1:16Revelation 1:16

Christ appeared to John on Patmos as the risen Son of man standing among the seven golden lampstands in full divine glory, robed to the feet with a golden sash, holding seven stars in His right hand, with a sharp two-edged sword going from His mouth and His face shining like the sun in full strength.ST Mar 22, 1905+2

The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, His ministers and messengers through whom He makes His will known, and His holding them in His right hand means they are under His special care, protection and control so His light may shine through them to the world.Ms 139, 1903, par. 33–34+4

The sword from His mouth is the power of His word, and His sun-bright face displays His divine glory, majesty, loveliness and beauty as Redeemer.Ms 143, 1901, par. 53–58+4

The same glory will be seen when He comes again in the clouds with power and great glory, no longer as the humiliated man of sorrows but in radiant majesty that will light the faces of the righteous and be witnessed even by those who mocked and rejected Him.Ms 161, 1904, par. 17–18+4

Though His church is enfeebled and defective it is the object of His supreme regard, constantly watched over, guided and strengthened by Him, so its members are to heed His messages, behold His glory by faith now through prayerful study, and let Him work through them to make their redemption certain.Lt 43, 1905, par. 2–3+4

Revelation 1:16 belongs to what John saw when in the Spirit on the Lord's day on Patmos, when he turned at the great trumpet voice behind him and was commanded to write in a book what he saw and send it to the seven churches in Asia.ST Feb 4, 1903+2 That Lord's day is the Sabbath instituted in Eden, the holy day God blessed and set apart as His own, still precious to John in exile as the sign that God was his.Ms 150, 1899, par. 13–15+2 The voice declared I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, and turning John saw seven golden candlesticks with One like the Son of man in the midst, holding seven stars in His right hand with a sharp two-edged sword going out of His mouth and countenance as the sun shining in strength.ST Feb 4, 1903+2 The vision came by a heavenly messenger as the Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave Him.Ms 143, 1901, par. 61–63+1

John was banished to the Isle of Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus, for fidelity to his Saviour, in old age more than half a century after leaning on His bosom.Ms 136, 1902, par. 3–5+2 It was a time of fierce persecution and great darkness when Satan seemed to triumph over the faithful witnesses, and John was separated from his companions in the faith and cut off from his gospel labors and deprived of the society of his brethren.Ms 100, 1893, par. 2–3+1 Yet he was not separated from the presence of God, and his desolate exile became the gate of heaven.Lt 91, 1896, par. 2–6+1 There Christ met him in the glory of the heavenly sanctuary and filled his vision with immortal glory, presenting Himself in holy vision in glorified humanity as the One John honored and loved above all others.Ms 136, 1902, par. 3–5+2 John had before seen Christ in human form bearing the nail marks, but now was allowed to behold Him clothed with glory as great as a human being could see and live.Ms 94, 1897, par. 38–39

Christ Himself came personally from heaven to earth to give the revelation to His servant John, working him by the Holy Spirit while telling him what to write.Ms 139, 1903, par. 33–34+1 It is a wonderful, dignified, exalted, solemn message demanding all the talents and capabilities God has given to present it with decided emphasis, given right from Jesus Christ.Ms 139, 1903, par. 33–34+1 Its coming is clearly described in the first chapter of Revelation, and the whole chapter including this verse is to be studied, believed, taught to those unacquainted with the truth, and preached, with its light not hidden under a bushel.Lt 110, 1902, par. 9–10

The vision was permitted to prepare John to endure hatred and scorn and to give the world a revelation of what was to come upon the earth.18MR 77.1–2 In it the risen Saviour made His presence known on the holy Sabbath day and gave a most wonderful view of His glory, with special light for the church, so that John saw more distinctly than ever before what was to be at the close of this earth's history and events before the second coming.18MR 77.1–2+3 The testimony then given is also given now, for God would have the Scriptures searched to know what will be in the last days of this earth's history, and the great light revealed makes people accountable to the truth.18MR 77.1–2+1

In the vision the same Christ who held the seven stars laid His right hand on John saying Fear not, declaring He is the first and the last, He that liveth and was dead and is alive for evermore with the keys of hell and of death.Ms 100, 1893, par. 2–3 He commanded Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter, opening heavenly mysteries and the future of the church and of the world.Ms 136, 1902, par. 3–5+2 John was not silenced by isolation but remained in communion with God to write for the churches.Ms 100, 1893, par. 2–3+1

The verse shows the risen Christ appearing to John in full divine glory as one like the Son of man standing in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks.ST Mar 22, 1905+3 He no longer wears the poor garments He wore for humanity, but is clothed down to the feet in glory and brightness with a golden girdle.Ms 97, 1906, par. 60–62 He holds seven stars in His right hand, a sharp two-edged sword goes out of His mouth, and His face shines as the sun in its full strength.ST Mar 22, 1905+2

John had before seen Christ in human form bearing the nail marks, but now he was allowed to behold Him clothed with glory as great as a human being could see and live.Ms 94, 1897, par. 38–39 He is the all-sufficient, all-powerful Son of God, a personal being with personality and countenance.Ms 161, 1904, par. 17–18+2 He is the first and the last, He that liveth and was dead and is alive for evermore with the keys of hell and of death.Lt 63a, 1893, par. 62–63+1 He is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world and the Lion of the tribe of Judah who is soon to ride forth conquering and to conquer, the same personal being who will appear in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.Ms 136, 1902, par. 3–5+1

The unveiled divine glory could not be endured in human nature, so even the beloved John fell at His feet as dead when the revelation began.Lt 63a, 1893, par. 62–63+3 He had to be revived and strengthened by Jesus Himself, who laid His right hand upon him and told him to fear not.Lt 63a, 1893, par. 62–63+2 God chose the aged and persecuted John as the human channel to receive the mysteries and make them known, because unveiled divinity would strike sinners out of existence and people could not otherwise see the Lord and live.Ms 165, 1904, par. 12–13

His countenance shining brighter than the sun at noon reveals His exceeding loveliness, beauty and glory.ExVEGW 32.3+3 He is seen with robe whiter than the whitest white, in glory and exalted loveliness that no language can describe.16MR 34.2+1 That revelation of the glory of God sheds His love abroad in the heart to rejoicing in His exceeding goodness.Lt 3, 1851, par. 2–3

The seven stars held in the right hand are the angels of the seven churches, who are His ministers and messengers through whom He makes known His will and directs the work throughout His dominion.Ms 139, 1903, par. 33–34+4 They are commissioned as laborers together with Him to teach all nations and to carry the last message of mercy, and He honors them by knowing their number and calling them by name.Ms 23, 1903, par. 3–5 He walks among the churches and speaks to them with full knowledge of their works and with authority to direct them.RH Nov 19, 1901+1

To hold them in His right hand means they are under His special care, protection and control, held securely so that His light may shine through them to the world.RH Nov 19, 1901+4 As He controls the stars, fills them with light and guides their movements, so He fills and guides His ministers, and without His power they would fall.GW 13.3 They are instruments in His hands, and all the good they accomplish is through His power, serving as His representatives to preserve sacred dignity in the simplicity of Christ and the purity of the truth.6T 414.1+1 Through them He sends His will, their influence brings life, and He uses them to prepare His people for higher service in heaven and to show through their lives what divine grace can do.Ms 78, 1900, par. 46+1

No star protected by His omnipotence can be plucked from His hand, which assures every church faithful to its trust that it will not come to nothing.3MR 359.1+2 If a star separates from God and falls from its place, another takes its place, so there will never be fewer than seven, because seven is God's symbol of completeness and a perfect whole.3MR 359.1+2 The sharp two-edged sword going out of His mouth is an emblem of the power of His word.ST Nov 16, 1882+1 His face shining like the sun in its full strength reveals His divine glory and majesty and displays the Redeemer's glory, which believers are called to behold by faith on earth and will see in fullness in heaven.Ms 143, 1901, par. 53–58+2

The seven golden candlesticks symbolize the seven churches, which represent all the churches in the world, for seven denotes a perfect whole.Lt 110, 1902, par. 9–10+1 He walks in the midst of them, knows the works of each church, and guides and rules them with present interest and care even while their last great struggles with earthly powers and their final victory and deliverance are opened before them.Lt 44, 1898, par. 5–7+2 Every church has a guardian angel who ministers to that special church.Lt 44, 1898, par. 5–7

The verse presents Christ as a personal being who will appear in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.Ms 161, 1904, par. 17–18 At His return His countenance will be as bright as the noonday sun, revealing His unsurpassed glory and majesty.SG1 206.1–2+1 That blazing appearance and searching gaze also reveal His judgment of humanity.LSEGW 65.3–66.1 His glory will light the faces of the righteous.4SP 458.1–459.1

The calm, pale face that was struck, mocked and spat upon will one day be seen shining brighter than the sun by those who scorned Him.COS 131.6+1 He will return not in humiliation as the man of sorrows but in radiant majesty.3MR 80.3 At the midnight deliverance of God's people the sun suddenly appears shining in its strength while the moon stands still, recognized by the saints as tokens of their deliverance.SG1 205.1

In the city His face shines with surpassing brightness, brighter than the noonday sun.CET 108.1+1 All who keep God's commandments will enter through its gates, have right to the tree of life, and remain forever in His presence in beauty and loveliness no language can describe.CET 108.1+1 The appearance opened to John the future of the church and of the world, showing how closely heaven is connected with earth.Ms 136, 1902, par. 3–5 It showed the fearful conflict before the second coming, the church's last great struggles with earthly powers and its final victory and deliverance.5T 752.3

The One so seen is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, who is soon to ride forth conquering and to conquer.Ms 136, 1902, par. 3–5 The revelation makes people accountable and warns that God sees hidden sin and no iniquity can be concealed.SLP 10.1–13.1 It contains solemn truths for the present time such as the three angels' messages, the angel lightening the earth with glory, and warnings against last-day wickedness and the mark of the beast, which must be read, understood and proclaimed with no uncertain sound to warn the world.Ms 169, 1902, par. 12–14 This appearing on Patmos in glory is described as His second advent to the early Christians, in contrast to His first advent as an infant at Bethlehem.Ms 169, 1902, par. 12–14 Satan imitates this royal appearance when he personates Christ to deceive people into believing Christ has returned.Ms 16, 1884, par. 1–2

The opening chapter where the seven stars are held in the right hand, the sharp two-edged sword goes from the mouth, and the face shines like the sun in full strength is to be studied carefully and prayerfully, believed, taught to those unacquainted with the truth, and preached, with its light not hidden under a bushel.Lt 43, 1905, par. 2–3+1 Prayerful study of the Revelation, especially its passages relating to the present time, helps to understand Christ's position and His relation to God and to humanity, to escape the perils of the last days, and to know where dependence lies.Ms 159, 1904, par. 5+1 It belongs to Christ's warnings given through John that reveal truths about dangers in the last days and how to avoid them.Lt 408, 1907, par. 10–13 The instruction sent to the seven churches represents all the churches in the world, because the number seven represents a perfect whole.Lt 110, 1902, par. 9–10

The description of His glory was given not for John alone nor for the seven churches in Asia alone but through those churches for God's people to make a powerful impression in every age to the close of this earth's history.Ms 53, 1890, par. 46–47 Humbly reading the messages to the churches brings a power not yet realized, with God's love abiding in the heart, love for the souls for whom Christ died, and the passing away of cold indifference and the spirit of setting up or casting down others.Ms 97, 1906, par. 60–62 The appearance gives evidence to believers and unbelievers that Christ is risen, and it was meant to give living power and hope to the church.ST Mar 22, 1905+2

In the deepest darkness of oppression and persecution God's glory shines most clearly, for as stars shine brightest in the darkest night, the most brilliant beams of His glory are revealed in the deepest gloom.ST Mar 22, 1905+2 Christ reveals Himself to His chosen ones by entering prisons with them and standing with them in the fire at the stake, so that the darkest trials become the time of the most instructive lessons.18MR 78.2 God chose the aged and persecuted John as the human channel to receive the mysteries and make them known to the churches, because unveiled divinity would strike sinners out of existence and people could not otherwise see the Lord and live.Ms 165, 1904, par. 12–13 Therefore messages sent by God should not be thrown aside because they come from human lips.Ms 165, 1904, par. 12–13

The similar appearance of the Son of God to Daniel confirms that the heavenly person who came to Daniel with another heavenly messenger to teach what would take place in the latter days was Christ.BS 42.2–3 The whole of the revelation given to John was rehearsed beforehand by Moses in the Exodus and in the plagues brought upon Egypt.Ms 132, 1898, par. 1 The messages to the churches give the history of Satan's effort to bring dissension into the church, a difficulty that must be met today.Lt 31, 1903, par. 6

Though the church is enfeebled and defective, it is the object of Christ's supreme regard, and constantly He watches over it with tender solicitude and strengthens it by His Holy Spirit.ST Feb 4, 1903 As members of His church, people are to allow Him to impress their minds and to work through them to His glory, and to heed and obey the messages He gives to His church.ST Feb 4, 1903 By doing so they make certain their redemption, so they will meet Him with joy at His coming and not be among those who shall wail because of Him.ST Feb 4, 1903

The vision shows how closely heaven is connected with events on earth and how great God's care is for those who are loyal to Him.5T 753.3 The world is not without a ruler, and the program of coming events is in the Lord's hands, with the Majesty of heaven having the destiny of nations as well as the concerns of His church in His own charge.5T 753.3 In great emergency His servants are therefore not to trust to themselves.5T 753.3

His glory is now only dimly seen, His preciousness little realized and His love imperfectly experienced, which leaves human agents irresolute, weak, and ready to yield to temptation.Lt 63, 1893, par. 65–67 That glory must be asked for in prayer and beheld by faith on earth in order to see it in its fullness in heaven above.Ms 143, 1901, par. 53–58+1 He is the risen Christ in majesty and glory, the mighty One whom believers are urged to cling to for help and assurance rather than depend on other people.Ms 143, 1901, par. 53–58+1

The seven stars in His right hand are His ministers, under His special care, protection and control, serving as His representatives shining with brightness that comes from Him.Ms 23, 1903, par. 3–5+2 As God controls the stars, fills them with light and guides their movements, He fills and guides His ministers, and without His power they would fall, for all the good they accomplish comes through His power.GW 13.3 They are to preserve sacred, holy dignity, expressed in the simplicity of Christ and the purity of the truth.6T 414.1 The church's blessings are bound up with these ministers, who are to represent Christ's love and are instruments in His hands.GW 13.3

Through His ministers God makes known His will and directs them in their work, for they are laborers together with Him, commissioned to teach all nations and to carry to the world the last message of mercy.Ms 23, 1903, par. 3–5 God honors them by knowing the number of the stars and calling them by name, and the ministers of the gospel are a greater blessing to the church than the stars are to the world.Ms 23, 1903, par. 3–5 He intends His light to shine through them to the world, sending His will through His servants whose influence brings life.8T 23.3 Christ uses them to prepare His people for higher service and to show through their lives what divine grace can do.8T 23.3

The verse belongs to a warning to prepare to meet the Lord coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.Lt 386, 1904, par. 1 It confronts indifference to the signs foretold by Christ and gives evidence that the end of the world is right upon us.Lt 386, 1904, par. 1 It calls for daily advance so the grace of God has a saving effect, with watchfulness and prayer in faith bringing rich and precious blessing and strength through the gift of the Holy Spirit.Lt 386, 1904, par. 1

The vision is to be fully known so believers can escape the perils of the last days and know where their dependence lies.Ms 159, 1904, par. 5 It directs worship to the Lord God with all heart, mind, soul and strength and love to the neighbor as self, making no gods of men, because love to God and love to man are the two great principles on which hang all the law and the prophets.Ms 159, 1904, par. 5 This great light revealed on Patmos, including solemn truths about events before the second coming, makes people accountable to the truth and warns that God sees and knows hidden sin, so that no one can conceal iniquity from Him.SLP 10.1–13.1

The verse means mercy, tenderness and love blending with holiness, justice and power, so sinners find a Father in Him of whom their sins had made them afraid.Ms 38, 1905, par. 8 Mercy and truth meet together and righteousness and peace kiss each other, so that instead of fleeing from God because of sins, sinners flee to His arms for protection and pardon.Ms 38, 1905, par. 8 The throne terrible in unbelief becomes in repentance a place of refuge.Ms 38, 1905, par. 8

That same Jesus who appeared in divine glory laying John at His feet as dead until He laid His right hand on him visits believers who are cut off and alone, manifesting His love and the Father's love.Lt 91, 1896, par. 2–6 His light can make a barren and lonely place a heaven to the exile when they keep close to Him as Elder Brother, bring Him all griefs and troubles, and trust Him as a child trusts its parents.Lt 91, 1896, par. 2–6 God permitted John's exile on lonely Patmos but did not forget or forsake him; Christ met him there and filled his vision with scenes of immortal glory, and the trial that made it seem God had forsaken him led him closer to Christ.PP 129.2

Through a brother and companion in tribulation Christ reveals to His people the fearful conflict they must meet before His second coming.Ms 100, 1893, par. 2–3 He who sustained the early witnesses in fierce persecution and great darkness, when Satan seemed to triumph, will not forsake His people in the final conflict.Ms 100, 1893, par. 2–3