Revelation 1 - The Revelation of Jesus Christ

Good morning! Today we will officially start chapter 1 of the awe-inspiring book of Revelation. I started yesterday with an introduction to the book, its intent, its uniqueness, and its amazing rhythm and orderly outline. If you missed it, I strongly recommend you back up and read it. You can find it at The5MC.com under the “More” tab and then under Revelation. As we go through this study of Revelation, there are few things I’d like to mention that will make the study more impactful for you.

1) Read along! If you tune in to the 5MC and read my commentary as a stand alone study, you will be greatly disappointed and will not get the impact of the book of Revelation. This is what I recommend. Whatever chapter we are on, first read it once on your own very slowly. Then read it again. Twice total. I will not be able to cover every verse and nuance of this entire book, so if you simply rely on the 5MC, you will miss very much. Make the 5MC merely a study companion to your own personal study of Revelation.

2) Pray first. Before you start reading pray that the Holy Spirit will bless your understanding and comprehension of God’s Holy Word. The book of Revelation has some very lofty imagery, doctrine, and topics, we will need the power of the Holy Spirit to interpret them for us and make them real. You need God to understand God.

3) Use a separate study tool. Don’t just take what the 5MC says and stop. If you feel led, use another reputable Bible based study on Revelation and use that in addition to the 5MC. I’m using 3 different study commentaries during this intensive study on Revelation. One is by Dr. Vernon Mcgee, one is by John MacArthur, the other by David Guzik. It’s good to have several different resources to help you understand more fully.

So let’s get to it. Chapter one of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Let’s start out with the beautiful introduction that perfectly lays out what we are about to read and the reason it was written.

“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, 2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.” Rev 1:1-3

Verse one of the book starts out with “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.” Revelation basically means to “reveal.” This is Jesus Christ revealing to all mankind exactly how He will return to this Earth to establish His kingdom. John next tells us where it came from. God gave it to Jesus in order that we (His servants) could know. So the revealing of the message went from God to Jesus. Then from Jesus to John. Then John wrote it all down as He was directly instructed by Jesus to do.

What I love about this intro is the personal nature of what we’re reading. We’re told that God gave Jesus this Revelation to “show” His servants. We are to see this, not just hear it. I’m a very visual and functional learner, I like to see and do when I learn something. God is giving us a message here that this is to be seen, heard, and experienced. John then goes on to say that he “bore witness” to all that “he saw.” This wasn’t a dream, he didn’t imagine it, he didn’t eat a triple stuffed pepperoni burrito the night before and have strange visions. He saw it and he witnessed it. Think about if you were to be called into a courtroom to serve as a witness to a crime. Why would they believe you? Well, because you saw it. You were there in person, you saw the crime and you can testify to exactly what happened. Folks, this is exactly what John is saying. He was there, he saw it all, he personally witnessed everything and then he wrote it down and compiled this book. It’s not a crazy Dr. Seuss book, all of the beasts, images and people are real and God has them here for His reasons.

To finish out the prologue we see something that we see in no other book in God’s Word. The promise of a blessing. And it’s a three-legged blessing. The first. “Blessed are those that read aloud the words of this prophecy.” Back in the days of the Old Testament many folks could not read or write, only the very well educated could. The reason Paul, Peter, John, Matthew and all the other writers of the New Testament wrote their letters is so they could be hand delivered to a church and then “read aloud.” In this way the people that could not read could still hear the Word of God. Not only that, but the letters would be circulated. So for instance, Paul’s letter to the Galatian church would have been read in many different churches besides just Galatia. Usually the Pastor of the church would read the letter aloud and it would have been like a sermon. Everyone would gather around and listen to him read it. This is indicative of what we are all called to do today and that is to simply give out the Word of God. Here's the second leg of the blessing, "blessed are those who hear." For those that couldn’t read and could only hear the Words, my friends, they were blessed too. God is amazing in the way that He can take one single act and bless so many. And here's last leg of the three-legged blessing, "who keep what is written in it." We’re told that those that keep these Words will be blessed. This threefold blessing rings true today as well. We are to give out the Word of God, hear the Word of God and we should do the Word of God.

The very end finishes with, “for the time is near.” The Greek translation of this does not mean that the Lord is coming “soon", like tomorrow. It is not describing a time, but that when He does return that these things will happen with great speed. Nobody knows when the Lord will return but when He does, these things that we will read here will happen very quickly.

Next, we’re going to look at the specific event in which John received this command to record these events. We find it in verses 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. 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.” Rev 1:9-20

What an amazing passage. As we study through this, take some time to reflect and imagine if you could have been here on this day. That you could be a fly on the wall and observe this amazing event. How unbelievable it would be to witness what we are about to study. It starts out with John telling us he was on the island of Patmos “on account of the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus.” John had not only gotten thrown in jail but he had been exiled. The Roman Emperor in 96 AD when this was written was Domitian and he was not a lover of Christians. Because John was teaching the Word of God and proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ He got in big trouble. And because he was a repeat offender, they shipped him off to the very tiny, very remote, prison colony of Patmos. Patmos is about 10 miles long by 6 miles wide and sits 40 miles off the coast of what is today Turkey. In this place it was thought John could do no damage by preaching God’s Word because there was nobody there!

John says he was "in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day." In the spirit could mean that he was either deep in prayer or that he was deep in communion with God’s Holy Spirit. The Lord’s Day would be Sunday. The Lord’s day was Sunday because Jesus’ tomb was found to be empty on a Sunday. He hears a voice from behind him and the voice has clear instructions for him. “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.” Very clear instructions indeed.

Any of us would do here what we all do when we get startled. We turn to see what is causing it. John saw all right. I’m sure what he saw was burned into his memory forever. It says what he saw “caused him to fall at His feet as dead.” I think John completely passed out. How else can you interpret “to fall as dead?” When Margie was suffering from random seizures she would just simply fall down and go limp, she would pass out. It was so scary for me see. She fell as if dead. Picture this in your mind. Turning to see the resurrected Jesus in His full Glory and the sight is so amazing yet so intimidating that you simply pass out and fall at His feet. I can’t fathom. Now think on this. John knew Jesus. As one of the apostles, he walked, talked, and lived with Jesus for three years. He knew Jesus VERY well! John is even the apostle that we’re told in John 13:23, “was reclining on Jesus' bosom, one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.” At the last supper John was leaning against Jesus intimately as they enjoyed His blessed presence. This guy knew Jesus...but not this Jesus. He saw and lived with the Earthly human bodied Jesus. He now sees Jesus in His glorified, Godly, judge form, and the result? He completely passes out as if dead. But Jesus touches him with His right hand and revives him and with that touch calms John. Oh, how the touch of Jesus can do that!

John gives us a very vivid description of Jesus and I don’t want to miss any of it. So, what I’ll do is touch briefly on each one of the amazing characteristics.

1) he heard a voice like a trumpet. This is symbolic of a war trumpet. A call to battle, a call to action. We’re told in Thess 4:16 “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” The voice of Christ is like a trumpet, loud and full of authority.

2) I saw seven gold lampstands. There are many images here in Revelation that will sound strange or confusing, but they are all actually based in the Old Testament. This is symbolic of the lampstand that was in the Tabernacle as Moses led the Israelites in their journey to the promised land. In the tabernacle, the lamp had one central base with seven lamps branched out at the top. We’ve all seen this and know it as a menorah. We usually see them at Hanukah time. But what John sees here does not have one central base but seven separate bases. Why? Now they represent 7 different churches. The 7 churches that Jesus has just told John to write these things down and send it to in verse 11. The symbolism of the lamps is fascinating. The lampstand itself represents Christ. He is the base and the foundation of the church. The lamp head represent the Holy Spirt which reveals the light of Christ. John 8:12 says, “I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

3) Jesus appeared in the middle of the lampstands. Jesus is the head of the church and He walks among them to inspect them. You inspect things by being close to them.

4) He was “one like a son of man.” I wonder if John somehow recognized Jesus here. He had known him very well from His time here on the Earth. Regardless, John knew exactly who he was looking at. The Son of God.

5) He was clothed in a long robe to His feet and had a golden sash around His chest. This is another example of what might sound strange but yet it perfectly harkens back to the Old Testament and what is already in God’s Word. It’s indicative of the wardrobe that the High Priest would wear. Listen to Exodus 28:2-4. “Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron to give him dignity and honor. 3 Tell all the skilled workers to whom I have given wisdom in such matters that they are to make garments for Aaron, for his consecration, so he may serve me as priest. 4 These are the garments they are to make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so they may serve me as priests.” Jesus is our High Priest and intercedes with God on our behalf even today.

6) The hairs on His head were white like snow. This speaks of His eternal existence, He is the “Ancient of Days.” (Daniel 7:9)

7) His eyes were like flames of fire. His searching gaze penetrates to the very depths of His church, revealing all things with piercing clarity.

8) His feet were like burnished bronze refined in a furnace. Burnished brass is symbolic in the Old Testament of the judgement of sin. This is a sign of Jesus judging the sinners within the church. Kings in ancient times sat on elevated thrones so those being judged would always be beneath the king’s feet. A king’s feet came to symbolize his authority to judge righteously. Jesus is the king of kings.

9) His voice was like many roaring waters. Notice know His voice has changed from that of a trumpet to one of many waters. This is a voice of authority. God’s Word is referred to as the living water (John 4:4) and here His voice is like many waters. Full of truth, authority, and life.

10) In His right hand He held 7 stars. We’re told exactly what the stars are in verse 20 of this chapter. “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 angels of the churches would be the leader of these churches, the pastors. Christ is the head of the church and He holds His churches in His powerful yet loving hands.

11) From His mouth came a sharp two edged sword. This is directly from Hebrews 4:12 and represents the power of God's Holy Word. “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

12) His face was like the sun shining at full strength. Have you ever looked directly at the sun, even by mistake? It will blind you. God is described as light all throughout scripture. A quick search revealed over 40 verses about God as light. In fact, I did an entire 5MC on God as light in 1 John 1. “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5. Light is pure, light illuminates and light guides.

What an amazing picture of Jesus we have here. I had somebody ask me just last week, what do you think Jesus looks like? I thought, well, if you know your Bible you can go to Revelations 1 and we’re told exactly what He looks like. (I also get a lot of questions about what Heaven looks like and we’re told exactly what it looks like in chapter 21 of this book! Now don’t go reading ahead!)

Next Jesus gives John his instructions. Jesus has specific instructions for us all, we need but seek His presence and then listen to His voice.

“Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.” Rev 1:19

This is the second time that Jesus has told John that he is to write down all the things that he will see and hear. Very clear instructions. That’s another great parallel to our lives today. We all want to hear the clear voice of God, but will we follow His commands when we hear them? I’ve heard it said that the reason most people don’t hear God speak is because they’ve already made up their mind they’re not going to do what He asks anyway. So true in our world today. God will speak if you’re listening and ready to do as He asks.

That’s wraps up chapter 1. I hope that what may have seemed like a big, bad, confusing chapter has unraveled for you into one that can be easily grasped with the help of God’s Holy Spirit and some insight into the “whole” of the Bible. We’ll see as we continue through the remaining 21 chapters that what seems strange or weird does not appear here in the book of Revelation first, but the Old Testament. Remember that out of the 404 verses in Revelation, 278 contain references to the Old Testament. (70%) In our study we will be referring back to the Old Testament alot.

Praise God for His Holy Word and may God bless your time in the study of it!

photo ~ Maui rainbow, Maui, Hawaii, USA