven churches. Most likely this is referring to say these are a messenger to convey God's word his revelation to each of these churches.
Weapon
Weapon
OK now this is the weird one. This sword symbolizes Jesus power to judge and to conquer his enemies and protect his people. Page 2 thank you there's a lot of symbolism in this passage and it points to jesus's power.
Face
Face
John probably saved the most important aspect for the last. It's always fascinating driving Isabel to school at lost Creek in the morning. We can usually watch the sun as it is rising. And it's fascinating to on Wednesday this last week we were able to look pretty directly at the sun which is astonishing because most of the time you can't. It's so brilliant you can't look at it. That's how Jesus is described here.
Remember back on the mount of transfiguration:
2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.
What John saw in his vision was the face of the Almighty God!
John’s Worships and Jesus Speaks
John’s Worships and Jesus Speaks
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.
From the Old Testament onward when God makes himself known worship must follow. John responded to this vision of power with reverence.
Jesus has power over time
Jesus has power over time
He says I am the first and the last. Jesus has been master from before time until the ned of time.
No passage of time can keep you from God’s provision. No sin from your past is too great for Jesus to reach back and redeem it. Jesus has mastery and power over time.
Jesus has power over life
Jesus has power over life
He is the the Living One. This is the only time Jesus is given this title but it is just one more way Jesus is associated with sustenance and life
10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”
11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water?
Jesus tells the women at the well that he is the giver of life.
51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
Jesus is the one who sustains life
57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me.
Jesus’ followers live through Jesus as he lives through the father.
26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
Those who follow and live in Jesus will not die.
and Hebrews reminds us
25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
Jesus lives eternally now making intercession on our behalf.
Jesus has power over sin
Jesus has power over sin
when this passage says he was dead and is now alive it points to the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus.
Jesus has power over death
Jesus has power over death
Jesus has the authority over death and hades or hell. He has the power to judge all who have died.
John is comforted
John is comforted
19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.
The First Interpretation
The First Interpretation
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.
This is the first time that revelation interprets itself. The seven stars and the seven lamp stands are the seven angels and the seven churches that this letter is written to.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Every portrait of Jesus that's true to how he is revealed emphasizes that he is both completely human and unbelievably God. No human will ever fully understand Jesus and so every description we have of him will involve us attempting to describe him with language and bodily features that we can understand.new paragraph the only true and right response to Jesus worship.
Revelation is a book that many people disagree on. Perhaps the one thing that we can agree is that revelation teaches us that Jesus is worthy of worship. And we should all imitate the same response that John had.
Revelation reveals to us that Jesus is committed to the promise he made .
18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Life Applications
Life Applications
Revelation Applications
• Read the Book of Revelation if you want a divine blessing!
• Commit yourself in advance to obey what you learn from studying Revelation.
• Take seriously Revelation’s claim to be the trustworthy word of God.
• Worship Christ for who he is and all that he has done.
• Believe that Christ will come again just as the theme verse of Revelation announces.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Christians throughout the ages have tried to imagine what Jesus looks like. Most often we have reflected as much or more of our own culture in these portrayals than anything.
But Michael Green suggests this in his book “Who is Jesus”
Revelation IV. Life Application: What Does Jesus Look Like?
He was a Palestinian Jew, and as such the color of His skin would be olive, His eyes brown, and His nose hooked. Palestinian Jews had black hair and usually wore it long and carefully groomed. They valued a full beard, and it appears on many of the coins of the day.… He wore a sleeveless undergarment with a girdle, the customary cloak and sandals, and carried a staff on journeys. That is all we know about His appearance or can guess with confidence.
But the Gospels have no interest in these things. They are profoundly disinterested in His size, the color of His eyes, and hair, and even His age and strength. These external things are unimportant. What a man is like stems from his charactaer. And here the Gospels are eloquent.
As we look through the book we gain little benefit from trying to understand what He looked like. We gain immense benefit from understanding the crucial role he plays on our behalf. We gain confidence knowing his
Hair suggests omniscience, his eyes suggest omnipresence and fee suggest omnipotence.
Revelation may not give you the answers you want about what the end will look like or what Jesus looks like but it will provide all we need to connect with who Jesus really is to us.
Community Prayer
Community Prayer
9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,
12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
