Revelation 1

The Revelation = “Apocalypsis” = Unveiling (18X in NT) [Note: singular, not plural.]

[1] of whom?! “...of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him.” [Can Jesus “learn”?] Can the Father reveal to the Son? (Luk 2:52; Mar 13:32; Acts 1:6-7.)

“servants” = doulos: yielded bondslaves (Exd 21:6; Deu 15:17).

“show” = This is not a sealed book (Rev 22:10). It is to be understood, in contrast to Daniel, et al. (Dan 12:4). This is not “dream” stuff: it is real and tangible.

“shortly” = en taxei: rapidly in execution (tachometer). “What I begin I will also end” (1Sa 3:12; Luk 18:8).

“signified” = rendered into signs (codes). Symbolic of reality; no prophecy is of private interpretation (2Pe 1:20).

“angel” = angelos: a messenger.

[2] “Who bore witness” (90X in John’s writings). Epistolary aorist tense: he’s projected to where we are, looking back... His frame of reference is from our time frame looking back.

John’s other books:

The Book of Revelation was written about AD 95, during the reign of Titus Flavius Domitian. John was in exile on the island of Patmos from AD 86 to 96.

[3] “Read...Hear...Keep”: This is the only book with a special promise if you do these three things.

First of Seven Beatitudes: Rev 1:3, cf. Rev 22:7.

[4] “John”: No title. He was well-known to these churches.

The number 7 = complete (sabbath day, year, et al.); Jericho 7X; Naaman in Jordan river; 7 years of plenty, famine; Nebuchadnezzar’s incapacity; NT beatitudes; petitions in Lord’s prayer...7 parables in Mat 13; 7 sayings from the cross... See also R. McCormack, The Heptadic Structure of Scripture, Marshall Bros, London, 1923.

“Seven churches”: We’ll deal with this later. [“Asia”: Provinces which include Lydia, Mysia, Caria, and parts of Phrygia; what became known (after the 4th century, as Asia Minor, or modern Turkey.]

“Grace” = charis (Greek) “Peace” = shalom, (Hebrew).

“...who is, who was, and who is to come”: Not used elsewhere in NT; YHWH. It speaks of the eternity and immutability of God.

“Seven spirits”: Cf. Isa 11:2.

[5] Seven Titles:

1. Faithful Witness: “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (Jhn 14:9).
2. First Begotten of the Dead: Prototokos {pro-tot-ok’-os} 4416: 1) the firstborn; 1a) of man or beast; 1b) of Christ, the first born of all creation. Priority or sovereignty; leader (position): A title of honor (Rom 8:29; Col 1:15, 18).
3. Prince [ruler] of the kings of the earth: A millennial title (Phil 2:9-11; Psa 2).
4. Unto Him that loved us: Present tense, which emphasizes His constant attitude toward His own.
   
   [The Book of Revelation should not frighten us for it is from Him...]
5. Washed [loosed] us from our sins in His own blood: Not just a symbol (Lev 17:11; 1Pe 1:18-20; 1Ti 2:5).
6. A kingdom of priests: Note “His Father”—ours because His. We are seated on His throne!? (Eph 2:1-10).
7. Glory, dominion; Amen.

[6] “Glory & dominion”:

[7] “Every eye shall see Him”: Personal, physical (Dan 7:13; Mat 26:64; Mat 24:30); “pierced him” (Zech 12:10). This refers to His Second Coming, not the Rapture. If Christ will be coming to the earth at that time, there is no point in being caught up in the air. The Rapture has already taken place by this point.

“Even so” = Greek; “Amen” = Hebrew. Cf. Acts 1:9, 11; Mat 24:30; Mat 26:64 cf. Enoch’s prophecy (before the Flood): Jde 14-15.

[8] “Alpha & Omega” (3X): Isa 41:4; Isa 44:6; Isa 48:12. [Alpha is spelled out; completed. Omega is not; only the letter...it is yet to be.] Cf. The Aleph and the Tau (Zech 12:10, et al.).

[9] “I, John...”: 3X in this book.

“Companion in tribulation”: Domitian’s reign. John was exiled from AD 86 to 96.

“Patmos”: A Roman penal colony off the coast of Asia Minor (Turkey), 15 miles from Ephesus, it was an island about 10 miles long and 6 miles wide. John was 90 years old (?) at the time of this revelation.

[10] “in the Spirit...”: Every Christian lives in two locations, an imbalance can lead either to mysticism or materialism.

“Lord’s Day” = ? [Two views, but I doubt it means Sunday for several reasons.] “...on the Day of the Lord...” vs. Day of man (1Cr 4:13). Closing the day of mercy and beginning the day of wrath.

“I heard”: I turned (Rev 1:10), I saw (Rev 1:12), I fell at His feet (Rev 1:17).

[11] Why these 7 churches? 63 years after Pentecost over 100 churches existed. Why not Rome, Jerusalem, Antioch, Colossae, Philipi, Galatia, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, Miletus, Hierapolis, Troas, etc.???

[12] Lampstands (not “candlesticks”) = luchina: lightbearers (Exd 25:31-40) “I am...” (Jhn 8:12; Jhn 9:5); “Ye are...” (Mat 5:14; Phil 2:15-16). Every local church is the bearer of God’s light in this dark world (cf. Dan 7:9-14). This scene should remind us of the tabernacle. The high priest had the sole oversight of the menorah. He lighted the lamps, trimmed the wicks, poured the oil. If one of them was unsatisfactory, he was the one who snuffed it out (Jhn 15; 1Jo 5:16). You and I can be set aside. [But even the Prodigal Son never lost his sonship.]

[13] “in the midst” = where is He right now? “Son of Man”: 85X in gospels (83 by Christ Himself), cf. Psa 3:4; Rev 14:14.

Josephus tells us that the priests were girded about the breasts, not the loins. We see Him here as our Great High Priest, in charge—and in control—of His Church.

Why These Seven Churches?

1. Local: actual churches; valid needs.
2. Admonitory: “hear...churches” ...all seven letters apply to all seven churches.
3. Homiletic; personal: “He that hath an ear....” It applies to you and me personally.
4. Prophetic: In their particular order, they lay out the entire history of the church. [They fill the gap implied in Daniel 9:26, and between Rev 12:5 and Rev 12:6, etc.] Whereas the Book of Acts covered the first 30 years of the church, the Book of Revelation takes it from Acts to His Second Coming (covering about 2000 years). Cf. Matthew 13; Pauline letters...Any other order—it doesn’t fit!

A View of Church Ages

Anticipatory Homework