THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST REVELATION 1:1-20

Transcription

1 1 THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST REVELATION 1:1-20

2 2 Text: THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST Revelation 1:1-20, 1. The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must happen very soon. He made it clear by sending his angel to his servant John, 2. who then testified to everything that he saw concerning the word of God and the testimony about Jesus Christ. 3. Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy aloud, and blessed are those who hear and obey the things written in it, because the time is near! 4. From John, to the seven churches that are in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from he who is, and who was, and who is still to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5. and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn from among the dead, the ruler over the kings of the earth. To the one who loves us and has set us free from our sins at the cost of his own blood 6. and has appointed us as a kingdom, as priests serving his God and Father to him be the glory and the power for ever and ever! Amen. 7. (Look! He is returning with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all the tribes on the earth will mourn because of him. This will certainly come to pass! Amen.)

3 I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God the one who is, and who was, and who is still to come the All-Powerful! 9. I, John, your brother and the one who shares with you in the persecution, kingdom, and endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony about Jesus. 10. I was in the Spirit on the Lord s Day when I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11. saying: Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. 12. I turned to see whose voice was speaking to me, and when I did so, I saw seven golden lampstands, 13. and in the midst of the lampstands was one like a son of man. He was dressed in a robe extending down to his feet and he wore a wide golden belt around his chest. 14. His head and hair were as white as wool, even as white as snow, and his eyes were like a fiery flame. 15. His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16. He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp double-edged sword extended out of his mouth. His face shone like the sun shining at full strength. 17. When I saw him I fell down at his feet as though I were dead, but he placed his right hand on me and said: Do not be afraid! I am the first and the last, 18. and the one who lives! I was dead, but look, now I am alive forever and ever and I hold the keys of death and of Hades! 19. Therefore write what you saw, what is, and what will be after these things.

4 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. (NET) Commentary: In the first words of Revelation we find a general introduction to the entire message. The book begins, The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John. (Revelation 1:1) The message was signified or given with signs through an angel to John. Through the years the church has received great comfort through the glorious prophecy of this book. The announcement of the Revelation of Jesus Christ came with a blessing for those that read, hear and keep those things that were written. Urgency is seen in the phrase the time is at hand. A study of the books of Ezekiel and Daniel will help prepare the Bible student for studying the book of Revelation. The Revelation as a whole book and specifically the early chapters were written to the seven churches in Asia. John was personally involved with these brethren in the seven churches. He said, 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. (Revelation 1:9) In his greeting, John wished for them, Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which

5 5 is, and which was, and which is to come. (Revelation 1:4) Revelation is a book with some predictions of future events, but more than that it is a book designed to provide encouragement and hope for the people of God. The expectation of our present life and our eternal life is built upon Jesus. It is a glorious hope because of His character and power. A Revelation from God Revelation 1:1-3, The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must happen very soon. He made it clear by sending his angel to his servant John, who then testified to everything that he saw concerning the word of God and the testimony about Jesus Christ. Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy aloud, and blessed are those who hear and obey the things written in it, because the time is near! (NET) The word translated Revelation is similar to our word apocalypse. The word means a revealing, or an unveiling. It is the Revelation of Jesus Christ. It is the Revelation of Jesus Christ because it is from Him and it is the Revelation of Jesus Christ because it is about Him. The person revealed in the Revelation is none other than Jesus Christ. The book of Revelation shows us Jesus in His power and majesty. We may not be able to understand every sign in this great book, but we can understand the Christ revealed therein. He is not merely some figment of the imagination or a person of the past. He is the one that is, and that was, and that is to come.

6 6 The Revelation was made to God s servant to show him things that would shortly come to pass. The object of the book was to record a revelation about these important events. The time was at hand or near for the fulfillment of these things at the time of the writing of the book. John said, 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. (Revelation 1:3) He said, Blessed is he that readeth. It is a blessing to be permitted to read the Revelation of God. This may be a reference to public reading because the next statement has to do with those that hear the words of this prophecy. We learn God s will by reading, hearing, studying and meditation. Those who have the opportunity to become acquainted with God s revelation are highly favored. The readers and hearers must also keep those things which are written therein. None can be right with God who does not obey those things that are their duty. The psalmist said of God s commandments, Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. (Psalm 19:11) Our heavenly hope is in knowing and doing the will of God. A Revelation of Love and Blood Revelation 1:4-8, From John, to the seven churches that are in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from he who is, and who was, and who is still to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn from

7 7 among the dead, the ruler over the kings of the earth. To the one who loves us and has set us free from our sins at the cost of his own blood and has appointed us as a kingdom, as priests serving his God and Father to him be the glory and the power for ever and ever! Amen. (Look! He is returning with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all the tribes on the earth will mourn because of him. This will certainly come to pass! Amen.) I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God the one who is, and who was, and who is still to come the All-Powerful! (NET) The book of Revelation was written to the seven churches of Asia. There were other churches in that general area including Troas, Colosse and Hierapolis. However, John only addressed his book to seven of the churches. The seven possible stands as representative of all the churches or it may be just the fact that seven is that perfect number. What would God say if He wrote a letter to the church of which you are a member? Revelation begins with the formal greeting used in many New Testament books. The greeting is that of grace and peace. (Revelation 1:4) John identifies Jesus as being from everlasting. Jesus existed in the past. He exists in the present. He will exist in the future. The most profound part of the book of Revelation has to do with the fact that this eternal one loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood. (Revelation 1:5) If we understand our own deep sinfulness, this seems almost too good to be true.

8 8 A Revelation to the Seven Churches Revelation 1:9-11, I, John, your brother and the one who shares with you in the persecution, kingdom, and endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony about Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord s Day when I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, saying: Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. (NET) On a certain Lord s day, from the Isle of Patmos, John was commanded to write this to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea. Interestingly, Paul also wrote to seven churches: Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Colosse, Philippi, and Thessalonica. As you read this book observe all the times John is commanded to write these things that he sees. In this book John provided many word pictures of Jesus, possibly none more vivid than when he called Him, Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. Jesus clearly claimed to be God and to have all the attributes of the Almighty. A Revelation of Jesus Christ Revelation 1:12-20, I turned to see whose voice was speaking to me, and when I did so, I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands was one like a son of man. He was dressed in a robe extending

9 9 down to his feet and he wore a wide golden belt around his chest. His head and hair were as white as wool, even as white as snow, and his eyes were like a fiery flame. His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp double-edged sword extended out of his mouth. His face shone like the sun shining at full strength. When I saw him I fell down at his feet as though I were dead, but he placed his right hand on me and said: Do not be afraid! I am the first and the last, and the one who lives! I was dead, but look, now I am alive forever and ever and I hold the keys of death and of Hades! Therefore write what you saw, what is, and what will be after these things. The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. (NET) What a blessing this must have been to John to see Jesus again. Jesus is pictured as standing in His magnificence in the midst of these seven churches. He was clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. The picture of Jesus was that of purity and wisdom. When we see His eyes like a flame of fire we are aware of the judgment of God. Everything in this vision speaks of the strength, majesty, authority and righteousness of Jesus Christ, the Savior. John was overwhelmed by this stunning vision and he fell at the feet of Jesus as a dead man. Jesus helped John to understand by telling him that the seven stars are the angels or messengers of the

10 10 seven churches, and the seven lamp stands are the seven churches. The chapter closed by John again being told to write these things in a book. Jesus greatness, power, might and sacrifice should move us to obey Him. The precious blood of Jesus cleanses those who obey the gospel.

11 11 Questions on Revelation 1: What was the purpose of the book of Revelation as stated in Revelation 1:1? 2. The books of and serve as excellent background material for the study of Revelation. 3. To whom was Revelation specifically written? 4. How did John describe himself in Revelation 1:9? Where was he when he wrote Revelation? What were his circumstances at that time?

12 How did John greet his readers? (See Revelation 1:4) 6. Revelation was especially designed to provide and for the of. It also contains of. 7. is similar to our word which means a or an. 8. This is the of because it is and. 9. Jesus is revealed as the one that,, and that is to. In other words, Jesus is. 10. The things discussed in Revelation were to to from the time John wrote the book. 11. Who would be blessed by this Revelation of Jesus Christ?

13 What did the psalmist say about God s commandments in Psalm 19:11? 13. To what seven churches of Asia Minor did John write? There were other churches in Asia Minor. Why didn t he write to all of them? 14. The most profound part of the book of has to do with the fact that this us, and us from our in. (Revelation 1:5) 15. Paul also wrote to seven churches; namely,

14 John saw Jesus in his majestic glory. Describe Jesus as John saw him. 17. Everything in this speaks of the,, and of, the. 18. What effect did Jesus appearance have on John? 19.,, and should us to. 20. The of those who.