On the Lord’s Day

I, John … was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches…

Rev 1:9-11a

John tells us that all this happened to him one Sunday morning when he was on the island of Patmos, a tiny island just off the coast of Turkey in the Aegean Sea. John was banished to this island because of his testimony about Jesus. But one Sunday morning (that is what is meant by the Lord's Day, for the early Christians met not on Saturday as the Jews did, but on Sunday, the first day of the week, the day of resurrection), John was in the Spirit. That means he was worshipping. It does not mean he was in a state of high ecstasy. He was honoring God, thinking about him, paying tribute to his majesty, his greatness and his power — worshipping God.

John heard a voice behind him like a great trumpet blasting out. The voice told him to write on a scroll what he was about to see and send it to the seven churches. John turned around to see who it was that sounded so powerful, and what he saw was the Lord standing among seven golden lampstands, holding seven stars in his hand. He was dressed in priestly garments, revealing his role as the Great High Priest.

This vision is given to help us see that our High Priest is still ministering among his churches. His ministry is characterized by what is revealed here. He had on a long robe reaching down to his feet with a golden sash about his chest. Gold speaks of deity in Scripture, so it indicates that Jesus is a priest who is himself God. His head and his hair were white. These symbols speak of his wisdom and of purity. His eyes were like blazing fire, from which nothing could be hid. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace and his voice like the sound of rushing waters. His face was like the sun shining in its strength. Fire speaks of judgment and his face was lighted with unbearable brilliance, symbolizing the intensity of truth.

The voice John heard was like the sound of the surf as it dashes on the rocks, the sound of many waters, a great roaring voice. The two-edged sword is clearly a symbol of the Word of God. These symbols tell us what he will be doing in this book. He is the Great High Priest ministering to his own in a scene of desolation and judgment, yet he is in charge of all the events and, in the midst of everything, is revealing truth by the Word of God.

Jesus, you are my great High Priest, and I thank you that you are still ministering among the churches. Amen.