THE HUMANITY OF THE PERSON BEFORE HIM

The Humanity of the Person Before Him

"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 Preeminence of This Person is Marked by His Location

"In the midst."

This is the central place and position. All the lampstands are gathered about him. They can all concentrate their attention upon him. No other church stands in the way of him. He has direct access to each. The light from each church comes from him (John 8:12). In this way believers become the light for the world (Matt. 5:15). When there is shadow, it is because a church has turned its back (Jas. 1:17).
12 "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."
15 "Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house."
17 "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."
      The Presence in the Midst Symbolizes Eternal Presence in the Church

"In the midst" - cf. Mart. 18:20; 28:20. He is continuously walking in the midst (Rev. 2:1). This indicates alertness as Lord and High Priest, ever performing these tasks. Relentless

20 "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
20 "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
1 "Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks."

The Resemblance is Like a Son of Man
Not "the" but "a," perhaps better---"son of man."

He does not appear here as a specific man or exactly like man. But he is perfectly human, sin apart. Dan. 7:13 cf. John 5:27. Not a line has been written to describe the Lord in his life on earth. The greatest man that ever lived, and yet his biography does not describe him. The gospel presents his moral glory, but never his physical. Artists express the longing of mankind for a physical likeness of this one. But there is always something lacking. Of course, none of the pictures are genuine or successful. The reason must be that God intends that we should always think of Christ as he is pictured here in Revela­tion. This descriptive phrase of his humanity is a blessed reminder before we are called upon to face his deity.

13 "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."
27 "And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man."

"Son of man" was the phrase most often used by our Lord to refer to himself. This is because he always kept before the minds and hearts of men that he was related to them, knew their trials and testings, could to the fullest extent suffer with them, and was because of his full-identification with them shortly to suffer for them.

By virtue of his incarnation his entire ministry was therefore in their behalf (John 3:13; 1 John 4:2-3).
13 "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven."
2 "Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:"
3 "And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world."

As Son of man he came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."
As Son of man he was to die for them (John 3:14). "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:"
As Son of man he arose from the grave (Matt. 17:9). "And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead."
As Son of man he ascended back to heaven (John 6:62). "What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?"
As Son of man he comes again (Luke 21:27). "And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory."
As Son of man he shall reign (Matt. 19:28; John 1:51). "And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." "And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."
As Son of man he shall judge all men (John 5:22, 27). "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:" "And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man."

In this place in Revelation he is pictured as the one who is the Melchizadekian Priest, both man and God, for saints (Heb. 5:1 also chapter 7).

1 "For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins."
7:1 "For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;"2 "To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;"
3 "Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually."4 "Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils."
5 "And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:"6 "But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises."
7 "And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better."8 "And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth."9 "And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham."
10 "For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him."11 "If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?"
12 "For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law."
13 "For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar."14 "For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood."
15 "And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,"16 "Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life."17 "For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec."
18 "For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof."19 "For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God."20 "And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:"21 "For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)"22 "By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament."
23 "And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:"24 "But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood."
25 "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."
26 "For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;"27 "Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself."28 "For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore."

THE PRESENTATION OF THE PERSON OF THE BOOK

The Presentation of the Person of the Book

12 "And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;"
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."
14 "His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;"
15 "And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters."
16 "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."

The vision which flashes before the seer John commands his attention. He is introduced to the central personality of this book, and for that matter, of the entire Bible. This is the One he has been occupied with since those days he walked and talked with Him in the way. And now, in the closing scene of all revelation, in one grand burst of brilliance, it is the Revelation of Christ Himself with which the writer is to be occupied, "for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" (Rev. 19:10). Swiftly he surveys the Person before him and notes His humanity and His Deity.

The setting for this vision is described in verse 12. It was the voice that led him to turn and look. When turned, he saw seven golden candle­sticks. These will later be identified as the seven churches. So far as God's present dealings with humanity are concerned, He is now engaged in calling out the church.

THE OBLIGATION OF THE PROPHET JOHN

The Obligation of the Prophet John

"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."
The Source of his Obligation is Christ
 This voice identifies himself as the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. Cf. Rev. 22:13; 21:6. cf. Exodus 19:16, 19; 20:18 - Voice of God. Same voice that spoke from Mt. Sinai. The Voice came from the Lord Jehovah Who is here revealed as the Lord Jesus Christ Who died and is alive forevermore and revealed in Rev. 1:18. Jehovah Witness must come to grips with the fact that the true Lord Jehovah died and came back to life as here revealed in Rev. 1:18.

"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last."

"And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely."

"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."

"And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice."

"And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off."
"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."

The Substance of his Obligation is the VisionThis vision must be written down. "What thou seest, write in a book."The problem is this: were the things which John saw.

 Objective or Subjective?

Most certainly the personal Christ was there. And the picture of these judgments were there. Both of these were objective. These were signified by an angel, that is, that angel was the exhibiter, though God was the producer. By a supernatural method all this could have been made to pass before the eyes of John outside of him. On the other hand, he could have been made to see these things in his mind's eye within him. It seems best to insist that John saw these things external to himself, and thus the careful language of verse 10.

"I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet."
This record must be sent to Seven Churches.
This record goes beyond the seven letters in chapters 2-3. It contains all that John saw, Rev. 1:12-17; 4:1-22:5. If these seven churches represent the whole of the church age, then this book is universal in its destination.
12  "And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;"
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."
14  "His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;"
15  "And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters."
16  "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."
17  "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."

TRANSPORTATION INTO A FUTURISTIC PERIOD OF TIME

Transportation Into a Futuristic Period of Time

     "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,"
K.J.V., A.S.V., R.S.V. - "On the Lord's day"Greek text - (en th kuriakh hmera)

 This could read "in the Lord's day" or "during the Lord's day" or on, in, or during the day of the Lord.

Two interpretations have developed as to the meaning of this phrase: One that it refers to the first day of the week, Sunday; the other that it refers to the great day of the Lord spoken of in the Old Testament. The Kingdom is coming as was the conversation of the whole Old Testament.

 Support for the view that this is Sunday is very weak. Distinctions drawn from grammar would seem to favor one of these views: The adjective (kuriakos) would favor the Day of the Lord view instead of the Sunday view. The adjective is always a stronger expression than the genitive of the noun.
There is good reason to believe that the first day of the week was never called the Lord's day until the second century. If this be true, then to argue that this refers to Sunday might conceivably be an anachronism.
There is no difference in days as the Lord made them (Rom. 14:5). But if there is a difference, then the seventh day of the week might be the important one, unless we insist that the resur­rection instituted a change. "One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind."
Support for the view that this refers to the Great Day of the Lord is very strong.

 Argument from the meaning of the language. The adjective means that the Lord characterizes the day (cf. 1 Cor. 11:20). The definite article singles this day out as something specific and singular. "When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper."The argument from the usage in the Roman Empire. Archeologists have discovered that this word was used to describe a day which was set aside by the Emperor in which he was issuing a decree or with imperial authority demanding that something be carried out by the people.
Deissman - "Word Studies" page 290.
Deissman - "Light from Ancient East" page 357ff.

 Argument from the context of the book of Revela­tion. No explanation can be correct which runs counter to the general meaning of the book in which it is found. The book of Revelation ushers one into that period known as the Day of the Lord.

Argument from the usage of the word along with change of state.
Announcement is made in 1:10.
Entrance into the state is described in Rev. 4:1-2. "After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter." "And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne."
Continuation in the state during tribula­tion (Rev. 17:3). "So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns."
 Continuation in this state during the Eternal state (Rev. 21:10). "And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God."

 Argument drawn from the theological teaching of the Bible. The Bible teaches that from creation of man to the coming of Christ there is the day of man (1 Cor. 4:3). "But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self." And they have it in a state that only God can correct. A day comes when Christ makes judgment and we assist in His rule.

 The Bible teaches that at the Coming of Christ the Day of the Lord will be ushered in (1 Cor. 4:5). "Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God."
We need to remind ourselves that no one sitting at the table of the Lord knew who was the betrayer and they had ministered together for three years. Christ sent him from that table revealing that in the end He knows who is His and who will enter Hades and eventually hell itself.

 Transpiration of a supernatural voice. 10c ""I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,"
This is a trumpet-like voice for strength.
The adjective "great" marks how strong the voice was.

But the figure of speech makes the adjective more understandable. This is the voice of the Son of God. His voice is like the voice of many waters. Every­thing from the murmur of the rivulet to the roar of the great ocean.
This is the trump of God spoken of in 1 Thessalonians 4:16. Though there are many angels appearing in Revelation whose voices will sound like trumpets (seven such sound trumpets), yet no voice of an angel will reach the strength and power of that of the Son of God (cf. John 5:28-29).
"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first."
"Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice," "And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."1 Thess. 4:16 (salpigx . theos)

This is the last trump of God announcing the rapture of the saints and the ushering in of the seventieth week of Daniel. cf. Rev. 4:1-2; 1 Cor. 15:51-52.
"After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter." "And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne."
"Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed," "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."
Unfinished business as I term it.

The first trump of God sounded at Mount Sinai, when God began relations with Israel on the basis of the Old Testament Law (Ex. 19:13, 16, 19; 20:18-19; Heb. 12:18-19, 26; Zeph. 1:14-16).
"There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount." "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." "And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice."
"And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off." "And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die."
"Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon."
 "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." "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," "A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers."
There is yet one more week of years for Israel under the Old Testament Law. When Christ is finished with His ministry to the Church here in the earth, he will announce this and the resumption with Israel by means of the Last Trump of God. The Seven Weeks of Daniel spoken of in his historical prophecy in answer to his prayer.

TRANSFORMATION INTO TRANSCENDENT CONDITION

Transformation into a Transcendent Condition of Existence

"I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day,"

K.J.V. "I was in the Spirit," also A.S.V. and R.S.V. Greek Text (Revelation 1:10  (egenomhn en pneumati)

The Declaration of ChangeK.J.V. "I was;" also A.S.V. and R.S.V.
Greek - (egenomhn)

 This verb is the one that is regularly used to mark or denote a change of condition. It is used of Christ in John 1:14 when he became incarnate in human flesh. "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."
The Explanation of Change
K.J.V. and A.S.V. "in the Spirit;" also R.S.V.

 At least three general areas of interpretation are seen here.
 Change of condition in the realm of the human spirit. Two variations here:
 The spirit level of life, that is, minding the higher things of life. No longer occupied with the physical or material things of this life.
The spiritual attitude of life. That is, he had a good spirit; a fine, high, noble attitude.

Change of condition in the realm of the Holy Spirit.
K.J.V., A.S.V., and R.S.V. all capitalize Spirit, indicating that the translators thought this referred to the Holy Spirit. Westcott and Hort do not capitalize the word in the Greek text, but Nestle does.

There are a number of operations performed by the Holy Spirit that have been suggested as explanations.
The regeneration of the Holy Spirit (New Birth).
The baptism of the Holy Spirit. 

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
 The filling of the Holy Spirit. 

The anointing of the Holy Spirit.
The sanctification of the Holy Spirit.

 Not one of the above experiences could possibly be meant, inasmuch as John had every one of them already. There is a bare possibility that some special operation of the Holy Spirit could be under consideration. But if so, this might well fall in the next major category.

 Change of Condition in the Realm of Divine Spirit
"I became in Spirit" is the best way to trans­late this expression. The word "became" indi­cates change of condition. The definite article does not appear with the word spirit, and hence John had in mind qualitative essence by His statement. Thus the word does not refer to the third person of the Godhead as such, but to the nature of the entire Godhead, which is spirit. "God is spirit" (John 4:24) stated Christ. By this change, John came to experience some of the greatness of God in the use of powers that no man shall ever possess as a permanent pos­session. And by this he was able to rise above the limitations of the creature.

 The Instances of this Change.John was not the only one who had ever experienced this change of condition.
This was true of every prophet of the Old Testament who was also a seer. The word seer describes the method of receiving revelation. The word prophet explains the method of impart­ing revelation. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Amos, Obadiah, Nahum, Habbakkuk, and Zechariah were all seers (cf. Amos 7:12 with 1:1; and Hab. 1:1; Ezek. 2:2; 8:3).

"Also Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there."
"The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake."
"The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see."
"And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me."
"And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy."
But this is not confined to the Old Testament. Men of the New Testament also experienced the same thing. There is not doubt that Christ experienced such a thing. But in addition to Him, Paul certainly did. And to this he makes reference in 2 Cor. 12:1-4. In this he was lifted out of the limitations of flesh and experienced the powers of Deity.
"It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord." "I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven." "And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)" "How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter."
This may explain death bed experiences of godly people. They linger for a moment on the brink of two worlds.

 The Advantages of This Change
There are at least two such advantages one having to do with place and the other having to do with time.
Men are able to surmount the limitations of place and time in some small way. By memory we reach into the past and reconstruct it. But the future is hidden to us. We dream by night or build air castles by day, but they are only the reconstructions of the past.
By a movement of the mind we speak of or imagine ourselves in some other place. But this is a poor substitute for the real thing. But God is not thus limited as men are. He is spirit and therefore can be and is omnipresent. Thus there is no such thing as the limitation of place.
Since God is spirit, there is no such thing with Him as past, present, or future. To Him, everything is one eternal present. The future has not yet taken place, but God sees it before Him as though it were already a reality. In fact, it is a reality to Him.
By experiencing this transcendent state or condition, that is, actually being lifted out of the conditions of flesh and into the condition of spirit, two things could thus happen to John:

(1) He could be lifted to heaven; and

(2) He could be transferred into the future (Rev. 1:10; 4:2; 17:3; 21:10).
"I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,"

"And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne."

"So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns."
"And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God."
 

THE DIVINE CERTIFICATION OF THE PROJECT OF REVELATION

The Divine Certification of the Prospect

"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."

 This Verse Refers to the Trinity, the Three Persons of the Godhead.

The Father is referred to in the words of vs. 4. "John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;"
The Son is referred to in the words of Rev. 22:13. "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last."
The Spirit is included in the words "Lord God . . . Almighty" (cf. Isaiah 44:6). "Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God."

 The situation of the prophet John. John 1:9-11

"That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." "He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not." "He came unto his own, and his own received him not."

The location of the prophet John. 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."

His physical location. "In tribulation" (Grk. av thlipsis)  Definite article refers to the specific persecution that has come on the Church. Paul long before warned that all must go through tribulation (Acts 14:22). The great tribulation is not in view (Matt. 24:21; Rev. 7:14). In this sense John is a brother and companion of all believers. 22 "Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God"
21 "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be." 14 "And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."

 His spiritual location. "In the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ." Reads differently in R.V. and Greek text. In this sense, too, John is nothing more than a companion and brother of those to whom he writes. Greek text - "in kingdom and patience."

 His geographical location. "In the isle that is called Patmos." This is the place to which he was banished by the decree of Domitian. Thus we see the church doctrine of sanctification being practiced by a religious society called government. The ones that are "set apart - sanctified" are the Savior and His workers that practice His truth. In this sense he is more than brother and companion - set apart both by human government and Christ. It was due to his apostleship that he was banished - set  apart. He was the leader of the people and the spokesman for God. There on the Island, barren as it was, he was not banished from God. He received the greatest revelation ever received.

 "Was" (Grk. tycvdµriv - past tense) may indicate that John is not now in the Isle as he writes the book. Probably only refers to the historical event of being on Patmos.

 The condition of the prophet John. "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,"
 This verse is the prophetic announcement of events to follow. Rev. 4:2 marks the actual entrance upon this experience. Rev. 17:3 and 21:10 mark events in the course of this experience. 2 "And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne." 3 "So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns." 10 "And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,"

Introduction 
Here is one of the most perplexing passages of Scripture in the entire book of Revelation, in fact, in the entire Bible. Almost every word in this passage is under dispute among theologians and Bible teachers regardless of theo­logical viewpoint.

The importance of this passage to the unfolding of the message of this book is the thing that makes it the focal point of controversy. Granted any one position and the rest of the book must be brought into conformity with that position. If that position is right, the message unfolds into a revelation. But if that position is wrong, the message remains hidden.

 The interpretation of this passage therefore becomes a matter of major concern. In the interpretation of the passage there are just two methods of approach. One is called eisegesis, in which the student reads into the words of the text his own meaning. This is wrong. The other method is called exegesis, in which the student reads out of the words of the text the meaning which the writer put there. This is the right method of approach.

 But the difficulty of interpretation is not to be min­imized. Sincere men often fall into the wrong method of interpretation. And I hope that the Lord will safeguard this teacher from that error. It seems to me that the most obvious meaning of this passage in its content is the correct meaning. And I hope that I shall be able to support that in your thinking.

 

THE PROCLAMATION OF THE ENTIRE BOOK

The Proclamation for the Entire Book

"Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen." "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."

The Prophetic Anticipation of the Book

"Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen."

This is the grand climax of the book and the ages. But John can't wait until he gets to that point in his story, so he writes it now. This is just a rift in the clouds of judgment for the purpose of encouraging those who must go through judgment.

There is revelation of the king. "He cometh with clouds."

Clouds are the environment of Deity. Ex. 16:10; 40:38; Matt. 17:5. "And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud." "While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him."

The King was to come with Clouds (Dan. 7:13). "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."

The King declared that he would come that way (Matt. 26:64). "Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven."

The King went away that way and it was asserted he would return that way (Acts 1:9; Matt. 24:30). "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight." "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."

There is recognition of the king. "Every eye shall see him."
This will be a public event, literal, personal, visible. At least every soul in the world shall get one glimpse of the face of Christ. Those who pierced him shall also see him. This probably refers to the Jewish nation, but it certainly extends beyond that (Zech. 12:10 cf. John 19:37). This undoubtedly takes in the whole program of eschatology. "And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn." "And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced."

There is realization of the king. "And all the tribes of the earth shall mourn over him."
Cf. Matt. 24:30; Zech. 12:10.
This includes Israel first, but it extends to all the tribes of the earth.

This statement means that all shall recognize and realize this is the Messiah they have hated, scorned, killed, rejected.