Here, even in the first chapter of Revelation, we discover truth imparted in the form of symbols. Jesus is described in a way that is not intended to convey His actual physical appearance but various aspects of His character, His attributes, and His role.

The setting for the vision John received is a tiny island in the Aegean Sea. This island, called Patmos, is only about four miles wide and six miles long, located just off the coast of Turkey. It was a dreary little place in John’s day, containing a stone quarry, some mining excavations, and very little else. John had apparently been banished to Patmos by the Romans in order to silence his preaching – hence his statement that he was there “because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus” (v. 9). John was a prisoner on Patmos.

On one Sunday morning (or “the Lord’s Day,” as John calls it), John was “in the Spirit.” This does not mean that John was in some state of religious ecstasy, but rather that he was worshiping God and meditating on God’s greatness and majesty. It is the state of mind and spirit that Jesus described in John 4:24 when He said, “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” When John was in this worshipful attitude, a voice like a trumpet said, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches” (v. 11). Upon hearing this voice, John did what you and I would have done: he turned to find the source of this powerful, trumpet-like voice. What he saw was the Lord Himself, standing among seven golden lampstands, holding seven stars in His hands. Note the significance of the number seven again, the number of completeness.

Let’s look at each of the symbols which characterize John’s vision of the Lord Jesus: (1) Jesus is dressed in a long robe, bound across the chest by a golden sash, a priestly garment symbolizing His role as the Great High Priest. In Scripture, gold symbolizes deity. This robe with its golden sash speaks of the fact that Jesus is a priest who is Himself God. He is the Lord, sovereign over all of history. (2) His head and His hair are white. These are symbols used in the book of Daniel to denote wisdom and purity. (3) His eyes are like blazing fire, from which nothing can be hid. Fire speaks of judgment. (4) His feet are like bronze, glowing in a furnace, again, the image of furnace-hot fires of judgment. (5) His voice is like the sound of rushing waters, like the roar of the surf as it dashes against the rocks. The sound of His voice is the sound of power, inspiring our awe. (6) The sword which comes out of the mouth of Jesus is clearly the Word of God, by which Jesus reveals truth to us. (7) His face is like the sun shining in its strength. The brilliance of the sun symbolizes the burning intensity of truth.

Throughout the remainder of Revelation, we will see other symbolism employed to describe various aspects of Jesus’ character, power, and position. But it is the image of Jesus which John describes here in chapter 1 that is the most startling and graphic of all. Before such an awesome sight, what could John do, what could any human being do, but fall at the feet of Jesus as though dead?

This is the reaction of every human who experiences the kind of profound encounter with the living God that John experiences here in chapter 1. And as John lay prostrate before the feet of Jesus, the Lord did something that was completely typical and characteristic of Him: He reached down and touched John! As you read through the gospels, you see that Jesus was always toughing people. Now here in chapter 1, Jesus touches John and reassures him with the words, “Do not be afraid.” Jesus is saying in effect, “I am your friend, not your enemy. I am the First and the Last. I set the boundaries of time and history. I hold the keys of death and hell, the keys of both physical death and spiritual death. I am sovereign over all that is, so you have nothing to fear, my friend.”

Does this vision not prove to us that we should never fear to live boldly for Jesus, in accordance with His Word? The world is likely to scorn us and may even persecute us, as it did John. But if the exalted Christ is with us, what will we fear? Should we not, like John, fearlessly preach the truths of God’s Word into a dark and hostile culture? Even if we are placed in chains, the exalted Christ will send forth His Word through us. How important it is then, that we fix our eyes on the mighty and victorious Jesus of Scripture!

Having reassured John, Jesus then commissions him: “Write, therefore,” says the Lord, “what you have seen, what is now, and what will take place later.” Notice that Jesus gives john a three-part writing assignment. First, John is to write what he has seen, which is the vision we have just studied. Second, John is to write “what is now.” That is, he is to write seven letters to seven churches about existing conditions in those churches (Rev. 2-3). Third, John is to write “what will take place latter.” This is the prophetic vision of the future contained in Revelation chapters 4-22. These are the three divisions of the book of Revelation, as given to us by the Lord Himself. If we follow these divisions carefully, we will be able to understand God’s message to us in this challenging, rewarding, symbol-laden book.

The point of the first chapter of Revelation is to focus our attention on Jesus. He is the central figure of Revelation, just as He is the central figure of all history. He is the source of our courage, our peace, our wisdom, our forgiveness when we sin, and our help in the time of need. John takes up the commission given him by Jesus and performs it with dramatic force; he elevates our hearts and focuses our attention upon Jesus, upon who He is and what He is doing in human history. The Lord, through His servant John, has lifted the veil from the obscured face of the future. He invites us to look behind the scenes of history and see the great and awesome things He is doing and is about to do upon the earth, and within each individual life.

Revelation 1:9-20 Study Questions:

Where is John when he writes this letter and why is he there? Why would this be important to John’s original readers?

Exile has given John time to pray, to reflect, and now to receive the most explosive vision of God’s power and love. How have you experienced God’s power and love in the midst of painful or distressing situations?

What does John see when he turns to find out who is speaking to him (vv. 12-16)? What is John’s response when he sees this vision (v. 17)?

Why does Jesus emphasize that He is the “living One” who holds “the keys of death and Hades” (vv. 17-18)?