When you think of the book of Revelation, what images come to mind? The four horsemen? Human-eating dragons? The number 666? People read the book of Revelation—with all its dragons and beasts and bowls—and imagine it as this delusional fantasy-world.
But Revelation is actually the most accurate description of the world you’ll see—when you see it with spiritual eyes. “Revelation” means “unveiling,” and the book shows us Jesus pulling back the curtain to unveil the truth about world … and about himself. Through Revelation, we see that the powers and forces of our current world are, in fact, an illusion.
John witnesses the unveiling of Jesus at a time when he needs it most. All of the Apostles have been martyred, except for John, and he’s been exiled to the isle of Patmos. It’s a particularly dangerous time for Christians, as Roman and Jewish leaders have made Christianity illegal almost everywhere, and Christians are being hunted down like dogs and fed to the lions. The movement is still growing, but it seems like the bad guys are winning. I can think of many parallels around the world today.
It is into this time of uncertainty and violence that Jesus appears to John. In a dingy prison cell, John gets a revelation of how God sees the world and a forecast of what he plans to do in the world.
After John describes Jesus in all his glory, with eyes “like a flame of fire” and his face “like the sun shining in full strength,” he says, “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead” (Revelation 1:17 ESV).
Keep in mind, Jesus had been John’s BFF on Earth. In fact, in his Gospel, John had rather confidently described himself as “the one that Jesus loved.” (I’ve always thought that took a lot of nerve to put in print. Imagine changing your email signature to “Sam, Jesus’ Favorite.”) At the last supper, John says he leaned his head back on Jesus’ chest (John 13:23). I have some close guy friends, but I don’t have many with whom I feel close enough to cuddle with over dinner (and by “not many” I mean “not any”).
Suffice it to say, Jesus and John were close. This is the first time they are seeing each other in almost 60 years. So, what does this reunion entail? A high five? A slap on the back?
John falls at Jesus’ feet as though he were dead. And that’s not a figure of speech—in the presence of God’s glory and power, he literally thought he was going to die.
People have this image of Jesus as a sad, jobless guy with tears in his eyes who wore a robe and talked a lot about his feelings. First of all, that’s not even true of his time on Earth. Second, Revelation shows us a different picture of Jesus altogether. He’s not a man of sorrows with tears in his eyes; he sounds rather like a guy you’d never want to meet in a back alley. He’s got steel-toed shoes and crazy hair and eyes, and he’s looking for a fight.
Is this a different Jesus than the one John knew? Of course not.
Truth be told, Jesus has always had this power, but throughout his ministry on Earth it had been veiled. That power was always there; you just couldn’t see it. But now John sees it unveiled in all its strength.
So why is Jesus appearing this way to John? Why not appear as John knew him on Earth? Jesus reveals his power and glory to John because John and the church are about to go through a time of intense persecution and suffering.
And when you go through intense persecution, you don’t need a sentimental Jesus who simply makes you feel warm at night; you need to see Jesus as he really is.
Jesus goes on to say, “I am … the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades” (Revelation 1:18).
Jesus is telling John that not only is he immensely powerful; he died for John—he died for you—so you would never have to face death. He used his greatest power to save you, and now he is using that same power to perfect his purposes in you.
He said to John, “I have the keys to all that could ever threaten you. What are you afraid of? Sure, you’re in a dank prison cell, facing persecution and death by the Romans. But do you really think Caesar is winning?”
And he says to you, “Do you think I don’t know you need a job? That you’re worried about your marriage? Look at me! Look at my power! Look at my control! Look at my love! Why do you doubt?”
That powerful hand sitting on John’s shoulder, which calmed storms and created matter from nothing, is nail-scarred for John’s sin—and your sin, too.
Do you need to see Jesus this way today?
When you go through suffering or persecution, whether it’s caused by the beast of Revelation or the mockery of your friends or a lost job, you need to see this Jesus.
John opens up the book of Revelation saying, “There he is! He’s standing at the end of history, the first and the last, the defeater of death, and he wins!”
You may be going through what seems like a dark episode in your life. You feel banished in exile on some forgotten island.
But lift your eyes, because Jesus stands there above it all and in control of it all.
Behold him there, the Risen Lamb, my perfect, spotless righteousness! The great unchangeable I AM, the King of glory and of grace.
For more, be sure to listen to the entire message here.
