"THE BOOK OF REVELATION"

Vision Of The Son Of Man (1:9-20)

INTRODUCTION
  1. John began Revelation with a prologue, in which included the following...
    1. Introduction and benediction - Re 1:1-3
    2. Greetings to the seven churches - Re 1:4-6
    3. Announcement of Christ's coming - Re 1:7
    4. The self-designation - Re 1:8
  2. John then describes what led to him having such a crucial role in the Revelation which God gave Jesus to give to His servants...
    1. His current circumstances on the island called Patmos
    2. The voice & vision of the Son Of Man who appeared to him
    3. The instructions given him to write to the seven churches in Asia

[Let's now consider the text of our study, Re 1:9-20, beginning with...]

  1. JOHN'S CIRCUMSTANCES (9-10b)
    1. THEIR BROTHER AND COMPANION...
      1. In tribulation - Re 1:9a
        1. He was a fellow Christian
        2. Who himself was experiencing trials (see below)
      2. In the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ - Re 1:9b
        1. Note that John considered himself as being in the kingdom of Christ
        2. As did the apostle Paul, as he wrote to the Colossians - Col 1:13
        -- Note well: The apostles viewed the kingdom as a present entity, not yet to come!
    2. ON THE ISLAND CALLED PATMOS...
      1. Roughly 40 miles from the mainland of Asia Minor (Turkey) - Re 1:9c
        1. Where a Roman fortress housed prisoners and exiles - NLT Study Bible
        2. Where it is thought that John was exiled and living in a cave - ESV Study Bible
      2. For the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ - Re 1:9d
        1. Perhaps exiled to Patmos for preaching the gospel
        2. According to Eusebius, John was sent there in 95 A.D. by the Roman Emperor Domitian
        -- If the early date (ca 69-70 A.D.) is correct, then John may been there twice
    3. IN THE SPIRIT ON THE LORD'S DAY...
      1. In the Spirit - Re 1:10a
        1. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit - cf. Re 4:2; 17:3; 21:10
        2. Perhaps like Peter when he fell into a trance before his vision - Ac 10:9-13
      2. On the Lord's Day - Re 1:10b
        1. Generally understood as the first day of the week (Sunday)
        2. A day of significance to 1st century Christians, since it was the day:
          1. Jesus rose from the dead - Mt 28:1ff; Mk 16:1ff; Lk 24:1ff; Jn 20:1ff
          2. The church began when the Holy Spirit came on Pentecost - Ac 2:1ff
          3. Christians met to break bread (L.S.) and to lay by in store - Ac 20:7; 1Co 16:1-2
          -- So John was likely worshipping on the Lord's Day

        [But then the apostle John was abruptly interrupted...]

  2. WHAT HE HEARD BEHIND HIM (10c-11)
    1. A LOUD VOICE, AS OF A TRUMPET...
      1. "like a trumpet blast" - NLT
      2. Similar to what John would hear again later - Re 4:1
    2. SAYING TO HIM...
      1. "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last"
        1. The Nestle-Aland and Majority manuscripts omit this phrase in Re 1:11
        2. Though they have Jesus defining Himself as the "the First and the Last" in Re 1:17
        3. And again as "the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End" - Re 22:13
      2. "What you see, write in a book"
        1. Which task John faithfully carried out
        2. Which we have in the Book of Revelation
      3. "Send it to the seven churches which are in Asia..."
        1. Named by cities: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea
        2. To which seven short letters will also be sent - cf. Re 2&3

        [What has happened so far, John heard from behind him. When he turned around, we are told...]

  3. WHAT HE SAW, AND HIS REACTION (12-17a)
    1. TURNING TO SEE THE VOICE, HE SAW...
      1. Seven golden lampstands, later identified as to represent the churches - Re 1:20
      2. In the midst of the seven lampstands, One like the Son of Man - cf. Dan 7:13-14
        1. Clothed with a garment to His feet, girded about the chest with a golden band
          1. Similar to that worn by seven angels later in the vision - Re 15:6
          2. Also by the glorious man that appeared to Daniel in his vision - Dan 10:5
          3. Many suggest the golden band was an emblem of high rank and the long linen was priestly - perhaps indicating Jesus as both king and high priest
        2. His head and hair white as wool, white as snow
          1. Like the "Ancient of Days" in Daniel's vision - Dan 7:9
          2. Suggesting infinite, divine wisdom - ESV Study Bible
        3. His eyes like a flame of fire
          1. Again, like the glorious man in Daniel's vision - Dan 10:6
          2. Suggesting the ability to see through facades - ESV Study Bible
        4. His feet like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace
          1. Again, like the glorious man in Daniel's vision - Dan 10:6
          2. Suggesting the ability to crush any opponents - ESV Study Bible
        5. His voice as the sound of many waters
          1. Cf. "like the noise of many waters, like the voice of the Almighty" - Eze 1:24
          2. Imagine the sound of Niagara Falls!
        6. In His right hand, seven stars
          1. Later identified as the angels, or messengers of the seven churches - Re 1:20
          2. Who would receive the seven letters to the churches - e.g., Re 2:1
        7. Out of His mouth, a sharp two-edged sword
          1. Likely symbolizing the Word of God - He 4:12
          2. With which He would fight against churches and nations - Re 2:16; 19:15
        8. His countenance like the sun shining in its strength
          1. Akin to when Jesus was transfigured on the mount - Mt 17:1-2
          2. And as when Jesus appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus - Ac 26:13
    2. SEEING HIM, JOHN FELL AT HIS FEET AS DEAD...
      1. Not an unusual reaction, given what he has seen!
      2. As when Daniel saw the vision of the Glorious Man - Dan 10:8-9

      [Overwhelmed by what he saw, John is shocked to a state of paralysis. But then, the "Son of Man" laid His right hand on him (Re 1:17) and spoke...]

  4. THE LORD'S WORDS TO JOHN (17b-20)
    1. "DO NOT BE AFRAID"...
      1. "I am the First and the Last" (the Alpha & Omega) - cf. Re 1:11; 22:13
      2. "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forever more. Amen."
      3. "I have the keys of Hades and of Death."
      -- Jesus: Deity that became flesh, died and rose again, who has authority over all things, including death and the realm of the dead - Jn 1:1,14; Mt 28:18; Ep 1:20-22
    2. "WRITE"...
      1. "The things which you have seen" - the vision of the Son of Man - ch. 1
      2. "The things which are" - the letters to the seven churches - chs. 2-3
      3. "The things which will take place after this" - the heavenly visions - chs. 4-22
      -- The Book of Revelation which we are now privileged to read and study
    3. "THE MYSTERY OF THE SEVEN STARS AND THE SEVEN GOLDEN LAMPSTANDS"...
      1. "The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches"
        1. The word "angel" means "messenger"; not necessarily a supernatural being
        2. The seven angels may have been men sent to bear the letters to the churches
      2. "The seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches"
        1. The seven churches already named - Re 1:11
        2. The seven churches whose letters will follow - chs. 2-3
CONCLUSION
  1. With this vision, John is commissioned to write seven letters, and of things to be shown him
  2. In our next study, we shall consider the first letter John was to write: The Letter To Ephesus

Are you in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ...? - cf. Re 1:9; Col 1:13; 2:12-13; Jn 3:5