SS09-26-04.
“ENCOURAGED BY KNOWING GOD.” REV. 1: 1-20.
REVELATION 1: 4-6, 9-11, 12-16, 17-18.
PLEASE OPEN YOU BIBLE TO REVELATION 1.
Unlike most books of the Bible, Revelation contains its own title: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.” Revelation means an uncovering,” “an unveiling,” or “a disclosure.” In all its uses, “revelation” refers to something or someone, once hidden, becoming visible. Four times in the book the author identifies himself as John.
The date of writing was probably near the end of the first century during the final years of Domitian’s reign as Emperor of Rome. He ruled AD 81-96. The book was intended to bless, comfort, and encourage God’s people to be faithful in the midst of trials and difficulties.
Dr. M.R. DeHaan wrote several years ago that there is probably not a book in the entire Bible that is less read and understood than the Book of Revelation. To the average person the last book of the Bible is a deep mystery.
“Yet, if we are willing to believe the book and read it with an unprejudiced mind, it is not only one of the most instructive and important books, but also one of the easiest to understand. The book is an unveiling, a revelation.”
This is the only biblical book that comes with a blessing for the one who reads or listens to it being read and responds in obedience. Rev. 1:3 says, “Blessed is he that readeth, and that hears the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written there in: for the time is at hand.”
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 about 70 miles west-southwest of Ephesus. It was a penal colony for exiled criminals sentenced to hard labor in the rock quarries. The Roman authorities had banished him there because of his faithful preaching of the gospel. John said in vs. 9 that he was exiled for the Word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
When he was arrested, 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, addressed Revelation to them.
The storm of persecution was about to break in full fury upon the seven churches so dear to the apostle’s heart. To those churches, Revelation provided a message of hope.
Revelation 1 contains the prologue to the book, and a magnificent vision of the glorified Christ as He walks among His churches. The first chapter sets the stage for the entire book, and it emphasizes the majesty and glory of the Son of God. Revelation is not a dark book. It is a revelation.
John’s portrait of Christ in the first chapter of Revelation is rather overwhelming. He is the one coming in power and glory as Lord of life and death and judge of all the world. This perspective of Christ should be terrifying to those who don’t believe in Him, but encouraging to those who do believe, especially to those who are suffering for His sake.
PLEASE READ REVELATION 1: 4-6.
When John was exiled to the island of Patmos, he could have been very discouraged. He had been a faithful follower of the Lord all of his life and now was an old man. Had he looked only at his circumstances, he could have been discouraged, but instead he looked to God and his knowledge of God sustained him during the time of isolation and exile.
The Book of Revelation is not only a source of blessing to all who study it, and a revelation, but it is a prophecy of things to come. How all of us would like to look into the future! How man longs to know what is ahead! He has turned to magicians, sooth-sayers, charlatans, crystal-gazers, fortune-tellers and ouija boards in his endeavor to know the future. He has neglected the one and only book, the Bible, which does tell the future without fail.
Thousands of prophecies were fulfilled in the past, and not one failed. There are hundreds of prophecies concerning the first coming of Christ, all of which were fulfilled when He came the first time. Hundreds of years before Jesus was born it was foretold where He would be born, of what tribe, in which province and in what city. His birth, His life, His miracles, His betrayal, His crucifixion, His death, His resurrection after three days and His ascension into heaven were all foretold. The coming of the Holy Spirit and God’s program for the Church were all foretold and fulfilled in minutest detail.
These same prophets, writing at the same time and under the inspiration of the same infallible Spirit, also foretold the course of this age and the coming again of the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet many accept the prophecies of His first coming as being literal because they were literally fulfilled, whereas they spiritualize the unfilled prophecies of His second coming, and argue them away. How inconsistent! The prophecies of His first, and Second advents were written at the same time by the same men, indicted by the same Holy Spirit, and if those which have already come to pass were literally fulfilled, then simple logic must cause us to expect the same literal fulfillment of those which are yet to be fulfilled.
The name of this last book is “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.” In your Bibles you may have the caption, “The Revelation of St. John the Divine,” but that is quite incorrect. That is the name mere men who translated the book gave to it: the book is not the revelation of John, but the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
Remember this simple rule, and it will simplify many otherwise difficult passages. Christ is the subject of the Book, the center and the consummation. Throughout the book He is preeminent, as we shall see, and it ends with the final revelation of Jesus Christ at the end of the Tribulation period and the setting up of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
Remember that it is the revelation of Jesus Christ, and it was given to John to be passed on to us, that we might study it and particularly in these last days, might know what the appalling events in the world today mean in the light of the Scriptures. Remember these rules as you study the book:
Revelation is not a dark book.
2. A special blessing is promised to those who study it.
3. It is a prophetic book, telling of the future.
4. It deals with the final coming of Christ.
The book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ is divided into three well-defined parts as given by the Holy Sprit in Rev. 1: 19: “Write these things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter.”
You will notice the three divisions here: past, present, and future. “The things which thou hast seen” are ch. 1, the vision of the glorious Christ. “The things which are,” cover the present age, the age of the Church. John lived during its early days, and we are living at the close of the same age, called here “the things that are.”
This division ends with ch. 3 with the Laodicean Church, and in Ch. 4:1 the third division begins with the Rapture of the Church at the end of this present age, to be followed by the description of the Tribulation in Ch. 6-19, and closing with the personal glorious appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ spoken of in Revelation 19 and the setting up of His millennial kingdom described in Ch. 20-21.
In vs. 4 Christian believers everywhere faced strong persecution, and John took pen in hand to encourage them with the assurance they still remained in God’s presence. In threatening times Christians can take heart that God is always with them. No matter how desperate the times appear. John knew that God transcended time and stood ready to reassure those who follow Him.
Many Bible students believe the seven spirits before God’s throne represent the work of the Holy Spirit among the seven churches in Asia. The seven-fold work of the Spirit would bring encouragement to those facing persecution because of their faith in Christ as Lord rather than faith in the Roman Emperor Domitian.
In vs. 5 & 6, along with God, John identified Jesus Christ as the source of grace and peace. He described Jesus in three ways. First, Jesus is the faithful witness, a reference to Jesus ministry as a prophet. Jesus, who remained faithful to His Father through death, was the example John’s readers would follow during the difficult times they were facing. Just as He was faithful, so His followers should remain faithful. Second, Jesus is the firstborn from the dead, a phrase referring to His death and resurrection. Many had died for their faith. Jesus is the firstborn of many who would rise from the dead---a truth persecuted believers could grasp for encouragement.
Third, Jesus is the ruler of the kings of the earth, a description reminding John’s readers that the Roman Emperor who threatened their lives did not have ultimate authority. One day he would answer to a greater King in a greater kingdom. Unlike the temporary problems believers were facing on earth, Christ’s kingdom has dominion forever and ever.
John’s assurance that everything would work out in the end was not based on some hope or wish that had no basis in reality. He had faith in the One who loves us and has set us free from our sins. Jesus demonstrated His love for sinners by pouring out His blood for those who deserved death.
On reflecting on all Jesus is and has done, John burst into praise. Facing troubles and trials¸ the churches in Asia needed a heavenly viewpoint of themselves and their roles in God’s world. As a kingdom of priests, redeemed by the blood of Christ, Christians can be ready to face whatever challenges come their way.
PLEASE READ REVELATION 1: 9-11.
Revelation 1 contains one of the most magnificent texts in all the Bible. It focuses on the person and work of Christ. These verses 9-11 are as wonderful source of comfort to us as they were to John. When we suffer and sorrow, we can persevere through the strength we gain from a Savior who is so majestic, glorious and awesome.
If God spoke to you from heaven, what do you think He would say? What would be on His mind? What would He want to talk about? And consider this: What if it were the last time He would speak, His final word? What would He want us to know? God has given us an answer to that question. We call it the Book of Revelation, God’s great unveiling concerning His favorite subject: the Lord Jesus Christ.
This week you may want to study the Book of Revelation more in detail. If so you may want to have a general idea of the main outlines of the book. Ch. 1, as we pointed out, is the picture of the Person of Christ, the center of the book. Chs. 2 and 3 give us the history of the Church pre-written from Pentecost to the Rapture of the Church. This history is seven periods, represented by the seven churches of chs. 2 and 3: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.
These seven churches represent the successive chronological history of professing Christendom. It is a history of declension, apostasy and progressive decline. The history of the professing Church closes with Ch. 3 where Jesus is pushed outside the door.
In the first period of history under the figure of the Church of Ephesus we see the Lord in the Church walking in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, which are the seven churches. In the last days of the Church we see Him pushed outside professing Christendom typified by the Church of Laodicea, knocking at the door from the outside.
He is now outside, having been turned out by the mass of professing Christendom. The door is shut to Him, and the place He should occupy has been taken by social services, the social gospel, banqueting and feasting, bloodless preaching and denial of His deity, atonement, resurrection and coming again. When Christendom shuts the door on earth to Him, something happens in heaven.
Rev. 4:1 speaks of the Rapture of the Church. When all appears to be lost in Laodicea, and it seems that the Gospel will perish from the earth and the preaching of the Gospel is so hindered that it seems hopeless, the door in heaven will open and the Lord will “descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.” The Church will be taken out to be with the Lord.
Now that the present age is almost run out, we can look back and see that these seven churches are a progressive picture of the history of the professing Church from the First Coming of Christ to His Second Coming. Each of them describe in unmistakable detail and clearness a certain period of church history. Even the names are prophetic and revelatory. Remember, therefore, the following order and then see how the names fit in:
Ephesus was the Church of the first century. Smyrna was the persecuted Church of the second and third centuries. Pergamos was the church from 312 AD to 500 AD. Thyatira represents the Church of the Dark Ages, to the sixteenth century. Sardis is the Church of the Renaissance and the Reformation. Philadelphia is the Church of the Revival and Laodicea is the end-time Church of apostasy.
A persecution of Christians broke out in the Roman Empire about AD 90. Originally it was directed against Jews who refused to pay certain taxes. Christians also suffered during this persecution. Emperor Domitian loved to be addressed as “Lord and God.” He found eager support for emperor worship in the province of Asia.
When Christians refuse to participate, they were charged with treason. According to church tradition, when Domitian was put to death in AD 96, John returned to Ephesus and died a natural death around AD 100. John gained insight into the ways of God that he could have learned in no other way.
John was a brother and partner of those being persecuted. There is partnership in suffering for Jesus. John had brothers and partners in the faith who had suffered, so he was not alone. John shared with them “in the tribulation, kingdom, and perseverance in Jesus.” Serving Christ brings pain and suffering. Tribulation means “pressure, trouble, affliction.” Such experiences must not sidetrack our walk with the Lord.
Peter, Paul, and the Lord Himself did their greatest work during a time of extreme suffering and persecution, and so did John. Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 3: 12, that “all those who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
But suffering for Jesus brings great privilege. John spoke of a kingdom, which refers to the kingdom Jesus inaugurated as the suffering Savior. We enter His kingdom by faith and then serve Him as suffering saints. The pain and the praise go together: suffering and reigning are not mutually exclusive. Jesus endured the cross and will someday wear the crown. Suffering before glory must be our way also.
God has a purpose for His suffering people. Perseverance means, “to continue under a heavy load.” We can persevere because we are in Jesus, that is, what happens to us is according to His will. John’s exile on Patmos was no accident and did not catch God by surprise.
When we suffer, we need to draw near to the Savior. When we suffer, we also need to depend completely on the Holy Spirit.
Nothing in the text indicates John sought the experience of suffering. God initiated it. John did not resist, but gave himself over to God’s sovereign control for His purposes. In vs. 11 the loud voice commanded John to write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches. These seven churches were especially dear to the heart of God and to the heart of John.
Christ had a word for His churches. Jesus told His servant John to record His messages to His churches. These messages are in chapter 2-3.
Before Jesus revealed the messages to John, however, He revealed Himself to the exiled apostle through an awesome vision—one that was unlike anything John had ever seen.
John’s vision began with something he heard, not something he saw. He heard behind him a great voice, as of a trumpet. The voice told John, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches.” Those cities in Asia were in a kind of circle. These were real churches of the late first century. We must apply the message that John recorded to Christians of any age, anywhere who suffer for their faith. Thus the message of Revelation is as vital to present-day Christians as it was to its first readers.
PLEASE READ REVELATION 1: 12-16.
The surest thing in the world is neither death nor taxes. The surest thing is the Coming again of the Lord Jesus Christ to reign and rule over the earth and to vindicate and explain His First Coming, when He was rejected and slain. The central theme in ch. 1 is the coming of Christ and the central person is Christ.
Have you ever wondered what Jesus looked like when He walked on this earth? The imagination of a Renaissance painter who portrayed Jesus as a blonde, blue-eyed European is way off the mark. But to be honest, we really don’t know what Jesus looked like during His earthly life. However, would you like to know what Jesus looks like now—the Jesus of today—resurrected, ascended and glorified? Well there is some good news. Three times in Revelation we are given magnificent and breath taking portraits of our heavenly King.
They are not identical, but they are complementary. They describe the Christ in His Glory. John understood our need to see anew the glorified Christ, especially when times are tough and particular crises overtake us. John was in this kind of situation on Patmos. John saw the Lord in all His splendor. John turned to see the voice that was speaking, the One who sounded like a trumpet. What John saw encouraged his heart but according to Rev. 1: 17 also knocked him off his feet, rendering him practically unconscious.
John saw seven gold lamp stands, symbolizing the seven churches. John also saw a person in the midst of the lamp stands—the Son of Man, the Lord Jesus. Both His title and location are significant. The title goes back to Dan. 7: 13-14 and was Jesus’ favorite self-designation. This title occurs 81 times in the Gospels and was Jesus’ messianic title for Himself.
Jesus location is among, not in the middle of the lamp stands. He is there with them. They are not alone; they are not forgotten. Jesus knows what they are going through. He is watching and working in the midst of His churches. Though they may fail Him, He will not fail them.
Then John saw Jesus portrayed in all His splendor. John saw the unveiled, glorified, and exalted Jesus as He truly is, clothed in the apparel of prophet, priest, and king. The symbolism of each item must be understood to fully appreciate what John saw.
Jesus is our Priest. He is dressed in a long robe, and with a gold sash wrapped around His chest. Ex. 28: 4 says priest were to be dressed this way according to the law of Moses. Such apparel signifies that Jesus is our real high priest and points to His work of atonement and intercession on our behalf.
Jesus eyes are like a fiery flame. This speaks of penetrating insight and omniscience. In fiery holiness, the true condition of each church, each Christian, is transparent to the gaze of Jesus’ eyes. Jesus strength is permanent, for His feet are like fine bronze, fired in a furnace. He is strong, solid and stable. His voice is powerful, like the sound of cascading waters. He speaks with power and authority, perhaps reminiscent in John’s mind of the waves continually crashing against the rocks of Patmos.
Jesus protects His servants, for the right hand is the one of authority and honor. Whatever is in His hand is His possession and has his protection. The seven stars are His servants, who are especially protected. The stars are likely a reference to the angels assigned to each of the seven churches, although the pastors of the churches may be in view. Regardless, the stars belong only to Him.
Jesus is the judge: from His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword. This particular sword is sharp on both sides, broad, and heavy: it is mentioned six times in Revelations. The sword is the Word of God, divine in judgment, power, and authority. This represents the power of God’s Word through the Son.
Jesus countenance is overwhelming: His face was shining like the sun at midday. This speaks of His brilliance, holiness, majesty, and awesomeness. John saw Jesus as He, the Son of God, truly is. He is an awesome God, a powerful God, a majestic God. He is a God worthy of our worship, worthy of our service, and worthy of all we can give Him. He is the God whose presence gives us assurance and hope.
PLEASE READ REVELATION 1: 17-18.
John was so overwhelmed by the vision that he fell at Jesus feet as if dead. The exalted Son of man laid his right hand upon John. This reminds us of the way Jesus during His ministry touched people to comfort, encourage, and heal them. Now He touched John. What a touch that must have been! As He touched John, He said words heard over and over through out Scripture to frightened people: Fear not! That means, “stop being afraid.”
The Lord said, I am the first and the last. He is the eternal Word of God who became flesh, and He is the coming King. He had the first word and He will have the last word. “I am He that liveth” means “I am the Living One.” He was dead: and, behold, He is alive for evermore. He was crucified and died on the cross for our sins, but God raised Him from the dead. His resurrection is unique. People such as Lazarus were returned to life, but later they died. Jesus conquered death and has dominion over death. He will never die again, and He offers eternal life to all who repent and believe. Two key words call attention to the importance of these words: behold and amen.
Keys open locked doors. In this case these are the keys of hell and of death. In Rev., Hades always appears with its twin death and may be though of as a horrible monster that swallows up human beings. After the last judgment, Jesus will destroy forever the twin terrors of Death and Hades.
Because Jesus conquered sin, death, and Satan, He will finally dispose of them. In the meanwhile, these evils continue to plague humanity. But, their days are numbered, and the victorious Christ will cast all three into the lake of fire.
Christians should be encouraged in the face of the seeming victories of these evils by the fact that they are sealed and in the strong hands of the Lord. Situations arise—especially where believers are being persecuted---that cause doubts and fears. We should remember at such times that Christ is already the Victor.
Death claims the body, hades claims the soul---but not unless Jesus says so! Remember, He has the keys and thus has complete control over death.
We believe that the clock of this age will soon strike the hour of the coming of the Lord. Laodicea is upon us and the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. May the Lord help us to be ready and to search His own blueprint, the Scriptures, that we may not be ashamed at His Appearing.
According to the Bible this present Church Age will not end in a great revival of religion, in which the masses will accept Christ and the world will be converted. That is man’s dream and Satan’s delusion.
Instead of this, the entire body of Scripture teaches unmistakably that this age will become worse and worse and worse until the Coming again of Christ. Internationally it will become worse and worse, with wars and destruction increasing, and while men talk of peace there will be more wars and destruction. Religiously it will become worse and worse, until the Church of Ephesus with it’s zeal and love and devotion and service has degenerated into the Church of Laodicea with its luke-warmness and apostasy, until God Himself says that He will spew her out of His mouth. There will be no wholesale world-conversion through the channels of preaching and religion and education, but on the contrary, conditions will be worse and worse until Christ comes.
Rev. 2:7 says, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”
NEXT WEEK WE BEGIN A FIVE LESSON STUDY OF PEOPLE WHO RESISTED CHANGE AND PEOPLE WHO ACCEPTED THE CHANGES JESUS OFFERS. WE BEGIN NEXT SUNDAY WITH THE STORY OF THE SINFUL WOMAN WHOSE LIFE WAS CHANGED AND SHE EXPRESSED HER LOVE AND GRATITUDE BY ANOINTING JESUS FEET. LUKE 7: 36-50
A.V. DAUGHERTY altav@swbell.net