The Revelation of Jesus Christ
Revelation 1
Introduction:
Nature never taught me that there exists a God of glory and of infinite majesty. I had to learn that in other ways. But nature gave the word glory a meaning for me.
C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves.
1. The source of the book.
a. It is the revelation of Jesus Christ.
b. It is the revelation which God gave to Jesus Christ.
2. The subject matter of the book.
a. The things which must shortly come to pass
3. The substantiation of the book.
a. It is the record of the apostle John concerning things to come.
The story is told that after Helen Keller’s teacher, Anne Sullivan, had given her the names of physical objects in sign language, Miss Sullivan attempted to explain God and tapped out the symbols for the name "God." Much to Miss Sullivan’s surprise, Helen spelled back, "Thank you for telling me God’s name, Teacher, for he has touched me many times before." Helen Keller knew something of God’s signature from nature, but it was wordless.
Source Unknown.
I. The Revelation of Jesus Christ (Rev 1:1-8)
Rev 1:1-8
(1) 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:
(2) Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
(3) 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.
(4) John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
(5) And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and 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,
(6) And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
(7) Behold, he cometh with clouds; 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.
(8) I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
a. The revelation (1)
i. It is a revelation which God gave him.
1. Christ chose to the mediator between God and man and therefore relies solely on the will of God.
2. Christ knows the will of the father and because he expects us to follow God’s will, has not left us ignorant.
ii. “things which must shortly come to pass”
1. Rev 1 compared with Dan 8
Revelation One Daniel Eight
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ” (1) “A vision appeared unto me” (1)
“must shortly come to pass” (1)
“for it shall be for many days.” (26)
2. God has chosen to speak in the “last days” through “his son.”
Heb 1:1
(1) God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
3. The gospel is the last revelation we will receive before the judgment
a. General revelation has always come from nature.
b. The first specific revelation came from the patriarchs.
c. The second from Moses.
iii. “signified it by his angel”
1. God gave the revelation to Jesus, and Jesus in turn gave it to the angel to give to the churches.
2. The Angels are God’s messengers.
b. The Record (2)
i. The Person
1. John the Fisherman
2. John the Apostle
3. John the Revelator
ii. The Premise
1. The Revelation is from God
2. John has added nothing to the revelation
iii. The Prophecy
1. The prophecy would come to pass.
c. The Reward (3)
i. The blessing was for those who read, or heard
ii. The blessing was for those who kept the things in the revelation
iii. The blessing was for those who were living then
d. The Recipients (4-8)
i. The Seven Churches of Asia
1. Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.
ii. Those who have been made kings and priest
1. The Blessing comes from God.
a. The Father
2. The Blessing comes from the Holy Spirit
a. “the seven sprits” is the Holy Spirit, who is not seven in number, but seven represents the perfect Spirit of God.
Isa 11:1-2
(1) And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
(2) And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
b. ”There are seven titles of the Holy Spirit in this passage from Isaiah, and from very early times this reference in Revelation has been associated with it. "It denotes the Holy Spirit in the plenitude of his grace and power." The decisive reason for this interpretation was given by Hinds: "It is used in the salutation in direct association with God and Christ, and a blessing is invoked from the three." Coffman. Revelation
3. The Blessing comes from Jesus
a. “the faithful witness” (5)
i. Our Lords faith in the Father was one of his greatest attributes.
ii. He was faithful to his commission to bring forth the will of the father.
(Gal 2:16) Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
(Gal 2:20) I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
(Gal 3:22) But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
(Rom 3:22) Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
(Rom 3:26) To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
(Eph 3:12) In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
(Php 3:9) And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
b. “the first begotten” (5)
i. There were seven resurrections in the N.T.
1. Dorcas
2. The daughter of Jairus
3. Eutychus
4. The widow’s son at Nain
5. Lazarus
6. Christ
7. Many saints who came out of their graves at the crucifixion of Christ
ii. Christ is the “first begotten” in resurrection because he is the only one who resurrected from the dead to never die again.
c. “prince of the kings of the earth” (5)
i. Christ has all authority in heaven and earth
(Mat 28:18) And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
ii. This authority belongs to Christ now and forever, as opposed to a future reign.
iii. Christ rules the kingdom of men today.
(Dan 4:25) That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
d. He is savior (5)
e. He is one worthy of sacrifice (6)
i. He made a kingdom and filled it with priest.
(Col 1:13) Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
ii. In the O.T. Gods purpose for Israel was to make “a kingdom of priest”.
(Exo 19:6) And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
(1Pe 2:9) But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
iii. These priests are to make sacrifices daily.
(Rom 12:1) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
(Rom 12:2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
f. He is judge (7)
i. The term “he cometh with the clouds” refers to the second coming.
(Mat 24:30) And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
(Mar 14:62) And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
(Mar 13:24) But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
(Act 1:9) And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
(Act 1:10) And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
(Act 1:11) Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
ii. He is the one “pierced”
(Zec 12:10) And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
(Rev 6:15) And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
(Rev 6:16) And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
(Rev 6:17) For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
g. The almighty (8)
i. Alpha and Omega
1. These are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet and are used in a figurative sense to show the whole of everything.
2. The Hebrews said the Abraham kept the law from Aleph to Tav.
3. The early colonials would say “from A to Izzard”.
ii. Beginning and the end
1. The phrase “which is, and which was, and which is to come” appears again as it did in verse 4.
2. “The Greek words from which this is translated are literally, "The BEING and the WAS and the COMING." Of course, in English this is not grammatical, nor for that matter is it grammatical in the Greek; but as Moffatt said, "(This is) a deliberate violation of grammar to preserve the immutability and absoluteness of the divine name." There are many examples of such awkward grammar in this prophecy; but "(They) are not due to ignorance of Greek construction, as shown by the predominantly correct uses in the book." This title of God is essentially that of Exo. 3:14, "I AM who I AM." Christ also used this title of himself in Mark 6:50; Mark 13:6; Mark 14:62, and in John 6:35; John 8:12; John 10:7; John 11:25 and John 14:6.” Coffman. Revelation
iii. This term progresses throughout the book
(Rev 1:8) I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
(Rev 21:6) And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
(Rev 22:13) I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
II. The Vision of Jesus Christ (Rev. 1:9-20)
Rev 1:9-20
(9) 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.
(10) I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
(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.
(12) And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
(13) And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
(14) His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as 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.
(16) And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
(17) And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
(18) I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
(19) Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
(20) The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
a. John’s account of what he was (9).
i. A companion of these churches.
1. John identifies himself a brother and therefore on the same plain as the readers.
2. He is an Apostle (possibly the last), but he chooses not to flaunt this, by making himself equal with those who were suffering.
3. It is the equivalent of us saying “I’ve been there”.
ii. A companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of those in Christ.
1. The tribulation was the present hardships they were experiencing
My life is but a weaving between my Lord and me. I cannot choose the colors He worketh steadily. Oft times he weaveth sorrow and I in foolish pride forget He sees the upper and I the underside. Not till the loom is silent and the shuttle ceases to fly shall God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why.
Source Unknown.
He knows not his own strength that hath not met adversity.
Ben Jonson.
2. The kingdom was the one they presently existed in.
a. “which are in Christ Jesus”
b. Christ is reigning and will continue to reign until all enemies are destroyed.
c. Those who are “in Christ” are those who have been baptized.
(Rom 6:3) Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
i. His holy apostles are reigning with him.
(Mat 19:28) And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
3. The patience is what those early Christian so desperately portrayed.
iii. A companion who suffered for the preaching the testimony of Christ.
a. John was presently on the Isle of Patmos because of his preaching of the gospel of Christ.
b. Patmos was an island about half the size of Manhattan, and was a rock quarry for prisoners
b. John’s account of what he heard (10-11).
i. The Voice (10-11)
1. In verse 15 Jesus’ voice is compared to the “sound of many waters.”
2. Bruce, in his commentary on Revelation, viewed this voice as a “herald-like prelude to the appearance of the Great Conqueror.” F. F. Bruce, A New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1969), p. 535.
3. I believe this is the voice of Jesus because the voice in the next verse claims to be the Alpha and the Omega.
ii. The Beneficiary (11)
1. The seven churches of Asia
c. John’s account of what he saw (12-20).
i. He saw the Church (12)
1. This is a reference to the temple at Jerusalem, where there was a candlestick or chandelier of seven branches; or rather six branches; three springing out on either side, and one in the center. This reference to the temple seems to intimate that the temple of Jerusalem was a type of the whole Christian Church.
(Exo 25:31) And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.
(Exo 25:32) And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side:
(Exo 25:33) Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick.
(Exo 25:34) And in the candlestick shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers.
(Exo 25:35) And there shall be a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches that proceed out of the candlestick.
(Exo 25:36) Their knops and their branches shall be of the same: all it shall be one beaten work of pure gold.
(Exo 25:37) And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it.
2. Here the seven are separate candlesticks, typifying, as that one, the entire Church, but now no longer as the Jewish Church (represented by the one sevenfold candlestick) restricted to one outward unity and one place; the several churches are mutually independent as to external ceremonies and government (provided all things are done to edification, and schisms or needless separations are avoided), yet one in the unity of the Spirit and the Headship of Christ.
ii. He saw the Lord Jesus Christ (13-20)
1. How he looked.
a. His garment seems to symbolize his priesthood.
i. Aarons robe and girdle were for “glory and beauty”.
(Exo 28:2) And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty.
(Exo 28:4) And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.
(Exo 28:13) And thou shalt make ouches of gold;
1. Isaiah foretold that Jesus would come and be beautiful and glorious.
(Isa 4:2) In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.
ii. Christ priesthood was after the order of Melchisedec.
1. He was both Priest and King like Melchisedec.
(Zec 6:12) And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:
(Zec 6:13) Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.
2. The golden girdle showed royalty.
iii. People would gird themselves at the loins, but Josephus tells us that the Levitical priest would gird themselves at the breast.
1. The girdle which braced the frame together is symbolic of the faithfulness of Christ.
2. Aaron would put on his garment and gird himself before he blessed the congregation.
(Lev 1:1) And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,
(Lev 16:23) And Aaron shall come into the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall put off the linen garments, which he put on when he went into the holy place, and shall leave them there:
(Lev 16:24) And he shall wash his flesh with water in the holy place, and put on his garments, and come forth, and offer his burnt offering, and the burnt offering of the people, and make an atonement for himself, and for the people.
3. Christ in like manner has put on this garment, being washed, to bless those who are in him.
b. “Down to the foot” is a mark of high rank.
c. “In the midst of the seven candlesticks”
i. The Candlestick was only seen in the holy place.
d. His head was like wool
i. Christ is the ancient of days.
e. His eyes were like a flame of fire
i. They would burn a hole through the soul and be able to penetrate any heart.
f. His feet were like fine burning brass
i. To tread his enemies to dust
g. His voice was like the sound of many waters
i. His words are like a loud waterfall.
ii. They can be heard near or far.
iii. He will be heard!
A.B. Simpson is reported to have said that the gospel "Tells rebellious men that God is reconciled, that justice is satisfied, that sin has been atoned for, that the judgment of the guilty may be revoked, the condemnation of the sinner cancelled, the curse of the Law blotted out, the gates of hell closed, the portals of heaven opened wide, the power of sin subdued, the guilty conscience healed, the broken heart comforted, the sorrow and misery of the Fall undone.
M. Cocoris, Evangelism, A Biblical Approach, Moody, 1984, p. 29.
2. What he had.
a. In his right hand he had seven stars.
i. These seem to be the leaders of the seven churches of Asia.
ii. They are in subjection to him because they are in his hand and therefore are at his mercy.
iii. They are also secured by him
b. Out of his mouth went a two-edged sword
i. His word.
ii. It has the ability to cut and to heal.
iii. It also can cut open to allow the inner parts of man to be exposed.
c. His countenance was as the sun shining.
i. He is light.
ii. His glory is too bright for mortal man to gaze at.
3. What he said.
a. His appearance was too strong for John.
i. He fell at the feet of Jesus Christ.
b. He was gracious to John.
i. He laid his hand upon him
1. He raised him up
2. He spoke kind words to him
ii. He gave him words of comfort
1. Fear not.
During his years as premier of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev denounced many of the policies and atrocities of Joseph Stalin. Once, as he censured Stalin in a public meeting, Khrushchev was interrupted by a shout from a heckler in the audience. "You were one of Stalin’s colleagues. Why didn’t you stop him?" "Who said that?" roared Khrushchev. An agonizing silence followed as nobody in the room dared move a muscle. Then Khrushchev replied quietly, "Now you know why."
Today in the Word, July 13, 1993.
Black Bart was a professional thief whose very name struck fear as he terrorized the Wells Fargo stage line. From San Francisco to New York, his name became synonymous with the danger of the frontier. Between 1875 and 1883 he robbed 29 different stagecoach crews. Amazingly, Bart did it all without firing a shot. Because a hood hid his face, no victim ever saw his face. He never took a hostage and was never trailed by a sheriff. Instead, Black Bart used fear to paralyze his victims. His sinister presence was enough to overwhelm the toughest stagecoach guard.
Today in the Word, August 8, 1992.
iii. He gave him words of instruction.
1. With his divine nature: The first and the last.
2. With his former sufferings: I was dead; the very same that his disciples saw upon the cross dying for the sins of men.
3. With his resurrection and life: “I live, and am alive for evermore, have conquered death and opened the grave, and am partaker of an endless life.”
4. With his office and authority: I have the keys of hell and of death, a sovereign dominion in and over the invisible world, opening and none can shut, shutting so that none can open, opening the gates of death when he pleases and the gates of the eternal world, of happiness or misery, as the Judge of all, from whose sentence there lies no appeal.
5. With his will and pleasure: Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and which shall be hereafter.
6. With the meaning of the seven stars, that they are the ministers of the churches; and of the seven candlesticks, that they are the seven churches, to whom Christ would now send by him particular and proper message. (These last six points are from Matthew Henry and his comment on revelation)
Conclusion:
1. In this first chapter John has established a revelation of Jesus Christ
a. He shows the revelation
b. He gives a record of what he saw.
c. He prays a blessing for the recipients of this letter
2. John bears a record of the things that he saw in a vision of things which are to shortly come to pass.
a. He gives an account of who he was
b. He gives an account of what he saw
c. He ends by telling what he heard from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. Let us head the words of the Lord, “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.”
A friend told me of an incident that happened while he was in seminary. Since the school had no gymnasium, he and his friends played basketball in a nearby public school. The elderly janitor waited patiently until the seminarians finished playing. Invariably he sat there reading his Bible. One day my friend asked him what he was reading. The man answered, “The Book of Revelation.” Surprised, my friend asked if he understood it.
“Oh, yes,” the man assured him. “I understand it.”
“What does it mean?”
Very quietly the janitor answered, “It means that Jesus is gonna win.”
That is the best commentary I have ever heard on that book. Jesus is going to win. That is the Biblical mindset. That is the confidence we need as we face the future when—God alone knows when—the river may begin to rise again.
Vernon Grounds, Christianity Today, February 2, 1979
