Revelation 1 - John's Vision of Jesus
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Today we start reading one of the most exciting, enigmatic, and complicated books of the bible. The Revelation of Jesus to Saint John on the island of Patmos. I have read this gospel and written about it several times, and I still feel like there is so much of it I don't understand. As with any book of the bible, the context of when it was written and to who is of paramount importance.
Here are some background links from notable commentaries on the book of Revelation. It would be really helpful if you read them before we start reading through John's letter. Actually you might not think, but the Wikipedia link is very helpful and well written too.
One of the challenges we will face as we go through this book together is that on one hand this book is written to the seven churches in Asia who are facing persecution. And, it is also a "revelation" or an unveiling of the events that precipitate the second coming of Christ. One of the things we have to watch out for is to not be too literalistic about every detail of the letter. As some of the details are symbolic in nature and not meant to be taken literally.
Prologue
1 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
Importantly this is a revelation from Jesus Christ. It is interesting when it says, "What soon must take place". How soon is soon? If this is referring to Jesus' return how come it has been about 2,000 years since this letter was written, and Jesus has not returned?
Like any book of the bible John promises us we will be blessed as we "take to heart" what is written. Let's get ready to "take to heart" the next 22 chapters of Revelation, as we finish out our reading through the New Testament. We have 27 days to read 22 chapters!
If you have time read through the next several paragraphs. It explains the four ways that scholars and theologians usually use as their "lens" for interpreting this book.
Since so much controversy has risen over the interpretation of the Book of Revelation, it is helpful to know the four basic approaches people have used through the centuries to understand Revelation.
a. The Preterist View: This approach believes that Revelation dealt only with the church in John’s day. In the Preterist approach, Revelation doesn’t predict anything. John simply described events of his current day, but he put them in symbolic code so those outside the Christian family couldn’t understand his criticism of the Roman government. In the Preterist view, the Book of Revelation was for then.
b. The Historicist View: This approach believes that Revelation is a sweeping, disordered panorama of all church history. In the Historicist approach, Revelation predicts the future, but the future of the “church age” – not the future of end-time events. In the Historicist view, Revelation is full of symbols that describe now.
i. For example, many of the Reformers called the Pope the beast of Revelation chapter 13, but they didn’t necessarily want to believe that the end was very near. So they believed that Revelation spoke of their time, without necessarily speaking to the end times.
c. The Poetic View: This approach believes that Revelation is a book full of pictures and symbols intended to encourage and comfort persecuted Christians in John’s day. In the Poetic or allegorical view, the Book of Revelation isn’t literal or historic. Revelation is a book of personal meaning.
d. The Futurist View: This approach believes that beginning with chapter four, Revelation deals with the end times, the period directly preceding Jesus’ return. In the Futurist view, Revelation is a book that mainly describes the end times.
e. Which approach is correct? Each one is true in some regard. The Book of Revelation did speak to John’s day. It speaks to church history. And it does have meaning for our personal life. So while elements of the first three approaches have their place, we can’t deny the place of the futurist view. We can know the Book of Revelation speaks with clarity about the end times because of two central principles drawn from Revelation 1:1-3.
Greetings and Doxology
4 John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. 7 “Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Here we see the audience to whom the letter is written, the seven churches in Asia. John will describe the characteristics of each of the seven churches in the next two chapters. Twice John describes Jesus as, "Who is, and who was, and who is to come." This represents the time element in the Revelation. It is what Jesus has said to the churches in the past, what He is saying to them now in the midst of persecution, and what He is saying to them about His return. But there is also a sense in which Jesus is outside of time. He is the Alpha and the Omega. Nothing came before Jesus and nothing will come after.
When Jesus came he was born in a particular locality, Jerusalem. He was raised in Nazareth. He was crucified, died, and buried in Jerusalem. But when Jesus returns every one will see him. John says all "all peoples". There will be those who are excited for his return and those who are not. Importantly Jesus has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve God. This is what Martin Luther called this the "priesthood of all believers".
In the Old Testament the priest provided the sacrifices so the people could be made right with God. In the New Testament, the believers were priests because they were ambassadors of Christ urging people to be reconciled with God. What we will do as priests after Jesus returns remains to be seen.
We are kings, so we are God’s royalty – this is privilege, status, and authority. We are priests, so we are God’s special servants. We represent God to man and man to God. We offer sacrifice unto Him (Hebrews 13:15). We have privileged access to God’s presence (Romans 5:1-2). - Guzik
John’s Vision of Christ
9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11 which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”
John describes the vision he received from Jesus on the island of Patmos, where he was in prison because of his witness to Jesus.
The island of Patmos was a like an Alcatraz Island in the Roman Empire. It was used as a prison island and functioned as a jail without bars. The island was rich in marble, and most of the prisoners were forced - in marble quarries. Patmos was a rocky, desolate island about 10 miles long and 6 miles wide. - Guzik
The seven churches John was told to write to are seven literal churches in Asia Minor. The assumption is that John heard a loud voice, which we will see in the next verses was Jesus. Why were these seven churches picked?
Some suggest that it was because they are arranged in a roughly circular pattern. Others think it was because these were postal districts in the Roman province of Asia. Many believe seven churches were chosen because in the Bible, the number seven often represents completeness, and these letters – and all of the Book of Revelation – are written to the complete church, not only these seven churches. Seiss writes, “The churches of all time are comprehended in seven,” and quotes many modern and ancient commentators that agree with this perspective. - Guzik
Again we see the both/and nature of the book of Revelation. We need to hold in tension the present and the future.
12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 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. 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 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.
Most people assume that the man among the lampstands is the Risen Lord Jesus. The seven lampstands represent the seven churches, especially because Jesus stood amongst them. In the Old Testament in the temple there was one lampstand with seven candles on it. Some think that this is the spread of the church to the Gentiles, rather than to the one Jewish nation, which accounts for the seven different lampstands.
John's imagery of Jesus is very vivid and extraordinary. Once again there is symbolism in each detail of what Jesus looks like. Again we see the number "seven", as Jesus held seven stars in his hand. Out of Jesus' mouth came a sharp double edged sword. In Hebrews 4:12 the author says, "The Word of God is living and active sharper than any double edged sword penetrating between joints and marrow, soul and spirit. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."
This makes sense because John also says that Jesus is the Word made flesh. Therefore, any word Jesus spoke would be in alignment with the Word.
Everything in this vision speaks of strength, majesty, authority and righteousness. There is an impressive difference between this vision of Jesus and the many weak, effeminate portrayals of Jesus seen today. But the Jesus that John saw is the real Jesus, the Jesus that lives and reigns in heaven today.
We should consider the fact that this is the only physical description of Jesus given to us in the Bible. The only other description that comes close is in Isaiah 53:2: He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. - Guzik
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. 19 “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. 20 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Finally, John confirms that the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches. There are times in John's letter/revelation where he interprets the meaning of some the symbols he writes about. Note, we see the sovereign nature of Jesus, as he stands among the seven lampstands (the 7 churches) and holds the seven stars (angels of the seven churches).
The Book of Revelation is arranged in this three-part structure.
· The things which you have seen: Revelation chapter 1.
· The things which are: Revelation chapters 2 and 3.
· The things which will take place after this: Revelation 4 through 22.
Who are the angels of the church? What does this mean?
We note that each church had its own angel, and Jesus held these angels in His hand. Some believe these angels are the pastors of these seven churches. This idea is based on a literal understanding of the ancient Greek word translated angel, aggelos. That word literally means “messenger,” and certainly pastors are “messengers” to churches. Others think the angels might be “guardian angels” over each congregation. Some suggest that the angels are not literal beings at all, but they just represent the prevailing spirit of each church. There are strengths and weaknesses to any of these interpretations, but we do know that in some way, these angels are representatives of each congregation.
Welcome about our journey through the book of Revelation. I hope you enjoy the ride!
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