#3 - 1:1-7 New Revised Revelation Study
Let us begin today by pointing out that the key verse to the entire book is verse 19.
In this verse there are 3 divisions of this book. ~ past--present-- future
Revelation 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, past--- and the things which are, present--- and the things which shall be hereafter; future
1st division ~ Write the things which thou hast seen-- in chapter 1:
Past: John's vision of the glorified Christ as King-Priest.
2nd. division ~ Present: -- The Things Which Are -- chapters 2 - 3
The seven churches reveal the condition of God's people, during all of the church age, from Pentecost, until the rapture of the church.
In these 7 church's, from Ephesus to Laodicea, the church becomes worldly and complacent, and more-so with each time period. -- the Laodicean church period, the last church mentioned, they have Christ standing on the out side knocking for some one to let Him in, they said they have need of nothing, not even Him, we're in this period now.
3rd. division -- future: -- and the things which shall be hereafter; -- chapters 4 through 22 are all future.
Chapters 4 and 5 are a scene in heaven, we that are saved will witness this.
The rapture of the church 4:1-- John is caught up, a picture of the rapture, the rest of chapters 4 and 5 is a scene in heaven, as the Lamb takes His throne. --- While we, the raptured believers are worshiping and praising God the Tribulation is getting underway down on earth.
The tribulation of seven years (6-19) the church is not here, the "CHURCH" is not found are mentioned in these chapters and the reason is, SHES NOT HERE.
First half of the Tribulation are (6-9)
Middle of the Tribulation is (10-14)
Last half of the Tribulation are (15-19) -- in these chapters, we find "the Great tribulation." -- Beginning in 15:1--16:21 the vials, or "bowl judgments" are poured out on the earth dwellers. - There are 7 seals--7 trumpets-- 7 vials, the VIAL judgments are far worse.
The millennial kingdom of Christ (20)
The new heavens and earth (21-22)
When we get into chapters 2 & 3 to do with each church, you can determine which church you attend, you might want to find you another church.
Lets look into Revelation 1:1
1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto HIM (Jesus) to shew unto his servants (you and I) things which must shortly come to pass; and HE (Jesus) sent and signified it by HIS angel unto his servant John:
As most of us know, the N.T. was written in Greek, and the Greek word for Revelation means apocalypse. Unveiling.
God gave it to Jesus, Jesus gave it to His angel, -- I believe it is most likely Gabriel, because he is seen as the messenger angel in Dan. 8:16; 9:21-22; -- Gabriel is named there as he dealt with Daniel, -- Gabriel is also named in the N.T. as he spoke to Mary, Luke 1:26-38-- and we believe it was Gabriel that came to Joseph in a dream and warned him to take Mary and and the child Jesus and flee into Egypt until Herod dies, Matt.2: --
We also believe it was Gabriel that announced the glad tidings to the shepherds in Lk.2:8-12 -- and that it was Gabriel that appeared to Zacharias in Lk.1:11-13 and told him he would have a son, and his name would be John. ~~ Gabriel was Gods messenger angel, as Michael is Gods guardian angel over Israel. Dan.12:1 --
Let me say right here that, Michael is the only angel with the tittle "The Arch Angel" Jude 1:9 Yet Michael the archangel --- No other angel has this tittle, if there are other Arch angels we're not told of them in the bible, what a powerful angel he must be. --
Michael is probably the destroying angel that God sent and killed 185000 Assyrians in one night in Isa. 37:36. --- Although we can't say that for certain.
Rev.1:1 -- - and the angel gave it to John, and John is giving it to you and me.
and signified it by HIS angel unto his servant John:
We see the word SIGN in the word signified.
Christ "sent and signified" this revelation "by his angel [messenger] unto his servant, John". -- The word signified means to indicate or communicate by means of signs and symbolic language. ~~
For instants, John used the word "beast" instead of the word "dictator" when telling about the Antichrist, he used the word "Babylon" telling about a religious system. -- John used words or symbols which communicate the meaning. -- Perhaps one reason is because symbolism is not weakened or changed by time.
John used words that were known and understood in his day, also if the Roman authorities should have gotten their hands on this book they'd not know what it meant.
To us this book is prophecy, but to John, he recorded history unfolding before him as he saw it, he was an eye witness.
He said so in vs. 2 -- and of all things that he saw. -- and also in 22:8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And we are confident that what John says is true.
Throughout Revelation, angels play a major role as mediating messengers to reveal God's Word to John using signs and symbolic language.
must shortly come to pass ~ means that when these prophecies begin to be fulfilled, they will happen suddenly, in rapid succession, and without delay.
Lets read verses 1- 2 together:
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.
John knew it was Holy Scripture because he calls it the word of God. He also calls it the testimony of Jesus Christ.
The expression "bare record" means "to bear witness" or "to testify." John bears witness of his reception of these things in this book, what John wrote is a complete recital "of all things that he saw." John is an eyewitness.
Verse 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.
the time is at hand -- not the time is now here.
John didn't say that we had to understand everything in the Book of Revelation to be blessed. -- we can be blessed by reading and hearing even when we don't understand.
The first printing machines, or presses were not invented until about 1440 by a German named Jo-han-nes Gutenberg. -- So in the early days of the Church there was not a printing machine, this meant there was a limited number of handwritten copies of Gods Word, therefore a public reader would go from church to church, he would read aloud to the listeners. -- We're told in this verse that the reader would be blessed and that the hearer also would be blessed, and those that read and heard was to KEEP THOSE THINGS which are written there in.
To keep is to give heed to -- their conduct would be governed by them.
We notice too, that the Revelation is a prophecy.
There are many prophecies concerning the first coming of Christ, hundreds of years before Jesus was born it was foretold where He would he born, of what tribe, in what province and in what city. -- These prophets prophesied His birth, His life, His miracles, His betrayal, His crucifixion, His death, His resurrection after three days and His ascension into heaven, they were all foretold, and literally fulfilled. --- Many of the prophecies of His First and Second advents were written at the same time by the same men, Yet there are people that accept the prophecies of His first coming as being literal because its evident they were liter ally fulfilled, it can not be denied.
But some of these same people want to spirtualize the unfulfilled prophecies of His second coming, and try to argue them away.
But common sense and logic should cause us to expect the same literal fulfillment of those which are yet to be fulfilled.
vs.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;
The description "Him who is and who was and who is to come" applies to God the Son and God the Holy Spirit as much as it does to God the Father, the title Yahweh describes the Triune God, the One God in Three Persons.
But here it seems that John focuses on God the Father with this title because he specifically mentions God the Holy Spirit in the following words of this verse.
and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
We know that there is only One Holy Spirit, but these words are to do with the 7 attributes of the One Holy Spirit that we read about in;
Isaiah 11:2 -3And 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;
3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD:
John continues the salutation in verses 5 & 6.
5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince (ruler) of the kings of the earth. (we who rule and reign with Him) 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.
Jesus Christ is seen in His threefold office as faithful witness , first-begotten from the dead , and King prince - ruler of the kings of the earth . First-begotten does not mean "the first one raised from the dead," but "the highest in rank of those raised from the dead." First-born is also a title of honor.
Colossians 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: --First in rank--
Romans 8:29 -- that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
His witness and His resurrection are now past. -- His fulfillment of the role of "ruler of the kings of the earth" is future, to be achieved after his victory over the beast and the false prophet (Rev. 19), fulfilling Isaiah 9:6-7
Isaiah 9:6-7 in part -
and the government shall be upon his shoulder: 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Now lets read the salutation altogether again;
Revelation 1:4-5
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, --from not in.
He loved us so much that He died in our stead on the cross, He paid our sin debt.
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
vs.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.
He left in a cloud and He will return the same as He left, in a cloud.
Acts 1: 9-11 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11Which also said, Ye men of Galilee,
not ye men of Pickens county 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. --~ He left in a cloud and He will return the same as He left, in a cloud.
-- and every eye shall see him,
Listen, many commentators say that this means every person in the world at the same time when He returns, but I don't think that this is what that means.
Listen, as I try to illustrate, the Chinese people are on the other side of the world, to us, their standing on their head, which way is up? Its not the same all over the world at the same time.
I believe this means the people of that part of the world when He returns, (the men of GALILEE saw Him leave in a cloud in Acts 1:) its true every eye will see Him, although I don't think it will be at the same time. Some will see Him at the White Throne judgment of the lost. We that are saved will see Him in the rapture.
and they also which pierced him:
A Roman soldier pierced Him, but we read here, and they (plural) also which pierced him:
Listen, the Jews are responsible for Him being pierced, actually we all had a part in Him being crucified, as He died for all sinners.
Its made plain here that the Jews are responsible for Him being pierced, listen.
Zechariah 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.
The Roman soldier that actually plunged the spear into His side will see Him, although he has been dead and gone for centuries will see Him, even if its at the White Throne judgment of the lost.
and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
For some it will be the wailing & mourning of repentance. For others it will be the wailing mourning over the judgments that He will pour out on the earth and lost sinners.
