Revelation Chapter 1
Sources:
Know Your Bible Series on the Seven churches, Finis Jennings
Dake's "Revelation Expounded", Some Internet Articles and also my own personal
studies.
Different schools of Interpreters:
1. The Preterist School- Claims that the Revelation was fulfilled in the
struggles of the Jews and early Christians and in the conquests of Greece and
Rome.
2. The Historical School – insists that the prophecies herein are being
progressively fulfilled and that the greater part has been fulfilled since
Christ.
3. The Spiritual School – believes that the Revelation depicts the spiritual
conflict between Christ and Satan, between good and evil. They do not take it
literally.
4. The Futurist School – believes that the Revelation is yet future; that is,
that the first three chapters describe the present Church Age and that the
remainder of the prophecy will be fulfilled after the the rapture of the Church.
The last interpretation is the most logical and Scriptural method of
interpretation. All other explanations lead to confusion and disorder. The Cogop
and the Cog both hold to the Futurist School of thought.
There are also 4 different explanations for the seven churches.
1. All seven churches were literal churches that existed in John’s day
2. All seven churches were typical of the different types of churches in that
day and age.
3. All seven churches were typical of different churches in existence
throughtout the world since the time of the writing of Revelation and all seven
represent the different kinds of churches existing today.
4. The seven churches represent seven church age periods. We can only guess
about the time periods. Only the Lord could possibly know what the periods were
for sure. If the Lord tarries His coming, the period would extend and in our
thinking, we would have to keep changing the time frame.
This is not the Revelation of the apostle John but the Revelation of Jesus
Christ. The word Revelation means to unveil or uncover what previously was
hidden. It is meant for us to understand or our savior would never have had it
written. It is a book in the bible that specifically promises us a blessing if
we not only read it but if we keep the words written within its pages. It is not
a book to fear unless one is totally apostate and rebellious against the gospel
of Jesus Christ. There is no reason to fear these things because God has
everything under control and He knows what He is doing. If we ever fear anything
we discuss, we can go to the last chapter and see the final end. WE WIN.
Key to understanding: Verse 19:
Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things
which shall be hereafter;
The things John had seen was the vision of Christ in the 1st chapter. The things
which are in John’s day was the seven churches at that present time and also
this present time because we still live in the church age period. The things
which shall be hereafter is the things that happen in the future after the
church age is over. The things which are is described in chapters 2 and 3.
The things after the churches start in chapter 4. Notice that the church is
not mentioned after chapter 4 of Revelation. I personally believe that is
because the focus has turned back to Israel and the church by the time chapter 4
takes place is already with Jesus. I believe the rapture takes place between
chapter 3 and 4. A lot of people disagree with that but we will get into that
discussion later. It is strange that the church is not mentioned after chapter 3
until the very last chapter in Revelation when we all things are finished and
the final victory over all evil is finished.
Lets read chapter 1.
Rev 1:1 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:
Rev 1:2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus
Christ, and of all things that he saw.
Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this
prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at
hand.
Rev 1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and
peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the
seven Spirits which are before his throne;
Rev 1:5 And 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,
Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be
glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Rev 1:7 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.
Rev 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord,
which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
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,
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;
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.
Rev 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a
sharp two-edged sword and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his
strength.
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:
Rev 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore,
Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Rev 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and
the things which shall be hereafter;
Rev 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and
the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven
churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
We will start with the introduction. This Revelation is given by
God to Jesus Christ to show to his servants things that will shortly come to
pass. God gave this to Jesus and Jesus gave this to John by an angel. The
Revelation belongs to Jesus. We see here a different Jesus than the meek and
mild savior who died on the cross. Now we see Jesus ready to bring warning and
judgment to those who take lightly His word and reject His salvation that was
paid for by His own blood. He is ready to take vengeance on those who persecute
and put to death His servants. His servants are given this prophecy. It is not
given to the world nor to the enemies of the gospel but to His servants.
Servants of Christ are those that have their sins washed by the blood of Jesus
and who obey His calling.
The beloved disciple John was chosen to receive and write this prophecy. John
was banished to the isle of Patmos for preaching the word of God. Tradition
tells us that he was cast into a cauldron of boiling oil in which he
miraculously survived and then was banished to this island. This island is seen
on the map near the part of Asia Minor where the seven churches are located.
The purpose of this book is to show his servants what is to come to pass. This
book was written for us to read and understand if we call ourselves servants of
Jesus Christ. I’ve always heard that God never brings a severe judgment without
first warning His faithful remnant of what is to come.
The first three centuries after the resurrection of Jesus Christ most Christians
believed in the rapture of the church. Since it seemed as if Jesus delayed His
coming or it seemed that He wasn’t coming back, many began to think this book
was just an allegory which is a fictional account based on apparent truth, such
as a fable. Unfortunately some today are ignoring this book and assuming that it
isn’t for us today just like some ignore the gifts of the spirit assuming it is
not for today.
This type of thinking came from Augustine. Augustine’s thinking is what started
the movement in the Middle Age Church to conquer the world and bring the people
into the church. This “Kingdom Now” teaching was that the church was to bring in
the kingdom of God on the earth. There are some among the Charismatic movement
that are starting to teach this way because they think the Lord has delayed His
coming. They built their kingdom by the use of force.
This common thinking invaded all of the Christian church and they no longer
taught the rapture or the tribulation. We are blessed if we read and keep what
applies to us by obeying what is written in this book. This book is definitely
the very word of God. This book contains sound doctrine and truth straight from
the throne of God. I emphasize that not to take away from the other books but to
make sure that we understand that this book is not to be ignored and passed off
as an allegory.
When I was a child, all I heard was about the coming of the
Lord. Now I hear more about what God can do for me and what I personally can get
out of God. What’s in it for me rather than being thankful to escape hell and
have my sins forgiven.
The Salutation
The apostle John is the one who wrote these words down and sent it to the
seven churches in Asia which is around the area of modern day Turkey.
The letter is from Him who is, who was and who is to come. This shows us that
God truly is eternal as is the Son of God Jesus Christ. The seven spirits are
really the whole office of the Holy Spirit which is complete spiritual
perfection. The fullness of the spirit.
Then we see Jesus seen as the faithful witness referring to His ministry on
earth in teaching, preaching, and healing as the prophet and witness of God. He
represented God and spoke for God. He is then seen as the first begotten of the
dead. Actually the resurrection starts with the resurrection of Jesus. He is the
first fruits. Our resurrection will actually be a continuation of what Jesus
began when He was resurrected.
We know Enoch, Elijah and Moses are in heaven but I don’t believe they have
their new resurrected bodies yet or at least they didn’t during the time before
Christ was resurrected or else He wouldn’t have been the first fruits. Some
believe Enoch and Elijah are being preserved in their natural bodies in order to
come as the two witnesses in Revelation who will be killed. Some believe Moses
is one of them but since he died a natural death, he would have to die twice.
The bible says that we die once and after that the judgment. Of course we will
get to the two witnesses later when we get into the book of Revelation further.
The best we can say though is that we do not know for sure. Some believe the
apostle John didn’t really die and he is one of them. We just have to wait and
see. Since they were seen as the two olive trees in the book of Zechariah, some
believe they are two men who had lived before that point in time and that would
not include John.
The word trinity is not used here but we can see that there is a Father, Son and
Holy Spirit in heaven from these verses. We also see that that Jesus is He who
loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood. Here is the verse that
contains the price paid for our salvation. Surely with such a price, there is no
other way of salvation. He is eternal as is the Father.
The exaltation
He made us kings and priests unto God. From now on there is no need for
earthly priests to intercede on behalf of any believer because once the blood of
Jesus is applied to us, we become kings and priests to God. Since the apostle
Paul said that in Christ there is neither male nor female, bond or free, Jew or
Gentile, it means all of us who believe and obey the Son of God.
This may conflict a little with the teaching of a husband being priest of the
home I know the Mormon and Fundamental Latter day saints teaches this but I have
never yet seen it in scriptures and I hope someone looks it up and proves me
wrong. The word priest isn’t used in Ephesians when it speaks of husband and
wife, neither is it used in the words of Peter when he speaks of the husband and
wife. That is one place I disagree with them in all due respect. I just don’t
see it. I invite anyone to prove me wrong. I want scriptural proof of
anything if I am to accept it. Jesus’ work on the cross actually recreated us.
If we are recreated in His image, now much more of a responsibility do we have
to live holy and be a better representative of His spirit living within us.
The chief theme
"Behold He comes with clouds."
Some bible theologians believes the clouds mentioned here are the raptured
saints that return with Him at His second coming. That would mean that He came
for them a few years or months earlier than that coming. This coming is
described in the book of Jude.
Jude 1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying,
Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
Jud 1:15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly
among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of
all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
Every eye shall see him and the descendants of those who
pierced him.
Zec 12:9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy
all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
Zec 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of
Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me
whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his
only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for
his firstborn.
The Eternity of the Son of God
Jesus is also eternal with no beginning or end just like the Father.
Alpha means beginning and Omega means ending. Jesus was with God in the
beginning and is now at the Father’s right hand. I don’t see how anyone can
study these scriptures and not believe in the triune Godhead.
The Prophet
We already mentioned that John was the writer and that he was banished to
the isle of Patmos because of his testimony or because he was preaching the
gospel. He was in the Spirit which means He was in a spiritual trance or had a
vision of this. Most bible scholars believe the Lord’s day means simply a
Sunday.
Dake believes this to be the case since Sunday was believed to be the day of the
resurrection of Jesus. I personally have a little trouble with that explanation.
I don’t see how Sunday is any more the Lord ’s Day than any other day of the
week. I’m one of those the esteem every day alike. Since we worship on a Sunday,
I usually set aside that day to do nothing else that doesn’t involve the church
but if we had church on a Thursday, I would do the same thing. I know is was
resurrected the first day of the week but the calendar has changed since then so
I don’t know if we really know which day that was. However, practically all
bible theologians disagree with me on that score.
Peter speaks of the day of the Lord
2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the
which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall
melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be
burned up.
I think it has something to do with the latter day of the Lord when judgment
comes.
1Thessalonians 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so
cometh as a thief in the night.
1Th 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction
cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the
great and dreadful day of the LORD:
Mal 4:6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the
heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a
curse.
We see then that the day of the Lord is one of judgment.
So John is clearly the prophet and he was instructed to write this in a book and
send it to the messengers of the seven churches in Asia. Many churches preach
the positive part of the gospels but neglect this important message from Jesus
Himself. Not all the words of Jesus are positive. He speaks many negative
messages. If we only teach the positive things we are not truly representing
Jesus.
I will quote from the Cogop book, “Many of the evils and shortcomings which
exist in the church today are a direct outgrowth of neglect of the solemn
instruction given to these seven churches.”
I agree with that statement. I plan to share a lot from that book.
Key to interpretation,
Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things
which shall be hereafter; verse 19.
The vision of Christ
In verse 12 we see John turning toward the voice he heard speaking and
saw seven golden candlesticks and Jesus in verse 13 standing in the middle of
the candlesticks. Here we see Christ the foundation of the church and one who
walks in the middle of the churches. The seven candlesticks are the churches. Do
you think we meet here every week and He is does not know what goes on?
In verses 14-16 we see not a gentle Jesus meek and mild but a gloried Jesus who
is God with power and glory, honor and strength like no other John had ever
seen. His head and hair was white and pure, His eyes were a flame of fire that
sees all things. His voice like many waters and feel like fine brass. Here is
power and authority. We want to be on the side of this one. I wouldn’t want to
face judgment on the wrong side of Jesus Christ. This is awesome.
In His hand was seven stars or the seven messengers to the church. Most probably
the pastors because how could John send a letter to a literal angel.
He was very bright and hard to look upon. He was once humiliated but now He
comes with judgment.
Out of His mouth went a sharp two edged sword. Double in strength of the word of
God. We are judged by the word of God. That is why we continually stress the
need to study and read the word of God.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any
two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and
of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the
heart.
John 12:47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not:
for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
Joh 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that
judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last
day.
In verse 17, John’s reaction was to fall down and was like he was dead. He
was overwhelmed by the awesome presence of God. We too would react this way.
Daniel also reacted this way in the book of Daniel.
Jesus reminds us here that He is the same Jesus who was flesh and lived as a
natural man and was dead but resurrected forevermore. He has the keys to hell
and death. No man has these keys but Christ alone. No man can say whether we
enter heaven or hell.
In verse 20 the mystery is explained. If we search, God usually explains His own
mysteries.
In the Seven churches of Asia book, I quote: “The churches as candlesticks
indicates their responsibility as dispensers of the light of God’s word and
will.”
What a responsibility. Do we really think we can just come here and teach
anything and waste God’s precious time with nonsense? This is awesome.
The stars also represent light or bearers of light. To be called to pastor a
church is an awesome responsibility. We should do everything in our power to
help them and make their load easier. What a heavy task they must have.
Revelation 2
©Old Paths Lighthouse 2008
Any articles or studies copyrighted by Old Paths Lighthouse can be copied and
shared as long as nothing is changed or altered in any manner.
