Revelation chapter 1

 

In verse 1 we are told this book is the Revelation of Jesus Christ and no one else. We read this in the introduction.

In verse 3 we have a special blessing for all who hear and read this book. Revelation is the only book in the Bible with this blessing. With such a blessing to those who read and hear it, why don’t we read it more? And why is it not taught?

Rev 1:3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. (NKJV)

 

In verse 8 Yeshuah makes a declaration.

Rev 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." (NKJV)

 

Yeshuah Jesus declares that He is the beginning and end of the alphabet and everything in between (He repeats this in verse 11). Remember, He is the Word that became flesh (John 1:14). He is the beginning of all things and the end of all things. He is the Almighty, He was the Almighty and He is coming back as the Almighty.

Verse 12-16 gives a description of how John saw Him.

Rev 1:12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands,

Rev 1:13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.

Rev 1:14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;

Rev 1:15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters;

Rev 1:16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. (NKJV)

 

When John turned he saw, “One like the Son of Man”. Son of Man is one of the titles of Yeshuah. “He was clothed with a garment down to His feet and girded about the chest with a golden band (or sash).” The clothing of Jesus indicates that He is a person of great dignity and authority. Long garments were only worn by those who didn’t have to work much, so they were a picture of great status and authority. The golden band or sash around his chest hints at the garments of the high priest (Exo_29:5). The golden girdle that he wears is not around his waist, but around his chest. Christ wears the golden sash of a King. It is a sash of righteousness, faithfulness, and power. He wears the golden sash of a Prophet. It is a sash of truth. And he wears the golden sash of a Priest. It is a sash of love.

Next, “His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;” The white hair like wool and snow is the same description that Daniel gave. It signifies the purity and the eternal, timelessness of Jesus.

Dan 7:9 "I watched till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, Its wheels a burning fire; (NKJV)

The Ancient of Days speaks of the Father, so we see Yeshuah Jesus is compared to the Father here. Jesus and the Father are One.

Joh 10:30 "I and My Father are one." (NKJV)

Eyes like flames of fire . . . wow. Imagine those eyes looking at you. These eyes are the all-searching and penetrating eyes. Our God is a consuming fire.

Heb 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire. (NKJV)

The day will come when each person’s work will be tested by fire, the fire of His eyes. Yeshuah Jesus will look at each of us and our work that we did on earth will either be refined or burned up.

1Co 3:11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

1Co 3:12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,

1Co 3:13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is.

1Co 3:1 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.

1Co 3:15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (NKJV)

 

“His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace.” Since fire is connected with judgment, these feet like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace speaks of someone who has been through the fires of judgment and has come forth with a refined purity. Jesus has been through the “Refiner’s Fire.” When brass is heated in a furnace it glows with white heat. Brass is also a metal connected with judgment and sacrifice. Israel’s altar of sacrifice was made of brass (Ex 27:1-6), and it was called the “brazen altar.”

“and His voice as the sound of many waters”. Some believe this means that Jesus’ voice had the power and majesty of a mighty waterfall and it may very well mean that. Let’s take a different approach at this. Water in scripture often symbolizes nations and a multitude. In Acts chapter 2 on the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples in the upper room. They then began to speak in different tongues, languages.

Act 2:8 "And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? (NKJV)

As God speaks to us individually in our own language, I believe John herd Jesus speak in all languages all at once, so making the sound of many waters, loud and roaring.

Let’s go back to verse 13, “and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man.” Yeshuah Jesus is in the midst of the seven lampstands. Hold on to that for a moment and let’s move on.

 

Rev 1:16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. (NKJV)

He holds seven stars in His hands. The seven stars will be explained in a moment. “Out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword”, this is not a literal sword. Remember He is the Word that became flesh.

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (NKJV)

“And His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength” The glory of Jesus is so great, so shining, that it is hard to even look upon Him. Jesus has the same glory as in His transfiguration, when His face shone like the sun (Mat_17:2). This is no exaggeration, from His head to His feet He glowed, shined and blazed bright as the sun in its strength.

 

Rev 1:17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. (NKJV)

 

John sees Yeshuah and falls as dead at His feet. Not really so much out of fear; his body didn’t have any choice but to prostrate before Almighty Yeshuah. The Lord in His love laid His right hand on John and said, “Do not be afraid.”

John does five things we should all do every day.

1. Rev 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day,

2. Rev 1:10 , and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,

3. Rev 1:12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands,

4. Rev 1:17 And when I saw Him,

5. Rev 1:17 I fell at His feet as dead.

I was in the Spirit, I heard, I turned, I saw, I fell.

 

Rev 1:18 "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. (NKJV)

Yeshuah Jesus lives; He died on the cross and was buried. He rose from the grave and is alive forevermore. When Jesus died He descended into hell and took the keys to Hades and Death. When Yeshuah rose from the dead, death has no more power over us.

 

Skipping to verse 20;

Rev 1:20 "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, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches. (NKJV)

Yeshuah Jesus holds in His hand stars which are the angels of the churches, and the lampstands He stands among are the churches. It is a great comfort to know Jesus is always in the midst of His people, and His angels are among us as well.