Day 2: A New Revelation of Jesus

The first chapters of Revelation are the essential key to approaching the end days. If we understand the picture God presents here to John, we can face the last days without fear.

John says:

“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephsus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.” Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His coun tenance was like the sun shining in its strength. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead.” - Revelation 1:10–17

Of any of the apostles, John likely had the most intimate relationship with Jesus while He was on earth. But at this point, John receives a totally new revelation of Jesus—a revelation so overpowering that he fell at His feet like a dead man. John encountered Jesus as Judge. Jesus is not only Savior, but He is also Judge. He is the Judge of all men. He will judge the church and later on He will judge all the rest of the dead.

Sharing His victory

This spectacle of Jesus was so overwhelming that John became like a dead man. [Jesus] laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.” Revelation 1:17–18

Here Jesus is presented not merely as the Judge, but as the total victor over all forms of evil: sin, death, Satan, Hades. He emerges totally victorious; there is nothing missing in His victory. Remember, Jesus did not go through death and resurrection for His own sake—He has always been victorious. Rather, He identified Himself with us that He might take our place and bring us into His victory.

We too, like John, need to live from this revelation. So let’s pray.