OPENING THE BOOK OF REVELATION- PART 5 Listen to Audio

                                              June 24, 2009

 

   In 1:9, John, the apostle, is described as brother and companion (companion=sunkoinonos- to be with in common) in the tribulation,

Kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ.  Tribulation, here, refers

To the common experience of difficulty that accompanies discipleship-

See Acts 14:22.

   Patmos is an island 10 miles by 6 miles in the Aegean Sea, southwest of Ephesus.  He apparently had been exiled there for his faithfulness to

the gospel message under Emperor Domitian about 90 AD.  John would

return to Ephesus in about 96 AD under Emperor Nerva.

   1:10 speaks of John being “in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day”—it has been viewed by most commentators that John experienced an ecstatic vision

while directed by the Holy Spirit.   While every believer is exhorted to “Walk in the Spirit” and “Be filled with the Spirit”—it is likely this experience of John is fulfilling the words of Jesus in John 15:26 and 16:13 in completing the canon of scripture with this last book -22:18-19.  Others have had ecstatic visions—

Ezk.2:2; Peter in Acts 10:10-11 and Paul in Acts 22:17-18.

   The phrase “on the Lord’s Day” is a bit more difficult and falls into

two views:     a) referring to the first day of the week as commemorating

the resurrection of Jesus—however, there are no scripture where the first

day is called “the Lord’s Day”

   b) referring to the eschatological period of time prophesied in the OT and

commonly called “the day of the LORD” or “in that Day”- see Isa.12:9,

24:21, 25:9, 34:8; Joel 1:15, 2:11, 31; Amos 8:9; Obadiah 1:15; Micah 3:6;

Zeph.1:7-8,14, 2:3;  Zech.14:1-4; Malachi 4:5.

   Since the thrust of Revelation is prophetic (1:1), it is likely that John

is “placed” in this future  period of fulfilled prophecy as an observer.

   “I heard behind me a loud voice as of a trumpet”- lacking the experience of hearing an electronically amplified voice (as we do today), John immediately

responds to this loud sound where Christ is again identified as He was in vs.8.

John is instructed to “write in a book and send it…”   The concept of the circulation of NT books is seen in Col. 3:16.  Churches in seven locations of Asia Minor are then named.

  What follows in vs.12-18 is a carefully arranged description of Christ depicted

in His role as Judge (John 5:22, Romans 14:10, II Tim.4:1).  In Revelation,

Christ is characterized as the Mediator of world-judgment, having already been mediator of world-creation (John 1:3, Col.1:16) and world-redemption (John 3:16, Col.1:20, I Tim.2:5, I John 2:2).

  “like the Son of Man”- connects Him with Dan.7:13-14

   “garment down….girded…with a golden band”-clothing of richest

       value to emphasize His deity and excellence

  “head and hair white..” lending His appearance a sage-like or judicious

          ability of profound experience and knowledge

page 2

 

  “eyes like a flame of fire”- penetrating and discerning with purity

  “feet like fine brass”-bronze is associated with judgment in the OT

  “voice…many waters”- forceful, commanding

  “right hand 7 stars”-possessing and preserving

  “out of His mouth..sharp two-edged sword”- words that cut or

     convict with authority, eliminating deceit and falsehood

  “countenance ..like the sun..strength”- overall appearance brings

     clarity, penetrating, melting all opposition

The person of the Savior is presented so as to carry judicial authority, sovereignty, and wisdom and before whom all others would shrink in fear.

1:17- John, who was so close to Christ, collapses before His presence.

Tenderly, Christ comforts John with a sympathetic touch.  Previously, vs.13

spoke of Christ in the “midst of the 7 lampstands”- that Christ

is present amid His people and church.

 

1:18- literally, “I am He who is living”—reference to “was dead” clearly identifies Him as the crucified-risen Savior.  The double reference to “I am alive” shows Him forcefully as Life-possessor and Life-giver (John 5:26).

“I have the keys [authority] of hades and death”- Christ has the moral qualification to execute judicious use of who dies and where they spend

eternity.  He has conquered death itself and permanently has life and

all that it entails.

  This opening vision is to establish Christ as pre-eminent in God’s prophetic

plan. who alone is morally qualified and appropriately invested, as shown through the description of Him as a powerful Judicial Figure, to judge and critique His churches.  Therefore, what He says about the churches and to the churches is of great weight and importance.