Revelation: What Do We Learn About Christ? | April 15, 2023

What I love most about these images in Scripture prophecy, these windows we get to peer into, are the words of Jesus Christ, especially the ones that are so kind and gracious to us like, “Don’t be afraid.” He says it here in Revelation and also to his disciples at the transfiguration (Matthew 17:7), when He walks on water (Matthew 14:27), and after the resurrection (Matthew 28:10). His character never changes. His love for us never does either.

In the following verses, we learn some other important things about Christ:

Revelation 1:8, 12-18 ESV

⁸ “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

¹² Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, ¹³ and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. ¹⁴ The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, ¹⁵ his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. ¹⁶ In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

¹⁷ When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, ¹⁸ and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 

*****

I might also “fall as though dead” if I saw what John saw! Keep in mind, he wasn’t the only one to see Jesus this way. Daniel did, too:

Daniel 7:13-14 ESV

¹³ “I saw in the night visions,

and behold, with the clouds of heaven
    there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
    and was presented before him.
¹⁴ And 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 one
    that shall not be destroyed.

 *****

The following 2 verses give us insight into other descriptions and words spoken in the  Revelation passage above:

 Exodus 28:4 ESV

These are the garments that they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a coat of checker work, a turban, and a sash. They shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons to serve me as priests.

Exodus 3:14-15 ESV

¹⁴ God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” ¹⁵ God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.

1. He is the Son of Man.
2. He is our High Priest offering his life as the final sacrifice for our salvation.
3. He is the First and Last, the Alpha and Omega, the Living One, alive forever.
4. He is God, the great I AM.

Lord thank You for Your words, “Don’t be afraid!” As we go through Revelation and think about the end times, many of the images may seem frightening to us. But You are the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3) and as believers, your Holy Spirit resides in us as our Comforter and Strengthener (John 14:16 AMP).