Revelation Study 4. 1:9-20

6. When "a voice like a trumpet" commands John to "Write ... what you see," John turns to see the voice (1:10-12). What John sees recalls visions that the prophet Daniel had centuries earlier. What do the following passages help you understand about John's vision in Revelation 1: 12-16?

Da 7:9-10. The vision of Jesus recalls the vision of God ("the Ancient of Days"): white hair, fire

Da 7:13-14. "The Son of Man" is presnted to the Ancient of Days to receive a kingdom

Da 10:4-6. This angelic being has a belt of gold, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.

 

7. What does the "sharp double-edged sword" (1:16) seem to signify? (Consider Isaiah 49:2; Hebrews 4:12; Revelation 2:16; 19:15,21.) 

 The power/authority of words/the Word to strike down and rule nations. A double-edged tool comforts the faithful and condemns opponents.

8. Why do you think John "fell at his feet as though dead" (1:17) when he saw this Person? 

 Overcome by awe and terror. cf. Ez 1, Da 10, Is 6, Ac 8

 

9. a. What truths about Himself does Christ emphasize in 1:17-18?

“Fear not, I am the first and the last,  I encompass all of reality, I am eternal, I am Lord of everything

and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore,  I have triumped over death and cannot die

 I have the keys of Death and Hades.  I control death and hell. I can kill and make alive, I can condemn or save. Final victory is assured.

For Further Study: Using a concordance (see page 165), research the Old Testament symbolism of.
a. fire (What do "eyes like blazing fire" signify?) 

cleansing. purifying, judgment. Indicates the presence of the Lord (e.g. in the Exodus)

b. bronze (Brass in KJV. What do feet like white-hot bronze represent?)

Like the cherubiim (Ez 1:7)  there is purity and stability

For Thought and Discussion: What does it mean that Jesus holds the seven stars in His hand (1:16,20)? Why is this important to you?

 "The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches"  angelos = messenger. Perhaps the pastors, or to angels.

 

For Further Study: To understand the meaning of the lampstands better, see Zechariah 4:1-6 and Matthew 5:14-15.  

In Zechariah 4:1-6 the lampstand seems to be a symbol of God in His perfection (cf v.14). Alternatively, it may recall the lampstand of the Temple (Ex 25:31), or the responsibility if Israel to be a light to the nations.

In Rev 1, the lampstands are the churches (1:20) 

10. What overall impression does 1:10-18 give you of Christ?

 Terrifying, awesome, unrecognizable.

 

11. What one truth from 1:1-20 stands out as something you would like to take to heart this week? 

 

 

 Notes

"What you have seen, what is now and what will take place later" (1:19). Many people take this verse as a clue to the structure of the book. There are two main views among those who think this:
1. A three-fold division. "What you have seen" is the vision of 1:12-18. "What is now" is the letters to the seven churches of John's time (2:1-3:22). "What will take place later" is everything from 4:1 on.
 

 2. A two-fold division. "What you have seen" is parallel to "what you see" (1:11); it encompasses both "what is now" and "what will take place later." (The Greek of "what you have seen" allows this interpretation.) The sense is: "Write, therefore, the things you are about to see, that is, both what now is and what lies in the future." Many of those who hold this view do not try to outline the book on the basis of this verse. They say that there is a mixture of "now" and "later" throughout the book, or that chapters 4 through 19 describe the spiritual battle that has gone on throughout Christian history.