Revelation 1.9-20 - John's Vision of Christ

If you are a follower of Christ, John is your brother and we share in tribulation, in Christ’s Kingdom, and we persevere under difficult times, because He is our hope and Lord. Without Him we are lost.

John was a prisoner on the island Patmos, because he was follower of the Lord Jesus and testified to truth. Tradition has that he was boiled in oil and then sent to Patmos. Which is just off the west coast of modern day Turkey. The Emperor Domitian was ruling during this time and he was a major persecutor of Christians. Domitian died in 96 AD, so it is probable John was released sometime after this. Also, scholars debate whether John wrote the Revelation of Jesus Christ while on Patmos, or after he had been released. In either case, it is not of greatest importance where it was written, John did receive the message their.

Verse 10 does lend itself to some confusion among scholars. The term “In the Spirit” is not unique to John or to the New Testament. For example, Paul uses this phrase in Romans 8.9, where he says, “However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit...” What does it mean, in John’s context, to be “In the Spirit?” Elsewhere in Revelation, John is spiritually removed to see a vision (4.2; 17.3; and 21.10) but that is not the case here.

John was not taken anywhere, the vision he receives is where he is at. So, he was either stating a fact that he was in the Spirit, as a believer, and therefore able to witness the vision, apart from flesh. For if was merely flesh and not of the Spirit, would he have received such a vision?

Or, he was in prayer and remembering his Lord. Which would be supported by the next clause, “On the Lord’s Day.” Again, here there is debate on what this means. Some believe it refers to Sunday or the first day of the week. Some believe it is a reference to the resurrection of Christ. Since, this is the first time this phrase is used, it is truly hard to know. The days of the week, as we know it was not established until 321 AD by Emperor Constantine. So, one cannot immediately define the Lord’s Day as a Sunday or even first day of the week. The Lord’s Day does not also equate itself with the Jewish Sabbath, as this is not considered elsewhere in Scripture.

It had been about 60 years since Jesus had been crucified and resurrected. The best evidence would be that this is a reference to the Lord’s Resurrection. John was probably praying in remembrance and adoration for His Lord. Or, the day He was taken up in the clouds as noted at the end of Luke and beginning of Acts.

While John was in the Spirit, he heard a loud voice “like” a trumpet. Note that John did not hear a trumpet, but the voice was loud and resounding. The word “like” is a simile and is used often in Revelation.