We started our series on Revelations with a look at Chapter 1. In this chapter John hears a voice telling him to write to seven local churches. He turns to hear the voice and sees an amazing site: It is Jesus standing among seven lamp stands. In Revelation 1.13-16, eight different images are pulled from the OT and assigned to Jesus:1. Long Robe with a Golden Sash - This may refer to the robes that the High Priests wore -see Exodus 28.4- or it may refer to the garments worn by noblemen.
2. White Head and Hair - In Daniel 7.9 we are told that the Ancient of Days will have hair, 'white like wool.'
3. Blazing Eyes - Another image that originates from the book of Daniel, specifically chapter 10, verse 6.
4. Bronze Feet - This image is meant to evoke glory and strength, as Bronze was used for military purposes and in coinage. See Daniel 10.6 and Ezekiel 1.7 for Old Testament illustrations.
5. Powerful Voice - The Prophet Ezekiel referred to God's power and glory as like a 'roar of rushing waters.' See Ezekiel 1.24 and 43.2 for further insight.
6. Stars in his Right Hand - The right hand in scripture is frequently used to show power and authority. Revelation 1.20 shows us that the stars symbolize the local churches.
7. Sword from His Mouth - Isaiah 11.4 points to the truth that the Messiah will have the power of Judgment over his people.
8. Radiant Face - This final image is meant to evoke Moses coming down from Mt. Sinai after meeting with God. The sun is frequently used to describe God in the Old Testament.
We are meant to look at these images and to see the power and glory of Christ. Jesus is the fulfillment of many Old Testament prophesies and images!
13 comments:
Is there any symbolism for why seven churches are referenced? And why those specific seven churches?
Great question Jason! There were other cities of higher importance like Troas and Colosse. In Grant Osborne's Revelation commentary he says, 'These seven cities formed a natural center of communication for the rest of the province, since they were in order of sequence on an inner circular route through the territory.' They were viewed as cities from which the Word would naturally spread throughout the region. Also, these cities were unique in that they all were participating in the Imperial cult, by building temples and shrines to the Emperor.
In Revelations 2:6 it states: But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans which I also hate. What is your understanding of what Nicolaitans means? The only note I found says it has something to do with conquering the laity.
Is it God the Father speaking in Chapter One? Most Bible Commtaries say it was Jesus.
Dan, great question about the Nicolatians. They only appear in 2.6 and again in 2.15. Little is known about this group; even outside of the Bible little information is found about this group. So we have to infer from the context of Chapter 2, and try and arrive at an understanding of them. Irenaeus, who wrote in the late second century, said that they were Christians who were also sensualists. Meaning they claimed to be followers of Christ, set free from the law; and they lived without any restraint. We assume then that they took to an extreme their Christian liberty. This would fit the context of Chapter 2.
The Bible handbook that I have says that the author of Revelations, John, may not be the apostle John. Not that it probably matters much, but what do other sources say?
Jim, thanks for the question. In Chapter 1, we have John writing his introduction to the entire book. We do see God speaking in 1.8. In 1.11 and in 1.17 we have the voice of Jesus speaking to the author John. Does this answer your question?
Jessica, thanks for the question! The author identifies himself as 'John,' which means it could be John the Baptist, John Mark, another person named John, or even someone using the name John! So what do we do? We start by looking at external evidence. So we turn to the early Church Fathers, leaders like Justin-Martyr, Irenaeus and Clement of Alexandria all hold to the author being John -one of the original 12 disciples. We can also look to the similarities that are found b/n the Gospel of John and Revelation. There are many themes that are consistent b/n these two books: Being sent from the Father, God seeking to bring the world to repentance, and many other common terms as well as grammatical similarities. It is based upon these ideas that we can with certainty claim that the author is the elderly disciple John.
With the number seven being Gods symbol of completion or perfection, are there seven churches in order to say that the church has now been brought to a point of completion or fullness? Similar to when Peter asks Jesus, How many times must I forgive and Jesus answers 7x70 ... very completely.
Sue, interesting comment on the number 7.
Certainly the Bible views this as an important number: days of creation, and in Revelation there are 7 stars, spirits, seals, and trumpets!
There are those who look at the 7 local churches as symbols, representing 7 eras in church history.
However I would say that unless there is specific reason given in the text as to the symbolic nature of a specific item, that we would best let the text speak for itself. Which means that the plain and simple reading may be the the right one.
A good example of this principle is found in John 21, where Jesus' disciples haul in 153 fish. Much effort has gone into trying to explain the symbolic nature of the number 153. However since the text doesn't point to this number as representing something else, the plain and simple reading is that this was the exact number of fish caught and nothing else!
I found this insight on why seven churches, from Raystedman.org site, which gives another possibility to the meaning.
"As we come to these letters we must ask ourselves: "Why are there only seven churches, and why these particular seven?" The only satisfactory answer is that these are representative churches. They are carefully selected churches. There were many other churches in the province of Asia at the time John wrote this letter. Others of them could have been selected, but only these seven were chosen. They were not even the best known churches in Asia, but they were chosen by the Lord because they represent conditions that will obtain throughout the whole period of church history from its beginning to its end. In other words, there are only seven types of churches that exist at any one given period of time. Every church that truly knows Jesus as Lord can be recognized as one of these seven at some particular moment of its history. By repentance or disobedience it may change its classification to another of these seven types, but it will always be found to fit somewhere in this seven-fold pattern."
Great stuff!
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