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September 13 Sermon Notes & Quotes
“John’s Vision of Jesus”
Revelation 1:9-20

Key Terms

  • Son of Man
  • Lampstand

 

Sermon Outline

  • John has a Vision.
  • John has a Vision of Jesus.
  • John has a Vision of Jesus among the Churches.

 

John has a Vision.

  • John writes that he was “in the Spirit” in Revelation 1:10. John uses this phrase “in the Spirit” four times in Revelation (1:10, 4:2, 17:3, and 21:10). In each case, John sees something that the Spirit shows him.  This is what is meant by “vision.”  Forever, John is instructed by Jesus to “write what you see” in Revelation 1:11.
  • John had a vision on the island of Patmos. Patmos is a tiny Greek island in the Aegean Sea.
  • John had a vision on “the Lord’s day” (Rev. 1:10). Christians refer to Sunday as “the Lord’s day” because that was the day of his resurrection on the very first Easter Sunday.  This is also the reason why Christians worship on Sundays instead of on Saturday (the Sabbath day of the Old Testament).

 

John has a Vision of Jesus.

  • John sees one like a “Son of Man” (1:13).
  • “Son of Man” is the title that Jesus most often used to describe himself in the Gospels.
  • “Son of Man” is not a modest title. It comes from the Old Testament in Daniel 7:13-14.
  • In Mark 14:62-63, Jesus claimed to be the “Son of Man” before a Jewish council of chief priests and elders and scribes. Right after Jesus said these words, the high priest of the council immediately tore his clothes and said, “What further witness do we need?  You have heard his blasphemy.”  Then Jesus was immediately condemned to death.
  • Next, in Revelation 1:14-16, John describes Jesus in exalted and God-like language. Many of the descriptions that John uses are pulled straight from the Book of Daniel.  For more details, see the “Sermon Quotes” available online.

 

John has a Vision of Jesus among the Churches.

  • According to Revelation 1:13, Jesus, the Son of Man, is “in the midst of the lampstands.” And in verse 20, we are told that “the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”
  • Why is Jesus, the Son of Man, walking in the midst of these lampstands? Because Jesus dwells with His people! One of my favorite commentators writes about this verse: Jesus is “vitally present with the churches and knows their state and has not abandoned them in their trials” (Schreiner, “Revelation” in Expository Commentary, 563).
  • Also, according to verse 13, Jesus is clothed with a long robe and golden sash around his chest. These are the garments of a priest.
  • In his priestly office, Jesus has already atoned for our sins by dying on the cross for us. Now, he is tending the lamps.  He wants our lamp to shine brightly in a dark world.

 

Hurstbourne Baptist Church; September 13, 2020
Sermon Quotes: Revelation 1:9-20
“John’s Vision of Jesus”

 

  • “86 years have I served Him, and He has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?” (Polycarp at the moment of Martyrdom).

 

  • The Author of Hebrews says “time would fail me to tell” of all the stories of those who were stoned, sawn in two, and killed with the sword.  These went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated – men and women of whom the world was not worthy. (See Hebrews 11:32, 37-38).

 

  • “Too often those who preach Revelation have used it as a prophecy chart, which is alien to the message of the book. They have fallen into the trap of news-paper eschatology instead of biblical eschatology. Unfortunately, those who don’t follow such an approach have often gone to the other extreme and avoided preaching from Revelation altogether, but such an approach is equally mistaken, for God has given us the book for our instruction in edification and holiness” (Schreiner, “Revelation” in Expository Commentary, 543).

 

  • “Revelation has more allusions to the OT than all other books of the NT put together” (Beale, Revelation, 17).

 

  • “The most significant feature of this passage [i.e., Revelation 1:9-20] is the overwhelming glory of Jesus. The grabbing description of the sovereign Lord Christ, the King Messiah, assures John’s audience, including us, that Jesus is to be worshipped and obeyed because of his surpassing worth and power.  His authority is such, as the one who holds the keys of death and Hades, that he controls the earthly and the eternal destiny of every man, woman, and child.  Your response to Jesus as he is revealed in this passage determines whether you will rule with him or will be slain by the sword that comes from his mouth.  He is risen.  He is indestructible.  He is unconquerable.  He is Lord” (Hamilton, Revelation, 52).

 

  • John’s Description of Jesus in Revelation 1:14-16
    • “The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow.” Daniel said this same thing about God as “the Ancient of Days” in Daniel 7:9. Jesus is God!
    • “His eyes were like a flame of fire.” This means that nothing can escape the all-seeing, piercing vision of Jesus. Compare Revelation 1:14 with Daniel 10:6. See also Psalm 139:1-12.
    • “His feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace.” Compare Revelation 1:15 with Daniel 10:6.
    • “His voice was like the roar of many waters.” The authoritative voice of the Risen Jesus is powerful and commanding! Compare Revelation 1:15 with Daniel 10:6.
    • “In his right hand he held seven stars” (Revelation1:16). These stars will be explained in Revelation 1:20 (see also 2:8, 2:12, 2:18, 3:1, 3:7 and 3:4). We’ll talk about this briefly next week.
    • “From His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword,” which means that the words of Jesus are incisive and final in their judgments. Compare with Hebrews 4:12.
    • “His face was shining like the sun in full strength” (Revelation 1:16). Compare with 1 Timothy 6:16.