Revelation 1:9-20

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.

The introduction to Revelation should help us with the interpretation of the book.  John makes it clear that the message for this book was given to him in the form of a vision.  This should help us understand that there will be symbols and creatures that are hard for us to imagine.  John helps us be able to picture some of the things he saw, how they were revealed to him, and repeats the explanations and interpretations that were given to him.  Our knowledge about the vision should help us with the interpretation of the vision.

THE CONTEXT OF THE VISION: John, the apostle of Jesus Christ introduces himself as a brother and partner in the sufferings associated with the advancement of the kingdom.  He is having to endure the exile of the island of Patmos with patience.  He was spending time in fellowship with God when he was blessed with the super-natural experience of the vision that became this book of Revelation.  He heard the voice of God as if it were a trumpet and was commanded to write this vision and send it to the seven churches of Asia.  We know that John is in an isolated location suffering persecution for the cause of Christ.  He, much like Daniel in the Old Testament, must have been wondering about the fulfillment of the promises of God in the midst of so much suffering and pain.  God graciously grants him this revelation that demonstrates how those promises will be fulfilled.  God provides His people with revelation that allow them to endure the sufferings they face on His behalf.

THE CONTENT OF THE VISION: The vision starts with seeing Jesus standing in the midst of seven golden lampstands.  Jesus is clothed in a long white robe with a golden sash around His chest.  His hair is white like snow and His eyes are blazing with fire.  His feet as described as being like polished bronze.  His voice roars like a powerful waterfall.  He is holding seven stars.  He has a sword coming out of His mouth and His face is shining like the sun.  John is clearly doing his best to describe what He is seeing.  This is a vision of the glorified Christ in heaven, and it is awesome.  So awesome that his reaction is falling on his face before Him in worship.  John had walked and talked with Jesus on earth and even seen Him after the resurrection.  This is clearly different.  The glory of Jesus in heaven is something that all of us who are in Christ will experience one day.  If John’s vision was this amazing, the reality will be beyond our imagination.

THE CONCEPT OF THE VISION: Jesus touches John and tell him not be afraid, certainly not an easy task. Jesus declares His own eternality, resurrection from the dead, and authority over all that is in the land of the living and dead.  He commands John to write what he sees so the church can be blessed by this astounding revelation.  The revelation is said to be divided into three parts: the past, present, and future.  He then explains that the seven stars in His hand are angels that have been assigned to the churches and that the lampstands represent those churches.  Clearly Jesus loves His church.  It is interesting the consider that there are angles assigned to provide protection for His churches that are spread throughout the world.  The church will suffer and be under attack as long as it is on the earth.  However, the church is not abandoned on its own, God is with us and His angels minister on our behalf.  We are not alone, and our sufferings are only temporary.  We will enjoy peace and perfect worship for eternity in the presence of Jesus.

APPLICATION: Spend time in fellowship with the Lord and meditate on what the Lord has revealed to us in His Word.  Praise the Lord Jesus for His glorious power and gracious sacrifice on our behalf.  Stand in awe of Him and worship Him in His greatness.  Be thankful for His care for the church and enjoy the fellowship of the church.