Revelation 1: The Messiah Revealed

The book of Revelation is the only book in the bible that is directly written by Jesus Christ; John is a mere scribe in the same way that Baruch was a scribe for Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 36:17: And they asked Baruch, saying, Tell us now, How did you write all these words at his mouth?

Then Baruch answered them, He spoke all these words to me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink on the book.

Just as we find in the rest of new Testament letters, the author introduces himself at the beginning, and then signs off with greetings at the end…

Jude 1:1: Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to the ones called in God the Father…

I Peter 1:1: Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the elect sojourners…

Revelation 1:1…and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

Understand that point. Jesus did not come directly to John, but he sent HIS Angel, and it was though this angel that he SIGNIFIED (symbolized/ made meaning of) it. We will delve into that a bit later. To better understand what it means to signify, let’s use an instance when John uses the same statement of Jesus.

John 12:32-33 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die.

Revelation 1:2

Who[John] bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

So John was a witness of these things.

Revelation 1:3

Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Merely reading this book, even if you don’t understand it, will give you a blessing. I don’t understand people who despise this book.

Revelation 1:4-5

John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

In here we see the Godhead. John is being sent to the Seven Churches by The Father, who is and was and is to come, and by the Holy Spirit, seen as the seven spirits and from Jesus Christ, the faithful and true witness. It is Jesus who rules the Kings of the earth because he paid for us with his blood.

Revelation 1:6 -7

And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen

Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

This is interesting; it means both the living and the dead shall witness this event. John is making reference to Zechariah.

Zechariah 12:9-11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.

Revelation 1:8-12

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty

I, John, who also am your brother and companion in the affliction, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the island that is called Patmos, for the Word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

So John gives us the setting for the book. Its during the persecution of the Christians that took place around 94-98 AD. John was now the last living apostle. Jerusalem had been destroyed and the Jews had fled to the surrounding area of Asia Minor. John was living in Ephesus and he had initially moved there with Mary the mother of Jesus.

Revelation 1:10

I came to be in the Spirit in the Lord’s Day and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, saying, I am the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last.

Voice of a trumpet….

If you’ve ever been around a trumpet player you’ll know that trumpets are extremely loud. They wake those who are asleep, and they make you alert. It’s an urgent message that is being given.

Isa 58:1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.

Reading the whole of Isaiah 58 can help you understand the message of revelation. Just as Isaiah louds his trumpet to the sons of Jacob, so this trumpet is being sounded for the Church, to reveal their transgressions, showing them justice and what delights the lord

Revelation 1:11

What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, and to Smyrna, and to Pergamos, and to Thyatira, and to Sardis, and to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.

These Seven Churches.

All the Seven Churches are located in present day Turkey. As we speak, according to the CIA fact book, 99.8% of the people in Turkey are Muslims. This resulted from the fact that Turkey (The ottoman Empire) ruled Islam and Jerusalem from 1517 to 1917 (exactly 400 years)

Of all the Seven Churches, Paul only planted Ephesus. Infact when Paul had preached in Galatia, the Holy Spirit FOBARDE him from preaching in Asia.

Acts 16:6-7 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,

After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. Paul was forbidden, so scholars don’t really know for sure who planted those churches. What we do know is that Paul was forbidden, but John would minister to them.

Revelation 1:12

Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me,

John turned to see a voice. This is so far beyond our human experiences that it almost looks like an error. There are other versions which have tried to adjust this verse to make sense, so they’ll say, “he turned to see whose voice” but it remains that John turned to see a voice.

A lot of people think John saw Jesus, in a certain context you could say that, but in reality NO. John saw the voice of our Lord. This voice is what Jesus refers to as his Angel.

To understand this concept, you have to look at another Voice in the Bible. This voice was called John the Baptist. He was the Voice of Elijah.

John 1:21, 23 And they said to him, What then? Are you Elijah? And he said, I am not. Are you the prophet? And his answer was, I am not. He said, I am the voice of one crying in the waste land…

So John was ‘a voice’ in that everything about him communicated the message of Elijah. His clothing was conveying a message, his place of residence (the wilderness), his diet of Locust and honey, his whole lifestyle and appearance, his very being carried a message. He was a voice.

Even though Jesus later says, “This John The Baptist is The Elijah to come”: Yet John was not Elijah in Person, but he was Elijah in spirit, in purpose and in mission. The words he spoke were not his they were of Elijah.

In the same way this Angel is not Jesus in person, but is the voice of Jesus. He carries the purpose, mission and presence of our Lord. Everything about him, including his appearance, carries the message of Christ.

Jesus did not come to John in Person, remember these verses…

Revelation 22:16 I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give witness to you of these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright and morning star.

Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave him… and he sent and made it clear by his angel to his servant John;

This could be the reason why John mistakenly worshiped the angel.

Revelation of John 19:10: Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

So every description of this angel, every detail reveals a characteristic of our Lord. This is the Angel of Our Lord Jesus…

Rev 1:13

And having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands.

John now describes the nature of the trumpet like voice. As he turns he sees the seven churches represented as golden lampstands. The gold signifies that these seven churches belong to the royal treasury of the king’s house. These seven lampstands, these seven churches hold the holy oil, the anointing of the Holy Spirit that is used to generate the flames, which light up the whole world.

And in the midst of the seven lampstands I saw One like the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the feet, and tied around the breast with a golden band.

In the middle of these lampstands, John sees the appearance of Jesus Christ. But he is not like any way he had seen him before. He is seeing the full revelation of the Messiah.

1. Son of man

The first revelation is that the messiah is the Son of man. He is a descended of Human kind. He stands in the middle of the seven churches because he has full authority over them.

He expresses this authority to the church of Ephesus.

Rev 2:1 To the angel of the church of Ephesus write: He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands, says these things.

….Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and will remove your lampstand out of its place unless you repent.

2. Garment to the feet

The second revelation is that he is fully clothed down to his feet. This is a powerful expression of his character.

Garments are an outward reflection of what’s inside.

Revelation 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments..

So a garment that runs down to his feet tells us that our Lord’s works are consistent from top to bottom, he is consistent in his righteousness, his will, his every act, from his head (mind) to his feet.He doesn’t change; he is faithful in his every step.

3.Breast with a golden band.

People were girded whenever they prepared for any work, or journey. The son of man holds fast to God’s royal duty like a girdle holds tight to a man.

Jer 13:11 For as the girdle holds fast to the loins of a man, so I have caused the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah to cling to Me, says Jehovah; so that they might be to Me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory; but they would not hear.

He is always prepared to execute God’s will any time any place.

Luke 12:35-36 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning. And you yourselves be like men who wait for their lord, whenever he shall return from the wedding, so that when he comes and knocks, they may open to him immediately.

Isaiah 11:5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

So the girdle on his chest, tells us that our Lord is faithful. He will never disappoint or fail you. Gold was the royal color, it showing that he is ready for royal duty, and is faithful to the dot.

Rev 1:14

His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And His eyes were like a flame of fire.

4. Hair like wool

Have you ever wondered why Judges wear wigs of white woollen hair? They understood that verse.White hair is not just a symbol that he has lived for a long time, but that he has gained abundant wisdom. As the judge of the earth, He is as wise and as old as the Ancient of days seen by Daniel.

Dan 7:9 I watched until the thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days sat, whose robe was white as snow, and the hair of His head like the pure wool. His throne was like flames of fire, and His wheels like burning fire.

5. Eyes like Flame of Fire

Jesus tells us that the eye is the light of the body.

Mat 6:21-23 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye. Therefore if your eye is sound, your whole body shall be full of light. But if your eye is evil, your whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

When Jesus is talking of the eye he is not talking of the physical eye but one’s perception of the world. It is your perception of the world that determines whether your body shall be in light or darkness. If your perception is evil, your whole body shall be evil. The things you value the most are the ones that you will serve the most.

When we look into the eyes of the Son Of Man, we should not only see his perception of the world, but we should see where his treasure is. His treasure is on the fire of God’s presence. He perceives the world the same way that the Spirit of the father perceives it.

Rev 4:5 And out of the throne came lightnings and thunderings and voices. And seven lamps of fire were burning in front of the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.

We see in his eyes the burning fire of the seven spirits of God ‘for in him dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily.’

He expresses this to the church of Thyatira

Rev 2:18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire…

… And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.

He has eyes of the spirit, that search the hearts of men, and rewards accordingly.

Hebrews 4:14 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

Rev 1:15

And His feet were like burnished brass having been fired in a furnace. And His voice was like the sound of many waters.

6. Feet like burnished brass

Brass is a symbol of ruler ship and power. He has the feet of brass, which mean he holds power and ruler ship to make decisions over the lives and wealth of many people.

Mic 4:13 Up! and let the grain be crushed, O daughter of Zion, for I will make your horn iron and your feet brass, and a number of peoples will be broken by you, and you will give up their increase to the Lord and their wealth to the Lord of all the earth. [BBE]

Dan 2:39 And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.

But this brass is no ordinary brass; it has been tried and purified by the fire of a furnace.

Isa 48:10 Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.

Unlike ordinary kings, The Messiah’s ruler ship and decisions are nothing but love for those who have placed their lives under him. He has been tried by the affliction of the cross, and his love overcame, making the brass of his feet burnished and pure. His power and ruler ship is faultless.

As the lord speaks to the church of Thyatira he promises the same to those who follow in his footsteps.

Rev 2:18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.

….The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.

7. Voice Of Many Waters

I personally love this aspect of our Lord. The sound of his voice is the sound of many people as Isaiah was told.

Isa 17:12 Ah, the thunder of many peoples; they thunder like the thundering of the sea! Ah, the roar of nations; they roar like the roaring of mighty waters!

I like the way Daniel describes his voice:

Daniel 10:6 His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the VOICE OF HIS WORDS LIKE THE VOICE OF A MULTITUDE.

The messiah being the only mediator between God and men, he is the voice for every man, woman and child who wants to speak to God. His voice holds the cries, the pleas and worship of the nations on earth.

1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

So when he speaks he speaks on behalf of all the children of God, he speaks with the voices of each and every one of us. In him, your voice will be heard. Hallelujah!!!

Rev 1:16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two- edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

8. Stars in his right hand

Jesus holds the seven messengers of the seven churches in his right hand. He leads them, guides them and helps them with whatever they need concerning the churches.

Psa 139:9-12 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.

Psa 63:7-8 for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

It is comforting to know that the church messengers are never alone. The church of Sardis needed guidance and help from the man who held it in his right hand.

Rev 3:1 And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars says these things know your works, that you have a name that you live, and are dead.Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die. For I have not found your works being fulfilled before God.

9. The sharp two-edged sword

The messiah’s mouth releases nothing but the sharp double-edged sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. His word is the only weapon there is against the devil’s attack.

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Eph 6:17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

The church of Pergamos needed this sword to battle false doctrine.

Rev 2:12 

And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write: He who has the sharp sword with two edges says these things….But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the teachings of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit fornication.

So you also have those who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent! But if not I will come to you quickly, and will fight with them by the sword of My mouth.

10. Face was like the sun shining in full strength

His face is his identity. His identity is that of the father in full Glory and in full grace.

Psa 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

Rev 1:17-18

And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying to me, Do not fear, I am the First and the Last, and the Living One, and I became dead, and behold, I am alive for ever and ever, Amen. And I have the keys of hell and of death.

Who can stand before him. When you receive the Revelation of Christ, you will naturally fall before his greatness. His majesty.

Jesus has the keys of death and of the Land of the dead. He can open the door to the land of the dead and let anyone out as he wishes. He can also deny access to life for anyone who does not follow him. He is the only one with these keys because he is the only one who completely defeated sin.

Joh 17:1-2 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.

Joh 5:21-22 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son,

Jesus expresses this message to the church of Smyrna.

He doesn’t want us to be afraid of him. Because he is everything we need from first to last.

Rev 2:8 And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The First and the Last, who became dead and lived, says these things:

…Do not at all fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the Devil will cast some of you into prison, so that you may be tried. And you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Revelation 1:19

Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.

As for the mystery of the seven stars that 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 are the seven churches.

AMEN