A Voice Like a Trumpet

Before you start todays devotional, ask the Lord to use it to grow you up in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

When the Lord Jesus descends from heaven to remove His church from the earth, He will come with a shout—a shout so distinctive it will sound like a war trumpet.

When John saw the Lord Jesus, he fainted at His feet as if dead. He hardly had words to describe the glorified Jesus Christ:

“He was like the Son of Man wearing a long robe with a golden sash around his chest. His hair was snow white and His eyes were like flames. His feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the roar of raging waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and His face was like the sun shining in full strength.”

The Lord Jesus Christ pictured here is our Great High Priest (see Exodus 28:2-4). His white robe represents His pure righteousness. In Him is no sin, and He knew no sin. The gold sash around His chest speaks of strength, the one who now judges us in truth.

As our Great High Priest, Jesus does three things today.

1. He intercedes for us at heaven’s altar (see Hebrews 7:25).
2. He intervenes for us. He is on our side, our advocate who defends us when Satan accuses us (12:10).
3. He inspects us. He walks the lampstands, examining them. He trims the wicks and pours in the oil (the Holy Spirit). Sometimes He uses a snuffer, setting aside those who do not produce light.

Jesus Christ’s appearance to John, with white hair and eyes of fire, speaks of His total knowledge of the life of the church. He knows all about us—for good and for bad.

His feet “like fine brass” represents His judgment. He doesn’t ignore what He sees or shut His eyes to sin in the church. His constant charge to His own is repent—”turn around or I will remove your lampstand” (2:5). The church through the ages has always squirmed under this indictment because we’ve lost sight of the righteous Christ.

Jesus explains, “As for the mystery of the seven stars and the seven lampstands …” (see v. 20). A mystery in Scripture means a sacred secret, that which has not been revealed before. Whenever John uses symbols, he helps us understand what they mean. Otherwise, he is not using symbolic language but talks about literal things.

Now, what is that in Jesus’ right hand? “Seven stars” means He controls this universe. These stars are messengers, or angels, and the lampstands are the seven churches of Asia, as we will study.

“Out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword” representing His Word (see also Hebrews 4:12), by which Jesus judges today. And “His [face] was like the sun shining in [full] strength” (v. 16). Ever try to look at the sun? Do you think you will be able to look at the Creator who made the sun, the One who is the glorified Christ? This is how wonderful He is!

We won’t approach Jesus in a familiar way; He’s not our buddy. He’s the glorified Christ. But He says to John, “Do not be afraid” (v. 17), and then gives four reasons why we shouldn’t fear.

1. “I am the First and the Last” (v. 17).
2. “I am He who lives, and was dead” (v. 18), speaking of His redemptive death and resurrection.
3. “I am alive forevermore” (v. 18). He’s alive today, not only judging, but also interceding for us.
4. “I have the keys of Hades and of Death” (v. 18). Now, because of His own death and resurrection, Jesus has all authority over death and the grave.

With this amazing revelation of the glorious Christ, we’ll now explore what it all means.

Next: Remember what it was like when you first came to Jesus?

1. Why do you think John fainted at the sight of Jesus?

2. What does it mean that Jesus intercedes and intervenes for us?

3. How could the idea of Jesus being the First and the Last bring hope and peace to us in our everyday struggles?

Additional Resources

Listen to Dr. J Vernon McGee's complete teaching on Revelation 1:17-20 and Revelation 1:10-17.