THE LORD JESUS APPEARS IN A VISION TO JOHN
Revelation 1: 13 – 17a
Sermon by:
Rev. P. den Butter
PUBLISHED BY
PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE
OF THE
FREE REFORMED CHURCHES OF NORTH AMERICA.
(November 2004)
LITURGY:
Votum
Psalter 76
Law of God
Psalter 160
Scripture Reading: Revelation 1
Text: Revelation 1: 13 – 17a
Congregational Prayer
Offerings
Psalter 382
Sermon
Psalter 285: 1, 2, 3
Thanksgiving Prayer
Psalter 423: 1, 3
Benediction
Doxology: Psalter 404:
Revelation 1: 13-17
In this first chapter of the book of Revelation, we meet with two persons. We read about John, one of the apostles of Jesus Christ, and we read about the Lord Jesus Himself. The Lord Jesus appears in a vision to John in the isle of Patmos. John is in exile. Days of persecution have separated John from Ephesus where he has been ministering. Now he is in a solitary place on the isle of Patmos. As he was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, the Lord comes to him in a vision to give him the revelation.
Let us look at the circumstances of Jesus meeting with John. First of all, it is necessary that we have a clear picture of these two persons. We must clearly see who John is, and we must clearly see Who Jesus is.
First let us focus on John. You know who John is. He is one of the apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ. As a young man, he became a follower of the Lord Jesus when he was called together with his brother James. So John became one of the twelve. He continued with and was instructed by His Master, the Lord Jesus, for three years. John was one of the twelve.
We can also say he was one of the three. You understand what I mean. Among those twelve disciples, there were three who can be called the intimate disciples of the Lord Jesus. These three, John, his brother James and Simon Peter, were sometimes allowed to accompany the Lord Jesus when the others had to wait behind. John, James and Peter, these three were allowed to enter the house of Jairus when Jesus was about to raise his daughter. John, James and Peter, these three were with Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. The other eight stayed at the entrance of the garden, but John, James and Peter accompanied their Master into the garden. So you can say that John was one of the twelve, yet he was also one of the three – one of the three most intimate disciples of the Lord Jesus. Among these three, John held a very special place, for it is said of him “the one whom Jesus loved” several times.
Of course the Lord Jesus loved all His disciples, but He loved John in a special way. It is said of John that he was leaning on the bosom of Jesus when they were at the table in the upper room. I believe that we may conclude that John was the closest to Jesus.
John was not a disciple for only a little while. John was not a disciple who was faithful to His Master for a few years, only to return into to the world again. No, this John was a very faithful servant of the Lord. John had this vision in his old age. Since the Lord called him to be His follower till this very time in his life, he has been faithful in the Lord’s service. He can say that he has borne the heat and the burden of the day, as well as the cold of the night. He has been faithful in days of prosperity, as well as in days of adversity and persecution.
As I have indicated already, he is a victim of the persecutions against the church. He is no longer in the midst of his people in Ephesus, but has become an exile on account of his faithfulness to the Word of God. In verse 9 he says, “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.” He is there because he has been and remained faithful to the Word of God and the testimony of Christ. He did not deny God in days of persecution, but he remained faithful.
This is John, the one of whom we read in our text – John, the beloved disciple. He is also called the apostle of love. Rightly so, because when we read the epistles of John, we find none of the apostles spoke so much of the love of God and towards God. One has compared him the representative to the bride of Christ, His Church. His epistles also make it clear that he is very desirous to see the Lord and His glory.
Now can you picture this man? Do you see this disciple whom Jesus loved? A picture has been given of the apostle of love, that faithful witness of the truth. Is there any human being who can be compared with John? Is there any one who is equal in faithful service? What minister can be compared with John the apostle? Who would dare to stand on the same level as John?
Now listen to what the man says. Listen to what this great one in the kingdom of heaven says; “Now when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead.” These are not the words of an ordinary apostle, or and ordinary believer. These are the words of John.
What is the reason he falls down? He says, “When I saw Him.” John sees his Master. He sees his Lord. He sees His Saviour. But that is not a reason to fall down is it, to see your Saviour? Did John not long to see Him? Was there not a desire in his soul to meet Him? Should he not have been glad in His soul that the Lord was willing to fulfill his desire by coming to speak unto him? Should John not have embraced the Saviour with gladness in his heart? Should he not have adored Him?
Yes, but you see, Jesus is so full of glory, so full of majesty. Well, did not John know that the Lord Jesus was glorious? Did he not know that Jesus was no longer in the state of humiliation? Did he not know that Jesus is in heaven now, invested with all glory and divine power? Oh yes, John knows all that. He speaks about that in his writings. Although John knows that Jesus is the exalted and glorious Saviour, this vision is so impressive that John must fall to the ground as dead. What he sees far surpasses what he has ever imagined. What he sees is far more glorious than he had ever anticipated.
What does John see then? He sees the Son of Man. The Son of Man wears a long robe down to the feet, and a girdle of gold around the breast. The hairs of His head are pure white. His eyes are as a flame of fire, and His feet like unto glowing brass. His voice is as the sound of many waters. In his hand, He holds seven stars. Out of His mouth proceeds a sharp, two-edged sword. His countenance is as the sun shining in its strength.
This is a picture which no man can picture. When we try to visualize what John sees, we must say that it is most impressive indeed. The main feature in this vision is that the Lord is glorious. All these different aspects are one in pointing to the glory of Christ. Because the glory of Christ is the dominant feature, this vision must make a deep impression.
Let us look at this picture again. John sees the Son of Man. This is the Lord Jesus Christ, no doubt, for He is the Son of Man. That means that John sees the same person Who once suffered and died on the cross. John had known Him when He was still in His shame and His woe. What a difference between then and now. Now John sees that the Christ of Gethsemane and of Golgotha is glorious and full of majesty. He is a King, for that is clear from the long garment He wears. The girdle of gold points to royal dignity as well. Indeed, He is the King of kings; He is most glorious. His hairs are white as snow, which is a token of spotless purity and holiness, and a symbol of the Saviour’s deity.
His eyes are as a flame of fire indicating all penetrating intelligence, for Christ is able to read the secrets of man’s heart. Christ is able to bring the hidden things to light, and to search all things with a single glance of those eyes which are like a flame of fire. His feet are like unto fine brass, as if they were burning in a furnace. With those feet He will tread down and trample upon the wicked. Those feet, those glowing feet present again an image of pureness. Wherever He places those feet the wicked will be utterly consumed.
His voice is as the sound of many waters. Psalm 29 says that His voice is powerful. The voice of the Lord is full of majesty. Indeed, John has heard that voice as of a trumpet, that powerful voice of the Son of Man. It says His voice is as the sound of many waters. I do not know if you have ever heard the sound of many waters when all the waves and billows roll and roar. When you are on the shore of the ocean listening to the noise of the waves, you cannot even hear your own voice anymore.
This is a picture of the Son of Man. What a mighty sound He produces when He speaks! He has a two-edged sword going out of His mouth. Since John sees that it is the sword proceeding out of His mouth, we may conclude this sword represents the Word of God. As Hebrews indicates, the Word is a sharp, quick, powerful two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the joints and marrow. He is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Look at His countenance. It is as the sun shining in its strength. Something of that was seen already when John was on MountTabor together with Peter and James. As Jesus was transfigured before their eyes His face shone as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light. When He appeared to Saul on the road to Damascus, there was a light above the brightness of the sun.
I did not say too much when I told you that the main feature in this vision is the glory of Christ, and His majesty. Nothing and nobody is to be compared with Christ. He is all splendor. He is all majesty. John sees all this.
Why did the Lord appear to John in such a way? One reason is that John and the church lived in days of persecution. John himself has been exiled, other believers have been tempted and tried, some were being persecuted, some were burned at stakes, and some were thrown to the wild beasts. The powers of evil were strong, and the sheep of the flock of Christ could do nothing to prevent that. When the exiled apostle of the Lord Jesus may see how the Lord appears to him in all His majesty and greatness, this is meant to be a very comforting revelation. The enemies are strong. They are almost invincible, and the sheep can to nothing to break the power of those enemies. But in this vision, Jesus tells John that He is stronger. He has more power than all the enemies together. The whole world may unite against the church of the Lord, yet the Lord is greater and mightier, for to Him belongs all power and majesty. With His mighty voice, He silences the tumults of the people. With His bright countenance, He terrifies them. With His burning feet, He destroys them. This is the King Who reigns, and His long robe tells us that He is King.
So this vision is meant to bring great comfort to the exiled apostle in whose heart there are many doubts, questions, and fears as to the future of the Lord’s cause and His church. The Lord says, “I am King, John, and all power is in My hands. I am in control, and the enemies can do nothing without My consent.” I believe that John understood this comforting and encouraging part of the Gospel, which he now received by way of this vision.
There is also another element which receives even more emphasis in our text. When John has seen this vision, he falls down at the feet of Jesus as dead. Why is that? If it would have said that John fell down and worshipped, we could have understood. But now it says, “I fell down as dead.” That is because John has understood that this glorious Christ is not only a terror to His enemies, but He is also the cause of much fear within the church. Do you understand this? Or is this strange language? Of course, we all understand that the Lord Jesus will fill His enemies with terror, and frighten those who oppose Him. But do you think we are safe because we are in the church? We all belong to the church, but does that mean that we are safe because we are in these four walls? Are we safe here when Christ appears? No, we are not. Do I need to give you proof of what I am saying? Read on in the chapters two and three of Revelation. They contain the seven epistles written by John, but dictated by this Christ. This Christ tells John to write seven letters to seven churches, and those churches represent the whole church even of today.
What does Christ write to these churches? This glorious King says to the church of Ephesus, for instance, in Rev. 2: 5, “Repent, and do the first works or else I will come, I, this Christ, this Christ in all His majesty, I will come to unto thee quickly and remove the candlestick out of this place.” It is He who says to the church in Pergamus, “Repent, or else I will come unto thee quickly and will fight against the sinners in your midst, not in the world, but in your midst with the sword of my mouth,” It is this Christ who says to the church in Thyatira, “And all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the reins and the hearts.”
Is it a comforting thing to know that Jesus, the exalted Saviour, walks in the midst of the seven candlesticks, which is in the midst of His church? It certainly is a comforting thing to know that. John was comforted when he saw the Lord walking in the midst of the golden candlesticks. Verse 13a says, “In the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, I saw the Son of Man.” This tells us that He is continually present. He is never absent. He never forsakes nor leaves His people. This is a comforting thought indeed. For if Christ is there, what can the enemy do?
But have you noticed His feet? He walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. Now look at His feet. What do they look like? What sort of feet are they as Christ walks between the candlesticks? These feet are like unto brass feet in a furnace. Have you seen His eyes? Have you seen the eyes of Him who is walking in the midst of the candlesticks? His eyes are as a flame of fire. Have you seen His countenance? It is as the sun shining in its strength. Have you heard His voice? It is as the sound of many waters.
If this is the Lord Who is present in the midst of His church, that church must understand and realize how much holiness then becomes God’s house. We may expect that this Christ will frighten and burn up all His enemies. But we may also expect, and we must expect that He will not be willing to tolerate sin and evil in His people. His enemies will be chased by His almighty voice, but what about His people?
Did you hear Him say with that voice as of many waters, “I will come to take away the candlestick, unless you repent?” “I will come with the sword of my mouth unless you repent.” Should not the church of Christ look at the feet of Christ? Should not the church of Christ look at His eyes, and hear His voice? We must realize that it is He who searches the hearts. What if He searches the hearts in the midst of His church, whether it is in Ephesus, Pergamos, other parts of the world, or here in the midst of the Congregation? What if He comes with the sword of His mouth to Smyrna, to Philadelphia, or to our Congregation? We are not safe because we are between four walls of a church building. We are not safe because we are members of a physical church. We need another type of covering. We need another hiding place.
It is not so that we must say, “What will happen if Christ comes.” It is not so that John sees it as a possibility that perhaps the Lord will walk in the midst of the golden candlesticks. No, He is there, and He walks there. He also comes to this place, here, where the Word is preached. He comes here with all-seeing eyes, and with burning feet. Nothing is hid before Him. Nothing. We are transparent before Him. Sins are naked and uncovered before His eyes. Secret faults are marked before Him. He knows what lies in the hidden corners of our hearts. He knows what lies in the deepest recesses of our existence. Our thoughts are known by Him. Our lusts, which we hide from everybody else, are seen by His all-seeing eyes. Before you and I speak, He knows what we are going to speak. He knows everything, because His eyes are as a flame of fire.