B. The Vision of Christ in Judicial Robes (1:9-20)
Back to John, who introduces himself as a brother and companion of all believers in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ. He here links tribulation, perseverance (patience), and the kingdom. Paul similarly linked them in Act 14:22 when he exhorted the saints to “continue in the faith, ... saying, ‘We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.’”
John was in prison on the island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea because of his loyalty to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ. But his prison became an anteroom of heaven as he received visions of glory and judgment.
John was in the Spirit, that is, walking in unclouded fellowship with Him and thus in a position to receive divine communications. This reminds us that a person must be near to hear. “The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him” (Psa 25:14). It was on the Lord's Day, that is, the first day of the week. That was the day of Christ's resurrection, of two subsequent appearances to His disciples, of the descent of the Spirit at Pentecost. The disciples gathered to break bread on the Lord's Day, and Paul instructed the Corinthians to take a collection on the first day. Some think that John refers to the time of judgment about which he will be writing, but the expression is quite different in the original.
Suddenly John heard behind him a voice with the clarity, volume, and tone of a trumpet.
It was Jesus, directing him to write in a book what he was about to see and to send it to the seven churches. Turning to see the Speaker, John saw seven golden lampstands, each one having a base, a single vertical stem, and an oil-burning lamp at the top.
The Person in the midst of the seven lampstands was One like the Son of Man. There was nothing between Him and the individual lampstands, no agency, hierarchy, or organization. Each church was autonomous. In describing the Lord, says McConkey:
The Spirit ransacks the realm of nature for symbols that might convey some faint conception to our dull and finite minds of the glory, splendor, and majesty of this coming One, who is the Christ of Revelation.
His outer garment was the long robe of a judge. The band around His chest symbolizes the righteousness and faithfulness with which He judges (see Isa 11:5).
His head and hair were white like wool, picturing His eternity, as the Ancient of Days (Dan 7:9), and also the wisdom and purity of His judgments. Eyes like a flame of fire speak of perfect knowledge, infallible insight, and inescapable scrutiny.
The Lord's feet were like polished brass, as if refined in a furnace. Since brass is a consistent type of judgment, this supports the view that it is the judicial office that is primarily in view. His voice sounded like the waves of the sea, or a mountain cataract, majestic and awesome.
He held in His right hand seven stars, indicating possession, power, control, and honor. Out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, the word of God (Heb 4:12). Here it refers to the keen and accurate verdicts concerning His people, as seen in the letters to the seven churches. His countenance was radiant as the sun at high noon, the dazzling splendor and transcendant glory of His deity.
Combining all these thoughts, we see Christ in all His perfections as supremely qualified to judge the seven churches. Later in the book He will judge His foes, but “judgment (must) begin at the house of God” (1Pe 4:17). Note, however, that it is a different kind of judgment in each case. The churches are judged with the purpose of purification and reward, the world with the purpose of punishment.
The sight of the Judge prostrated John at His feet as if dead, but the Lord revived him by revealing Himself as the First and the Last, a title of Jehovah (Isa 44:6; Isa 48:12).
The Judge is the Living One who was dead but is now alive forevermore. He has the keys of Hades and of Death, having control over both and uniquely able to raise the dead. Hades here stands for the soul and Death for the body. When a person dies, the soul is in Hades, a name used to describe the disembodied state. The body goes to the grave. For the believer the disembodied state is the same as being present with the Lord. At the resurrection, the soul is reunited with the glorified body and raptured (caught up) to the Father's house.
John must write the things which he had seen (chap. 1); the things which are (chaps. 2, 3); and the things which will take place after this (chaps. 4-22). This forms the general outline of the book.
Various explanations of the angels have been offered. Some say that they were angelic beings who represented the churches, just as angels represent nations (Dan 10:13, Dan 10:20-21). Others say that they were the bishops (or pastors) of the churches, an explanation that lacks scriptural support. Still others say that they were human messengers who picked up the letters from John in Patmos and delivered them to the individual churches. The same Greek word (angelos) means either angel or messenger, but in this book the first meaning is very prominent.
Although the letters are addressed to angels, the contents are clearly intended for all in the churches.
The lampstands were light-bearers and were a fitting emblem of local churches, which are supposed to shine for God amid the darkness of this world.
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