THURSDAY
The last couple of days, we have looked at John’s introduction. Now we come to the beginning of John’s vision. This vision sets the tone for the whole book:
Revelation 1:9-16 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. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 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.” 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. 17 When 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. 19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. 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.
Again, if you get nothing else from Revelation, my prayer is that this image of Jesus glorified will be burned into your mind’s eye. In his first appearing he was a humble, suffering servant. Now he is holding stars and his face is shining like the sun in its full strength!
Today let’s examine the vision.
- The lampstands - these are said to be the seven churches in v. 20. Interestingly, Jesus is standing in the midst of the churches. Jesus dwells in the midst of his people.
- The long robe and golden sash - signifying his greatness, his dignity and his majesty. It may also reflect his priestly ministry as the Jewish priests would wear a long robe as well.
- White hair - John emphasizes this by adding two phrases: like white wool and like snow. White symbolizes purity, God’s presence and victory. Jesus is perfectly holy, God in flesh and victorious over sin and death. This is similar to a vision of God that Daniel has in Daniel 7:9. Again, this emphasizes Jesus’ divinity.
- Eyes like fire - see also 19:12; 2:18; Dan. 10:6. This symbolizes his ability to see reality beneath the surface. Nothing is hidden from him. He knows the truth extensively.
- Feet like bronze - see also Ez. 1:7; Dan. 10:6. The meaning of this isn’t totally certain but it’s what Daniel sees in his vision. It likely implies his strength and stability or his ability to defeat his enemies or his purity and holiness. The emphasis is likely that he is the judge of all creation.
- Voice like the roar of waters - compare to Ezekiel 43:3. This emphasizes his power, glory and majesty.
- Stars - these are later said to be the angels (ministering spirits) of the seven churches. Jesus in authority over the angels. There are also depictions of Roman emperors, Domitian and Hadrian, with stars in their hands on coins. This emphasized that they were rulers of all the earth. Again, this is a not so subtle dig. Jesus is ruler of not only earth, but heaven as well.
- Sword from his mouth - see also Isa. 49:2; Rev. 19:15; Heb. 4:12; 2 Thess. 2:8. This is a clear reference to his words. We cannot mistake this for an actual weapon of war. He defeats his enemies with his word, the truth. We will return to this image in chapter 19.
- Face like the sun - like Moses whose face shone after being in the presence of the Lord, Jesus shines like the sun in himself. This emphasizes his glory and beauty. We just had an eclipse this summer. Experts were sure to remind us not to look at it without protective eye equipment because that amount of light can damage your eyes. That’s how bright Jesus looked.
This letter was to be read and probably acted out to John’s original audience. The deliverer of this letter was likely a good actor. I imagine his voice would get loud and boom as he says Jesus’ voice was like the roar of waters. His gaze would pierce the audience as he tells them Jesus’ eyes were like fire. He would project his hands from his face like rays of sun as he describes Jesus’ face.
Reflection
To read Revelation well, we will need to activate our imaginations. I know our imaginations and ability to visualize things like this have been stifled by the myriad of images we see every day in media. We don’t have to work to imagine anymore. So let’s exercise your imaginations as we read this book. This is what apocalyptic literature does.
Read this description again and as you do close your eyes and do your best to imagine it.