Revelation 1:9-11

Rev. 1:9 I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet, 11 saying, “Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”

Map created in Accordance Bible Atlas 2.2

 Who is John? Where is he? Why is he there? (1:9)

• John refers to himself as his readers’ “brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus” (1:9).
• John is on the island called Patmos, a remote, rocky Roman isle of banishment located in the Aegean Sea, off the coast of Asia Minor (modern Turkey), approximately 36 miles southwest of Miletus.
• John is on the island called Patmos “because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus” (1:9).

What do the phrases mean: “in the Spirit”? “the Lord’s day”? (1:10)

•         “In the Spirit” (1:10) –  John was filled and placed under the divine control of the Holy Spirit beyond His normal influence. The Spirit would supernaturally enable John to receive and record the revelation shown to him.
•         “The Lord’s day” (1:10) – Within the context of Scripture, “the Lord’s day” likely refers to the Old Testament phrase, “day of the LORD,” a reference to an extended time period during which God, as Sovereign Potentate, would administer His justice and judgment over the entire earth. Within this context, it is unlikely that “the Lord’s day” refers to the first day of the week.

Describe the voice that John hears.

•          “. . . a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet” (1:10). 

What does the voice instruct John to do?

•          “Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea” (1:11).

o   John is commanded to“write . . .” (γράψον) twelve times in the book of Revelation.

Locate the seven churches on a map. Describe their location. What does the location of the churches indicate about the transmission of the book?

• The seven churches were located on the western coast of Asia Minor (modern Turkey). 
• Their geographical location formed a natural circuit for the distribution of the book of Revelation. The messenger would have begun in the port city of Ephesus, located on the Aegean coast by the Cayster River, then journeyed northward to Smyrna, further north to Pergamum, then rotating southward and moving consecutively through Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and finally, Laodicea.

Father, by Your grace, You made known the Revelation of Jesus Christ, recorded by John while he was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day. He saw great and glorious things which must soon take place. What You have made known, You intend to be read, heard, and heeded. You have preserved the record of Your divine revelation through the ages, to the glory of Your great faithfulness and power. May You give wisdom and understanding of truth according to Your original intent. For no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from You. Blessed is the one who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.  Prophetic utterances are not to be despised or disregarded. To those who love Your Word and long for Jesus’ appearing, may You give ears to hear and understanding, eyes to see and perception, and hearts to receive and belief. May attentiveness to Your Word result in glory to Your Name in Christ, furtherance of Your kingdom work through the equipping of Your saints. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.