Revelation 1:16 - Printer Friendly

ESV: In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

NIV: In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

NASB: In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.

CSB: He had seven stars in his right hand; a sharp double-edged sword came from his mouth, and his face was shining like the sun at full strength.

NLT: He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: 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.

This verse tells us John saw Jesus holding seven stars in His right hand, and verse 20 explains that the stars are the angels of the seven churches to which John was commanded to write. The stars or angels may be the chief elders of the seven churches, actual angelic beings, or whoever received and sent messages on behalf of the churches.

It is helpful to realize that the Greek word translated "angels" may also be translated "messengers." Even the Hebrew word for an angel, mal'ak, essentially means "a messenger." This is why it's possible that the reference here is to pastors or church members responsible for correspondence on behalf of their respective congregation, as well as "actual" angels.

What is especially noteworthy is the fact that Jesus holds the "angels" in His right hand. Although their work is challenging, the omnipotent Head of the church protects His servants. The fact that Jesus is holding the stars in His right hand may suggest that they belong to Him and are protected by Him. In His gospel, John quotes Jesus as affirming that no one is able to snatch His sheep—all believers—out of His hand (John 10:28).

John saw a sharp two-edged sword proceed from Jesus' mouth (Revelation 1:16). The two-edged sword refers to the Word of God (Hebrews 4:12). The Romans used a two-edged sword to kill their enemies by stabbing. Jesus' Word condemns the wicked and assigns them to the second death (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:14).

John also saw Jesus' face. It shone like the sun at its brightest moment. John had witnessed a similar sight of this divine glory when Jesus was transfigured at the top of a high mountain (Matthew 17:1–2).

Revelation 1:12–16 unfolds what John saw when he turned after hearing a loud voice command him. The speaker stood in the midst of seven golden lampstands. He was wearing a long robe and a golden sash around His chest. His hair was white. His eyes resembled a blazing fire. His feet were like bronze. When He spoke, His voice sounded like the roar of many waters. He held seven stars in His right hand. A double-edged sword protruded from His mouth, and His face shone like the noonday sun.

The Roman government had banished John to the island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea, off the coast of Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey. While John was at Patmos, the risen, glorified Son of God appeared to him and commanded him to write ''the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this'' (Revelation 1:19). John pronounces blessings to those who read and obey Revelation, and then he greets his readers warmly and describes Jesus' appearance.

The apostle John begins this chapter by stating that he received the revelation of Jesus Christ by divine activity. God sent this vision to John while he was on the island of Patmos, likely as a punishment from the Roman government. This book follows John's four prior messages contained in the New Testament: the Gospel of John and the letters 1, 2, and 3 John. Chapters 2 and 3 tell what Jesus dictated to seven churches in Asia Minor, while the rest of John's message concerns future events.

The word ''revelation'' means ''an unveiling or disclosure.'' This writing unveils future events such as the rapture, three series of judgments that will fall on the earth during the tribulation, the emergence of the Antichrist, the persecution of Israel and her amazing revival, as well as Jesus' second coming with His saints to the earth, the judgment of Satan and his followers, and finally, the eternal state. This content, combined with the original Greek term apokalypsis, is why we now refer to an end-of-the-world scenario as ''an apocalypse.''