Revelation 1:9-20
Notes
Transcript
Appetiser
Appetiser
How do you see Jesus Christ?
How do you see the church of Jesus Christ?
Main Course
Main Course
Christians worship in a hostile world, v9-11
Christians worship in a hostile world, v9-11
John is on Patmos suffering for the faith, “the word of God and the testimony of Jesus”, cf. the same phrase in v2.
Emphasis is on the content they objected to, not his personal holding to it; he’s there because of the message he carried
The Word of God offends those who are hostile to Him
“your brother and companion”—his experience is the Christian experience
“My kingdom is not of this world”, John 18:36—and Christians are partakers of it: “kingdom … ours in Jesus”
Jesus said, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.’
As our King suffered here, so it is our portion to suffer for Him in this world: “the suffering and kingdom and patent endurance that are ours in Jesus” Acts 14:22; Philippians 1:29
They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. ‘We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,’ they said.
For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,
“What hostility?” As we shall see, not everybody experiences this the same way. Some, like John, experience persecution; others seduction to compromise the Word. But every Christian will face this one way or another.
Yet John worships, v10a. Reminds us of Daniel, opening his windows towards Jerusalem, and praying to God, even when it was forbidden.
And God meets Him, v10b-11
“I was in the Spirit”—recalls Ezekiel’s experience
“a loud voice like a trumpet”—recalls the Sinai experience, God coming to His people
“write on a scroll”—his commissioning as a prophet, once again recalling Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah...
These all serve to further identify John with the prophets through whom God speaks, cf. v1-2. For us, who read Revelation, this gives assurance that we’re hearing from God. This is why we’re blessed to read and obey it, v3.
Christ is Lord over the church, v12-16
Christ is Lord over the church, v12-16
A picture of God’s people, v12
“seven golden lampstands”=the church, cf. v20. They are the beneficiaries of v5b-6a, God’s chosen and faithful people.
Recalls the lampstand in the tabernacle and the temple, right in front of the Holy of Holies, which looked like a tree, the tree of life—representing God’s presence and the life that flows from Him.
Recalls Zechariah 4:1-6. Notice v6—and compare to Matthew 5:14; 1Peter 2:9-10
‘You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
The church is on earth to make God known. She is constantly harassed by the world, but she will overcome.
How? By spreading the message of His Word, in the power of the Spirit, thereby making our God known. That’s why we are here on earth!
Christ has overcome the world, and in Him, we are more than conquerors. He is the One we see next:
Christ with His people, v13-16
“among the lamptstands”: recalls the language of God walking amongst His people
He comes as “someone like a son of man”, v13—Daniel 7:13-15
‘In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshipped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
His clothing in this context reminds us that this royal man is a priest. He is here for us, to bring us to God. But also:
He comes like the Ancient of Days, v14-15—cf. Daniel 7:9-10, and for the voice Ezekiel 43:2
‘As I looked, ‘thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.
and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with his glory.
He comes as a prophet with God’s authority, v16
“seven stars”—we’ll see in a moment! That they are in his right hand shows that they are under His command and authority.
The “sharp, double-edged word” is the word of God, spoken by the prophet (cf. Isaiah 49:2; Ephesians 6:17). A sword is a weapon of attack.
The Book of Revelation John Is Commissioned to Write to the Churches Because the Initial Vision He Receives Demonstrates that the Saints’ Confidence is Grounded in Christ’s Installation as Cosmic Judge, Priest, and Ruler of the Church (1:12–20)
The Christians in Asia are to understand that Jesus will do battle in this manner not only against the evil nations (19:15) but also against all those among the churches who compromise their faith (2:16).
What it means that Christ is Lord of the Church, v17-20
What it means that Christ is Lord of the Church, v17-20
He comes to His people with grace, v17-18
The terror of the Lord, v17a. Just like when Isaiah saw the Lord, high and lifted up.
The grace of the Lord to those who are His, v17b-18
He is for us who are truly His: “Do not be afraid.”
And He truly is Lord of all—even “death and Hades”! He has conquered death, He is “the firstborn from the dead”, v5.
If He did not come to us with grace, we would do well to fear for our lives. But to those who belong to Him, Christ comes with grace. Both of these are to be bourn in mind if we are to see the true Christ.
He governs the church, v19-20
By His Word, v19 cf. v11, 9, 2
By the angels of the churches, v20
The word “angel” means messenger. Context decides whether it refers to a spiritual being or a human being.
The overwhelming use of the word in Revelation refers to spiritual beings.
Yet, when it comes to delivering messages from God, they bring those messages to humans, not the other way around. In ch2-3 it is the other way around, cf. 2:1.
In 1:11 we see (cf. also v4a) that the book needs to be given to the seven churches, and in ch2-3 we see that this happens through the angels of those churches.
These considerations lead me to conclude that in this context the word refers to human beings with authority and responsibility to deliver God’s Word to His churches, and so govern there on Christ’s behalf. The New Testament knows of one office like that: the one variously described as Elder/Pastor/Overseer.
Acts 20:28 is spoken to the Elders at the church of Ephesus:
Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
1 Timothy 5:17 speaks about the same
The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honour, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.
Why are they called “angels” then? John loves ambiguity, and here he connects these men with the office of that as God’s angels in their role as God’s messengers. They bridge heaven and earth, as does the church.
Pudding
Pudding
How are we to see, then, Christ and the church? We see Christ as Lord over all, actively governing through His people on earth. The church bridges heaven and earth; glorious, is it not?
