4.

REVELATION SERIES:
The Son of Man – Revelation 1:9-20

This section of Revelation continues within the first major division of the book, that of
‘Christ in the midst of the Lampstands (1:1-3:22),’ or of the church on earth.

In the passage under consideration for this study, we meet with John’s vision of the
exalted Christ, being one in appearance like the Son of Man (1:13). The vision needs to
be seen as a unified whole and interpreted as such, with the focus not becoming caught
up on any particular part of it. The idea of the apostle (or rather God) seems to be, that
when thinking upon the vision, the memory will be stirred to remember other passages
in the Bible which speak of similar things, for example Hebrews 4:12 in regard to the
two-edged sword. This is a practice of interpretation common to the entire text of
Revelation.

The passage under consideration in this study also contains John’s original commission
to write the actual book and to send the epistle concerning the revelation (1:11,19), as
from the one like the Son of Man.

Please Read Revelation 1:9-20

Verse 9: The human author of the epistle again identifies himself as John (1:1,4), but
also as a brother in Christ who shares the same bond of grace as the believers in the
seven churches (1:11) to whom he writes. It is a bond of common union in Christ by
faith, but also a bond of tribulation and suffering, as they maintain faithfulness to Christ
together in the midst of persecution (Jn 16:33; Acts 14:22; 2 Tim 3:12; 1 Pet 1:3-7). John
obviously shared in the Kingdom of Christ with these believers, as he also shared in the
patient perseverance and endurance that is common to believers in a hostile and
persecuting world - a characteristic which they also shared with Christ.

The apostle’s own particular experience of persecution and tribulation was on an island
in the Aegean Sea, some 60km southwest of Miletus. The island of Patmos was a 27
square kilometre island, where those thought to be dangerous to good order in the
Roman Empire were sent in order to work the mines. John was exiled here according to
tradition and this is also implied by the verse under consideration. The reason given for

Revelation Bible Study Series: 4. The Son of Man – Revelation 1:9-20 1

his exile was for his ministry of the Word of God and his bearing witness to the Lord
Jesus Christ.

QUESTIONS: What does it mean to bear witness for Jesus Christ? Explain how you
currently bear witness?

Verse 10: The ‘Lord’s Day’ is not the same as the ‘Day of the Lord,’ which is the day that
the Lord comes in judgment, but is the first day of the week. The Lord’s Day was the day
when Christians remembered and celebrated the resurrection of Christ (Jn 20:19; Acts
20:7; 1 Cor 16:2) and gathered together to worship.

On one particular Lord’s Day, by the work of and under the control of the Holy Spirit, the
apostle John found himself in a vision. By means of this vision he was consciously out of
touch with the physical world around him, yet in conscious contact with the spiritual
world. His entire focus during this time was on the vision being communicated to him by
the Spirit (Is 6:1; Dan 8:2; Ezek 1:3,4; 3:12; 14:37; Acts 10:9-11; 11:5; 22:17; 2 Cor
12:2-4).

Behind him, in this vision, he heard a clear and unmistakably loud voice, as that of a
trumpet blast (Ex 19:16,19; Heb 12:19; Rev 4:1).

Verse 11: The voice that John heard was that of the Lord Jesus Christ, repeating the
formula of verse 8, thereby clearly expressing His own divinity. What followed was a
clear command to John, commissioning him to both write and to send the revelation
that he was to receive to the seven churches of Asia that the Lord had selected. What he
recorded was that which he saw during these visions, either during the visions or after
them (1:19; 10:4).

The seven churches that are mentioned are listed in a manner coinciding with the main
road route from Ephesus to Laodicea. These may have been the main regional centres of
provincial Asia during that time.

QUESTIONS: Are there any similar situations today to those described in verses 10 and 11?
Why is this the case?

Please read the description given of the Son of Man in verses 12-16. What impressions
do you get from this first reading of the text? Are any memories stirred of other
passages in Scripture that may shed light on the text?

Verse 12: Upon hearing this loud voice John turned to see who it was that spoke to him,
recognizing a familiar form (yet different), even one like the Son of Man (1:13). Yet this

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wasn’t all that he saw, for he also saw seven golden lampstands, which are identified in
Revelation 1:20 as the seven churches of 1:11. These lampstands were symbolic of the
churches as light bearers in the world (Mt 5:14-16).

QUESTION: How is a church a light bearer? Discuss how your church is or isn’t a light
bearer.

Verse 13: In the midst of the lampstands (or churches) was One like the Son of Man. The
Son of Man title in this verse goes back to the book of Daniel (Dan 7:13, etc) and
describes one who resembles a Son of Man. The Son of Man of course is the exalted
Christ (1:17,18; Mt 26:64; Acts 7:55), now seen as the sovereign Ruler and Judge of the
world.

The picture that is portrayed of the Son of Man in this verse is not to be taken literally,
but metaphorically. Each descriptive phrase points to some quality of the Son of Man
and it is the sum total of these qualities that unite to accurately describe the Son of
Man. Great care needs to be taken so that we do not misrepresent our Lord through
foolish interpretations. If we are not careful we can come up with a very grotesque
picture of Christ.

The full-length robe of the Son of Man is similar to that of the High Priests of Israel (Ex
28:4; 29:5; 39:27-29; Lev 16:14). However, it needs to be noted that all men of
authority, including kings wore this style of dress. Perhaps the description is meant to
give the reader a sense of the authority and majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Verse 14: The symbolism of His head and hair goes back to the description of the
‘Ancient of Days’ recorded in Daniel 7:9 and is also similar to that recorded in Isaiah 1:18
(cf Mk 9:3). With these verses in mind, the symbolism perhaps points to the Son of
Man’s glory and absolute perfection.

The symbolism of His fiery eyes (2:18ff; 19:11,12) is similar to that recorded in Daniel
10:6 and surely points to the penetrating insight of Deity, that which can discern the
intents and motives of the heart.

Verse 15: The feet of the Son of Man were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace (Ezek
1:7; Dan 10:6; Rev 2:18). Just what is this description pointing to in the nature and being
of Christ? When seen in the context of standing among the lampstands and the
messages that were sent to the individual churches, this description would seem to have
something to do with judgment. Perhaps there is some aspect of refining to be done by
the Lord?

The voice of the Son of Man was that of God Himself, speaking with divine authority and
power (Ezek 1:24; 43:2; Dan 10:6; Rev 14:2; 19:6).

Revelation Bible Study Series: 4. The Son of Man – Revelation 1:9-20 3

NOTE: INDIVIDUAL DISCOVERY QUESTION HERE: What is to be understood by the ‘sharp
two-edged sword’ in Revelation 1:16? Give reasons for your answer.

Verse 16: The seven stars of this verse are explained in verse 20 and so what these are
will be explained there. They are in His hands, indicating one who exercises sovereign
control, power and protection over them.

The sharp two-edged sword is clearly the Word of God (2:16; 19:15,21; Is 49:2; Eph
6:17; Heb 4:12) by which He will judge. The Word of the Son of Man is extremely
powerful and cutting, being the Word of God.

The Son of Man’s countenance speaks of His being clothed with all the majesty and
power of God (Ex 34:29; Jud 5:31; Dan 10:6; Ezek 1:14; Mt 13:43; 17:2; Acts 26:13).

QUESTIONS: What response do you now have toward the One ‘like the Son of Man
described in this passage (pull all of the descriptions together)?’ How would you react to
the statement that this One described is in the room with you right now? Discuss your
answer at this point.

Verse 17: What was the reaction of John to this sight of the Son of Man? His reaction
was one of fear and of being over-whelmed by the awe-inspiring majesty of the Son of
Man (Gen 3:8; 17:3; Num 22:31; Josh 5:14; Jud 6:22,23; 13:20-22; Is 6:5; Ezek 1:28; Dan
7:15; 10:5ff; Mt 17:6; Jn 18:6; Acts 22:11). John knew himself to be in the very presence
of Almighty God, his Judge, and so being fully aware of his own state, he fell at His feet
overwhelmed at His majesty.

However, the Son of Man condescended to John, in a demonstration of grace and love.
He comforted John by placing His right hand on him and by speaking comforting Words
to him (Dan 10:12-19). The One who spoke was God, who transcends both time and
space (1:8; 2:8; 22:13; Is 41:4; 44:6; 48:12). He is the eternal God.

Verse 18: The Son of Man is He who has life in Himself (Josh 3:10; Dan 12:7; Hos 1:10)
and who is the Source of all life (Jn 1:4; 14:6). Though He experienced death, He now
lives forevermore (Rom 6:9; Heb 7:16).

He has conquered both death and the grave by virtue of His resurrection. Hades, the
place of the dead, where upon death the body and soul separates, was unable to hold
onto Christ. He arose, for He has authority over both death and Hades. The keys are
therefore in His hands and He is therefore able to deliver believers from both (20:13,14).

QUESTIONS:How was the knowledge that the Son of Man held the keys to death and
Hades a comfort to those to whom John wrote? Is there comfort in believers knowing

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this today? Explain.

Verse 19: In this verse John is commanded to record the vision he received of the Son of
Man, the condition of the churches at the time that he wrote and the events that were
still to take place.

Verse 20: The instruction of verse 19 is further explained in this verse. What John is to
record is the mystery of the seven stars in the Son of Man’s right hand and the seven
golden lampstands. This is a mystery because man would know nothing of these things
except God had revealed them to him (Mt 13:11; Rom 11:25; Eph 6:19).

The seven stars in His right hand, under the Son of Man’s protection (Jn 10:28), can only
be the pastors/elders of the churches. The word ‘angels’ is that which in Greek means
‘messengers.’ If they were in fact angels, how could John write to them? And why
should John write to angels regarding how they were to carry out their tasks? Is John in
a position to be able to do this?

The lampstands are identified as the seven churches of 1:11, as being the light bearers
of the gospel and divine truth (Ex 25:31; Zech 4:2; Mt 5:14; Lk 8:16; 11:33; Heb 9:2).

Therefore the message concerns how the Son of Man, who is in the midst of the
churches, will govern them through His providential care.

INDIVIDUAL DISCOVERY

What are the practical implications of Revelation 2:1?

What is meant by ‘thou hast left thy first love’ in Revelation 2:4?

Also, if you have not yet read through the Book of Revelation, please do so, keeping in
mind the seven parallel sections outlined in last week’s study (See 2. Understanding
Revelation).

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Revelation Bible Study Series: 4. The Son of Man – Revelation 1:9-20 5