Studies in Revelation: Jesus the Revelator

John tells us in the very first line of his letter to the seven churches that this is the “revelation of Jesus which God gave him to show his servants.” The phrase “revelation of Jesus” has some ambiguity as it could mean either the revelation about Jesus or the revelation from Jesus. The latter makes most sense in context. It would seem odd to call this the revelation about Jesus that God gave Jesus to show his servants, though, of course, much in Revelation does show us fascinating things about Jesus. But this being the revelation from Jesus that God gave him makes perfect sense, and this revelation does include things about Jesus.

It is natural to see this revelator role for Jesus, given him by the Father, as Jesus is the member of the Trinity whose job is to make the Father known, something the apostle John gives testimony to:

No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. (John 1:18)

He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.” (John 1:51)

Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. (John 5:19)

⁸ Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” ⁹ Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰ Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. (John 14:8-10)

I have made You known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them. (John 17:26)

As such, Jesus is the true and faithful witness (Revelation 1:5; 3:14). Like Antipas from the church in Pergamum, he was faithful in giving witness even to death (Revelation 2:13). He gives faithful and true witness to what God has told him to communicate to John.

It is possible that Jesus is the voice from heaven in Revelation 10:4,8.

⁴ And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down.”

⁸ Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: “Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.”

And when John says the redeemed before the throne, victorious over the beast and his mark, singing the song of Moses and of the Lamb, a song very reminiscent of Exodus 15, this must mean they are singing a song authored by Moses and by the Lamb (Revelation 15:2-4). Jesus writes songs of testimony and witness to God’s great victory.

Jesus the Revelator!