The Work of the Risen Christ (Revelation 1:9-20).

The Setting (vv. 9-11).

Notice, John, in verse 9 doesn’t claim apostolic authority as he is writing.

He identifies himself with the churches that he is writing to, as their brother & fellow partaker.

He understands the close bond that troubles and trials forge when the body of Christ goes through difficulties together.

1 Corinthians 12:26.

The tribulation that John is talking about is the first Empire wide state sanctioned persecution of the church. We’ve already seen that this is the reason that he was on the Isle of Patmos.

He points out that he was imprisoned “because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.”

“Because of the Word of God”—>He was preaching, teaching, and obeying the Word of God which necessitated disobedience towards and Emperor who desired worship.

“The testimony of Jesus”—>Jesus as the ruler of the kings of the Earth, and the fact that all men everywhere need to repent and trust in Christ and their only savior.

In verses 10-11, we find that John was transported by God into a different realm to reveal these things to him.

We’ve seen similar things like this before:

Peter in Acts 10.

Ezekiel in Ezekiel 1:1.

Daniel in Daniel 10:7.

This is a super-natural occurence. It is “super” meaning out of the ordinary, not to be generally expected.

This happened on “The Lord’s Day.”

This is a “tradition” in the sense that the Church began to gather together on the first day of the week, being Sunday, in order to Worship the Lord on the day of the week that He was raised from the grave.

We even see this in Acts 20:7.

John hears a loud voice, “like a trumpet”.

Being a trumpet it seems to be announcing the seriousness of the what was about to be announced, as we will see the message that the voice tells John to write to the churches is very serious.

Each of these 7 churches are addressed specifically in the next 2 chapters, both with a Condemnation and a Commendation.

In many ways they act as both a warning and a model of where any local church may being in their lifetime.

Anywhere from faith, yet going through testing (Smyrna), to orthodox yet loveless (Ephesus), to seemingly indifferent to the truth (Laodicea).

This is the state that John is in as he writes this prophecy.

The Vision (vv. 12-16).

This is where the symbology begins in the book of the Revelation.

7 Golden Lampstands.

we see later in v. 20 that these lampstands are the 7 churches that John is writing too.

These lampstands are golden because of the great worth to the one who stands in the middle of them.

Lampstands were used to light up streets and buildings back before electricity. More “modern” lampstands looked a lot like the side-walk lights in Peru (5-post).

The Churches were to broadcast the light of Christ so that those in darkness could see it!

Matthew 5:16.

Philippians 2:15.

This is who we are all supposed to be: Luke 8:16.

The Son of Man.

This is one of Jesus’s favorite titles of Himself.

He used it for Himself over 80x in the Gospels.

It is a Messianic Title, from Daniel 7:13, 14, where the Messianic King steps up to the throne of God the Father to receive the Title deed of the universe.

Which is what we will see in Revelation 4-5.

This Messianic King, the Risen Lord Jesus Christ is dwelling in the midst of His Church.

Consider all that the Churches were going through for a moment.

Christ was with them as they faced the persecution.

Matthew 28:20.

Hebrews 13:5.

Christ is WORKING in them as they faced the difficulty of the ministry during that time!

The next couple of descriptions of what Christ is wearing is to point out the kind of work that He is doing.

Our Great High Priest (v. 13b).

We see that Christ is wearing the Great High Priest garments, as we read in Leviticus 16:4.

He acts as the head of our priestly order (remember verse 6?).

The Priestly robes hear closely represent the robes the High Priest would wear during the Day of Atonement, where the sacrifice for sin would be made.

Here it may encourage the believe that they are still in right standing with God, not because they are perfect or sinless, but because Christ’s righteousness has been transferred to our account.

Hebrews 7:23-27.

On top of that, Christ’s High Priestly role should encourage us to repent all the more:

Revelation 2:5.

Revelation 3:19.

Revelation 2:16.

Revelation 3:3-5.

Even more so, it may encourage us to know that Christ as our High Priest knows all of the temptations and pressures we face as the Church, even today.

Hebrews 2:14-18.

Relieves the fear of death.

Comes to the aid of those tempted.

Hebrews 4:14-16.

He can sympathize with us because He has faced the full force of the temptation without ever sinning, when we sin after only a taste.

Hebrews 10:19-25.

We gather together in the face of eschatological threat, drawing near to God in worship.

In their weakness, in their struggle, what comfort and encouragement must that have been to know that their Great High Priest was moving among them.

The Purifying Lord (v. 14).

We see His as the color white.

This Greek word points more to the brightness and brilliance, as opposed to its color.

Like the Sun shining off the freshly fallen snow. It hurts to look at.

This all has to do with our Lord’s utter purity.

This is an allusion as well to Daniel’s prophecy: Daniel 7:9, 10.

Ancient of Days is understood to be God the Father (Daniel 7:13, 14).

John’s usage here isn’t contradictory but another impact statement on the deity of Christ.

Not only is the Lord pure, but the Lord demands purity and holiness in His people.

His eyes being like a flame of fire speaks of His pruning work in His Church. No deed is done in private, no blasphemy arrogantly spoken every escapes to the piercing gaze of Christ.

Hebrews 4:13.

His feet like burnished bronze, glowing from a fire points to Christ judgment against sin in the Church.

Christ brings remedial pain to discipline us for holiness sake.

1 Peter 4:17.

This looks like the removal of the lampstand.

Hebrews 12:7-11.

if we learn from it is key!

Ephesians 5:25-27—>His desire for the Church.

The Authoritative Voice of the Lord (vv. 15b).

Christ does not mumble! (show video clip of Niagara).

This is similar to the voice of the Lord:

Ezekiel 43:2 NASB95

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

God the Father even demands His Son to be heard: Matthew 17:5.

When Christ speaks, He does not mumble!

Our rule of Christ’s voice is His Word, our only rule of Faith and Practice.

Psalm 138:2.

Revelation 19:13.

Hebrews 4:12-13—>Notice the personal pronoun switch to male from impersonal.

Hebrews 1:1-4.

The Lord’s Protection (v. 16).

We see that the stars of the churches are said to be angels of the Churches in v. 20.

It may be better to understand this word as messenger, which is was the Greek word “angeloi” actually means if we simply translate it.

A Couple reasons why these aren’t angels:

Angels are never seen to have any leadership role in the church, they simply long to look at our salvation (1 Peter 1:12.

Angels are never called to repentance, and being a part of the 7 churches, it is implied that they too must repent.

God has never used man to give a message to an angel, it has always been angel —> Man.

I personally believe that these Angels are the Lead Pastors of these Churches.

This pastors are said to be in the right hand of God. They are protected by Christ, and they are sent by Christ to do His Work, with a delegated authority that is only exercised through His Word.

The Church is protected by Christ’s two-edged broadsword!

This is both protection from external threats as well as internal

Revelation 2:12, 16.

We see Christ demolish the World’s forced with the broadsword from His mouth.

Revelation 19:15.

The Proper Reaction to seeing the Lord (v. 17).

Ezekiel 1:28.

Christ, the High Priest, the Purifying Sovereign, and Protector then reaches out and says: Do not be afraid.

Christ is Lord of Death and Hell.

As we face the onslaught of cultural pressure, and as the birth pangs of the end times kick up, we rejoice knowing the Christ says do not be afraid.

Verse 19.

Verse 19 acts as somewhat of a rough outline for the rest of the book of the Revelation.

What John has seen is Revelation 1.

What is going on presently is Revelation 2-3.

What is going to happen is Revelation 4-22.