Revelation 1

What’s Happening?

The book of Revelation was written to encourage suffering Christians with visions that reveal the enthroned Jesus who rules over their persecutors and death itself. When the apostle John wrote this letter, he was exiled by the Roman Empire to Patmos, an island reserved for criminals and prisoners. From here, John writes to his fellow believers who, like him, are suffering for following Jesus (Revelation 1:1-2, 9). And John is writing to a group of seven churches who are struggling to see any hope beyond their persecution (Revelation 1:4). His letter’s opening greeting reminds his readers that Jesus suffered and even died like many of them. But because Jesus faithfully suffered to save his people, he was raised from the dead and now sits on a throne as King above all the powers that persecute them (Revelation 1:4-5). John adds that Jesus' life and death aren’t just events that happened in the past, but a picture of what will soon take place in their lives. If they are faithful to suffer like Jesus, they will be raised to rule with Jesus too (Revelation 1:6-8).

John goes on to say that Jesus isn’t just a powerful king, but a gentle priest. He shares a vision God gave him (Revelation 1:9-11). In his vision John sees seven giant golden lampstands, like the kind used in the temple, spread out across the night sky. Jesus is standing in the middle of them, dressed like a priest, with seven stars resting in his hand (Exodus 25:31-40; Revelation 1:12-16). John explains that the lampstands represent the seven churches he is writing to, and the stars represent the leaders of those churches (Revelation 1:19-20). While it might not look like it in their suffering, these churches actually reign over their persecutors like stars rule the night sky. And just as a human priest keeps the light of the lamp burning in the temple, Jesus is in heaven gently caring for his churches as they flicker in their suffering. The leaders of these churches are not abandoned by God, but resting in his hand (Revelation 1:17-18). Jesus is their cosmic King and Priest who is with them in their suffering. And he is using all his power to raise them up to rule with him, even if they die.

Where is the Gospel?

John is writing to people whose suffering has clouded their vision. To them, the victory of their persecutors over their lives seemed inevitable. But John’s vision of Jesus cuts through the fog to reveal what happened to Jesus after his death. He was raised to life. He is now the eternal King and Priest of the cosmos who bends all his power to raise his people to a throne next to his.

In the Old Testament, priests also dealt with sacrifices. They would take a dead animal and raise it up onto God’s altar. As it burned, the smoke of the sacrifice would rise into the sky and enter God’s throne room (Psalm 141:1-2). In this vision, Jesus is doing the same. Jesus is ensuring that no suffering or sacrifice for his sake is wasted or forgotten. As a priest, he stands ready to prepare and raise his people into God’s presence to rule next to him. 

Crucially, at the beginning of a letter written to suffering Christians, John shows us that our suffering never means God is out of control or powerless to save. Our suffering is never overlooked or forgotten because something bigger is happening. Our lives, sacrifices, and suffering are being tended by our Almighty King-Priest Jesus. Right now, he holds our life in his hands, like a tender lamb or a flickering flame. Jesus is bringing our suffering and sacrifice to God, and he is praying for our endurance through suffering, and empowering us to suffer with him, so that we rise from the dead to reign with him (Romans 8:34). 

See for Yourself

I pray that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes to see the God who died and rose again. And may you see Jesus as our Eternal King and Gentle Priest who is raising us up, even in our suffering.