The Revelation of Jesus Christ

I planned to read the Book of Revelation for my vacation study. At the last minute I refined it – I decided to see how Revelation describes Jesus Christ. This was interesting.

First, the different names and titles ascribed to Jesus and the number of times each one is used. If no number follows, it occurs only once.

Jesus Christ 3x
the faithful witness
the first begotten of the dead
the Prince of the kings of the earth
Alpha and Omega 2x
the first and the last 3x
the Lion of the tribe of Juda
the Root of David
Lamb 28x
Lord 2x
Christ 4x
Man child
Son of man 2x
Jesus 5x
Lord of lords and King of kings
King of kings and Lord of lords
faithful and true
the Word of God
the beginning and the end
the root and offspring of David
the bright and morning star
Lord Jesus
Lord Jesus Christ

Quite an impressive list! I noticed:
- Lamb is used nearly as many times as all the other titles combined
- the book opens with “Jesus Christ” and closes with “our Lord Jesus Christ”
- Jesus is not mentioned at all in chapters 4, 8, 9, 10, 18


Second, in addition to the descriptions of Jesus as a Lamb (as it had been slain), there are two extended descriptions of the Lord Jesus:

Revelation 1:12-16 Jesus’ appearance to John at the beginning of the book
And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

The elements of this vision are used in the letters to the seven churches (2-3).

Revelation 19:11-16 the second advent
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Amen!

All I really did was skim through the book, but it was encouraging, edifying, and enlightening. I was reminded: Jesus is a central figure in the Book of Revelation, and I can’t capture this in a brief blog post. I hope (and plan) to write about a couple of other things I noticed while reading through the book, things I hope will remove some of the fear that often accompanies the reading of The Revelation of Jesus Christ.

And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.