Revelation 1:9-20

“I, John, your brother and the one who shares with you in the persecution, kingdom, and endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony about Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day when I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, saying: “Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches – to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.” I turned to see whose voice was speaking to me, and when I did so, I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands was one like a son of man. He was dressed in a robe extending down to his feet and he wore a wide golden belt around his chest. His head and hair were as white as wool, even as white as snow, and his eyes were like a fiery flame. His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp double-edged sword extended out of his mouth. His face shone like the sun shining at full strength. When I saw him I fell down at his feet as though I were dead, but he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid! I am the first and the last, and the one who lives! I was dead, but look, now I am alive – forever and ever – and I hold the keys of death and of Hades! Therefore write what you saw, what is, and what will be after these things. The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”

— ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬-‭20‬‬

Some debate about authorship of Revelation, whether another “older saint” named John or the son of Zebedee (apostle). At this point, I still think it was the apostle. Never heard convincing arguments otherwise. There’s enough evidence that he lived to be an old saint, living in Ephesus, then faced persecution. Perhaps there will be another post on book backgrounds someday. Tradition says John was boiled in hot oil, rescued by angels, and then exiled on Patmos. (How much of this is true, I have no idea).

Interesting that John introduces his sharing in persecution, the kingdom, and endurance with his readers. Those themes are all through Revelation and may give insight into the book’s interpretation. If John is a participant in these things, then there at least must be an intended meaning and fulfillment for the original audience. I’m just spitballing here.

“In the Spirit” is similar to prophets of old. This is vision language. I don’t know if trance is the right word, but he’s being influenced by the Spirit to see things that he would not otherwise. This is happening on Sunday, the Lord’s Day.

7 major churches of Asia Minor. This places the book within historical context. Something to be said about genre of the book. It is a letter in some sense. It has a purpose. There’s a blessing for those who read and “obey” it. May be odd to think about Revelation, but the specific letters of chapters 2-3 are for specific audiences with needs, sins, discouragements, frustrations.

This is also a prophecy, where some foretelling is disclosed. There is instruction to repent. There is revelation of God’s message and character and plan. 

But the overwhelming genre is apocalypse. It finds parallel in Ezekiel and many intertestamental books (1 Enoch and others). We have to study those to find out how this genre operates. And we cannot understand Revelation without knowing the Old Testament, especially Ezekiel and Daniel. The metaphors, symbols, and phrasing is essential for knowing this book.

Case in point: I saw one like the son of man—Daniel 7. And the description of him is very similar to Daniel 7. I’m not going to explain all the metaphors here, but usually in Revelation, white means purity, fire means judgment or something that purifies. Waters could be a source of judgment or rescue. Two-edged sword is most likely truth. 

Side note: Comparing this passage with Rev 11 is a good exercise in interpreting images/language in the book. Yes, I have become much more amillennial in my views the more I’ve studied, but I always present all options and respect the passages that support other positions. But when I read the two prophets’ account one time, who died and were raised, who the whole earth saw, and fire came out of their mouth, etc. I was forced to rethink what John may have seen/envisioned specifically for his audience. If Jesus didn’t have a real sword coming out of His mouth, why do we assume the prophets have real fire coming out of their mouth?

John falls down as a dead man in worship, and Jesus’ self-description is significant. He holds the keys of death and Hades/the grave. This vision will resurface in the letters to the churches. John will describe Jesus to them in ways that are appropriate for their specific situation.

V 19: Things you see, things that are, things that will be: I’ve heard for years that this is the structure of Revelation: See (ch 1), things that are (2-3), will be (4-22). Problem is that the visions are not so neatly divided. Not to mention that John sees visions all the way through. Some visions (ch 12) cover things in the past. Some visions are of heaven, and that must be timeless (ch 4).

This verse has no less than 7 major views, which I won’t get into here. 1:11 also has the phrase “what you see,” which I prefer to understand as all the visions of the book, not just the initial one of chapter one. Since both current and future events are covered in chapters 2-22, I think this phrase “what you see” explains or summarizes what’s included in the visions (both current and future things). Dividing them nicely and neatly into chapters isn’t wise or possible. For scholarly support, see Caird and Aune (though they disagree on minor points. Beale is similar to this as well, though he sees the phrase “at the last days” in Dan 2:28-29, 45 as the same as “after these things” in Rev 1:1; 4:1; 22:6. This is possible and other themes in surroundings contexts of Daniel and Revelation add support, but this is not a slam dunk.

Another important note is that the phrase “And/Then I saw” does imply progression, but not necessarily chronology. It simply gives sequence of vision, not sequence of time. John is arranging his book for a reason. We assume that his visions are arranged parallel to the sequence of events. This may be faulty.

Many have noticed a repetition of events (recapitulation). Of course, this is debated, but say the large number from all races, tribes, and nations by the throne is seen in heaven. In the next chapter God seals 144,000 on earth. I’m not going to discuss numbers now, but these chapters may be saying the same thing in different ways. There’s a battle in heaven and then a battle on earth in Ch 12. This repetition of cycles is a bit drawn out if one wants to see the three cycles of 7 judgments. And then the two battles at the end may be the same battle from different angles. I’m not saying this is true. I’m not saying I fully agree with it. 

It’s always nice when John does some interpretation for us. 7 stars are angels and and 7 lamp stands are the churches. Scary part is in ch 2-3 when Jesus promises to extinguish the lamps if they don’t repent. But are these real angels? The pastors of the churches?  I give credit to Greg Beale for his conclusion that these are angelic representatives. See other passages in Revelation, where an angel takes responsibility for the spiritual benefit of John (Rev 19:10; 22:9) and texts in Daniel, where God’s people are represented in heaven by angels (Cf Dan 10:20-21; 12:1; 7:27; 8:10, 24). Why? 

Per Beale, 217-218, John is reminding the churches not only of their heavenly representation but their true existence in heaven. Their home is not with these earth dwellers, though earth and heaven will become one (see Rev 22.). They have heavenly help and protection in the temptations not to conform to Babylon.

This passage is just as significant as Rev 20 for the interpretation of the whole book. Seeing Jesus as central and not being distracted by the “fun, weird” symbolism will help us endure, face any persecution we may with strength and peace, and contribute to the kingdom for God’s glory. Then we can offer worship to Jesus as He is worthy.