John head a voice and turned to see who it was that was speaking to him
-
Remember, the voice (Rev. 1:10) was like that of a trumpet
-
John knew that the voice was Christ
-
John was familiar with the sound of Christ's voice
-
John was probably overjoyed to hear the voice of his Lord and Savior and friend again
-
John was probably excited to see his Lord and Savior and friend again
-
Notice what John saw
-
John saw seven golden lampstands
-
What were these lampstands?
-
These lampstands were not simply candlesticks
-
These lampstands were not menorahs
-
These lampstands were seven free-standing oil lampstands
-
-
This image reminds us of the golden lampstand that stood in the Tabernacle and in the Temple (Exodus 25:31-27)
-
The Old Covenant lampstand was one lampstand with seven lamps
-
In the New Covenant we see seven individual lampstands
-
-
The lampstands are a wonderful picture of the church
-
The light doesn't come from the lampstands (the church)
-
The light comes from the oil lamps (Christ)
-
The stands (the church) merely makes the light (Christ) more visible (John 12:32)
-
-
-
John saw One like the Son of Man (Daniel 7:13-14)
-
He was clothed with a garment down to his feet
-
Long garments were only worn by those who did not have to work much
-
Long garments were a picture of great status and authority
-
-
He was girded about the chest with a golden band
-
Possibly a reference to the garments of the High Priest
-
Exodus 29:5
-
Exodus 39:1-5
-
-
One of the duties of the Old Testament Priests was to tend to the golden lampstands in the Tabernacle and Temple
-
They filled the oil
-
They cleaned the soot
-
They trimmed the wicks
-
They cared for the lamps so that they would burn continually before God
-
-
Christ, our High Priest, is in the midst of these seven lampstands, carefully inspecting and caring for the lamps, helping them to always burn brightly before God
-
-
John describes Christ (Rev. 1:14-16)
-
His head and hair were while like wool
-
White hair = old age
-
Implied great wisdom
-
Implied timelessness
-
White hair also connected with the Ancient of Days (Dan. 7:9)
-
-
White as snow = the idea of purity (Is. 1:18)
-
-
His eyes were like a flame of fire
-
Fire is often associated in God's Word with judgment
-
Matthew 5:22
-
2 Peter 3:7
-
-
Jesus' eyes display the fire of searching, penetrating judgment
-
-
His feet were like fine brass
-
This is a reference to someone who has been through the fires of judgment and has come through with a refined purity
-
Brass
-
A metal connected with judgment and sacrifice (Ex. 27:1-6)
-
A strong metal, the strongest know metal in the ancient world
-
Brass was considered to be the most durable of all metallic substances
-
-
-
His voice was as the sound of many waters
-
His voice had power
-
His voice had majesty
-
-
He had in His right hand seven stars
-
Stars
-
These are the leaders (pastors) of the seven churches mentioned in Rev. 1:20
-
The stars are secure in the hand of Christ
-
-
Seven
-
Seven is the number of perfection or completion
-
We could say that Christ has the whole church in His hand
-
-
-
Out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword
-
The New Testament uses two words for sword
-
Machaira (Heb. 4:12) - This was a smaller sword that was more tactical and precise
-
Rhomphaia - This was a larger and heavier sword that was mainly used to kill and destroy
-
-
Jesus is not walking around with a sword in His mouth
-
The sword is a reference to the Word of God (Eph. 6:17)
-
-
His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength (Matt. 17:2)
Look at John's reaction and Jesus' assurance (Rev. 1:17-18)
-
John fell at His feet as dead
-
Christ comforted John – He laid His right hand on me
-
Christ commanded John – do not be afraid
-
Christ describes Himself
-
I am the First and the Last
-
I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore
-
I have the keys of Hades and Death
-