Part 5

Revelation 1:9–20 (ESV)

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. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 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.”

Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 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. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 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.

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, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. 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.

I. John’s Position (v. 9-11)

In verses 9-11, we see John’s position (and there are many layers to what I mean by “position”). In these verses we can see (1) the position of his heart, (2) the position he is in because of his circumstances, (3)his position in Christ, and (4) his position in ministry.

A) The Position of His Heart

Revelation 1:9 (ESV)

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.

John is one of the 12 Apostles.

He wrote four books that are know in our NT: The Gospel of John, 3 epistles, and the book of Revelation.

Yet, the position of John’s heart is one of humility.

Nowhere in this book does he refer to himself as an apostle.

In verse one he refers to himself as a servant of Jesus Christ.

Now, in verse 9, he does not place himself above the believers who would read this letter. He calls himself a “brother and partner in tribulation.”

He sees himself as equal—not above or below—all those who are in Christ.

This ought to be the position of our hearts.

You and I are brothers and sisters in Christ, and we are partners who serve the Lord together.

John has a position of humility.

B) His Circumstances

John calls himself a partner in the tribulation. The tribulation is not just a future reality, but one—at some level— that John and the other believers are already experiencing.

We have seen that the 1st century Christians in the Roman world faced persecution and discrimination.

John is not immune to this.

He is exiled on the island of Patmos because of His faith in Jesus Christ.

Scholars tell us that there were different levels of persecution while in Roman exile. It is though that John likely had a less severe sentence simply because of his old age. It was still no picnic. He experienced great persecution.

This allows him to relate to the believers to whom he is writing, who are also experiencing different levels of persecution.

It is interesting that when Christians are persecuted, that they tend to pull together.

Without persecution, we divide over many secondary issues such as end times theology, or denomination, or style of church. But when persecution comes, those minor differences tend to be forgotten.

Think back to 9/11. When that tragedy occured, its like American’s forgot that they were Republican’s or Democrats, rich or poor, black or white… it’s like, we need one another… let’s come together. The petty things we argue over did not seem to matter in the days following.

So it is in the church… you think believers in Afghanistan care if other believers are baptists or Assemblies of God? No, they are locking arms with all who are in Christ.

John is in a position of persecution, owing to his faith.

C) His Position in Christ

John calls himself a partner in the Kingdom.

His physical location is Patmos, but he is most certainly a citizen of heaven.

We see here that he sees himself as ALREADY part of God’s Kingdom.

And yet, ironically, he is experiencing tribulation in which he is called to endure.

This reinforces the “already, but not yet” state of the Kingdom. God’s Kingdom has come in part through Jesus, but in this partial state, we must still contend with evil, suffering, and injustice. Yet, we are called to endure with the promise that Jesus will return to consummate that Kingdom.

It is interesting that John puts the Kingdom between his thoughts on the tribulation and faithful endurance. The road to the Kingdom is the road of suffering and endurance, as Jesus demonstrated through the cross.

You and I—in our suffering— must remember that we are now part of God’s Kingdom. We must endure. And we will one day see the perfection of His Kingdom.

John relishes his position in Christ, which helps him endure his circumstances.

D) His Position in Ministry

Revelation 1:10 (ESV)

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet

Scholars believe almost certainly that by the end of the first century that Sunday had become known as “the Lord’s Day” as it had become the normal day for corporate worship.

John says that he was “in the Spirit.” This is a phrase that is used in other places throughout Revelation to designate the spirit of prophecy.

Revelation 4:2 (ESV)

At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne.

Revelation 17:3 (ESV)

And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns.

Revelation 21:10 (ESV)

And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God,

It is likely that the original audience would have understood John’s words of “being in the Spirit” in terms of prophetic inspiration. I am reading through Ezekiel write now, and similar phrases are often used.

Ezekiel 11:5 (ESV)

And the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and he said to me, “Say, Thus says the Lord: So you think, O house of Israel. For I know the things that come into your mind.

In Luke 2:27, Luke speaks of Simeon in this way:

Luke 2:27 (ESV)

And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law,

It’s clear that John is functioning in the position as a prophet.

This idea is enforced with his commissioning to write down what he sees and send it to the seven churches. This is indicative of the call of a prophet. They were often instructed down what God revealed to them.

The truth that John functions here as a prophet, reminds readers that Revelation is authoritative. It is the Word of God and should be treated as such.

II. John’s Vision

Revelation 1:12–16 ESV

Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 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. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 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.

After hearing this loud voice, John turned and saw first… seven golden lampstands.

A) Seven Golden Lampstands

In previous weeks, we have seen that the seven lampstands represent the seven churches. But why lampstands?

In the temple, the lampstand was in the holy place, just outside of the holy of holies. This part of the temple

The churches as lampstands are to reflect the light of God’s glory to the world.

Matthew 5:14–16 (ESV)

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

The seven lampstands represent the seven churches to whom John is writing, and the number seven is symbolic for the universal church.

In the midst of the churches, Johns sees one like the son of man, which refers back to Daniel 7:13.

Dr. Thomas Schreiner points out that in Hebrews the phrase “son of man” refers to humans, and in Daniel, the son of man has divine characteristics. The son of man, then, is both human and divine. The reference to Jesus as the son of man is pervasive in the Gospels.

So, in this vision, John sees Jesus and he is amongst the lampstands, indicating that Christ is present with his church. What a glorious thought! In suffering, God can feel a million miles away, but Christ is with us! We are not forgotten.

John then begins to describe the appearance of Jesus, which is drawn from the book of Daniel. The many uses of the word “like” reminds us that John uses symbolic language and therefore shouldn’t be taken literally.

I don’t want to get too bogged down in the details of the what John sees, because it could detract from the main point, namely, that Jesus is majestic!

B) Jesus’ Appearance

i) His Clothing

The long robe and the sash likely represent priestly apparel.

Exodus 28:4 (ESV)

These are the garments that they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a coat of checker work, a turban, and a sash. They shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons to serve me as priests.

Exodus 28:31 (ESV)

“You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue.

Jesus is our Great High Priest, as he has atoned for the sins of His people.

Revelation 1:5–6 (ESV)

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 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

ii)His Hair

Revelation 1:14 (ESV)

The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow...

In Daniel 7, the Ancient of Days (God the Father) is seen as having clothing white as snow and the hair of his head like pure wool.

John has attributed to Jesus what is true of God. This is no accident. Jesus is, God the Son.

The white hair is not literal, but indicates the wisdom and omniscience of the Son of Man.

Here we see, again, the divinity of Christ.

iii) His Eyes

14… His eyes were like a flame of fire,

Daniel 7:9 (ESV)

“As I looked,

thrones were placed,

and the Ancient of Days took his seat;

his clothing was white as snow,

and the hair of his head like pure wool;

his throne was fiery flames;

its wheels were burning fire.

G.K. Beale points out that this images of Christ’s eyes being like a flame of fire, speaks of his role of judgement, as is clear from 19:12 where the same phrase is used to describe Christ in His role as judge.

Jesus is present with the churches, and He knows the true spiritual condition of each church.

iv) His Feet

Revelation 1:15 (ESV)

his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace...

It is thought that Jesus’ bronze feet represent his moral perfection, and, perhaps, his ability to crush his enemies.

v.) His Voice

15...and his voice was like the roar of many waters.

The voice of God resonates with power and the force of rushing waters.

Ezekiel 43:2 (ESV)

And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. And the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory.

Psalm 29:3 (ESV)

The voice of the Lord is over the waters;

the God of glory thunders,

the Lord, over many waters.

Psalm 93:4 (ESV)

Mightier than the thunders of many waters,

mightier than the waves of the sea,

the Lord on high is mighty!

God’s thundering voice communicates his power and majesty! John’s words remind us of God the Father! Hence, the voice of Jesus is like the voice of God!

vi.) His Hands

Revelation 1:16 (ESV)

In his right hand he held seven stars...

We are told in verse 20 that the seven stars represent the seven angels of the seven churches.

There are still debates over who these angels are. Some suggest that they are seven leaders (or pastors) of the seven churches.

The most natural reading, though, is that these are seven literal angels that somehow represent or superintend the churches.

Jesus holds authority over these angelic beings.

vi.) His Mouth

... from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword

The sword refers to Jesus’ words

Revelation 2:12 (ESV)

“And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.

The Word of the Lord penetrates and judges all those who oppose Him.

vii.) His Face

and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

This is a way of describing the glory of Jesus.

In all of this, John wants his readers to see the glory, the beauty, the splendor, and the power of Jesus Christ.

C) John’s Response

Revelation 1:17 (ESV)

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,

The glory of Christ was more than John could handle. He fainted at his feet like a dead man.

When I read this, I think of Isaiah when he was in the presence of God. He fell down and said “woe is me.”

John falls down in fear, as he must be aware of his own sin and finiteness.

But the Lord, comforts him, telling him not to fear. In the book of Isaiah, on of the seraphim atone for the prophet by touching his lips with hot coal from the altar.

Jesus has atoned for John’s sin by His own blood, so He has no reason to fear.

D) Jesus’ Message

Revelation 1:17–20 (ESV)

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, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. 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.

i.) Jesus Speaks of His Deity

Jesus refers to himself as “the first and last” which is equivalent to Alpha and Omega, which is a title used to identify the Father in verse 8.

God is often referred to as “Living One” or the “Living God.” Again, here, we see the deity of Christ.

Jesus is deity, and is worthy of worship and He is worth dying for.

ii.) Jesus Speaks of His Authority

“Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

Jesus here describes the resurrection: living… dead… alive…

And he has all authority, even over the power of death.

Those who endure in suffering, will ultimately be liberated from death through Christ… as they will be raised to life as He was raised to life.