(Revelation 1:1016)…..10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 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 Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.” 12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 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. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; 16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
So here we find John who was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day. A moment in time that was not a dream that John was having, but a moment in time where John was supernaturally translated out of the physical realm, awake, to an experience beyond what human senses can explain. Wow! What an amazing thing for God to do that with any man/woman. What is implied here is that the Holy Spirit is the One who made this vision possible. Much like what the Holy Spirit did with Peter in (Acts 10:11), and with John three more times in this Revelation of Jesus Christ (4:2) (17:3) (21:10). The Lord’s Day always refers to Sunday in many early Christian writings, the day of the Lord’s resurrection.
Notice just what it was that got John’s attention. He heard behind him a loud voice, as of a trumpet. Who’s voice could command such authority as a trumpet in its full blast? Jesus of course! I can only imagine how that must of sounded when everything else in His presence would be silenced by His appearing. When one thinks about what the Scriptures say about the Lord’s voice it makes our meditation of this account even more amazing because His voice, brings joy (John 3:29), brings assurance (John 10:4), stops men in their tracks (Acts 9:4), and it’s full of majesty (Psalm 29:4). To hear Christ speak in glory will be an amazingly, wonderful, and awesome event to behold. For Him to talk to you and I someday with His deep love and affection is something that I can’t wrap my thoughts around. Imagine that God Himself will talk with us someday.
Jesus’ voice is powerful, distinct, sharp, loud, clear, and striking. It is voice that speaks with great authority, proclaiming Himself to be the “Alpha” and “Omega” the “First” and the “Last,” the rightful title to “Yahweh,” the “Eternal God,” (Isaiah 41:4) (Isaiah 44:6) (Isaiah 48:12) (John 17:24)(Colossians 1:17). Take note of Who John is talking to here, the “I Am.” How amazing is it that God would do such a thing, just to get His Revelation of Christ to you.
The good news is He is talking to us today through His word. Oh how sweet is His tone, how sweet is every word of compassion and mercy, every word of correction and love. Do you want to hear Him? Open His word, fill your eyes, mind, and heart with it and you will begin to hear that very same voice that John describes for us. Now, you may not hear the Lord’s voice like John heard it, that is in an audible way, but you will come away from your time with Him in His word understanding just what His voice is like
It was in this vision where John doesn’t just describe to His readers what He heard when he turned around, but also what he saw. What an amazing thing for the God of all creation, the One who is the sustainer of everything, to show himself to John on the Lord’s Day. John see’s seven golden lamp stands, and what these represent is made known to us in (1:20). Notice they are lamp stands, not lamps. Light does not come from lamp stands, light comes from the lamps themselves. The stand only makes the light more visible. The lamp stand is a good picture of the church, we don’t produce the light, we display the light. Think of this in the light (no pun intended) of (Matthew 5:14-16) and (Philippians 2:15). A life in Christ gives evidence of His saving power and will glorify Him (1 Peter 2:12).