REVELATION - CHAPTER 1-THE GLORIFIED CHRIST
REVELATION – CHAPTER 1
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Rev. 1: 1-2: The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to Him, to show to His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
The book of Revelation is communicated by God to Jesus Christ, not to any mortal man but to Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, and exalted in glory. The revelation is contained in a heavenly book---the scroll of destiny already written on high, or as it is called in Daniel 10:21, the book of truth. That this is true of the present revelation is made plain in 5:1: I saw in the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne a book written inside and on the backside with seven seals. We can say this is the same book that was sealed in Daniel’s vision.
The Apostle John is the “seer”.
Daniel 12: 8-13: I (Daniel) heard, but I did not understand; then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? He said, ‘Go your way Daniel; for the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.’
Jesus takes the book or scroll from the right hand of God. Rev. 5:2-5: I (John) saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?’ And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book neither to look thereon. I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereof. One of the elders says to me, ‘Weep not; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.’
The book is given to Jesus to show his servants what must soon take place. The word servant is used 111 times in the New Testament and 14 times in the book of Revelation. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John. The interpreting angel appears from time to time in the book (Rev. 17:1, 7; 19:9; 21:9; 22:6; 16). However, most of the revelation recorded takes the form of visions seen by John, who bare record of the Word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and all that he saw.
Here is stated the subject of the revelation. John declares the book is a prophecy of things which must shortly come to pass and of the testimony of Jesus Christ.
“Revelation”/ “apokalypsis”—has given its name to all the literature called ‘apocalyptic’. The common feature of apocalyptic literature is an unfolding of matters generally unknown, such as the heavenly regions or the events of the future.
Rev. 1:3: Blessed is he that reads, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein; for the time is at hand.
This double beatitude conveys a direction that the book should be read publicly at church meetings---primarily, but not exclusively, in the seven Asian churches. Its contents should receive careful attention from the hearers and exercise a decisive influence on our way of life. There is an active blessing to those who read and those who hear then keep those things which are written therein.
“The time is near” reinforces the “must shortly come to pass” in verse one. The Greek word for “shortly” is “tachos” which means, swiftly, speed, quickly, speedily.
Revelation 1: 4-6: John to the seven churches which are in Asia; Grace be to you, and peace, from Him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before His throne; and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first Begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. To Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
The seven churches were all located in Asia Minor, the western half of modern Turkey. The figurative use of the number seven through the book suggests a symbolic significance. The framework of Revelation is provided largely in a successive series of seven. Seven is the number of completions; perfection; all finished; rest. The heptads (series of sevens) are mathematically considered cancelled conclusions; the final and irrevocable judgment and/or blessing.
The messages are primarily for the seven churches named, they are relevant also to the churches everywhere and to the saints individually who purpose to be overcomers.
The blessing of “Peace” to the hearers of the churches is from the trinity of (1)“Him which is, and which was, and which is to come (the Eternal One, Yahweh, “I am who I am”); (2)The Seven spirits which are before his throne (the seven-fold work of the Holy Spirit); and (3) Jesus Christ.
There is dispute over the seven spirits of God. Some believe they are the seven angels involved in the judgments of God. This is not my belief. I believe this denotes the Holy Spirit in the plenitude of His grace and power. Isa. 11:2: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and Godliness, the spirit of the fear of God.
Before his throne or before the throne occurs repeatedly in Revelation as an expression of the presence of God in His heavenly temple. Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness was the faithful witness par excellence. The same expression is used of Antipas in Rev. 2:13b: …wherein Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was slain among you where satan dwells. Jesus is the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Here the firstborn is related to Christ’s status in resurrection as in Col. 1:18: He is the head of the body, the church; who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence.
The crown rights of the Redeemer on earth are three-fold: he who is head over everything for the church, which is His body, is also the ruler of the kings of the earth. As well as all power in heaven, in the earth and under the earth have been given to Christ.
To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father. Israel in the wilderness, after the experience of redemption from Egypt was called to be a kingdom of priest to God. The New Testament people of God, having been freed from our sins, are similarly designated as kings and priests.
1:7: Behold he comes with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him; and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen.
The clouds, associated with a theophany and symbolizing the divine visitation of His presence is the same imagery used in Daniel 7:13: I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought Him near before Him.
Revelation 14:14: I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like to the Son of man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle.
Mark 13:26: Then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. (Mk. 26:64; Mk. 14:62)
The word “behold” fits this event. The whole world will behold Jesus when He returns with all of his saints (1 Thess. 3:13). His coming will be like lightning flashing from East to West (Mat. 24:27; Luke 21:27). There will be clouds, but a closer look reveals the cloud is a crowd. The sign of the Son of Man is a cloud, a cloud of saints. Mt. 24:30: Then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven; and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
The bulk of mankind has no interest in Jesus. It’s as he said, “narrow is the way that leads to life and few there be that find it (Mt. 7; 14). The world was happy to see Jesus go and will be sick at the sight of His return. His appearance in the sky will generate worldwide grief, groaning and wailing.
The kings of the earth will frantically assemble at Armageddon to resist his return, determined to “head him off at the pass” (Rev. 16:13, 14, 16; 19:15).
1:8: I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, says the Lord, which, is and which was and which is to come, the Almighty.
Jesus is speaking and declaring he is the beginning and the end, or the first and the last. He is saying, “I am Jehovah of the Old Testament! The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” Thus, He proclaims Himself to be the eternal God, the Almighty, El Shaddai!
Eternity has no beginning or ending, no Alpha nor Omega. Only time can have past, present and future tenses. Thus, He is saying, “I am the eternal God operating inside time and space---as a man!”
1:9-10: I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet.
John is stating that the Kingdom is present, not in the future tense and some may believe. John the Baptist came prophesying of the Kingdom of God. Jesus came preaching and declaring the Kingdom of God. Paul and the Apostles preached the Kingdom.
I found a notation in the F.F. Bruce Bible Commentary: “The Proconsul of Asia, Eusebieus, on the authority of the account given by men of old among us, that John was released from his banishment under Nerva (emperor A.D. 96-98) and took up his abode in Ephesus.” This is the first time I was aware of this theory.
When John says he was in the Spirit. We understand this to mean he was caught up in prophetic ecstasy---the same experience as Ezekiel describes by saying the hand of the Lord was upon me.
Sunday was picked by the early church as the day of worship. The Lord rose from the dead-on Sunday. His first meetings with His disciples were on Sunday. Pentecost occurred on Sunday. But it wasn’t called the “Lord’s day” ---until a later time.
The expression is also reminiscent of the OT day of the Lord---the day of Yahweh’s vindication of His cause and victory over all opposing forces; the day of Christ’s resurrection (and the first day of every week on which it is commemorated) may properly be called ‘the day of the Lord’. It was the D-day---the decisive action---which guarantees the future V-day, the celebration of final victory.
A loud voice like a trumpet: A fitting prelude to the appearance of the exalted conqueror. When John turns around, he will be staring into the eyes of the glorified Christ. He will be stunned and overwhelmed by what he sees. John once before saw the Glory of the Lord transfigured atop the mount when Moses and Elijah appeared there with Him (Mt. 17:2).
Rev. 1: 12-16: I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; and in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like to the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white a snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire; His feet like fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in His right hand seven stars; and out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword; and His countenance was as the sun shines in His strength.”
The lamp is a natural symbol of witness-bearing. There is a deliberate departure here from the more familiar figure of the seven-branched lamp stand of Israel’s sanctuary, in order to emphasize the separate responsibility of each local church to bear its own witness to its Lord. In verse 20 we learn the lamp stands represent the seven churches due to receive this book.
1:20: The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand and the seven golden candlesticks, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches; and the seven candlesticks, which you saw are the seven churches.
There is a doctrine that the “seven stars who are the angels” are men, i.e. ministers. I do not believe that. It is my belief. The angels of the churches should be understood in the light of the angelology of revelation ---not as human messengers of ministers of the churches, but as the celestial counterparts of ministers; or personifications of the various churches, each of whom represents his church to the point where he is held responsible for its condition and behavior. We may compare the angels of nations (Dan. 10:13; 20; 12:1) and of individual (Mt. 18:10; Act. 12:15).
It is my persuasion that when the Lord chooses Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, Evangelists and Teachers, an angel is sent to that minister to anoint the chosen one to do the work of the Office to which he has been elected.
Among the lamp stands was someone “like a son of man”. The prophet Daniel was given a similar vision: “I saw in the night visions, and behold with the clouds of heaven, there came one like a son of man” (Dan. 7:13-14). The same “son of man” Daniel saw, was now in front of John. But John has never seen a man like this man; a man whose face matched the brilliance of the sun; a man whose face blinded Saul on the Damascus Road. This is Jesus appearing in the glory that was His before His incarnation (John 17:5).
Jesus is dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. He is wearing the full-length high-priestly robe. Here the sash is of gold, as befits a royal priest. In these introductory verses of Revelation, then Jesus is portrayed in His three-fold office as Prophet, Priest and King---as the recipient of God’s revelation, as ruler of kings of the earth and as the wearer of the high-priestly vestments. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow.
In Daniel 7, this is the description used of the Ancient of days and here it is the risen Christ. There is a wholesale transference of the divine attributes to Jesus affirming the deity of Christ thus fulfilling the prophecy of Daniel 7:13: One like a son of man came with the clouds of heaven, as the Ancient of Days.
His eyes were like a blazing fire, like the celestial visitant of Daniel 10:6, whose eyes were like flaming torches.
His feet were like bronze glowing: Daniel 10:6: His arms and legs like gleam of burnished bronze. Ezekiel 1:7: And their feet (four living creatures) were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf’s foot; and they sparkled like the color of burnished brass.
Brass is symbolic of the Word of God that brings judgment. Jesus is the Word of God, made flesh, and dwelt among us.
His voice was like the sound of rushing waters: This figure suggests the sound of a rushing torrent after heavy rain, reoccurs in 14:2 and 19:6 of the voice of the heavenly host.
In Ezekiel 43:2, this is the sound of the coming of the glory of the Lord. Behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east; and His voice was like a noise of many waters; and the earth shined with His glory.
Again, the world “Behold” means all will hear and see the glory of His coming.
In his right hand he held seven stars: Verse 20 clearly states the seven stars are the seven angels of the seven churches.
Out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword: The sword is the Word of God; for its proceeding from the mouth of the Son of Man of Isa. 11:4: where the Messiah will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. The sword in the New Testament is the gospel, which proclaims grace to those who repent and put their faith in God, but judgment on the impenitent and disobedient.
Jesus speaks and light appears. He speaks anything and it’s done. He does all things “by the word of His power (Heb. 1:3). Nothing can resist that power. If He chooses, He can speak and the armies of His enemies will slaughter each other.
1:17-18: when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And he laid His right hand upon me, saying to me, Fear not; I am the first and the last. I am He that lives, and was dead; and behold, I am alive forevermore, amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
John, like Ezekiel and like Paul, falls on his face before the glory, and like Ezekiel is raised to his feet. The man or woman who has fallen prostrate before God and been raised to his feet by God can henceforth look the whole world in the face as the fearless spokesman of God.
At His appearing, unsaved men will beg the mountains to fall on them and hide them from the face of Him who sits on the throne. He is a “consuming fire”.
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