Summary of Revelation 1:9-16
Here, we read John’s vision of Christ: He says that he was on the island of Patmos where he heard a loud voice that told him to write what he sees and send it to the 7 churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. He saw 7 golden lampstands and Jesus dressed in a robe with a golden sash. He had white hair and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 3, Day 4: Revelation 1:9-16
10a) John was on the island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea near Greece, and he was suffering because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
b) Stephen: The first Christian martyr, who was stoned to death for preaching about Jesus. James: The brother of John, who Herod killed. Peter: He was arrested by Herod and intended to be executed. Saul of Tarsus (later Paul): A Pharisee who had a life-changing encounter with Jesus and went on to suffer greatly to build up the church. Job is said to have suffered more than anyone in the Bible. David faced hard times and was exiled to a cave cause Saul wanted to kill him. Joan of Arc and anyone who did anything in the name of Jesus.
c) To know that this side of heaven is temporary and on the other side is God and Jesus. Pray for a relief from the hardships and that they are merely temporary and that you grow from them and become stronger in your faith because of them.
11) The details of what Jesus looked like! So amazing!
12) The Son of Man is Jesus. We learned what he will look like when he comes again. He will come in clouds. Jesus has authority to forgive sins. People will mourn when he comes again, and he’ll have great power and glory. He sits at God’s right hand.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 3, Day 4: Revelation 1:9-16
It’s hard to doubt John when he is so detailed about what he sees. The Bible is Truth, indeed!
End Notes BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 3, Day 4: Revelation 1:9-16
Patmos is a small island that was used as a place to send prisoners (think of Australia, too). It is rocky and not the best place to live in the first century A.D.
Most likely, John was a prisoner, sent there for his religious beliefs, but it is possible he was a missionary there, too.
John received a vision from the Holy Spirit. We will see this terminology again used later in Revelation: (Revelation 4:2), (Revelation 17:3), (Revelation 21:10).
Note that “the Lord’s Day” here is not the same as the “Day of the Lord” in the Old Testament. Bible scholars are unsure what day this was.
The loud voice is Jesus’.
Fun Fact: John was commanded to write 12 times in the book of Revelation.
Sometimes, we are given visions that are meant to be only for us; other times, we are meant to share them. Here, Jesus makes it clear to write and share this, and he directs whom to share this information with: the 7 churches.
Why these 7 churches? They were in a circular pattern, so it would be easy to deliver the messages. 7 is the number of completeness in the Bible, and the book of Revelation completes the church.
Fun Fact: Paul wrote to 7 churches, too: Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Colosse, Philippi, and Thessalonica. Coincidence?
The 7 lamps are set on stands specifically designed to hold them. In the tabernacle (Exodus 25:31-37), there was one lampstand with 7 lamps. The lampstands display the light given to them by Jesus.
Jesus’ clothing shows he is of the upper class, kingly, and authoritarian. The golden band symbolizes the priesthood.
White hair indicates age, which speaks to wisdom and knowledge. White symbolizes purity.
Fire symbolizes judgment. (Matthew 5:22, 2 Peter 3:7)
Brass had to be refined in the fire. It is also the metal that altars were made from (Exodus 27:1-6). Brass was the strongest metal known in the ancient world at that time.
7 stars represent the 7 leaders of the church. Note that Jesus is holding them, aka holding the church/us in his hands.
The sword is Jesus’ weapon. It comes from his mouth, meaning the power is in Jesus’ words (Ephesians 6:17). This is merely a comparison, not literal.
Jesus’ glory is like the sun. This same language is used at Jesus’ transfiguration (Matthew 17:2).
Fun Fact: This is the ONLY physical description given to us of Jesus in all of the Bible. Isaiah 53:2 came close.
We see Jesus as he is: omnipotent, omniscient, strong, full of majesty and authority, pure and righteous, and our Lord and Savior!
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