Angel

 

Michael, a really scary angel. He wouldn't like it if you bowed down to him, but perhaps you should avert your eyes, just in case!

Angels of Churches

Do angels mean spirits or messengers? While angels can certainly mean both, the Greek term can be used for either human messengers or spirit beings. If we look only at this passage, it could mean either. Since “angel” in the book of Revelation means “heavenly spirit” in the other 60 uses of the word in the book, then it would make sense that it means so here.

But what is the relationship between a church and their angel? The spirits are often rebuked for the actions of the churches in the next couple chapters. But this seems to be the identity responsibility of the mediator— the spirit represents God to the church and the church to God. Thus the church might often speak to the angel as God— not to worship the angel, but to bring to God the message— and Jesus might speak to the angel as the church—again, not to blame the angel, but as a representative of the church.

The Mystery

Jesus gives John an indication that what he is seeing is not all literal. The stars are not literally stars and the lampstands are not literally lampstands. Rather they represent other things. Some things in the visions are explained, while others are not. We are to be wise in making determinations about what means what, but we need to remember—what is seen is not always what is real.

Another interpretation point I think is very important: If a symbol is explained, then the explanation is the literal understanding of it. The explanation is not as yet another symbol that needs to be interpreted. The harlot in later chapters is a city-- the city is not a symbol for something else. Sometimes, like the lampstands, there can be two explanations for a single symbol, either because we are not clear or because two items are closely related. But interpretation of symbols must stop at some reality, somewhere. We can't just keep guessing until we find something we like.

What You Have Seen...

"Write what you have seen, those things which are and those things which will come to pass"

This statement is difficult to interpret, and many commentators have looked at it different ways. While “what is to come” is not best understood as “what is in the future”, it is still not clear. I prefer to simply understand it as the whole of the visions that John has and will experience.

It has been argued, well, I think, that this verse is not to be used as an outline for Revelation.

Hell, What A Looker!

 

Disney's Hades has more resemblance to the concept of death in Scripture than the nebulous "lack of life" concept that we usually think of. In Scripture, Hades is a place to go to, but Death and Hades are also powerful beings whom God has granted rule over all humanity. Hades isn't in charge of humanity until after the cessation of life, but the persona Death is in charge of all humanity at all times, from the time any person sins.

This is the promise of God to Adam (that is, humanity) that when we sin, we will surely die, that is, be placed under the control of Death. This doesn't mean that we die immediately at sin, but that our lives become a living hell, and life is cheap and can be taken at any time.

Not a pretty picture. But Jesus says that the control of both Death and Hades is in Jesus hands, now. Since Jesus is merciful, then eternal life is offered to those who put themselves under Jesus' rule.

Death and Hades

Death and Hades (also called Sheol in Hebrew) are often personified in the Bible, and also a description of a place. It is the final authority over humanity, where complete justice is given, and separation from life is complete. Jesus, however, has taken authority over this god and this realm, determining himself who lives and who dies after death.

"Do Not Fear"

Jesus speaks the words of all spirits, for the one gazing upon the spirit not to be afraid, because the spirit intends the one seeing him no harm. But more than this, Jesus tells John that he need not be afraid of death at all. Jesus himself passed through death, came out on the other side and is now in charge of death itself.

Falling On His Face

John follows Daniel’s pattern, falling in fear before the powerful being before him (Daniel 8 and 10). Even as Daniel, John is told to be strong and given further instructions.

To fall on one's face is an act of worship reserved for gods and kings. To fall in fear is to placate the being in front of you from any harm that might befall you by granting him the greatest respect possible. Jesus accepts the worship as his due, but tells John he has nothing to fear.

Lego Jesus

 

What The Description of Jesus Means

Put together, the description of Jesus is that of an all-powerful spirit, similar to both God and the most powerful of angels. He is a king, ruling over the church. He is a priest, tending the church. And he is a warrior, victorious against the enemies of God.

Face As The Sun

This is somewhat described in Daniel 10 of the archangel, but it is an exact quote about the Israelite warrior of Judges 5:20. Thus, Jesus is seen as a victorious warrior.

Sword From His Mouth

This is based on Isaiah 11:4 and 49:2, and the image is repeated in Revelation 2:16 and 19:15.

This indicates that Jesus’ weapon against his enemies is his words, and his words will destroy them completely. Thus, Jesus' words have the same power as God, who used his word to create the world.

Stars In His Right Hand

Stars are often associated with spirits in the OT (e.g. Daniel 8:10). However, in Daniel 12, “stars” are used to describe the chosen of Israel who would be resurrected in God’s kingdom. These stars are used to describe the church, as represented by spiritual beings.

Jesus has them in his hand to indicate his rule over them.

What the Best Dressed Spirits Are Wearing

The white clothing with a golden sash could either be priestly or kingly clothing, perhaps highlighting the ambiguity between Jesus’ kingly and priestly functions over the church.

This clothing is described in Zechariah 4:3, 11-14; I Maccabees 10:88-89; 14:30, 32-47. In all of these passages, the rulers are both authoritative as a king and have a priestly function.

Feet of polished bronze

The kind of bronze indicates that they have been worked on. This could indicate purity or endurance through suffering.

Feet, tunic, sash, eyes

These descriptions are the same as those given to the archangel in Daniel 10: 5-9. This displays Jesus as a powerful spirit being.

White Hair

This description is borrowed from Daniel 7:9-10, which is describing the Ancient of Days, God the Father, judging the world.

Possibly this refers to Jesus' wisdom or his ancient pre-existence, but certainly refers to his similarity to God the Father.

Looking at Jesus II

 

Looking At Jesus

 

One Like A Son of Man

Jesus' use of the term "Son of Man" has confused a lot of people, but Jesus makes it clear in his statement to the Council that he wasn't using the term like Ezekiel, but rather a reference to Daniel 7:13, a messianic passage. See Mark 14:62.

Here in Revelation, the phrase is a description used of two different people in Daniel. In Daniel 7, it describes the Messiah receiving authority from the Ancient of Days. In Daniel 10:1-9, which is referenced frequently in the description of Jesus, it describes an archangel who struggled to visit Daniel. Both passages are used to describe Jesus.

What is this saying about Jesus, that Jesus is equivalent of an angel? It certainly is referring to Jesus as the Messiah, the Emperor of Israel, but it also makes clear that Jesus is a spirit-being, his nature being the spirit realm where the Father dwells.

One Among the Lampstands

Jesus is among the lampstands as a priest, tending the lamps so that the light doesn’t go out.

This symbolizes Jesus care of all the churches.

John's Vision of Jesus

 

Note the lampstands! Count 'em!

Seven Lampstands

Lampstands were part of the Temple’s “furniture”, representing the people of God before the throne in God’s court (Exodus 25, 37, Numbers 8).  The lamps in the the ancient Temple probably represent the prayer of the congregation of God.

These lampstands are also the seven spirits in Rev. 1:4, which is the presence of the church before God. This is a reference to Zechariah 4:2-6. It might be that the light itself emanating from the lampstands is the Spirit.

Some references to lampstands as temple furniture: I Kings 7:49; I Chron 28:15; II Chron 4:7, 20; Jeremiah 52:19-- lampstands taken away along with other utensils;

Seven Churches For Seven Cities

There are seven cities refered to in Revelation 1-3. These seven cities are representative of the churches that exist there, not the cities as a whole, although the churches were probably effected by the circumstances of the cities. We'll describe the cities in detail later, but here's a list of them:
Ephesus
Smyrna
Pergamum
Thyatira
Sardis
Philadelphia
Laodikia


All of the cities are in Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey. They are placed in the order of a circle, with Ephesus being on the coast. This would be the order a messenger would travel to the seven cities, in order, clockwise, Laodikia being near Ephesus, creating almost a perfect circle.

Seven churches of John’s ministry were chosen to indicate a complete number, which represents all churches in the world. There is nothing to indicate that they each represent a different church age. However, each church could represent a church type, which we will explore.

Ram's Horn Trumpet

 

A Voice Like A Trumpet

Trumpets are really old. There was found a trumpet in King Tut's grave. And while many trumpets were made from bronze or silver, there were other trumpets that were just made from a ram's horn, called a shofar. John's comment probably doesn't refer to the quality of the voice-- as if the voice sounded brassy-- but possibly referring to the volume of it.


In Exodus 19, when the people were called to the presence of God, it was a ram's horn that called them. Perhaps this is a reference to that even.