I Turned To See - Revelation 1:9-20

Revelation 1:9-20
Vision of the Son of Man
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. 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.”
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. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two- edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

John is isolated, imprisoned on the island of Patmos, but he is not alone. He is in the body of Christ. He mentions the reality of the kingdom and its associated persecutions in this time between advents. It is precisely this reality that calls for the endurance of the saints. It is this refining fire which forges believers into a royal priesthood.

John is to make a record of all that he "sees" or discerns. His heart is ready and filled with the Spirit. It is that Spirit Who makes this possible.

He notes the voice he hears is like a trumpet. We will see trumpets again later in this book as they announce the proclamation of the seals and lead to the pouring out of the bowls of the resulting judgement.

The seven churches represent the universal church. The individual messages applied at that time and for all time. They apply to each person today. They are timeless in that respect.

He turns to see the one speaking. It is The Lord, for He refers to Himself as "I". What he sees overwhelms him. The first thing he notes are seven lampstands with someone in their midst, whom he likens as a son of man. The figure is wearing the garments of priest and king. Son of Man was the title favored by Jesus as He walked on earth. In this office, He prophesied and paved the way for the eternal offices of Priest and King which He has assumed.

White reflects the purity and righteousness embodied by the risen King.

The eyes of flame signify the all seeing and knowing Spirit of the very God. It reminds us of the torches burning before the throne of God which represent the Spirt.

The bronzed feet symbolize His passion and refining that took place on earth. It was foreshadowed by the bronze serpent raised by Moses in the wilderness to cure the people from snakebites.

His voice sounded like "many waters", another confirmation of the divine. It might also refer to the fact that we are in the body of Christ and the voices of the many waters point back to the many believers that are born of water and fire.

In His right hand are the seven churches who are filled with the presence of the Son of Man. That same mighty Son is the strong right arm of the Father. We are one as they are one. Jesus touches John with His right hand to comfort and confirm John. It is the touch of God.

From The Lord's mouth comes the sword of His word which pierces and divides the very heart of man.

He is the light of the world, the great light which has risen over the darkness of the world, the great morning star.

The one that was, that is, and is to come will now proceed to speak of what was, is, and what is to come. John is to witness and record the upcoming visions.