THE BOOK OF REVELATION 1:10-20 ‘Testimony of Jesus’

1. THE BOOK OF REVELATION 1:10-20 ‘Testimony of Jesus’

2. We can never expect to grow in the likeness of our Lord unless we follow His example and give more time to communion with the Father. A revival of realpraying would produce a spiritual revolution. - Edward McKendree (E. M.) Bounds -

3. Revelation Turning to see

4. Revelation 1:10-17 10 I was in the Spiriton the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying [...] "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,"   12 And I turned to see (ble,pw) the voice that spoke with me, and having turned I saw (ei=doj) seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man[...] 17 And when I saw (ei=doj) Him, I fell at His feet as dead, and He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid [...]

5. Why make John ‘turn’? • Could not God put John facing Jesus straight away after being in Spirit?(God wants us to turn aside) • What is the significance of John ‘turning to see’? • What does John become when he turns and sees God? (An apostolic messenger) • What if he did not ‘turn’? (No Revelation for us) • ‘Moses in Exodus 3’

6. Moses in Exodus • Why did God choose Moses? • Moses had the same passionate desire and heart for Israel as God did. • Moses has been humbled, and is broken and contrite enough for God to use him because he was now accessible, flexible and available. • Moses ‘turned aside’ from what he was doing to partake in what God was doing wholeheartedly (Exodus 3:3-4). • Why does God do it this way? • God will acknowledge the passion we have for the things that He has, but He cannot partner with us and achieve what He purposes when we try to do it in our ways using our expertise, skills and experiences. • God will always act so that He will receive the greatest glory in everything He does, which means that we will also receive the greatest glory through it!

7. RevelationAttributes of Jesus

8. ‘Turning’ the Perspective of Jesus • John knew Jesus intimately in His First Coming. John 13:23 - Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. • But in order for John to comprehend and receive the Book of Revelation, he needed to have a new revelation of Jesus: ‘The need to have a new revelation of Jesusto know the Revelation of Jesus.’ • Jesus was changing John’s perspective about Him so that he may know Jesus of the Second Coming. • Jesus also did this to prepare us for Jesus, who is returning as the King, the Judge and the Bridegroom.

9. Attributes of Coming Jesus "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last," • Jesus is the author and finisher of salvation history of the world (Hebrews 12:2). He wrote the story of creation with the Father and foresaw the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). • Jesus is also the central and main character of God’s history (Colossians 1:15-20). He was right there creating the world with the Father in Genesis, and He is the One that brings the world under the rule of God in New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:9-27).

10. Attributes of Coming Jesus in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, • Jesus is very close to His church. He knows what goes on intimately and is always ready to intercede, help, comfort, or discipline as needed and as requested. • Jesus’ attributes are the very person of Jesus. So, when His attributes are stated in each of the 7 churches in Rev 2-3, He is present in His churches, knowing what is going on and what is lacking. • His nearness shows that we have access to Him quickly and easily via prayer as we understand His will for His church.

11. Attributes of Coming Jesus clothed with a garment down to the feet • Jesus is wearing a garment like that of the OT priests (Exodus 29:5, 39:22-29). • The fact that Jesus is in the midst of His churches shows that He is interceding as the Great High Priest. What a great comfort and encouragement this truth is! Hebrews 8:1-2 Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.

12. Attributes of Coming Jesus girded about the chest with a golden band. • Jesus is also wearing a golden band just like the 7 angels with 7 bowls of wrath of God (Rev 15:6), who come out of the temple in heaven. This gives support to Jesus being the Great High Priest interceding from the heavenly temple. • The golden belt also represents His royalty and kingship (with His long robe). As gold represents the character of God, it is a sign of confirmation by the Father as the Son of God, who is the head of the church. • Jesus is indeed the victorious champion of heaven and earth with the golden belt.

13. Attributes of Coming Jesus His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow • Jesus, in His First Coming, was fully human being and this is how John envisioned Jesus. However, no longer. • In Daniel 7:9, God on the throne is described to have the same features, which shows that Jesus is seen by John as fully God, just like the Father. • The white hair shows the eternal character of God, as ‘the Ancient of Days’. • John must shift His understanding that Jesus will return as the fully, glorified Son of God.

14. Attributes of Coming Jesus His eyes like a flame of fire; • Jesus, in His First Coming, had gentle and tender eyes that healed and restored people’s broken and contrite hearts. • Jesus has the eyes to see everything in the church and nothing is hidden from His eyes. • He also has the burning passionate eyes of love for His bride and longing for her to be ready and prepared. • But, Jesus’ eyes of flaming fire also has the power to destroy His enemies that hinder love of His bride like a laser beam and X-ray vision, and will use it in His Second Coming.

15. Attributes of Coming Jesus His eyes like a flame of fire; • Flames in the Bible describes burning fire in the hell (Luke 16:24) and the destruction of God’s enemies (2 Thess1:8), but also depicts the ministering angels (Hebrews 1:17) and the presence of God (Exodus 3, Acts 7:30). This describes two sides of Jesus’ flaming eyes: ‘Protection & Destruction’. • Fire also describes the lake of fire (Rev 20:14-15) where all who are against God will be eternally condemned. • Jesus eyes of flaming fire is stated in Thyatira church for judgement (2:22), for death (2:23) and against Satan (2:24).

16. Attributes of Coming Jesus His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, • In His First Coming, Jesus became the servant of all and even washed the feet of His disciples. His feet was even pierced for the sins of the world. • In His Second Coming, His metallic feet are used for destroying His enemies, who are against His Kingdom. • With His bronze feet, He will crush the head of Satan as prophesied in Genesis 3:15. • And His judgement derives from His refinement as the Man of God, proven to be righteousness and just.

17. Attributes of Coming Jesus His voice as the sound of many waters; • In Jesus First Coming, His voice spoke the word of life with love and grace, and people heard and was attracted to Him. Jesus’ voice was so kind that some even rejected Him. • What John heard is the voice of Jesus that is like the reverberating sound of God’s holiness from His throne. • So great is the holiness of God, that it powerfully radiates and projects a great and awesome sound when the Son of God speaks.

18. Attributes of Coming Jesus His voice as the sound of many waters; • In His Second Coming, His voice will be like the voice of God that was heard in Mt Sinai, where people trembled and feared God when they heard it (Exodus 19:16, 19). Exodus 20:18-19 Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. Then they said to Moses, "You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die."

19. Attributes of Coming Jesus He had in His right hand seven stars, • Jesus is in control of the message as well as the messenger (or the angel) whom He sends to the church. • His messenger must speak His message with fear and trembling which can yield judgement or reward (James 3:1). • Consequently, the church must receive and take heed of His message and honour His messenger (Matt 12:40-42).

20. Attributes of Coming Jesus out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, • Jesus came with the Word of life in His First Coming (John 6:68) so that people will repent and enter into His Kingdom. • His Word as the sword was also for discernment and spiritual warfare (Hebrews 4:12, Ephesians 6:17). This is demonstrated in Pergamum church (Rev 2:14-16). I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. You also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

21. Attributes of Coming Jesus out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, • Jesus Himself said that His words will condemn people on the last day (John 12:48). He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him: the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. • He will come to destroy nations with the sword of His mouth (Rev 19:15, Psalm 2). Why do the nations rage and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed, [...] He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; [...] You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.

22. Attributes of Coming Jesus His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. • Jesus firstly came as the light of the world, but His brilliant light was hidden from its full manifestation. 1 Corinthians 13:12 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. • His countenance in its fullness was once witnessed by His disciples in the Mount of Transfiguration (Matt 17:2), which totally bewildered and made them fall down. • The light of His countenance will drive out all darkness (and evil) and will even light up the new earth.

23. RevelationAttributes & Church

24. Attributes Applied to Churches He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last and 18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forever and ever and I have the keys of Hades and of Death. • Jesus’ attributes in verses 17-18 only applies to Smyrna and Philadelphia churches, who are not condemned in any way. • All other churches contain the attributes of the coming Jesus in His judgement. • An exception is the church of Laodicea, which is the most interesting and intriguing church of the seven.

25. Attributes Applied to Churches • The church of Laodicea is unique in that Jesus’ corrective attributes are not employed, even though it needed to be disciplined: • Words of Amen (1:1) - ‘eyes to see’ • Faithful and true witness (1:5a) - ‘gold refined by fire’ • Ruler of the creation (1:5c) - ‘rich / poor’ • The only church invited to intimacy with Jesus. • One of the greatest rewards are offered to this church. • How does God judge this complacent, world-compromised and self-righteous church?

26. Revelationsummary

27. Summary • It is vital for us to ‘turn and see’ God to be truly ‘sent’ by Him, rather than ‘going’ by the consent of people, the need of circumstances, or the decision of ourselves. • John had to ‘turn and see’ and have a revelation Jesus as the King, the Judge and the Bridegroom of the Second Coming in order to receive and understand the book of Revelation. • We also need to ‘turn and see’ Jesus with a new perspective to comprehend and accept the Book of Revelation. “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.”