Revelation

Verse 8: Jesus Christ is the Almighty God. Three great descriptions are given of Christ in this verse. 1. Jesus Christ is the Alpha and Omega. Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet and Omega the last letter. That is, Jesus Christ is the beginning and the ending of all there is. He began all things and He shall end all things. All things find their purpose, meaning, and significance in Him. Man, the world, history—no matter how chaotic and out of control life may seem—all things are under the control of Jesus Christ.

2. Jesus Christ is the Lord who is, who was, and who is to come. That is, He is eternal and unchangeable. Today He is the same Person He has always been, and He shall always be the sa

3. Jesus Christ is the Almighty . The word means the All-Controller, the All-Ruler. He is the One who controls all things and rules over all things in the whole universe. This means that Jesus Christ possesses all power: He is omnipotent, able to do anything. He controls everything: the universe and every being within the universe.

Verse 9: 1. He calls himself a brother and a companion to the believers of the churches. By brother he means that he is a believer even as they are believers. They are brothers in the family of God, brothers to the Lord Jesus Christ and to one another, all having been adopted into the family of God. By companion John means that he has lived among the believers. He has walked day by day in their midst as a companion with them. But note: John had a particular experience in mind. He had been a companion with them in their … • day-by-day tribulations: trials, afflictions, persecutions, sufferings, pressure • day-by-day seeking after the kingdom: looking for the kingdom of God, longing and seeking after it • day-by-day patience: enduring and persevering against all trials and temptations; standing fast in looking for and seeking after the kingdom of God

“But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” (Mt. 24:13). “We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God” (Ac. 14:22). “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us” (2 Ti. 2:12).

2. John says that he was on the island of Patmos when Christ gave him the visions of Revelation. Note: he says that he was there for the cause of Christ; that is, he had been banish⇒ It sat out at sea only about forty miles from the great city of Ephesus. ⇒ It sat in the midst of a group of islands called the Sporades. ⇒ It was only about ten miles long and six miles wide. ⇒ It was an isolated, barren, rocky island with hills rising to about one thousand feet.

Verse 10 John says that he was in the spirit on the Lord’s day. The Lord’s day undoubtedly means Sunday, the first day of the week, the day that Christ was raised from the dead. In the spirit means that Christ put John in a trance, that He gave John a deep spiritual experience that lifted his mind and spirit above this world and put him in the very presence of Christ Himself.

There was the great, trumpeting voice of the Lord as the vision begins. John hears a great voice behind him, a voice that sounded like the call of a trumpet. The idea of the trumpet is that of authority, of an overpowering and commanding voice.

Verse 11 ⇒ The Lord proclaims that He is the Alpha and Omega one more time. ⇒ The Lord instructs John to write what he sees in a book and to send it to the seven churches of Asia. Thought 1. Note that Christ was not giving John a message for himself, but for the church. He was to use what Christ was giving him for the edification of believers, to build them up in the faith. This is the great purpose for Revelation, the reason why it must be taught in the church: to edify and build us up in the faith.

Verse 12 There was Christ standing in the midst of seven golden candlesticks, that is, in the midst of the churches. The candlesticks represent the churches (v.20). Why this symbol? Jesus Christ is the Light of the world, and it is the task of the church to hold Him forth before the world. The church is to proclaim the light of Christ to the world. Note that Christ stands in the midst of the candlesticks. The churches receive their light from Christ. Unless He stands in the midst of the church, the church has no light. The church must see to it that Christ is in its midst, and the church must proclaim the light of Christ to the world. Thought 1. For Christ to be in the midst of the church means that the message of Christ is the very focus of the church. The message of Christ is, of course, the Word of God, the Holy Bible. He is the very theme of the Scriptures and it was the Scriptures that He Himself proclaimed. The church must make absolutely sure that the Holy Scriptures are read, studied, taught, and preached among the people.

Verse 13 There was the awesome and frightening appearance of Christ. Note who it is standing in the midst of the golden candlesticks or churches. It is the Son of Man, Christ Himself. This means a most wonderful thing: the message of Revelation is from the Lord Himself. It is not the message of a man, not a message that we have to question and wonder about and search out to see if there is truth in it. Revelation is the message of Jesus Christ, of the exalted Lord Himself. It is a message that can be trusted, a message that is true from beginning to end. It is a message that we must heed, for it is the message of the Lord Himself. Now, note the vision. John’s vision of Christ was so awesome that it defied description. There was no human language or words to describe Him. All John could do was take some of the precious and awesome things that he new to descibe what he saw.

1. Jesus Christ was clothed with a robe down to His feet (v.13). This was the robe of prophets of priests , and of kings and princes . The robe symbolizes the prophetic, priestly, and kingly ministry of Christ. ⇒ As prophet, Jesus Christ proclaims the Word of God to us. ⇒ As priest, Jesus Christ gives us access into the presence of God and makes us acceptable to God. ⇒ As king, Jesus Christ rules and reigns over all the affairs of the universe, and He protects and provides and works all things out for good to those who love and follow Him.

Verse 14 . The head and hair of Jesus Christ were as white as white wool and snow (v.14). This is the picture of Christ as the Ancient of Days, as being the eternal Lord of the universe. It is possible that this is also a picture of His sinlessness and purity of mind. The spiritual warfare is fought in the mind, and Christ never sinned; He never even had one evil or negative thought that came short of God’s glory. He was the sinless Son of God Himself.

Jesus Christ had eyes that were as a flame of fire (v.14). This symbolizes a piercing, penetrating power. He sees everywhere, even in the dark places and behind closed doors. His eyes search the innermost recesses of the heart. He knows all; He is omniscient and He is able to conquer all those who reject Him and do evil. No one will be able to hide from Him nor can anyone hide anything from Him.

Verse 15 . Jesus Christ had feet like fine brass or bronze. This symbolizes strength and perseverance. His feet are the feet that preached the gospel, the glad tidings of peace. But they are also the feet that shall tread down His enemies. His feet are also able to rush to the rescue of His people.

Jesus Christ had a voice that was like the sound of many waters rushing together (v.15). His voice symbolizes authority.

Verse 16 . Jesus Christ held seven stars in His right hand (v.16; cp. v.20). The seven stars symbolize the messengers, the ministers of the churches. His hand securely holds the messengers with skill and strength and comfort.

“And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever” (Da. 12:3). “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you” (Jn. 15:16). “But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel” (Ac. 9:15).

8. Jesus Christ had a sharp two-edged sword coming out of His mouth (v.16). This symbolizes the Word of God and its penetrating power .

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (He. 4:12). “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Ti. 3:16).

Verse 17 there was the reassuring presence and care of the Lord. John was terrified. He fell at the feet of the Lord as though he were dead. But note the calm assurance of Christ. Christ reached out with His right hand and softly and tenderly touched John, assuring Him that He was not there to consume him. Christ said four things to John. 1. “Fear not—do not be afraid” (v.17). He was declaring that He had not appeared to John in judgment but in love and care. He was appearing to commission John and to use him in the great mission of building up the churches and of reaching the lost for God .

Verse 18