REVELATION 1:9-20 (A VERSE BY VERSE EXPLANATION FROM INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED AUTHOR) APOSTLE TERRY ANGEL MASON

[Apostle Terry Angel Mason]

VERSE 9: I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. ...

John realizes that he is an old man and highly revered, yet he wants no praise from men for his sufferings. Thus, he immediately identifies himself as a brother in Christ and a companion in heartache and suffering. He tells of the tribulation he received during his incarceration at Patmos. But he rejoices that the other blood-bought sons of God will miss the tribulation!

How true! The Savior stated, “In the world, ye shall have tribulation (John 16:33). This however, does not include “The Tribulation Period,” out of which the Saints are kept (Rev. 3:10). John’s persecution came because of his devotion to Christ. This is always true when one takes a stand for the Savior. Jesus said in John 15 verses 18-20, “If the world hates you, know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world and I have chosen you out of the world; therefore, the world hateth you! Remember the word I said unto you, ‘The servant is not greater than His Lord.’ If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you!”

Verse 10: I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet.

Beginning with this verse, we enter into the Revelation experience with John, and observe first hand all that is presented to him, through the remainder of the book!

It is clear from studying the book of Revelation, that John was carried forward [in time] through the Centuries. Until he saw a vision of the great and terrible day of the Lord, the Tribulation hour. A great majority of scholars however, believe that the phrase “On the Lord’s day” references the first day of the week. Thus, on resurrection day Sunday, the first day of the week, John is visited by the One who had so loved him, while on earth, Jesus, Himself.

As He appears, John hears the trumpet like voice of Christ saying, Verse 11: “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.”

Alpha and Omega are the titles we previously discussed in verse 8. Thus, verse 11 pictures the Eternal Christ giving instructions to His beloved servant concerning the 7 churches mentioned in verse 4 and to be discussed in chapters 2 and 3.

Then John adds, verse 12: Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden candlesticks [other versions say lampstands]. When the trumpet-like voice sounded in verse 11, John turns to see the Voice that spoke to him. Hey!!! This is different, one does not normally see a voice! Yet John turned to see the Voice! As he looks in that direction, he sees 7 golden candlesticks or lampstands. Verse 20 clearly explains the meaning of verse 12 as follows: The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand and the 7 golden candlesticks means this: The 7 stars are the angels of the 7 churches and the 7 candlesticks with thou sawest are the 7 churches.

The fact that the 7 churches are pictured as 7 lampstands is significant because believers are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14)! Sad as we shall see, is the fact that the History of the 7 churches often diminish that light! Oh pray that it shall not be so in your life! Jesus said “Let your light so shine before men that they me see your good works and glorify your Father, which is in Heaven (Matthew 5:16).

Now that we have observed verse 12 in the light of verse 20, let’s take a closer look at the glorious Savior who appears in the midst of the lampstands or churches.

Verse 13: And I saw 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.

The Lord is clothed with the garments of the Old Testament High Priest because He is risen, and in Heaven performing His ministry of intercession. For this reason, He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God, by Him! Seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them (Hebrews 7:25). Thus, sixty years after Christ’s death and resurrection, John sees Him as the High Priest in the heavenlies. Paul also testified to this blessed fact by stating, “Seeing then that we have a great high priest that has passed into the heavens [Jesus, the Son of God], let us hold fast our profession [or confession] (Hebrews 4:14).

Next, our precious Lord is described in detail, verse 14: His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire.

John’s description speaks of antiquity and coincides with a vision Daniel had in chapter 7 verses, 9-13. This Ancient of Days, The Eternal One, Jesus Christ, is also pictured in terms of “pure white” because of His righteousness, for He is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens (Hebrews 7:26). The Greek also emphasizes the fact that His eyes shot out fire. Christ is justifiably and righteously angry concerning the sin of the churches, depicted in chapters 2 and 3.

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

Christ’s feet picture judgment and relate to the events that takes place when He returns to the earth in chapters 19 and 20. His voice is the sound of many waters, also depicts judgment.

Verse 16: And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shining in his strength.

The 7 stars of this verse are the angels or messengers of the 7 churches, verse 20, while the two-edged sword is the Word of God as described in Hebrews 4:12, stating, “The word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Then, the expression, “His countenance was as when the sun shines in his strength,” takes our minds back to the transfiguration scene in Matthew 17:2, and thus pictures the glory of Christ, who is to be the judge during the great Tribulation hour, Armageddon, and the Great White Throne Assembly of Revelation 20, verses 11 and 15. Because of it, John is stunned, astonished, and humbled by the experience and cries in Verse 17: For when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.

Verse 18: I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hell [Hades] and of Death.

The sight of Christ glorified was breath taking!!! And the one who laid his head upon Jesus, at the Last Supper now falls prostrated at His feet. As John falls before His blessed Lord in fear, Jesus lovingly says, “Fear not!” He is saying the same to us today. In the midst of wars, rumors of wars, heartaches, death, and government shutdowns, The Blessed Lord says, “LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED (John 14:1)!

This message to John is from The First and The Last, The Alpha and The Omega, The Eternal One, Jesus Christ. The one that liveth – resurrection, and was dead - crucifixion, and cries, “Behold, I am alive for evermore!” – Ascension – Amen!

He also has the keys of hell and of death. Because of this tremendous fact, Christians are not to fear for Hebrews 2:14 and 15 tell us, “That through death, Christ destroyed him that had the power of death [that’s the devil]. And delivered them, whom through fear of death were all of their lifetime, subject to bondage.”

Not only have we been delivered from the fear of death, but from the fear of Hades as well!

Let me explain: Hades was the place where the souls and the spirits of all humans went, until before the cross. Sheol – Old Testament, and Hades – New Testament, were one and the same! In Sheol or Hades, there were two compartments. One for the wicked, and the other for the righteous.

In Luke 16:22 and 23, the rich man and Lazarus went to their respective places, one to suffering and the other to comfort. The thief on the cross went to the comfort side or Paradise, as promised by Christ when He said, “Today shalt thou be with me in Paradise (Luke 23:43)!

This is where Christ went upon His death (Act 2:27,31). There He ministered to His people and led captivity captive (Ephesians 4:8-10). Literally releasing them from their entrance -- into the third Heaven, of 2 Corinthians 12:2.

Presently, the comfort side of Hades has been emptied, by Him who has the keys of death and Hades (or Hell). But the torment side is still full! This will be emptied for the judgment day when death and Hades shall deliver up the dead which were in them and they are judged (Chapter 20 vs. 13).

Verse 19: Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter.

This verse gives us the order of the book of Revelation, which is written chronologically, or as the events happen. One immediately recognizes the three tenses, past, present and future. “Write the things which thou hast seen [past, chapter 1], the things we are [present, chapters 2&3], and the things which are to come hereafter [future, chapters 4 thru 22].

In verse 20, the Lord explains to John the mystery of the 7 stars which thou sawest in My right hand and the 7 golden candlesticks. The 7 stars are the angels of the 7 churches, and the 7 candlesticks which thou saweth are the 7 Churches. Since we have discussed the closing verse of this chapter in connection with verse 12, next week we shall move on to the study of the 7 candlesticks or the history of the 7 churches.
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CONTINUED FROM CHAPTER 1:1-8
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