Author: Rev. Lek Aik Wee

Revelation 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

The Book of Revelation is outlined here for us. The things which thou hast seen are recorded in Revelation chapter one. John saw His exalted Master and Saviour in glory. “The things which are” gives the state of the 7 churches listed earlier which is recorded in Revelation 2-3 as seen by the Great Physician, our Lord Jesus Christ. He gives the diagnosis and cure. “The things which shall be hereafter” describes the future events impacting the world when Jesus returns as Judge and the ushering in of the new heavens and the new earth. This earth will be destroyed.

There is ample warning provided for God’s people so that they choose to be overcomers, doing the goodwill of God for their eternal blessings. For a driver on the road, he is told of a redlight camera and a speed detection camera ahead. If he takes heed, and not beat the red light or surpass the speed limit, he is protected from demerit points and a hefty fine. Why was the warning given? So that drivers will drive safely for their own sakes and for other road users. By abiding in traffic laws, we get to our desired destination without suffering losses.

Revelation 1:17-18 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Death and judgment in hellfire is the ultimate plight of sinful, fallen men. Sickness, diseases and the body’s gradual degeneration are a premonition of that undesirable end. These often make a man sit up and consider the reality of death and the prospect of the judgment to come. God allowed the fall of man, I believe, for him to see the miseries of sin and shame. Human history attests to war and crime, to the brokenness of the family, to the reality of the disease of sin in the lives of men throughout the generations since Adam.

Is there no way out? There is a way out. Jesus Christ is the way out. Our text tells us He has the keys of hell and death. He has the key to unlock the deadlock of death and hell that confront every man. And He is not making an empty promise. He had been there, that is, He has tasted death on our behalf. After Jesus died, He rose again from the dead the third day. He testifies to His disciple John, “I am alive for evermore”. This is the good news for every sad and distressed soul in the hospital bed or the face of death.

Revelation 1:17-18 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Death is the greatest impasse for mankind. Man is born to die. None can escape. But for the Christians, we are born-again to live forevermore. This is what God wants us to see. When the Christian dies, the Bible says, he is asleep, one day, when Christ returns, he will awake again! Christ’s words are meant to rekindle the hope of eternal life in our hearts!

The resurrection is not just one aspect of the Christian faith but it is the cornerstone. The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave is the greatest event in history because it signifies the blessed truth of man’s redemption. It is why we worship and singing praises to God because it signify the reality of eternal life.

Revelation 1:12-17 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. 14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; 15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. 16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. 17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

When John saw the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ upon His throne in heaven, there was no strength left in him. He fell at his feet as dead. Did he not recognize his Lord? His Master, the One whose bosom he once laid? The sight of the exalted Christ, described as the Son of man, overwhelmed him. John was there at the Mount of Transfiguration. He was not unacquainted with the blessings of beholding the glory of Christ in His fullness.

This was Peter’s testimony of their glorious encounter – 2 Peter 1:16-18 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

Revelation 1:12-16 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and hishairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes wereas a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

HL Willmington observed well here the vision of the Son of Man, our Lord Jesus Christ:

He was holding seven stars and seven lambstands.

He was clothed in a full-length robe.

His chest was circled with a golden band.

His head and hair were as white as wool or snow.

His eyes were as flames of fire (Hebrews 4:13).

Hebrews 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

His feet gleamed like burnished bronze.

His voice was as the sound of many waters (Psalm 29:3-9).

Psalm 29:3-9 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon. He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn. The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire. The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness; the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory.

Revelation 1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

Zechariah 4:1-6 And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep, And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all ofgold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which areupon the top thereof: And two olive trees by it, one upon the right sideof the bowl, and the other upon the left sidethereof. So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What arethese, my lord? Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This isthe word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

The church is described as the golden lampstand. The tabernacle contained one lampstand made of pure gold with seven lamps (Exod. 25:31, 37). Solomon’s temple had ten golden lampstands: five on the left and five on the right in front of the inner sanctuary (1 Kings 7:49); and Zechariah saw only one golden lampstand with seven lights with seven pipes supplying oil to the lights (Zech. 4:2). Even though John’s imagery is based on the Old Testament, here he uses the word lampstands, to which he supplies the number seven. The lampstands are seven churches (Rev. 1:20), and seven denotes completeness. That is, John presents a picture of the entire church.[1]

Zechariah saw a special candlestick, which the Jews call the Menorah. It is of solid gold and very precious. The candlestick had seven branches. This 5th vision signifies the completion of the Temple. The Manorah is a significant furnishing in the tabernacle and temple. It is to shine forth as light and witness to the world of the living and true God. Israel is to be the light of the world by their worship of Him, reflecting God’s light, just like the Church today.

Every church is symbolized by a lamp into which God puts the light which is to be reflected and spread abroad. Holding forth the word of life is the sacred mandate of every local church. The Holy Spirit is the power that energizes the church in her efforts of missions and evangelism.

A Coming Judgment Unveiled

(1) Prediction (v1-7)

The Apostle John would reveal future events that “must shortly come to pass” (v1). These events that he saw by vision was to be written the defense of the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. Who are the recipients of the message? It was the 7 churches in Asia Minor (v11) whom John named who were given the mandate to disseminate this prophecy to God’s people (v3) that they may be blessed with the truth!

(2) Presence (v8-16)

Jesus promised that His presence and His power would protect His people as they fulfilled His commandment upon earth till His return again on the same spot He would be ascended to heaven. This book is a sequel giving the events leading to His coming upon earth physically and thereafter.

(3) Preparation (v17-20)

When John came in the presence of God, He was as one who has no strength before Him like the prophets Isaiah (Isa. 6) and Daniel (Dan 2, 7, 8-12). Jesus assured that He came to give him courage to stand for Him. He was asked to “Fear not”. Jesus is the first and the last, He is in full control of human affairs and the happenings upon earth. And He asked John to write concerning the message He has for His people in the church.

Revelation 1:10-13 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last:and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send itunto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

John saw the vision of Jesus Christ who manifested His presence on a Lord’s Day. Jesus spoke directly to him by a great voice like a trumpet ensuring that this message will be as it were broadcast to every believer in His church during the church age. The trumpet’s function is to summon, warning call to warfare, to announcement dawning of Christ’s physical kingdom upon earth. This truth is understood in the light of Daniel 2 and 7. John said that he was a fellow companion in tribulation. By this time, Jerusalem has been destroyed. Persecution by the Roman Caesar is at its peak. Acknowledging Christ means losing their livelihood, home, even their lives. But if we have understood the judgment of hell, what men have to endure for eternity, persecution in this life is pales to the judgment to come!

Although the Apostle John is under chains, he was not standing alone for the testimony of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was with him. This is the vision that he was led to see Jesus Christ was in the midst of His church as He had promised before His ascension.