Revelation 1:9-15

I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

Revelation 1:9 (ESV)¶

John, for the first time, introduces himself at the beginning of one of his letters. He doesn't do it in the Gospel of John, nor in his epistles. That tells us a little about the kind of person he was — maybe he didn't feel it necessary to share who he was, but rather who Jesus was. But this time he does, possibly as a comfort to his fellow believers.¶

He says he is their "partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance," reminding his fellow Christians that he is with them in the persecution taking place at the time, and with them in the kingdom they were patiently waiting for. It is a comfort to know that others are going through the same things as us — that we are not alone. John wrote this while exiled on the island of Patmos, put there because of preaching the word of God and Jesus.¶

"In the Spirit on the Lord's day"¶

I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, "Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea."

Revelation 1:10-11 (ESV)¶

John tells us something interesting: he was "in the Spirit on the Lord's day." The Lord's Day would be a Sabbath day. It is believed he was put into forced labor on Patmos, so it makes sense this revelation came on a Sabbath — likely the only day he would be resting and not working.¶

He also says he was "in the Spirit." What does this mean? Is this something special only John could do? I think it is something we can and should do more often. Being in the Spirit means he was focusing and dedicating himself to the Spirit — praying, fasting, meditating on the things of God's Spirit, quieting himself, entering the throne room of God to pray and worship the King.¶

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.

John 4:23-24 (ESV)¶

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:16 (ESV)¶

More than ever, we should take full advantage of the grace that has been given us, which is God's Spirit. By his Spirit we are sanctified, sealed, led, transformed, and empowered. By the Spirit we can please God. By the Spirit we live!¶

For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace... If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Romans 8:6-11 (ESV)¶

So let's be like John — our partner in the tribulation and kingdom and patient endurance. Let's not only walk moment by moment in the Spirit, but also find opportunities to simply be in the Spirit, in prayer, fasting, and meditation on God's Word.¶

A letter for seven churches — and for all¶

John wrote to seven actual churches in Asia during his day. But the number 7 also gives us a heavenly idea of completeness and fullness, so this letter is not only for those specific churches but for all the churches in their fullness. It also shows us God's timeless love — that he could be fully concerned and loving toward those believers then, and equally and completely loving toward us today, and toward every believer who has ever existed.¶

This can comfort us even today when we look at the destruction and wickedness affecting both believers and the world. When we wonder what God is doing, we can take comfort in his eternal love.¶

Then the LORD said, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings,"

Exodus 3:7 (ESV)¶

When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.

Psalm 34:17-19 (ESV)¶

God sees. He has not changed, because he cannot change. He sees all their afflictions and all the injustice — and not only will he give his people what they need to endure, but we are soon going to learn about the justice and wrath that is going to be poured out on account of all this injustice and wickedness.¶

Imagery the prophets would recognize¶

Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters.

Revelation 1:12-15 (ESV)¶

I want to point out that much of the imagery we're going to be shown is things the Jewish people would recognize very quickly, and I believe there is a very specific purpose for this. Seven golden lampstands would be immediately recognized — this sounds like the menorah made for the temple of God (Exodus 25:37). "One like a son of man" recalls Daniel:¶

I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away...

Daniel 7:13-14 (ESV)¶

The golden sash recalls the consecration of the priests (Exodus 29:9); the white hair recalls the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:9); and "his voice was like the roar of many waters" recalls Ezekiel:¶

And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. And the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory.

Ezekiel 43:2 (ESV)¶

All of these descriptions of Jesus are exactly the same as the visions the old prophets were given. I don't believe John was just taking what he had read before and rewriting it. No — God has a very specific purpose for the way Christ is presented to John. God still has a plan for his people the Jews; he desires their inclusion in Christ. This imagery shows the Jews who the old prophets were talking about: that the Jesus we trust and believe in as our Savior is also the Messiah they are still waiting for.¶

If any Jew today were to read these words, they would recognize him from the Jewish prophets, and if they believed, would know he is the one they are looking for. Much of this book has imagery and symbolism that will mean distinctly more to Jews than to us as Gentiles who already believe. I believe a large part of the purpose for Revelation is the inclusion of the Jews (read Romans 11). It has application and blessing for us today as believers, as well as for the Jews who currently do not believe — again showing the completeness and fullness of his love.¶