Revelation 1

Chapter Introduction

The Book of Revelation opens with a Prologue and presents us with three types of literature blended into one: apocalyptic, prophetic, and letter.

Apocalyptic literature: Apocalypse means unveiling, revealing. This type of literature is a biblical genre that reveals God’s actions and coming judgment in symbolic language.

Prophetic Literature: These are simply the writings of the Prophets of God.

Letter: We’ll see the structure of a letter as it was known in that day. A letter to a church would be read aloud to the church in a single setting.

Revelation 1:1-3

The first line of the NKJV & ESV is the “Revelation of Jesus Christ,” while the NIV says “from.” Some seem to have an issue with this. The remainder of the line makes it clear this revelation was given by God to show His servants. Remember what Jesus said in Mark 13:32-34:

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning— lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”

Jesus does not know the day or time. Scripture shows us evidence that He won’t know until the very moment the Lord tells Him to go get His bride, the church, and bring her to her new home. After the resurrection, Jesus gathered the believers in Jerusalem.

Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. (Acts 1:6-7)

We aren't to know the time but only look expectantly for it. We are to watch and wait, trusting only in Jesus. This shows Jesus's submission to the Father's plan, as we’ve seen repeatedly. We saw this as He prayed in the garden before the cross.

“Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”

We are to adopt the same attitude and thought. We don’t know when, but we are to be ready.

This Revelation, given by the Father, is being delivered by Jesus to His servants. The word “Revelation” is “apokalypsis” or apocalypse. It means unveiling. This book pulls back the veil on the future. It unveils a mysterious time that draws closer every day.

John, being the first, will show us the things that are to come about “shortly.” First, the servants are ‘doulos,’ which is a word meaning bondservant or bond slave. Our cultural connotations harm the understanding of this. It is those who have bonded their life to Jesus, total commitment, come what may. It means their life is defined by this bond. There is no old life or alternative to go back to.

The servants of God will see what must “shortly” take place. Other translations translate this to “soon.” We should understand this as quickly as possible, without delay. All that will happen will move rapidly once it starts. As I sit here on the date of this writing (February 2024), no one would have predicted the events or changes of just this year, particularly how quickly they came to be. This entire year has been like a warning shot, a precursor of things to come. There are new developments daily.

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The message from Jesus was delivered by the angel of God to the apostle John. The last living apostle was an old man writing in A.D.94-96 on the island of Patmos. John had been arrested in Ephesus while ministering to the church and surrounding areas. It is to these churches that John addressed this letter.

Domitian was the emperor of Rome, and persecution was growing more severe.

Domitian was a moral catastrophe of a man, and he was also physically unimpressive. There is an account of him vigorously scratching a festered wart on his forehead and drawing blood. He is described as being “sensitive about his baldness” and as having “a protruding belly, and spindling legs.” This weak and wicked Caesar insisted on being addressed as “Lord and God”

[(Dominus et deus). (Hamilton, J. M., Jr. (2012).

Preaching the Word: Revelation—The Spirit Speaks to the Churches.

R. K. Hughes, Ed.) (p. 29). Wheaton, IL: Crossway.]

Domitian was a prideful and wicked ruler who demanded that he be worshiped as God and called "Lord" and "God." Doing these things had become a test of loyalty to him. Domitian had a bad habit of stealing the wives of others around him. It was known that he seduced his niece, who was married. She later died because she had become pregnant with his child, and he forced her to abort the baby, killing her. He was also known for his cruelty to others. Suetonius reports that when Domitian’s brother Titus became sick, he was ordered to be left for dead by Domitian before he actually died. When Domitian discovered that Cornelia, the chief vestal virgin, was guilty of having a lover, he had her buried alive. Her lover(s) were summarily beaten to death with rods. He also was known to have killed a man for making a joke that made him look bad.

Legend says that John refused to stop preaching the gospel when the Roman government began its persecution of Christians. John served the Lord Jesus. Because of his persistence, he was arrested and taken to Rome. The legend says (not the bible) that he was sentenced to death by being thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil. One story said it was at the Roman Coliseum, and when John emerged from the boiling oil unscathed, the entire coliseum was saved. Another story said that even though he was unhurt by the boiling oil, no one saw it as salvation from God but instead said it was a work of sorcery. We don't know if either story is true. What we do know is that Jerome said that John was banished in the fourteenth year after Nero (ad 94) and liberated on the death of Domitian( ad 96).

Patmos is a 6-mile by 10-mile Greek isle off the coast of what we know of as Turkey. It actually isn't all that far away from where Ephesus was on that day (28mi). In the Roman Empire, exile was a form of punishment by the Roman empire. This was used for political prisoners. It was a loss of civil rights and property. Prisoners were free to move about this island. There was just no reason to do so. They were forced to work in the quarry mines, likely under an overseer's whip, probably to eat. This would be hard labor for John. In addition, one source (Sir William Ramsey) said that banishment like this would be preceded by scourging, followed by being in chains, meager clothing, and insufficient food. They would sleep on the ground. This was one of several islands that were home to political and religious prisoners or slaves. The Roman government thought they could silence this old man by putting him on this island. From there, he could preach to rocks and to others who had been exiled. Instead, John, the apostle whom Jesus loved, found himself in a cave writing down a message from the Lord. John began to write what has been preserved for us to study today.

What John wrote down is what he saw. He bears witness to all that was brought to his understanding;

First, he understood this was the word of God. This is the “logos” and is clearly understood by John as being God’s message from the messenger.
Second, the testimony of Jesus Christ. This testimony seems to be associated with teh word as well as within the words of the message. While Jesus came frist:

To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,

Jesus stopped at the comma on that day, reading Isaiah 61. He now reveals what is after the comma.

And the day of vengeance of our God;

Third, all that he saw. He tried to write down what he saw so that we might understand it. What a challenge that must have been for him.

John knew what was being revealed to him was the word of God. John knew this was the Revelation of Jesus. So, he bore witness to the word, the testimony, and all that he saw.

A blessing is attached to this apocalyptic introduction. This letter would be received by the churches and read aloud, probably in a single sitting. There was a special blessing for the one who read and those who were present in the hearing of these prophetic words (only 15% or less of people could read at that time). Likewise, as James instructs us, we are not to be just hearers of the word but doers. There is a blessing for those who hear and keep these things. It should be noted that reading the word does not necessarily mean anyone truly hears the words. By the same thought, we shouldn’t imagine those who hear would automatically be those who keep these things.

The “time” of verse 3 is “kairo” meaning season or event. Near is a relevant term that bothers us since “near” to us is means tomorrow, next week, next month, sometime in our lifetime. But the nearness is probably not supposed to be a nearness of time as we think about it. The season of the Lord’s return has always been near. Christians were always to live with the expectancy of Christ”s return, but that hasn’t changed. With each passing day, it becomes nearer and nearer.

You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. (James 5:8)

Revelation 1:4-6

After the apocalyptic introduction, we now see the opening of a letter. This is the apostle John writing to the seven churches. These were seven actual churches that existed in John’s time. Prior to his exile, he ministered to these churches from Ephesus. These Churches were influential among churches at that time. These were people and leaders that John knew. And, they knew John and had a great respect for him. These seven churches were in a circular pattern in western Turkey. We should also note that there were other churches.

Donald Grey Barnhouse notes:

The world did not know these churches. Their members were despised in the cities in which they dwelt. Had they all been wiped out in some catastrophe, there would have been little commotion in the world about them. The same is true today. (Barnhouse, Revelation, An Expositional Commentary, p. 38)

Why seven churches? Why not six or eight? The number seven will be seen over and over in this book. It is found throughout creation, beginning with the seven-day week created at creation. Maybe the seven colors of the rainbow were created about the same time. It could be the seven major notes of the musical scale were created before the heavens and earth. We don’t know. Seven seems to be the fingerprint of God. We’ll see the number seven used 54 total in the book of Revelation. A number representative of the fullness, completeness, or perfection of God. These seven churches may represent the churches across the ages, till the Lord’s return. Which church is yours?

John provided a three-part greeting.

Him who His – seems to be a pointer toward the Old Testament, particularly Exodus 3:14, where God said I AM WHO I AM. John connects the Revelation of Jesus to the ‘I AM’ of the Old Testament.
Him who was – this may be a reference to his eternality, present in eternity past. More specifically, it might point to the creation itself as John started in John 1:1. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” There is a connection of Jesus to the Father and to creation. Also consider Colossians 3:16-17.
Him who is to come – this looks to the future and His coming.

He is the self-existent One, the creator and judge, before time began, forever and ever.

The second part of the greeting is from the seven Spirits before the throne. What are these Spirits? Revelation 4:5 says this:

And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

Revelation 5:6 says:

And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

The second passage associates Jesus with the seven spirits. Judaism recognizes seven holy archangels around the throne of God.

¹⁰ And He will summon all the host of the heavens, and all the holy ones above, and the host of God, the Cherubin, Seraphin and Ophannin, and all the angels of power, and all the angels of principalities, ¹¹ and the Elect One, and the other powers on the earth (and) over the water On that day shall raise one voice, and bless and glorify and exalt in the spirit of faith, and in the spirit of wisdom, and in the spirit of patience, and in the spirit of mercy, and in the spirit of judgement and of peace, and in the spirit of goodness, and shall all say with one voice: “Blessed is He, and may the name of the Lord of Spirits be blessed for ever and ever.” (1 Enoch 61:10-11)

We might also consider that this may not present us with the idea of seven different spirits but the Spirit of God in His completeness and perfection. God is infinite and could not be categorized in any complete way by listing seven attributes that are the person of the Holy Spirit.

Quite a few commentaries link the seven Spirits to Isaiah 11:2, which says:

The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him,

The Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

The Spirit of counsel and might,

The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.

This displays the Spirit upon the perfect ruler. We know there is only One, and that is when Jesus will sit on the throne and rule the nations. I think we might also consider Isaiah 61 in this proclamation of the good news of salvation, which Jesus used to kick off His ministry. We see the Spirit of the Lord was on Him:

To bring good tidings

To bring healing

To Free the captives

To Release those bound

To bring vengeance

To bring comfort

To console the mourner

This infinite nature of God allows us to see His Spirit throughout the scriptures. What a great book idea this would be!

The third part of the greeting is from Jesus Himself. There are three ideas to be considered. He is the faithful witness. The Greek term used can mean martyr or witness either one. He was faithful, even to death on the cross. This leads to the second idea of Him being the firstborn from the dead. He provides a way for the many to follow. He is The Way. This seems to point toward the final idea seen in Psalm 89:27, where it says:

Also I will make him My firstborn,

The highest of the kings of the earth.

As the ruler of kings, we would call Him the King of kings. He sends His greeting to you through this letter. What a blessing.

These descriptions of the Godhead revealed in Christ to John, move him to worship and benediction. He glorifies Jesus, who loved us and died for us. Notice it says “He loved” as in past tense. He is pointing to the specific event that was the ultimate act of love. We are washed from our sins by His shed blood. By this, a wretch like me can be made as a king and priest to the Father. How incredible is this? By my repentance and trust in Christ, I became a child of God Most High. I’m adopted into the family. Our adoption into the royalty of Jesus Christ gives us an inheritance we can't comprehend, along with the privilege, status, and authority that comes from our relationship. As a priest & king, we have access to the courts of God Most High, to the triune God. As a priest we represent the people before God and God before the people.

Revelation 1:7

We opened with the apocalyptic, transitioned to the letter, and now we get an overview of the prophetic implications. There should be a spoiler alert. The outcome of the story, of His story (history), is revealed. He is coming on the clouds and will return in like manner comes straight from the vision of Daniel:

“I was watching in the night visions,

And behold, One like the Son of Man,

Coming with the clouds of heaven!

He came to the Ancient of Days,

And they brought Him near before Him. (Daniel 7:13)

And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:9-11)

Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24:30-31)

How is it that every eye will see him? This was a question no one could answer 30 years ago. Then, suddenly, it seemed we were watching the Iraqi war live (Wolf Blitzer, CNN). Almost overnight, live coverage, around the world began to happen. Around the same time, everyone began to have video cameras. Then, everyone got cell phones with cameras that could record video. Now, live streams are on the net around the world around the clock. Any event within sight of people will result in a crowd with their phones aimed and recording. When Jesus returns, the world will see. I envision a multitude with their cell phones recording the event.

John referred to “they who pierced Him” as a reference to Zechariah.

“And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. (Zechariah 12:10)

There will be a national realization in Israel that Jesus was indeed their Messiah. They had missed the day of His coming. For many years, they blindly dismissed Him as a prophet and teacher because He did not fit their perceived mold of the messiah.

The tribes of the earth will also mourn as they also come to the realization that Jesus was, and is, who He said He was. This isn't mourning over sin. It's not repentance. It's mourning in guilt. This will be a time when the world will be actively attempting to silence the word of God, where the gospel will be summarily dismissed by the vast majority. These will be the days of Romans one, where the conscience is seared, and many will be turned over to their wicked passions as judgment for their rebellion. These will be the days, where the bible will be rewritten, carved up, or packed away so as not to allow it to speak into the culture. It appears we are rapidly moving in that direction if we aren’t already there. It wasn’t long ago we read this and said, “How could that ever be?” Now, it is unfolding before our eyes.

Revelation 1:8

John quoted the Lord. He is the beginning and end, and will always be just that. He is the one who is, was, and is to come.

Who has performed and done it,

Calling the generations from the beginning?

‘I, the Lord, am the first;

And with the last I am He.’ ” (Isaiah 41:4)

The big word in this passage, though, is ‘Almighty’. It brings with it the idea of absolute power and authority over all reality, both seen and unseen. It’s omnipotence and omniscience. Jesus is the fulfillment of Isaiah 9:6.

For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

Revelation 1:9

John describes the setting of his calling to write these words. John doesn’t hold himself up as anything special. He doesn’t even identify as an apostle. He is simply a brother and a companion in the struggle the churches face. John knew their tribulation because he had been on the receiving end of persecution. The word translated to tribulation meant great pressure or crushing under a heavy weight. It was tribulation to grind something between a fixed stone and a heavy pulverizing stone.

Those under persecution could draw comfort from others going through the same. In John, they had someone they had a profound respect for, one who had already ministered to them, now leading them through a door into a dark, unknown place. As a matter of principle, we humans don’t like dark and unknown places. We want to be warm, dry, safe, secure, protected and in control. These things weren’t possible; however, John points them, and us, to the one who is in control. The one who can provide comfort in the darkness, joy in persecution, and hope in what appears to be a hopeless situation.

This speaks to us today. The world has changed so much that we feel as though we are going through a door into the dark and unknown. In this place, we have no control, but we never did anyway. We don’t feel secure. But the security and comfort we thought we had were a mere perception. Any thought we’ve been in control of our lives is a thinly veiled illusion. We’ve all experienced this realization at some point: at the sudden loss of a loved one, a diagnosis out of the blue, or a storm or flood that destroyed your possessions. We can quickly be brought low and without hope. Our faith feels weak and pathetic; we wonder if it was ever even real.

These times of tribulation had to be frightening for these Christians and the fledgling church. How far would it go? Would they lose everything? Worse yet, would they lose their life? They just didn’t know.

John reminded them that he was more than a companion in tribulation but also a companion in the kingdom. Those found in Christ were citizens of another kingdom. They weren’t subjects of this wicked Roman Empire. They were subjects of the Kingdom of God. They, like us, were just passing through this world, that place and time, on the way to their home.

By faith, he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Hebrews 11:9-10)

John was also a companion with them in the patience of Jesus Christ. You could write steadfast endurance right next to that word. The NIV and ESV add the word “endurance.” As Christ endured suffering on our behalf, they would endure suffering as Christ. They would share in patiently waiting for a coming day and time when all the mess they lived in would be cleaned up. This doesn’t describe waiting passively in submission to the tide of events of the world. It describes a spirit of courage and overcoming, of function in this world, in spite of what is thrown at us. It’s the spirit that turns into glory for Jesus. We get to share in the same. We patiently endure in a world in which we find no lasting hope. It suckers us in from time to time and then gut-punches us when we least expect it.

Ten children sat in the shelter of a bus stop, waiting for their bus. At first, they waited patiently. Then, they saw a pack of bullies coming their way. They looked to see if the bus was coming. Yet, there was no sign of its coming, nothing in sight. It was due any day, any time. Several children begin to talk about running away, convinced it’s the right thing to do. After all, what could be more important than being safe and comfortable, right? One ran away at the first sign of trouble. When the mean ones arrived, two more followed. The remaining seven stuck together. They suffered together, cried together, looked & longed for the bus, together.

Then a storm came, and the wind and rain came in on them. They were scared and cold. One cried, “It’s too much! The bus is never coming.” The others tried to encourage the one to stay, but the one became convinced leaving was the right thing to do. The one left to take care of himself, thinking there was no harm in doing so. But two others saw and were also convinced and joined and followed after. It seemed right to them to keep the other one company, to watch out for them, or so they said. The remaining four endured the storm suffered together, and cried together, each wondering how much longer it would be.

Then, suddenly, with a rush, a splash, and a wheeze of the brakes, a bus stopped in front of them. “This was it!” What joy they felt. The door came open, inviting them aboard. However, two of the more diligent and particularly observant children spoke up. “Hey, wait, this bus is going the wrong way.” The other two said, “What difference does it make? It’s the only bus here. Get on.” The two got on laughing and mocking the two who chose to remain.

Two were left waiting. They endured the mocking. They waited, suffered, and cried together and wondered how much longer. They had been through the storm and were beaten up, deceived, and even mocked by their friends. The remaining two wondered about those who left them as they sat down and waited with patient endurance. They were even more convinced their bus was coming, soon. Soon, and what a day that would be.

They lived in tribulation, longed for a kingdom, and walked on, day to day, in the patient endurance of Jesus Christ. Those brothers and sisters of the seven churches that heard this would have a real sense of not being alone in their struggle. John was on the island of Patmos to preach Christ.

Revelation 1:10

Being “in the Spirit” is likely some trancelike state that John could not describe. Being in the Spirit could be contrasted to being in the flesh. He was in a state where his normal thought processes wouldn’t interfere with what the Lord would say to him. There are four times John documents he was “in the Spirit.”

On Patmos (Revelation 1:10)
In heaven (Revelation 4:2)
In the wilderness (Revelation 17:3)
On the mountain of God (Revelation 21:10).

The Lord’s day was Sunday, the day of the resurrection. However, the Roman emperors set aside Sundays for the people to worship Him as Lord. This is not surprising as the enemy attempts to stand in the place of God and steal the Lord’s worship. This is the devil desiring to be like Jesus.

John was surrendered to the Holy Spirit on a Sunday on Patmos when he heard a loud voice. Imagine someone coming up behind you and blowing a trumpet. That's the way John first heard the voice of Jesus in the apocalypse. It startled him. It was loud and distinct. We can imagine John pulling his head down as if to duck the shock of the sound.

As of a trumpet, this was calculated to call in every wandering thought, to fix his attention, and solemnize his whole frame. Thus, God prepared Moses to receive the law. See Exod. 19:16, 19. (Clarke, A. (2014). The Holy Bible with a Commentary and Critical Notes)

The voice of Jesus, a voice John had heard and followed, spoke of being the Alpha and Omega. This is the beginning and end of the Greek alphabet. The “first and last” is another way of saying the same. This is the claim of Yahweh in Isaiah 41:4. It is another link of Jesus to the God of the Old Testament. The earliest manuscripts do not include this passage. Also, the majority of texts don’t include “which are in Asia” in the second half of the verse.

John was to write what he saw. The primary means of communicating this apocalypse was via vision. Even what John heard (or thought he heard) came from the vision. When you hear something in a dream, you don’t really hear it. Yet you remember it as though you heard it. John would write down his vision, primarily what he saw, but also what he heard (i.e. the voice like a trumpet, the voice telling him to write it down). John was to write a “biblion,” which is a scroll recording a letter or events. Eleven different times in the book of Revelation, John is told to write this down. I can't help but see this picture of John, mesmerized by the vision, stupefied by hearing Jesus, and the angel saying, John!!! Write it down!!

After writing it down, he was to then send it to these seven churches. John was still near the church, even from a remote island. The Lord used him in the existing setting, relationships, and circumstances of his life. Many have a perception that you have to go far away to serve God, but the Lord most often calls you to minister right where you are.

Ephesus was just 28 mi from Patmos. These cities are listed as if leaving Patmos with the letter in hand and then arriving in Ephesus. Aftward, a person would carry the letter north on a coastal road to Smyrna and Pergamum and then turn southeast on the highway to the remaining four cities. The distance between cities was about 30-40 miles. From the final city, Laodicea, back to Ephesus, was 96 miles.

Revelation 1:12-15

How do you see a voice? John was to write what he saw. The voice was part of the vision. Notice that that the voice spoke “with” John. This implies that John was engaged in a back-and-forth conversation. John turned to see who spoke as a trumpet. It was then he saw the seven golden lampstands. Because there are seven lampstands, we can associate this with completeness. The lampstands are representative of the seven churches which hold symbolism for all the churches across the ages.

There was a lampstand in the temple, the light before holy of holies. It lit the way to the veil as one approached God. Jesus said He was the light of life. Zechariah had a vision of a golden lampstand. He saw a lampstand with seven lamps with a direct connection to two olive trees. The lampstand was a picture of Zerubbabel.

‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’

Says the Lord of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6)

The oil was a picture of the Holy Spirit supplied to the lamps and sustaining the light upon the lampstand. It wasn’t about Zerubbabel; it was about the light of the Lord. The supply of oil did not rely on men. It was a living, constant source of light. Zerubbabel was simply a lampstand to hold the light for the world to see.

The seven lampstands John saw were to serve the utility purpose of holding the light up for the world to see. They are not the light, are not the source of the light. They are honored for their willingness and ability to hold it up. They shouldn’t be honored in and of themselves.

Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. (Philippians 2:14b-16)

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14)

Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. (Luke 12:35)

In the tabernacle, the priests tended to the lampstand, ensuring that it was lit and there was oil. Jesus is seen in the midst of these lampstands. He is the High Priest and Keeper of the Light among the lampstands. John draws from the vision of Daniel of the Ancient of Days was seated:

“I was watching in the night visions,

And behold, One like the Son of Man,

Coming with the clouds of heaven!

He came to the Ancient of Days,

And they brought Him near before Him.

Then 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 the one

Which shall not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13-14)

Daniel’s vision had been of the great Kingdoms of the earth across the ages. All the kingdoms of man were corrupt, wicked, and infected with sin and its consequences. The coming of the Son of Man was the coming of the Kingdom of God, perfect, righteous, and just.

John called this keeper of the lampstands the “Son of man.” Why didn’t John just call Him Jesus? He expressed His divine nature as the keeper of the lampstands, but also His humanity, qualifying and identifying Him as Savior. Jesus used the term “Son of man” in His earthly ministry to refer to Himself.

But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house. (Matthew 9:6)

The picture of Christ is very similar to that which Daniel saw of the Ancient of Days in Daniel 7.

“I watched till thrones were put in place,

And the Ancient of Days was seated;

His garment was white as snow,

And the hair of His head was like pure wool.

His throne was a fiery flame,

Its wheels a burning fire;

A fiery stream issued

And came forth from before Him.

A thousand thousands ministered to Him;

Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.

The court was seated,

And the books were opened. (Daniel 7:9-10)

This provided a link of Jesus to the Old Testament Yahweh, the Father. Jesus was clothed in a garment down to the feet. He had a golden belt or sash around His chest. This is His priestly garment. The long garment speaks of great status and authority. However, the Sash Jesus wore didn't have a few threads of Gold like a priest's, but this sash was completely gold. This is Jesus the High Priest, the source of light tending to His church.

His hair was white, the look of an elder, dignified and symbolic of the wisdom of the ages. It’s purity and holiness.
His eyes were as flames of fire, seeing into the heart of the matter and matter of the heart, judging the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).
The “fine brass” of His feet is a word not known anywhere else, even outside the bible. It is thought to be a fine, polished brass, but it may be something unknown to us. It is presumed to be rare in beauty and strength.
- His feet were as if they were refined in the furnace – and they were refined in the furnace of affliction. Brass speaks of judgment and sacrifice. The brazen altar of the temple, the altar on which the blood sacrifices were offered, was made of brass. That same brass that speaks of Judgment is also known as a strong metal. It spoke of strength and stability.
- Jesus walked in this fallen world, was tempted by the devil, and when the time was right, was nailed to a tree to be the atoning sacrifice for all of mankind.

His voice, the roar of many waters – think of Niagra Falls. This again points toward the Old Testament. Some see the rushing waters as the voice speaking to the nations.

Afterward he brought me to the gate, the gate that faces toward the east. And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east. His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory. It was like the appearance of the vision which I saw—like the vision which I saw when I came to destroy the city. The visions were like the vision which I saw by the River Chebar; and I fell on my face. (Ezekiel 43:1-3)

Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, that is, the Tigris, ⁵I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! ⁶His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude. (Daniel 10:4-6)

All around John was water, like being surrounded by nations, kings, and kingdoms. But from the many waters rose one voice that ruled them all.

Revelation 1:16

Then John saw that He held in His right hand seven stars.

These seven stars are the angels of the seven churches (we know this from verse 20). The “angel” means a messenger, and is used to describe both humans and supernatural beings. These messengers could be heavenly angels assigned to these churches, the pastors of the churches, or the messengers taking this letter to them. We can’t be sure. However, we can be sure that each of these messengers was firmly in the grasp of the right hand of Jesus.
If you look beyond the handful of references to these church angels, all the other times John used the word to refer to heavenly angels. There was a messenger for each church, and a church could do no better than to have its leadership in the grip of God.

He was wearing a white robe with a gold sash, had white hair, eyes of fire, feet of brass, a voice like a waterfall, and seven stars in His hand. If these things weren’t difficult enough to grasp, then John said the strangest thing. Out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword.

This was a heavy sword, used to kill and destroy, a sword of judgment. This is not the same as the sword of Hebrews 4:12, a sword for piercing and dividing.

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:12-13)

John saw Jesus with this sword of judgment coming out of his mouth. John saw the things he heard (remember verse 12, “see the voice”). John heard the voice of the King of kings.

"His powerful speech Pierced the hearer's soul, and left behind Deep in his bosom its keen point infixt." (Albert Barnes)

What came out of His mouth were words that were penetrating and full of power and authority. Out of the mouth of Jesus came words that cut to the heart of any man, even a 95-year-old apostle.

And finally, John noticed His countenance. John is the only writer in the New Testament to use this word (twice in gospel of John and here). The face of Jesus was like the sun shining in its strength. This is similar to that described at the transfiguration. John had seen this before on that mountain top. This is the shekinah glory; the glory of God Almighty!!

Revelation 1:17-18

John felt exposed in the site of The High Priest, with the piercing countenance, and words that penetrate. Before the King of kings, John fell prostrate in terror, submission, and acknowledgment of who He was.

“Blessed position! Does the death alarm you? We are never so much alive as when we are dead at his feet.” (Spurgeon)

In the presence of the Almighty, in perfect holiness and perfect love, human knees will buckle and bend. The weight of our sinful nature will put us face down. The knowledge of the holy leads us to a knowledge of our human condition and of our flesh, of how low we are. It is right, fitting, and appropriate.

The Lord Jesus, the Ancient of Days, robed as the Highest of all High Priest; sash of Gold, white hair, piercing eyes, and words that cut through our humanity; in a very personal way, laid His right hand on John and said: "Do not be afraid." John was human and no different from us. The fallenness, sinful and defiled nature we live in every day is never more apparent than in the presence of our Lord. We can become so adept at hiding it, ignoring it, or justifying our sinful ways. All that is stripped away to where even John, this man approaching 100 years old, who walked with Jesus, ministered with Him, and whose life has been lived for Him, still finds himself face down.

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:4-7)

There is hope for each of us in our condition. As the First and the Last – our hope is found in Him.

“Who has performed and done it, Calling the generations from the beginning? ‘I, the Lord, am the first; And with the last I am He.’” (Isaiah 41:4)

He is the one who called man across the generations. The one who raises up kings and nations and puts them down for His glory. Yet the nations quickly run to their disappointing, weak idols seeking relief. To His people, He said:

Fear not, for I am with you;

Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you,

Yes, I will help you,

I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ (Isaiah 41:10)

“Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and His Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last.” There is no other god who can proclaim what He does. There is no other God. He is our Rock and Redeemer. (Isaiah 44:6)

I am He, I am the First,

I am also the Last.

Indeed My hand has laid the foundation of the earth,

And My right hand has stretched out the heavens;

When I call to them,

They stand up together. (Isaiah 48:12-13)

The humbled, broken and repentant can find hope in Jesus because He lives and He was dead. It is through His atoning death and resurrection that we have hope for all eternity. Death reigns no longer in the life of those who are facedown before Jesus. It is a recognition of who we are apart from Him, who He is and finally what He’s done on our behalf.

As the one who holds the keys, He controls access, and has the authority to release (or not) from the grave (hades) and death. John was facedown before our King and Redeemer, repentant and trusting. John could say:

“O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”

The penalty of sin is death. But death was defeated when the penalty of sin was paid on the cross. On the Cross Jesus said, "It is finished." The debt was paid in full. Death no longer threatened those who trusted in that shed blood of Jesus. Those who identify with him will also live forevermore.

Have mercy on me, O Lord!

Consider my trouble from those who hate me,

You who lift me up from the gates of death. (Psalm 9:13)

Revelation 1:19-20

The Lord provides an outline for the book that John was to write.

The things which you have seen.
- John had seen this vision of what we call chapter 1.
The things which are.
- This will be the documentation of the state of things in the church. Chapters 2 and 3 will layout the way things were in the 7 churches.
- This is not just documentation for that day and time, but for the age we are in, the church age, from Jesus’ ascension to His return.
And the things which will take place after this.
- What is “this” that marks the turning point to the last things? After the church age, the next set of events of Daniel’s 70th week will take place.

The ‘mystery’ means these things were formerly hidden, but now they are being unveiled for all to see. The mystery of the seven stars and seven lampstands are unveiled. Jesus explained to John that the stars are angels or messengers of God and the lampstands are indeed the churches.

This mystery will be completely revealed as that age is closed out at His coming. It’s like the exclamation point at the end of the sentence proclaiming the church age. It was born of the Holy Spirit in the upper room with a rushing wind and tongues of fire. The age will be closed when the church finds itself before the throne of God. This serves as a type of introduction to chapters 4 through 22.

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I wonder if John initially thought Jesus had forgotten about him when he was on the Island. If he was like us, he might have been asking, "WHY ME?" John's suffering and tribulation on the island of Patmos led to a deeper knowledge of Jesus. We often come to know Jesus more in the midst of suffering and trials. We can know Jesus more today, right where we are. And if we are in a season of suffering, we can rejoice and know Him in a deeper way.

We can know the very same Jesus John saw. This vision of the future can be our future. We can know His purity, wisdom, victory, authority, and majesty. We can know every aspect of Jesus. We can have a relationship with Him, and He is ours to know deeply and intimately.

Revelation