1:9-20

NT

Revelation 1:9-20

esv

A Command to Write

Where John Was

I, John, ... was on the island called Patmos

Temporal

your brother

Explanation

and partner

in the tribulation

Context

and the kingdom

and the patient endurance

that are

in Jesus,

Locative

on account of the word

Ground #1

of God

Source

and the testimony

Ground #2

of Jesus.

Plenary

I was in the Spirit

on the Lord’s day,

What John Heard

and I heard ... a loud voice

behind me

like a trumpet

Comparison

saying,

Means

“Write

Content #1

what you see

Content

in a book

and send it

Content #2

to the seven churches,

Destination

to Ephesus

and to Smyrna

and to Pergamum

and to Thyatira

and to Sardis

and to Philadelphia

and to Laodicea.”

A Vision of Glory

Then I turned

to see the voice

Purpose

that was speaking

to me,

and ... I saw seven golden lampstands,

on turning

and ... one like a son

of man,

Relationship

in the midst of the lampstands

clothed

Explanation #1

with a long robe

and with a golden sash

Explanation #2

around his chest.

The hairs of his head were white,

Explanation #3

like white wool,

like snow.

His eyes were like a flame of fire,

Explanation #4

his feet were like burnished bronze,

Explanation #5

refined in a furnace,

Means or Example

and his voice was like the roar

Explanation #6

of many waters.

Subjective

In his right hand

he held seven stars,

Explanation #7

from his mouth

came a sharp two- edged sword,

Explanation #8

and his face was like the sun

Explanation #9

shining

in full strength.

Manner

An Explanation of Comfort

Words of Encouragement

When I saw him,

I fell at his feet

Concessive

as though dead.

But he laid his right hand

Result

on me,

saying,

“Fear not,

Ground

I am the first

Ground #1

and the last,

and the living one.

I died,

Ground #2

and behold I am alive forevermore,

Ground #3

and I have the keys

Ground #4

of Death

Descriptive

and Hades.

Words of Explanation

Write therefore the things

Content #1

that you have seen,

those

that are

and those

that are to take place

after this.

As for the mystery

Reference #1

of the seven stars

Epexegetical

that you saw

in my right hand,

and the seven golden lampstands,

Reference #2

the seven stars are the angels

Content #2

of the seven churches,

and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Content #3

Notice that there are no quotation marks. That's because chapters 2-3 are entirely the continuing words of Jesus!

phrasing

Notes

Head: Focus: The focus of this section is the life of the mind . We want to think accurately according to the truth of God’s Word we’ve phrased. Questions: How should I think differently about God/myself/others because of what I’ve just phrased? What doctrines are taught in this passage? What specific contribution to those doctrines does this passage make? What other Scripture texts add to the truths taught in this passage? Verse 11: These are simply seven literal churches; some have seen a prophecy of seven different ages of church history in them, but that doesn’t reflect the reality of the past, and the text doesn’t say anything to make us think that is the case. But remember, the number seven shows universality in Revelation – these churches represent the entire church through all the following centuries, including your church , and we need to listen to what is written here to discern what Jesus thinks of us , and what we must do to please Him. Verses 12-16: Jesus' words in 9-11 and 17-19 bookend his appearance in 12-16. The whole point of this section is to optimize our focus on who the main character of this book is. Verse 13: See Dan 7:13-14 about the "Son of man." Verses 17-18: What is the foundation for John's writing of this entire book ? See the Ground in 17g-18f - the description of Jesus' eternality (his deity ) and victory over death (his bodily resurrection ). This is what Revelation is all about! Verse 19: This is a good threefold description of the book: chapter 1, chapters 2-3, and chapters 4-22. Heart: Focus: The focus of this section is the life of the emotions . We want to feel accurately according to the truth of God’s Word we’ve phrased. Questions: How should I feel differently about God/myself/etc. because of what I’ve just phrased? What emotions are expressed in this passage? What emotions does this passage exhort me to feel? Verse 13: Since Jesus is a king (see Dan 7:13-14), I should gladly submit to his authority and rule. I can do that by "hearing" (see 2:7, etc.) what he says in chapters 2-3. Verse 13: Since Jesus is a high priest, I should hold tightly to my profession of faith in him and go boldly to him for grace and mercy (see Heb 4:14-16). Verses 14-15: Since Jesus is holy (see Is 1:18) and the eternal God (see Dan 7:9), I should bow before him in worship and awe. Verse 15: Since Jesus is a judge (see Dan 7:9-10), I should fear his power and obey his commands. Verses 15b-16: Since Jesus' words are powerful (see Is 11:4 and Heb 4:12), I should turn away from sin and spend much time exposing my heart to its surgical edge. Verse 16b: Since Jesus is awesome and glorious, I should not take him lightly or view him still as weak, but as all-powerful and beautiful (see 1 Tim 6:16 and Rev 20:11). Hands: Focus: The focus of this section is the life of the will . We want to act accurately according to the truth of God’s Word we’ve phrased. Questions: How should I act differently because of what I’ve just phrased? What motivations does this passage give for acting differently? What sins do I need to repent of and put off? What good works do I need to put on? Verse 9b-h: If you are in Christ, you will , guaranteed, experience these three things – pain, identity, and perseverance. See Phil 1:29. And unto you it is given , freely given, that you should hold on to him and be faithful – and that is what the next two chapters are all about! So persevere in difficulties, in trials, knowing that these things are gifts from Jesus. Verses 17-18: Since Jesus is eternal and alive, and since he died and rose for me, I should not fear , but trust him. Verse 20b: From a sermon I preached: "Jesus is present in his church always. And if we really see who Jesus is, and His relationship to us as His church, we will be strengthened . We will be enabled to be fearless . We will be made strong to remain faithful to Him. So if you are struggling, feeling weak, overcome, surrounded by enemies, discouraged, you need to know this: Jesus is here right now . "And if you are wandering from the Lord, if your heart is hard and you are resisting His will and rebelling against His Word, you too need to know this: Jesus is here right now . He is a king, and a priest, and a judge, and you must reckon with the massive reality of His presence for your life."

notes