John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] The same was in the beginning with God. [3] All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Hebrews 1:1-3 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, [2] Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; [3] Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Rev. 1:9 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.

James 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

John in verse nine is simply saying, "I share in what you have to face, I also share the blessings as your brother in God’s family and I share the hope you have. That keeps us all going through difficult times.

What a comfort this would bring to troubled saints. But the best is yet to be, look at verse nine again.

"And patience of Jesus Christ," could be translated ‘in Christ.’ In other words all the circumstances of life are in his control. Therefore because we are in Christ we need not fear.

John then begins to outline some of the trials he has and is still facing. .

Notice his circumstances, he was in the Isle called Patmos.

Patmos was a barren volcanic island about ten miles long and five to six miles wide. It was located in the Aegean Sea. The exile of John to Patmos is in itself a moving story of devotion to Christ crowned with suffering.

Some of the early church fathers state that John was sent to Patmos by Domatian the Roman Emperor. It is believed that John had to work in the mines located in Patmos. Bearing in mind that John was a man of over ninety years of age we can grasp something of what he was going through.

John was cut off from his friends and family. It is however another great example that man can cut us off from many things but never can he cut us off from the presence of the Lord and the influence of the Holy Spirit.

After the death of Domitian, John was allowed to return to Ephesus, where it is believed he eventually died.

John knew all about suffering and he knew all about great hardship. But there’s one thing notice there is no complaining, there is no murmuring and there is no details whatsoever of his trial by the Roman authorities. What a mighty man of God John was. All his suffering was in Christ Jesus and that was enough for this aged saint of God.

We are considering his circumstances which all of us must agree were horrendous and yet God stepped into John’s life and used him to write a mighty Revelation. It’s great to think that no matter what our circumstances God can use us. It is also wonderful to think that as John was a prisoner of the Roman Empire’s power at it’s zenith, John, through the revelation given to him would see that the mighty Roman Empire would fall and that it would rise again and one day be destroyed completely. God knew exactly what his suffering servant needed at this time.

We are looking at the writer’s identification. We looked at his circumstances now look at John’s crime.

Rev. 1:9 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.

What was John’s crime?

"For the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ."

He was exiled and imprisoned for his fearless, frank unflinching and uncompromising proclamation of the word of God.

God has used many of his servants in times of tribulation. We could mention men like Jeremiah, David and Moses all who penned mighty scriptures in the midst of persecution. Let’s take a look now at the tenth verse.

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

What did John mean by being in the Spirit?

Surely all l believers are said to be in the spirit as we can see from Romans eight.

John uses the expression, "In the Spirit," in a special way. He means under the control and direction of the spirit of God. It is only when we are under the control of the Holy Spirit that God can use us. All of God’s children need to be yielded to the Spirit of God.

Physically John may have been in Patmos but spiritually, he was in the Spirit.

A cobbler who had a little shop below where he lived was asked on one occasion, "What do you do here?" The cobbler replied from his shop floor, "I work down here but I live up there," pointing to his living quarters.

John was saying in effect, "I work in Patmos but I live in the heavenlies," may that be our experience as well.

Notice again what John says in verse ten, "I was in the spirit on the Lord’s day."

Some commentators think that the Lord’s day is the day of the Lord. The day of the lord is a prophetic day or period mentioned elsewhere in scripture However that day is nowhere mentioned in what follows in chapter one.

Secondly the day of the Lord is spoken of elsewhere in the New Testament.

In this case a different phrase is used and surely John would have used that expression to avoid confusion if he meant the day of the Lord.

The expression here in verse ten, the Lord’s Day, is found nowhere else in scripture. However I believe it relates to the first day of the week, which we call the Lord’s day. In fact, this was accepted by early church that called it the Lord’s day. Look at this verse from first Corinthians.

The expression used for, "The Lord’s table," means that it belongs to the Lord. That would indicate that the day in question belongs to the Lord.

It is interesting that these two things, the Lord’s table and the Lord’s day are connected with Christ’s work on the cross. The table speaks of his death and the Lord’s day speaks of his resurrection from the grave.

The world would try and rob us of both the Lord’s day and the Lord’s table.

No doubt John’s vision of ‘the one who ever liveth,’ is not without significance on the Lord’s day.

Are we always in the spirit on the Lord’s day? That’s the condition that John was in and he was going to have a wonderful vision of the Lord. If we truly want to see Jesus on the Lord’s day we need to be in the Spirit.

We have considered the writer’s identification, now let us look at the writer’s instructions. Looking again at the tenth verse.

John heard a great voice or a loud voice as of a trumpet. This terminology would signify the importance of what was being said. Something mighty was going to sound forth and John’s attention is arrested by this great voice.

We could mention other important events linked with the voice of a trumpet, for instance the giving of the law in Exodus nineteen.

Exodus 19:16 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.

Let us look now at verse eleven. What is John going to hear?

We shall identify the speaker later but look now at John’s instructions here in verse eleven.

"What thou seest write in a book and send to the seven churches in Asia." We shall look at these churches in more detail as we come to them in our studies please note that these are seven literal or real churches.

John will be asked twelve times in The Book of the Revelation to write only once he will be asked not to write.

This reminds us that there are some things that God doesn’t want us to know. Speculation and imagination can be dangerous and deceptive it is best just concentrate on that which is written.

That which John would see and hear would be what he would write and it is good for us to pay attention to what John writes.

Rev. 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

That’s what we want to do with these studies "hear what the spirit saith unto the churches. "

We have looked at the writer’s identification and the writer’s instruction. We want now to think about the writer’s investigation. Look at verse twelve.

"And I turned to see the voice that spake with me," John investigates the voice that he had heard he tells us hat he saw.

"I saw seven golden candlesticks," the word ‘candlesticks’ is the word used for ‘lampstand,’ candlestick is an incorrect translation.

John sees these seven golden candlesticks, look down at verse twenty.

Rev. 1:20 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.

There is no need for speculation as scripture interprets itself. If we only would read on rather than come to our own conclusions.

The seven lampstands are seven churches.

Seven in scripture is the complete number. We have here a complete representation of the state of the churches at any given time.

The fact that they are golden reminds us that they are precious. How valuable is the church to our Lord Jesus Christ? Look what the scripture says.

God forbid that any of us would do anything that would hurt, harm or hinder the work of the church. It is precious in God’s eyes.

Gold also represents the deity and glory of Christ and that’s what the church should portray to the world.

Lampstands give out light again this is the purpose of the church as light bearers in this dark world.

What was used in the lamps? The answer is oil. Oil in scripture is symbolic of the Holy Spirit, remember oil was used for anointing in Old Testament times.

A church without the Holy Spirit empowering it will have no light to shine in a dark world.

Surely you see the beauty of this picture here in Revelation this is what a church is all about portraying the Glory and deity of Christ and being a Spirit powered light to dark souls.

The lamp we find in the tabernacle had seven branches all connected. The lampstand in Revelation is different. Here they are seven separate lamp stands all standing on their own base. What is the significance of this?

Each church is standing independently on its own. The idea of churches being governed by some central power is alien to scripture. What we see here is local assemblies accountable not to a moderator, not to a Pope, nor to a president but accountable to Christ and Christ alone.

Each church stands on its own base and is responsible for the light it sheds in the area in which God has placed it.

One thing that should unite churches is their love for Christ.

That doesn’t mean churches shouldn’t work together. But let’s make sure we never get into a hierarchical system of church government. The local church should be self-governing and accountable only to Christ who is the head of the church.

"They represent separate and independent assemblies each in its own place responsible to cast its beams of light athwart the gloom." Walter Scott.

Look at verse thirteen as John continues his investigation.

We can see who is in the midst. He should be the centre of attention. He should be the pre-eminent one our saviour the Lord Jesus Christ. We often find him in the midst.

It is over sixty years from John last saw Jesus Christ but he has no problem identifying him. "One like unto the son of man," this was a favourite title of the Lord’s it identified him as the messiah and is used in the gospels about eighty times.

John knew him he is the unchanging one. The same yesterday, today and forever.

Here is proof of the Deity of Jesus Christ remember what this man claimed in verse eleven.

Jesus must be the Alpha and Omega, Jesus Christ is surely God.

Next John describes the son of man in glorious detail. Consider the description John gives here of our Lord.

We have a wonderful description of the son of man.

He is our great high priest that reminds us of his caring. Look at verse thirteen.

Rev. 1:13 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.

The word used for garment is found six times in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, and five of these times it refers to the high priests garment.

He was girded about the breasts. The girdle speaks of service and the breasts speak of affection. How our great high priest ever liveth to make intercession for us.

He is the Ancient of Days look at verse fourteen.

The white wool speaks of his purity.

The white head would speak of maturity and wisdom comes from maturity. Look at the similar description of the Ancient of days in Daniel.

Daniel described the Ancient of days, what a wonderful vision John was seeing. This furnishes further proof of his deity.

We have one who is our Great High priest, he is caring

He is the Ancient of Days, with wisdom and purity and he is all knowing.

Look now at verse fourteen.

His eyes were piercing. Here we see him as the judge of all the earth.

Eyes that can see through us and eyes that nothing can be hidden from. Think upon the following scriptures.

There is no point in covering up; it’s time for confession. What a vision John was having here of the son of man

He is caring, knowing, seeing and next we see him judging, look at verse fifteen.

Brass was used in the brazen altar and it is a symbol of judgement. His feet appeared as burning, he is moving through the church burning out the sin. One day God’s children will be judged by the Saviour. We will be judged for our service. Look at the following from first Corinthians.

Look as the judge of all the earth how he burns up the wood, hay and stubble.

Can you see the Son of Man as caring, knowing, seeing and judging? Look again at verse fifteen.

His voice is as the sound of many waters. Compare this with what Ezekiel says of God.

This is further proof of the deity of Christ.

Did you ever stand at a waterfall? You would have to shout to hear yourself. The voices of the waters drown out every other voice. The voice of the Lord drowns out every other voice, his voice must be heard, and this voice cannot be ignored.

The only way not to hear this voice, the only way to ignore it, the only way other noises can drown it out is by moving away.

If churches move away from the word of God and if believers stay away from the word of God they then are letting other voices dominate their churches and their lives.

Our Saviour is a caring, knowing, seeing, judging and speaking God. Look at verse sixteen.

Here we see Christ holding.

He has in his right hand seven stars. What are these seven stars? Look again at verse twenty for the interpretation.

The seven stars are identified as the seven angels of the churches.

Much controversy surrounds the word angels here. It is really messengers, that is what angels are, messengers. But what is meant here?

Each of the letters that follow is addressed to an angel for example.

I do not believe it is an Angel in the sense of a heavenly being, I believe it is the pastor or elders that are meant here. Note what R L Thomas says if it were angels, "It presumes that Christ is sending a message to heavenly beings through John, an earthly agent so that it may reach churches through angelic representatives."

That would seem a very cumbersome way of doing things. These seven messengers are best seen as seven messengers to the churches. Perhaps some that had visited John, the Elders or Pastors. Notice they are in the Lord’s hands.

Pastors need to be in the Lord’s hands. They should be controlled by the Lord and not by some church members. They are answerable to the Lord and they need the protection of the Lord.

Notice they are not only answerable to the Lord but are held accountable for the spiritual well being of the church.

The Lord needs Pastors to be vessels in his hand so that he can pick them up and use them wherever and whenever he pleases. The qualifications if an elder reminds us of this position’s importance.

It should not to be taken lightly. Church members should be careful what they say about and do to elders they are in God’s hand.

We are looking at John’s vision of Christ. He saw one who is caring, knowing, seeing, judging, - speaking, and holding. Look again at verse sixteen.

Here he is defending.

The word of God is described as a two edged sword in Hebrews. The word used here is unique to Revelation and is used in judgement. This two edged sword is for inside the church and also outside.

I believe the Lord is saying here what he said in Matthews’s gospel.

Hell will not stand in the way of the church being built. Hallelujah what a Saviour!

God forbid that we would ever get in the way by sowing discord, causing division and disharmony. We could hinder by having unconfessed sin in our lives.

We have noticed that he is caring, knowing, seeing, judging, speaking, holding and defending. Look at verse sixteen again.

See him shining above everything else. The stars just reflect the glory of the sun but he has his own glory, all we can do is reflect it.

This would remind John of the experience on the mount of transfiguration.

One pound of heat can raise twenty million tons of rock by two thousand five hundred degrees and turn it into molten lava. The sun looses four million two hundred thousand tonnes per second, it is an unapproachable power, it is an unimaginable power, it is an unbelievable power but it is an undeniable power.

Oh what a Saviour he is compared to the sun.

We have looked at the writer’s identification and the writer’s instructions. We also noted the writer’s investigation let us now see the writer’s imitation.

John became like a dead man. He was overcome by the majesty of his saviour. He was overawed by his own unworthiness to stand in the Lord’s presence.

John fell as dead. This is in stark contrast to the frivolous and false claims of some that claim to have seen God.

Peter, Isaiah, Job and Paul all were moved to fall in the presence of the Lord How lightly, irreverently and frivolously we can behave in his presence and with his name.

We can see some wonderful encouragement in these two verses.

His tender warmth."And he laid his right hand upon me."

"His timely words "Saying unto me, fear not;"

"Their tremendous worth" "I am the first and the last."

That is a title used of God.

Another reference to God is found in verse eighteen. "[18] I am he that liveth,"

Compare this with the following from Joshua.

The Lord then reminds John of Calvary.

"And was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore,"

It is as if the Lord is saying, "John don’t fear I have defeated sin and death and hell. John your sins are gone, you can stand in my presence."

Words from this man are worth their weight in gold. What comfort he can bring to God’s people.

His tender warmth, his timely words, their tremendous worth and a truth for the worried.

"Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."

Peter Mandelson who was at one time the Secretary of State for N. Ireland said after a terrorist attack in Londonderry, "It was lucky no one was killed."

Was it luck?

The word for hell here is Hades. When a sinner dies his soul goes to Hades, it is for them a place of torment [Luke 16]

When a saved person dies it is absent from the body and present with the Lord.

Death holds the body of those who die.

Who holds the key? Who opens the door of death for us?

Praise God it is in his hands. We will not die a day before he opens the door. No terrorist can open that door, it is in God’s hands. Luck plays no part in it.

That should encourage any that are worried about death, it is in the Lord’s hands. Where better?

We have looked at the writer’s identification, the writer’s instructions, the writer’s investigation, and the writer’s imitation. Finally we want to look at the writers inspiration.

John after such a tremendous vision is reminded of the work to be done. "Write the things which thou hast seen."

Will this vision of the Lord have an impression upon you?

Will you be inspired to get to work for such a mighty, marvellous, majestic messiah?