(These verses have over the years been very precious to me. This was intended for our small online group meeting a little while ago. If someone does preach at my funeral I’d like these verses to be the text. By the grace of God I’ll be enjoying the reality of falling on my face at His feet.)
Revelation 1: 17 & 18. The Lord Jesus meets with His aged disciple
Rev 1:17 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,
Rev 1:18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore (‘AMEN’ AV & NKJV), and I have the keys of Death and Hades. ESV
Both reader and hearer are promised a blessing so please read Rev 1:1-20.
The purpose of the book: ‘Persecuted believer, this book of Revelation seeks to impart comfort to you. That is its main purpose: to comfort the militant church in its struggle against the forces of evil.’ More than Conquerors Hendriken P.4.
Our persecution here in the West is of a very different order to that of fellow Christians in parts of Africa and in Islamic countries. Even so it is for us too.
‘These seven churches were experiencing sore persecution. According to Irenaeus, John wrote Revelation “towards the end of Domitian’s reign,” about AD 95. Secular writers of the Roman Empire described Emperor Domitian as a savage monster who conducted a “reign of terror.” He abused distinguished citizens in front of crowds. He hated Christians and despised the church of Christ. He reigned in darkness, loving the pains and lamentations of people he tortured. He was a beast of a man. He commanded everyone in the empire to call him “Lord and God.” When Christians refused to do so, he persecuted and killed them.[1]
But Domitian was not the only one who might fit this description of the “beast” of Revelation 13:11–18. Revelation says there will be many false prophets and antichrists. Many have and will fit this description. But to understand Revelation, you must realize that it first saw the light of day in the reign of Domitian. The persecutions he initiated were some of the “things which must shortly come to pass.” Revelation is not only about future events, but also about what was already happening in Asia Minor and these seven local churches under Domitian’s reign of terror.[2]’
Tradition has it than when Domitian died (Murdered in 96 AD) the new Emperor (Nerva) allowed exiles, including John, to go home. John died in his 90’s at Ephesus.
The theme of the book – What’s it about? The victory of Christ and His church over the Dragon (Satan) and his helpers. (Hendriksen p,12. I like this, again from Joel Beeke:
Christ also speaks in Revelation as Prophet and intercedes as High Priest while He reigns as King. The book of Revelation calls us to bow before Christ as Prophet, Priest, and King, and then to go out and be prophets, priests, and kings standing under His banner and ministering to a perishing world.[3]
Who is it for? For all the churches, and all believers for all time. It would have made no sense if the book predicts Hitler and other future events and figures. What use would that be for the believers back in John’s day? Hendriksen p.14. Joel Beeke puts it this way:
‘This vision is about Jesus Christ, not the pope, Adolf Hitler, Napoleon Bonaparte, Saddam Hussein, or any other person in world history. It has much to say about world history and tells us much about the motives and methods of world leaders, but it is primarily focused on Jesus Christ and His further revelation of Himself to His church. Because Revelation is not primarily about world events or world personalities, we must take care not to read them into the book; rather, we are to look at them in the light of the book. We may then understand what goes on in our world according to principles we find in the book of Revelation, as it discloses who Jesus Christ is and what He is doing in the world, and what He will do to bring all things to an end. So the book of Revelation is first of all a book about Christ.[4]’
‘….we believe that the entire book of Revelation is addressed to the whole church of Jesus Christ in every age under all circumstances.[5]’
The churches then of chapters 2 & 3 were real churches, but at the same time were for all the churches then and throughout the ages. Note the seven churches – the number of completion. Joel Beeke again:
‘There were many churches in Asia Minor, but John draws our attention to just seven. As a number, seven is often used in Scripture to signify completeness. These seven churches represent the entire church of Christ in every age to the end of the world.[6]’
Older Christians may feel their usefulness is past. This may be you right now. We might think this, and I’m sure we do for various reasons. However, that’s not the way Christ thinks. So, here is the aged apostle. The Lord was clearly not done with him. He might have been exiled to Patmos (which was a penal colony – breaking stones. Not a holiday camp) but his usefulness even there was not over. Was he in good health? No idea. But quite possibly not great as he was now quite elderly. The other apostles have all been martyred. So here he is, exiled, old, probably not in great health, but he’s in the spirit, on the Lords Day. He wasn’t seeking ‘an experience’ or a new revelation, he hadn’t gone to a meeting to receive the Holy Spirit or to be healed. Then we are told this revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ comes to him. It wasn’t something he sought. It’s almost matter of fact. I was exiled to Patmos. I was in the spirit. It was the Lord’s day.
You might feel that you are in the vestibule of heaven waiting to shuffle of this mortal coil feeling useless and unused. You may well feel like that. That your time is gone and all that’s left is to sit around waiting to die. That is understandable given our culture, and the natural tendency of our hearts. This can be just as true in church life as well when the focus is so often on the young. And especially so when we are old or infirm or both. This is not how the Lord Jesus sees you. He could have appeared in this way to John when he was a younger man and full of youthful vigour. But He didn’t. He came to John in his final years probably in his late 80’s or older. And He can come to you (us) as well.
If the younger ones want to pray for the elderly amongst us, pray that we’ll be useful. Yes even in our infirmity. Pray the Lord will keep us and visit us.
John is exiled on Patmos. Is he beyond the reach of the Lord Christ? Are you beyond His reach? Absolutely not!
Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.
Psalm 139: 7-10
The opening verses are extraordinary in themselves and it’s a shame to have to skip over them. But then John hears ‘a loud voice like a trumpet’ v10.
Then he turns ‘to see the voice that was speaking to me’ he says in v10, and is confronted with this revelation, this Apocalyptic (in Greek) vision, or revealing, of the Lord Christ. He sees ‘seven golden lampstands’ v12. Then he sees, v13 ‘in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man.’ He is in the midst of His church!
Then follows this incredible sight in verses 13 -16. I’m not going to comment but read those verses again and let’s try to put ourselves – if that’s possible – in John’s place.
Rev 1:13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.
Rev 1:14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire,
Rev 1:15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters.
Rev 1:16 In his right hand he held seven stars (Ministers), from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
Sadly, we can’t go through the details of the vision, or what it is we are being told here. Let’s note however this comment from Joel Beeke:
‘Whatever else you do, do not think about Christ’s physical appearance. John wants to tell us who Jesus is, not what He looks like. So this vision is not to be understood literally[7]
John spent 3 years with the Lord Jesus. He saw Him every day and you might think he knew him well enough to not need this. The Lord Jesus knows better. And even if he did, the Lord Jesus reveals Himself to his aged apostle afresh. This may have been as much as the human spirit could bear:
-
- Eternal light! eternal light!
How pure the soul must be,
When, placed within Thy searching sight,
It shrinks not, but with calm delight
Can live and look on Thee
-
- O how shall I, whose native sphere
Is dark, whose mind is dim,
Before the Ineffable appear,
And on my naked spirit bear
The uncreated beam?(Thomas Binney 1798 – 1874)
I think it was in Eifion Evans book ‘Revival comes to Wales’ that a man was found wandering on his own in a field. When asked what he was doing there, he said the weight of glory was too much and that he had to get away, saying if he were not already saved, he would have died from being in the presence of God. We know nothing of this.
May the Lord descend to us in our age and give us souls that can bear in some small part the weight of the Uncreated beam!
What then must this have been for John? The friend of Jesus, and the one who rested his head on the Saviour at the last supper. Nothing like that here!
I’m convinced the phrase ‘When I saw Him’ isn’t simply a statement of fact. Or a matter of, O yes, I saw Jesus. It’s difficult to try and express what I think John is trying to say here. It’s as if John had never really seen Him before. Even on the mount of Transfiguration. Yes, the disciples fell at His feet. And Christ deals similarly there with His disciples:
But this is different! This is the resurrected, glorified Lord Jesus. This is who will be coming again! And John sees Him. ‘When I saw Him’.
What does John do?
Rev 1:17 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,
Rev 1:18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, (KJV & MKJV have Amen here) and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
Even when the disciples met the resurrected Christ it wasn’t like this. Think of them when Jesus meets them on the beach. See that scene in your mind. The fire, the fish, the conversations. This is so very different. Then He hadn’t ascended.
John falls ‘at His feet as though dead’.
But then ‘He laid his right hand on me’. The hand of blessing. If someone falls at your feet, to touch them would involve stooping to reach them. Even in His glory the Lord Jesus stoops to comfort His aging disciple. The one whom Jesus loved. His love is so amazing! I’m just stunned every time I read this. No earthly monarch would do this. And if they did it would be rare. But this is v5 ‘Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.’ This is the one who stoops.
-
- That human heart he still retains,
Though throned in highest bliss;
And feels each tempted member’s pains;
For our affliction’s His.(A man there is – Joseph Hart 1712-1768)
A man He is. Yes. But not just a man. This is the God-Man. And it isn’t ‘just’ a human heart. This is the heart of God. The Lord Jesus didn’t act as a ‘Lone Ranger’. He came to redeem a people by the Father’s will, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Isn’t this what we long to do – fall at His feet. Without sin!
But then He speaks. What does He say? The first thing, the very first thing He says to John as he lies prostrate before his Saviour is Fear not. Do not be afraid. There’s something very tender about this. He cares for us. His heart is tender towards us – even in our doubts and fears. It’s a very similar scene on the mount of Transfiguration:
Mat 17:6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified.
Mat 17:7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.”
Mat 17:8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
Then they heard a voice out of the cloud. Just a thought – did John think he’d heard that voice before all those years ago back on the mount. Only this time it is the Lord Jesus he hears. Not a voice from the cloud. ‘When I saw Him.’ Do not be afraid. Why?
v17b I am the first and the last,
Rev 1:18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.
Can I put it like this? Am I reading too much into this?
I AM the first and
I AM the last
I AM the living one
I AM was dead
I AM alive forevermore – AMEN!
I AM have the keys of death and
I AM have the keys of hades
That is Seven I AM’s. If ever there was a declaration of Divinity and Total and complete sovereignty, then it is here.
(Though there are few of us tonight, we gather in His name. We come to the Father through Him.)
We come with our sins. He has dealt with them – whatever they be. He has died. He has risen. He is alive for evermore. We come in our weakness and frailty. He is the first and the last. He has the keys. He is Jehovah Jesus.
This is the one that stoops, even to us, and says Fear not. ‘Do not be afraid.’ This is the one who keeps us, He is the one that enables us to persevere (1:9), this is the one that intercedes, that watches, that comforts, defends, and ultimately, it is this Lord Jesus Christ who will receive us into His Glory. He has done it all.
Soli Deo Gloria!
I’m grateful to my dear friend Trevor Thomas for his preaching through the book of Revelation.
I commend it to you:
https://www.youtube.com/@towcesterevangelicalchurch4001/streams
More than Conquerors by William Hendriksen. Baker
Revelation by Joel Beeke. Reformation Heritage
Revelation by James B. Ramsey. Banner of Truth
[1] Joel R. Beeke, Revelation, ed. Joel R. Beeke and Jon D. Payne, The Lectio Continua Expository Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, 2016), 21.
[2] Joel R. Beeke, Revelation, ed. Joel R. Beeke and Jon D. Payne, The Lectio Continua Expository Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, 2016), 21.
[3] Joel R. Beeke, Revelation, ed. Joel R. Beeke and Jon D. Payne, The Lectio Continua Expository Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, 2016), 15–16.
[4] Joel R. Beeke, Revelation, ed. Joel R. Beeke and Jon D. Payne, The Lectio Continua Expository Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, 2016), 5.
[5] Joel R. Beeke, Revelation, ed. Joel R. Beeke and Jon D. Payne, The Lectio Continua Expository Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, 2016), 22.
[6] Joel R. Beeke, Revelation, ed. Joel R. Beeke and Jon D. Payne, The Lectio Continua Expository Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, 2016), 21.
[7] Joel R. Beeke, Revelation, ed. Joel R. Beeke and Jon D. Payne, The Lectio Continua Expository Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, 2016), 41.
Like this:
Like Loading...