John, the author of the book of “the revelation” is on the island of “Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.” Meaning John has been exiled to the island of Patmos for proclaiming about who Jesus is and what he has done. John has been spreading the good news and its made enough of an impact that to put an end to the influence that John is having on these Jesus followers in the area, John is sent to the island of Patmos.
His critical eye was not only turned toward Rome, but to the church as well. We might call John a double dissident because he had his eyes on the evil powers at work in the empire as well as those same powers at work in the church.
Scot McKnight
John on the Lord’s Day, meaning on Sunday heard behind him as he was in the Spirit, “a loud voice like a trumpet.”
Who Is John Writing To?
The voice says to John first: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches.” Meaning that this revelation, this revealing that is about to take place is meant for these 7 first century churches in Rome. We can be sure of this because earlier in verse 4 we seen John in his introduction write that this letter is to the seven churches in Asia Minor. In verses 9-11, John just pin points who exactly these seven churches are.
You may be like me, you grew up in a Bible Belt culture where we are told to read our Bible everyday, have our quiet times and that we should do this because the Bible is written for us. It is “God’s love letter to us!”
This can be all well and good. The Bible is for us just like it was for everyone who came before and who will come after us. It is key to remember though that just because the Bible is for us, does not mean it was written to us. There was an original intended audience. John is told exactly who this audience will be by this strange voice.
Who Spoke to John?
John turns around to “see the voice that was speaking” to him only to instead see seven golden lamp stands. In the midst of these seven lamp stands is one like a son of man.
Here we are given some clues as to to who this “son of man” figure is.
- V.13 “was one like the Son of Man.” “Son of Man” was the title Jesus used to refer to Himself. This is also the title used in Daniel 7:13-14 which says: “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the cloud of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” As you see, that title is used here, but you may ask: who is it referring to? As we look closely at what the son of man is presented we may see some clues such as “being given dominion(authority) and a kingdom(messianic), that all peoples, nations and languages should serve him. In Matthew 28 as Jesus is about to ascend back to the Father he says: “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore, and make apprentices of all nations.” Jesus is the son of man, who has been given all authority, all dominion.
- V.14-15 John describes what this “son of man” looks like. John recalls the “son of man” figure “dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.” Daniel in his similar vision recalls a man “clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from uphaz around his waist”(Daniel 10:5). John then goes on to say “his eyes were like blazing fire, his feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice like the sound of rushing waters.” Daniel also recalls the man he sees with “eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sounds of his words like the sound of a multitude.”(Daniel 10:6) John and Daniel are both describing what the “son of man”(Jesus) looks like.
- John then has the proper response of “falling at his feet like a dead man.” The Son of man then puts his right hand onto John and says: “don’t be afraid. I am the first and the last, and the Living One. I was dead, but look-I am alive forever and ever. And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” There are three things I want us to notice here.
- The “son of man” says he is the “First and the Last.” The phrase “First and Last” was a title essentially calling yourself in this case, God. Jesus was not just some man, He equates himself with God.
- “I was dead, but look-I am alive forever and ever.” Who do we know who was dead, but then is resurrected? Lazarus? No! Jesus! This son of man figure is the resurrected Jesus and he assures John that he will unlike Lazarus, not be dying a second time. Jesus will live and reign forever!
- “I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Hades for many of us in the modern west brings to mind the villain in Disney’s cartoon depiction of Hercules. But Hades was a Greek term everyone was familiar with at the time. The Greeks believed that Hades, the god of the underworld, held the keys to the gates of the underworld(death). But in Jewish literature, the one true God holds the keys. And Jesus, the resurrected King, has just defeated death. Death has no sting on the King who is alive forever and ever.
Summary
Jesus, the now resurrected King of the cosmos, has met John in this vision, and has an important message to share with the seven churches in Asia Minor. Next, we will take a look at the message Jesus has for the seven churches.
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