Rev. Bruce A. Shields
First Baptist Church of Tawas City Michigan
www.TawasBaptist.org
Revelation Chapter 1
Key Verse; Revelation 1:19
“Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.”
Revelation is broke into 3 major parts according to Revelation 1:19.
A) What John has seen.
B) What is presently seen.
C) What is coming.
In other words, write down the past, present and future events.
Chapter 1 – “The things which thou hast seen (The Past).” - The Lord Jesus as the Glorified One.
Notes:
• Revelation, not revelations.
• Of Jesus, not of John.
• Blessing for readers and hearers in Verse 3.
• Glowing vision of the Lord Jesus.
Verse 1:1 – 8 “Introduction”
Prologue (1:1 – 3)
Revelation = Apocalypse (unveiling, disclosure) of Jesus Christ.
Servants = All believers.
Soon to take place = vs. 1:3 “…the time is near.”
Vs. 22:6 – 7 “…must soon take place.”
Vs. 22:10 “…the time is near.”
Vs. 22:20 “…I (Jesus) am coming soon.”
Angel = Messenger of God (anyone, human or heavenly, who proclaims God’s message)
John = identifies himself as John Vs. 1:1 “…to his servant John.”
Vs. 1:4 “John,”
Vs. 1:9 “I, John,”
Vs. 22:8 “I, John,”
Blessed = the first of the seven beatitudes in the book.
Vs. 14:13
Vs. 16:15
Vs. 19:9
Vs. 20:6
Vs. 22:7
Vs. 22:14
Blessed = favorable circumstance God puts on a person.
Psalm 1:1 “Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.”
Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Prophecy = means foretelling the future as well as proclaiming any word from God.
Greetings & Doxology (Hymn or verse or praise to God) (1:4 – 8)
Seven Spirits = The Holy Spirit in each church?
Seven Churches = located 50 miles apart forming a circle in Asia Minor moving clockwise. The ENTIRE BOOK OF REVELATION as well as the seven letters was sent to each church.
A kingdom of priests = this Old Testament designation of Israel is applied to the New Testament Church.
1 Peter 2:5 “you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
Pierced =
Psalm 22:16 “…they have pierced my hands and my feet.”
Isaiah 53:5 “…he was pierced for our transgressions”
John 19:34 “one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.”
So shall it be! Amen. = A double affirmation
Alpha and Omega = first and last letters of Greek alphabet. God is saying He is the beginning and the end. He is, and was and will be!
Verse 1:9 – 20 “Jesus among the Seven Churches”
Suffering, kingdom & patience = three pivotal themes in Revelation.
Patmos = a small island off the coast of modern Turkey. John was imprisoned here until his release sometime in 96 – 98 AD by the Roman Emperor Nerva.
The Lord’s Day = technical term for the first day of the week, so named because Jesus rose from the dead on that day. It was also the day Christians met together, and took up collections. This is why we attend church on Sunday now.
Acts 20:7 “On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.”
1 Corinthians 16:1, 2 “1 now about the collection for God’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2 on the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.”
In the Spirit = In a state of Spiritual Exaltation – not a dream, but a vision like Peter’s.
Acts 10:10 “He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.”
Scroll = pieces of parchment or papyrus sewn together and rolled on a spindle. The book was not invented until about 2AD.
Seven = Hebrew number of perfection or completion.
Seven Golden Lamp stands = the seven churches Vs. 1:20
Son of Man = Jesus Christ
Daniel 7:13, 14 “"In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”
Mark 8:31 “He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.”
Robe to his feet = Traditionally the high priest wore a full-length robe to his feet.
Exodus 28:4 “These are the garments they are to make: a breast piece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so they may serve me as priests.”
Exodus 29:5 “Take the garments and dress Aaron with the tunic, the robe of the ephod, the ephod itself and the breast piece. Fasten the ephod on him by its skillfully woven waistband.”
Reference to Christ as the high priest is supported by the fact that he is wearing a golden sash around his chest.
White like wool = suggests wisdom and dignity.
Daniel 7:9 “As I looked,
"thrones were set in place,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat.
His clothing was as white as snow;
the hair of his head was white like wool.
His throne was flaming with fire,
and its wheels were all ablaze.”
Isaiah 1:18 “"Come now, let us reason together,"
says the LORD.
"Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.”
Eyes like blazing fire = penetrating insight.
Sharp Double Edged Sword = the sword is the word of God which is used for our protection, but also our divine judgment.
Isaiah 49:2 “He made my mouth like a sharpened sword...”
Hebrew 4:12, 13 “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
Fell at his feet = great respect and true AWE.
Living One = Based on Old Testament references to the living God.
In contrast to the dead gods of paganism, Christ possesses life in his essential nature.
Keys of death and Hades (Sheol, or place of the dead) = Christ has absolute control over their domain.
Angels = heavenly messengers, earthly messengers/ministers, personifications of the prevailing spirit of each church.
