REVELATION - Part 2
August 20, 2003 - Danny L. Williams
Revelation 1:1-7
THE BOOK OF REVELATION is the culmination of Bible prophecy -the point at which all the prophecies of the ages converge and find their ultimate fulfillment.
Revelation shows the future of the Jew, Gentile, and the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Within its pages are three specific details
1. the events concerning the Savior’s return,
2. the establishment of His Millennial kingdom,
3. and finally, the eternal state of both the saved and the lost.
The word revelation comes from the Greek apokalupsis,
meaning "an uncovering or unveiling.
" For this reason, the Book of Revelation is also known as the Apocalypse.
In either case, the definition reflects the fact that God has made known to mankind those eternal, supernatural truths and realities which man, on his own, could never realize or discover.
The Book of Revelation is the final work of the New Testament and the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which details world history from the time of John (the Early Church Age) to eternity.
It constitutes God’s last special revelation to mankind this side of heaven.
Simply stated, Bible prophecy and Revelation are history written in advance.
They form God’s description of future facts and events. ’
Yet, comparatively little prophetic teaching and preaching are currently taking place.
This is probably due to the fact that this field of endeavor involves a great amount of research and study (see 2 Timothy 2:15).
As we walk through the Book of Revelation together, remember that this special message has been given to reveal God’s truth, not conceal it, and to clarify God’s eternal purpose, not mystify it.
I have not attempted to present an elaborate outline or engage in
the use of heavy theological terminology.
My goal is simplicity through a verse-by-verse analysis.
I trust that, as a result, each will gain a clear understanding of the blessed truths the
Book of Revelation contains.
This work was prepared to alert millions to the fact that Jesus is coming soon-perhaps today!
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CHAPTER 1
Verse I: The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: .
We begin our study by immediately recognizing that the noun is revelation, singular, not revelations,
plural.
This term comes from the Greek word apokalupsis and means "an unveiling or uncovering."
It is often used in the epistles as a "manifestation" (Romans 8:19),
a "coming" (I Corinthians 1:7),
a "revealing" (2 Thessalonians 1:7),
and an "appearing’_ (I Peter 1:7).
The Book of Revelation, then, concerns the unveiling or appearing of our precious Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is not the unfolding of the story of St. John the Divine, or even of prophetical truth, but rather the message of the "appearing of Christ."
This appearing takes place at the Rapture (chapter 4, verse I), as well as at the hour of His return to earth when every eye shall see Him (chapter I, verse 7).
Secondly, we see that this revelation was given to Jesus Christ, as is everything, for Jesus said, "All things are delivered unto me of my Father" (Matthew 11:27).
They are presented unto Him to "shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass."
The term "shortly" in the original means "rapidity(The acceleration) of action once there is a beginning.
"This certainly pictures the present an hour when signs pointing to His return are beginning to appear with alarming :frequency.
These truths, then, are sent and signified by Christ’s angel unto John, the writer of the book, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
Notice that the first four letters of the word signified spells SIGN.
Why?
The Book of Revelation is a study of signs.
There is the sign of the Holy Spirit presented as seven spirits
(v. 4) and the sign of the seven golden candlesticks and the seven
stars (v. 20).
through signs, we come to an understanding of
this gloriously revealed portion of Scripture.
Verse 2: [John] bare record of the word of God, and of the
testimony of ]Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
This statement is self-explanatory.
Verse 3: Blessed is he that reads, and they that hear the words
of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein:
for the time is at hand.
Verse 3 proves that the apocalypse is not some deep, mysterious,
confusing book God would not be an omniscient, all-knowing
God promised a special blessing to those who read, hear, and keep what they read and hear, if they were unable to comprehend the truth.
No, the Book of Revelation is understandable and fills the heart with joy once one sees its glorious message concerning the Saviour.
’One reason that readers and hearers are to keep that which they have heard is because the time of Christ’s return is at hand.
The words at hand mean "imminent."
Near and imminent are not synonymous.
Near is a relation of distance-
Near shows a meaning of Time.
Imminent shows a meaning of eternity
Imminent means "impending."
the event could happen immediately or within ten minutes, ten months, or even ten years.
"Imminence" is always the meaning of at hand when speaking about the return of the Lord.
For example,
Romans 13:12 says,
"The night is far spent, the day is at hand" [imminent].
Philippians 4:5 declares, "Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand."
And I Peter 4:7 says, "But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer."
SO, the next event on God’s calendar,
the return of Christ for His Church, may happen momentarily.
That is why we, as Christians, should keep our eyes fixed heavenward,
(Titus 2:13).
"looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ"
Verse 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.
John now focuses his attention on seven local churches located in a land area called Asia.
This is not Asia as we know it today but a portion of Turkey.
Only seven churches are mentioned, although there were undoubtedly more in existence.
Seven is God’s number of perfection.
The number also pictures seven different sets of conditions reflecting the history of God’s people through the Church Age.
God’s salutation, found in nineteen of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament, is presented here as well: "Grace be unto you, and peace."
It is not "peace and grace" but "grace and peace,"
because this is God’s program for sinners.
They cannot have peace until He has shown them His lovely grace.
God must show His unmerited favor and love, called "grace," before one can experience peace.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).
"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men" (Titus 2:II).
When grace has done its job, peace follows: "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5: I).
This peace was made "through the blood of his cross" (Colossians 1:20).
’Romans 15=13 states: "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost."
Only Jesus can give this peace.
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Vs. 4 We also find that the message of grace and peace is from the entire Trinity.
First,
the Father which is, which was, and which is to come;
Present
Past
Future
then from the seven Spirits which are before the throne
(a designation of the blessed Holy Spirit in all of His holiness, for
seven means perfection).
Isa. 11:2 – Seven spirits of God
