II. The Person of the (Revelation 1:4-8)
4 John: To the seven churches in Asia. Grace and peace to you from the one who is, who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has set us free from our sins by his blood, 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father — to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
“The faithful witness”: He perfectly revealed God to humanity through His life, death, and resurrection.
“The firstborn of the dead”: This speaks to His resurrection and preeminence.
“The ruler of kings on earth”: Jesus holds ultimate authority over all earthly powers.
7 Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. So it is to be. Amen.
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III. The Vision of the Glorified and Its (Revelation 1:9-20)
Verses 9-11
9 I, John, your brother and partner in the affliction, kingdom, and endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard a loud voice behind me like a trumpet 11 saying, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”
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12 Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me. When I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was one like the Son of Man, dressed in a robe and with a golden sash wrapped around his chest.
Daniel 7:13-14 CSB
13 “I continued watching in the night visions, and suddenly one like a son of man was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him. 14 “He was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.
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14 The hair of his head was white as wool — white as snow — and his eyes like a fiery flame. 15 His feet were like fine bronze as it is fired in a furnace, and his voice like the sound of cascading waters.
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16 He had seven stars in his right hand; a sharp double-edged sword came from his mouth, and his face was shining like the sun at full strength.
Seven stars in His right hand: These are the seven that are over the churches. (20)
Sharp, two-edged sword from His mouth: This is the of . (Hebrews 4:12)
Face like the sun shining in full strength: Overwhelming glory, majesty. (Matthew 17:2)
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17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. He laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid. I am the First and the Last, 18 “and the Living One. I was dead, but look — I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades.
Isaiah 44:6
Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts;
I [am] the first, and I [am] the last; and beside me [there is] no God.
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19 “Therefore, write what you have seen, what is, and what will take place after this. 20 “The mystery of the seven stars you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
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This is not a message to be feared, but a truth to be embraced.
Community Life Group Questions.
1. What are your first impressions of the Book of Revelation after reading this chapter?
2. The passage gives Jesus three titles: “the faithful witness,” “the firstborn from the dead,” and “the ruler of kings on earth.” Which of these titles is most meaningful to you today, and why? Revelation 1:4-6
3. John’s response to seeing the glorified Christ was to “fall at his feet as though dead.” What does this tell us about the majesty and power of Jesus? Revelation 1:17
4.The text explains that the seven stars are the “angels” or leaders of the churches, held securely in Jesus’s hand. What does this image communicate about Christ’s care and authority over church leadership? Revelation 1:20
5.How can we pray for you?