Revelation 1:8-14

(Rev 1:9 KJV)
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.

Here John identifies himself with all the brethren who are experiencing tribulation. He tells them that he is their companion in tribulation. The word “companion” carries with it the meaning of “fellow partaker.” Actually John is stating here that he is a fellow partaker in “the tribulation” as the definite article is found in the Greek. What tribulation would John be talking about? The fact that the entire Christian life is tribulation because it goes from one test to another. The word “tribulation” carries with it the meaning of “affliction or oppression.” Tribulation of the saints is a major theme in the book of Revelation. Tribulation is something that the churches will also suffer from the time of the writing of Revelation to the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, so individual persecution was just a precursor to the persecution and tribulation the churches would face. When John received this vision of Revelation, he was exiled to Patmos which is where prisoners were sent as this was a penal colony. Life on Patmos was not a Mediterranean paradise, it was anything but that. Domitian was the emperor of Rome at that time and he was one of the very few that banished Christians from the Empire rather than just kill them. John was there to receive the word of God and at the same time to be a testimony for the Lord Jesus Christ, having held to the true Gospel and remaining uncompromising in his testimony. For if he was compromising, he would never have been exiled to Patmos. This is why he claimed he was in the patience (endurance) of the Lord Jesus Christ for it was only through Christ that one could endure the Roman persecution. It is the same today as one can only endure persecution in the strength of Christ. (Mat 10:22 KJV) And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

(Rev 1:10 KJV)
I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

Here John begins the vision which he is about to give the churches. He stated that he was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day. This vision could have come to John while he was worshipping on Sunday or the vision could have projected him into the future when the day of the Lord will become a reality on earth. Nevertheless, John was now in the vision and was starting to receive the Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ. John hears behind him a great voice. The word “great” carries with it the meaning of “large or loud.” He likens that voice to that of a trumpet. The trumpet was one which gave the sound to battle. (1 Cor 14:8 KJV) For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? What was about to be unfolded in the book of Revelation is a great battle between Satan and his forces and the Kingdom of God and the Lord Jesus Christ culminating in the final defeat of Satan. Zephaniah speaks of the day of the Lord with the sound of the trumpet.

(Zep 1:14-16 KJV) The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. {15} That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, {16} A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.

The trumpet sounds a warning that there is going to be an impending battle and we see that battle raging in full in the book of Revelation. Zephaniah calls it the day of the trumpet which we can see is a day of battle. Zephaniah calls it a day of clouds, gloom, wasteness, desolation, weeping, and thick darkness. It is a grim description given by Zephaniah but it is one which is perfectly synonymous with the book of Revelation as we will see. (Exo 19:16 KJV) And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. Moses also heard the voice of God which sounded like that of a trumpet.

Rev 1:11 KJV)
Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto 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.

Here we have the identity of the one whose voice is like a trumpet. It is the Lord Jesus Christ who is now commanding John to write this vision in a book and then he is to send it to the seven churches. In Revelation 1:4 we saw that seven is a number which denotes completeness. So although the Lord Jesus Christ gives the following to these seven churches, it is meant to go to all the churches. There were churches in Illyricum and Jerusalem and other places which would also have access to these writings and we see that every church in existence today which has a Bible, will have the seven letters to the seven churches. So Jesus uses the seven churches of Asia as representative of all the churches which will come into existence until the last day.

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

John now turns around and sees the voice which was speaking to him and when he turned he saw seven golden candlesticks. The seven golden candlesticks are the seven churches which he just named. (Rev 1:20 KJV) The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. Within the context of the seven churches, we need to realize that they represent all the churches down through history. When a local church goes apostate, the candlestick is removed and they plunge fully into apostasy.

(Rev 1:13 KJV)
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.

Then John sees in the midst of these seven churches, the Son of Man, the Lord Jesus Christ. Daniel had a similar vision of the Son of man. (Dan 7:13 KJV) I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. This vision of Jesus standing in the midst of the churches gives hope and encouragement to those churches that are suffering persecution. It also tells us that the Lord Jesus Christ must always be the center of any true church. Then John goes on to try and describe what he saw. The Lord Jesus was clothed with a garment to the foot and he had on a golden girdle around his chest. These clothes represent the Lord Jesus in a priestly and kingly garment. The present ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, as stated in the book of Hebrews, is one of intercessory ministry which would make Him our High Priest. When the Lord Jesus was here on Earth and he suffered on the cross, he was stripped naked before being placed on that cross. Here we have a picture of Him as being fully clothed in royal apparel commensurate with the offices He holds.

(Rev 1:14 KJV)
His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

The head and hairs of the Lord Jesus Christ are white as wool. The color white is denoting absolute purity. (Exo 16:31 KJV) And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey. If you notice that the Manna which came down from heaven was also white. The Manna represented the bread of life Himself. (John 6:35 KJV) And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. Then we are told that not only white like wool but white as snow. We have all seen snow when it first falls, it is pure white. (Dan 7:9 KJV) I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. Daniel had also had the same vision of the Lord Jesus Christ and saw him in the same manner that John saw Him, as pure as pure can be.

Then John sees the eyes of the Lord Jesus as a flame of fire. (Dan 10:5-6 KJV) Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz: {6} His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. Daniel also sees the eyes of the Lord Jesus Christ that they were like lamps of fire. The eyes of the Lord Jesus as a flame of fire would represent someone who was ready to pronounce judgment because in the Bible fire represents judgment. His eyes are able to see through into the inner man as fire burns away dross, the eyes of the Lord Jesus can penetrate through and see inside the real man. This means nothing can ever escape the eyes of the Lord Jesus. He knows who His enemies are and He knows who His children are. Nothing can escape the eyes of the Lord Jesus Christ.