Revelation 1:1-20

Revelation in chapter one. I hope to look at the whole chapter, but I want to read the first eight verses to begin. The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him to show unto his servants, things which must shortly come to pass, and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant, John, who bare record of the word of God and of testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein, for the time is in hand. John to the seven churches which are in Asia, grace, be unto you in peace, from him which is and which was, which is to come, from the seven spirits which are before his throne, from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth, unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and have made us kings and priests unto God and his father. To him be glory and dominion forever and ever, amen. Behold, he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him. and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him, even so. Amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, said the Lord, which is and which was, and which is to come, the almighty. May God bless to us His sacred and holy word. The book of Revelation can be a bit overwhelming for the average Christian, and I must say that even the mature Christian, have areas where they struggle with parts of this book and understanding it. People say, what’s just too confusing for me, it’s too difficult to understand, everybody interprets it differently. It’s true that Revelation is a complex book, and it does require a, I think, thorough knowledge of Old Testament, to scripture, particularly the major and the minor prophets. But revelation reveals a great wealth of information concerning God’s plan of salvation, in particular, the victory Christ has achieved for his people. One important point that needs to be emphasized when we come to the interpretation of this book, and that is that scripture should always be used. is to interpret scripture, so that we should always look to the Word of God for aid and help and light with regard to the more difficult sections of any portion of Scripture, and this particularly Revelation. The visions of Revelation can best be understood if we look at the words and the phrases in light of their use elsewhere in Scripture that we may gain access to the I idea behind the vision. As I have said, I’ve taken a partial preterist, all-millennial view of the book, because I think the contents of the book demand this particular approach. Now we’ll begin what I’ll call a summary of Revelation’s message. I’m not going to delve into verse by verse and be here for the next five years doing this, So we’re going to try to look at it in sections, hopefully maybe even a chapter or so at a time, and see what we can find here. The preface of the book I just read, verses 1 to 8. You’ll notice it begins by saying that this is the revelation of Jesus Christ. It’s not the revelation of St. John, as most of the titles say. It is actually the revelation concerning Jesus Christ. Christ, the unveiling, the disclosure, the manifestation, which belongs to Christ, and which is revealed by Christ. He is the revealer as well as the one who is revealed in this book. John is only the scribe. He is the human writer. According to Revelation 2210, it is a prophecy. It’s a prophecy from God. God the Father, given to us through Jesus Christ the Son, and it’s given to His servants to those who faithfully and devotedly worship Him. Christ is going to be seen in this book in his office as mediator, as the God man. The purpose of this revelation is to reveal to us the exalted Christ. The Gospels reveal to us the earthly Christ. While he was on earth and the things that he did, and we see a little glimpse here and there of his glorious deity and his marvelous person. But here we see him as the prince of the kings of the earth, the ruler over all the earth and over all things. So let’s see him. the exalted Christ that is revealed to us in this book. This will be a comfort to the saints of God, and it’ll be a terror to those who are the wicked. The revelation of Jesus Christ. The expectation of soon fulfillment is mentioned to us here in verse one, the second phrase, and in verse three, where we read that these things must shortly come. come to pass and also the time is at hand. Some believe that this book, it was really not written for the original audience, the seven churches of Asia Minor that are mentioned, we’re told that the vast majority of its message is really written for people 2,000 or 3,000 years into the future. But the book emphatically asserts in the clearest of terms, these things might be written. much shortly, and the word shortly we said, man, quickly at once, without delay with speed, pass, and at hand. These things are at hand. They are near, they’re eminent, they’re ready, they’re ready, they’re present, as the word is used in the New Testament. Anybody takes an honest, straightforward look at the time statements in this book, well, it will lead you to see that this prophecy, shortly come to pass in the lifetime of the readers of the book. As a reminder, remember the book ends with the same emphasis in the book of Revelation chapter 22, verse 10 and also 226, 2210 says, seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book, for the time is an end. It keeps reminding us of this. There’s also, I think, contemporary evidence found in the book proving this. We looked all these things. Verse 9 of this chapter, John is a companion in the, there’s actually an article in front of tribulation, in the tribulation. The Church of Philadelphia is promised that they will be kept from the hour that’s going to come upon the world to try it in chapter 3, verse 10. This temple was still standing, chapter 11, verses 1 and 2, which means it is a pre- pre-70 AD. information that we are given. God says he’s going to avenge the apostles and prophets in chapter 18 when he judges Babylon. Well, it indicates to us that we’re dealing with the early church here. The first fruits of the Jews are mentioned in chapter 7 and chapter 14. These are the early converts. These are not the last fruits. These are the first fruits. and then we said that the fifth king of the beast is currently on the throne. Actually, I think it’s the sixth king of the beast. Five have fallen, and one is, and one is still to come. So that would be Caesar Nero. And so as we look at all this, the time is all laid out for us throughout the book. Only when God tells you in the book of Revelation about a thousand years, there’s going to be a time when Satan is bound for this lengthy period of time. Only then do we have an indication to us that there’s going to be some type of delay before the final information is fulfilled with regard to chapter 20 and 21. Part of 19 also would fit under that. thousand years when Christ goes out to conquer the nations bring him under his rod of iron and rule over them and so forth all that fits into the thousand year period where Satan is bound and the nations are not deceived therefore a many are coming to Christ so here is the expectation of soon fulfillment the author and manner of the book is found in verse 1c the 3rd part of verse 1 and then also in verse 3. The word signified here, literally we could put it this way, he signified it. He gave this message in symbols and signs to the Apostle. It is what we might call a divine picture book so that we have these various pictures that are drawn for us. I could like them to, like political cartoons in the newspaper. They’re serious-minded in their approach with regard to things and they lay out for us something in the political world. Here we’re dealing with the spiritual world. And so we have a picture of something spiritual. laid out for us. So a literal understanding of its contents is not going to give us the right approach. We have to realize it’s in symbols. So we have to interpret this symbol so that we get the right understanding of the book. As I always say, we’re not looking for the Loch Ness monster to come up in chapter 13. When the beast comes out of the sea, that’s not what we’re talking about. That’s not, that’s the litter. If you took a litter, well, I’m going to look for a monster to come out of the sea. Okay. Godzilla, Blocknest, monster, something like that. That’s not what we’re talking about. It’s a symbol of something else. Once we understand the symbol, we see what it’s talking about. The human agent forgiving the book here is the Apostle John. He’s the one who previously bore witness to the Word of God. We see that in his gospel. We read John chapter 1, verses 1 to 18. It begins with the Word of God. and God Christ and the word made flesh and so forth. So he testifies concerning the Word of God, Christ. And there’s a blessing that’s pronounced upon the reader, the hearer, and the keeper of the things in the book. John’s readers were expected to understand what it meant and receive a spiritual blessing as a result of that. So the author and manner of revelation. We see grace and peace from the triune God in verses 4 to 6. The salutation here are greeting is similar to most of the New Testament epistles of Paul in particular. Grace and peace. John identifies himself as the author, the writer of the letters to the churches, and he indicates to us here that the seven churches in Asia Minor are the ones he is addressing. This also is an indication to us of the early writing of the book. Since there’s only seven churches at this time, we can assume that it was written in the mid-60s, not in the late, like, 96, AD, as many people would like to place a later date on it. I think it’s the fact that there’s only seven indicates to us something earlier. Now, to this audience of distressed believers who, like John, are undergoing various persecutions for their faith is letters to the epistles will indicate. John sends grace and peace. Grace, which is God’s saving unmerited work in man’s heart, peace, for reconciliation with God is the abiding condition we have once God works salvation in us. We have peace with God, hopefully peace with others as well. This grace and peace comes from the triune God, from Him which is, and which was, and which is to come. In verse 4. As we look at this carefully, if you look at verses 5 and 6 carefully, the first time, this phrase is used, it is used of God the Father. You’ll notice he’s the eternal existing one. And then it’s from the seven spirits which are before the throne. This refers to the Holy Spirit in his seven-fold gifting or perfect fullness, if you would. You read Revelation or Isaiah Chapter 11. There’s sort of the seven-fold spirits. A spirit rests upon Christ. So we have the idea of the spirit here. And then from Jesus Christ, he adds here. He is the son of God. So we have the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit that are mentioned. Jesus Christ is the faithful witness. He’s the Lord’s prophet who has come to us and given us God’s message. He’s the first begotten from God’s message. He’s the first begotten from the Lord. the dead. He is the resurrected one. He is the prince of the kings of the earth because he rules overall, even over kings. He is the redeemer of his people. And he has made us to be able to rule with him. We are made kings and priests along with him. A reminder, of course, that Jesus Christ is risen. And this world is ruled by him from his heavenly throne. That, I think, is the focus we should look at when we look at this book. That’s what we should really grasp. So grace and peace from the trium God. The theme of the book, in verses 7 and 8, is taken up. In Scripture, you remember when we looked at this, we said that Christ is said to come in various ways, besides the second coming. And that should be honestly recognized. Christ says he’s going to come again, and he says he’s going to come in the sense that he’s going to send the spirit as a comforter to us. John 14 indicates that. He’s going to come in the person of the spirit. He’s going to come in judgment throughout history. We read about this. In chapter 2, verses 5. In verse 16, he talks about coming and bringing judgment upon the churches. Matthew 10, 23, talks about him coming before the disciples have gone through all the cities of Judea with the gospel of Christ. In scripture, a cloud coming, we said, is often associated with divine wrath and judgment in a temporal judgment on this earth. And we looked at Psalm 18. We have a judgment against Christ’s enemies there. We looked at Isaiah 19, 1 to 4, where Egypt falls to Babylon. We have same type of language. And Nahum 1, 1 to 6, Assyria falls to Babylon, same type of language. Christ comes with the clouds to meet out judgment as the ruler of the kings of the earth in the book of Revelation. We looked at Revelation chapter 10, verses 1 to 7. He comes on a cloud there. Chapter 14. 14 to 20, and he comes in a judgment there. In the midst of the Sixth trumpet judgment, he comes, so it’s not the final judgment yet. And he comes also with a temporal judgment on the land of Palestine, the Roman province, which he indicates to us in Revelation 14. So Christ’s coming is within the lifetime. of at least some of his contemporaries, for every eye shall see him and they also which pierced him. And I take it, he’s speaking about the generation that pierced him, the very people that pierced him. Christ crucifers, Matthew 24, 34, this generation shall not pass to all these things be fulfilled. This explains the many times Jesus says, I come quickly in this point. book, 310, 22, 7, and 12 of Revelation also tell us this. Christ’s coming is specifically to bring judgment upon the land of Israel, which is the main focus of the book. We’ll talk about judgment on the beast, but the most of the focus is on the land of Israel. All kindreds, all tribes, if you would, of the earth, of the land of the land. show whale because of it. The earth is set in the book of Revelation, in contrast to the world in chapter 3, verse 10. The nations, chapter 11, 9, and 10. Every nation, chapter 14, 6, and the whole world, Revelation 16, 14. So we take it as the land in those passages. There’s whaling associated with the terror. of the wicked when Christ’s wrath is poured out. Revelation 6 talks about them, hiding, you know, hide us from the face of the lamb and so forth. So Jesus declares himself as the almighty God at the end of verse 8 here. And he’s fully equal to the Father, and he should be feared. He should be given divine worship. This is the preface of the book. Any questions on the first part here on the preface. We’ve covered some of these things, so I sort of rapidly went through this. All right. Christ in the seven churches is taken up in chapter 1, verse 9 through chapter 3, verse 22. But let’s look at the setting of the vision, verses 9 to 11. I, John, who also am your brother and companion in tribulation, or in the tribulation, and in the tribulation, and in the kingdom, and patience of Jesus Christ was in the aisle that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the spirit on the Lord’s Day and heard behind me a great voice as of the trumpet, saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. What thou seest write in the book, and send it under the seven churches which are in Asia, onto Ephesus, under Smyrna, under Pergamos, under Thyratyra, under Sardis, under Philadelphia, and under Laocacia. Now, we have the setting here of the vision. Nothing would quicken the hopes of distress Christians like a vision of our Lord Jesus Christ in his glorious attire that we find him in in this passage. scripture he’s the exalted triumphant Christ. John here said he’s on the island of Patmos. This is off the coast of Turkey. He’s sort of exiled there because he was preaching the word and this was a punishment for him to be there. He was testifying of the triumphant Christ. He is a partaker in the tribulation along with the Asian believers of the seven churches and other. others. The kingdom of God has come under satanic attack, and God’s people need the patience that comes from Jesus Christ because they’re going to have to endure hardship as good soldiers of Jesus Christ to go through this time of testing and suffering. John says he was in the spirit. He was under the power, the influence, the influence, the direction of the Holy Spirit on the Lord’s Day. We take this as the Christian Sabbath, the first day of the week. It’s the Lord’s Day because it’s the day of resurrection. John heard a trumpet-like voice behind it, and he turned and beheld the Transcendent Christ. Divine voice is often portrayed as a very loud, powerful, voice. And so it’s the voice of many trumpets. And John is commanded by Christ, he says, I am the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end, to write down what he sees in the following visions. He stole specifically to send it to the seven churches. Now, as we will see, what is written to the seven churches certainly has application to all churches, but specifically at this time, it’s for the seven churches. So the setting of the vision. And then we have the appearance of Christ in verses 12 to 16. Do anybody have any question on the setting? Before I jump to the next section. Let’s look at this. 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 under the son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and gird about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were his flame of fire, and his feet like undefined 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, when a sharp two-edged sword, and his countenance was as the sun shineeth in his strength. 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 am he that liveth and was dead. Behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen, and have the keys of hell and death. Verse 20, The mystery of the story of the soul. seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand and the seven golden candlesticks the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches the seven candlesticks which thou saw’s are the seven churches Jesus here is it is the one that’s revealed to us he says one like the son of man because he is indeed the son of man here was seen in the midst of these seven golden candlesticks explained in verse 20. The long garment with a golden girdle is either the clothing of a priest or king. In this case, both, I would think. He is said to have this white head and hair, the symbol of the honor associated with age, wisdom, perhaps even holiness. White is often associated with holiness. Eyes. that are piercing. They’re like a flame of fire. Penetrating vision. It would speak of his omniscience. Feet like refined brass. It speaks of the strength, the irresistibility of his justice and judgment when it’s meted out. He has the voice of many waters, his authority and power here is laid out for us here. In his right hand, seven stars, indicating to us the destiny of the seven churches is in his hands. The seven stars are actually the angels, actually literally the messengers of the seven church. I take it as pastors of the seven churches. While a church may have more than one elder, there’s one that’s perhaps the full-time person who’s the pastor. It seems to be addressed to that individual. Out of his mouth, a sharp, two-edged sword. What do you think that is? If you read Ephesion 6, it’s the Word of God, right? It’s the Word of God. And so it provides, the Word of God provides keen, accurate judgment, calls people to repentance and so forth. His countenance is like the brilliant son. Verse 16. Remember the Mount of Transfiguration when Christ’s face shone like the noonday sun. Same idea is here. So these are the indications that this is Christ. This is the appearance of Christ. Now the commission of John is taken up in verses 17 here through 19. He says, and I saw him, I fell at his feet, is dead. And laid his feet as dead. right hand upon me, saying unto me, fear not, I am the first and last. I am he that liveth and was dead. Behold, I’m alive, and evermore, I’m in. They have the keys of hell and of death. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter. Now, John’s reaction here resembles Daniels in the book of Daniel chapter 10, verses 8, 9. They both fell prostrate at the feet of Christ. as if dead. And Christ identifies himself here in terms that he has previously used, and he says he has the keys, he has the power over death and hell. And I take that as the grave and the place of deported spirits. As the resurrected Christ, he can unlock and open those gates. certainly is an indication that he can resurrect his people from the dead in the last day, which he will do in Revelation chapter 20 when we get there. John is told not to be afraid here and the write down what he sees. First, what he had seen, and I take that’s this present vision. The things which are, I tell you, take, he writes to the seven churches in chapters two and three. And then the things which shall be hereafter, I think refer to chapter four and following. You’ll notice in chapter four, it says in verse one, come up hither, and I will show the things which must be hereafter. So I take it that he’s saying, okay, this puts us into the third category of the things that are going to come. So here’s the commission of John. Any question about this particular aspect of chapter one? Let me just draw a few practical thoughts from chapter one for our benefit. The first is this. This is the revelation of Jesus Christ. It should strike fear into the enemies of Christ because he sits on the throne and they’re going to be having to be to face the day of his wrath. And it reveals the exalted Christ. This should comfort the hearts of the people of God in dark times. Hallelujah. Where the Lord God omnipot reigneth, the Almighty One, as he told us in this chapter. And God says that he has put all things under Christ’s feet and gave him to behead over all things under the church or for the benefit of his church, he reigns over all things over all things. thing. Here’s the thing. If you don’t understand all the things, the details of the book of Revelation, grasp this overall truth that Christ reigns over all and he controls all the events taking place on this earth. If you get that theme right, you will be blessed as you read the book of Revelation, even if you don’t understand all the details. That is one of the things that will be a blessing. Secondly, there is a special blessing. attached to the reading and the hearing and the keeping of this prophecy. You may be discouraged. You come to a book like this and you say it’s just too difficult. I don’t understand it. You may think you could more probably spend your time reading another book. You know, maybe I’d be better reading the Gospels or an epistle. It is a difficult book, but you should neglect it. Because at the very beginning, God says, look, I promise you a special blessing if you will read and hear the words of this book and keep it. So in the reading of this book or in the hearing of it taught, we have something special for us. This is a greatest incentive to us to ponder its contents, to weigh it, because it does reveal to you much about your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And if that’s the one manger. thing you get out of it, rejoice in that fact. There’s much about Christ that is told us here. Notice Christ is said to be in verse 8, the alpha and omega. Now, if you know anything about Greek, you’ve got the first letter and the last letter of the Greek alphabet here. And the idea is that Jesus Christ is the first cause and the ultimate purpose of all things. Everything revolves around him. remember what we studied in Colossians chapter 1, verse 16. For by him were all things made that are in heaven, that are on earth, that visible and invisible, invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers, all things were created by him and for him. And so we have that promise. Then we have the idea here of the Lord. Lord’s Day, verse 10, it’s mentioned. Contrary to some, there is a keeping of the Sabbath for the Christian today. Hebrews 4.9. There is a day set apart for worshiping the Lord. It’s the first day of the week. It’s called the Lord’s Day. It’s the day of resurrection. And this is the key to rightly understanding the book. You’ll notice in verse 5, it tells us here, that he is the first begotten of the dead. So if you want to understand what the Lord’s Day is, well, it’s the day of the resurrection, isn’t it? And look at verse 18. I am he that liveth and was dead. And behold, I’m alive everymore. Again, a reference to the resurrection. And this is a pledge to us that Christ will quicken his people out of death. This shows the Lord’s Day is a day that Christ is manifested more than any others. It’s the day of worship. It is the day when we come to worship the Lord, and he is revealed to us in the preaching of His Word in a special way. The day belongs to Christ, and we ought to honor him in this day. Some people say that the Sabbath is ceremonial law. It’s passed away. And I notice, I want you to notice here, that it seems to me it’s moral law, and it’s eternal in nature for John in the New Testament. here talks about the Lord’s Day. We have the vision of the glorious son of man in verses 9 through 16. Now the language here is highly figurative. We went through it briefly on some of the things that I think it means, but it deserves your close attention. Christ is portrayed here as the great high priest. He’s our representative. He’s our intercessor. And he is among the oil lamps, if you would, in God’s holy place in heaven, God’s temple. He is the mighty king, is the prince of the kings of the earth. He rules overall. His power to judge with perfect knowledge, the souls of man, because the eyes are as flames of fire. He’s the eternal God, for he’s described in terms like unto the ancient, of days in Daniel 7.9. He’s the heavenly messenger. His words from his mouth, because they are the word of God, are powerful to the piercing of men’s hearts and even to the destruction of his enemies. So Christ’s person dominates this whole book. Lastly, I suggest to you here that Christ walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. Christ is always present with his people. For two or three are gathered together, their Christ is in their midst, according to Matthew 1820. Now, these churches, represented by the seven golden candlesticks, were far from perfect. You read the letters as we will, Lord willing, in our next study. They have many flaws, many errors. many sins. Let this be an encouragement to you. Christ is present in every true church. He’s chastening, he’s rebuking, he’s correcting, he’s encouraging to reform the church that it may be more pleasing in his sight. But the key thing is, he’s still present. The churches have their flaws, but he’s still present with the true churches. And where Christ is, Christ is present. Let us rejoice and be glad. Let us be concerned to obey him so that our candlestick is not taken away, and that we might be light in the midst of the world around us. Any other thoughts on this chapter? Any practical thoughts you might want to bring to light? I know this was a quick review of this chapter. Hopefully it wasn’t too fast. But those are the things that I want to bring to light. would point out if I was going through this book. Yes. Both actually contain some, you know, I mean, it’s beneficial, both of them. Even though this is like a special blessing, it’s really beneficial for all who read it for this purpose. Yes, those two purposes. Anything else?