VISION OF THE SON OF MAN
Revelation 1:9-19
King James Version (KJV)
9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in
tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle
that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus
Christ.
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day,
and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first
and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven
churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos,
and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
12 And I turned to see the voice that
spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
13 And in the midst of the seven
candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the
foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
14 His head and his hairs were white like
wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as
if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
16 And he had in his right hand seven
stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance
was as the sun shineth in his strength.
17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet
as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the
first and the last:
18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and,
behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
19 Write the things which thou hast seen,
and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
More
background. This book called Revelation, contains an
account of visions in symbolic and metaphoric language borrowed extensively
from the Old Testament, especially Ezekiel,
Zechariah, and Daniel. Whether or not these visions were real
experiences of the author or simply literary conventions employed by him is an
open question.
The above mentioned visions are of things that will be,
that is, things that have not yet occurred. Through a series of vision, John
stands in the throne room of God and witnesses the order being given for the
Day of the Lord to commence. John then watches the various types of
tribulation--plagues, natural disasters and other types of punishment that will
be poured out on the earth.
v The splendid form in
which Christ appeared in several illustrations: (1)
[a.]
He was clothed with a garment down to the foot, a princely and priestly robe,
symbolizing righteousness and honor.
[b.]
He was arrayed about with a golden girdle, the breast-plate of the high priest,
on which the names of his people are engraved; he was ready girt to do all the
work of a Redeemer.
[c.]
His head and hairs were white like wool or snow. He was the Ancient of days;
his hoary (worn-out) head was no sign
of decay, but was indeed a crown of
glory.
[d.]
His eyes were as a flame of fire, piercing and penetrating into the very hearts
and reins of men, scattering terrors among his adversaries.
[e.]
His feet were like unto fine burning brass, strong and steadfast, supporting
his own interest, subduing his enemies, treading them to powder.
[f.]
His voice was as the sound of many waters, of many rivers falling in together.
He can and will make himself heard to those who are afar off as well as to
those who are near. His gospel is a profluent and mighty stream, fed by the
upper springs of infinite wisdom and knowledge.
[g.]
He had in his right hand seven stars, that is, the ministers of the seven
churches, who are under his direction, have all their light and influence from
him, and are secured and preserved by him.
[h.]
Out of his mouth went a two-edged sword, his word, which both wounds and heals,
strikes at sin on the right hand and on the left,
[i.]
His countenance was as the sun shining, its strength too bright and dazzling
for mortal eyes to behold.
(2.) The
impression this appearance of Christ made upon the apostle John (Rev. 1:17):
He fell at the feet of Christ as dead; he was overpowered
with the greatness of the luster and
glory in which Christ appeared,
though he had been so familiar with him before.
(3.) The superior goodness of the Lord Jesus to his disciple: He laid
his hand upon him, Rev. 1:17. He
raised him up; he did not plead against him with his great power, but he put strength into him, he spoke kind words
to him.
[a.] Words
of comfort and encouragement:
Fear not. He commanded away the mindless fears of his disciple.
[b.] Words
of instruction, telling him particularly who he was that thus appeared to
him. And here he acquaints him, first, with his divine nature: The first and the last. Secondly, with his former sufferings: I was dead; the very
same that his disciples saw upon the cross dying for the sins of men. Thirdly, with
his resurrection and life: “I live, and am alive for evermore,
have conquered death and opened the grave, and am partaker of an endless life.”
Fourthly, With his office and authority: I have the keys of hell and
of death, a sovereign dominion in and over the invisible world, opening and
none can shut, shutting so that none can open, opening the gates of death when
he pleases and the gates of the eternal world, of happiness or misery, as the
Judge of all, from whose sentence there lies no appeal. Fifthly, with his will and pleasure: Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things
which are, and which shall be hereafter. Sixthly, with the meaning of the seven stars, that they are the ministers of the
churches; and of the seven candlesticks, that they are the seven churches, to
whom Christ would now send by him particular and proper messages. ....…. to be cont’d.
Janet Thomas
Founder/President/CEO
Bible Stories Theatre of
Fine & Performing Arts
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