Since didn’t really get much past v. 4 last Sunday, I will continue from there. The first section is mostly pasted from last week’s study guide, but with a few additions. Unfortunately, this is mostly commentary, as in, my processing the content behind the language here.  However, what is the big picture here of this lesson? What are the take-aways for Weavertown? I need more time to think about that, hopefully before Sunday…  I do think this is a very powerful description of Jesus in his glorified state.  Our response should be like John’s–falling down at his feet! (Worship and hope).

• Verses 4-8: Again–JESUS! Jesus is a central theme of Revelation.  I tend to think of Jesus as tender, meek and mild and forget he is the rider on the white horse who will judge the nations with a rod of iron!! Nowhere else in the NT do we really get a glimpse of awesome divinity of Jesus like this.  I think worship is a key task for us for our study of Revelation!  Let’s take a look at the different attributes listed of Jesus:
• Grace and Peace: This can only be given by someone who can extend grace and create peace.
• From him who is and who was and who is to come (repeated v. 8 and elsewhere): besides affirming God’s eternal nature, this is a declaration that He is in control of past, present and future, in spite of evil having a heyday in the present.
• Vs 4-5 is also a fascinating reference to each member of the Trinity.
• There is much debate over why the Spirit is referred to as seven, but probably a reference to perfection.
• Jesus is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, the ruler of the kings on earth.
  • Probably way more significance than this, but to the persecuted church, Jesus was emphasizing that he had been through the same things they had, and he was in control of their enemies–death and kings.
• Vs 5b-6: a Doxology TO Jesus. What a powerful list of his loving work on behalf of His Bride, the church! There is not nearly enough time in one SS lesson to even begin to cover these verses.
  • 1 Peter 1:18-19 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
  • Exodus 19:5-6 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”
  • Again, to the hearts of those suffering for the name of Christ–what a reassurance to be reminded of His work and know that he has made us his kingdom and priests!
  • What is the significance of priests? (direct access to God and task of representing Him)
  • What should our response be his work? (PRAISE!)
• V 7: coming with the clouds–echoes Dan 7:13 and Matt 24:30:
  • Daniel 7:13-14 13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
  • Matthew 24:30-31 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
• Even those who pierced him…will wail. This reference to Zech 12:10ff where the house of Israel will mourn over the one they have pierced.  10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.
  • Perhaps this wailing/mourning is implying a recognition of crucifying their prince. Perhaps mourning in repentance? Perhaps fear of coming judgment?
  • Or perhaps all of the above are intended by the ambiguity–certainly all are appropriate responses.  Reminds me of the declaration in Phil 2 that every knee will bow to Jesus some day.  Every eye will see His return and finally recognize Him for who he truly is.
• Common theme is that Jesus’ return is with glory and power. The Jesus we see in Revelation is now King of kings!
• Alpha and Omega/is/was/is to come/Almighty. This idea of God’s eternity displays his control of everything, in this context especially the end of the world and bringing judgment.

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• I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation…
  • Hauck calls [endurance] the “basic attitude of the righteous” in the  OT and later Judaism. (Osborne, Kindle Locations 2177-2179).
  • The Christian’s John was writing to needed to be reminded to persevere in the face of tribulation. This is a major theme of Revelation (cf. each of the letters to the churches).
• John was exiled on the Isle of Patmos, not that far from Ephesus.
• I was in the Spirit… This phrase is used 4 times in Revelation (1: 10; 4: 2; 17: 3; 21: 10).  Probably most significant as a “literary device to point to the apocalyptic nature of the visions” (Osborne, Kindle Location 2211).
• On the Lord’s Day… Yoder argues that this did not mean Sunday but the Day of the Lord.  Osborne counters by showing that the Greek term for Day of the Lord does not match what John wrote here.  He prefers to interpret this as Sunday. This terminology for Sunday became common right after the time of this writing.
• Voice like a trumpet is significant. Almost always in the NT is used to refer to harbinger of the day of the Lord or a theophany–probably both innuendos were intended (Osborne, Kindle Location 2250).
• The church(es) as lampstands: Probably the main point of the metaphor is that the church is “a shining light for God in the midst of a hostile world” (Osborne, Kindle Location 2307)
• Christ was in the midst of the lampstands–probably signifying his presence and support during their trials.
• One like a son of man: generally agreed by commentators that it literally means “humanlike”, but the significance of that meaning is highly debated. This is a strong reference to Daniel 7. Osborne argues “the ‘son of man’ image in Daniel, the Gospels, and Revelation was a messianic figure with a  divine overtones” (Osborne, Kindle Location 2343).
• Description of Christ: Do you think this is literally how Jesus looked, or were these more like prophetic pictures describing his power and glory? Osborne argues more of the latter. He says these eight attributes are images drawn from the OT.
  • Long robe and golden sash. Possibly referring to garb of the priest. Could also signify his position as rulers of the day wore sashes across the chest (not at the waist as ordinary people).
  • White head and hair: indicated wisdom and years of experience. Also reinforces that Jesus is part of the Godhead as this is a metaphor for God in Dan 7:9.
  • Blazing Eyes: (Dan 10:6) divine insight
  • Shining metal feet: “since feet in the ancient world portrayed the direction of one’s life, the image here depicts Christ’s life in both its strength or stability and it’s absolute purity” (Osborne, Kindle Location 2397).
  • Powerful Voice: (Ezek 1:24) image of power and strength
  • Stars in His Right Hand: Right hand symbolizes power and authority.  He controlled the stars (symbol of authority/divinity?)
  • Sword from His Mouth: (Isa 11:4)probably reference to judgment. Compares to the idea of slaying the wicked/antichrist with the breath of his mouth.
  • Brilliant Face: (Sinai, Ps 84:11, etc) attribute of Yahweh. Revealed glory.
• Falling before the exalted Christ is proper response. Perhaps also heralds what everyone will do some day (Phil 2). However, John did not stay there (he obeyed and was told not to fear).
• Laid his Right hand on me: symbolizes commissioning.
• Vs 17-20: not sure why Jesus repeats a lot of the things John already mentioned,  but definitely shows that Jesus is glorified and in charge. John is also clearly being commissioned to communicate the message of Revelation to the church.