It was my privilege to celebrate the resurrection at Kenwood Baptist Church today from Revelation 1:9-20, John’s Vision of the Risen Christ.
The audio is up here: Revelation 1:9–20, Jesus Christ Risen and Glorious.
In a bulletin insert there were three charts that might be helpful in studying this passage:
I think I failed to mention this in my sermon, but it seems that John’s description of Jesus in Revelation 1 was profoundly influenced by the way that Jesus describes himself at the opening of each of the seven letters to the churches in Revelation 2-3. In other words, John experienced Jesus describe himself in the seven letters, then he used Jesus’ own self-descriptions to describe Jesus in Revelation 1:9-20. This first chart aligns the descriptions of Jesus in Revelation 1 with Jesus’ descriptions of himself in the opening of the seven letters.
Revelation 1 and the Salutations of the Seven Letters
| Revelation 1 | Description of Jesus | Revelation 2–3 |
| 1:13, 1:16, 20 | Among the lampstands, holding seven stars | 2:1 |
| 1:17–18 | First and last, died and came to life | 2:8 |
| 1:16 | Two edged sword from the mouth | 2:12 (cf. 2:16) |
| 1:14–15 | Eyes of flame, feet like burnished bronze | 2:18 |
| 1:4, 16, 20 | Seven spirits, seven stars | 3:1 |
| 1:18 | Holder of the key | 3:7 |
| 1:5, 17 | Faithful and true witness, beginning | 3:14 |
These next two charts compare Revelation 1 to Daniel 10. The events that happen to Daniel in Daniel 10 are paralleled by the events that happen to John in Revelation 1:9-20.
The Sequence of Events in Daniel 10 and Revelation 1
Daniel 10 | Event | Revelation 1 |
10:5a | Seer looks | 1:12a |
10:5b–6 | Description of: “a man” in Daniel, “one like a son of man” in Revelation | 1:13–16 |
10:8–9 (cf. similar language in Gen 2:21; 15:12; 1 Sam 26:12; Dan 8:18) | Seer undone: Daniel—no strength, deep sleep John—fell . . . as though dead | 1:17a |
10:10–14 10:15–21 note 10:16, “one in the likeness of the children of man” | The one revealed touches the seer and explains the vision | 1:17–20 |
In addition, the description of the angel in Daniel 10 is similar to the description of Jesus in Revelation 1:9-20. I think this is because the angel in Daniel 10 reflects the glory of the one who is both high priest and high king of heaven.
The Descriptions of the Ones Revealed in Daniel 10 and Revelation 1
Daniel 10 | Revelation 1 |
| 10:5, “clothed in linen, with a belt of gold” | 1:13, “clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest” |
| [7:9, “the hair of his head like pure wool”] | 1:14a, “hairs of his head were white like wool” |
| 10:6c, “his eyes like flaming torches” | 1:14b, “His eyes were like a flame of fire” (description also found in 2:18) |
| 10:6d, “his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze” | 1:15a, “his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace” (description also found in 2:18) |
| 10:6e, “and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude” | 1:15b, “and his voice was like the roar of many waters” |
| 10:6b, “his face like the appearance of lightning” | 1:16c, “and his face was like the sun shining in full strength” |
Thanks for the charts. You can take the man out of DTS…:)
I think that so many have moved away from Revelation because they don’t want to take part in the eschatology discussion. What a huge mistake! Could there be a book that more vividly displays the glory of the risen Lord?! Thank you for “unveiling” such a beautiful picture once again.
Congrats on your installation. You are a fine preacher, a fine man of God, and I am privileged to have been so influenced by God through you. Please keep the passion!