VISION ONE, 1:9–3:22
9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,[1]
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VISION ONE, 1:9–3:22 |
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II. The Messages of the Glorified Christ to
the Seven Churches, 1:9–3:22 |
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A. The Son of Man, the Glorified Christ, 1:9–20 |
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1.
The setting—PatmosDS1 a.
John
was a brother & companion to the believers 1)
In
trials 2)
In
the kingdom 3)
In
perseverance b.
John
received the Word on the island of Patmos |
9 I John,
who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom
and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the
word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
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c.
John
was in a spiritual trance on the Lord’s DayDS2 2. The Lord’s loud, trumpeting voice: He gave instructions |
10 I was
in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a
trumpet, |
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a.
John was to write what he saw in a book b. John was to send the book to the seven churches in Asia |
11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and,
What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and
unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto
Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. |
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3.
The
Lord’s presence in the midst of the seven golden lampstands or the churches,
v.
20 |
12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being
turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; |
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4.
The
Lord’s awesome & frightening appearance a.
With a long robe b.
With a gold breastplate wrapped around His
chest |
13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed
with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden
girdle. |
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c.
With hair like white wool, as white as snow d.
With eyes like a blazing fire |
14 His head and his
hairs were white like wool, as
white as snow; and his eyes were as
a flame of fire; |
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e.
With feet like glowing bronze f.
With a voice like the sound of rushing waters |
15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a
furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. |
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g.
With seven stars in His right-hand h.
With a sword in His mouth i.
With His face shining like the sun |
16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his
mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. |
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5.
The
Lord’s reassuring presence a.
John’s terrified reaction b.
Jesus’ calm assurance c.
Jesus’ identification 1)
He is God—the First & the Last |
17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid
his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the
last: |
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2)
He is
the resurrected, living Lord 3)
He is the Judge of the universe |
18 I am he that
liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the
keys of hell and of death. |
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6.
The
Lord’s clear instructions |
19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which
are, and the things which shall be hereafter; |
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7.
The
Lord’s interpretation of the vision a.
The seven stars: Are seven pastors b.
The seven lampstands: Are seven churches |
20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right
hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of
the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the
seven churches. |
B. THE PROMPTING FOR THE BOOK
Here we look at what inspired and prompted and enabled John to write what we know as the book of Revelation.
1.
The Commissioned in the Prompting (Rev. 1:9, 10, 17)
Some details are given of the person commissioned to write the book of Revelation.
• The person for the commission. “I
John” (Revelation 1:9). This is the
third time the Apostle John has his name mentioned in this first chapter (cp. Revelation 1:1 and 1:4
for the first two times). He will have his name mentioned twice more at
the end of the book. There is no doubt as to who wrote the book of Revelation
with these mentions of his name.
• The profession of the commissioned. “Your
brother” (Revelation 1:9). This means
John was a believer. He professed Jesus as the Christ. Jesus Christ was his
Savior.
• The participating of the commissioned. “Companion
in tribulation” (Revelation 1:9). The
word translated “companion” means
“participant with others.” John partook of persecution sufferings just as his
fellow believers did. Though a highly esteemed believer, he was not exempt from
persecution. “Tribulation” here is
not ordinary trials but the special trials of the persecuted. The reign of the
Roman Emperor Domitian (which was during this time) resulted in especially
cruel persecutions to believers.
• The prospects of the commissioned. “In
the kingdom” (Revelation 1:9). Living
under a wretched government helps the believer to focus on the future kingdom
of Christ. The believer’s best days are ahead. But suffering often precedes
blessing.
• The patience of the commissioned. “Patience
of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 1:9). It
takes much patience for believers to realize the promises. Believers “through faith and patience inherit the
promises” (Hebrews 6:12). “Be patient … unto the coming of the Lord”
(James 5:7).
• The place of the commissioned. “Was
in the isle that is called Patmos” (Revelation
1:9). What Satan would use to silence the cause of Christ, God used to
further the cause of Christ. First, the character of the place. “Isle that is called Patmos” (Revelation 1:9). This was a small barren island in
the Aegean Sea, about fifty miles southwest of Ephesus, used to exile the Roman
ruler’s enemies. Christians were the rulers’ prime enemies. Second, the cause
for the place “For the word of God, and
for the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation
1:9). Loyalty to the Written Word and Incarnate Word caused John to be
banished to Patmos. The world does not give much honor to loyalty to God. They
honor evil men, not good men.
• The piety of the commissioned. The piety of John was exceptional. First,
in his devotion. “I was in the
Spirit on the Lord’s day” (Revelation 1:10).
This is not “the day of the Lord” but the first day of the week which after the
resurrection became the day of worship for the believers. “It is not the Holy
Spirit as a Person, nor our own spirit that is referred to, but … a
characteristic state, a state characterized by the Holy Ghost, and one in which
the human spirit and the whole inner being were for the time absorbed” (Scott).
The failure of many to be of this “Spirit”
on Sunday results in many activities (such as sports and business) which blunts
spiritual interest and leads to delinquency in spiritual activities and
responsibilities. Second, in his deference “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead” (Revelation 1:17). John’s respect for the Savior
was so great that he was overcome by His majestic presence. Not many folk get
that awed about Christ and God in our day.
• The privilege for the commissioned. “Heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet” (Revelation 1:10). This begins the Divine revelation to John. Do not separate “being in the Spirit on the Lord’s day” from “heard … a great voice.” Spiritual privilege and revelation comes to the devoted, not to the carnal and disinterested.[2]
DIVISION II
THE MESSAGES OF THE
GLORIFIED CHRIST TO THE
SEVEN CHURCHES, 1:9–3:22
A. The Son of Man, the Glorified Christ, 1:9–20
(1:9–20) Introduction: this is the first vision that Christ gives John. It is a vision of Christ Himself, of Christ in His glory and exaltation. It is in this vision that the glorified Christ proclaims His message to the seven churches. But before He speaks to the churches, Christ gives John a glimpse of Himself. Christ wants believers down through the centuries to know who it is that has given these messages to the churches. Christ wants all believers to know that the message to the churches is coming from the Supreme Majesty of the universe, from One who must be heeded, from One who possesses all power and knowledge, from One who can provide and protect, assure and secure, judge and destroy. This is the vision of the Author of Revelation, of the One who has given us this awesome message of Revelation. This is the vision of the Son of Man, the glorified Christ Himself.
1.
The setting—Patmos (vv.9–10).
2.
The Lord’s loud, trumpeting voice giving
instructions (vv.10–11).
3.
The Lord’s presence in the midst of the seven
golden lampstands or the churches (vv.12–13).
4.
The Lord’s awesome and frightening appearance (vv.13–16).
5.
The Lord’s reassuring presence (vv.17–18).
6.
The Lord’s clear instructions (v.19).
7. The Lord’s interpretation of the vision (v.20).
1 (1:9–10)
John the Apostle—Patmos: the setting
for the vision was the island of Patmos (below see Deeper
Study # 1, Patmos—Re. 1:9). John says three things.
1. He calls
himself a brother and a companion to the believers of the churches. By brother he means that he is a believer
even as they are believers. They are brothers in the family of God, brothers to
the Lord Jesus Christ and to one another, all having been adopted into the
family of God. By companion John
means that he has lived among the believers. He has walked day by day in their
midst as a companion with them. But note: John had a particular experience in
mind. He had been a companion with them in their …
·
day-by-day tribulations: trials, afflictions,
persecutions, sufferings, pressure
·
day-by-day seeking after the kingdom: looking
for the kingdom of God, longing and seeking after it
·
day-by-day patience: enduring and persevering
against all trials and temptations; standing fast in looking for and seeking
after the kingdom of God
V
“But he
that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” (Mt. 24:13).
V
“We must
through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God” (Ac. 14:22).
V “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us” (2 Ti. 2:12).
2. John says that he was on the island of Patmos when Christ gave him the visions of Revelation. Note: he says that he was there for the cause of Christ; that is, he had been banished or exiled to the island for preaching the Word of God and the testimony of Christ (below see Deeper Study # 1, Patmos—Re. 1:9).
3. John says that he was in the spirit on the Lord’s day. The Lord’s day undoubtedly means Sunday, the first day of the week, the day that Christ was raised from the dead. In the spirit means that Christ put John in a trance, that He gave John a deep spiritual experience that lifted his mind and spirit above this world and put him in the very presence of Christ Himself.
Thought 1. Note how God met John’s
need. John was alone, stranded on an island that was as barren and isolated as
could be. Imagine being alone—banished from society, loved ones, and friends.
But John knew Christ and Christ met his need.
V
“Lo, I am
with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Mt.
28:20).
V
“Let your
conversation [behavior] be without covetousness; and be content with such
things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”
(He. 13:5).
V
“Casting
all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1
Pe. 5:7).
V “Fear thou not; For I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” (Is. 41:10).
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DEEPER STUDY # 1 (1:9) Patmos: this was the island to which John the Apostle was
banished. Ø
It sat out at sea only about forty miles from the
great city of Ephesus. Ø
It sat in the midst of a group of islands
called the Sporades. Ø
It was only about ten miles long and six miles
wide. Ø
It was an isolated, barren, rocky island with
hills rising to about one thousand feet. There is little question about John being banished to the island for preaching the gospel of Christ. William Barclay gives abundant evidence for this. It was the unanimous tradition of the
early Church that John was banished to the island of Patmos in the reign of
Domitian. Tertullian says: “The apostle John was
banished to the island” (On the Prescription of
Heretics, 36). Ø
Origen
says: ‘The Roman Emperor, as tradition tells us, condemned John to the island
of Patmos for witnessing to the word of truth’ (Homilies
on Matthew). Ø
Clement of
Alexandria tells us: “On the death of the tyrant John returned to Ephesus
from the island of Patmos” (The Rich Man’s
Salvation, 42). Ø Jerome says that John was banished in the fourteenth year after Nero and liberated on the death of Domitian (Concerning Illustrious Men, 9). This would mean that John was banished to Patmos about A.D. 94 and that he was liberated about A.D. 96. (What Barclay says is outlined for clarity. The Revelation of John, Vol.1. “The Daily Study Bible.” Philadelphia, PA: The Westminster Press, 1959, p.51.) Thought 1. In the darkest hours of
human need, God is always there. God will meet us if we will only cast
ourselves upon Him and call for Him. This was true with John when he was
exiled, and it was true with others in their dark exile. The Pulpit Commentary makes the following point. Ø
It was in exile that Jacob saw God at Bethel (Ge. 35:6f). Ø
It was in exile that Moses saw God at the
burning bush (Ex. 3:1f). Ø
It was in exile that Elijah heard the still
small voice (1 K. 19:3f). Ø
It was in exile that Ezekiel saw the glory of the
Lord by the river Chedar (Eze. 1:3 f). Ø It was in exile that Daniel saw the Ancient of days (Da. 7:9 f). (A. Plummer.
Revelation. “The Pulpit
Commentary,” Vol.22, ed. by HDM Spence and Joseph S. Exell. Grand Rapids, MI:
Eerdmans, 1950, p.5.) |
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DEEPER STUDY # 2 (1:10) In the Spirit: John is said to be in the spirit four times (Re. 1:9–10;
4:1–2; 17:1–3; 21:9–10). These mark off the four major visions of
Revelation. Note that the first vision is given by Christ coming down to
John. But for the last three visions John is commanded to “come up here”; he
is given the perspective of heaven upon the events which shall be hereafter.[3] |
I John, Who Also Am Your Brother, And Companion in Tribulation
I am John, your brother. In Jesus, we are
partners in suffering and in the Kingdom, and in patient endurance. I was
exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God and speaking about
Jesus. NLT
John had been
one of Jesus’ twelve disciples. Although John was an apostle and an elder of
the church, he described himself as their brother
in Christ because he and the persecuted believers were partners in suffering, partners in God’s coming Kingdom, and partners in patient endurance of their suffering.
They were partners in suffering for Christ, as persecution against believers
began to escalate at the end of the century. They shared in God’s kingdom
because, as believers, they were already its citizens. As believers faced
persecution, they were awaiting the arrival of God’s coming kingdom.
The Christian
church was facing severe persecution. Almost all believers were socially,
politically, or economically suffering because of this Empire-wide persecution,
and some were even being killed for their faith. The word “Kingdom” is
surrounded by “suffering” and “patient endurance.” Although the North American
churches are not facing the kind of oppression John referred to here,
two-thirds of all Christians in the world face persecution today.
John had paid
for his faithfulness to the message of Jesus by being exiled to the island of Patmos. The Romans used Patmos for
banishing political prisoners. John, like Paul, was caught in a time when Rome
turned against Christianity (much like the political leaders of today).
John was exiled for preaching the word of God and speaking about Jesus. Although John was away from the churches and unable to travel, his exile did not stop what God would do through John, nor did it stop God’s message from getting to his churches.
HE WHO HESITATES
John described himself as a partner in suffering (1:9). Early Christians faced imprisonment, economic injustice, slanderous accusations by Jews, and attacks from government soldiers or mobs. We may not face persecution for our faith as the early Christians did, but even with our freedom, few of us have the courage to share God’s Word with others. If we hesitate to share our faith during easy times, how will we do it during times of persecution?
A MAN WHOSE CHARACTER IS REMARKABLE.
Here is: 1. A character of distinguished excellence
described. “I John, who also am your
brother, and companion [partaker] in
tribulation.” John describes himself: (1) As a “brother.” His heart glows with a
Christly fraternity for the good of all the Churches throughout the world. (2)
As a sufferer. He is “in tribulation.” The best men on earth are subject to
suffering. He was a member of the kingdom of Christ, a loving, faithful, loyal
subject of his spiritual empire. “The kingdom
and patience of [which are in] Jesus
Christ.” In that kingdom, he was a companion with all who suffered,
a fellow partaker of their tribulations. There has always been suffering in
connection with the kingdom of Christ, and all the sufferers feel a blessed
companionship. During the first hundred years, persecutions in this kingdom
were very brutal and severe.
2. A character of distinguished excellence
banished by bloody persecutors. “In the
isle that is called Patmos.” This was the scene of his banishment: a
rocky island in the Mediterranean, about fifteen miles in circumference—a most
wild, barren spot; a convict settlement, whither the Romans banished all
criminal wretches they deemed unfit for liberty. On this desolate island,
amidst the greatest villains of the age, this great character was banished.
Strange that the providence of Heaven should have allowed one of the most
Christly men on the earth at that time to live for an hour in such a scene. But
Patmos to John and Patmos to the other residents was a different place. To John,
it was a theatre of the sublimest revelations, the very gate of heaven. He was
not alone there; he felt surrounded by a great “multitude which no man could
number,” with countless thousands of angels; and there he wrote a book to
bless humanity through every coming age.
3. A character of distinguished excellence banished by bloody persecutors for the cause of Christ. “For the Word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ,” He was there, not because he had perpetrated any crime, but because he had rendered the highest service to his age. He bore “testimony of Jesus,” and preached the “Word of God” “John had now,” says Dr. Vaughan, “reached a late point in his long pilgrimage. The storm of persecution had broken upon him in his gentle and steadfast ministry at Ephesus and had driven him to the little island of Patmos for the testimony of the truth. In that solitude, however, he was not alone. Shut out as he was now from all Christian converse, he was only the more fitted for converse with Christ. Debarred by no fault of his own from all Christian ordinances, expelled from that congregation in which for so long, day after day, he had uttered the message of truth and the call of love, he was admitted now to worship in the very sanctuary above, and to receive, if he might no longer give, instruction from the lips of the Divine Master himself.”—D.T.[4]
Stephen the Martyr Acts7:54-60
54The
Jewish leaders were stung to fury by Stephen’s accusation and ground their
teeth in rage. 55But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed
steadily upward into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at
God’s right hand. 56And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens
opened and Jesus the Messiahe standing beside God, at his right
hand!”
57Then
they mobbed him, putting their hands over their ears, and drowning out his
voice with their shouts, 58and dragged him out of the city to stone
him. The official witnesses—the executioners—took off their coats and laid them
at the feet of a young man named Saul.f
59And as the murderous stones came hurtling at him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60And he fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” and with that, he died.[5]
Father God, we ask that you help us become more like the Apostles John and Luke. We see within both of their characters a love for our fellow man. We see the love you have for us displayed in them. Our desire Lord is that we boldly proclaim you to this lost and dying world, not fearing what man could do to us. We recognize that man can take our lives of flesh and blood, but they cannot touch our souls. Our souls are in your hands Father God, and for that, we praise you. There is nothing man can do to harm our eternal destiny. We are eternally secure for those of us who have placed our faith and trust in Christ, Jesus, as our Lord and Savior. Again, Father God, we praise you for our salvation. Lastly, Father God, as we continue reading about the times of the end of human history and what you are about to reveal to all of humanity, we ask that you allow us to share your love with as many souls as possible. We do not desire to see anyone condemned to hell and eternally separated from you, missing out on the blessings you so richly desire to give. Father God, help us have hearts of compassion, mercy, and patience with those in need of your mercy, extending grace on your behalf to all with meekness and humility. We ask for your hand to be upon us, Father God, as we seek to accomplish your will; In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.
Revelation (1:9-10) I John, Who Also Am Your Brother, And Companion in Tribulation
[1] The Holy Bible: King
James Version. 1995. Electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the
1611 Authorized Version. Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[2] Butler, John G. 2010. Analytical Bible Expositor: Revelation. Clinton, IA: LBC Publications.
[3] Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 1996. Revelation. The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
NLT
Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission
of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights
reserved.
[4] Spence-Jones, H. D. M., ed. 1909. Revelation.
The Pulpit Commentary. London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company.
e 7:56 the Messiah, literally, “the Son of Man.”
f 7:58 Saul, also known as Paul.
[5] Acts 7:54-60 LBP Taylor, Kenneth Nathaniel. 1997. The Living Bible,
Paraphrased. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.
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