Revelation Chapter1: Apostle John, being shifted to the time of 2nd advent of Jesus miraculously

[Bible believer]

* Intro

Now, we start this time machine journey toward the endtime of world. The guider of this journey is two guiders, first is apostle John and another is supposed to be Daniel.

In this article, we'll search from Rev. 1:9  to 1:16. We'll see here the figure of Jesus on the heavenly place, and he has quite different appearance compared to the form of him on the earth. He looks like so fearful warrior and military commander. It's because this paragraph is about the 2nd coming of him. So, John was frightened when he was faced with Jesus here and he was almost changed as a dead man. It's quite similar reaction when Daniel saw the heavenly being(this heavenly man is also Jesus before his incarnation), Daniel was also became almost breathless.

We must understand this truth.

If you pray to the Lord that you want to look the appearance of Jesus visually now, you need to know that it's God's mercy that he refuse that foolish request. If he accept and show you his face to you, then you'll enter into same situation as apostle John of Rev.1:17. 

God protect us with holy Spirit and we can not see the Spirit, but we feel and know that he's always inside our body and protecting us from all evil spirits. The face to face meeting with Jesus(1 Corinthians 13:12) is actually postponed until our vile body will be changed and raptured.(1 Corinthians 15:52)

So, let's study of the glorious appearance of Jesus, and praise the Lord because we will meet hime with no fear, with no breathlessness. Our earthly bodies will be changed as his glorious body when we'll see him. At that moment, we'll feel no fear when we'll see him.

9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

11 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.

12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. 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.

14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

Verse 9, John is introducing himself as a "brother", and "companion" of you, of course, the doctrinal reader of Revelation is saints of the Great Tribulation. But, now, the "tribulation" is just generally used as "common tribulations", it's not that specific "Great Tribulation". Verse 9 says that we(Christians) need to know that Revelation is also given to us, Christians also. There are enormous teachings for Christians in Revelation. We can find out the "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT" is indicating the Vatican and Roman Catholic system. We can cite this kind of verse(Rev. 17:5)and advise to any Catholic believe to get out of that dirty place, because Catholic system is called as MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH in the Revelation.

John was persecuted because of kingdom of Jesus, he believed that this kingdom will shortly be realized and Jesus will become the king of the earth. At that period, so-called Millennium period, all the nations and all the people of the earth will have to worship and kiss to the feet of Jesus. John believed that kingdom, so he fearlessly preached gospel to the most devilish tyrant, emperor Domitian.

Verse 10, we must focuse on what is this expression‎, "in the Spirit". What is this? We, Christians are 24 hours in the Holy Spirit, because the Spirit made our body as his everlasting temple and he will stay here forever. But, John said that he was in the Spirit on the Lord's day. This is expression‎ of very unusual situation. This is the miraculous translation from past to the future. Oh, it's time machine by Holy Spirit.

One of the ridiculous commentaries of this verse is that "the Lord's day" means just "Sunday". They say that a certain Sunday, apostle John received heavenly prophecy. No, absolutely it's not so. You can not find at any verse of New Testament that "Sunday" is actually "the Lord's day". There is no such comment in Bible. The reason we Christians select "Sunday" as the day of worship for all congregation, it's long Biblical tradition. We know that Christ was raised from the dead at Sunday dawn, and first generation church also gathered and worshiped Jesus on every Sunday. It's the reason we select Sunday as day of worship.  

So, "the Lord's day" here is not ordinary one of common days. It is "the Lord's day" that many prophets propheciesed about it. This day is related to the 2nd coming of Messiah. This day will start with the "rapture of church" and will be ended with everlasting dominion of King Jesus.

John heard a great voice, and we also will hear great voice from heaven and that will be like a great trump(1 Corinthians 15:52). So, this verse is one of an antitype of Christian rapture. More clear antitype of church rapture is written in Rev. 4:1.

11 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.

The addressee of Revelation is identified and they are written as seven churches in Asia. These churches really existed in John's period at Asia Minor. But we can not find which local churches of those wide regions were exact addressee of Revelation, Moreover, the real pastors of those churches are not commented in Revelation. They are just seven churches, it's a little mysterious.

So, the more important knowledge we must figure out from seven churches is this. If we look around and analyse all the churches of the earth nowadays, we can find out from them these 7 types of churches. Some churches are similar as Philadelphia, and others are like as Laodicea, etc. 

Of course, these 7 churches historically represent the 7 periods of all church history(A.D.33 - A.D.2013). If we study the church history according to 7 church's symbolic system in Revelation, we will reach the clear conclusion that our period is almost "the end of Laodicea".

12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. 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.

Verse 12, so now, John is looking for Jesus of glorious body, and John is frightened because he is not ready to meet hime face to face. So, the rapture antitype in Rev. 1:10 and 1:12 is not arranged with time order.

John saw seven golden candlesticks and these candlesticks had been actually placed in tabernacle of Moses. 7 churches are representing not only the New Testament church, including but Hebrew Old Testament church, and Great Tribulation church. It's the reason that Rev. Chapter 2-3, in here, we also may find out many Tribulation doctrines. The most noticeable feature of Tribulation doctrine would be "salvation by good deeds". You can clearly find out what are those good deeds necessary to Tribulation saints, those are written in Hebrews, James and other epistle General. If you study those books carefully, you may realize that.

These candlesticks are stood before Jesus Christ, and Christ is now in heaven, so we should remember another verse.

Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.(Matthew 18:10)

Most scholars says that "their angels" in this verse means guardian angel of children, but this verse is not describing guardian angel of children. Because "their angels" were not on the earth with children, but those angels were in the heaven. So, "their angels" are "their(children) celestial image projected to heaven". Very young childrens don't know sin and law, and before they realize they are sinners, children are free from sin and the law. Anyway, also the spirit of Christian is sit in heaven(Ephesians 2:6).

Nowadays, on the earth, local churches exist here, and their heavenly images are appeared as candlesticks in the heaven.

Jesus is like a Son of man, but here, not look like a common "son of man", because his appearance is different from ordinary appearance. After his resurrection, Jesus looked similar as common man, but he showed many supernatural miracles with his body. so to speak, he appeared suddenly, and disappeared suddenly like "Teleport" of Star Trek series. He passed through closed door and wall. But he ate fishes and honeycomb as a man. But he looked like a common man. But in Revelation, his appearance is not same as before, and something special happened to him here.

So, I interpret this scene is describing the preparation of his 2nd coming to the earth, so he looks like a miliatry commander(Rev. 19:12) or man of war(Exodus 15:3).

14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

Verse 14, You'll surprise that why Jesus has white hairs, he will not be old any more, but this verse says that he has pure white hair as very old man. Do you understand why?....Of course, this verse is not symbolical verse, he'll truely be changed to this appearance before he'll come to the earth as the "lawgiver"(Genesis 49:10, Isaiah 33:22, James 4:12).

Do you see from historical documentaries or dramas describing the 18-19th centuries, the "lawgivers" or "judges" are wearing a wig. Their white wigs seems to be foolish thing to modern people but those white wigs of the "judges" were strong symbol of authority at that time. And, the origin of that tradition is actually from Revelation. Judges tried to imitate the power and authority of original "lawgiver" Jesus.

And, also, his eyes are "as a flame of fire". If you stare your frineds or family like this way, they'll soon say to you, "Don't look at me like that, what's wrong with you and me?"

Yes, Jesus is displeasant to something, what is that? That's the people below the earth, they stimulate God with all their blasphemes in seven years of Tribulation. And finally Jesus is so mad he could spit nails at this moment verse 14.  In English idiomatic expression‎, "have fire in one's eye" is actually originated from verse 14.

15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

I've not seen what color is the fine brass in a furnace, but it seems to be so brght that all the army of Antichrist in Armageddon would be blind men just after they'll see the feet of Christ. Imagin the scene of flaming fire out of volcano or the fire of steel mill.

And, his voice is like many waters. Waters are sometimes represent the rage of God, roaring sea represent the rage of God. We can find it from the Book of Jonah. And, this voice is like the voice of the supreme commander's dignified command. He needs no "loudspeaker" to order his "heavenly army(we and Tribulation saints)". He can order hundreds of millions of soldiers simply with his voice.

16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

 Verse 16, he has seven stars in his right hand, what is this expression‎? I said seven churches are basically the churches of 2000 years(body of Christ), and Hebrew church, and Tribulation church. So, all those churches are controled by Jesus, so God gave authority to rule the churches to the Son, Jesus.

Do you remember about the verse describing "sharp twoedged sword"?  It's Hebrews 4:12, and there is this "twoedged sword". The word of God is "twoedged sword", because this sword is a surgeon(the Spirit)'s knife to save a sinner, or this sword may be used as a war weapon to destroy the enemy of God. So, the word of God has double-sideness.

And, the countenance is like as the sun shineth in his strength. Some verses describes 2nd coming of Jesus as a shining sun. For example, Psalms 19:5, Malachi 4:2.

So, now you realize that all these expressions of the appearance of Jesus are related to his 2nd coming. Yes, let's get rid of old prejudeces and study Revelation following the Spirit only, then we'll find out many hidden treasures.

    

[Bible believer]

아니오. 저는 목회자 아니고요...송목사님도 아닙니다. 미국에서 제 글을 읽는 성도가 있어서 영어로도 올리고 있습니다. 물론 한글로도 글 올립니다.