Revelation 1:9-20: A Vision of the Son of Man
Revelation - The Lamb is Victorious • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
Scripture
Scripture
9 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. 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 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.”
12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 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. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 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.
17 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, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. 20 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.
Outline
Outline
Revelation 1 - Introduction
Revelation 1 - Introduction
Revelation 1:1-3 - Prologue & Benediction
Revelation 1:4-8 - Epistolary Introduction
Revelation 1:9-20 - A Vision of the Son of Man
Revelation 1:9-11 - Commission to Write
Revelation 1:12-16 - The Son of Man
Revelation 1:17-20 - The Authority of Christ
Purpose of Book
Purpose of Book
The purpose of Revelation is to challenge/encourage believers, who are expectantly awaiting the reign of Christ, to live faithfully for Him despite worldly circumstances, persecution, and the cosmic battle between God and Satan.
The purpose of Revelation is to challenge/encourage believers, who are expectantly awaiting the reign of Christ, to live faithfully for Him despite worldly circumstances, persecution, and the cosmic battle between God and Satan.
Main Point
Main Point
Jesus, revealed as the Son of Man, holds authority over the heavenly and earthly realms. He stands in the midst of His churches encouraging and exhorting them to persevere.
Jesus, revealed as the Son of Man, holds authority over the heavenly and earthly realms. He stands in the midst of His churches encouraging and exhorting them to persevere.
Revelation 1:9-11 - Commission to Write
Revelation 1:9-11 - Commission to Write
9 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. 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 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.”
I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus,
I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus,
John - the apostle
Brother
Identifies himself with them as a Christ-follower/family member, not an apostle
Partner
One who shares in with others/mutual participation
The tribulation
John shares in the suffers that the readers partake in
Specifically, troubles that arise because of their allegiance to Jesus
The kingdom
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.
9 And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.”
The patient endurance
John encourages his readers to endure regardless of persecution.
John himself is experiencing persecution so this is not a theoretical statement
That are in Jesus
Tribulation
Kingdom
Patient endurance
It seems weird/contradictory for all three of these to be placed together, but John realizes the already, but not yet reality
Endurance is needed as tribulation is a present reality for those who are made a kingdom
Was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
Was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
Island of Patmos
Lexham Geographic Commentary on Acts through Revelation Chapter 47: Geography of the Island of Patmos (Revelation 1:9) (Mark Wilson)
Key Points
• Patmos is a volcanic island located off the western coast of Asia Minor.
• The island was a colony of Miletus with a defensive fortress at Castelli.
• The Romans exiled political prisoners to islands in the Aegean Sea.
• Artemis Patmia was its patron goddess whose temple once stood at the site of the monastery at Chora.
• The cave in which John traditionally received his visions continues to function as an Orthodox church.
• Patmos’ insularity surrounded by the sea influenced John’s apocalyptic visions.
On account of...
John’s exile was a result of him proclaiming the Gospel by Domitian per Eusebius
I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day,
I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day,
In the Spirit
Spirit of prophecy that John uses four times in Revelation
Signifies that John received this revelation from God and it is authoritative because it was inspired by the Holy Spirit
John’s normal consciousness was altered and he experienced something far greater than Patmos
2 And as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.
The Lord’s day
Sunday - the day Jesus rose from the dead
And I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying,
And I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying,
Trumpet
17 Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. 18 Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly. 19 And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder. 20 The Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
God is about to reveal Himself as He did on Sinai
“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”
“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”
Write - command
14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.”
All occasions in the OT where Yahweh uses this language is meant for judgment
Judgment here against a rebellious world AND against those who compromise truth for the world
Send - command
Seven churches
Disputed as to why these seven churches were selected
Symbolic for all churches as well
Revelation 1:12-16 - The Son of Man
Revelation 1:12-16 - The Son of Man
12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 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. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 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.
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 vision in vv 12–20 follows the typical pattern of visions in the OT and Jewish apocalyptic literature: (1) the initial vision (vv 12–16) followed by (2) the seer’s response (v 17a) and then (3) an interpretation of the vision (vv 17b–20).
Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me,
Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me,
And on turning I saw seven golden lampstands,
And on turning I saw seven golden lampstands,
1 Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to Aaron and say to him, When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand.” 3 And Aaron did so: he set up its lamps in front of the lampstand, as the Lord commanded Moses. 4 And this was the workmanship of the lampstand, hammered work of gold. From its base to its flowers, it was hammered work; according to the pattern that the Lord had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand.
This could symbolize God’s perfect presence according to some Jewish sources
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.
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.
In the midst of the lampstands
A glorious vision of Christ!
Directly placed in front of the holy of holies
Jewish writings understood the lamps as Israel -> church
Jesus’ place is in the midst of the churches tending to their needs as a priest would to the lamps - Jesus’ heavenly priest ministry
He dwells with them - encouraging and exhorting - and has not abandoned them during the tribulation
Like a son of man
Divine
13 “I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
14 And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.
5 I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. 6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.
Jesus is the Messianic King
Clothed with a long robe
Represents robes worn by the priests
4 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.
Golden sash around his chest
4 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.
Christ, the son of man, is king and priest!
Without the work of Christ, Christians do not become a kingdom
The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow.
The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow.
9 “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.
The Ancient of Days in Daniel 7 is the Father
John is not confused by any means!
White hair signifies wisdom and all knowledge
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.
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.
Eyes were like a flame of fire
9 “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.
Penetrating discernment and nothing is hidden from Him
Like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace
6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.
No one is able to stand against/conquer the Son of Man who is morally pure
Voice was like the roar of many waters
3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord, over many waters.
4 Mightier than the thunders of many waters,
mightier than the waves of the sea,
the Lord on high is mighty!
24 And when they went, I heard the sound of their wings like the sound of many waters, like the sound of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army. When they stood still, they let down their wings.
2 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.
Overwhelming power
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.
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.
Right hand
Signifies favor and strength
The stars (angels) are under his authority
Seven stars
See 1:20
Glorious authority over the heavenly realm
Sharp two-edged sword
but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
He made my mouth like a sharp sword;
in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
he made me a polished arrow;
in his quiver he hid me away.
Powerful judgment upon his enemies, but vindication for the saints
Furthermore, Jesus will judge the churches who have compromised
Face was like the sun shining in full strength
31 Thus may all your enemies be destroyed, O Lord,
and those loving him as the going out of the sun in his might.
And the land was at rest forty years.
In Judges this describes a victorious Israelite warrior
Likewise, Jesus is the messianic warrior who is victorious
Revelation 1:17-20 - The Authority of Christ
Revelation 1:17-20 - The Authority of Christ
17 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, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. 20 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.
***Follows the pattern seen in Daniel 10:8-20 - 1) Prophetic Vision, 2) Fearful Response, 3) Strengthened/Reassured by a Heavenly Being, 4) Revelation Given - John has been given prophetic authority/message***
***Follows the pattern seen in Daniel 10:8-20 - 1) Prophetic Vision, 2) Fearful Response, 3) Strengthened/Reassured by a Heavenly Being, 4) Revelation Given - John has been given prophetic authority/message***
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead.
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead.
John’s response to Christ is fear
1 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.
17 So he came near where I stood. And when he came, I was frightened and fell on my face. But he said to me, “Understand, O son of man, that the vision is for the time of the end.”
8 So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and no strength was left in me. My radiant appearance was fearfully changed, and I retained no strength. 9 Then I heard the sound of his words, and as I heard the sound of his words, I fell on my face in deep sleep with my face to the ground.
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.
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.
Fear not
Command
12 Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words.
Behold I am the first and the last
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
6 Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel
and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:
“I am the first and I am the last;
besides me there is no god.
12 “Listen to me, O Jacob,
and Israel, whom I called!
I am he; I am the first,
and I am the last.
The Father and Son having parallel attributes thus revealing the high Christology in John’s writings
John encourages the readers, like Isaiah did to the exiles, that Jesus is sovereign over the course of history
The living one
Victorious over death
9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.
I died and behold I am alive forevermore
40 For I lift up my hand to heaven
and swear, As I live forever,
I have the keys of Death and Hades
Christ has authority over the realm of Death and Hades
Write therefore the things you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.
Write therefore the things you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.
***Key verse for structure and interpretation for all of Revelation***
***Key verse for structure and interpretation for all of Revelation***
Translation Note
3-fold clause vs. 2-fold clause
tn Grk “Therefore write the things that you saw, and the things that are, and the things that will take place after these things.” Verse 19 could also be translated (taking καί … καί [kai … kai] as “both … and”): “Therefore write what you have seen, both what things currently are and what is going to happen after these things.” The structure of this verse is debated.
Write
Command
Things you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.
1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these: 29 To you, O king, as you lay in bed came thoughts of what would be after this, and he who reveals mysteries made known to you what is to be.
45 just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.”
Chronological View
Things you have seen - Revelation 1
Those that are - Revelation 2 -3
Those that are to take place after this - Revelation 4-22:5
Already, but not yet View
Already - Revelation 1-3
Not Yet - Revelation 4-22
Framework of Daniel 2 View
28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these: 29 To you, O king, as you lay in bed came thoughts of what would be after this, and he who reveals mysteries made known to you what is to be.
45 just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.”
Events given through prophecy that fulfill the prophetic vision in Daniel 2 that describe the end of the ages, but not a chronological timeline
The main point - Judgment over evil and God establishing His eternal kingdom that began with the death/resurrection of Jesus and will be complete at Jesus’ final coming
Refer to Introduction to Revelation for full view
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.
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.
The mystery
Only used in the book of Daniel in an eschatological manner
Reveals that what is written in Revelation will be the fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecies concerning the latter days
Seven stars are the angels of the seven churches
“Angel” never used in NT to refer to church leaders
“Angel” used 75x but never refers to humans
These are celestial/spiritual beings
Reality that 1) there is a heavenly dimension to earthly worship because heaven is our true home and 2) these seven angels are held accountable for their responsibility over the seven churches
Seven lampstands are the seven churches
The church is meant to be a light to the world
Application
Application
Christ is the glorious Son of Man
Christ is the glorious Son of Man
Jesus dwells in the midst of His churches both encouraging and exhorting them
Jesus dwells in the midst of His churches both encouraging and exhorting them
Christ holds the keys of Death and Hades and we have no reason to fear the power of death
Christ holds the keys of Death and Hades and we have no reason to fear the power of death
Main Point
Main Point
Jesus, revealed as the Son of Man, holds authority over the heavenly and earthly realms. He stands in the midst of His churches encouraging and exhorting them to persevere.
Jesus, revealed as the Son of Man, holds authority over the heavenly and earthly realms. He stands in the midst of His churches encouraging and exhorting them to persevere.