The book of Revelation opens with the apostle John in exile on the island of Patmos. He's alone, aging, and far from everything familiar. And then he hears a voice behind him, "like a trumpet," telling him to write down what he is about to see.
John turns around. What he describes next is the picture of Jesus in Revelation 1 (verses 12-16), one of the most vivid portraits of Him in all of Scripture. Not the Jesus of the manger, and not the Jesus of the cross. This is Jesus glorified, reigning, and unlike anything John had seen before, even after three years of walking beside Him.
This post walks through "The Alpha & Omega," the first message in our series The King Is Coming, a journey through the book of Revelation.
If you only have a minute:
- Revelation is a victory story. It is from Jesus and about Jesus, written to give hope.
- Eight images show who Jesus is. Priest, God, Judge, and the Light of Life.
- Do not be afraid. He is the First and the Last, alive forever, and He holds the keys of death.
- He is coming back. Every eye will see Him (Revelation 1:7).
Why Revelation Is a Victory Story, Not a Riddle
Winston Churchill once described Russia as "a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma." That's how a lot of people feel about Revelation. We know the Gospels and Paul's letters, but Revelation is like the attic. We only go there when we have to, and we don't stay long.
But Revelation isn't a scary book of riddles. It's a victory story. It shows the majesty and glory of King Jesus, who is coming again to rule and reign forever. People argue about how to understand the future, but there's no argument about the point of the book. From the first verse to the last, it is a revelation from Jesus and about Jesus.
It's also meant to be read. Daniel was told to "roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end" (Daniel 12:4). John is told the opposite: "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near" (Revelation 22:10). And Revelation 1:3 promises a blessing to everyone who reads it and takes it to heart.
What Is Apocalyptic Writing?
The word revelation comes from the Greek word apokalupsis, where we get the word apocalypse. Apocalyptic writing looks to the future to give hope to people who are being oppressed. Prophetic writing often corrected a wayward generation in its own day. Apocalyptic writing encouraged the oppressed to endure, because in the end, God wins.
That's why persecuted churches often name Daniel and Revelation as their favorite books. The main message isn't the precise meaning of every dragon and horn. It's that Jesus has not forgotten His people, and in due time He will step into history. And the church answers, "Maranatha. Come, Lord Jesus."
Who Wrote Revelation, and When?
Revelation was written near the end of the first century by John, the last living apostle, who also wrote a Gospel and three letters. The church was facing persecution from the outside and compromise from the inside. John was a prisoner on Patmos, an island in the Aegean Sea about 70 miles southwest of Ephesus, exiled under the Roman emperor Domitian because of his faithfulness to Jesus (Revelation 1:9).
The 8 Images of Jesus in Revelation 1
It's easy to read past this passage quickly and move on to the seven churches. But if you slow down and look at each image John gives us, you find a fuller picture of who Jesus is, one that still matters for anyone trying to walk with Him today.
Here are the eight images John uses to describe Jesus in Revelation 1, and what each one reveals.
1. A Robe Reaching to His Feet, with a Golden Sash
John sees "someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet, with a golden sash around his chest" (Revelation 1:13). This is priestly clothing. In the Old Testament, this is what a priest wore to enter God's presence and intercede on behalf of the people.
Jesus is described here as our great high priest, the one who represents us before God. He isn't distant from our need for intercession. He is the one doing the interceding.
2. Hair White as Snow
"The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow" (Revelation 1:14). This exact phrase is used in Daniel 7:9 to describe the Ancient of Days, a title for God the Father. By using this language for Jesus, John is making a direct claim about who Jesus is. This isn't a created being or a messenger. This is God.
3. Eyes Like Blazing Fire
"His eyes were like blazing fire" (Revelation 1:14). Fire in biblical imagery often represents divine judgment and purity. Nothing escapes those eyes. Not what happened last week, and not what you've never told anyone. Jesus sees fully, and He still calls us to Himself.
4. Feet Like Bronze Glowing in a Furnace
"His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace" (Revelation 1:15). In the tabernacle, bronze was the metal of the altar, the place of sacrifice and judgment. This image points to Jesus' purity, strength, and authority to judge. He stands on solid, refined ground. Nothing about Him is unstable.
5. A Voice Like the Sound of Rushing Waters
"His voice was like the sound of rushing waters" (Revelation 1:15). Picture the sound of a waterfall, something you don't just hear but feel in your chest. No other voice competes with His. Every other voice vying for your attention, fear, doubt, noise, gets quieted in comparison.
6. Seven Stars in His Right Hand
"In his right hand he held seven stars" (Revelation 1:16). Verse 20 explains that the seven stars represent the seven churches. This image matters because of where the stars are held. Jesus isn't watching His church from a distance. He holds it, and the people in it, closely in His hand.
7. A Sharp, Double-Edged Sword from His Mouth
"Coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword" (Revelation 1:16). Jesus carries no weapon in His hands. His authority comes from His words. Hebrews 4:12 says the word of God "judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." His words cut through excuses and get to what's true.
8. A Face Shining Like the Sun
"His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance" (Revelation 1:16). This is the image John saves for last, and for good reason. Jesus is described as the Light of Life. In a book that spends a lot of time describing the end of the world as we know it, this detail matters: in Him, there is still hope for tomorrow.
John's Response: "I Fell at His Feet as Though Dead"
After taking in all eight images, John doesn't respond with a theological reflection. He collapses. "When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead" (Revelation 1:17). That's the only reasonable response to encountering the full, unfiltered glory of Jesus.
But the passage doesn't end there. Jesus reaches down, places His hand on John, and says, "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!" (Revelation 1:17-18). The same Jesus who is holy enough to level John to the ground is gentle enough to lift him back up.
Do Not Fear: What Jesus in Revelation 1 Tells Us
The last time John saw Jesus, He was a 33-year-old man whose body had been beaten and scarred. Now He appears in glory, the High Priest King, the eternal Living One. In His words to John are three truths that still hold for us:
- Do not fear time. He is the First and the Last.
- Do not fear life. He is alive for ever and ever.
- Do not fear dying. He holds "the keys of death and Hades" (Revelation 1:18).
Is Jesus Really Coming Back? (Revelation 1:7)
"'Look, he is coming with the clouds,' and 'every eye will see him, even those who pierced him'; and all peoples on earth 'will mourn because of him.' So shall it be! Amen." (Revelation 1:7)
It's been two thousand years, and it's fair to ask. Peter knew people would say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised?" (2 Peter 3:4). Scripture answers with three clear witnesses:
- Jesus said it about Himself. "All the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory" (Matthew 24:30).
- Jesus promised it personally. "I will come back and take you to be with me" (John 14:3).
- The angels guaranteed it. "This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11).
Revelation 1:7 weaves together two Old Testament prophecies: Daniel 7, where the Son of Man comes with the clouds to receive an everlasting kingdom, and Zechariah 12, where people look on the one they pierced and mourn. John joins them in one Person. The King and the crucified are the same Jesus.
In the Bible, clouds are the sign of God's glory and presence. The cloud led Israel through the wilderness and filled the tabernacle and Solomon's temple. When Jesus comes "with the clouds," He comes wrapped in the glory of God. His first coming was witnessed by a handful of shepherds. His return will be seen by every eye at once, like lightning that flashes from the east to the west (Matthew 24:27).
When the pierced King appears, there will be two kinds of mourning. For some, it will be godly grief that leads to repentance and salvation. For others, it will be the grief of seeing the truth too late. Same sight, two completely different responses.
What this means for you
God is giving you the grace to turn to Him today. Don't wait until every eye sees Him. See Him now.
The Same Jesus, Yesterday, Today, and Forever
Jesus is described in Hebrews 13:8 as "the same yesterday and today and forever." The Jesus John saw on Patmos is the same Jesus who meets us now, priestly and intimate, holy and gentle, holding His people close while seeing them completely.
As you read through these eight images, one of them likely stands out more than the others right now, maybe the reminder that He intercedes for you, or that He holds you closely, or that His words can be trusted even when they're hard to hear.
Whichever one it is, don't keep it to yourself. Talk about it with a friend, a family member, or a small group. Naming what God is doing in you is part of how faith grows.
The series keeps going from here. Later, John hears seven trumpets sound over a rebellious world. Read on in The Seven Trumpets of Revelation.
If you've never taken your first step with Jesus, start here. If you'd like someone to pray with you, reach out through Prayer and Care. And if you're in the Kissimmee area, we'd love to have you join us for the rest of the series. Plan your visit.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jesus in Revelation 1
How is Jesus described in Revelation 1?
In Revelation 1:12-16, John sees Jesus in a long robe with a golden sash, with hair white as snow, eyes like blazing fire, feet like glowing bronze, a voice like rushing waters, seven stars in His right hand, a sharp double-edged sword coming from His mouth, and a face shining like the sun.
Who wrote the book of Revelation?
John, the last living apostle, wrote Revelation near the end of the first century while exiled on the island of Patmos for his faithfulness to Jesus (Revelation 1:9).
Is the book of Revelation meant to scare us?
No. Revelation is apocalyptic writing, meant to give hope to people facing hardship. Its message is that Jesus wins, and that He has not forgotten His people.
What does Revelation 1:7 mean?
It promises that Jesus will return in the glory of God, and that every eye will see Him. It joins Daniel 7 and Zechariah 12 to show that the coming King and the One who was pierced are the same Jesus.
