Revelation 1:1-20
Revelation is an act of revealing; a manifestation of truth; to uncover or unveil something that was one time covered. The title Revelation, was translated from the word Apocalypse. To many people, this word speaks to them of the end of time. That is not what this word implies. Apocalypse is a term applied to the disclosure to certain privileged persons of something hidden from the majority of humankind. That should speak something very important to you and I. There was a time when there were things were hidden from mankind. For instance, in Daniel 12:1-9, Daniel is given a vision, and then says, And I heard, but I understood not. God had a special relationship with Daniel, but he told him to seal these words. Certainly we can say that there were many things hidden in the Old Testament scriptures. The bible says in Galatians 4:21-22, that the Old Testament is an allegory to the New Covenant. An allegory is a work in which the characters or events are to be understood as representing other things and symbolically expressing a deeper, spiritual meaning. Since Christ fulfilled the Old Testament, we see a deeper, more spiritual meaning to the Old Testament. I have heard people say that if you say that the Old testament has been fulfilled, that you are taking out 2/3 of the bible. I say if it hasn’t been fulfilled, you take away 2/3 of the bible. In Revelation 22:10, John was told to not seal the book. Christ opened all things to our understanding.
It is very obvious in the church world today that Revelation is a book that we have tried to stay away from. I have been saved for 18 years and have said on many occasions that this book is too deep for me, yet I’ve tried to pick and pull things out of that I do understand. The first key that I see to understanding this book is to realize the purpose that it was written. It was not written to confuse or to make things harder for us to understand. It was written to make things become clearer to us.
As Christ walked the earth, he was an open book. He was daily revealing himself to the disciples and to those who followed. He had foretold to his church in many scriptures that he was going to lay down his life, but he would raise it up in three days. That was still not enough for some. The two men on the road to Emmaus for example. Luke 24:13-35. The bible says that they walked with Jesus for about seven miles. Jesus spoke and taught them on the way, yet they still didn’t know that this was Christ. The bible even says that Jesus opened the scriptures up to them and starting with Moses and the prophets “he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself”, yet they still didn’t realize who this was, even though their “hearts burned within them” when he spoke. Then, as Jesus was getting ready to depart, they constrained him to sit and to tarry with them. The bible says as they sat down at the table, Jesus took the bread, blessed it, broke it and then gave unto them to eat. The bible says that in this, they knew him. No doubt they remembered the things they had heard of Christ. Maybe how as the young lad handed him the bread and the fish, that he took, blessed, broke and gave the multitude the bread. Or how that when he sat down for the last meal with his disciples that he took the bread, blessed it, broke and gave to the disciples.
No doubt these two men had spent several hours walking with Christ, but didn’t see him for who he was. Then, when Jesus came to their house and dwelled with them, they knew him. If you’ll have it this way, Revelation is Jesus coming to our house and revealing himself to us. This was not John’s revelation, but God’s! God wants to reveal himself to us! Daniel 2:22; Ephesians 1:9; 1:17,18; 2:14; 3:1-5; Colossians 1:9,10.
In order for John to receive this revelation, there were a few things that had to happen first. If you look into verse 9, you see that John was exiled to the isle of Patmos. At first it would appear that John was all alone, but as we read on, we see that he was alone with God. Before you and I can expect to get a revelation from God, we are going to have to spend some one on one time with him. We will find that in our personal relationships, when we get alone with people, we will learn things about them that we didn’t know before. I feel safe in saying that every time that I get with God, that he reveals something new to me. Not only should we want to get to know him more, HE desires for us to get close to him! In John 4, it starts out by telling the great work and following that Christ had. Many were being converted, healed and his disciples were baptizing daily. But it says that Christ looked at his disciples and said, he must needs to go through Samaria. The reason he left the following he had, was to get alone with one women at Jacobs well. WOW!
When John had got alone with God, he then had to put aside his flesh, and get into the Spirit. In verse 10, John said, I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day. The bible says in Romans 8:6, that to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. It is impossible to get a revelation from God, unless we are spiritually minded. Jesus said in John 4:24, that God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. As Jesus walked on the earth, there were many things that he spoke to his disciple that they didn’t understand. In John 2:19-21, Jesus said that “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The bible goes on to say that they didn’t understand that he was speaking of his body not a natural temple. Jesus told Peter in Matthew 16:21,22, that he had to be crucified in order for the plan to be fulfilled. Then Peter rebuked him, and said be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. It would be safe to say that Peter didn’t understand. When the soldiers came to the garden to take Jesus, Peter cut Malchus’ ear off. Peter still didn’t understand. In Luke 24:12, after Christ had arose from the grave, Peter ran to the tomb. When he got there, he found his linen clothes lying there. Then he departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass. STILL didn’t understand. Later, in the upper room, the Spirit descended on them, and PETER stood up, and began to expound on what Christ did. The Spirit made things clear to him! This is summed up in 1 Corinthians 2:9, 10- Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. BUT God hath revealed them unto us BY HIS SPIRIT: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
There is a misconception in Revelation, on when John received this revelation. I will end that by saying that John had already received some of the things that he wrote about, before he was exiled to Patmos. Let that sink in for a minute as you turn your bible to the first two verses of chapter one. The Revelation of Jesus Christ: Many people will say that this is a revelation of the end of time. They must have skipped over this verse. It is the REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST! Which God gave him: Gave who? John? No. Christ. The God who created the heavens, the earth, the animals, the sea and you and I, had a message to give mankind. Throughout the Old Testament, he used burning bushes, angels, budding rods, pillars of fire and prophets. In the New Testament, he sent his Son. (God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son! Hebrews 1:1, 2)
What did Christ do with that message? He showed it to his servants things which must shortly come to pass. As Christ walked on earth, he was showing his servants things that were shortly to happen. Particularly the Kingdom, which we’ll discuss later. He’s not showing us in Revelation the things shortly coming to pass because he showed that to his disciples as he walked with them. Now he is revealing the work those things did for us! He sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John. Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all the things that he SAW. John had already been witness to the Revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:1, 2) He had already seen some things before he came here. As a matter of fact, he was exiled to Patmos for giving the testimony of Jesus Christ! Why would John be willing to face the persecution he did, if he didn’t have a revelation of who Christ was?
Christ begins to speak to John and tell him to write some things down. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter. What was he saying? Write the things you’ve already seen, the things you are seeing, and the things you’ll see hereafter! Not the things which are going to come, but the things I’m going to show you! That means something special to me. There are things in my past that God has revealed to me that were amazing. He is also showing me some things right now. But just as he promised John, he is promising me, that there are still many things left for him to give to me!
It is time that instead of fearing this book, that we embrace it with Gods help. He wants us to look at these scriptures, and even gives us a promise and a blessing if we do three things. We must read, hear and understand the words of this book. On the other hand, if we are blessed for doing these three things, what if we don’t do them? I believe that some of us, (including myself) have been living below the spiritual level that God wants us to be at; because we are unwilling to do the things that he wants us to.
John begins in verse 5, by telling us 7 characteristics of Christ. He starts out by saying that Christ is our, Faithful Witness. A witness is someone who gives proof or evidence of. From children to adults, we are taught that we should be a witness for him in our daily life. Here, John is saying that Christ will be a witness in our life, for us. When we stand before the church to sing a song, teach a lesson, preach a message, give a testimony, if we have let him reveal himself to us, he will be our witness! When we are surrounded by the world and confronted with the sin and temptation of it, he will be our witness! (Romans 5:20) Jesus wants to be our faithful witness in every aspect of our lives!
John also says that Christ is the First Begotten of the Dead. At this point, other people had been resurrected, but John 2:19-21, Jesus said that “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The bible goes on to say that they didn’t understand that he was speaking of his body not a natural temple. Jesus was the first and the only that had the power to give his life, and take it back up, never to die again. (Philippians 3:10)
John goes on to say that he is the Prince of the Kings of the Earth. He is the head of all things. Colossians 1:15-18 says, “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning; the firstborn form the dead; that in all things he might have preeminence.” If he’s not revealed to you in that scripture, you must have blinders on that you can’t see. Everything on earth is subject to him including the animals and nature. Matthew 17:24-27; Mark 4:35-41
Jesus was revealed in verse 8 as the Alpha (beginning) and the Omega (end). Christ was there from the very start when he knelt down and formed man out of the clay of the earth. He spoke to Jeremiah and said he knew and formed him while he was in his mother’s womb. He is still with us today. As he was departing in Matthew 28 16-20, after he had arose, he was speaking to his disciples and gave them a commission to serve him. Then, as he was leaving, he said “ I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” There is comfort in that still today.
I can see John as he began to try in the best way he could to reveal Christ to us, saying he is Faithful Witness, First Begotten of the Dead, Prince of the Kings of the Earth, the First, the Last, and he gets to a point where he might have almost ran out of words. Then he said, you know what, he’s the Almighty! Think about that. He has absolute power. When I fear a situation in my life, I remember that he is the Almighty. When I doubt something or decision, I remember that he’s the Almighty. When the odds are overwhelmingly stacked against me, I remember that he is the Almighty. Any problem that we face in life, if we know that he is the almighty, we can get through it by him.
Then in verse18, Jesus says “ I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore.” The reason that I can live is because he lives. Colossians 3:3 says “Ye are dead; and your life is hid with Christ in God.” I am living my life through God.
Verse 9:
Just to back up for a second, in verse 6 we skipped something. John said that Christ has made us Kings and Priests. What are we kings and priests over? Every problem, situation or trial that comes up in our life. He has made us kings and priests and has put us into the Kingdom that he spoke of in verse 9.
Matthew 13:44-46 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
This scripture was referring to Christ and the Church. You and I are that pearl of great price, and that treasure in the field. This is the pure, true Church. He isn’t just speaking of the Baptist, or the Church of God, or the Pentecost, but his one, true, unblemished church. This is the Kingdom that John was talking of in verse 9. There are many things we could say about the kingdom, but I want to tell of seven characteristics of God’s heavenly, eternal kingdom.
God has shown me the last little bit just what a minority that we are for being an amillennial church. Every Christian channel on the radio or TV is telling us that the kingdom of God has yet to come and Christ is not King yet, but through these scriptures I believe that God reveals himself and his church as a right now, spiritual kingdom!
The first characteristic of this kingdom is that it is God’s Kingdom. He is the head as we have already spoken of. If there is a king Jesus, and there is, then there is a kingdom! He had a plan established from the foundation of the world. We know that John was a forerunner for Christ. Jesus said in Luke 16:16, “ The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of heaven is preached, and every man presseth into it. In other words, he was to go before Christ and let people know to prepare their hearts, and that the king was coming. John’s message was simple. In Matthew 3:12 John says, “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” In other words, the kingdom is close. Then when Jesus came preaching in Matthew 4:17, he said, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Christ spent most of his ministry trying to convince people of his kingdom, what it was and that it was soon coming. Still today, some are waiting for it to come. When Jesus Christ came, his Kingdom came with him. I serve a risen King today. If you are waiting to get to heaven for him to be crowned King, you’ve already missed out. He better be your king today!
The second characteristic of God’s kingdom is that when it was established, it fulfilled the whole law. Jesus, as he walked the earth, told all that would hear, what his purpose was on earth. Matthew 5:17 says, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” That was his mission. The things that the law and the prophets taught and said, Christ had come to complete them. Some today are still awaiting things from the Old Testament to be fulfilled, but when Jesus said “It is finished,” in John 19:30, the job was over. If you are awaiting the law to be fulfilled, you are saying that Christ didn’t finish the job he came to do! Some also will take Old Testament prophecy and say we are waiting for it to happen, but on the authority of God’s word, IT IS FINISHED. Paul wrote in Romans 10:4, “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.” Look also to Galatians 3:24 and 5:2-4 for more on Christ fulfilling the law.
The biggest misconception of the Kingdom is that it is a natural, physical kingdom. Therefore the third characteristic that I see is that the kingdom is spiritual and not carnal. Luke 17:20, 21 says, “And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered the and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! Or, lo there! For, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” That should be enough explanation right there. That is about as plain as it gets. The kingdom is not something for the natural eye to see, but the spiritual eye. Romans 14:17 says, “For the kingdom of God is not meat or drink;” (not things you can touch or see) “but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” (Things you can’t see, but can feel). The misconception stems from the fact that in the Old Testament, the Jews were God’s chosen people, but they are now scattered abroad. People think that when Christ returns, he will gather the Jews together and he Kingdom will be established in Isreal. What most people are missing, is that the Jewish nation is a spiritual nation, and not a carnal one anymore. It may sound crazy to some, but inwardly, I am a Jew. Because of this fact, I am in the kingdom right now!
The fourth characteristic goes hand in had with the first three, in that it agrees that the kingdom is already here. Jesus as he was speaking to his disciples in Mark 9:1, said, “Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.” The kingdom coming with power is the fourth characteristic. This scripture here says that either the kingdom of God has come, or that some are alive, that are standing here when Jesus gave this sermon. Jesus said many times as he walked that he was not come to bring peace on earth, but to bring a sword! That represents power to me. From the first sermon to the last that Christ preached, he preached the kingdom in power, with all authority. Then as Christ was crucified, buried, and resurrected, some thought that this was the end. Then, in the book of Act 1:8, Jesus says, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:” Then the disciples prayed together in the upper room. I believe this was when they were allowed to be in the throne room of Heaven and see the picture that God showed John in Revelation 4. In the second Chapter of Acts, the Holy Spirit descended upon them and the power filled the congregation as they began to preach the gospel to all that attended. If this isn’t a good picture of the kingdom coming with power, I don’t know what is!
It is also important for us to know that knowledge is power. Let me explain. When I have an issue with an automobile, I go to a mechanic. I know absolutely nothing about how to fix a car. I am at the mercy of the mechanic. If he tells me I need a new engine, if I know nothing about it, how can I disagree with him? I can’t! Think about the situation that Israel was in. They were at the mercy of the Kings and the Priests! They were under subjection to the government! The common Jew didn’t have the knowledge of the Scribes and the Pharisees. No doubt many of them were not even able to read the scriptures, nor understand them. With out knowledge, they lacked power! Isaiah 9:6 says, For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: AND THE GOVERNMENT SHALL BE UPON HIS SHOULDER! Christ came and took the power off of the government, placed it upon his shoulder, to the cross and to the grave. Then, in the power of his resurrection, he gave knowledge and power to you and I. After this, it didn’t matter if you couldn’t read. God said in Hebrews 8:10, For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws in their mind, and WRITE THEM IN THEIR HEARTS! In Revelation 1:6, he said he would make US Kings and Priests.
The fifth characteristic is that this kingdom is an eternal kingdom, and that it will stand forever! Down throughout history, the Devil has attempted to defeat the kingdom. As a matter of fact, he was trying to stop it from even being established, (Matthew 16:18). After the kingdom had come with power on the day of Pentecost, the former religious people began to talk of how that they could stop the spiritual movement that had started. Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had great words of wisdom for the people. Not doubt he himself was worried about the spiritual movement that had happened, but he told them to back of from the disciples. He said for them to remember Theudas, who had boasted himself to be something, and around 400 men joined him in his mission. Not to long passed by, until he and his men were destroyed. Then he said Judas, the one who led many astray, but it they all were destroyed. Then he spoke of the disciples. He said that if they be in this for man or for there own glory that it will come to an end. Gamaliel said in Acts 5:39, “But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it;” Over 2,000 years later, Christ church, his people, his kingdom are still standing. The world is still trying to tear it down, but it will stand forever! (Ecclesiastes 3:12)
After studying Revelations, and God’s whole word, I believe that you can’t separate the kingdom, and Gods Church. I believe that they are the same. The sixth characteristic is that the kingdom is made up of God’s children. I am part of this kingdom. By believing the kingdom has not yet come, people are missing out on the fact that if they have had a born again experience with God, that they are part of this kingdom. The more that I learn about the kingdom, the more I appreciate being part of it! Colossians 1:13 says, “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear son.” Once we have been saved, or delivered, we are placed into his kingdom.
Finally, the last characteristic is that the kingdom is obtainable to who ever believes upon his name! Christ tells us in Luke 12:31 to, “seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Christ would not tell us to seek, if there was nothing to find would he? No, but he said in Matthew 7:7, “Seek and ye shall find!” The kingdom is obtainable. So easy to become part of, that when I was a 7 year old boy, the Spirit began to deal with my heart and let me know that I needed to become part of Christ, and him of me. I didn’t understand much about the kingdom, if anything at all, but I know that November 2 1988 I became part of God’s pure, holy, undefiled Church, and 18 years later, I’m still in it, and enjoying the benefits.
Verse 10-13:
I believe that this verse holds the key to understanding the book of Revelation. John says that he was, “in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day”. It is very important that when we read the bible, that we read it for its spiritual content. I have said many times that the Bible is just a book. We reverence it by not stacking things on top of it or throwing it around in our vehicle. It only becomes God’s Word when we open it and God begins to speak to us through his spirit, by his word.
John began in the 11th verse to have a conversation with Jesus. He was told to write down the things that he was about to see, and send it to the Seven Churches in Asia. Some think that because of this that Revelation was written for only these churches. I believe as he began to show John things, that it was for the whole Church age, not just these seven. I believe that these seven churches represent the whole church age, from the establishing of the Church, until Christ returns for us.
Lets look at the vision of the seven golden candlesticks. Notice that the candlesticks were not in front of John, but behind him. Verse 12 says twice that John had to turn. After he had turned and looked behind him, he saw the candlesticks. I believe that’s for a reason.
First off we need to know what the candlestick was for. The bible says that the candlestick was to be made out one piece of gold. In order to shape it, it had to be beaten. Gold is one of the most malleable substances. In other words, it can be beaten and molded, without breaking. After it was made, it was to be placed in the inner portion of the tabernacle. It was to have a perpetual flame. The light from the candlestick was to shine on the table, and illuminate the shewbread. The bread represents several things. Jesus said that he is the bread, so it is him. There were two rows of 6. Put 6 and 6 together and you have the 66, or the word of God. There were 12 pieces, representing the 12 tribes, or the Church So the light was to illuminate Christ, the Church, and his word.
John was not the first person recorded in God’s word that had seen the vision of the candlesticks. If you look back into the book of Exodus, we will see another man whom God showed the candlesticks to. In Exodus 1, the bible tells of the state of Israel. They were in bondage to Egypt. Being God’s chosen nation, he needed to chose out someone to help lead them out. We know that Moses was chosen. God used Moses through the first several chapters, and God delivered Israel out. When they got out of bondage, they needed water. God gave water. Then they needed food. God gave food. God gave everything they needed. Now what?
God told Moses that he wanted a place where Israel would come to worship. He showed him the order for the worship, and the details of the furniture to be inside. In Exodus 25:31-39, Moses is told the specifics for the candlestick. Then in verse 40 he told him to, look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount. God used this vision to give Israel a renewed purpose.
Hundreds of years later, we read of another time in which Israel was in bondage. This time it was in Babylon. Once again God blessed and delivered them out of their hands, and sent them back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple of God. As usual, it wasn’t long until Babylon began to “frustrate their purpose.” King Artaxerxes sent a letter down to Jerusalem and told them to stop their work. Ezra 4:24 says, Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia. So what happened in the second year of his reign? God showed Zechariah a vision. Zechariah 1:1 says, In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the Lord unto Zechariah. In the 4th chapter, God shows Zechariah the vision of the candlestick. When Zechariah told it to Zerrubbabel and Jeshua, it gave Israel a renewing of their purpose.
Understanding the vision of these two men is important to understanding Revelation 11. Moses represented the law, and Zechariah represents the prophets. We will refer back to this in chapter 11.
Look at the shape that the Church is in in Revelation 1. Christ had delivered the Church with power. The church had grown tremendously. Here, the Church is being persecuted and fought against. When John was down, discouraged, and discarded from society, he needed a renewed commission. I believe that John looked back and saw the light from the candlestick of the law, shining with the light from the candlestick of the prophets, both illuminating the shewbread, and the Church!
The seven golden candlesticks here represent the whole church. As John looks at this vision, he says that he sees one in the midst of them, like the Son of God. Think about how special that this is. I believe that every time a church gathers together in Christ name, that he is there with us. To me, this means that he is interested in our service, in our life, and in everything that has to do with us. He is concerned about us and what we are going through.
Verse 13-20:
Here, John begins to describe Christ and what he looks like. If you read back in the Song of Solomon 5:10-16, you will see him described in almost the same manner. He was so great to look upon, that when John saw him, he says he fell as dead. This may sound like a strange statement, but what John was saying, was that when you look upon him, nothing else matters and your focus has to be on him.
As we continue on in the reading of Revelation, allow the Holy Spirit to guide us, and show us the things that we need to see. God wants to reveal himself and his church to you and me. He dedicated 66 books for us to read and apply to our lives. It is up to us to read and live by it.
