Lesson 3 The Prophet’s Commission by Jesus Christ (Rev 1:9-20)
During the reign of Domitian (81-96 AD), the Christians were persecuted.
So John writes as a brother and co-partner (sun-koinonos) in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus.
Why? On account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
John was brought in the realm of the Spirit to see the eschatological Day of the Lord.
The Lord Jesus spoke with a loud voice like a trumpet, commissioning him to write what he sees in a book and send the book to the seven churches.
John saw 10 things about Jesus Christ
1) In the midst of seven golden lampstands,
2) One like a son of man (Daniel 3:25; 7:13-14; 10:5-6, 18; Acts 7:56)
3) Clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around His chest (Exod 28:4; Lev 16:4; Dan 10:5; Heb 4:14)
4) The hairs of His head were white, like white wool, like snow (like God the Father, Dan 7:9)
5) His eyes were like a flame of fire (piercing judgment)
6) His feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace (signifying purity, strength and stability)
7) His voice was like the roar of many waters (sound of waves hitting the island of Patmos)
8) In His right hand He held seven stars (authority over the messengers of the 7 churches)
9) From His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword (rhomphaia (6x) – a long sword, not machaira – t a short sword)
10) His face was like the sun shining in full strength (holiness and righteousness, Matt 13:43).
John was terrified! Jesus assured him, “Fear not!”
1) I am the first and the last, and the living one
2) I died, and behold I am alive forevermore
3) I have the keys of Death and Hades.
John was commissioned to write
1) the things that he has seen
2) those that are and
3) those that are to take place after this.
Jesus interprets the meaning of the symbols
1) the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and
2) the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
“Every figure, every symbol, found in this book is explained somewhere else in the Bible” (H A Ironside).
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