Revelation 1:9-20 Part 1

I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation [θλῖψις thlipsis – tribulation, affliction = general sufferings for Christ] and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus [cf. Acts 14:22; 2 Thess. 1:5], was on the island called Patmos, because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus [church tradition says John was exiled by Emperor Domitian]. 10 I was in the Spirit [ἐν πνεύματι en pneumati – used by John to describe his visionary transport; see Rev. 4:2; 17:3; 21:10] on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet, 11 saying, “Write [γράφω grapho – aor/act/imp = to write down, record, compose] in a book [βιβλίον biblion – book, scroll] what you see, and send [πέμπω pempo – aor/act/imp – to send, dispatch] 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.” 12 And I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands [i.e. seven churches; see Rev. 1:20]; 13 and in the middle of the lampstands one like a son of man [Jesus Christ, Dan. 7:13; cf. Matt. 9:6; 10:23], clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His breast with a golden girdle [likely the attire of a judge]. 14 And His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow [symbolizing purity from sin, Isa. 1:18; Dan. 7:9]; and His eyes were like a flame of fire [perhaps eyes that judge righteously Rev. 2:18; 19:11-12]; 15 and His feet were like burnished bronze [perhaps feet that bring righteous judgment], when it has been caused to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters [a voice of authority]. 16 And in His right hand [symbolizing strength and sovereignty] He held seven stars [seven angels of the churches]; and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword [ῥομφαία rhomphaia - a Roman sword used for killing, Rev. 2:12, 16; 6:8; 19:15, 21]; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength [like at His transfiguration; Matt. 17:2]. 17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as a dead man [he fainted]. And He laid His right hand upon me [comforting and strengthening], saying, “Do not be afraid [Divine encounters often produced fear – Judg. 13:21-23; Isa. 6:1-5; Dan. 10:9-12; Matt. 17:6-8]; I am the first and the last [merism – eternal One], 18 and the living One; and I was dead [crucified], and behold, I am alive forevermore [resurrection – never to die again], and I have the keys of death and of Hades [power over death, and the place of the dead]. 19 “Write [γράφω grapho – aor/act/imp] therefore the things which you have seen [past – chapter 1 – the vision of Christ], and the things which are [present – chapters 2-3 – the seven churches], and the things which shall take place after these things [μετὰ ταῦτα meta tauta – future – chapters 4-22; cf. Rev. 4:1 – the events of the Tribulation, Jesus’ Second Coming, the earthly kingdom, and eternal state]. 20 “As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches [the seven angels are possibly humans; see Luke 9:51-52; Jam. 2:25], and the seven lampstands are the seven churches [a lamp is to light it’s environment = the light of bib