Revelation 1:9-16

John begins his story by setting his location on the island of Patmos where he had been exiled for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was the Lord’s Day, the first day of the week. He was “in the Spirit” when suddenly… (1:9-10a)

He hears from behind him a voice “like a trumpet”. It wasn’t a trumpet literally, but it was “like” a trumpet; it was a really loud voice that said, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.” (1:10b-11). He turns, and what unfolds before him is a vision of wonder!

He was no longer seeing his physical surroundings, he wasn’t seeing anything literal, he was seeing a very meaningful and communicative vision provided to him for instructive purposes, and he had been ordered to write it down so we too could “see” it too.

He sees seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of those lampstands John sees his beloved Savior on whom he had reclined, yes, he John, the one whom His Savior had loved, was seeing His Savior again after all these years and all that had happened in the meantime. Can you imagine what John must have felt at that moment? (1:12-13a) How different Jesus looked now in His glory…

and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

Revelation 1:13-16

As you read these amazing verses, don’t get hung up on the details; take it all in as one glorious vision of Jesus Christ. For example, a guy with a sword coming out of his mouth is a bit disturbing, but remember this is not a literal description, that sword is the Word of God proceeding from the mouth of Jesus, the Word who was made flesh. Each of these descriptive elements tells us something about our Lord. Actually, they have all come from the Old Testament; see the chart below…

Here our Lord is reigning in His glory, pictured as being clothed in majesty and power; awesome to behold. The brightness of the scene shows Him surrounded by the awesome glory of the truth of God, His eyes of fire, that pierce into every heart, and every dark place, seeing all, those mighty glowing feet ready to trample His Enemy under foot, His loud voice booming like the rushing waters as the very Word of God proceeds from His lips, for God in His full glory is too much for us to see! There He stands in the very midst of His Church.

This vision of Christ must have been a shock for John; it might make us a bit uncomfortable too. Yet this is still our Jesus, the one who loved John, the one against whom John reclined… the one we love, and who loves us, the one we spend so many precious and intimate moments with.

Next time, we’ll see John’s reaction, and find out what Jesus had to say to him… see you then!

Oh, and be on the lookout for another Bonus Post this afternoon.