Christ, the Revelation of Revelation pt.2

Rev.1:9-16

    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 wool, as white as 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.

1- John’s Humiliation (1:9-10)

John opens our passage with an amazing statement.  He says that if one is in Christ, he/she is a partner in the gospel.

Context- According to the church father, Jerome, the apostle John, took up a lengthy ministry in Ephesus .  At some point John was banished to a rocky island called Patmos . It is described as being rugged, and volcanic. It is in the midst of this imprisonment that John writes this book. 

John is taken up into the presence of Christ. John was taken to a different realm of consciousness, one that would allow him to see the visions and to experience sights that a normal person, in the physical realm, could not behold. 

2- Christ’s Exaltation ( 1:12 -16)

John turns to see the One speaking to him. To John’s amazement it is His Lord.

A- John Sees Christ the Supreme Ruler

One like a son of man (cf. Dan. 7:13 -14)

In this text Jesus is declared to have dominion over all nations. That is John’s assessment as well.

When John uses this phrase he has in mind dominion, authority and kingly power. One authorized to rule supremely.  This King stands among His churches fanning the flame and trimming the wicks.  He is the supreme ruler of the churches.  This is exactly why, in chapters 2 & 3, Christ can order the churches to repent.  He alone has authority to do so.  He alone is the supreme ruler of His churches.

B- John Sees Christ the Great High Priest

clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.

Jesus Christ is the great high priest that brought to an end all the priestly work of the temple.

This glorious One who controls galaxies stands among the lampstands…He stands in authority of the churches and of Bigelow Church . What is Christ finding as he monitors Bigelow Church ?  Will we obey? If necessary, will we repent?

C- John Sees the Deity of Christ ( 1:14 -16)

Christ wants His churches to understand that He is God. The hairs of his head were white like wool, as white as snow. We see the dignity, wisdom, and eternity of Christ.  (cf. Daniel 7:9)

Then John describes another feature of Christ. His eyes were like a flame of fire, The eyes of Christ penetrate deep into the hearts of all people. 

[15] his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, Jesus Christ will totally crush His enemies.  His feet are ready to smash the dominion of darkness.  John wants the church to see the power of Christ to execute judgment on His enemies.

As Jesus speaks to John, John notices something about His voice. His voice was like the roar of many waters. 

This is the voice we at Bigelow Church must hear.  This is the voice of our Lord and Savior.  This is the voice of King Jesus who is sovereign over all the churches. 

Not only does John notice the power that Christ has in His voice but he also is shown that the Words of Christ will judge His enemies.  Jesus doesn’t have to do anything more than speak and His Words will cut down His enemies.  His words penetrate like a double-edged sword. (cf. Hebrews 4:12-16)

If we are going to be effective in this present evil age as the church, we must fix our gaze on the glorious Christ. 

The big picture here in this passage is that of the glorious Christ coming to purge His churches.  His will is always accomplished.  What is the will of Christ?  His will is for His churches to hear his voice through the commands He gives in Scripture and then to obey, repenting if necessary.  What about Bigelow Church ?