A feature of the way John writes
A feature of the way John writes
Before we take a look at 2nd John I think we should look at a feature of the way John writes; a characteristic that you see in his writings. John loves to use very vivid descriptive language. And he often uses symbols. He will use one thing to help describe something else. Often it is an object, but sometimes it can be a relationship.
Things about that object or relationship bring meaning to what he is writing about.
Go to Rev. John will use this technique in all of his writings but here we will see a concentration of it.
Rev 1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Rev 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
So was the voice a trumpet? No it was like a trumpet. How does a trumpet sound? Loud, big, broadcasting. If you want to communicate a message in secret you do not use a trumpet.
A trumpet in those days was also used to make announcements and to give commands. And that is what this great voice is doing.
John says behind me a great voice and then he uses an object that people know to add descriptive meaning to it. So this great voice was loud and sounding out.
Rev 1:11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
Rev 1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
Rev 1:13 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.
Rev 1:14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
Hairs were white like wool. So his hair was not wool. Just like wool. If you want to know what that means go and pet a sheep. That texture was what His hair was like, but not the color. John says the color was white as snow.
I think of those crisp mountain mornings fresh after a snow with the sunlight hitting it. White as snow. John writing in this way gives you a better idea of just how white it was.
And his eyes were as a flame of fire. So again His eyes were not a flame of fire. They were as a flame of fire. There is an old saying. The eyes are a window to the soul. A persons eyes can give away a great deal about how a person is thinking.
You look in a person’s eyes and you can see them carry compassion or anger or love.
His eyes were as a flame of fire. This is not talking about their color. This is talking about attitude. Fire in the bible is a symbol of judgment. So His eyes are conveying judgment.
Rev 1:15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
Again his feet were not fine brass, just like that. Brass in the bible also speaks of judgment.
Rev 1:16 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.
A picture of great strength and of Jesus about to hand out judgment.
John falls down at the sight.
Rev 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
I love this. Jesus tells John that there is no need to fear. Yes the vision is of Jesus coming for judgment, but not for His saints. His children have no need to fear this. None at all. All of our sins have been forgiven.
Rev 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
The purpose here is not to get into the book of Revelations right now, but just to look at the way John uses words to help add description and meaning to what he is writing.
We saw this in 1st John.
He uses the words little children.
1Jn 2:12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.
Who is he talking to? Does he literally mean small young people less than 8 years old?
1Jn 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
He uses the term little children over and over. Here he calls them my little children. Does that mean this letter is written to the kids he fathered with his wife? No.
1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
When John uses the words little children he is addressing people who have been adopted by God. He is writing to saved people. Using the term little children is a great way of highlighting and bringing attention to the fact of this wonderful heavenly Father relationship.
So when John wrote my little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. He is bringing the Heavenly Father relationship into that truth. We should love this way because we are His dear child. And little is good, we are small compared to God. And we should have that attitude that we are still little with a lot of growing to do.
So if John means children of God when he writes little children, they why does John write my little children?
It could mean two things. These could be people that he led to the Lord. It could mean that. Or it could mean people that he was responsible for because he was their pastor at one time.
John uses meaningful terms of description to add meaning and clarification to what he writes. Understanding this will help us when we look at the book of 2nd John.
See more lessons from 1st 2nd 3rd John