Encounters with God 8 John on Patmos JESUS’ MIGHT AND TENDERNESS Revelation 1:9-20 Penge Baptist Church 9 th March 2013

Revelation 1:9-20  I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.  On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”  I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone “like a son of man,” dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.

 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.  When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. The mystery of the seven stars that 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.”

Context  John is Jesus’ beloved disciple, brother of James, looked after Mary after crucifixion….  ….author of John’s Gospel, 3 letters and Book of Revelation….  ….became church leader in Asia, overseer of 7 churches….  ….under Roman persecution, exiled to Patmos as Christian and evangelist “because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus”. Rock breaking – at age of around 80! Churches likely in disarray.

John and Paul  Compare the vision of Jesus in Acts 9 and Revelation 1 – same Lord but different observers  Paul out to persecute Christians, John victim of persecution as Christian  Paul proud in his knowledge and status, John humble despite enormous influence  “your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus”  At war or at worship  A sinner or a saint – blinded or seeing in detail?  Both called to prophetic ministry and mission

John’s vision of the risen Christ  Someone “like a son of man”  “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13-14  The risen Christ is no more the suffering servant, only the mighty God himself!

The details of the vision  The long robe  The golden sash  The white hair  The eyes of blazing fire  The feet like bronze  The voice like rushing water  Holding the seven stars in his hands  The sword of his tongue  A face like the sun

One who is God  As I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat.His clothing was as white as snow;the hair of his head was white like wool.” (Daniel 7:9)  “and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with his glory. (Ezekiel 43:2)  “He also made the stars.” (Genesis 1:16)

The words of the Lord  John’s reaction of terror  “I fell at his feet as though dead”  Jesus’ care and compassion….  Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid.”  ….affirmation that he is God….  “I am the First and the Last.”  ….and his victory and authority over death  “I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”

 A call to prophetic ministry…  Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.  …and a clarification of what is mysterious  “The mystery of the seven stars that 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.”

Who is like our God?  Glorious in his majesty  Powerful and tender  Encouraging us in our weakness  Holding the angel of our church in his hands  Calling us from ignorance to wisdom  Calling us from despair to hope  Calling us from powerlessness to ministry  Calling us from hopelessness to ultimate purpose

Scripture to ponder  Jesus then added, “I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” (John 1:51)  “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2)