Revelation 1:9-20 | The Vision Of Glorified Jesus

Revelation 1:9-20 | The Vision Of Glorified Jesus

Revelation 1:9-20
A Vision of Glorified Jesus

I. Introduction

  1. Introduction of John to the seven Churches
  2. A vision of the risen Lord
  3. John’s response of worship
  4. Outline of the book of Revelation

II. vv. 9-11 Revelation in tribulation.

9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”[1]

  1. John introduces himself as a brother and companion.
    1. At the end of his life, he is still walking out the truth that he was a servant and not the Lord.
    2. Putting it in the words of Peter, John recognized he was among the flock, not the lord of the flock.
    3. John says he is a companion in tribulation.
      1. No one, not even the “one whom Jesus loved,” is above suffering.
      2. Remember in your suffering, disappointment, and troubles that Jesus also suffered.
  2. There is a similarity between John and every believer who finds themself in the midst of trial and testing.
    1. The Lord reveals Himself the clearest to us when we are tried the hardest.
    2. We, of course, are not given Scripture to write down, but even as the friends of Daniel saw the Lord in the fire with them, so we will see the Lord in our fire.
  3. Church historians tell us that Domitian (AD 81 to AD 96) exiled John after failing to put him to death by throwing him into a vat of boiling oil.
    1. After Domitian’s death, John returned to Ephesus under the reign of Nerva.
    2. Early witness for being under Domitian’s exile, which correlates with a writing of Revelation around AD 95.
    3. Irenaeus, Against Heresies 5.30.3 — c. AD 180
      1. Irenaeus does not explicitly say “exiled by Domitian,” but he gives the earliest major testimony that John’s Apocalypse was seen near Domitian’s reign:
        1. “For it was seen not long ago, but almost in our own generation, at the end of the reign of Domitian.”
    4. Tertullian, Prescription Against Heretics 36 — c. AD 200
      1. Tertullian says John was sent into island exile, though he does not name Domitian here:
      2. “the Apostle John was first plunged, unhurt, into boiling oil, and thence remitted to his island-exile!”
    5. Eusebius, Church History 3.17–18, 3.23 — early 4th century
      1. Eusebius directly connects John’s Patmos exile with Domitian’s persecution:
      2. “Domitian… became a successor of Nero in his hatred and enmity toward God… the second that stirred up a persecution against us.”
      3. “In this persecution, the apostle and evangelist John… was condemned to dwell on the island of Patmos.” 
      4. He also says John returned after Domitian died.
      5. “John… was still living in Asia… having returned after the death of Domitian from his exile on the island.” 
    6. Victorinus, Commentary on the Apocalypse 10:11 — late 3rd century
      1. “John… was in the island of Patmos, condemned to the labour of the mines by Cæsar Domitian. There, therefore, he saw the Apocalypse.” 
    7. Jerome, Lives of Illustrious Men 9 — late 4th century
      1. “Domitian having raised a second persecution he was banished to the island of Patmos, and wrote the Apocalypse.” 
    8. Sulpicius Severus, Sacred History 2.31 — early 5th century
      1. “Domitian… persecuted the Christians. At this date, he banished John the Apostle and Evangelist to the island of Patmos.”[2]
  4. His reason for being on the island was his faithful witness and testimony of the gospel.
  5. Here, John lists the names of the seven churches that received a particular message from the Lord.

III. vv. 12-16 John sees the glorified Savior.

  1. Many don’t conceive of Jesus as He truly is.
    1. John makes it clear who Jesus is today in heaven.
  2. v. 12 Jesus is among His Church.

    12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man
    1. Standing in the midst of the lampstands.
    2. In verse 20, we are told that the lampstand is the church.
    3. Jesus should always be recognized as being central in the church.
    4. Revelation 2:1 gives this description of Jesus to the church at Ephesus.
    5. Some may ask, “Why go to church”? Here is the answer: Jesus is at church.
    6. Church is not perfect, and it is filled with people who are all undergoing the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. Yet, Jesus still goes to church.
  3. v. 13 Jesus is adorned as a King.

    13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.
    1. He is clothed with a garment and girded with a gold belt, giving us a picture of a royal King.

      Psalm 93:1 The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty; The LORD is clothed, He has girded Himself with strength. Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved

    2. This may also be picking up the imagery of a High Priest.
    3. In any case, the Lord is both King and Priest.
  4. v. 14a Jesus is holy.

    14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;
    1. Head and hair are white as wool.
    2. He is the one who is spotless and blameless.
      1. No matter how much scrutiny man may place upon Christ, He will be found to be pure.
      2. Praise the Lord that a day is coming when there will be a righteous leader.
    3. Daniel also made mention of this same description of Jesus.

      Daniel 7:9 I watched till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, Its wheels a burning fire;
  5. v. 14b Jesus knows the hearts of man.

    14 …, and His eyes like a flame of fire;
    1. Scrutiny – The Lord will investigate the hearts and intentions of all people and judge rightly.
      1. There is no hiding or deceiving Jesus.
    2. Again, Daniel gives a similar description of Jesus’ eyes

      Daniel 10:6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude.

    3. Revelation 2:18 – This description is given to the church at Thyatira.
    4. Many bristle at the idea of someone else examining men’s lives to determine how they have lived, yet the Bible is clear that the Lord will do just that.
    5. We may not be able to rightly judge each other’s hearts, but the Lord will, and no matter the protests some may have, it will not change.
    6. Chapters 2-3 will reveal what the Lord sees as He gazes at the church.
    7. We should invite the Lord’s deep and pure gaze into our lives, revealing what He sees.

      Psalm 139:23-24 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.
      1. Adam and Eve thought they could hide from the Lord, but they cannot hide from the one whose eyes blaze like a flame of fire.
  6. v. 15a Jesus is the judge of heaven.

    15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters;

    John 5:22–23 22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
    1. Brass in Scripture is usually a reference to judgment and so we see the one who rightly judges all coming with feet prepared to judge.
    2. The Brass Altar was in the Temple. This is the place where all sin was judged.
    3. This judgment is described in depth in chapters 6-19.
  7. v. 15b Jesus speaks with power.

    15 … and His voice as the sound of many waters;
    1. This is a voice of authority and power.
    2. God is not a man whose words must be weighed to determine their authority or truthfulness.
    3. There is no voice in the universe that has more insight and significance than the voice of the Lord.
    4. We need to learn to heed this all powerful voice.
  8. v. 16a Jesus holds His Church in His Care.

    16 He had in His right hand seven stars, ….
    1. We are introduced to the seven stars here, but again in verse 20 we see that these stars are messengers.
    2. Notice that in chapters 2-3 Jesus addresses the stars, messengers of the church.
    3. The word used for angels is angelos, which literally means “messenger.”
      1. Often in Scripture, the angelos are the heavenly beings we commonly refer to as angels; however, there are times when angelos is referred to as a human (Luke 7:24, 9:52, and James 2:25).
      2. John delivers his message to the seven churches to the angelos.
      3. This refers to a single messenger. I believe this was the pastor of that local church.
  9. v. 16b Jesus is reigning with power.

    16… out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword …
    1. Jesus is no longer a meek and mild servant come to be crucified.
    2. Jesus now is a reigning King with the power to execute judgment.
    3. This should both humble and encourage us.
    4. Jesus can and will deal with our foes and His.
    5. But the Church should also remember that in Revelation 2:12 John includes this description of Jesus to the church at Pergamos.
  10. v. 16c Jesus is glorious.

    16 …, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
    1. As John encountered the risen and glorified Jesus, He described Him as a glorious one whose person is so magnificent it was like looking into the sun at full strength.
    2. It will be an amazing day when we see Jesus in all his glory.

      1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
  11. v. 17a Jesus is worthy of worship.
    1. v. 17a John Falls at His feet in Worship

      17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me …
      1. There is no doubt that we will all fall before the Lord in worship when we see Him in His glory, but that should not be the first time we offer up worship.
  12. vv. 17b-18 Jesus has control of everything.

    17 … saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.”
    1. This description is meant to comfort John and bring a sense of belonging and acceptance.
    2. Although the Lord is Holy and awesome, far beyond our worth and splendor, the Lord does not want us afraid of Him.
    3. He desires that we understand that we are welcomed in His presence.
    4. He welcomes us as the eternal God and as the one who has atoned for our sin and risen in victory over sin and death.

IV. v. 19 The outline for Revelation

19 Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.

  1. “Things which you have seen.”
    1. John had seen Revelation 1:1-20.
    2. His vision of the risen Lord.
    3. If we don’t understand chapter 1, then it is hard to accept the rest of the message.
    4. If you don’t believe Jesus has risen and is sovereign over all, then it is hard to accept Him as the one who comes to set this world straight.
  2. “Things which are” written of in chapters 2-3.
    1. The church age represents the things that are.
    2. The life of the Church is happening now.
  3. “The things which will take place after this” are written in chapters 4-22.
    1. See also 4:1 and note the use of “After these things.”
      1. The “these” of verse 1 is a reference to the seven church messages.
    2. The Great Tribulation
    3. The Second Coming
    4. The Millennium
    5. The New Heaven and Earth

V. v. 20 Scripture is the best commentary on Scripture.

20 The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.

  1. Looking at other prophetic books will help in understanding some of the symbolic language found there.
  2. The symbol of a lampstand.
    1. This is what the Lord sees the function of the church to be. A light in a dark world.
    2. Angels/messengers are either angelic beings or messengers of human origin (i.e., pastors).

VI. Conclusion

  1. Introduction of John to the seven Churches
  2. A vision of the risen Lord
  3. John’s response of worship
  4. Outline of the book of Revelation

[1] All Scripture quotations are from the NKJV unless otherwise noted.

[2] Logos AI, summary of John’s exile, generated by Logos Bible Software (Faithlife, LLC, 2026).

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