Christ In His Greatness And His Servant John – Revelation 1
Feature 2 – February 2025 – Grace & Truth Magazine
Christ In His Greatness And His Servant John – Revelation 1
The last book in our wonderful Bible begins, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave Him to show His servants” (Rev. 1:1 nkjv). All that is revealed about Jesus Christ in the Word of God is great and worth considering. Note that small term “of” in the verse. What we have is not a revelation “by” but a revelation “of;” only He who is divine, God Himself, could give it. Here, in Revelation 1, the Lord Jesus Christ is presented primarily in His judicial glory as the Son of Man (v.13).
We read in Scripture that God gave the Son a number of things. Consider the list given in John 17 as the Lord spoke to His Father: “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me … The words which You have given Me … Those whom You gave Me … The glory which you gave Me” (vv.6,8,12,22). Later in the New Testament we read: “Here am I and the children whom God has given Me” (Heb. 2:13), and “God … raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory” (1 Pet. 1:21).
In the book of Daniel, written many years before the Lord Jesus came as Man, it is written: “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 the one which shall not be destroyed” (7:14). This kingdom, with dominion and glory, was given to the Son of Man.
In Revelation, John saw the Lord Jesus Christ in a way that he had never seen Him before. While John was with Him walking as a disciple, before the Lord Jesus gave His life on the cross, John leaned on His bosom and was seen “leaning back on Jesus’ breast” (Jn. 13:23,25). Now the apostle fell “at His feet as dead,” but the Lord laid His right hand on him and said, “Do not be afraid” (Rev. 1:17).
Who is this One who spoke such words of comfort? What do we see as to His glories? Let’s consider together some of what is revealed to us in Revelation 1.
The Faithful Witness. In verse 5 we see that the Lord Jesus is “the faithful Witness.” There were many witnesses, but He stands alone as the faithful witness while here on the earth. “I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great assembly” (Ps. 40:10). “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world” (Jn. 17:6). “I have declared to them Your name” (v.26). “I have given them Your word” (v.14). The Lord Jesus is “the Faithful and True Witness” (Rev. 3:14).
The Firstborn From The Dead. Revelation 1:5 also tells us that the Lord is “the firstborn from the dead.” He said, “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen” (v.18). He is first in rank of all those who will rise from the dead. Also, He is the “firstfruits” of the resurrection (1 Cor. 15:20): the first to be raised from death with a glorified body, incorruptible and eternal. He is the preeminent One: “The firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence” (Col. 1:18).
Ruler Over The Kings Of The Earth. He is called “the ruler over the kings of the earth” (Rev. 1:5). “I will make Him My firstborn. The highest of the kings of the earth” (Ps. 89:27). He is “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Rev. 19:16). The Lord Jesus was born King (Mt. 2:2). When He was here, the cry of the people was, “We will not have this Man reign over us” (Lk. 19:14). But, God has decreed, “He must reign” (1 Cor. 15:25). “He shall have dominion also from sea to sea … all kings shall fall down before Him; all nations shall serve Him” (Ps. 72:8,11). “To Him be glory and dominion forever and ever” (Rev. 1:6).
The Alpha And Omega. It was also revealed that the Lord is “the Alpha and Omega” (Rev. 1:8). Alpha is the first letter and Omega is the last letter in the Greek alphabet. Similarly, He said, “I am the First and the Last.” Four times in Revelation the Lord Jesus is called “the First and the Last” (Rev. 1:11,17, 2:8, 22:13) We see a similar statement given three times in Isaiah (41:4, 44:6, 48:12). As the First and the Last, He is the One “who is and who was and who is to come,” a point also found four times in Revelation (1:4,8, 4:8, 11:17). He is God before all and above all, and He will close all things for the pleasure of God.
The Ancient Of Days. John saw the Lord as the Ancient of Days (compare Dan. 7:9; Rev. 1:13-14). This title belongs to God, and we are reminded that the Lord Jesus is both God and Man. John recorded: “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet … Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength” (Rev. 1:10,12-16).
His Garment. The garment here in Revelation 1:12 is a priestly garment. In the Old Testament the priest had the responsibility to examine, discern and judge (consider Lev. 13). Here the Lord Jesus is seen in His judicial glory. He was girded about the chest. This suggests that, in judging, His affections are restrained. A picture of this could be in the way Joseph treated his brethren before he said to them, “‘I am Joseph …’ But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence. And Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Please come near to me.’ So they came near. Then he said, ‘I am Joseph’” (Gen. 45:3-4). Joseph’s affection, though present, was restrained until they were brought to the point of confession (Gen. 44).
His Head. In Revelation 1:14 His head speaks of wisdom and knowledge. He has perfect knowledge of what takes place, and He has the knowledge to judge all things in perfection for the glory of God (consider 1 Jn. 3:20).
His Hair. The mention of His hair being “white like wool” (Rev. 1:14) speaks of His absolute purity. He “committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth” (1 Pet. 2:22). “He is pure … in Him there is no sin” (1 Jn. 3:3,5). White hair also designates eternal quality as “Ancient of Days” (Dan. 7:9).
His Eyes. As we consider His eyes in Revelation 1:14, we are reminded that nothing is able to escape His sight. He sees everything; nothing can be hid from Him. “A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters all evil with his eyes” (Prov. 20:8).
His Feet. In Revelation 1:15 the mention of His feet speaks of His perfect walk. His holy footsteps brought glory to God at all times. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners” (Ps. 1:1). The Lord Jesus was that Man. We are challenged “to walk just as He walked” (1 Jn. 2:6).
His Voice. We also read of His voice in Revelation 1:15. It is not here a still small voice (1 Ki. 19:12) but as “many waters.” No one can fail to hear such a voice. “The voice of the LORD is over the waters … The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars … The voice of the LORD divides the flames of fire. The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness” (Ps. 29:3-5,7-8).
His Mouth. Out of His mouth is a sharp two-edged sword (Rev. 1:16). “The word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb. 4:12). In Ephesians we read: “The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (6:17). The Lord Jesus handled the word of God in a way no one else could. He had the right word for the right person or persons at the right time.
Making It Personal
Think again of what He said to John: “Do not be afraid” (Rev. 1:17). This must have been comforting to John at a time when he needed such encouragement, having been exiled on the island of Patmos. The Lord knew how to encourage His servant. He not only spoke to him, but He placed His right hand on him and revealed His glory.
Even now He is able, and He delights to strengthen, support and sustain all of His servants. May we labor on for Him with courage, blessed in the knowledge of what God has revealed to us about His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
By Paul Palmer