Revelation 1:7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
The Church today needs a vision of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 1:9-11 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 saying, "Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea."
Jesus Christ met John in a vision on the first day of the week…the day on which believers gathered to worship and celebrate the Lord’s resurrection.
Ignatius and other early church fathers (Irenaeus) referred to Sunday as the Lord’s Day.
John was in exile for his faith. He was on the small island of Patmos in the Agean Sea. To John’s north-east, the churches of Asia needed a Word from God.
1. Jesus is standing among God’s people to guide, encourage, and discipline us.
Revelation 1:12-13a Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man…
2. Jesus is wearing the robe of purity and the sash of the royal priesthood.
Revelation 1:13b . . . clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.
Exodus 28:4 These are the garments that they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a coat of checker work, a turban, and a sash. They shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons to serve me as priests.
Hebrews 2:17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
3. Jesus is the wisdom of the ages with dignity in his appearance.
Revelation 1:14a The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow.
Daniel 7:9 As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire.
4. Jesus sees with complete omniscience, righteousness, and penetrating clarity.
Revelation 1:14b His eyes were like a flame of fire . . .
1 Corinthians 3:13 Each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.
Daniel 10:6 His body was like beryl, 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.
5. Jesus walks with assurance a path of victory.
Revelation 1:15a . . . His feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace . . .
1 Corinthians 15:25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
6. Jesus speaks with authority as the Way, Truth, and Life.
Revelation 1:15-16 . . . and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 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.
Hebrews 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.
Matthew 17:2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.
7. Jesus is the unchanging God who has power over life and death.
Revelation 1:17-18 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
