Table Of Contents
REVELATION CHAPTER ONE
Verse 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:
People sometimes erroneously call this Book "Revelations" (plural). However, it is but one revelation. Elsewhere in the New Testament the Greek word, "apokalupsis," which is translated “Revelation” here is translated “manifestation” (Rom 8:19), “appearing” (1 Pet 1:7) and “coming” (1 Cor 1:7). So we see that the very name of the Book points to the second coming of Jesus. It is the unveiling of the events that lead to Christ’s return to planet Earth. Basically the Greek word "apokalupsis" means to show forth, lay bare, unveil or disclose truth previously unknown. The Book is also mistakenly called, "the Revelation of John," but it is actually Jesus Christ who is revealed, not of John.
The Book of Revelation is not a sealed Book as Daniel was when it was first written (Dan 12:9, Rev 22:10). Revelation can be understood if the Holy
Spirit and the whole tenor of Scripture is relied upon to show us the meaning (Isa 28:9-10; 1 Cor 2:9-16). God (the Father) gave the Revelation of Jesus Christ (the Son) to the Apostle John by way His angel (the Holy Spirit) so that John could reveal Christ's second coming to His servants.
“This Revelation was given to Jesus, as is everything, by God the Father” (Matt 11:27) [1]. The incarnate Word, Jesus Christ, is God from all eternity (John 1:1, 14). However, when the Word became flesh, He temporally laid aside some of the attributes of His deity (Phil 2:5-8). "We learn that as a boy He ’increased in wisdom’ (Luke 2:52). We know that He ‘learned … obedience by the things which He suffered’ (Heb 5:8)." [2] In reply to the apostles question: "when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of the coming?" (Matt 24:3 cf. Mark 13:4) Jesus answered, "But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels who are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father’ (Mark 13:32). Jesus, during His earthly ministry did not have all knowledge, but once He ascended back to heaven "God gave unto Him" the Revelation. Since the Lord's ascension back to Heaven, once again, He knows everything (Phil 2:8-9; Acts 15:18).
The Father gave the Revelation to Jesus “to show unto His servants.” The question arises, "Are we His servants or not?” We need to ask ourselves, "Are we self willed; do we want to run our own lives, or are we surrendered to do His will?" Writers of the New Testament like Paul, Timothy, James, Peter and Jude flatly stated that they were servants of Jesus Christ (Phil 1:1; James 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1; Jude 1). It is of necessity that one love Christ above all if he truly intends to be a student of His Word. We must submit to God’s rulership and be ready to do His will if we expect to understand the Revelation. (Matt 10:24-25; Luke 14:26-27; 1 John 5:3)
God says that the things recorded in the Book of Revelation “must shortly come to pass.” Some scholars say the word “shortly” here means “rapidity of action once there is a beginning.“ [3] Others believe refers to time as God sees it. God said: “Beloved be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day” (2 Pet 3:8). [4] Both ideas have merit and perhaps both are true. When Jesus comes again it will be “as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west” (Matthew 24:27), suddenly once the event begins. On the other hand it has been 2000 years, 2 days according to God’s calender, since He made this promise. Dr. John Gill (1697-1771) has this to say on the subject:
"... these were to come to pass quickly, in a very little time; not that they would all be fulfilled in a short space of time, for there are some things not fulfilled yet, though it is nineteen hundred years ago and more, since this revelation was made; and we are sure there are some things that will not be accomplished till a thousand years hence, and more, for the millennium is not yet begun; ... but the sense is, that these things should very quickly begin to be fulfilled, and from thenceforward go on fulfilling till all were accomplished. ..." [5]
The Lord Jesus Christ “sent and signified it [Revelation] by His angel unto His servant John.” Jesus sign-i-fied the Book of Revelation. That is to say, Jesus made it known to John with signs or symbols. Great use of symbolic language is made in Revelation. For example, John vision of Christ in this chapter is packed with symbolism. There are seven golden candlesticks, that woman Jezebel, seven Spirits, ten horns, a lamb, a lion, a sea of glass, two olive trees, a woman clothed with the sun, a beast rise up out of the sea, a great whore that sitteth upon many waters, etc., etc. All these are symbols of literal people and things.
The Lord signified the Revelation "by His angel unto His servant John.” The word angel in the Bible generally refers to spirit beings created by God. However, the Greek word simply means “messenger” and is thusly translated seven times (Matt 11:10; Mark 1:2 ; Luke 7:24, 27, 9:52; 2 Cor 12:7; James 2:25). This Greek word is used of both men and spirit beings. Scripture gives good reason to believe that the messenger referred to here in verse one is none other than God the Holy Spirit (John 15:26-27, 16:13; 2 Pet 1:21). Christ Himself is referred to as the “Angel of the Lord” (Gen 22:8-16; Ex 3:1-6), and all three members of the Trinity appear as men and angels in Genesis 18 and 19 (Gen 18:1-3, 20-21, 19:1). Was it not "the Spirit of Truth" that the Lord Jesus said would guide us into "all Truth" and show us "things to come" (John 16:13) So we understand that God the Holy Spirit was sent by Jesus who had been given the Revelation by His Holy Father.
Verse 2: “John, who bore witness of the Word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of the things that he saw.”
John says he is witness to three things: 1) the Word of God, 2) the testimony of Jesus Christ, and 3) the things he saw. Let’s examine each of these individually.
John is witness to the Word of God: In the Gospel of John, the Apostle John records this: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. … And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth” (John 1:1, 14). Again, in John's First epistle, John wrote: "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us)." (1 John 1:1-2) Here in Revelation 1:2 John is reiterating what he had said in his previous books, namely that he was eye witness to the fact that Jesus is God who took upon Himself human flesh. Plus the fact that the Bible is Christ's story that relates His person and will to man. The Greek word "Logos" is used for both Christ and the Bible. Both the Lord and the Bible are holy, true, powerful, life giving, and able to cleans us from our sins.
John is witness to the testimony of Jesus Christ: The Apostle claims to have born witness "of the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Later in this first chapter, in the last chapter and the entirety of chapters two and three the Lord Jesus speaks to John, face to face (Rev 1:8, 11, 18-20, 2:1-3:22; 22:7, 12-13, 16, 20). So John is witness to the Lord’s testimony to him. Revelation 19:10 says: "... worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
John is witness to the things that he saw: He actually saw the things he describes for us. John uses the words "I saw" no less than 31 times in Revelation. For example John says:
"...I saw seven golden candlesticks" (Rev 1:12)
"... I saw him [Jesus] ..." (Rev 1:17)
"... I saw four and twenty [24] elders ..." (Rev 4:4)
"... I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book ..." (Rev 5:1)
"... I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God ..." (Rev 6:9)
"... I saw four angels ..." (Rev 7:1)
"... I saw the seven angels ..." (Rev 8:2)
"... I saw a star fall from heaven ..." (Rev 9:1)
"... the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard ..." (Rev 13:2)
"... I saw three unclean spirits like frogs ..." (Rev 16:13)
"... I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints ..." (Rev 17:6
"... I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him ..." (Rev 19:11)
"... I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God ..." (Rev 20:12)
"... I saw a new heaven and a new earth ..." (Rev 21:1)
(cf. Rev 5:2, 6:1, 2, 7:2, 9:17, 10:1, 5, 13:3, 14:6, 15:1, 2, 17:3, 18:1, 19:17, 19:19, 20:1, 4, 11, 21:22 )
In the Gospel of John he records that Peter asked Jesus about John’s destiny. The Lord replied: “If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? This is
the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. ” (John 21:22-24) John did tarry till Christ came in the form of these visions (Rev 1:10-13, 4:1, 5:5-6 19:11-13) that he recorded for us. He literally saw the Lord Jesus and the events of Revelation "in the Spirit" (Rev 1:10, 4:2, 17:3, 21:10). He was eye witness to all these future events before they happened.
Verse 3 : Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is at hand.
This is the first of seven blessings promised in the book of Revelation (cf. Rev 14:13, 16:15, 19:9, 20:6, 22:7, 14).
The Apostle Paul describes Christ’s second coming as the “blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). Blessed means “happy.” God through the book of Revelation blesses His servants by showing them the ultimate victory of Christ over Satan and by giving us a glimpse of heaven. God blesses the study of the whole Bible (Psalm 1:1-2), but a special blessing is here promised to those that study the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
“[T]hey that ... keep the things written therein” refers to those, like Mary, who “kept all the things, and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19).[ 6] But even more than that It has to do with the task charged by God to the local church of guarding the Bible from corruption (Jude 3), here specifically the Revelation record,. The Greek for word "keep" here is "tereo." Elsewhere in the New Testament it is translated, "reserved (i.e.kept for)," "watch," "observe," "keeper," "hold fast "and "preserve" (2 Pet 1:4; Matt 28:4, 20, Rev 3:3; 1 Thess 5:23; Jude 1). Pilate used a word of Latin origin which is translated "watch" when speaking to the chief priests and Pharisees who wanted him to secure the Lord's tomb. Pilate told them, "Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch" (Matt 27:65-66). The word translated "watch" here in Matthew had to do with a Roman guard that was made up of from four to sixteen solders. Those of this Latin "watch" are called "keepers" in Matthew 28:4 and this is the same Greek word "tereo" used here in Revelation 1:3. This task of guarding God's Truth was originally given to Israel (Rom 3:1-2), but now the Lord has commissioned His church to do so (John 16:13, 17:17; Matt 28:20). Christ's church, in former ages were called Montanists, Novations, Donatists, Paulicans, Albigenses, Waldenses, etc., and later all these were called Anabaptists, and finally just Baptist. The local churches of those called by these names were "... the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." (1 Tim 3:15) These are the keepers of the Book. These have "earnestly conten[ed] for the Faith which was once delivered unto the saints" for 2,000 years now. And these will receive a special blessing for keeping and contending for the one delivered Faith.
By studying the Revelation of Jesus Christ, we, as born again servants of God, can be happy or blessed in knowing that regardless of how hopeless world conditions may appear. God is in complete control. But to the unregenerate, and even worldly Christians, the Revelation is an unresolved mystery (1 Cor 2:14; 2 Tim 2:15; Dan 4:17, 32-33; Psalm 75:6-7). [7]
The phrase “for the time is at hand” refers to imminence of the beginning of the fulfillment of the prophecies of Revelation. They began their fulfillment immediately upon the completion of the Revelation. For example Revelation 22:16-19 began to be fulfilled quickly after the completion of Revelation which was the completion of the cannon. Revelation 22:16-19 says:
"I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."
This and other prophecies of Revelation began to be fulfilled quickly after it's completion.
Verse 4 & 5 : 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; 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. …
In verse 1 we saw the chain of transmission of the Revelation from the Father to John. Here we see the transmission of the message taken another step to the seven churches in Asia. The Revelation is specifically to "the seven churches which are in Asia" which were local New Testament churches in western Asia Minor (modern Turkey). However, these seven churches symbolize all New Testament churches of this Church Age. Therefore, it is to all New Testament churches.
John greets the churches: “Grace be unto you, and peace, from [God].” Almost every one of the letters of Paul have a similar greeting in the first three verses, and Peter is in agreement with John and Paul in the second verse of both of his letters. It is always grace first then peace; never peace then grace. This is God’s program for sinners. We cannot have peace until God has shown us His grace. God must show His unmerited favor and love (grace) before one can experience peace with God. [8] Without the grace of God we would all burn in hell. Mankind is in rebellion, at war with God, and until one receives the grace of God by simply turning from his sins to Christ, he will never make peace with God (Rom 5:1-2; Eph 2:8-9; Col 1:20; Phil 4:7).
Verses 4 and 5 speak of the Holy Trinity where it says, “Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come [the Father]; and from the seven Spirits [the Holy Spirit] which are before his throne; and from Jesus Christ [the Son].” These three make up the Tri-unity or Trinity. John also records this about the Trinity of God: "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." (1John 5:7; cf. John 1:1) Just as "these three are one" so man also is a three part being consisting of "spirit and soul and body" (1 Thess 5:23) for man was created in God's "own image" (Gen 1:26-27).
That the sevenfold Holy Spirit” is meant when referred to as “the seven Spirits” is seen from His description as resting upon Jesus in Isaiah 11:1-2 where it says:
"And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 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..." (Isa 11:1-2)
“Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness” is descriptive His character. The Bible teaches that it is "impossible for God to lie" (Heb 6:18). And again it says, "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began” (Titus 1:2). Jesus has given us the Truth concerning our lost and hopeless condition without Him (John 8:24) and He has faithfully witnessed to us concerning the way of salvation (John 3:5-8, 14:6, cf. Acts 4:12; Isaiah 55:3-5).
The Lord Jesus as "the first begotten of the dead” refers to His resurrection. The Bible says that "[Christ] should be the first that should raise from the dead" (Acts 26:23). "Others were raised from the dead but they died again. They were raised from physical death to physical life. ... Jesus Christ was raised from the dead to immortality - never to die again! So, He is the first to have been resurrected with a new, never-dying body." [9] Christ's resurrection is the most important event in all history. Without it no one could ever be saved! But because of it the believer can never loose his salvation. The Word of God says, "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." (Rom 5:10-11) "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." (Heb 7:25) When Christ is called “the firstfruits,” “the firstborn from the dead, and "the first begotten of the dead"(1 Cor 15:20-23; Col 1:18; Rev 1:5) it refers to His resurrection; while, when the Lord is called “the only begotten” it speaks of His incarnation (John 1:1, 14, 18, 3:16, 18; 1 John 4:9). Neither of these phrases have anything whatsoever to do with Him having a beginning as cultist would have us believe (John 1:1-3; Col 1:16; Micah 5:2). The result of Christ's resurrection is His "preeminence" (Col 1:14-18; cf. Rom 8:29)
At this time “[Christ] only hath immortality” (1 Tim 6:16), because no one as of yet has been resurrected bodily except Him. But at the Rapture all the saved of this Dispensation of Grace will receive their new glorified bodies. The Old Testament saints, however, will be raised seven years after the Church Age saints have been “caught up … to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thess 4:17). The Old Testament saints are alive spiritually through the promise of the coming Redeemer, but they are waiting for their new bodies which they will receive after the 7 year Tribulation (Job:19:25-27; Dan 9:24-27, 12:11-13; Heb 11:39-40). Jesus, after His crucifixion, descended into the abode of the dead called, "Abraham's bosom" and "Paradise" (Luke 16:19-31, 23:39-43). Then on the third day He arose from the dead and like a firstborn son who opens the womb, He came forth as “the first begotten of the dead.” Then, 40 days later, He “led captivity captive" transferring "Paradise" from "the lower parts of the earth" to Heaven "on high" (Eph 4:9-10). The souls and spirits of these Old Testament saints are now in heaven with God. Their bodies, however, are still in the grave awaiting redemption (Job 19:26; Rev 6:9-11; Dan 12:13) at the beginning of the the Millennium (Rev 20:4-6). The Old Testament saints, as the Church Age believers, will take part in what is called “the first resurrection” (Rev 20:5). The difference is that the Old Testament believers are raised at the end of the first resurrection while believers of our Dispensation will be raised at the beginning of the first resurrection (Rev 4:1; Col 1:18; Rom 8:29) "But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming." (1 Cor 15:23) The second resurrection is strictly for the lost (Rev 20:11-15).
“Jesus Christ … the prince of the kings of the earth” expresses the Lord's rulership over those who it it will be given power to rule during the Millennium (2 Tim 2:11-12; Rev 5:10, 20:6, 22:3-5). He is the ruler of the universe and “in His times He shall show who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords” (1 Tim 6:15; cf. Isa 9:6-7; Rev 19:14-16).
Verse 5 & 6 : … Unto him that loveth us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us a kingdom of priests unto God and his Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
We saw previously that Jesus Christ is "the first begotten of the dead" and that this was the most important event of all history. Now we read that he "washed us from our sins in his own blood." This speaks of the second most important event in history. These two together, the Lord's bloody death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead, constitute the Gospel, the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. The Apostle Paul defines the Gospel thusly:
"... I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved .... For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures." (1 Cor 15-1-4)
The Old Testament tabernacle and animal sacrifices were "figures of the true" tabernacle and sacrifice in Heaven. They were "patterns of things in the heavens" which pointed to Christ's sacrifice on the cross and His offering of His own blood in the heavenly tabernacle. Again Paul says:
"But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us .... So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." (Heb 9:11-14, 22-24, 28)
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." (Rom 3:23-26)
Faith in the fact of the Gospel (i.e. Christ "washed us from our sins in his own blood" and is "the first begotten of the dead.") is the only way by which one may be saved from Hell (1 Tim 2:5-6; Rom 5:8-10, 6:23; Rev 20:14).
"Unto him that loveth us ... be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." Jesus said in the Gospel of John: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Paul compares Christ’s love to that of a husbands: “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church; and gave Himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word” (Eph 5:25-26) This love of Christ’s is forever and unwavering. It will keep all that come to Him in repentance and faith (Rom 8:38-39; 2 Tim 1:12-14). “The Lord … is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Pet 3:9). But if we spurn or neglect His love, which He demonstrated for us by shedding His blood and dying in our place, then He has no other choice but to reject us, because God is holy and cannot stand unholiness, and He will not allow anyone unholy to enter heaven. He makes repentant believers holy by washing our sins away in His own blood thus allowing us entry into the Holy City. When God looks at a saved sinner He no longer sees his sins, but only the blood of Jesus (Heb 9:22). Don’t neglect God’s love!
The Lord Jesus "hath made us a kingdom of priests unto God." In Old Testament times only the high priest was allowed to enter into the holiest room of the earthly tabernacle (Heb 9:1), but now Jesus has opened a way that “whosoever” may enter the Heavenly Tabernacle (Heb 9:11-12; Rev 22:17; Rom 10:13; John 11:25-26; Acts 2:21,10:43 ). No longer do we need a priest to intercede for us to God, because believers are made priests by trusting in Him and His finished work for sin (1 Pet 3:18; Rev 5:10, 20:6; 1 Pet 2:9). As the result of Jesus Christ’s death in our stead believers may “have ... boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, ... and having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” (Heb 10:19-22, cf. Titius 3:5; Eph 5:26). In the Old Testament, Levitical priests were consecrated by the sprinkling the blood of a ram on them which was symbolic for the blood of Christ (Ex 29:20-21; Lev 8:30; Heb 12:24; 1 Pet 1:2). In the same way true believers are made "priests unto God and His Father."
As “a kingdom of priests unto God” Christians are to come boldly before the Father on their own behalf (1 John 2:1-2; Heb 2:17-18, 4:14-16, 7:26-27), and to intercede on the behalf of others. Believers should intercede by praying to God for the lost, for the needs of our brothers in Christ, as well as for our own needs (1 John 5:16; James 5:14-16; 1 Tim 2:8).
The office of a priest is one of three major Old Testament offices. The other two are prophet and king. The Lord Jesus holds all three of these offices. A priest by intercession represents man to God, and a prophet speaking by the Holy Spirit represents God to man. Prophets of old were "holy men of God" who "spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (2 Pet 1:21). Prophets since the completion of the Revelation are those that tell forth what has been foretold. Christ commission His church to do this. As “a kingdom of priests” believers have been made "unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth" (Rev 5:10, cf. 21:7, 22:5; 2 Tim 2:12). But let us never forget that Jesus Christ is the "High Priest" (Heb 2:17, 3:1, 4:14-15, 7:26, 8:1, 9:11) and that He is "the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords" and "the prince of the kings of the earth" (1 Tim 6:15; Rev 1:5, cf. 17:14, 19:16)
Verse 7 : Behold, He cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see Him, and they also who pierced Him; and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen.
At Christ’s ascension as the disciples “beheld, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold two men stood by them in white apparel; who also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye see Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:9-11). “[Daniel] saw in the night vision, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven…” (Dan 7:13). Jesus Himself stated: “Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man…coming in the clouds of heaven” (Matt 26:64, cf.24:30; Luke 21:27). The same word, "cloud," used here is used for the one that the children of Israel were protected by and baptized in as they were making their exodus out of Egypt (1 Cor 10:1-2; cf. Ex 13:21-22; Psalm 105:39). Believers will be caught up in the clouds at the Rapture as will the two Tribulation witnesses (1 Thess 4:7; Rev 11:12). A cloud is seen as the Son of man's vehicle when He comes in judgement (Rev 14:14-16) when Christ comes to reap those who reject Him (Rev 14:9-11, 19-20).
The statement “every eye shall see Him” will be fulfilled literally. Not everyone will see Him at the same time, but every eye will see Jesus. "Everybody on earth, in heaven, and in hell will face Him" [10] "But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming." (1 Cor 15:23) The first to be raised to see the Lord are the saved of the Church Age. This will occur at the Rapture (1 Cor 15:51-52; 1 Thess 4:13-16) to "the judgement seat of Christ" (2 Cor 5:10; Rom 14:10-11) The Old Testament saints will see Him at the beginning of the Millennium (Job 19:25-27; Dan 12:12-13). There seems to be several rapture / resurrections of Tribulation saints during and at the end of the Tribulation (Rev 7:9, 11:3, 7-8, 11-12, 14:1, 20:4). Lastly the lost of all ages will see Jesus at the end of the Millennium just before they are cast into the lake of fire (Rev 20:5, 11-15). "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Phil 2:9-11)
The phrase “they also who pierced Him" especially singles out the nation of Israel (John 19:31-37; Zech 12:10). The Greek word for “pierced” here is used only here and in John 19:37. It's New Testament use is a partial fulfillment of Zechariah 12:10. The ultimate fulfillment will be when Israel is purged and saved during the coming Tribulation period (Rom 11:26-27; Isa 59:20-21; Zech 13:8-9; Ezek 5:2, 12). However, not only is Israel in focus here, but “all kindreds of the earth.” in a very real way we all “pierced Him.” In Psalm 22:16 the Lord Jesus prophesied , "... the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet." It was my sin and wickedness and yours that cause the Lord to be pierce. But everyone who is left here on earth when Jesus returns will “wail because of Him.” Some will wail in repentance for having “pierced Him” while others will wail in pain and fear (Rev 6:15-17, 16:10, 20:11-15). “Even so, Amen.”
Verse 8 : I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.
Christ has many titles and symbols (God, the Word, King, Lamb, etc.), but here He announces His divine Old Testament names: "I AM" and "Almighty." God said to Moses in the Book of Exodus :
"And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations. ... I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them." (Ex 3:13-15, 6:3; cf. Gen 17:1, 35:10-11, 48:3) God's name, "JEHOVAH," is most often translated "LORD" (all capitols) in the Old Testament. The root word of "JEHOVAH" is the Hebrew word translated "I AM" in Exodus 3:14 above. "I AM," "JEHOVAH" and "LORD" all mean "to be and remain in existence; they express being, but not becoming. They are defined as "the eternal self existing one." This is also expressed in our text: "the beginning and the ending, ... who is, and who was, and who is to come." Then His name "Almighty" (Hebrew: Shaddai) means "omnipotent" or "all powerful" These two names, therefore, express the being and power of God, "his eternal power and Godhead" (Rom 1:20; John 1:3; Col 1:16; Heb 1:3).
These two names, "I am" and "Almighty," also include the Father and the Holy Spirit. Together these three constitute the Godhead (the Trinity), the one true God (1 John 5:7; Deut 6:4; ). Colossians 2:9 says that "in him [Jesus] dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily" (cf. Acts 17:29; Rom 1:20). However, the Father and the Spirit temporally forsook Christ as He was receiving the penalty for our sins in His body on the cross. This was seen when "Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matt 27:46; cf. Ps 22:1) "For he [the Father] hath made him [Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Cor 5:21) We often call the Godhead the "holy Trinity." God is not only eternal and all powerful, but He is also holy. Revelation 6:4, speaking of each member of the Trinity says, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty" (cf. Isa 6:3).
Christ uses His divine name "I am" eight times in Revelation, and the divine name "Almighty" also appears eight times in Revelation. He is the great I AM, the Almighty.
ALMIGHTY :
1. "I am ... Almighty." (Rev 1:8)
2. "... Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come." (Rev 4:8)
3. "... Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come ..." (Rev 11:17)
4. "... Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints." (Rev 15:3)
5. "... Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments." (Rev 16:7)
6. "...God Almighty." (Rev 16:14)
7. "... Almighty God." (Rev 19:15)
8. "... Lord God Almighty and the Lamb ..." (Rev 21:22)
I AM :
1. "I am ... Almighty." (Rev 1:8)
2. "... I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last ..." (Rev 1:11)
3. "... I am the first and the last:" (Rev 1:17)
4. "I am he that liveth, and was dead ..." (Rev 1:18)
5. "... I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts ..." (Rev 2:23)
6. "... I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end ..." (Rev 21:6)
7. "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." (Rev 22:13)
8. "... I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star." (Rev 22:16)
The Lord Jesus used His name "I am" numerous times in the Gospel of John. The Jews understood exactly what Jesus was saying when He "said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am," because they "took they up stones to cast at him." The knew that He was claiming to be God and intended to stone Him for blasphemy, "but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple." (John 8:58-59) So much for the cultist's view of the deity of Christ. "For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." (2 John 7-11) The "doctrine of Christ" teaches His deity.
“Alpha and Omega" (AW) are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. They correspond to our English A and Z. The first and last letters in the Hebrew alphabet are called aleph and tahv (ta). It is interesting that in the very first verse of the Hebrew Bible the aleph and tahv occur together as the word "eth" (see Strong's Hebrew #853) with "Eloheem" (God). Together the aleph and tahv are pronounced "eight." [11] In Hebrew Genesis 1:1 has seven words and reads like this, except from right to left:
Beresheet barah Eloheem aleph/tahv hashamayim vaeht haeretz
[beginning] [created] [God] [eight] [heavens] [and] [earth]
Rabbinic scholars call aleph and tahv together, "the word of creation." [12] In Genesis 1:1 "eth" is translated together with "Eloheem" as "God." Just as the Word is one with God in John 1:1, so it is in Genesis 1:1. John 1:1-3 says:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."
All this helps us understand Revelation 1:8 a little better too. Jesus Christ represents Himself as the "Alpha and Omega" in verse 8, and is seen as "the Word" in John 1:1, and in Genesis 1:1 He is seen with God (Eloheem) as the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. As the "the beginning and the ending" the Lord Jesus Christ is the sum of all things. He is "Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." (Rev 22:13, cf. 1:11, 17, 2:8, 21:6; Isa 41:4, 44:6)
Another interesting fact is that the root word for "eht" or "eight" is "owth" (see Strong's Hebrew #226) which is most often translated "sign" and "signs" which is what letters and words are.
"The part which mentions that [the Lord is He] 'who is, and who was, and who is to come' ... [shows] that Christ is alive, always has been alive, died for our sins -- which is what 'was' ... and that He is coming back again ..." [13]
Verse 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. Here, for the third time, the Apostle John identifies himself as the writer of the Revelation (Rev 1:1, 4).
John says he is the “brother, and companion” of three groups: 1) believers in the “tribulation” (Rev 6-19); 2) believers in the Millennial "kingdom" of Christ (Rev 20:1-9); and 3) believers in the “patience of Jesus Christ” who are awaiting his return (Rev 2, 3; cf. 2 Thess 3:5). As stated in reference to the second verse John actually saw the things that he describes concerning the Tribulation. Therefore, he is their “companion in tribulation.” In another sense he was the literal “companion in tribulation” of the believers of his own day who were experiencing persecution from Caesar Domitian. And in the third sense John is the “companion in tribulation” of all believers in the Church Age.
Notice that John does not exalt himself, but says he is merely our “brother and companion.”
John was undergoing persecution “for the Word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” He had been exiled by Domitian to a little island (10 miles long) in the Aegean Sea just off the southwest coast of modern day Turkey.
The Lord Jesus had prophesied: “Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues, And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.” (Matt 10:17-18). He said, “Remember the word that I said unto you, the servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.” (John 15:20 cf. Matt 10:24-28). They called the Lord Jesus demon possessed (Mark 3:22) and insane (John 10:20). He was humiliated (Acts 8:33), reviled (Mark 15:32) and mocked (Luke 22:63-65, 23:11). He was beaten and spit upon (Isa 50:6; Mark 14:65). After all this, they unjustly crucified him. As Christians we are to follow the Lord’s example and live godly lives. “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecutions.” (2 Tim 3:12, cf. Acts 14:22; 2 Cor 4:8-11; 1 Pet 3:13-17; James 1:12). “For even hereunto were ye called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps; who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth,” (1 Pet 2:21-22; cf. Matt 11:24; I John 3:5; Heb 4:15).
There are three great periods of determined suffering for God’s people: 1) the suffering under pagan Rome, under which John and the other apostles and believers suffered; 2) the persecution under papal Rome during the Dark Age when thousands of believers were put to death, and 3) the coming persecution under the power of the two beasts of Revelation 13. This third Period will be a time of tremendous persecution for Christians, such as during the Korean War when whole churches were required by the communist to deny their Lord, and when they wouldn't they were all killed. Today in Islamic and Communist countries Christians are imprisoned, persecuted and murdered for their belief in Jesus Christ.
John had been exiled to Patmos “for the Word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” He was there because he proclaimed: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ... He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3:16, 36)
Verse 10 & 11 : I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 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. He was “in the Spirit” in the sense of being perfectly controlled by the Holy Spirit to “write in a book” what God showed him. John could say along with Paul: “Now we have received … the Spirit who is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak ... in the words ... which the Holy Spirit teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Cor 2:12 & 13). [14]
John was “in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day.” There are two ideas on what this phrase means. Most think it means that John received the Revelation on a Sunday. But many students of the Bible believe it means that John was projected by the Holy Spirit to the “Day of the Lord.”
It is true that the first day of the week is “the Lord’s Day” in a special since. It is the day our Lord Jesus was resurrected (John 20:1-19). It is the day “the Collection for the saints is taken up (1 Cor 16:1-2), disciples broke bread and heard the Word of God preached (Acts 20:7).
Perhaps John was worshipping “in the Spirit” on the first day of the week when he received the Revelation. However, the main meaning of the phrase “the Lord’s Day,” is the oft prophesied “day of the Lord” which is a designated time of trouble such as has never been seen on Earth (Isa 2:12, Ezek 30:3; Joel 2:1; Amos 5:18; Obadiah 15; Zeph 1:7; Zech 14:1; Mal 4:5; Acts 4:20; 1 Thess 5:2; 2 Thess 2:2; 2 Pet 3:10). No less than 12 titles for this blood-chilling period, including “tribulation,” can be found in the Bible ( Jer 30:7; Matt 13:40, 24:21; Isa 34:2, 8; Dan 9:27, 12:9; Rev 6:17, 14:7).
It is important not to confuse “the day of the Lord” with “the day of the Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 1:8, 5:5; 2 Cor 1:14, Phil 1:6, 10, 2:16). They cover the same period, but from different vantage points. The later is the vantage point of the believer who is Raptured before the Tribulation begins; the former is the vantage point of the lost person who enters the 7 year Tribulation.
John heard behind him “a great voice, that sounded like a trumpet.” In the Old Testament the sounding of a trumpet was used for two things: 1) the call to worship (Ex 19:10-19; Lev 25:8-10; Psalm 150:3; 2 Samuel 6:14-15), and 2) the call to battle (Num 10:1-7; Josh 6:5, 20; Neh 4:18-20; 1 Cor 14:8). John was already “in the Spirit,” so this trumpet voice is not a call to worship. However, there will be a call to worship in Revelation 4:1. But this trumpet voice is a call to battle. Christ is standing “in the midst of the seven lampstands” (v. 13) “which are the seven churches” (v. 20). So John had his back to the churches. The voice brings his attention to Christ and back to His churches. The same trumpet voice, the voice of “the first and the last,“ will soon give John messages (Chapters 2 and 3) with which to do spiritual battle “against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph 6:12) which had already crept into the church even at that early date (Acts 20:28-30, 1 Tim 4:1-4, 2 Tim 3:1-5).
At this point let us turn our attention to the seven churches. These were seven literal local churches that were in existence in John’s day. However, the churches are also symbolic of “the things which are” (v. 19) now in this Church Age. There were other churches in this area of Asia Minor at the time, but God chose these seven "because they were dealing with situations that were used to [symbolize] the Church [in] seven periods of time. The Church would pass from the Apostolic time to the Lukewarm period." [15] Furthermore, the conditions that existed in these seven local churches also signify conditions that have existed to varying degrees in New Testament churches throughout this Church Age. However, the dominant conditions described in chapters two and three are represented in history as indicated by the time periods. Now let us briefly look at the meaning of the name of each of these church, and the period of the Church Age that each represents.
Ephesus (Acts 18:18-19, 19:23-41; 1 Cor 15:32) means literally “permission” and covers the Apostolic Church period (AD 30-100). The Apostles had Christ’s permission to act in His behalf. They were His proxies (Eph 2:20, Acts 2:42, Heb 2:3, Luke 9:1, Mark 16:20).
Smyrna means “myrrh” which must be crushed before it will give its fragrance. It is symbolic for the period AD 100-313 during which the church suffered greatly under pagan Rome.
Pergamos comes from the same root word as we get our English words bigamy and polygamy. It means "thoroughly married" (cf. Strong's Greek Dictionary #4007 and #1062). The name signifies a marriage of the Christendom with the World. Constantine merged paganism and Christendom and made it the state religion of Rome. This was a period of great compromise. It extends from the reign of the Emperor Constantine (AD 313) to AD 590.
Thyatira (Acts 16:14) means "odor of affliction.” This is the period when Roman Catholicism greatly persecuted the Church. It covers the period AD 590 to the 1517.
Sardis means "an escaped few." [16] This church signifies the Reformation Period from about 1517 to the 1730. The phrase "thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead" (Rev 3:1) has no little significance for the reformers. It was during this period that many Anabaptist compromised the their faith.
Philadelphia means “brotherly love” and signifies the Revival and Missionary Period (1730 to 1900).
Laodicea (Col 2:1, 4:16) means “people’s rights.” It stands for the end time Worldly and Apostate Period (1900 till the Tribulation).
Verses 12 & 13 : And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 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.
John’s attention is directed toward the “great voice, as of a trumpet” that he heard in verse 10. Being turned he sees Christ "in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks." These seven candelabrum with seven branches each symbolize the seven churches and thereby the whole Church Age. The Lord Jesus said to His first church, “Ye are the light of the world" (Matt 5:14-16). These candlesticks are "golden" which signify the purity of the blood bought church (Zech 13:9; Mal 3:3; 1 Cor 3:11-15; 1 Pet 1:7, 18-19). These seven candlesticks are like the one used in the Old Testament Tabernacle and later in the Temple (Ex 37:17-24). In Hebrew this Old Testament candlestick is called the "Menorah." The Jewish Menorah has seven branches three on each side of the center shaft. The fact that the candlesticks of Revelation (1:12, 13, 20, 2:1, 5) are the same as the Old Testament Menorah is established by comparing the word used for the Menorah in Hebrews 9:2 where it says: "For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary." The word both in English and Greek here is the same as in Revelation. The Levitical priest also had a snuffer with which to put out the lamps (Ex 37:23). In similar fashion, our great High priest has power to “remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent” (Rev 2:5). Amazingly there are numerous Menorah designs embedded in the Bible. For example in Genesis 1, God created the Sun, Moon and stars on the "fourth day" "for signs" and "for lights" (Gen 1:14-19). The forth day is the center day of seven. Likewise, as we have already seen the Hebrew equivalent of the "Alpha and Omega," the Aleph and Tahv symbolizing "the Word" (John 1:1, 14) is seen in the center position of the very first verse of the Bible forming a Menorah of sorts.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Beresheet barah Eloheem eight hashamayim vaeht haeretz
[beginning] [created] [God] [ta] [heavens] [and] [earth]
In the first chapter of John it says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. ... And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." (John 1:1-5, 14)
Can there be any question as to who the “Son of Man” is? This title is found 88 times in the New Testament. “Son of Man” was the Lord’s favorite title for himself when he walked on Earth. Before "the Word was made flesh" God was not our kin, but since His virgin birth He is now our kinsman redeemer (Lev 25:23-48). Even though the Lord loved to identify with fallen mankind, He Himself never fell, never sinned and never failed as all other flesh has (1 John 3:5; 2 Cor 5:21; Heb 1:3, 7:25-26; Jude 24; 2 Tim 1:12). Christ was only "in the likeness of sinful flesh," but He was not "sinful flesh" (Rom 8:3; cf. Phil 2:7-8). He "was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (Heb 4:15). He was only "like unto his brethren" (Heb 2:17). This is the reason our text says that the Lord is "one like unto the Son of man" (cf. Rom 5:15-17). It had to be a perfect man, "the last Adam," to defeat Satan (1 John 3:8; 1 Cor 15:45-49; Gen 3:15, Isa 7:14, Luke 10:18, 22:31-32, Rev 20:10).
In our passage we see "the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle." This is Christ' high priestly attire similar to that of the Levitical that of the priesthood (Exodus 28; cf. Heb 3:1, 4:14-15).
Verses 14 & 15 : His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
John and Daniel both saw the Lord and describe Him in similar words. Daniel said: “His face [was] as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude” (Dan 10:6).
This is how Jesus looks now. His description here is similar to that of the Father, Ancient of days (Dan 7:9, 13). It is the way the Jesus appeared on the Mount of transfiguration (Matt 17:1-8). His white hair signifies His coequality and relationship with the Ancient of days (Lev 19:32; Prov 16:31)
“His eyes … like a flame of fire; and his feet like fine bronze, as … in a furnace; and His voice like … many waters” all signify judgement which He is about to commence. "The Greek emphasizes the fact that His eyes 'shot out fire.' Christ is righteously angry concerning the sin of the churches depicted in chapters 2 and 3. ... [His] feet picture judgement and relate to the events that take place when He returns to the earth in Revelation 19 and 20." [17] "[Verse 15] also describes His voice: It was as the sounds of many waters. ... The grandeur of His mighty voice exceeds the noise of Niagara Falls with all of its thunderous roar. 'The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea' (Ps 93:4, cf. Ezek 43:2)." [18]
Verse 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.
It is plainly stated in verse 20 that “the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches." These are the angels of the churches of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos,Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. We will discuss them when we get to verse 20.
The sharp two-edged sword coming out of the Lord’s mouth is His Word. Ephesians 6:17 says, "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Heb 4:12).
Similarly to Daniel John said, "His countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength." Daniel said, “His face [was] as the appearance of lightning” (Dan 10:6). In the Old Testament Jesus is called "the Sun of righteousness” (Mal 4:2). What a sight the glorified Lord must be!!
Verses 17 & 18 : 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: 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.
Both John and Daniel had similar reactions when they saw the glorified Christ. Daniel said when he saw Christ “there remained no strength in me; for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength. Yet I heard the voice of His words; and when I heard the voice of His words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face was toward the ground” (Dan 10:8-9). Can you imagine what it will be like when we come face to face with the Lord of Glory? If this was the reaction of two of the most godly men that ever lived what will our reaction be in the presence of total holiness? But praise God, as with Daniel and John, Jesus will lay a hand on us and sit us up and say: “Fear not.” (Dan 10:12).
Jesus says: “I am He that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore.” “For if the dead raise not, then is not Christ raised; and if Christ be not raised your faith is vain, ye are yet in your sins” (1 Cor 15:16-17). Jesus has “the keys of hell and of death.” “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself took part of the same, that through death He might destroy Him that hath the power of death, that is the devil, and deliver them who, through fear of death, were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Heb 2:14-15; cf. Job 38:17; John 10:1-4).
Verse 19 : Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter.
This is a key verse in the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. It is the Lord's divine command to "write," and write in chronological order. It gives the outline of the Book on this wise: John was told to write :
1. The thing which thou hast seen (Rev 1).
2. The things which are (Rev 2 - 3).
3. The things which shall be hereafter (Rev 4 - 22).
"The things which thou hast seen" are the things that John saw were the glorified Lord, the seven churches, stars and seven angels (Rev 1) and "perhaps including the events of the Apostolic [era] in which John himself had been a participant." [19] The Gospel and one or more the epistles of John may also have been written as a result of this command of Christ.
"The things which are" consist of the conditions in 7 local churches existing in John's day which also symbolized the history of the Church Age from John’s day till the Rapture (Rev 2 - 3).
"The things which shall be hereafter” are the things yet future that begin at the Rapture. These "things" include: 1) the events that take place in Heaven directly after the Rapture (Rev 4 - 5); 2) the "things" of the Tribulation (Rev 6 - 19); 3) the "things" of the Millennium (Rev 20:1-9); 4) the "things" of eternity after the Millennium (Rev 20:10 - 22:21).
Verse 20 : The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches; and the seven lampstands which thou sawest are the seven churches.
There are numerous "mysteries" spoken of in the Bible. For example, there is "the mystery of the gospel" (Eph 6:19), "the mystery of the faith" (1 Tim 3:9), "the mystery of godliness" (1 Tim 3:16), "the mystery of iniquity" (2 Thess 2:7), "the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her" (Rev 17:7), but "the mystery of the seven stars" and "the seven golden lampstands" is here revealed. For the most part this verse is self explanatory. The stars are the angels of the churches. The lampstands are the seven churches.
The church was truly a "mystery" in Old Testament times. They could not see it as we clearly do now. However, it is found in Old Testament types. It was represented in Genesis 24 by Abraham (a type of the Father) sending his servant (a type of the Holy Spirit) to Mesopotamia (a type of the world) to fetch a bride (a type of the future church in heaven) for his son, Isaac (a type of Christ). We also see the church typified by Ruth and Boaz, the lovers of the Song of Solomon, and by the Temple Manorah which is a type of the church .
In verse 16 it said that Jesus "had in His right hand seven stars." Both men and angels are sometimes symbolized by "stars" in the Bible (Gen 37:9-10; Rev 12:1, 4, 9; Dan 12:3; Job 38:7).
The Greek word, "angelos," translated "angels" here is used for both men and the spirit beings that we commonly call angels. And at least one time in the New Testament God Himself is called an "angelos" (Acts 7:38). James Strong defines "angelos" as "a messenger; especially an 'angel'; by implication, a pastor (Strong's #32). This Greek word is translated "messenger" 7 times (Matt 11:10; Mark 1:2; Luke 7:24, 27, 9:52; 2 Cor 8:23; James 2:25). From the usage and definition of the the word, and from reading the individual letters to the seven angels in chapters 2 and 3, there can be no question that the "stars" were the human pastors of the churches in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos,Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.
The Revelation is written "unto the seven churches" (Rev 1:10), but there are special notes from the Lord "unto the angel of [each] church" (Rev 2:1, 8, 12, 18, 3:1, 7, 14). And because these seven pastors and churches symbolize all church history, the seven letters are to all pastors of all New Testament church.
END NOTES :
1. Van Impe, Jack, Revelation Revealed, Royal Oaks, MI: Jack Van Impe Ministries, 1982, p. 17
2. Rice, John R, Behold He Cometh, Murfreeboro, TN: Sword Of The Lord Publishers, 1977, p. 20
3. Van Impe, Jack, Revelation Revealed, Royal Oaks, MI: Jack Van Impe Ministries, 1982, p.17
4. Green, Oliver, B, The Revelation, Greenville, SC: The Gospel Hour, Inc., 1963, p. 20
5. Gill, John, An Exposition of the Old and New Testament, London: Mathews and Leigh, 1809 (Online Bible 1995), Rev 1:1.
6. Webber, David & Hutchings, Noah, The Revelation Of Jesus Christ, Oklahoma City: Southwest Radio Church, 1983, p.8
7. Webber, David & Hutchings, Noah, The Revelation Of Jesus Christ, Oklahoma City: Southwest Radio Church, 1983, pp. 8, 9)
8. Van Impe, Jack, Revelation Revealed, Royal Oaks, MI: Jack Van Impe Ministries, 1982, p.19)
9. Van Impe, Jack, Revelation Revealed, Royal Oaks, MI: Jack Van Impe Ministries, 1982, p.20)
10. Rice, John R, Behold He Cometh, Murfreeboro, TN: Sword Of The Lord Publishers, 1977, p. 33
11. Church, J. R. and Stearman, Gary, The Mystery of the Menorah, Oklahoma City: Prophecy Publications, 1993, p. 29.
12. Church, J. R. and Stearman, Gary, The Mystery of the Menorah, Oklahoma City: Prophecy Publications, 1993, p. 30.
13. Willson, Lloyd V., The Triumph And Glory, Bedford, TX: Bedford Baptist Temple, 1993, p. 18.
14. Rice, John R, Behold He Cometh, Murfreeboro, TN: Sword Of The Lord Publishers, 1977, p. 42.
15. Willson, Lloyd V., The Triumph And Glory, Bedford, TX: Bedford Baptist Temple, 1993, p. 22.
16. Seiss, J. A., The Apocalypse, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1900, p. 71.
17. Van Impe, Jack, Revelation Revealed, Royal Oaks, MI: Jack Van Impe Ministries, 1982, p. 25, 26.
18. Green, Oliver, B, The Revelation, Greenville, SC: The Gospel Hour, Inc., 1963, p. 44.
19. Morris, Henry M., The Revelation Record, Wheaton: Tyndale, 1983, p. 44.
E-mail: KJV@LandmarkBibleBaptist.net
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