Read the following scriptures from the pen of John the writer to better understand
how well John knew Jesus. John was the only penman who called Jesus "The Word" and "The
Lamb". Rev. 7 seven times John refers to Jesus as a lamb.
John 1:1 In the
beginning was the Word, and the Word
was with God, and the Word was God.
29 The next
day he (John the Baptist) saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin
of the world!
35-36 The next
day again John (the Baptist) was standing with two of his disciples,36 and
he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!"
Revelation 1:9 I, John, your brother and partner in the
tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on
the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of
Jesus.
*Patmos was a rocky volcanic island
prison where political prisoners were kept. John was the last living disciple.
He was banished because of his witness for Christ and refusal to bow down to
the emperor. In his exile John had plenty of quiet time with God. God helps us
in our greatest need.
·
Jacob was sent
away from home after Esau, his twin brother, threatened to kill him. In his
exile he met God at Bethel.
·
Moses fled to
the desert after he killed an Egyptian taskmaster who was beating an Israelite
slave. In his forty year exile he saw the burning bush.
·
Elijah heard the
still quiet voice of God while he was running from Queen Jezebel after God
defeated all the prophets of Baal and 950 priests were slaughtered.
·
Daniel lived in
Babylon as a captive in his youth. The interpreter of dreams saw the Ancient of
Days when he was in exile.
Sometimes God must get us alone before He can reveal Himself
to us.
Revelation 1:10-11 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a
trumpet11 saying, "Write what you see in a book and send it to
the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira
and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea."
The word Spirit with a capital “S”
refer to the Holy Spirit. In Revelation all three parts of the Trinity will be
present. Sometimes they blend together. Pay close attention to the descriptions
John writes and we can discuss why we believe it is an angel or God or Jesus.
On the Lord’s day refers not to the
Sabbath commanded by Jews to rest after a week of work. From sundown Friday until three stars appear in the sky on
Saturday night is Shabbat for the Jews. The word "Shabbat" comes from
the root Shin-Bet-Tav, meaning to cease, to end, or to rest. The
Lord's Day in Christianity is generally Sunday, the day of
communal worship. It is observed by most Christians as the weekly memorial of
the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is said in the canonical Gospels to have
been witnessed alive from the dead early on the first day of
the week.
Revelation 1:12-16
12 Then I
turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven
golden lampstands,
13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of
man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.
14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool,
like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire,
15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters.
16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his
face was like the sun shining in full strength.
Show
Pictures Look at the picture representation from in Daniel and this one
Do you see any similarity?
·
Seven
golden lampstands (sevens in Rev.) 12 times in Chapter 1; 36 times in Rev.
·
Clothed in
long robe and a golden sash
Christ had on the robe of a high
priest, but the girdle He wore around His chest was made of gold, which denotes
the dignity of an important office and signifies His office as our Great High
Priest
Hebrews 7:26-27 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a
high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted
above the heavens.27 He has no need, like those high priests, to
offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the
people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself
·
Hair white
as snow, eyes like a flame of fire White as snow symbolizes
purity. Christ is pictured as a judge
and Conqueror over the Antichrist and mankind. His eyes of fire symbolize
perfect discernment.
·
Feet like
burnished bronze, refined in a furnace (reference Daniel) Christ's feet were "like unto fine brass". Brass, a
strong, purified metal which results from intense heat, denotes the purity and
power with which Christ will bring judgment upon the ungodly of the earth.This
brass indicates the great strength and steadfastness of Jesus. Brass also means
judgment and Jesus is the Judge.
·
Voice-roar
of many waters
Ezekiel 43:2 2 And behold, the glory of the God of
Israel was coming from the east. And the sound of his coming was like the sound
of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory.
Seven stars in right hand, Right hand is the preferential blessing. It was a double
blessing. These seven stars are the ministers of the churches. He calls
them stars, because they must shine
in the world. They reflect His Light to
the world. The darker the area, the more important it is to shine His
Light, so that those in darkness can come to the Light.
Mouth a sharp two-edged
sword This Bible is the two-edged sword, (law and grace) is the
only weapon that God's people need. The Bible itself says, "piercing
even to the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit"
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged
sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow,
and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
The Word separates good and evil. The cutting edge
of the Word sometimes even separates families. One who believes the Word cannot
go back to their old sinful lives, and this divides families and friends
sometimes.
Face was like the sun shining in full strength. Have you
ever tried to look at the sky when the sun is so bright? Imagine the strength
the brightness of a God who created the SUN. Christ is standing in the midst of
the lampstands .Jesus here is standing in the midst
of the churches. Judgment begins at the house of God. Jesus has overcome Satan
and the demons. We know the Word says that Satan, his demons, and all who
reject Jesus have been judged; and they truly will spend an eternity in hell
(furnace).
Revelation 1:17-18
17When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But
he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear
not, I am the first and the last,18 and the living one. I died, and
behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your
God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My
righteous.
179 times in the
bible. Jesus repeatedly taught his disciples not to fear. (31 in NT) Not in the raging storm, not those that kill
the body, not fulfilling His work.
First and the last, Revelation 1: 8 Alpha and Omega is
the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Christ was describing Himself
as being the eternal, complete, revelation of God and He was commanding John to
write what he would see in a book to be preserved for the Church.
The living one: Jesus is our risen savior. He is alive forevermore and
we shall live with Him forevermore.
I have the keys of Death and Hades.
Christ defeated death. Hades is the place of souls who are
not believers. Jesus told the thief on the cross; “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Believers immediately are
in the presence of the LORD.
Revelation 1:19-20
19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those
that are and those that are to take place after this.
John is commanded to write down everything that is sees.
Things that are taking place now and in the future.
20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden
lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven
lampstands are the seven churches.
QUESTIONS FOR VERSES 9-20 from Executible Outlines
10) How does John identify
himself to His readers? (9a)
11) Where and when did
John receive the Revelation? (9b-10)
12) What did he hear a
loud voice say? (11)
13) When he turned to see
the voice, what did he see? (12-13)
14) How does John describe
the Son of Man? (13-16)
15) What was John's
reaction when he saw Him? What was he first told? (17)
16) How does the Son of
Man identify Himself? (17-18)
17) What was John told to
write? (19)
18) What is the
explanation of the seven stars and seven golden lampstands? (20)
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