When I chose to expand upon a vision of John’s, I forgot that the entire book of Revelation is made up of visions given to John. In fact, the word “revelation” refers to something that has been revealed, which means it must have been hidden, or unknown, before.
“This revelation was given for the guidance and comfort of the church throughout the Christian dispensation. . . . It is ‘the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass.’ In the Revelation are portrayed the deep things of God. The very name given to its inspired pages, ‘the Revelation,’ contradicts the statement that this is a sealed book. A revelation is something revealed. The Lord Himself revealed to His servant the mysteries contained in this book, and He designs that they shall be open to the study of all. Its truths are addressed to those living in the last days of this earth’s history, as well as to those living in the days of John. . . . Let none think, because they cannot explain the meaning of every symbol in the Revelation, that it is useless for them to search this book in an effort to know the meaning of the truth it contains. The One who revealed these mysteries to John will give to the diligent searcher for truth a foretaste of heavenly things. Those whose hearts are open to the reception of truth will be enabled to understand its teachings, and will be granted the blessing promised to those who ‘hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein.’ In the Revelation all the books of the Bible meet and end. Here is the complement of the book of Daniel. One is a prophecy; the other a revelation. The book that was sealed is not the Revelation, but that portion of the prophecy of Daniel relating to the last days. The angel commanded, ‘But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end.’ Daniel 12:4.” –The Acts of the Apostles, p. 583–585
John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was entrusted with many important truths which are vital to our understanding of the Bible prophecies as well as the world’s history. Thus, I think it is important to note the type of person he was.
John was a fisherman, who, along with his brother James, was one of the “Sons of Thunder” because of his rebellious, selfish and harsh personality. It is also recorded in the Bible that John was transformed by the spirit and lifestyle of Jesus into a kind and loving spiritual man.
“John was one of the disciples whom Jesus chose to witness certain events, special occasions, such as the resurrection of Jairus’ daughter, the transfiguration and Christ’s agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. It was therefore only natural for John to be the only disciple at the foot of the cross of Calvary.” –Prophets Speak Out, p. 21
The vision I will expand on is found in Revelation 1:9–20:
“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. 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 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. 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 His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as 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. 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. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; 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.”
In John 21:22, Jesus said to Peter, “If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou Me;” Jesus alluded to Peter that John might live to see Him again. Here in Revelation we have read that it was confirmed. One very important thing to note is that John clearly states, “I was in the Spirit,” which was his way of stating throughout Revelation that he was in a vision. Another interesting fact was that he was in vision while resting “on the Lord’s Day,” the Sabbath.
“Richly favoured was this beloved disciple. He had seen his Master in Gethsemane, His face marked with the blood drops of agony, His ‘visage . . . marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men.’ Isaiah 52:14. He had seen Him in the hands of the Roman soldiers, clothed with an old purple robe and crowned with thorns. He had seen Him hanging on the cross of Calvary, the object of cruel mockery and abuse. Now John is once more permitted to behold his Lord. But how changed is His appearance! He is no longer a Man of Sorrows, despised and humiliated by men. He is clothed in a garment of heavenly brightness. ‘His head and His hairs’ are ‘white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes . . . as a flame of fire; and His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace.’ Revelation 1:14, 15, 17. His voice is like the music of many waters. His countenance shines as the sun. In His hand are seven stars, and out of His mouth issues a sharp two-edged sword, an emblem of the power of His word. Patmos is made resplendent with the glory of the risen Lord.” –The Acts of the Apostles, p. 582
The most astounding thing about this vision was that John was able to see the holiness and heavenly splendour of Jesus’ face, which had never before been granted to a human on earth. Some other important passages to note are that “out of His mouth went a sharp twoedged sword.” In Hebrews 4:12 it says, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword.” These words give us evidence that John was, in fact, seeing Jesus; and that Jesus was speaking holy words. There were seven candlesticks, and He was holding seven stars; seven is a very important number in the Bible, representing perfection and completion.
Although it seems that we might be able to infer the significance for the Revelation chapter 1 symbols from other biblical texts such as Matthew 5:14, “Ye are the light of the world,” speaking of His church. Or Revelation 12:4, “And His tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven,” referring to angels as stars. It seems that God did not want us to try to infer the meaning of some of the most important prophecies in the Bible and for our time, and that is why He tells us the exact definition in Revelation 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.”
The visions recorded in the Bible, no matter the subject, hold a message which is either a blessing or a curse. Obviously John was very blessed to be able to see Jesus in all His splendour, but it was only a vision. “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face.” 1 Corinthians 13:12. One day we will be able to see God face to face, with no dimming veil in between. Imagine what a wonderful privilege that will be! It is my desire that we all will continue to study the Bible prophecies and all John’s recorded visions in Revelation (“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” Revelation 1:3), so that with God’s help we will be able to meet our Saviour face to face. Amen.
Elaine Romero