John begins to write: seven letters, to seven churches. He draws strength from His solid and close relationship with the Lord Jesus. He is, after all, “the Apostle whom Jesus loved.” The phrase is repeated five times in John’s Gospel; the first time gives us a glimpse of the seating arrangements at the Last Supper in John 13:23. (John chapter 19:26, 20:2, 21:7, and 21:20 are the other four verses.)
Jesus, knowing what plans he had for John, made sure that John sat next to Him at the Last Supper to be a witness. Jesus has directed John to write letters to the churches which are in Asia: “write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter.” (Rev. 1:11). In a nutshell, that’s past, present, and future. But it’s much more than that: it’s testimony of the past; It’s to be a record of “The things which are;” current observations combined with the Spiritual Gift of discernment. And “the things which shall be hereafter” are clearly prophetic admonishment and encouragement from Jesus Himself to the seven churches.
The Isle of Patmos is little more than a desolate rock island of the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Asia Minor. Seclusion would be an understatement; isolation would be a better description of John’s life on the island. Hardship, for nothing grows on such an island, except for the isolated trees which struggle to gain root. Isolated from family, friends and the churches he loves, the Holy Spirit becomes His constant companion.
John learns to trust even more on the Word of God: “Take no thought for your life; what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body more than raiment...” (Luke 12:22-32). Alone and relying on Jesus, John finds himself in an enviable position, for the Spirit flows through him for this commission to write, and all his needs are supplied.
Likewise, when we find ourselves downtrodden and empty, suffering and without vision, that Jesus comes and fills all the void. Peace for today, and bright hope for tomorrow.
With his brother James, John has received his new name from the pure, Chief Cornerstone of Revelation 2:17, and vindication of sin. “…a new name written.”John Boanerges, which means "son of thunder."
As John continues with his introduction into the Book of Revelation, we come to the “unveiling” of Jesus Christ in His glory. Every eye shall see Him. In Zechariah 12:10 it says “they will look upon me whom they have pierced,” speaking of the Jews. In Isaiah 61:1 we have Israel’s Redeemer with the Spirit of the Lord upon Him, preaching good tidings to the meek; binding up the broken hearted; proclaiming liberty to the captives; and the opening of the prison gates to them that are bound. The eyes of the Jews and everyone will be upon Jesus as He appears to fulfill this prophecy.
The Torah puts this last phrase differently: “…to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the eyes to them that are bound.”
The whole world is going to have their eyes opened to the truth of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Anointed of the Lord God Almighty! As we read of His Revelation to John, this moment will be repeated as Jesus comes to Earth in glory, in the clouds. As the Apostles watch Him go up in a cloud in Acts 1, the angels with them said Jesus would return the same way. And in our first verse of today’s study, Verse 7 of Revelation 1, “Behold, He cometh in clouds…” And the whole earth will see Him. If CNN, MSNBC, and FOX News still exist then, you can bet where their cameras will be aimed! Luke 21 tells us to “Look Up!” when we see all these things coming to pass. Jesus will be coming to save the day, restore the Earth, and bring an end to sin and injustice before mankind destroys itself and the Earth (Mark 13:20, Matthew 24:22).
John then proceeds to tell us of the vision and of its purpose: his mission in writing this book. The Book of Revelation is a prophetic work, but much more than that, it reveals and unveils the Person of Jesus, His thoughts, His attributes, His Power and Glory, and to finalize His plan for salvation.
This Revelation to John continues for 22 chapters, so we can expect an unveiling like no other before. And as the brightness of the Lord become full, mankind will see just how far short we come compared to our glorious Creator.
“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as I am known" -- 1 Corinthians 13:12.
Sunday Morning's Audio Message:
Revelation 1:7-20 - "I AM Alpha and Omega"
Summary/Notes:
In the first chapter of Revelation we read that Jesus appears to the apostle John, who was banished by Rome to the Island of Patmos because of his faith. Jesus tells John to write about what he saw, about the present, and about what will take place in the future. John describes his personal circumstance when Jesus appeared to him and commissioned him to write seven letters to seven churches. He also describes Jesus in His glorified form—these descriptions suggest power, wisdom, and majesty (Revelation 1:9–16).
The churches are represented in this passage as individual lampstands, among which Jesus is standing (Revelation 1:17–20).
The following passages will describe Jesus' message to each of these congregations.
Revelation begins and ends with a prediction of the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Beginning in verse 7, "Behold, he cometh with clouds." What’s the point of that? While it could mean it’s a heavenly origin. He’s coming from the heavens where the clouds are. But I think it’s more than that. In fact, I don’t even think the point here is so much some kind of earthly cloud. I think what this is clouds of glory.
If you go back in the Old Testament, all the way back to Genesis, you read about the Shekinah glory, which was light, light; blazing, shining light, God manifesting Himself in light that could be seen. When Christ returns, the glory won’t be veiled. It says, "every eye shall see him," when He comes, the eyes of His people as well as the eyes of His enemies will see Him.
In verse 8, Jesus speaks to John, "I Am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending," claiming the same honor and power that is ascribed to the Father. John 1:1 tells us that Christ's existence was before all time. "He was with God and He was God." John 1:3 proclaims that "all things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made." So here, Jesus is proclaiming who He is. He is the Almighty, the eternal and unchangeable God.
John is instructed to write in a book all that he has seen to the seven churches in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. These are the churches that John pastored before being banished and imprisoned by Rome on the isle of Patmos, for preaching the Word of God and sharing the testimony of Jesus.
As John turns to see the voice speaking to Him, he sees 7 candlesticks, which represent the seven churches. And Jesus in the midst of them.
John sees a representation of the Lord Jesus Christ in the midst of the golden candlesticks:
His garment: A princely and priestly robe, denoting righteousness and honor.
A golden girdle: The breast-plate of the high priest, on which the names of His people are engraven.
Hair white like wool, white as snow: He was the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:9); His hoary head was a crown of glory.
His eyes a flame of fire: Piercing and penetrating into the hearts of men.
His feet like fine brass: Strong and steadfast, supporting His own interest, subduing His enemies.
His voice like many waters: As the sound of many rivers falling in together.
He had in His right hand seven stars: These are the ministers of the seven churches under His direction.
Out of His mouth came a two-edged sword: His word, which both wounds and heals.
His countenance like the sun: Jesus is the Light of the world - bright, powerful. A light that cannot be subdued with darkness at all.
John is so overwhelmed by His appearance that He "fell at His feet as dead."
Gazing at Jesus, His power, His majesty, His Purity and Righteousness...none can stand before Him....we are undone.
The churches are compared to candlesticks because the hold forth the light of the gospel. Jesus is the light of the world; His gospel is our lamp and the church holds it forth to others.
Written by: Pastor Bob Lawrenz -------------------------------------------------------------------
In our first glance at The Book of Revelation: we are immediately confronted with the title, “The Revelation of St. John the Divine.”
First off, this Book does not reveal St. John, but Christ Jesus our Lord, in all His Glory.
Secondly, St. John is not “the Divine.” He was a man, one of the “sons of thunder” as first described in the Gospel (Matthew 3:17).
The Book is often referred to as the Book of Revelations, or simply “Revelations.” It is not multiple revelations as such, but a singular revelation over time, much like the Bible reveals God from beginning to end.
Languages change over time, so I can’t legitimately argue against words that are already widely accepted. This was translated by men of a different time era, and undoubtedly with minds greater than mine.
But because of minor translation difficulties, and even with the images that are described within this Book, many Pastors shy away from its study, stating that it is too Spiritual a book to try to teach with any authority. I personally think those pastors are incorrect in their opinion, because why would the Holy Spirit supply us with His inspired Word if we were not meant to read it? There is then, I believe, content in this book that is there for every Believer to at least accept and embrace by faith, if not understanding. We are promised a blessing just for reading it!
Jesus said, “In the volume of the book, it is written of me.” (Psalm 40:7). Within the pages and Books of this 66 Book volume, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirt are revealed to every generation, so that we are without excuse (Romans 1:19,20).
The Shema of Judaism is, “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart (mind), and with all thy soul (spirit), and with all thy might (body)” - Deuteronomy 6:4-5.
“Let us make man in our image, after our likeness...” - Genesis 1:26.
Sunday Morning Audio Message:
Revelation 1:1-20 - "I AM Revealed"
Summary/Notes:
Introduction to The Revelation of Jesus Christ:
Revelation is the final book of the Bible - final in time of writing, final in standard canonical order, and final in terms of both historical record and promised fulfillment. This book is the most exciting of all as it records the restoration of all things to God's created perfection in the beginning, and the consummation of all His purposes in creation.
The apostle John is the author of "Revelation" (Greek - apokalupsis, meaning "unveiling of something hidden"). The translation of this word is the same in 1 Corinthians 1:7, "the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ," 1 Peter 1:7, "the appearing of Jesus Christ," and 2 Thessalonians 1:7, "the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven." Revelation is about the unveiling, the appearing, the coming of Christ Himself in all His glory, the full personhood of Jesus Christ.
This book is a revelation of Jesus Christ - a full revelation of Jesus - Past, Present and Future. He is the all-powerful, all-conquering King. While the book also reveals God's judgment, the horrors of the end, and the Antichrist, our focus is on the Revelation of Jesus to us. (1:1). The book depicts Him as the risen, glorified Son of God ministering among the churches (1:10), as “the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth” (1:5), as “the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End” (1:8), as the one “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (1:8), as the First and the Last (1:11), as the Son of Man (1:13), as the one who was dead, but now is alive forevermore (1:18), as the Son of God (2:18), as the one who is holy and true (3:7), as “the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God” (3:14), as the Lion of the tribe of Judah (5:5), as the Lamb in heaven, with authority to open the title deed to the earth (6:1), as the Lamb on the throne (7:17), as the Messiah who will reign forever (11:15), as the Word of God (19:13), as the majestic King of kings and Lord of lords, returning in glorious splendor to conquer His foes (19:11), and as “the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star” (22:16).
Revelation was given to John by God “to show his servants what must soon take place.” This book is filled with mysteries about things to come. It is the final warning that the world will surely end, and judgment will be certain. There are many in the world, and sadly even in the Church, who are skeptics and doubters of the second coming of Jesus Christ. They believe Revelation is insignificant in the Believer's life, yet it is the only book in the Bible where "blessing" is promised to all who read it, hear it and keep what is written (1:3).
Revelation begins with John, the last surviving apostle and an old man, in exile on the small, barren island of Patmos, located in the Aegean Sea southwest of Ephesus. The Roman authorities had banished him there because of his faithful preaching of the gospel (1:9). While on Patmos, John received a series of visions that laid out the future history of the world. While we place the time of this writing at the time of Caeser Nero, others claim it was during the time of Emperor Domitian. Both were cruel and wicked rulers. Both waged a campaign against Christ and the church. During these years the church faced brutal persecution and millions of Christians were put to death.
At the time of his arrest, John was in Ephesus, ministering to the church there and in the surrounding cities. Seeking to strengthen those congregations, he could no longer minister to them in person and, following the divine command (1:11), John addressed Revelation to them (1:4). The churches had begun to feel the effects of persecution; at least one man—probably a pastor—had already been martyred (2:13), and John himself had been exiled. But the storm of persecution was about to break in full fury upon the 7 churches so dear to the apostle’s heart (2:10). To those churches, Revelation provided a message of hope: God is in sovereign control of all the events of human history, and though evil often seems pervasive and wicked men all powerful, their ultimate doom is certain. Christ will come in glory to judge and rule.
John writes to the seven churches (vs.4) - these were real local churches in Asia, but they represent all churches throughout the ages. Blessings - grace and peace come from the whole trinity. He mentions the seven Spirits which are before His throne. This is the work of the Holy Spirit, joined with the Father and with Christ - Our triune God. This is referenced in Isaiah 11:2 as, "The Spirit of the Lord, The Spirit of Wisdom, The Spirit of Understanding, The Spirit of Counsel, The Spirit of Might, The Spirit of Knowledge, and the Fear of the Lord."
For the bulk of its sixty-six books, the Bible portrays a world deep in the throes of suffering. Human beings have had a problem with sin since the fall in Genesis 3, and verse after verse has recorded our problem in painstaking detail. The brilliance of Revelation is that it provides a final answer to this problem, a hope that Jesus will once and for all heal the wounds wrought by sin (Revelation 19), reign for a thousand years on earth (Revelation 20), and then re-create the world into a place that represents God’s original design (Revelation 21–22). While there have been many prophecies given in both the Old and New Testaments, the book of Revelation pulls them all together, filling in the gaps and adding the new revelation that would be needed to guide the church from then until the return of Christ.
In this final book, the church is warned about sin and exhorted to holiness. John’s vivid pictures of worship in heaven both exhort and instruct believers. In few other books of the Bible is the ministry of angels so prominent. Revelation’s primary theological contribution is to eschatology, i.e., the doctrine of last things. In it we learn about: the final political setup of the world; the last battle of human history; the career and ultimate defeat of Antichrist; Christ’s 1,000-year earthly kingdom; the glories of heaven and the eternal state; and the final state of the wicked and the righteous. Finally, only Daniel rivals this book in declaring that God providentially rules over the kingdoms of men and will accomplish His sovereign purposes regardless of human or demonic opposition.
