SESSION #1 - UNLOCKING THE MYSTERIES OF REVELATION
A Verse-by-verse Study of Revelation Chapter One:
AN INTRODUCTION:
It is true that the Book of Revelation is one of the most mysterious books of the Bible.
“But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:7-10).
It is God‘s desire for us to read and understand the Book of Revelation.
Note: It is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, not the Riddle of Jesus Christ!
“Revelation” = the Greek word apokalypsis = an uncovering of a truth, revealing Jesus!
BACKGROUND INFO: (From “The Spirit Filled Life Bible”)
1. Author: Revelation was written by the Apostle John on the Island of Patmos
“The "beloved disciple" John was brother to James the Great. The churches of Smyrna, Pergamos, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, and Thyatira, were founded by him. From Ephesus he was ordered to be sent to Rome, where it is affirmed he was cast into a cauldron of boiling oil. He escaped by miracle, without injury. Domitian afterwards banished him to the Isle of Patmos, where he wrote the Book of Revelation. Nerva, the successor of Domitian, recalled him. He was the only apostle who escaped a violent death.” (Foxe’s Book of Martyrs).
2. Background: Written during a period of extreme persecution of Christians
3. Date: Written before the destruction of Jerusalem in September of AD 70 and is an authentic prophecy concerning the continuing suffering and persecution of Christians.
4. The Theme of the Book of Revelation:
• To encourage believers to be faithful to Jesus (even in the midst of suffering), and to give them hope that they will ultimately be victorious.
• God is the Sovereign Lord of the Universe (in control of everything)
Read through the entire book of Revelation in one sitting to get the big picture.
• Do not try to figure out everything, at least until you have a feel for the book.
• Revelation contains a lot of Biblical symbolism – it cannot all be taken literally.
• It contains three distinct types of literature: apocalypse, prophecy, and letter.
THE BLESSING IN REVELATION:
“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.” (1:3).
When you read Revelation, and obey the things written in it, you will be blessed!
FOUR DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIVE VIEWS OF REVELATION:
VIEW, TIME PERIOD, DESCRIPTION:
PRETERIST, THE PAST:
Took place in first century A.D. during Roman persecution
Prophecy concerned with the persecutions of Christians instituted by the “beast” - Nero or Domitian, continued under Roman empire, called “Babylon”. Deals with the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple.
HISTORICAL, PAST-FUTURE:
From the time of the Roman Empire until the end of the age.
An overview of church history from the first coming to the second coming of Jesus. Seen in the symbolism are such events as the barbarian invasions of Rome, the rise of the Roman Catholic Church, Islam, etc. Some see the Pope as being the “beast” or “antichrist”
FUTURIST, FUTURE:
The future end times.
The Modern “Left Behind” Type Interpretation. Chapters 6-22 are yet future, and describe literally and symbolically actual people and events yet to appear on the world scene.
SPIRITUAL OR IDEALIST, TIME NOT APPLICABLE:
Timeless.
Revelation is a description of the cosmic struggle between the forces of good and evil. The book has no historical references or predictive prophecy. Stories to teach spiritual truth.
You don‘t have to adopt one particular view to benefit from studying Revelation.
A blessing is available to anyone who will read it for its message of victory
REVELATION CHAPTER ONE:
1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants--things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
• The first five words of the first verse tell us who Revelation is all about: JESUS.
o It’s not about the devil, the beast, or the antichrist.
o Like the other 65 books of the Bible, it is about Jesus!
• v.3: There is a blessing to those who will read, hear and OBEY this prophecy.
4 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. 8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
• v.4a: Revelation is about grace and PEACE, not wrath, gloom, despair and agony!
• The Bible is designed to teach us something about the NATURE of God.
• v.4b: Here we see a picture of the Trinity:
o The ETERNAL Father
o The PERFECT Holy Spirit (seven = number for PERFECTION)
o The FAITHFUL Son
• v.5: We also learn some things about Jesus, too:
o Jesus is the one who loved us and washed us from our sins.
• v.5-6a: The Bible is also designed to teach us something about who we are in Christ:
o We are LOVED by God, FORGIVEN, and we are KINGS and PRIESTS
o Kings = royal authority (children of God) and Priests = access to God
• v.6b: One of the main themes of Revelation = WORSHIP.
• v.7: Another main theme in Revelation = the SECOND COMING of Jesus.
9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
• Background info: The Apostle John wrote the Book of Revelation.
o John also wrote: The Gospel of John, 1 John, 2 John & 3 John
• Location: The Island of Patmos, where John was exiled.
• Three more themes in Revelation = TRIBULATION, KINGDOM & PATIENCE.
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last," and, "What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea." 12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; 16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
• Background to receiving the revelation = John was “in the Spirit”
• It is often when we are ‘in the Spirit’ (in worship, prayer, etc.) when we receive prophetic revelation in our lives, too.
Colours and numbers in Revelation are symbolic and prophetic:
v.13 - golden band = ROYALTY
v.14 - hair white like wool = AUTHORITY & DIGNITY
- eyes like a flame of fire = WISDOM
v.15 - feet like refined brass = JUDGMENT
- voice like many waters = POWER
v.16 - seven stars in hand = see v.20 below…
- sharp two-edged sword = THE WORD
- face like the sun = GLORY
17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
• Jesus encourages John with the words, “Do not be afraid!”
• More revelation about Jesus here:
o One of His titles: “The First and the Last”
o The one who died on the Cross
o The one who was raised from the dead
o The one who has power and authority over hades and death
19 Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. 20 The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.
In many places in Revelation, the prophetic symbols are interpreted for us:
• The Seven Stars = the ANGELS of the seven churches
• The Seven Lampstands = the seven CHURCHES
• * Note – the word angel comes from the Greek word angelus which simply means messenger. Some believe the ‘angel’ of the church refers to the PASTOR.
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://thelandofpromise.blogspot.com/
