Bible Study Materials

JESUS, LIKE A SON OF MAN

by   03/06/2009  

Question


1. How does John introduce himself? (9a) Why in this way? Where was he and why? (9b) On the Lord’s Day what happened to him? (10) 2. What vision did John see? How was the one John saw described? Think about his robe, chest, head and hair, eyes, feet, voice, right hand, mouth, and face. What is the point of all this description? (12-16) 3. How did John respond to this vision? How did the man in the vision help John? (17)What can we learn more about this person? (18)What did he command John to do? (19) What mystery is mentioned here? (20)


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Message


In first part of Revelation chapter was written the vision of Jesus’ coming with the clouds. This will happen in human history as the climactic glorious event. In today’s passage John saw in the Spirit another glorious thing, the actual appearance of Jesus in heaven. This is the original image of Jesus. Let’s think about the meaning of Jesus’ glorious appearance. First, John on the island of Patmos (9-11). Look at verse 9. “I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus…” After introducing Jesus and his relationship with his people and his coming again with the clouds, John introduces himself. In the gospel of John, he spoke of himself as the one Jesus loved or the disciple whom Jesus loved (Jn 21:7; 13:23). He was always sure of Jesus’ love for him: “Jesus loves me.” Now he identified himself, saying, “your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance…” Of course, this was to encourage the early Christians who were in fiery persecution. They were suffering together for the kingdom of Christ. We are reminded of what Paul said in Acts 14:22, “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” So suffering and kingdom cannot be separated. And the way to bear suffering for the kingdom is through patient endurance (not submissive endurance but conquering endurance). So suffering and kingdom of patient endurance are one set in the Christian companionship. In this companionship John felt that he and his companions were privileged. So he said, “…that are ours in Jesus.” Look at verse 9b. “…was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.” John was banished to the island of Patmos. This was in the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian (A.D. 81-96). Patmos was a small (6x10 miles), rocky island in the Aegean Sea. Apparently the Empire used this island as a prison. It was a Roman Alcatraz (the Rock). He was exiled in this island of Patmos being left all alone. It was none other than the island of desolateness and suffering. And John was in his old age, (about in his late 80s). Humanly speaking, he looked very pitiful. However, he was not there as a criminal. He was there because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. Then the place became the island of God’s vision. Look at verses 10,11. “On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: ‘Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.” The place he stayed was called the cave of apocalypse, and so the book of Revelation came. How beautiful it is to suffer because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus! In our society people more and more tend to reject the Bible. It is likely that they welcome all the books except the Bible. Those who carry, read or talk about the Bible look weird to their eyes. Even Christians seem to be ashamed of reading the Bible in the public, while many others freely and openly read any kind of book. In fact, siding and living on the word of God and testimony of Jesus demands suffering and even isolation. It is true in any generation, may be more in this generation. But we must remember Jesus’ testimony, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (Mk 13:30; Lk 21:33) And 1 Peter 1:24,25 says, “…All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.” Thank God for calling us in this University Bible Fellowship. May we be willing to suffer to study the Bible and teach the word of God and thus build up the ministry of God’s word together in this land. In doing so we will stay in our own island of Patmos, but God will use us preciously as he used John on the island of Patmos. Second, Jesus in glory (12-20). Look at verse 12,13a. “I turned around to see the voice that was speaking tom me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone ‘like a son of man,’…” In the Old Testament a lampstand was in the temple for lamps to be set on and thus to light the temple. Here the seven golden lampstands stand for the seven churches, and someone was among them. It clearly mentioned that someone among the lampstands was “like a son of man.” In Revelation appear many visions of animals. But the vision of someone like a son of man comes first. In the book of Daniel he also wrote about one like a son of man. Daniel 7:13 says, “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven…He was given authority, glory and sovereign power…” In the gospel story Jesus frequently identified himself as the Son of Man. Revelation is not a disjoint book written on a whim, but has a good background of the Old Testament, and is well-connected to it. But in Revelation the person was described in detail. How? It says, “dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.” His robe, chest, head and hair, eyes, feet, voice, hand, mouth and face were depicted. His robe with a sash around his chest reminded us of a priest (Ex 29:5). Also, robes reaching to one’s feet were the dress of princes and kings (1 Samuel 14:4; 24:5). He is Priest and King. His white head and hair symbolizes his holiness and wisdom. It is emphasized “as white as snow”, complete whiteness. No one can taint his holiness, even a dot. Rather his holiness makes us holy. His wisdom is far above all human wisdom and Satan’s as well. Moreover the description of his head and hair is that of God’s. Daniel 7:9 says, “As I looked, ‘thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool.” His blazing fire-like eyes searches hearts and minds of men (Rev 2:23). In our terms it is like X-ray. It penetrates any human hearts and minds, even judging men’s secrets (Ro 2:16). Any evilness and falsity cannot remain undetected. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace. Any metal is melted in a furnace. But his bronze-like feet are not melted but glowing in a furnace. We are reminded of Daniel’s three friends (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego)’ being thrown into a blazing furnace and unharmed. The Babylonian king saw this and was astonished. But what amazed him more was that there were four men walking around in the fire, unburned and unharmed (Da 3:25). All his enemies would be trampled and destroyed under his feet (1 Cor 15:25; Ps 110:1). And his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. So even a great multitude can hear his natural voice. It is like our hearing the sound of thunder regardless of any distance. His voice is clear and flowing and never grows weary for his people. God’s voice is like that. Ezekiel 43:2 says, “I saw the glory of God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like a roar of rushing waters…” In his right hand he held seven stars. Wow! The seven stars stand for the angels or messengers of the seven churches. The seven stars are like a part of his body. We are reminded of John 10:28, “..they (my sheep) shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.” In his right hand is a complete protection and care for his servants and his flock of sheep. And out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His words are living and active piercing the hearts and thoughts of men (Heb 4:12). The truth of his mouth would break the spear and sword of nations and conquer the world. Christ’s kingdom of truth and light will be established on the earth. Finally his face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. What a comparison! His face is like the sun. One’s face can be a representation of the person. Jesus’ face is like the sun shining in all its brilliance. The shining sun-like face is the centre of his body. Like the sun shining in all its brilliance his face itself dispels all the darkness of the world. This is the complete original visible image of Jesus written finally in Revelation. Isaiah described the suffering servant Jesus: “He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of a dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him” (Isa 53:2). This was Jesus’ appearance while he lived on earth. Living in this world, he hid all the unspeakable glory in his manhood so that he could be friendly, approachable and even touchable. We are familiar with the picture of the good shepherd, who carries his lambs close to his heart (Isa 40:11). It was his infinite grace to mortal human beings. When Moses came down from Mount Sinai after speaking with God, his face became radiant. Because of his radiant face the people were afraid of him. So he had to put a veil over his face to speak with them. How much more with Jesus, who is the full glory of God! He had to completely hide his shining glory. He even looked so weary and pathetic. Then evil people mistreated him and finally crucified him and killed. Now we see in Revelation the image of Jesus, resurrected and glorified. This is the image of the Risen Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords, and even more the image as God. Why did Jesus show the image of himself in unportrayable glory to his servant to John and then all others through him? Undoubtedly it was to help his people who were under the fiery persecution to withstand all the dreadful persecutions and stand firm with faith in him. We live in an ungodly world which is invisibly hostile and aggressive toward Jesus’ people. In this living what we need most can be courage and fortitude. This glorious image of Jesus makes us courageous and stand firm. As we studied, his love does not change; it is the same yesterday, today and forever. As well, his glory never changes. His holiness and majesty will be forevermore. The majestic and glorious image of Jesus must be imprinted in our hearts and minds. Before him all his enemies have been shattered be shattered. Before him all the evilness and Satan himself will be completely destroyed. And our Lord Jesus wants us to stand with him undefeatable and glorious. At seeing the overwhelming glorious appearance of Jesus, John fell at his feet as though dead. Then Jesus placed his right hand on John and now Jesus himself spoke to him gently, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.” The LORD said in Isaiah 44:6, “I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.” So “I am the First and the Last,” is nothing other than the description of God. And then he said, “I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!” The glorious Jesus was the very one who was crucified for man’ sins and dead and rose again. John witnessed this Jesus. Jesus said, “…behold I am alive for ever and ever.” In this way Jesus confirmed who he is with his words after showing his glorious outward appearance. Then he said, “And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” We all know the importance of keys. Without a key we cannot use our car. Without a key we cannot enter our home. And only important people have keys to the important buildings. We do not have key to parliament building or Prime Minister’s residence. But a surprising thing is written in Matthew 16:19, “I will give you keys of the kingdom of heaven…” Jesus said this to Simon Peter, when Peter made a confession of Christ: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Those who know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God has the keys of the kingdom of heaven. It is truly amazing. But here Jesus said, “I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Key has two functions, to open and to shut. So the one who holds a key has the power to open and to shut. By holding the keys of death and Hades, Jesus is in control over death and Hades. When Jesus shuts the door, death and Hades become of no use. And those who are locked in will be there forever with no way to come out. Jesus holds the keys of death and Hades through his resurrection. Because Jesus holds the keys of death and Hades, the gates of Hades cannot overcome his church as Jesus promised in Matthew 16:18. (“I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”). Praise Jesus! All mankind must know Jesus’ glory and power. So Jesus said to John, “Write,” though he fell deadened: “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is not and what will take place later.” We thank and praise God for the glorious image of the Risen Christ. May we have this image of our Lord Jesus in our hearts and live as his witnesses to the word of God and testimony of Jesus, staying in our own island of Patmos.


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