Revelation Sermon - 3
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Revelation: This is Jesus
Revelation 1:9-20
1. Introduction – in the verses we’re studying this morning, we are going to see Jesus as John saw Jesus.
a. But before we read and study this section of Scripture verse by verse – take note of a few things.
i. First, I want you to see the structure of this section. It starts with John introducing himself and his reason for writing.
1. Next, John is given the vision of Jesus.
a. After John sees that vision, we have John’s response to it.
i. Finally, we have the interpretation of it.
b. And at the beginning of this book I’ll remind that it is important to allow the book of Revelation to speak for itself.
i. Sometimes, as we’ll see later this morning, signs and symbols are interpreted for us. We are told what they mean.
1. Other times, they are mysteriously left uninterpreted, and we have to be OK with a little ambiguity sometimes.
c. Also, notice John’s use of the word “like.” He doesn’t use it as a teeny bopper girl would – he uses it to make a comparison.
i. John doesn’t say, “Jesus is wool. His face is the sun, his eyes are fire.”
1. When John sees this vision of Jesus, he is so enamored and so captivated that he is struggling to find the words to describe what he’s seeing.
a. He’s unsure how to describe Jesus, so the best he can do is make parallels to everyday objects.
d. And take note that this John’s first vision, and over the course of the next several weeks, we are going to see certain aspects of this vision reappear.
i. But this also means that all the other visions we study in this book have to be grounded in this one.
1. Whatever we read further, has to be read and understood in light of what we hear in vv.9-20.
e. Last week, when we studied vv.1-8, we looked at what is usually referred to as the prologue or the preface of the book of Revelation. Major themes were hinted at in those verses.
i. In vv.9-20, what we have is really another introduction. In these verses John is telling the 7 churches about the authority he has to write this letter to them.
1. If we read Revelation in parallel with the OT prophets, which John draws on a lot – we’ll see that John’s call to writes this letter parallels many of the OT prophet’s call to ministry.
a. Isaiah was given a vision of the God’s throne room – and Isaiah responded, “here am I, send me.”
ii. Ezekiel and Daniel were given similar visions to Johns in Revelation. So as John proceeds through this letter, it is grounded in his call, by Jesus, to write authoritatively to these 7 churches.
1. But first, in verses 9-11, we have some background. Hear the words of God.
2. Background – A few things about these verses. John is not writing as someone who is over and above the people of these churches.
a. See how he relates to them. I am your brother, your partner.
i. In other words – John writes to 7 persecuted churches as one who is also being persecuted.
1. He is suffering of Jesus’ sake. He is displaying the patient endurance that all Christians are called to display.
b. Next, John writes this letter and is given this Revelation of Jesus…while he is in prison.
i. Patmos was an island that the Romans sent the worst criminals to. It’s 5 miles wide and 10 miles long – and terrain is rocky. The terrain will actually play into the book later on.
1. John tells us readers that he is on the island because of his preaching. A littler 1st century history will help us better understand why John is on Patmos.
c. John is most likely writing this letter in the late 1st century. And for the last 30 years of the 1st century Christians were experiencing heavy persecution by Roman authorities.
i. It started when the Emperor Nero started feeding Christians to the lions. During Nero’s tyrannical reign both Paul and Peter were executed.
1. But in the year 92 – a man named Domitian became emperor. He was a terribly insecure man and lived in constant paranoia of being overthrown.
d. To combat his own insecurities, Domitian demanded that his subjects worship him as Lord and God. For most Roman citizens this wasn’t a problem because they all worshipped many gods – what’s one more?
i. But for Joh, this was a problem. Respect Caesar? Yes. Pay taxes to Caesar, yes. Worship him??? Absolutely not! Roman authorities that that emperor worship was the glue that held the empire together.
1. John’s refusal to worship Domitian as lord and god was a threat to the Pax Romana and the unity of the empire, so he had to punished.
a. He was sent to Patmos for his refusal to worship Caesar.
i. And while he is on Patmos, while he is in prison, and an old man – he’s worshipping, and then he receives a commission from the risen to Jesus to write what he sees and send it the 7 churches in Asia Minor.
3. The Vision – And what John sees at first is an absolutely breathtaking vision of who Jesus is right now.
a. I want you to do your best this morning to see what John saw – and as we make our way through this vision we’ll pause as I explain the meaning and significance of these symbols.
i. Hear God’s words – vv.12-16
b. First, I want you to realize that John isn’t seeing and hearing these things in his head.
i. “I turned to see the voice…” John saw this vision. He didn’t imagine it. The voice was behind him, not in his own head.
1. And when he turned to see, he saw a person. It was the same person who lived in Palestine 60 years earlier. The same man who he reclined against at the Last Supper.
a. But now, he’s so much different. He’s so much bigger.
c. The phrase “Son of Man” is actually just a way of saying – a human being.
i. But this human being is different. This human being looks like the Ancient of days that describes in Daniel 7.
1. And this is an incredible first vision, because John lets us know right from the very beginning of this Revelation that Jesus is God. Yes, he’s a human, Son of Man – but Jesus is also God and he is glorious and present. And this is John’s vision.
d. He sees this divine and glorious Man wearing a long flowing robe and a sash around his chest.
i. What this highlights is the priestly role of Jesus. He’s wearing the grab of a priest – the High Priest, like Aaron would have worn.
1. Listen and see this – the Son of Man, Jesus – is the great high priest.
e. Next, John notices the whiteness of his hair. White represents longevity, but it also represents purity.
i. This Son of Man, Jesus, is pure, sinless, and altogether holy.
f. Next, John says his eyes are like flames of fire.
i. What is meant by this statement? Well, it’s said that the eyes are the window to the soul.
1. So by describing eyes like fire – by Jesus presenting himself in this way, Jesus is saying that not only is he pure, but he is also purifying.
a. Fire illuminates and penetrates and it also burns away impurities.
g. Darrell Johnson says – the eyes of the glorified Jesus not only look at us – they look through us and penetrate the veils we so often hide behind.
i. And our prayer should be, “Lord, shine your purifying light on me and burn off all that keeps me from you.”
h. And speaking of burning away impurities – look at what John sees next.
i. John sees feet like burnished bronze. Bronze that has been refined in fire.
1. The image is one of strength, stability and security. The kingdoms of this world stand on rickety old foundations – but Jesus doesn’t stand on a flimsy foundation – he planted firmly on a solid foundation of strengthened bronze
i. Next, quickly, he holds the seven stars in his right hand – signifying his rule over all of creation.
i. A double-edged sword comes out of his mouth – signifying the clarity and sharpness of his words.
1. His words cut through the mumble jumble and nonsense of life.
a. And finally, this whole vision is simply bright. Shining like the sun in all of its brilliance.
4. Reaction – and no wonder when John saw this vision he had this reaction. Hear v. 17.
a. Remember he was worshipping when this vision started – and his worship was taken to another level.
i. There are times, and maybe you’ve experienced this before, that when we have an encounter with Jesus – we sense that standing before him isn’t appropriate – but neither is sitting or kneeling.
1. When we see Jesus for who he really is – the appropriate response is falling flat on our faces in worship.
5. Don’t Be Afraid – And then, in vv.18-20, we come to what is perhaps my favourite part of the chapter.
a. These are words that I desperately needed to hear this week – words that I needed to grab hold of and take comfort in. listen to vv.18-20.
i. Hear those words again – Do not be afraid. Wow!
ii. Isn’t it true that we live our lives in fear? Afraid of this or afraid of that, afraid of what that person thinks about us – fear us a powerful force and it can cause us to act and think irrationally.
b. Fear can be completely debilitating. But hear Jesus words, “Don’t be afraid.”
i. I don’t what fears or stresses or anxieties all of you live with on a daily basis, but hear Jesus’ words – Don’t be afraid. And look at why.
c. Don’t be afraid because Jesus is the first and last. Don’t be afraid because Jesus is the living one.
i. Don’t be afraid because Jesus died once but rose again and lives forevermore.
1. Don’t be afraid because Jesus holds the keys to death and the grave.
a. On the cross Jesus took upon himself the worst humanity had to offer. He let death take a hold of him and take him captive.
i. But as the song says, “bursting forth in glorious day, up from the grave he rose again.”
d. And when he rose from the dead on the third day he took the keys to death’s prison with him! So as God’s people – we don’t even have to be afraid of death, because Jesus is Lord over that too!
i. And because of that fact, because of the victory Jesus won, we don’t have to live in fear.
1. The Bible has a lot to say about fear and being afraid – and it is always preceded by the words, “DO NOT…” Just don’t do, don’t go there.
e. Let these words take hold of you this morning. Let them take root in your heart and in your life. Hear and believe the words of Jesus – Do not be afraid.
6. In the Middle – And for the las couple of verse, in order to drive their meaning home for us this morning, I’m going to interpret these verse about the stars and the lampstands in light of what we have just heard about John’s vision.
a. We’re told that the seven stars represent the seven angels of the churches – we’ll look at that next week.
i. But we’re also told that the 7 lampstands represent the 7 churches – Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.
1. And did you catch it when we read it earlier? Did you see where the son of man, did you see where Jesus was standing during this vision to John?
a. It’s in verse 13. I’ll highlight 3 words for you.
b. John turns to see the voice that was speaking to him – he saw this incredible image of Jesus that we just looked at and we’re told that Jesus was standing in the middle of the lampstands.
i. And what do the lampstands represent? The churches. And I’ll go as far to say – the church in general.
1. Let that image captivate you – Jesus standing in the middle of his church.
c. One of the goals of Revelation is to unveil to us the unseen realities of the present – and quite possibly the biggest unseen reality is that Jesus – with his bright face and fiery eyes and piercing words – behind a thin veil – Jesus is standing in our midst. Jesus is standing in the middle.
i. Do we recognize Jesus’ presence? Do we acknowledge it – do we even think this way?
1. Revelation opens our eyes.
d. There’s a reason why in the chapters that follow Jesus writes intimately to the 7 churches.
i. Jesus says to Ephesus – I know your hard work – but I have this against you.
1. Jesus says to Smyrna that he knows about their poverty and suffering. Jesus can say to Pergamum how they remained loyal amid persecution.
a. That Thyatira has allowed sin to pervade.
i. Jesus can say to Sardis that they are a dying and soon to be dead church if they don’t shape up.
ii. Jesus can write intimately to Philadelphia and acknowledge their suffering and obedience.
1. And Jesus writes to Laodicea and calls them a lukewarm and uncommitted church.
e. And how is it that Jesus was able to write these things to these churches?
i. Because was standing over and above them? Because he was observing from the outside?
1. Nope. Jesus writes intimately because he is standing with them in their church…right in the middle of them.
f. Honestly, this thought should both comfort us and absolutely terrify us. And it should radically affect how we act as a church.
i. This thought of Jesus standing in our midst should comfort us. We know that he is with us in our struggles, when we are suffering, when we are struggling for his sake – he’s knows that and he is there with us.
1. But this vision should also terrify us – in that Jesus – with his penetrating eyes and his piercing words – is also standing in our midst, when we aren’t acting in the most Christlike way.
g. We are about to embark on a journey through Jesus’ personal letters to his church. And honestly, there’s some really interesting, but also really really challenging verses coming up in the next couple chapters.
i. So, as we start in on these 7 letters within this larger letter…ask yourself this question.
1. Since, not if, since Jesus is present in our midst – since Jesus is standing in the middle of our church…
a. What does he see?
i. What does he hear?
1. What kind of letter would he write to us?
h. It is time for us to do some serious soul searching. Not trying to search other people’s souls – “Oh so and so really needs to hear this.”
i. No no, you really need to hear this. We all need to hear this and be aware of it. We all need to realize that Jesus is in our midst as his church body.
1. What kind of letter would Jesus write to us?
i. Next week, we’re going to study Jesus’ letter to the church at Ephesus. Read Revelation 2:1-7 for next week and again answer the questions, “What leaps out at me?” And “What puzzles me?”