THE COMMISSION OF THE APOSTLE JOHN’S WRITINGS AND
THE VISION OF THE GLORIFIED CHRIST AND
HIS PRESENCE IN THE MIDST OF HIS CHURCHES
Revelation 1:9-20
As taught by Dave Lindstrom
I. The Apostle John gives the historical setting as well as his commission to write the book of Revelation (Rev. 1:9-11)
A. John tells his Christian readers and hearers that he is their fellow brother (they are all in the same family of God in Christ). He also explains to them that they share fellowship together (Greek “koinonia”) in three areas: 1) suffering (Greek “thlipsis,” distress, ordeal); 2) kingdom (as believers we are now part of Christ’s kingdom (Matthew 28:18-20; John 12:12-16) and await Christ’s completed kingdom reign (Rev. 19:11-22:5); 3) patient endurance (Greek “hupomona,” remaining under), as Christians we call upon Yahweh to help us to remain a faithful witness through the trials and temptations of this world we are in (I Cor. 10:13; Rev. 1:9a).
B. John had been exiled to the island of Patmos and writes Revelation from there (Rev. 1:9b).
1. The historian Eusebius confirms that the Apostle John was banished to the island of Patmos in the fourteenth year of Roman Emperor Domitian’s reign (95 A.D.).
2. It was an island 10 miles long and 6 miles wide 37 miles off the coast of Miletus. It became a penal colony area for Rome but also had a decent population of citizens on the island, two gymnasia and a temple of Artemis.
3. There is presently a cave near the top of the island marked off as a shrine where it is thought that John received his visions and wrote the book of Revelation. He probably did this while looking out on the deep blue waters of the Aegean Sea.
4. He had been banished because of his teaching and preaching the Word of God and for being a witness of Jesus Christ.
5. Emperor Domitian died in 96 A.D., a general amnesty for the exiles were given, and it is believed that John returned to Ephesus.
THOUGHT: Right now, we as believers share a life in Christ’s Kingdom that has trouble and needs patient endurance. However, as we are faithful to our individual callings, Yahweh accomplishes His Kingdom purposes in and through us. Look at the example of the Apostle John!
C. John explains how he received his calling and commission to write the book of Revelation in a manner similar to an Old Testament prophet (Rev. 1:10,11; Ezek. 2:2, 3:12, 14, 24; Dan. 7:1,15).
1. John’s commission happened on the Lord’s Day. Scripture and church history helps us to understand this as Sunday (John 20:19, 26; Acts 20:7;
I Cor. 11:20; 16:2).
2. John’s commission happened while he was in the Spirit. This seems to be another way of saying that he was given the Holy Spirit’s understanding in his spirit through supernatural means (Rev. 4:2, 17:3, 21:10).
3. John heard his commission from a loud voice (probably Christ’s see also Rev. 1:19). It sounded to him like a trumpet which many times is used in Scripture to alert, warn, and prepare God’s people (Matt. 24:31;
I Cor. 15:52; I Thes. 4:16).
4. John was to write this book on a scroll to seven churches in Asia Minor which would now be in modern day Turkey.
a. This scroll would have been on a papyrus scroll and on completion might have spanned 17 feet rolled out.
b. The seven churches were probably selected because they were well known to the Apostle John, they were postal distribution centers, and they each showed important church issues (which churches for all time could relate to).
c. It seemed to be that the book would first go to Ephesus where it would be copied and then sent off to the next destination. After all seven churches copied their scroll, it was then probably sent to other Christian churches where it became widely known.
THOUGHT: Christianity is both supernatural and rational at the same time. The commission, writing, and distribution of Revelation shows both/and not either/or.
II. The Apostle John’s vision of the glorified Christ (Rev. 1:12-20).
A. Someone “like a son of man” is seen among or in the midst of a golden seven- branched lampstand which represents the seven churches (Rev. 1:12, 13a).
1. The coming Messiah (anointed one) is prophesied in Daniel 7:13 as “someone like the son of man” and while on earth Jesus called Himself the “Son of Man” (Luke 5:24, 6:5, 17:22, 24, 26, 30). Now in Revelation, John picks up this theme for our glorified Jesus Christ.
2. The golden seven-branched lampstand comes from the Old Testament lampstands found in the Jewish Tabernacle and Temples (Ex.25:31-40) and from the prophet Zechariah (Zech. 4:2 already used in Rev. 1:4 and will be used again in Rev. 11:4). The lampstand was the structure which supported the oil which could be lit and give light to an area. In the New Testament, Christ’s church is Yahweh’s light to this world (Matt. 5:14).
THOUGHT: It is interesting that the churches vision of the glorified Christ, after a time of over 60 years from the time of Acts, finds Jesus actively among His churches. We are not alone!
B. John next describes features of the glorified Son of Man (Rev. 1:13b-16).
1. John describes Jesus’ clothes, head and hair, eyes, feet, voice, right hand, mouth and face in which reveals the majesty of the King-Judge-Messiah of Isaiah 22:21, 22, Daniel 7:9-14, and Daniel 10:5, 6.
2. A ruler or dignitary wore a long robe with a golden sash around the chest as opposed to a day laborer whose robe would have been tucked in with the sash around his waist (Rev. 15:6). The white hair and blazing eyes speaks of Christ’s wisdom to judge (Daniel 7:9). The glowing feet show Christ’s ability to conquer and purify (Ezek. 1:13, 27). The voice of many waters demonstrates Christ’s awesome power and glory (Ezek. 43:2), His right hand held seven stars which are interpreted for us as seven angels evidently assigned to each of the seven churches (Rev. 1:20; Dan. 12:1; angels are always real angels in the rest of the book). His mouth with the double- edged sword expresses Christ’s ability to conquer, judge, and rebuke by the power of His Words, Word and faithfulness to His Father’s will (Isa. 11:4; Rev. 12:10, 11; 19:13-15). Finally, Christ’s amazingly bright shining face reveals His divine splendor and glory (Matt. 17:2).
C. This glorified Christ which the Apostle John has just seen is the very same one which was prophesied to come and the one who has accomplished the salvation of all who have and will believe (Rev. 1:17-20).
1. The Apostle John is strengthened by the glorified Christ after seeing this supernatural amazing sight (verse 17a; Matt. 17:6, 7).
2. Jesus proclaims Himself as the First and the Last revealing Himself to be the prophesied Old Testament’s King and Messiah (verse 17b; Isa. 44:6).
3. Jesus proclaims His own death, burial, and resurrection as the basis and power of His authority just as He has always done (verse 18a; John 5:19-30, 11:25; Matt. 28:18-20).
4. Jesus proclaims that because of His faithfulness to this plan of redemption that He now possesses the keys to death and Hades (the place of the dead which was Sheol in the Old Testament) (verse 18b; Isa. 53:4-12; John 5:38; Matt. 16:18, 19; John 5:38).
5. The Apostle John is again told to write this message of the glorified Christ which will include the things which he has seen (visions and instructions) for both the current and future time periods (verses 19, 20).
