Note: I used many sources to study this book, one of my favorites is Revelation: God’s Word for the Biblically-Inept by Daymond Duck and some out of different study bibles.
Title: Revelation 1
Theme: Introduction and theme of the book
Chapter(s) 1: 'The things which thou hast seen 2-3: 'The things which are'
4-22: 'The things which shall be hereafter'
Revelation 1:1. The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to shew unto his servants (one who follows Jesus) things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel (a heavenly being that serves God) unto his servant John:
Important Facts:
Title: The Revelation of Jesus Christ Revelation apokalupsis {ap-ok-al'-oop-sis } Apocalypse = translated as- revelation 12, be revealed 2, to lighten + 1519 1, manifestation I coming 1 appearing 1; 18
Definition of: 2) a disclosure of truth, instruction 2a) concerning things before unknown 2b) used of events by which things or states or persons hitherto with symbols
made visible to all 3) manifestation, appearance
1)the revealing of Jesus Christ and/or 2) the revealing of what Christ is going to do in the Church age (the time from the Day of Pentecost until the church is raptured (taken to heaven with Christ)
Author: John (presumably John the son of Zebedee)
Given by: (1) God to (2) Jesus Christ to (3) the angel to (4) John to give to (5) Church
God gives all to the Son a statement that we see a lot of in the book John.
John 3:35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. John, 5:20-26; John 7:16 Jesus answered them and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.; John 8:28
Why? "to shew.., unto his servant things which must shortly come to pass" must-absolute surety of fulfillment of divine purposes
shortly-as in 2 Peter 3:8 in God's time and not ours. But it also shows the immediacy of its coming.
2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
His authority 1) he was a servant of Jesus Christ. But also he bore record of the ""Word of God and the testimony or witness of Jesus Christ. Notice this was done by his own selves. ¬Beatitudes of Revelation
3. Blessed [is] he that a) readeth, and they that b) hear the words of this prophecy, and c) keep those things which are written therein: for the time [is] at hand.
Mentioned 7 times in Revelation
Revelation 1:3, Revelation 14:13,Revelation 16:15, Revelation 16:19, Revelation 16:9, Revelation 20:6, Revelation 22:7, Revelation 22:14
blessed-happy
Reminder of Matthew 5 The Beatitudes of scripture.
Understand that during this time and the early church there were not an abundant number of scriptures so many times hearing was the only way of knowing instead of reading
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16 AV)
4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia:(Represents totality of Christian church, must have been the main ones because this book got out) Grace (Greek) [be] unto you and peace (Hebrew), from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits (completion of Holy Spirit) which are before his throne:
Seven churches of Asia minor. We will see these named later on. God had a special emphasis on these churches.
Here we see the mention of the Holy Spirit "seven Spirits” maybe gifts
Seven Spirits of Is 11:2
spirit of the Lord-nature of Jesus
spirit of wisdom-the ability to make right decisions
spirit of understanding-ability to understand everything
spirit of counsel-ability to give sound doctrine
spirit of might-power to do what God wants
spirit of knowledge-ability to know beyond human comprehension
spirit of the fear of the Lord-ability to respect God’s will
The assurance of this grace is the fact that it is given by the Father "him which is, and which was, and which is to come" the eternity of God. Then in the next verse we will see Jesus Christ the son
We will see that the number seven will take a prominent place in the book of Revelation as it has in the whole Bible.
403 in scripture; 330 OT; 65 NT 35 in Revelation
Old Testament Usage:
1) The Sabbath
2) Circumcision and worship around the seventh day
3) God told the Israelites to march around Jericho seven times.
4) Naaman was instructed to dip seven times in the Jordan
5) Seven years of pleasant and seven years of famine in the time of Joseph
6) Nebuchadnezzar was insane for seven years
New Testament
1) Seven Beatitudes
2) Seven petitions of the Lord's prayer
3) Seven parables in Mt 13
4) Seven loaves fed the multitude
5) Jesus seven sayings from the cross
6) Then the many times in the book of Revelation
5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, 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 hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father, to him the glory and the dominion unto the ages of ages. Amen
S even titles
1) Faithful witness-faithful to the fathers will and the things of this book 1st coming
2) First begotten of the dead-He was the first to rise from the dead and never die again
I Thessalonians 4.14 2nd coming rapture
3) The prince {ruler} of the kings of the earth-Ultimate: position during the Millenium
Philippians 2:9 3rd coming reign
4) Unto him that loved us actually' reads better and in the Greek reads "to him that
loves us" so it shows an everlasting love
5) Washed {loosed)? us from our sins in his own blood 1 Peter 1:18,19
6) And hath made us kings and priests (a kingdom of priests} unto God and his Father
has made us a kingdom and priests.
7) To Him the glory and the dominion unto the ages of ages. Amen eternity of
Christ
Threefold purpose of Christ here on earth: Prophet-faithful witness. priest-first begotten of the dead, king-prince of the kings
Sin leaves a stain upon the soul in which nothing can get it out except for the blood of Jesus Christ. I like the commercials talking about I believe it is Spray' n Wash it is advertised to get out almost anything but only the blood of Christ Jesus can remove everything.
Kings speak of our ability to overcome this world
Priests speaks of our ability to access God
Both go hand in hand. if we could not overcome this world then our priesthood would be
useless. And if we did not have access to God then why overcome this world.
7 Behold, he cometh with clouds(cf. Mt 24:30); 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.
Cf. Daniel 7:13,Zechariah 12:10
When will all know that Christ is who he said he is? When will the doubters be silenced When he comes in the clouds.
8 I am Alpha and Omega (A and Z), the beginning and the ending (His eternity and immutability), saith the Lord (the authority), which is, and which was and which is to come, the Almighty. (Finally to sum it all up he is the almighty.)
Completion of the greetings to the seven churches.
9.1 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 (place written), for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Tribulation of the Church age
Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, [and] exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
God used a place of exile to give one of the greatest visions for the church.
10 I was in the Spirit(all scripture is inspired of the Spirit) on the Lord's day(referred to in the New Testament considered Sunday, if it had been any other day such as the Sabbath he would have said so), and heard behind me a great voice as a trumpet, (voice of Christ) Thes. 4:6 Christ voice during the second coming
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.
We will read more about these churches in the next two chapters The Vision. But God chose them out of the many for particular reasons, present, future, spiritual purposes.
12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; (symbo1s of the seven churches see vs. 20)
13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks (lampstands ((there were no candlesticks during this time it was the closest translation that the people of the day would understand)) taken care of by the Hiqh priests, trimmed (pruned) and used) [one] like unto the Son of man (CF. Dan 7:13), clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps (chest) with a golden girdle.
Daniel 7:13 Daniel saw this vision
This shows the priesthood of Christ. Describes the clothes of a High Priest (Exodus 28:2-4)Christ is our High Priest. He is not joined by others but he is the ultimate High Priest
Notice where his position is. He is among, in the midst of the churches. He is in the midst.
14 His head and [his] hairs [were] white like wool(symbolism), as white as snow: and his eyes were] as (symbolism) a flame of fire; 15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
Description of Christ
1) Clothed in garment down to foot
2) girt about the paps with a golden girdle-judgment in truth High Priest
3) His head and hairs were white as wool and snow-eternal existence
4) eyes were as a flame of fire-His penetrating insight and eyewitness knowledge of the
total life of the church
5) feet were as brass as if they were burned in a furnace-judgement 2 Cor 5:10
6) voice as the sound of many waters-voice of authority
16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two edged, sword:(His Word Heb 4:12; Rev 19:15,21) and his countenance [was] as the sun shineth in his strength. ( think of looking directly into the sun, shekinah glory))
We see later that the seven stars are the guardians of the Church either the angels or the leaders. What is good about this is that the stars are in the Hands of Christ. The church will not fail because it is protected by Christ. Not by man. The authority of man will fail.
Just as the Catholic church puts so much emphasis on man and their priest the church put its emphasis in Christ and his word
Cf. Ephesians 2:6
17 And when I saw him I fell at his feet as dead.( it was just overwhelming for him)
And he laid his tight hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not(what comforted this old humbled man, Jesus Why? 1)1 am the first and the last: (everlasting to everlasting cf. Ps 41:13 His deity)
18 2) I am he that liveth, and was dead;( His redemptive death and resurrection) d
behold, I am alive for evermore, (His present state making intercession for us) and
4) have the keys of hell (soul) and of death(the body)(is authority and power). (the
descriptions of why not to fear, why not to worry remember them no excuse verses)
19 Write the things which thou hast seen (ch 1, notice that a lot of chapter one is in the past tense ) and the things which are(ch 2-3 church age), and the things which shall be hereafter;(ch 4-22 "the things after” (during the tribulation seen, after the church age) KEY VERSE of Revelation
20 The mystery(sacred secret that has not been revealed) of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks( spread the light to the world). The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven:
candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. (description of the symbols)
As we will see when John means something to be symbolic then he reveals it otherwise take it literally.
I like to interpret scripture in light of scripture. When someone else tries to guess and make interpretations outside of it to me I have a hard time believing it. We don’t think like God and should never assume that we do. Our opinions are not what is important it is what is in the Word of God. No matter what kind of visions we have.
