Revelation Session 2
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The Glorified Christ (1:9-20)
The Glorified Christ (1:9-20)
I. Quick Review of Session 1
Author, Audience Purpose, Eschatological views, Type of Literature
II. Setting the Stage (vv. 9-11)
John’s situation, the command to write, application
III. The Vision of Christ (vv.12-16)
John sees Christ among the lampstands, long white robe and golden sash, white hair, eyes like fire, feet like burnished bronze, voice like rushing waters, seven stars in His hand, sword from His mouth, face shining like the sun, application.
IV Christ Authority Over the Church (vv. 17-20)
John falls like a dead man, I am the First and the Last, I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, I have the keys, interpretation of the lampstands and stars, application.
V. Brief not on Different Views of Christ’s Reign
Dispensational Premillennialism (DP), Historic Premillennialism (HP), Amillennialism (A), Postmillennialism (P)
IV. Closing Reflections
I. Quick Review
I. Quick Review
9 I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the witness 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 in a scroll what you see, 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.”
12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands;
13 and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash.
14 And His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire.
15 His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters,
16 and having in His right hand seven stars, and a sharp two-edged sword which comes out of His mouth, and His face was like the sun shining in its power.
17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not fear; I am the first and the last,
18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever and ever, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.
19 “Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things.
20 “As for the mystery of the seven stars which 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.
II. Setting the Stage
II. Setting the Stage
9 I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the witness 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 in a scroll what you see, 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 introduces himself again but also identifies with his audience. He is currently participating with them in tribulation and kingdom and perseverance. Do you see the waltz?
John identifies himself as in fellowship with his audience in their suffering and persevering in the midst of suffering. The tribulation and the perseverance, at least here does not sound like something in the distant future, but something that he was enduring at the time of his writing.
He even identifies the kingdom as a present reality and not something in the future. Paul did the same
13 Who rescued us from the authority of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son of His love,
Patmos is a rocky Island 40 miles off of the coast of Asia Minor, 10 miles long and 5 miles wide. It was a good natural harbor and supplied valuable metals like copper, lead iron which served the Roman Empire. During the reign of emperor Domitian (A.D. 81–96) Patmos was a place of exile for political prisoners.
Scholars maintain that on the easy exile prisoners may have received mild treatment and been permitted relative freedom on the island, although they would have lost all their properties and civil rights.
More negatively, Sir William Ramsay (Scottish archaeologist and NT scholar)paints a stark picture, arguing that John’s exile was “preceded by scourging, marked by perpetual fetters, scanty clothing, insufficient food, sleep on the bare ground, a dark prison, work under the lash of the military overseer.”
Whatever his actual circumstances, there can be little doubt that most painful to John the pastor was separation from his beloved church across the sea in Ephesus and his inability to proclaim the gospel of his Savior, Jesus.
John was exiled here according to hims it was because of the word of God and the witness of Jesus
Rome tolerated many religions as long as they also honored the emperor. Christians refused emperor worship, so they were often accused of atheism, sedition, and rebellion. Instead of executing John — which could have made him a martyr and stirred up sympathy — they likely saw him as an old man who could do less harm in isolation.
John boiling in oil is only found in the writings of Tertullian about 100 years or so after the events and there are no other collaborating reports. We have writers closer to Johns time like Ignatius, Irenaeus who talk extensively about john but doe not report this.
At any rate he was exiled, persecuted for faithfulness to the gospel not for civil rebellion.
Key Application: Faithfulness to Christ often brings suffering, but Christ is Lord even over the suffering.
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,
We will examine
What does being in the spirit mean? It means to be taken up into a trancelike visionary state. This is not a spiritual experience common to all believers but that which is given to God’s special messengers.
12 Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard a great rumbling sound behind me, “Blessed be the glory of Yahweh in His place.”
14 So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away; and I went embittered in the wrath of my spirit, and the hand of Yahweh was strong on me.
This expression will happen a few more times in Revelation each marking a major prophetic vision sequence.
The Lord’s Day was the first day of the week. Although there is no command from Scripture that the Sabbath was to be changed to Sunday. The church began meeting on the first Day of the week from before the the close of the Christian cannon.
1 Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb.
19 So while it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and while the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
1 Now on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.
13 And behold, two of them were going that same day to a village named Emmaus, which was sixty stadia from Jerusalem.
26 “Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?”
Luke’s Gospel ties resurrection, teaching, and breaking bread on the first day.
All of Jesus’ appearances happen on Sunday
7 And on the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began speaking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight.
2 On the first day of every week each one of you is to set something aside, saving whatever he has prospered, so that no collections be made when I come.
Table here for early fathers and the didache
Voice like a trumpet signals divine revelation, warfare, or the presence of God
16 So it happened on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.
1 “Call out from your throat, do not hold back; Raise your voice like a trumpet, And declare to My people their transgression And to the house of Jacob their sins.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
Lets continue
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 in a scroll what you see, 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 is a witness. His role is to faithfully record what he sees.
"In a book" (βιβλίον, biblion): Likely a scroll. John’s visions are not private mystical experiences — they are for the instruction and encouragement of the Church.
Symbolically, the number seven represents fullness or completeness — the messages to these churches represent Christ’s words to all His churches across history.
John is commanded to write down what he sees and send it to the seven churches. These are literal churches. And the voice does not only tells him what churches, but it tells him the order which is also follow the pattern of an ancient Roman postal route through the Roman province of Asia which is today western Turkey.
The letter would leave Patmos and go to Ephesus which was the primary port city and the gateway into Asia Minor.
From Ephesus it moves north to Smyrna, another major port and important city.
Then north again to Pergamon which was a powerful cultural and political center.
From there it will go south east to Thytira, continues south to Sardis, Philadelphia and finally to Laodicea.
This order forms a rough clockwise circle, very similar to the practical courier or messenger routes of that time, designed for efficiency. Roman postal roads were very well-organized, and the imperial cursus publicus (state postal system) would have followed logical and efficient paths like this.
No wonder God orchestrated the expansion of the Roman empire so they would build roads that connected the known world, had the whole world speak one language since He confounded them at the tower of Babel and then had the NT be written in that language.
III. The Vision of Christ (vv. 12-16)
III. The Vision of Christ (vv. 12-16)
12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands;
13 and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash.
14 And His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire.
15 His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters,
16 and having in His right hand seven stars, and a sharp two-edged sword which comes out of His mouth, and His face was like the sun shining in its power.
Lets examine the first verse…
12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands;
I told you last time, to let John explain what he is seeing and when he does not provide an explanation we will look at the OT for one
Turning to see the voice sounds strange but seeing a manifestation is a prophetic motif
1 Now it happened in the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was by the river Chebar among the exiles, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.
Also hearing and seeing in apocalyptic literature often go together to heighten the reality.
Seven golden lampstands. In verse 20 Jesus explains the lampstands represent the seven churches. Please note there is a lot of things, images that are not what they are they stand as representation of a particular reality.
Lampstands symbolize the churches as bearers of light in the world.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
So light represents truth, wisdom, the word of God, the fruit of the gospel so that the world although is dark it is not in complete darkness.
and the lampstands themselves are made of gold representing value, purity, holiness. The Church is precious to God despite its flaws.
Application: Christ does not abandon His Church; He is present in the midst of it, even when it is weak, persecuted, or compromised.
He is about to complain and expose the short comings of most of them. However, His first description of them is that of golden lampstands.
As we consider further details from the vision of John, we should remember that he saw what Jesus is “like.” This vision does not show us what Jesus looks like but rather what Jesus is like, symbolically depicting his person and work. Biblically trained Christians organize the work of Christ in his three offices of Prophet, Priest, and King. As Prophet, He represents God before people; as Priest, He represents people before God; and as King, He exercises sovereign authority over all creation, ruling and defending His people while conquering all His and our enemies.
Explain types and shadows:
• Types = preview pictures of Christ.
• Shadows = temporary patterns that fade when the real thing (Christ) arrives. David was a type and fell short.
13 and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash.
645 years approx. we see another servant of God having another vision…
13 “I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And came near before Him.
14 “And to Him was given dominion, Glory, and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations, and men of every tongue Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not be taken away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.
The Jews understood that this Son of Man was divine, but they did not understand how. They knew the “Son of Man coming in clouds refers to God” He is the only one that rides clouds.
61 But He kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest was questioning Him and said to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”
62 And Jesus said, “I am; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
63 And tearing his tunics, the high priest said, “What further need do we have of witnesses?
The title Son of Man is much more significant than Son of God because he is God incarnate which is what Son of Man means… Lets continue
13 and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet [ποδήρη, podērē] and girded across His chest with a golden sash.
4 “These are the garments which they shall make: a breastpiece and an ephod and a robe and a tunic of checkered work, a turban and a sash, and they shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons, in order for him to minister as priest to Me.
These were also worn by Kings and Judges and it symbolizes authority
Priests wore a sash at their waist (Exodus 28:4); here it’s around the chest, suggesting royal dignity and priestly purity.
14 And His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire.
15 His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters,
16 and having in His right hand seven stars, and a sharp two-edged sword which comes out of His mouth, and His face was like the sun shining in its power.
Table with summary of Christ’s vision here
A. Head and Hair: Pure White (v. 14a)
“The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow.”
• Echoes Daniel 7:9 — “The Ancient of Days” had hair like pure wool.
• Symbolizes:
• Eternity (agelessness)
• Wisdom (divine omniscience)
• Purity (absolute holiness)
✅ Christ shares the attributes of the Ancient of Days — meaning He is fully divine.
B. Eyes: Flames of Fire (v. 14b)
“His eyes were like a flame of fire…”
• Fire in Scripture symbolizes judgment and purification (Hebrews 12:29: “our God is a consuming fire”).
• His gaze:
• Penetrates all appearances.
• Sees into the hidden depths of hearts (cf. Hebrews 4:13).
✅ Christ’s judgment is pure, perfect, and all-seeing — no sin or hypocrisy escapes His notice.
C. Feet: Burnished Bronze (v. 15a)
“His feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace…”
• Bronze symbolizes strength, stability, and judgment.
• Burnished and refined means tested, strong, immovable.
• Ancient kings and judges often sat on thrones with footstools — Christ’s bronze feet hint that He treads down His enemies with power and finality (cf. Psalm 110:1; Revelation 19:15).
✅ Christ’s kingdom is unshakable and His judgment final.
D. Voice: Sound of Many Waters (v. 15b)
“And his voice was like the roar of many waters.”
• Echoes Ezekiel 43:2 — the voice of the God of Israel sounded like rushing waters.
• Represents:
• Overwhelming majesty.
• Absolute authority.
• Inescapable power.
✅ Christ’s Word cannot be ignored — it is mighty and irresistible.
E. In His Right Hand: Seven Stars (v. 16a)
“In his right hand he held seven stars…”
• In Revelation 1:20, Christ says the seven stars are the “angels” (messengers) of the seven churches.
• “Right hand” = place of authority, control, and protection.
✅ Christ holds His messengers and churches securely in His sovereign hand.
F. Mouth: Sharp Two-Edged Sword (v. 16b)
”…from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword…”
• Isaiah 11:4 — the Messiah strikes the earth with the rod of His mouth.
• Hebrews 4:12 — God’s Word is a living and active sword.
• Sword symbolizes:
• Judgment by the Word.
• Discernment between truth and error.
• Victory over His enemies.
✅ Christ conquers not with worldly weapons, but by the power of His Word.
G. Face: Shining Like the Sun (v. 16c)
“And his face was like the sun shining in full strength.”
• Echoes the transfiguration (Matthew 17:2) where Jesus’ face shone like the sun.
• Represents:
• Divine glory.
• Majestic, overwhelming radiance.
✅ Christ’s glory is too brilliant for mortal eyes — He is the unapproachable light (cf. 1 Timothy 6:16).
Application:
Awe and Worship – This is the real Christ – glorious, holy, victorious.
Fear and Comfort – He sees all, judges justly, and protects His people
Hope and Endurance – Come what may, Christ reigns and walks among His Churches.
IV. Christ’s Authority Over the Church
IV. Christ’s Authority Over the Church
17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not fear; I am the first and the last,
18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever and ever, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.
19 “Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things.
20 “As for the mystery of the seven stars which 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.
What is a natural reaction to seeing God?
17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not fear; I am the first and the last,
The overwhelming vision of the Messiah’s glory causes John to collapse in awe, terror, and weakness. When people say that they had a vision and they saw Jesus and did not need a change of clothing after, do not believe them
5 Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, Yahweh of hosts.”
28 As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the radiance all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Yahweh. And I saw this, and I fell on my face and heard a sound of a voice speaking.
8 So I alone remained and saw this great vision that appeared; yet no might remained in me, for my outward splendor turned to a deathly pallor, and I retained no might.
9 But I heard the sound of his words; and as soon as I heard the sound of his words, I fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.
Application: True visions of God do not produce casual familiarity; they produce fear humility and awe. We must recover a high, holy view of Christ–He is not merely our fried but the glorious king who causes even the apostles to collapse in His presence.
Next our Lord makes these three massive authority claims:
17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not fear; I am the first and the last,
18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever and ever, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.
“I am the first and the last” echoes the words of God in Isa 44:6 and 48:12.
Christ applies divine language to Himself because he shares the eternal nature of the Father
He precedes all things and outlasts all things. He is the alpha and the omega
“I am the Living One… I was dead and behold I am alive forevermore”. His death was real, His resurrection was real and His life according to Romans 6:9 is now eternal and indestructible.
His authority as the God-man is rooted in His death and resurrection.
