Revelation 1

Chapter 1 THE LORD OF THE CHURCH THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST - CHRIST

1. THE SERVANT OF GOD. 1:1-10

Revelation 1:1-10

1. THE SERVANT OF GOD. 1:1-10

A. The source of the message. 1:1-2

B. The promise of the message. 1:3

C. The receivers and greetings of the message. 1:4-5

D. The centre of the message. 1:5-8

E. The place of the message. 1:9

F. The time and sound of the message. 1:10

A. THE SOURCE OF THE MESSAGE. 1:1-2

V.1 a) Giving of the Revelation -

I. Revelation is a book that reveals who Christ is after His resurrection.

A. His glory, wisdom and power. Ch.1

B. His authority over the church. Ch.2-3

C. His Divinity and redemptive power. Ch.5

D. His Lordship and right to judge. Ch.6-19

II. The revelation of Christ’ s Titles:

1. The Faithful Witness. 1:5; 3:14

2. The Firstborn from the dead. 1:5

3. The Ruler over the kings of the earth. 1:5

4. The Son of man. 1:13

5. The First and the Last. 1:11, 17; 22:13 6. He who lives. 1:18

6. The Son of God. 2:18

7. He who is Holy and He who is True. 3:7

8. The Amen. 3:14

9. The Beginning of the creation of God. 3:14

10. The Lion of the tribe of Judah. 5:5

11. The Root of David. 5:5; 22:16

12. The Lamb. 5:12

13. Male Child. 12:5

14. Faithful and True. 19:11

15. The Word of God. 19:13

16. King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 19:16

17. Alpha and Omega. 1:11; 22:13

18. The Beginning and the End. 22:13

19. The Bright and Morning Star. 22:16

20. Jesus Christ. 1:1

21. The Lord. 22:21

III. Revelation (Gr. apokalypsis) means disclosure.

The veil is taken away and the things behind the veil is now visible.

IV. Revelation begins and ends with the words “ The things which must shortly take place” . 1:1; 22:6

V. Revelation is a book full of signification (Types and symbols), the whole Bible reveals the interpretation of its many pictures.

VI. The Father gives the Son revelations, John 5:20; 7:16; 12:49; 14:10; 17:7, 8 Jesus then gives His servants Divine revelations and the Holy Spirit brings the revelations. Matt. 11:27; John 1:18; 5:19-20; 12:49; 16:13; 17:8 VII. Revelation was not only given to John but to God’ s servants.

V.2 b) Guarantor of the vision. I. John testifies concerning 3 things in Revelation:

1. The Word of God. (What he heard)

2. The Testimony of Jesus Christ. (Whom he experienced)

3. The vision he saw. (What he saw)

B. THE PROMISE OF THE MESSAGE. 1:3

V.3 c) Graces bestowed upon the readers -

I. Revelation begins with a special blessing on its Readers and ends with a special curse on those who try to Ruin it. 22:18-19

II. 7 blessings in Revelation:

1. Blessed is he that reads this prophecy. 1:3

2. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. 14:13

3. Blessed is he that watches (for the Lord’s coming). 16:15

4. Blessed are those invited to the marriage supper. 19:9

5. Blessed is he that has part in the first resurrection. 20:6

6. Blessed is he that keeps the words of this book. 22:7

7. Blessed are they that wash their robes. 22:14

III. 3-fold thing to be done to experience this blessing:

Read it, hear it and keep it.

IV. Revelation begins and ends with the words “ The time is at hand” . 1:3; 22:10

The word “ time” (Gr.kairos) is not referring to a clock time but to a specific seasonal period.

V. God desires to reveal His plan to man. Dan.2:28; Amos 3:7; Matt.11:25; Luke 8:10 C. THE AND OF THE MESSAGE. 1:4-5

V.4 d) Greeting to the 7 churches -

I. The 7 churches are: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicia.

II. 5 things concerning grace and peace:

1. Grace is the Greek way of greeting and peace is the Hebrew way of greeting.

2. There can be no peace before grace.

3. Revelation begins and ends with grace. 22:21

Grace only appears twice in Revelation.

4. Unbelievers experiences the wrath of Revelation while believers the grace in Christ Jesus.

5. Revelation was written to give peace and not worry and fear.

III. 3-fold greeting:

1. The Eternal Father. “ Who is and who was and who is to come”

2. The Enlightening Spirit.

3. The Exalted Christ.

IV. In Ex.3:14 “ I Am” is mentioned thrice and here He is referring thrice to Himself.

V. In Revelation the Spirit is referred to 24 times.

1:4, 10; 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:1,6, 13, 22; 4:2, 5; 5:6; 11:11; 14:13; 16:13, 14; 17:3; 18:2; 19:10; 21:10; 22:17

VI. The 7-foldness of the Spirit describes His manifold operations. Isaiah 11:2 A. Who he is. 1:5, 8

B. What he has done. 1:5-6

C. What he will do. 1:7

V.5 e) Governor of all -

I. Christ is: 3 expressions from Psalms 89

1. The Faithful witness - Reliability. Psalms 89:37

2. The First resurrected - Resurrection. Psalms 89:27; Acts 26:23; Col.1:18

3. The Foremost - Reign. Psalms 89:36 II. Christ did:

4. The Freedom from sin by His love - Redemption.

V.6 f) Glory to God -

I. Kingdom of priests. Rev. 5:10; 20:6; Ex.19:6; Isaiah 61:6; 1.Peter 2:5, 9 We are born in Christ to be a kingdom of priests, priests after the order of Melchizedek.

II. The magnification of God increases in Revelation:

A. Glory and dominion. 1:6

B. Glory, honour and power. 4:11

C. Blessing, honour, glory and power. 5:13

D. Blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honour, power, might. 7:12

V.7 g) Gazing of all -

5. The Future repentance of all.

I. Revelation begins referring to the 2nd Coming of Christ in 1:7 and ends with it in 22:20

II. O.T. Scriptural references to the visible Coming of Christ. Dan.7:13-14; Isaiah 40:5; Zech.12:10-14 III. Jesus appears visible on the earth and it causes man to repent. Matt.24:27, 30; Acts 1:9-11; Zech.12:10 IV. Israel will be saved during the appearing of Christ. Rom.11:26-27 V. Verses in Revelation referring to His Coming. 1:4, 8; 2:5, 16; 3:11; 4:8; 16:15; 22:7, 12, 20 V.8 h) Greatest of all -

7. The First and the Finality

I. It’ s a reference to Jesus. 1:10-13; 22:12-16

II. He is the Alpha and Omega - The first and last letter of the Greek alphabet.

A. All tings are created through Christ and will be joined in Christ. Eph.1:10; Col.1:15-17 B. He is the Originator and Terminator of all things.

C. He is the communication between man and God.

D. He is the One all things centres around in Scripture - The Word of God.

E. In Him is the only language that can reach God.

III. Almighty is used 9 times in Revelation, 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7, 14; 19:6, 15; 21:22, its only used 1 time outside of Revelation in the N.T. in 2.Cor.6:18 IV. Revelation begins with revealing that Jesus is Almighty, to assure to all believers that all things are under His control, even the great tribulation.

V. Almighty is connected to “ Who is and who was and who is to come”

He is the Almighty of the present, the past and the future, He is able to fulfil His promises.

VI. O.T. references. Isaiah 41:4; 44:6; 48:12; Ex.3:14 VII. Alpha and Omega, Beginning and the Ending - His Providence.

Who is and who was and who is to come - His Presence.

Almighty - His Power.

V.9 a) Restriction of the apostle -

I. The 7 churches were also persecuted like John.

II. The book of Revelation is a book that deals with the kingdoms.

Revelation is a period where Christ enforces His kingdom dominion on man, it’ s a period when He ends the kingdoms of the world.

III. God’ s patience on man because of Christ’ s sacrifice has lasted for thousands of years but during the Revelation period God’ s patience ends and His judgment begins.

IV. The Roman government isolated John on Patmos and thereby thought they could silence His message of Christ, but on Patmos the last book of the Bible is written, one of the most detailed revelation of the resurrected Christ is given on this island. V. Titus destroyed Jerusalem in 70 A.D. and his brother Domitian exiled John to Patmos 95 A.D. where God showed John the new Jerusalem? V.10 b) Rapture in the Spirit -

I. In the Spirit occurs 4 times in Revelation. 1:9; 4:2; 17:3; 21:10

“ In the Spirit” is referring to a trance, a vision occurs like a film, but a trance is different, it’ s like a real experience, yet it is not.

II. The Lord’ s Day is perhaps referring to the future day of the Lord’ s judgment - The Day of the Lord, others sees it as Sunday. John is seeing in a trance the yet future Day of the Lord or sees the vision on a Sunday.

III. Voice like a trumpet. Num.10:1-10; Isaiah 58:1 His voice is like a trumpet because of the importance and severity of what He has to say, is like a trumpet because He is calling the assembly of His saints together to listen to His words.

IV. Tabernacle or Temple reference: The call to the feast of trumpets.

A. Revelation refers to 3 of the last unfilled feasts of Israel. Lev. Ch.23 The 3 first is already fulfilled, the 4th is being fulfilled and 3 last feasts will be fulfilled during the period of the Revelation.

1. Feast of Trumpets. 1:10; 4:1; 8:2 The call to prepare the people for the Cleansing of the Day of Atonement and the Day of tabernacles. In Revelation we see God announcing the Lord’ s Coming to cleanse and to dwell among man.

2. Feast of the Day of Atonement. 5:6 The cleansing of the sanctuary, the priests and the nation. In Revelation the Lamb of God begins to clean up the world, some will be judged and others will be saved.

3. Feast of Tabernacles. Ch.7 & 20-22 The dwelling in booths and the fruit harvest. In Revelation God brings in the last harvest on earth, He also judges the world because it is ripe and full to receive judgment. Gen.15:16. At the end of Revelation God dwells among men

B. The voice of Jesus sounds like a trumpet at the beginning of the book to prepare the readers for its message.

Revelation 1:11-20

2. The Son of God. 1:11-20

V.11 c) Record in a book -

I. All what he saw and heard was to be written down except the 7 thunders.10:1-5

II. 12 times John is told to write in Revelation. 1:11, 19; 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14; 14:13; 19:9; 21:5 III. To be sent to 7 churches in Asia (Modern Turkey). V.12 d) Responding to the voice -

I. The 3 levels of responding to God.

Hearing - Turning - Seeing.

II. Tabernacle or Temple reference: The golden lampstand. Ex.25:31-40; Zech.4:2 A. Lampstands are used to give light in a dark place.

B. Churches and individuals are light in the world. Matt.5:14-16 III. “I saw” appears 44 times in Revelation (1:12; 4:1, 4; 5:1, 2, 6, 11;

6:1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12; 7:1, 2, 9; 8:2, 13; 9:1, 17; 10:1; 13:1, 3, 11; 14:1, 6, 14; 15:1, 2, 5; 16:13; 17:3; 18:1; 19:11, 17, 19; 20:1, 4, 11, 12; 21:1, 2, 8

V.13 a) The High priest of the Church -

I. Jesus is in the midst and the centre of the Church. Matt.18:20 He is the Lord, the High Priest, the Head of the Body, He is the One all things centres around. Col.1:15-18 II. That Jesus stands in the midst of the 7 churches could also be referring to it in a geographical way, the 7 churches is roughly placed in a circle.

III. Revelation begins with Jesus as the centre of the Church and ends with Jesus as the centre of all things. 22:1-5

IV. Jesus is the Son of God in heaven but also the Son of man, He is the last Adam in heaven and has a human body which is glorified. 85 times “ Son of man” occurs in the Gospels, 83 times claimed by Christ. John 20:24-29; 2 John 7; 1.Cor.15:44-49; Dan.7:13-14 V. Tabernacle or Temple reference:

The high priestly office. Ex. Ch.28-29 The white garment of the high priest. Ex.28:39-41 The priest stood in front of the golden lampstands in the temple of Solomon, they tended and refilled the lamps with oil, they made sure they continued to burn. Jesus also has this ministry of tending, cleaning and refilling the lampstands so that the churches will continue to burn

VI. Around His chest is a golden band, could be referring to the purity of heart and His ministry as High Priest or Judge.

VII. The High Priest’ s 3 primary ministries:

1. He Intervenes by offering sacrifices. 1:5
2. He Intercedes with prayers, he touches the deep needs of man. 1:17
3. He Inspects the lamps in the holy place. 1:13 V.14 b) The Ancient of days -

I. His Head is white because of the strong light coming from Him, it also speaks of His purity as the Head of the Church.

II. His hair is white could speak of His age, He has always existed, He is the First and the Alpha. Dan.7:9-14 III. His eyes like fire because He sees all things and His eyes penetrates all things, Heb.4:13; Deu. 4:24; Jer.17:10 but His love also steadily beholds His people and bride with a fierce and serious love. Songs 8:6 V.15 c) The Judge of all -

I. His feet is like burning brass because of His position as the Judge (Brass speaks of judgment in Scripture. Deu.28:22-23), in the period of the Revelation He begins to judge the world. Ezek.1:27; 8:2 A. He judges the Church. Ch. 2-3

B. He judges the whole earth. Ch.4-16 C. He judges Babylonianism. Ch.17-18 D. He judges the world rulers at Armageddon.19:19-21 E. He judges Satan. 20:1-3, 10 F. He judges the earth during the Millennium. 20:4-6 G. He judges the rebellious at the end of the Millennium. 20:7-9 H. He judges all the unbelievers at the end. (From Adam to the end) 20:11-15 II. His voice is like many waters because of the loudness of His voice, the message is very important and demands great attention. Ezek.43:2 The many waters can also be a reference to speaking in many languages.

V.16 d) The Lord of the Church -

I. The 7 angels (stars) v.20 are in His right hand because the angels are working out His purposes in the churches.

II. From His mouth goes a two-edged sword because of His judgments. Psalms 149:6; Isaiah 11:4; 49:2; Rev.19:15; 2.Thess.2:8; Heb.4:12 The two edges could be referring to: A. The commandments that condemns man and slays flesh - Its all by works

B. The grace of the Gospel that slays the old man and condemns the flesh - Its all by grace. III. The glory coming from Him was hard to look at and speaks of his now glorified position.

IV. The church has light as from lampstands, the angels as from stars but Christ as like the sun.

V.17 a) First and the Last -

I. John was slain and powerless, the present physical body cannot encounter such glory without being weakened. Acts 9:3-4; Dan.10:7-12 II. In seeing Jesus in all of His glory, strength, power, holiness, purity, righteousness and as the Judge of all, we need also to remember He is also the loving High Priest that takes man by the shoulders and raises them up. The same hand that held the 7 stars, that has a pierced hole in it now takes graciously hold on him. Heb.2:15-18; 4:14-16; 7:24-25; 10:19-23 III. John is experiencing His loving Saviour as He had done previously more than 60 years earlier, the One that reaches out and touches the needy one. Matt.8:14-15; 9:27-29; 17:7; Luke 5:12-13; 7:14; 22:51; John 9:6 V.18 b) Forever Liveth -

I. I am the resurrected Christ.

II. I have the keys of Hades and Death, I have conquered Hades and Death by a sinless life and everyone who dies in Me and resurrects in Me goes from death to life, from the kingdom of Hades to the kingdom of Heaven. Rom.5:14, 17, 21;6:1-11, 23; 7:5, 13; 8:2 Heb.2:14-15; Matt.16:18; John 5:28 III. There are 5 keys mentioned in Scripture:

1. The keys of the kingdom. Matt. 16:19
2. The key of knowledge. Luke 11:52
3. The key of Hades and Death. Rev.1:18
4. The key of the throne of David. Rev. 3:7
5. The key to the bottomless pit. Rev. 9:1; 20:1 III. Death and Hades have gates. Psalms 9:13; Matt.16:18 V.19 c) Fine Lay out -

This verse is the Divine outline to the book.

I The things which you have seen. (Past tense) Ch.1

II. The things which are. (Present tense) Ch.2-3

III. The things which will take place after this. (Future tense) Ch.4-22

V.20 d) Flaming Lampstand -

I. The mystery of the 7 churches and stars explained.

A. The 7 lampstands represents the 7 churches, the lampstands is a type of all His people in the church.

B. The 7 stars represents the 7 angels, the stars are types of real angels that serves as His right hand in the churches.

The Greek word “aggelos” meaning a messenger is used only for angels and never for man in the book of Revelation.

II. The 7 lampstands (Gr. luchnia) are different from the 7 lamps (Gr. lampas) before the throne 1:4; 3:1; 4:5; 5:6.

A. The lampstands in Greek is a different word used than the lamps before the throne.

B. The 7 lampstands are people (churches) and the lamps are called 7 Spirits.

C. The lampstands are on earth and the lamps are in heaven.

D. The lampstands are placed in cities and the lamps are sent into all the world.

E. The 7 angels (stars) are not the 7 Spirits for they are distinguished in 3:1

III. The angels shine like stars which is a steady and certain light while the churches shines like lampstands which can be unstable and uncertain. Stars shine in the heaven while lampstands on earth.