Commentary on Revelation.
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Ch 1: One like a Son of Man.
1. Prologue (1:1)
Rev 1:1 The revelation of 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 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.
v1 - The revelation of 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, - The revelation of Jesus Christ, Revelation=Apocalupsis (Greek), that is, it is the unveiling coming from Jesus Christ. Apocalypse is also known as a type of literature of the type of Daniel. It is coming from Jesus Christ and it is the unveiling of the plan of God for the world and especially his servants, the Church. It shows us what goes on behind the scenes, in heaven. It can also be read as a revelation of the person of Jesus Christ, but in the context described here God gave the revelation to Jesus to show his servants what must soon take place, it is the former that is most likely, see 22:16. Although it does of course reveal to us Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords, the Alpha and Omega, the Lamb that was slain and there are many more descriptions of Jesus in the book. It gives us a full description of the glorified Christ in his heavenly glory while the gospels describe Jesus in his humility, without Revelation we would have a poorer understanding of the glorified Christ. The word Apocalupsis (unveiling) is also used of the Second Coming, which points to the removal of that which now obstructs our vision of Christ, 1 Cor 1:7, 2 Thess 1:7, 1 Pet 1:7, 13, 4:13. Paul received his revelation of the gospel from Jesus Christ (Gal 1:12). Revelation shows us Christ now, as He is in his heavenly glory and when He comes again every eye will see his heavenly glory and power.
v1 - which God gave him to show his servants - This book has the fullest and most explicit claim to divine authorship of any book in the bible, therefore whether it was John the apostle who wrote it down is irrelevant. The author is God, God gave it to Jesus, just as he gives Jesus the scroll later in 5:7. It is written to his servants, that is to Christians. The Greek for servants means slaves, the NASB uses the word bond-servant. Servant is a common expression for Christians in Revelation, see Rev 1:6, 2:20, 6:11, 7:3 and 7:15, servant or to serve is used 19 times in all. The book is written to God's servants, i.e. to his saints to show us what must soon take place so that we should not be taken by surprise by world events and persecution in which the enemy appears to triumph. 22:16 says 'I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches...', the you is plural. Finally the last verse says 'The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen.' Other expressions used for God's people are brothers and saints. Those who serve God on the earth will also serve him in heaven (1:6, 5:10, 7:15, 22:3).
v 1 - what must soon take place - i.e. 'an impending crisis' (Caird) or 'the things which must shortly come to pass' (Mounce and Walvoord). Lenski in commenting on the Greek word for 'soon' (tachos) as well as 22:7, 12, 20 notes that this does not mean 'swiftly' but means 'shortly', 'soon' -- 'the period is near' (v.3). 'Soon' in the biblical sense can mean a long time, e.g. 'I am coming soon', but note that verse 3 says that there is a blessing to those who take to heart the message of Revelation 'because the time is near' the events it describes are shortly to take place. This phrase 'I am coming soon' encompasses the whole of the Gospel era and the book of Revelation does the same. The phrase 'must soon take place' is repeated in Rev 22:6 and a similar version in Rev 1:19, see also Rev 4:1. Rev 4:1 indicates that what must soon take place is viewed from heaven, events on earth are viewed with a heavenly perspective, this gives a major insight into what the book is about. In Rev 22:10 John is told not to seal up the words of the prophecy because the time is near. Daniel is told to seal up the words of the scroll until the time of the end, Dan 12:4. I would therefore interpret Revelation as being relevant to all generations from the time of the seven churches to when Jesus comes again. We find an echo here of Dan 2:28 in which God, who reveals mysteries, shows Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come (Caird). We know from John 21:22, that the disciple John, expected to be alive when Jesus returned.
Johnson notes that in eschatological and apocalyptic literature, the future is always viewed as imminent without the necessity of intervening time (cf. Luke 18:8).'Soon' does not, in other words, preclude delays or intervening events, as Revelation itself suggests. In Ch. 6 we hear the cry of the martyred saints: 'How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you... avenge our blood?' They are told to wait a little longer' (vs. 10-11). Therefore, 'soon-ness' means imminency in eschatological terms. The church in every age has always lived with the expectancy of the consummation of all things in its day. Imminency describes an event possible any day, impossible no day.
v1 - He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, - This is the method by which he made it known to John, angel means messenger. The words 'He made it known' means 'He signified it' (semaino) in the Greek, thus it comes to John in the form of signs (e.g. 12:1, 12:3, 15:1). This reference to the angel is repeated in Rev 22:6, 22:16. John is a prophet (22:9-10) and God is revealing his plan and knowledge of what will happen soon to John (Amos 3:7), John is not to keep it to himself (22:10). Chapter 10 in which the mighty angel gives John the little scroll to eat, can be interpreted as an example of an angel giving John this prophecy, because John is told that he must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings (10:11). It can also be noted here that this angel has the appearance of Christ because he is Christ's angel, compare his appearance in 10:1 with the description of Christ in 1:13-16. In 17:1 an angel shows John the punishment of the great prostitute and in 21:9 an angel shows John the bride, the wife of the Lamb.
v2 - who testifies to everything he saw--that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. - John now gives his own testimony verifying the veracity of the book. What he saw was the word of God and the testimony given by Jesus (see previous verse and 22:16) or the testimony of who Jesus is, namely King of kings and Lord of lords. This is also the reason why John was on the island of Patmos, v9, because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. Following on from verse 1 in which we are told that the Revelation proceeds from God, we are told here that it is the word of God as well as the testimony of Jesus Christ, this is no product of man's mind, it has the highest claim to be the word of God of any book in the bible. We should not therefore place the book on one side because it is difficult to understand, it has a message that is very important for the saints. It calls us to be faithful even to death (2:10, 12:11) and therefore it claims the highest authority for its authorship. The martyrs of 6:9 and 20:4 were slain because of (their obedience to) the word of God and the testimony for Jesus they had maintained. He saw the word of God, this gives us one of the keys to understand the book, i.e. he saw the word of God which is to be understood in the light of the rest of the word of God. Revelation is the last book in the bible, both last in place and last to be written. It requires all of the earlier sections of the bible, and indeed Revelation, for its interpretation. In John 21:24 the disciple John who wrote the gospel of John testifies that his testimony is true, see also 19:35, 3 John 1:12 cf. Rev 22:8. In 22:16 Jesus personally declares that he has given John this testimony and in 22:20 Jesus testifies to these things i.e. he testifies to their truthfulness. In 19:9 the angel says to John 'These are the true word's of God' and in 22:6 the angel says to John 'These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place'. The point of this is to confirm time and time again with the highest authority that these things are true because God's servants need to be prepared to die for their faith, the truth of these words is of supreme importance. If there is no new heaven and no new earth and no lake of fire then why bother to die for ones faith.
v3 - Blessed is the one who reads 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. - This is the first of 7 blessings in the book. By reads is meant to be read aloud, the letters to the churches were to be read aloud, this was common practise in the early church (Col 4:16, 1 Thess 5:27). Walvoord points out that he who reads is singular while those who hear and take to heart is plural meaning the rest of the church. By this prophecy is meant the whole book of Revelation not just part of it (see also 22:7, 22:18), this guards against the idea that the church is not around from chapter four through twenty meaning that it does not need to take to heart that portion of the book. The blessing implies, because the 'time is near', that what is written is useful for all generations of the church, not just those to whom it was written. This means that it cannot apply only to Johns generation or to the generation when Christ returns but it applies to all God's people throughout all generations. This is confirmed from the history of the church, in which believers of all generations have been persecuted. Blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it - in 22:7 there is a blessing on those who keep the words of the prophecy in this book. It will purify you and uphold you during persecution; it will keep you from entanglement or compromise with the world. It will give you courage through the great tribulation, you will be an overcomer so that you will be able to join in with all God's people in the praise of the Lamb at the wedding supper of the Lamb, Rev 19:9.
v3 - the words of this prophecy - This book is a prophecy, this is repeated in another blessing in 22:7 where Jesus says 'Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book'. The prophecy is telling us what is going to happen in the future but it also has a moral message as the previous blessing makes clear. There are dire consequences for any one who tampers with the words of this prophecy (22:18-19). In 19:10 we are told that the 'testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy' and in 22:6 we are told that 'The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place'. In 22:10 John is told by the angel "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near".
Prophets and prophesying also feature in John's book. In 10:11 after eating the little scroll John is told "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings." The two witnesses are prophets, they prophecy for 1260 days, they have power to shut up the sky so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying, the inhabitants of the earth will gloat and celebrate because these two prophets had tormented them (11:3, 6, 11). John clearly thinks of himself as a prophet, 22:9. Prophets are distinguished from saints in 11:18, 16:6, 18:20, 18:24 it is probably the office of prophets (Eph 4:11) that is being referred to because apostles are included in 18:20, the church is built on the foundations of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone (Eph 2:20).
v3 - because the time is near - This offers us another clue to the interpretation of Revelation. In scripture the Lord's coming is always near, for example Jam 5:8 'You to, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near' and 1 Pet 4:7 'The end of all things is near'. To each generation of Christians the Lord's coming is always near, therefore it is speaking to every generation. The last days are from the days of Pentecost to the second coming. It is not speaking just about those things that happen to the very last generation in the distant future. It speaks about the last things but these occur from the time of Christ's ascension to his second coming, see also 1:1 (to show his servants what must soon take place), 1:19 (Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later), 22:6 (sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place). This is God's last letter to the church and it will be helpful to the persecuted church throughout all the generations to come both in John's time, when he comes again and all generations in between. John is making the point that we should take to heart the message of this book now and not wait for the future. In the same way we are to prepare for the Lord's second coming now because He could come any day, scripture is quite clear that He will come at an hour we do not expect Him (Mat 24:44).
1.1 Salutation (1:4)
Rev 1:4 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 the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.
Rev 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."
v4 - John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia, - This is John's introduction, he is known by all seven churches and therefore he simply calls himself John. There were more than seven churches in Asia. The seven churches in Asia, i.e. present day Turkey, are representative of the whole church. The number seven occurs 52 times in the book and indicates divine completeness, because God finished the work of creation and rested on the seventh day, see Gen 2:2 (see also Wilcock p62, 156). This letter would probably have been circulated around the churches as some of Paul's letters were circulated (Col 4:16).
v4 - Grace and peace to you - This is a fitting greeting to the saints who are saved by grace and who are therefore at peace with God. It is included as a greeting in 17 books of the NT, all of Paul's epistles (Rom 1:7), Peters (1 Pet 1:2, 2 Pet 1:2) and 2 John. 'Peace' sums up the blessings of this kingdom; 'grace' describes their origin (Ramsey). All the blessings that come down from heaven to helpless man, labouring under the fearful burden of unforgiven sin and the dread of impending wrath and the misery of conflicting passions, unsatisfied desires, and earthly woes, are forcibly and touchingly included in this one word, 'peace', the peace that is from God and that reconciles to God. The very words that come to you laden with heaven's richest mercies, to gladden and to save your soul, imply that God regards you as by nature at enmity with Him, and under the penalty of His holy law; and that deliverance from this state of sin and misery cannot be procured by any works or merits of yours or of any creature, but must be His perfectly gratuitous gift. (Ramsey)
v4 - from him who is, and who was, and who is to come - There now follows a three-fold formula for the Trinity. From the eternal God, who is now, who is from past eternity to future eternity (see also 1:8, 4:8, 11:17). This salutation is from God the Father, Holy Spirit and the Son, see v4-5, below. This is similar to the name God declared to Moses 'I AM WHO I AM' and 'I AM' (Exo 3:14), He inhabits eternity (Isa 57:15). This designation can only apply to God.
v4 - and from the seven spirits before his throne, - Seven refers to completeness, another reading is seven fold spirit. Isaiah gives seven modes (actually six modes) of operation of the Spirit in the life of Christ (Isa 11:2-4). See also John 14:16-27: the Spirit comforts (16), is the Spirit of Truth (17), lives in us (17), manifests Jesus (21), manifests Jesus and the Father (23), teaches us (26), gives us peace (27) {POSB}. The seven spirits are referred to again in the letter to Sardis (3:1), and as seven lamps blazing before the throne of God (4:5), and as the seven eyes of the Lamb, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth (5:6). John is not going against the traditional doctrine of there being one Spirit. For a detailed explanation see comments on 4:5.
v5 - and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness - Jesus is the last mentioned member of the trinity, with a three-fold reference to his identity and function: 'the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth' (Johnson). Jesus tells us and shows us what God is really like in his ministry on earth. He is the faithful witness (John 8:13), Antipas was a faithful witness (2:13), he was faithful to death just as Jesus was faithful to death on a cross. To the church of Laodicea he is the faithful and true witness, see also the rider on the white horse, Rev 19:11, whose name is Faithful and True. The word for witness is the Greek martus and the same word is used of the martyr Antipas (2:13), of Jesus the true witness (3:14), of the two witnesses (11:3) and the blood of the martyrs (17:6) the common theme being that they all seal their testimony with their blood.
v5 - the firstborn from the dead - The 'firstborn from the dead'is one of the many titles of Jesus Christ, he is the first to rise from the dead, see Col 1:18. In the census of Israel in Rev 7:5 we find the first tribe, which is usually the firstborn, listed as Judah because Jesus was descended from Judah. This mention of Jesus as the firstborn also assures us that that when He returns we will also rise from the dead because he is the firstborn of many brothers (Rom 8:29, 1 Cor 15:20-23). This is an important point to be made because Revelation clearly states that many Christians need to be faithful to death (2:10, 6:9, 11:7, 13:7-10, 13:15, 17:6, 20:4).
v5 - the ruler of the kings of the earth. - One of the purposes of Revelation is to show, despite appearances to the contrary, that Jesus is the ruler of the kings of the earth. It is also a divine title cf. 1 Tim 6:15. There are many references to the kings of the earth in Revelation, it is also a common expression in the bible, Mat 17:25. The kings of the earth hide from the Lamb (Rev 6:15), the kings of the earth wage war on the Lamb (Rev 19:19) and lose (Rev 19:21). Revelation shows that Jesus is the ruler of even the highest of men as well as the lowest, 6:15. The kings of the earth bring their splendour into the city of God (Rev 21:24). Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of Lords (Rev 17:4, 19:16), in this book he demonstrates his authority by overcoming those who fight against him. Ladd points out that John was aware of the tendency in his day to deify and worship the Roman emperor. The emperors Julius Caesar, Augustus, Claudius, Vespasian and Titus had been officially declared divine after their death by the Roman Senate, and the last three had used the term DIVUS (divine) on their coins. Domitian the emperor at the time John wrote requested that he be addressed as Dominus et Deus (Lord and God). One of the purposes of Revelation is to show that despite appearances, that Jesus Christ is the true ruler of the kings of the earth, He is King of kings and Lord of lords. To the Christians living between his first coming and second coming the fact that Christ is the ruler of the kings of the earth has to be accepted by faith, because the evidence of history will frequently be contrary. Revelation however shows us the spiritual reality behind what we see with our eyes, for example, the beast representing political power derives his power from Satan, but that at his second coming Jesus will be declared with power to be Lord of lords and will defeat both the beast and Satan.
v5 - To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood - There follows a three-fold description of his saving work. Adoration to our redeemer, to the one who loves us and proved it by His death on the cross which cancelled our sins. This is a definition of a Christian, one who is loved by Christ and freed from his sins. This book is written to those who are saved from the wrath of God through the blood of Christ, that is his death on the cross. Only this is sufficient to cleanse and free us of our sins and make us acceptable to God. In all circumstances the saints are more than conquerors through Jesus who loves us. Only those who acknowledge the word of God and the testimony of Jesus will really benefit or make sense of the book. Jesus is the only one who can save us from the wrath of God as indicated by the bowls in this book, and finally from the lake of fire, 1 Thess 1:10. Here in a book that contains much judgement we are at the beginning reminded of the gospel that through the death and resurrection of Christ 'God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them' (2 Cor 5:14-21). The blood of Jesus which purifies from us from sin is a theme of John's epistle (1 John 1:7); as is the love of God (1 John 4:7-11).
v6 - 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. - In addition to loving us and dying for he has made us to be a kingdom and priests. This is similar to Rev 5:10, 'You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth', see also 20:6, 22:5. It is Jesus who has made us to be a kingdom and priests. Ladd notes that the church is called a kingdom not just because it is a people under a king but because they participate in the messianic reign of Christ (see 5:10 also Mat 5:2-5, 19:28, Luke 22:30). The primary reference to kingdom and priests comes from Exo 19:5-6, in the OT and 1 Pet 2:9 in the NT. In Exo 19:5-6 the Israelites were promised that if they obeyed God then they would be God's treasured possession out of all the nations of the earth and would be for God a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. The tribe of Levites became the priests, and at the death of Jesus the veil in the temple was split into two because from then on all the saints, not just the Levites, are priests. 1 Pet 2:9 emphasises that the saints are a chosen people, a people belonging to God, a royal priesthood and a holy nation who will declare the praises of God who called them out of darkness (Satan's kingdom, Acts 26:18) into his wonderful light. In the OT a priest was a mediator between God and the people offering sacrifices and incense on their behalf and for their sins. In the NT the priesthood of believers means declaring to the world the good news of the gospel, that Jesus died for their sins and offering up prayer on their behalf.
Other references to 'Serve God' are Rev 7:15, 22:3. The saints are in a kingdom whose king is Christ, formerly we were part of Satan's kingdom, Col 1:13. To serve his God and Father reminds us of the words of Jesus to his disciples after the resurrection that his Father is now their Father and his God is now their God (John 20:17). These two verses (5 & 6) refer to those who know Jesus, the next verse refers to those who do not know Jesus. To those who know Jesus his return to earth will bring a new body and eternal life in the paradise of God.
v7 - Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen. - In contrast to the two verses above which refer to our riches in Christ this verse brings mourning to the peoples of the earth who do not know the love of God and who are not cleansed from their sins. The second coming will be public, every eye shall see him (Mat 24:30), he will bring retribution on those who do not know him (2 Thess 1:7-9, Rev 6: 15-17, 11:18, 14:17-20, 19:15) but will be marvelled at by the saints 2 Thess 1:10, Rev 19:6-9. This vision of Christ's second coming is a combination of Dan 7:13 and Zech 12:10. The announcement of Christ's second coming is a major them in the book, this is based on Zec 12:10 see also Mat 24:30, for the church this will bring solace but for the world it will bring judgement. John 19:37 'They will look on the one they have pierced' is also based on Zech 12:10 and uses the same Greek word ekkenteo as in Revelation, the only two times it is used in the NT.
The second coming and the judgement upon mankind is one of the great themes of this book, its first mention is in verse 7 it's last is the penultimate verse of Revelation. In particular the book concerns the events leading up to the second coming. See Mat 24. There are at least twelve references to the second coming of Jesus Christ in the book, the other eleven references are:
- The Church in Sardis 3:3,
- The Church in Philadelphia 3:11,
- Sixth seal 6:12,
- Two witnesses raptured 11:12,
- Harvest of the earth 14:14,
- Sixth bowl, 'Behold, I come like a thief!' 16:15,
- The destruction of Babylon, 17:14.
- The rider on the white horse in Rev 19:11.
- Conclusion of Revelation 22:7, 22:12, 22:20.
v8 - "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." - Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, this should be thought of as the beginning and the end of history, He is the author of history. The seven seals (Rev 5) concern the unfolding of God's plan in history. Revelation shows us that God is sovereign over human history, that God is both the beginning and the end is particularly appropriate to this book. This designation of Alpha and Omega is repeated in 21:6, 22:13. He came to earth and died on the cross (who was), he is now exalted at the right hand of God and intercedes for us (who is) and he is coming again in power and glory to claim his own (who is to come). In Col 1:15-20 we find that all things were created by him and for him, he is the beginning of creation and the firstborn from the dead, being the first to rise from the dead. When he returns he will consummate this present age and the righteous will rise from the dead and there will be a new age with a new heaven and new earth.
1.2 One Like a Son of Man (1:9)
Rev 1:9 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."
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 His head and hair were 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 out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
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 behold 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.
John sees the risen Christ in His glory and is commissioned to write to the seven churches. Paul, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel all had significant visions at the beginning of their ministry. He is told to write what he has seen, what is now and what will take place later. He is also given the interpretation of the seven stars and the seven lampstands.
v9 - 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. - Patient endurance is one of the key words of this book, 13:10, 14:12, it implies patient endurance under persecution. John was a brother and a fellow sufferer with readers of his letter on the island of Patmos who belong to God's kingdom, he is not writing from the comfort of home but as a fellow sufferer, therefore his writing is practical and meaningful. He suffered on the Island of Patmos because he proclaimed the word of God and testified that Jesus is the Christ, this is a repetition of Rev 1:2. Tribulation in the world is part of the life of the Christian as Jesus (John 16:33) and Paul emphasise (Acts 14:22). Ladd points out that our sufferings are 'in Jesus' just as Paul uses the expression 'in Christ', the use of the simple name Jesus calls attention to his life in the flesh. Just as he overcame so we must also overcome. Patient endurance is in contrast to retaliation cf. 1 Pet 2:23.
v10 - On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, - This is wrongly translated in most English versions as 'the Lord's Day', a phrase not used until long after the apostles age. Most scholars believe that John was writing in the year 95 AD, towards the end of the reign of Domitian (81-96 AD). This particular Roman emperor conducted a terrible persecution of all Christians who refused to acknowledge his 'divinity'. On a certain day each year all Roman citizens had to go to their local city shrine, toss some incense on the official altar and declare, 'Caesar is Lord!' This became known as the 'lords day' (Hill). He was also 'in the Spirit' in 4:2, 17:3, 21:10, which could mark four major divisions in the book. Here at the start of the vision he sees the risen Christ, in 4:2 he sees God on His throne, in 17:3 he sees a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, in 21:10 he sees the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.
He was caught up by the Spirit into a state where he lost contact with time and senses and was transported into the invisible world of spiritual realities (Wilson). Compare this with Ezekiel's experience in Ezek 2:2 in which the Spirit came into him and spoke to him and Paul's experience in 2 Cor 12:1 in which he was caught up into heaven. Here the trumpet means listen. The seven trumpets which happen later can be considered as the voice of God to the world.
v11 - 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 was commanded to write what he saw, it was a vision that John saw and he was in the spirit. The message was to be sent to the seven churches of Asia, initially. Seven is the number of divine completeness for God rested on the seventh day of creation, Gen 2:2. The seven churches represent the whole church of Christ, so it is for us also. Just as Paul's letters to the Ephesians, Romans, Corinthians etc. is also for the whole church. The order of the seven churches is geographically in a circular route.
v12 - I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, - The seven golden lampstands, we are told later, are the seven churches v20, each lampstand would have a lamp, the complete church would consist therefore of seven lampstands and with seven lamps (see verse 20). In 4:5 seven lamps are linked to the Spirit of God. Solomon's temple had ten lampstands of pure gold (1 King 7:49), and in Rev 11:4 we find the 'two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth', tie number two standing for the witness of the church.
v13 - 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. - Someone 'like a son of man' is clearly a reference to Christ, it is used of Christ again in 14:14. The expression 'like a son of man' is first used in Dan 7:13. It is also a designation of Christ used in the gospels. 'Son of Man' is used 30 times in Matthew, 14 in Mark, 25 in Luke and 13 in John. Note 'Son of God' is only used 8 times in Matthew, 3 in Mark, 6 in Luke and 6 in John. Christ is among the lampstands, that is, he is among the church, this illustrates Christ's intimacy with His church, as promised in the Great Commission, Mat 28:19, 'And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age'. The golden sash around his waist indicates faithfulness (Isa 11:5), the priesthood also wore sashes (Exo 28:4, 39:29), a prophet could also be clothed like this (Zech 3:4). In 19:13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood and in 19:16 on his robe he has the name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. In Dan 10:5, Daniel saw a man dressed in linen, with a belt of the finest gold around his waist.
v14 - His head and hair were white like wool - This speaks of age, sagacity and wisdom like that of a judge who wears a wig to indicate these characteristics. See Daniel's description of the Ancient of Days whose hair was white like wool (Dan 7:9). In this description of Christ the white hair used by Daniel of God emphasises the divinity of Christ (xxxx).
v14 - and his eyes were like blazing fire. - His eyes were like blazing fire, that is he sees all with piercing clarity and he judges what he sees according to his holiness. He praises what is good and gives correction to what is wrong. He appears again with eyes like blazing fire in the letter to Thyatira in which he is clearly identified as the Son of God, Rev 2:18. This description is repeated in 19:12 when he appears as the rider on the white horse and in Daniel 10:6 we find that he had eyes are like flaming torches. In 5:6 he has seven eyes which are the seven spirits of God sent out to all the earth. In 4:5 seven lamps are blazing which are the seven spirits of God, see 2 Chr 16:9 (For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him)and Zec 4:10 (These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which range throughout the earth.). Our Lord sees everything concerning the seven church, he is fully aware of their condition as indicated by the phase 'I know your deeds' used in most of the seven letters.
v15 - His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. - His feet were of bronze which indicates strength and stability, see Dan 10:6 in which his arms and legs are the gleam of burnished bronze. His voice was like the sound of rushing waters, see Dan 10:6 in which his voice was like the sound of a multitude, also Ezek 1:24, 43:2 in which his voice was like the roar of rushing waters. Part of his self designation used here is also used in the introduction to the letter to the church in Thyatira (2:18).
v16 - In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. - The seven stars he held in his right hand are the angels of the seven churches, v20, to whom the seven letters are addressed, 2:1 etc. The seven stars that Christ holds are also referred to in the letter to the church at Ephesus, 2:1 and the letter to Sardis 3:1. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance which reminds us of the transfigured Christ, Mat 17:2. Paul also experienced the risen Christ, as a bright light, Acts 22:6. There can be no doubt that this refers to the risen Christ in all his glory. Compare to the description of God in 1 Tim 6:16 who dwells in unapproachable light. Isaiah says that the Lord 'made my mouth like a sharpened sword', Isa 49:2
v16 - and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword, - A double-edged sword (rhomphia) is a reference to the word of God, see Heb 4:12, Eph 6:17. Compare the description given here with that of the rider on the white horse in Rev 19:15, 21 out of his mouth came a sharp sword (rhomphia) to judge the world. In 2:12 he is described as him who has the sharp two-edged sword (rhomphia) and in 2:16 he will fight against those in the church at Pergamum who do not repent with the two-edged sword (rhomphia). Compare with Isa 11:4 'He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked'. This sword has to do with judgement, of the church and of the world.
v17 - 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. - When John saw him he saw Christ's glory and fell at his feet because of the unworthiness of his humanity. This occurred three times to Daniel when he saw a mighty angel, he had to be strengthened because he was so overcome by what he saw, Dan 8:18, 10:9, 10:18. Jesus places his right hand on John to comfort and strengthen him. Jesus used the phrase 'do not be afraid' after his resurrection, Mat 28:10. The phrase 'I am the First and the Last' is a divine title quoted from Isa 44:6, 48:12. The Christ is the first and the last, this description is used in the introduction to the letter to the church in Smyrna, in 21:6 he is described as the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, this is repeated in Rev 22:13, it again emphasises his divinity.
v18 - I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!, And I hold the keys of death and Hades. - This is a clear reference to his life, death and resurrection and emphasises that Christ is alive for ever and ever. Having died and risen from the dead and visited Hades the abode of the dead (1 Pet 3:18) he has authority over both (xxxx). He has authority over the book of life that determines each mans destiny (3:5). The designation the 'First and the Last, who died and came to life again' is used by Christ to introduce the letter to the church in Smyrna, its particular relevance to them is that they were about to undergo a period of persecution and even martyrdom (2:8). It emphasises that just as Christ lived, died and rose again that if we die we will also rise again when he comes, because he lives so we will live (John 14:19) and he will raise us up at the last day (John 6:40).
v19 - "Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. - Jesus is the Beginning and the End and therefore he is supremely qualified to tell John what will take place later since he knows what the end will be (xxxx). John was therefore commanded by Christ to write, this books author was Christ, John is the scribe. He is told to write what he has seen, what is now and what will take place later. This offers us another clue to the interpretation of Revelation, the Revelation shows John his previous vision of Christ (what you have seen), the present, that is the letters to the seven churches (what is now) and the future (what will take place later). It is not specifically the distant future although it includes the end time events. Rev 4:1 introduces the future and marks a major division in the book. The letters individually to the seven churches are 'what is now'.
v20 - 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. - Christ now unveils the mystery of the seven stars and seven lampstands as promised in the first verse of Revelation. God is a revealer of mysteries to his servants, Dan 2:29, 2:47, and does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets, Amos 3:7. This is the first illustration of the self interpretation of Revelation. i.e. seven lampstands are symbolic of the seven churches. Christ shows us that Revelation is a symbolic book and therefore we must interpret the symbols in order to understand its message, Jesus gives us the keys to interpreting the book by interpreting these symbols here. Jesus is the only light (lamp) in the darkness in the world and the church bears this light before the world and is therefore a lampstand (compare with Mat 5:15 in which a lamp is put on a lampstand). We should note that the church is a lampstand (Gr. luchnia) and not the lamp (Gr. luchnos), the lamp is the Holy Spirit (see 4:5) and Jesus (21:33), the church is the repository for the lamp, she is indwelt by the Holy Spirit. The same idea is expressed in the two witnesses in which the Holy Spirit is the oil (11:4). We also find that the Lamb is the Lamp of the New Jerusalem (see 21:23 also 22:5), see note on 21:23. We are earthen vessels the surpassing glory we hold is Christ (2 Cor 4:6-7). In Mat 5:14 Jesus says that 'you are the light (Gr. phos) of the world' to his disciples meaning as witnessing to Jesus, the church is the body of Christ on the earth, his hands, his voice etc. The lampstands are made of gold indicating the preciousness of the church in God's sight, the new Jerusalem is also made of gold. As we see Christ in his risen glory so we are to reflect this and show it to the world. His glory is already described in Rev 1:16, see 2 Cor 3:18. In 4:5 we find seven lamps blazing before the throne of God which are the seven spirits of God, therefore the symbol of the church as a lampstand is also a church indwelt by the Holy Spirit (the seven lamps of the lampstand), John perhaps has in mind a lampstand with seven lamps used for illumination in the Holy place (Exo 25:31-40, Num 8:2) indicating the whole church. Compare also the two lampstands in 11:4 who are also two olive trees indicating that the church in its witness to the world is empowered by the Holy Spirit (cf. Zec 4:1 ff.). The symbol of the church as a lampstand is an apt one because her duty is to be a bearer of light to the world, to show forth Jesus, we see this in the description of the two witnesses who are empowered by the Holy Spirit to witness in power to the world (11:4). The witness of the church in the life and in the death of its members is a theme that runs throughout the book (2:13, 6:9, 12:11, 12:17, 19;10, 20:4).
Christ interprets the seven stars in his right hand as the angels of the seven churches which is almost as enigmatic as seven stars. The fifth trumpet shows us a star that had fallen from the sky to earth and is almost certainly Satan (9:1). In 12:4 the dragon's tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to earth, this is probably a reference to the angels that fell with Satan. The letters to the seven churches are each addressed to the angel of that church, note that angel (Gr. angelos) means messenger. Exo 23:20-23 refers to an angel that was to guard the Israelites as they went across the desert, to guide them to the land God was taking them to. Daniel refers to the prince of the Persian kingdom, no doubt an evil angel, who resisted the angel who came to bring Daniel a message, he was helped by Michael who is the great prince who protects Daniel's people (Dan 10:13, 21, 12:1), Michael is likely to be the archangel Michael referred to in Jude 1:9 and Rev 1:7. We are told that believing children have angels in heaven who always see the face of God (Mat 18:10). In Revelation we find the angel of the abyss (9:11), the angel in charge of the fire (14:18) and the angel in charge of the waters (16:5). Therefore it is quite possible that each church has its own angel.
An alternative solution is given in Mal 2:7 in which a priest who gives instruction is the messenger of the Lord Almighty, an angel is a messenger. See also Dan 12:3 in which those who lead many to righteousness shall shine like the stars forever and in Jude 1:13 false teachers are called 'wandering stars'. The fact that the letters are written to the angel of the church implies that the angel has authority over the church, so the leader of the church is the most meaningful interpretation. Ramsey argues that the angels represent Christ's delegated authority to the churches, he hold the seven stars in his right hand, representing the seat of power, they are part of the description of Christ himself. Thomas postulates the most plausible view that the angels are human messengers who are representative of the church and posses no unique leadership function, citing as evidence Epaphroditus and Epaphras, representing churches in Philippi and Colosse who went to Rome to offer help to the prisoner Paul while he was under house arrest (Phil 2:25, 4:18, Col 4:12). The Greek word angelos is also used frequently enough to refer to human messengers (e.g., Matt 11:10, Luke 7:24, 9:52, James 2:25). Thomas goes on to say that Christ's explanation of the stars informed John that they stood for seven visitors to Patmos, either already present or soon to arrive, men who come to help John but will return home with a specific mission to the churches that sent them. They will be bearer of a message to their own city as part of the larger package of the whole contents of the Apocalypse.
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