REVELATION 1
JOHN’S VISION OF JESUS’ TRIUMPH + RETURN
Revealing an image of the future, God sends an angel to John with a prophetic message. John begins by saying that those who read and believe this message from God will be blessed.
Throughout his letter, John addresses seven churches throughout Asia Minor, writing to both encourage and correct them. Referring to Jesus, John speaks of the one who is and who was and who is to come. John wants the readers to know the presence of Jesus—past, present, and future.
John praises Jesus, giving Him glory for freeing believers from sin. Through Jesus, God has established a new faith and calls believers the kingdom of priests. When Jesus returns, He will arrive on clouds, similarly described during His ascension (Acts 1). Upon His arrival, every eye will see Him, even those responsible for His death.
John was imprisoned on the Greek island of Patmos when he received a vision from the Holy Spirit. John hears a loud voice calling him to record what he witnessed, and send the message to the seven churches in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.
When John turns to see the voice speaking to him, he sees seven golden lampstands, similar to the vision of the prophet Zechariah (See Zechariah 4). Similarly, the lampstand or menorah within the temple have seven branches (See Exodus 25).
In the midst of the lampstands, John sees the Son of Man, a name referring to Jesus, clothed in a long white robe with a golden sash. The man has stark white hair and eyes like flames. His feet are bronze, and His voice is like roaring waters. He holds seven stars in His right hand and His face is shining like the sun.
This vision shares similar qualities to the prophet Ezekiel’s vision of a bronze man with a measuring tool (See Ezekiel 40). Both Zechariah and Ezekiel’s visions are representative of rebuilding the temple. In John’s vision, God is beginning to reveal His plans to rebuild the new heavens and new earth, God’s final dwelling place.
In the vision, John describes the mouth of the man as a sharp two-edged sword, the same image that Paul uses to describe God’s Word in Ephesians 6. This man, an image of Jesus, has the image of truth as His tongue–Jesus’ words are true and trustworthy!
Upon seeing the man, John falls at His feet in awe. The man tells him not to fear, for he had previously died, but is now alive. The man was victorious over death, now holding the keys to hell in His hands. Not only did He defeat death, He defeated all sin and evil. The man clarifies that the seven stars are representative of the angelic messengers to the seven churches that John is to address.
