Revelation 1:11-13; Heavenly Vision

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Revelation 1:11-12 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. 12 And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

The book of Revelation gives to us the most comprehensive account of God’s coming future judgment upon mankind for their rebellion against their Creator God. This judgment comes in the wake of severe persecution that would come upon all who stand for “the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.” (Rev. 1:9).

This book, written by the Apostle John from the prison cell in the island of Patmos in Greece during A.D. 90., will close the entire canon of God’s revelation. [1]

The Romans persecuted the Christians who acknowledged not Caesar but Jesus Christ as Lord; Romans officials considered John an instigator of the Christian religion. Tradition says that after Domitian’s death, his successor Nerva released John and permitted him to return to Ephesus.[2]

There is a rescue mission for salvation of souls of men and women through Jesus Christ who has the solution over man’s greatest problem of death and judgment in hell for He alone “holds the keys of hell and of death” (Rev. 1:18b).

Jesus declared in Revelation 1:18 “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”

Jesus conquered death by His resurrection from the dead on the third day and was seen of above 500 witnesses for 40 days before He ascended to heaven at the right hand of the Father’s throne.

There is an urgency to disseminate this message for the time is at hand. The message is from Jesus Christ whom John fellowshipped for 3 ½ years during Jesus’s earthly ministry.

Jesus is (1) the faithful witness (2) first begotten of the dead and (3) the prince of the kings of the earth. He is true to what He says and He was the first to rise from the dead, overcome sin and death by His resurrection and He is King of kings and Lord of lords who will soon come to reign upon earth for 1000 years. Man’s rule is swiftly coming to an end. When fallen men ruled for the past 6000 years, there had been much grief and misery for their fellow men.

This is He, Jesus, whom we see in glory, at the throne of God in this heavenly vision. Jesus has a good word for His church awaiting the rapture. May we be all ears to hear what the Spirit has to say. Amen.

[1]Patmos is a rocky, volcanic isle to which the Roman government in the first and second centuries banished exiles. During the end of Emperor Domitian’s reign (81–96), John was sent to this island, in his own words because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

[2]Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 20: Exposition of the Book of Revelation. New Testament Commentary (91). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.