Reasons

The Reason John was the one chosen to receive and distribute this revelation ().

Partner in the tribulation

Boiled in an attempt to kill him and then exiled to Patmos

The kingdom

A witness to the person and work of Jesus

Patient endurance

Trusting in the promises of God and awaiting the same conclusion that we are

The Reason Jesus is the subject of the revelation ().

Imagery

OT parallel to Son of Man ()

John’s focus is on Jesus among the church (lampstands)

Jesus is the priest (tending to the lampstands), the divine (hair), the judge (eyes, feet, voice, and mouth), and the eternal victorious king (his face).

Priest (robe and golden sash)

John is deliberately borrowing language from the Septuagint, where it is used exclusively for the full-length tunic of the high priest; thus his readers would readily understand that Jesus, the “son of man,” is also being presented as the great high priest.

Divine God (hair, )

Reflecting back on Daniel’s vision of the Ancient of Days (God himself)

Judge (eyes, feet, and mouth, )

imagery that most likely anticipates the conclusion of the book (21:11–22:5), where at the eschatological summation of all things the sun is no longer needed for light because of the presence of God and Christ.”

Eyes that penetrate and see all (describe later in Ch 2 & 3)

Revelation: A New Covenant Commentary The Dramatis Personae: John’s Vision of Christ (1:12–16)

imagery that most likely anticipates the conclusion of the book (21:11–22:5), where at the eschatological summation of all things the sun is no longer needed for light because of the presence of God and Christ.

Fee, G. D. (2011). Revelation (p. 18). Eugene, OR: Cascade Books.

Feet that produce a foundation of moral purity

Mouth which speaks to judge the church () and the world () (OT prophecy attached )

King (alive forevermore)

“imagery that most likely anticipates the conclusion of the book (), where at the eschatological summation of all things the sun is no longer needed for light because of the presence of God and Christ.”

The Reason the church needs to the receive this revelation ().

To comfort our fears

Revelation: A New Covenant Commentary John’s Response and the Lord’s Command (1:17–20)

The first words John hears, do not be afraid, are the typical biblical response to one who finds favor in the context of such a vision or encounter. In this case it is almost certainly an intentional echo of Isaiah 44:2 (cf. Dan 10:12; Luke 1:13, 30)

Revelation: A New Covenant Commentary John’s Response and the Lord’s Command (1:17–20)

The first words John hears, do not be afraid, are the typical biblical response to one who finds favor in the context of such a vision or encounter. In this case it is almost certainly an intentional echo of Isaiah 44:2 (cf. Dan 10:12; Luke 1:13, 30)

For John that is the “key” to everything that follows; having experienced death, Christ thrugh his resurrection has stripped Satan of his means of power—death and Hades—and thus “holds the keys” for loosing from Satan’s grip those who are his own.

The first words John hears, do not be afraid, are the typical biblical response to one who finds favor in the context of such a vision or encounter (a likely intentional echo of )

For John that is the “key” to everything that follows; having experienced death, Christ through his resurrection has stripped Satan of his means of power—death and Hades—and thus “holds the keys” for loosing from Satan’s grip those who are his own.

Revelation: A New Covenant Commentary John’s Response and the Lord’s Command (1:17–20)

For John that is the “key” to everything that follows; having experienced death, Christ through his resurrection has stripped Satan of his means of power—death and Hades—and thus “holds the keys” for loosing from Satan’s grip those who are his own.

To showcase the power of our king

Jesus is Lord of life and death

No hair of theirs will fall to the ground apart from his knowledge and will (), so those who trust his loving care do not need to fear. Death will not come to them by accident; when it comes, it comes only in the time our loving Lord permits it.

Greek gods

No hair of theirs will fall to the ground apart from his knowledge and will (), so those who trust his loving care do not need to fear. Death will not come to them by accident; when it comes, it comes only in the time our loving Lord permits it.

The NIV Application Commentary: Revelation Jesus’ Message (1:17–20)

No hair of theirs will fall to the ground apart from his knowledge and will (Matt. 10:29–31), so those who trust his loving care do not need to fear. Death will not come to them by accident; when it comes, it comes only in the time our loving Lord permits it.

Jesus is Lord of history

Write down what is now and what is to come ().

To prepare for what’s to come

Yes tribulation, but then glory.

Tribulation looks different for everyone (some die, some suffer)

Compromise is possible, so we must fight.

Glory for all who hear and believe!