Revelation 1:9-20: The Things Which John Saw

From: Notes on the Revelation With Practical Reflections

By: Hugh Henry Snell

Narrator: Chris Genthree

Revelation 1:9‑20 • 8 min. read • grade level: 8

We now come, strictly speaking, to THE REVELATION. It is divides into three parts:

The things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter,

after these things (v. 19).

The first division occupies the first chapter, from the twelfth to the seventeenth verses. These are the things which John had just seen.

John addresses himself, not as one in apostolic office, or as a member of the “one body,” the Church, but as a brother of all the servants of God, and their companion in the kingdom, now characterized by tribulation and by exercise of patience. The kingdom predicted by prophets promised peace and blessing, as will be known in millennial times; but the kingdom has hitherto been, and in the action of this book is marked with tribulation and evil by Satan’s power, although also by God’s blessing to His people, and will end in judgment, as we learn from Matt. 13:11, 42, 50¹¹He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. (Matthew 13:11)
⁴²And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:42)
⁵⁰And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:50), and other Scriptures. It is the kingdom of heaven in mystery. There is, therefore, need of patience until Jesus comes.

In the world ye shall have tribulation,

said Jesus;

but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world {John 16:33³³These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)}.

The Lord’s aged and honored servant was banished to Patmos, a desolate island in the Grecian Archipelago, for the word of God and the testimony of Christ. Little, perhaps, did he think that the solitary and barren island would be a place for his being favored by God with such deep communion and astounding revelations. But so it was. Again the apostle proved that

before honour is humility {Prov. 15:33, 18:12},

and that God’s way of preparing us for special blessing is to bring low; as we sometimes say, “The way to exaltation is the dust”; and the thought is full of comfort to God’s tried and humbled children. Those who are exercised before God will usually find that the longer and deeper the time of trial, the richer the blessing that follows.

The apostle tells that he

was in the Spirit {Rev. 1:10¹⁰I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, (Revelation 1:10)}.

While all believers have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them, we are not always “in the Spirit.” To be “in the Spirit” implies that the faculties of the soul are so under the power and unction of the Holy Ghost, as to enable us to discern and enter into the mind of God, and to be occupied with His things. This is an important practical point. It is to be feared that we often set about attending to spiritual matters in a carnal frame, and are content to know that the Holy Spirit dwells in us, without being careful to be “in the Spirit.” We need the anointed eye, and a spiritual frame of soul, if we would profit others or enjoy the truth of God ourselves. By

the Lord’s day {Rev. 1:10¹⁰I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, (Revelation 1:10)}

we are not to understand “the day of the Lord,” but the first day of the week; the day which reminds us of the resurrection of Christ from the dead, of rest in a finished work, and triumph in a risen Head.

The first thing that arrested the attention of the apostle was the sound behind him of

a great voice, as of a trumpet, saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches, etc. {Rev. 1:10, 11¹⁰I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, ¹¹Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. (Revelation 1:10‑11)}.

Thus the person is announced, and the apostle’s service clearly marked out. This trumpet-like sound induced John to turn round to see what it was, when the glorious vision of one like unto the Son of man,

in the midst of seven golden candlesticks {see Rev. 1:13¹³And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. (Revelation 1:13)},

was immediately brought before him. With regard to the candlesticks, we are told

The seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches (Rev. 1:20²⁰The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. (Revelation 1:20));

thus we do not get here the doctrine of “the Church,” the body of Christ, “one body,” “one new man,” and such-like expressions, but “seven churches”; because the vision has regard to those who bear the name of Christ in earthly circumstances, and in responsibility to Christ, rather than the one body, or as seated in heavenly places in Christ, as we find treated of in Ephesians. The Lord is therefore seen

in the midst {Rev. 1:13¹³And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. (Revelation 1:13)}.

This is His promised place.

Wheresoever two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them {Matt. 18:20²⁰For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20)}.

The thought, however, of the one body of Christ is in a certain sense included, inasmuch as there was but one candlestick in one city — no division. In fact, the idea of different churches in one city is nowhere found in Scripture, while division, or a sectarian position, is most solemnly condemned. The Church, therefore, composed of all the believers in a city, as in Ephesus for instance, was a golden candlestick, — costly, precious, and valuable as gold, and a fit vessel for bearing light. Such is the Church of God. It has no light in itself — nothing but what is bestowed by the ascended Jesus.

Christ is seen in the midst of the “golden candlesticks,” and that, too, in the character of a discerner and judge in His own house, the only time we have Him in such a character, with readiness to bless and encourage, as well as to correct. And I cannot exclude the thought, that His first being presented as

like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle {Rev. 1:13¹³And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. (Revelation 1:13)},

is to remind us that He is also a merciful, compassionate, and sympathizing High Priest. By

His head and hairs white like wool, as white as snow,

we are taught that He not only bears the marks of the Ancient of Days (Dan 7), but is infinitely pure and holy; while

His eyes, as a flame of fire {Rev. 1:14¹⁴His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; (Revelation 1:14)},

are all searching, from whose notice nothing can escape. His almighty power to put all enemies under His feet, and trample them in His fury, may be brought out by

His feet, like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace;

and

His voice, as the sound of many waters {Rev. 1:15¹⁵And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. (Revelation 1:15)},

may teach us that His mighty voice may be heard far and wide as the thunders of the fall of Niagara; for unto Him is given all power in heaven and in earth.

Nor are the assemblies to forget that

out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword {Rev. 1:16¹⁶And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. (Revelation 1:16)},

by which He can execute judgments (Rev. 2:16¹⁶Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. (Revelation 2:16)). His countenance, the bright effulgence of glory and uncreated light, was

Such is Christ’s present place among the churches. Though, strictly speaking, no company of Christians can now lay claim to be the candlestick in any place, because of our sinful divisions and sects, yet we can always count upon His presence, if really

gathered together in His name (Matt. 18:20²⁰For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20)).

But while we are assured of His presence, we should never forget our responsibility to Him as the Head of the body, and Master of His own house (Heb. 3:6⁶But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. (Hebrews 3:6)).

Verse 17. The effect of this glorious vision of Christ on the beloved apostle he then describes:

When I saw HIM, I fell at His feet as dead {Rev. 1:17¹⁷And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: (Revelation 1:17)}.

Overpowered with the glimpse of the glorified Son of man, the mortal powers gave way; but it was only to bring out the grace and tenderness of Him who was so precious to the apostle’s heart. The

right hand

of Jesus was soon laid on His servant, now fallen prostrate at His feet, and the comforting words fell from His gracious lips,

Fear not; I am the first and the last. I am He that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death {Rev. 1:17, 18¹⁷And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: ¹⁸I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. (Revelation 1:17‑18)}.

Thus, by the eye and heart being again fixed on the triumphant Savior, who conquered death and hell for him, and by the Lord’s tender assurance that He was his loving Savior, and that there was no ground for fear, John was comforted, and then instructed to write what he had just seen.

as the sun shineth in his strength {Rev. 1:16¹⁶And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. (Revelation 1:16)}.

the seven stars in His right hand {see Rev. 1:16¹⁶And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. (Revelation 1:16)},

we are taught not only that He is the Source, but the Sustainer of all ministry to the Church.

He gave gifts unto men {Eph. 4:8⁸Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Ephesians 4:8)},

and in His power alone they can be exercised for true profit. Christ is presented to us as judging the churches, as Peter tells

judgment must begin at the house of God {1 Pet. 4:17¹⁷For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:17)}.

It is quite unscriptural to call a building of brick and stone a “sanctuary,” or “house of God.” God’s people, the members of Christ, now are God’s house; it is composed of living stones, and Christ judges both individually and corporately. Blessed it is to know that the Master’s rule is

If we judge ourselves, we should not be judged {1 Cor. 11:31³¹For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. (1 Corinthians 11:31)};

but it is very solemn, that

when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world {1 Cor. 11:32³²But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. (1 Corinthians 11:32)}.

Like the true antitype of Aaron, Christ trims the lamps, removes the hindrances to the bright burning of the light, pours in oil, and never extinguishes the feeble glimmer of little faith. Christ must have realities.

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