Revelation Study part 2

pray

Review of Introduction

Read through Chapter 1 again

As we read this first chapter, think about these questions: What stands out to you? What important words or ideas do we find here? What people are mentioned and what is said about them?

Revelation 1 BSB

1 This is the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon come to pass. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw. This is the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and obey what is written in it, because the time is near. 4 John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from Him who is and was and is to come, and from the seven Spirits before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has released us from our sins by His blood, 6 who has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and power forever and ever! Amen. 7 Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him—even those who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and was and is to come—the Almighty. 9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance that are in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and my testimony about Jesus. 10 On the Lord’s day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11 saying, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.” 12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was One like the Son of Man, dressed in a long robe, with a golden sash around His chest. 14 The hair of His head was white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like a blazing fire. 15 His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 He held in His right hand seven stars, and a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest. 17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. But He placed His right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last, 18 the Living One. I was dead, and behold, now I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and of Hades. 19 Therefore write down the things you have seen, and the things that are, and the things that will happen after this. 20 This is the mystery of the seven stars you saw in My right hand and of the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

What observations or thoughts do you have from the first chapter? What stands out to you?

Introduction

Revelation was not given for our information, but for our transformation! (Just like all of Scripture)

The Title of the Book: Revelation

Jesus is both the One Revealing and the One Revealed in this book

The Purpose of the Book

“Revelation of Jesus Christ” -

“To show His servants what must soon come to pass”

The Book of Revelation The Situation of the Churches and the Purpose and Theme of the Book

the focus of the book is exhortation to the church community to witness to Christ in the midst of a compromising, idolatrous church and world.

The Date of the Book

Late Date (after 70 AD)

The Author

God’s “servant John” -probably John the Apostle

The Genre (Kind of Literature)

apocalyptic, prophetic, and epistolary

The Structure is similar to many of the NT Epistles; The content is similar to many of the OT Prophets

The Two-fold Blessing

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 1:3

Revelation 1:3 includes the first of seven beatitudes in the book (1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14).

Phrase-by-phrase study

Main idea of v. 1-8 (from James Hamilton Jr.): “God reveals himself so that those who know him are blessed and praise him regardless of their circumstances.”

So our general method of interpretation should be symbolic, not literal.

Verse 2‌

who testifies to everything he saw. ‌ (“Who bare record ... of all things that he saw” KJV)

This is the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. (“the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ” KJV)

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Verse 3

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, (“‌Blessed is he that readeth ... the words of this prophecy” KJV)

John gave a blessing to those who would read these words to their congregations (not everyone could read)

and blessed are those who hear and obey what is written in it, (“Blessed [are] they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein:” KJV)

The blessing for the hearers contains a condition. What must the hearer do to obtain the blessing?

compare to James 1:22-25

because the time is near. (“for the time is at hand” KJV)

This doesn’t just mean that these things could happen at any time, but that the beginning of the fulfillment was expected during the lifetime of John and his hearers.

Verses 4-8

King James Version (Chapter 1)

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, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

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. 8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Revelation 1:4–8 BSB

4 John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from Him who is and was and is to come, and from the seven Spirits before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has released us from our sins by His blood, 6 who has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and power forever and ever! Amen. 7 Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him—even those who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and was and is to come—the Almighty.

Verse 4

Revelation 1:4 BSB

4 John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from Him who is and was and is to come, and from the seven Spirits before His throne,

Author identified: John (Notice how similar this verse is to Paul’s style in his epistles)

Audience identified: the 7 churches in the province of Asia

Berean Standard Bible

Asia was a Roman province in what is now western Turkey.

7 churches identified in v. 11, then addressed in ch. 2-3

Revelation 1:11 BSB

11 saying, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”

Were these the only 7 churches in the province of Asia? Why are these churches mentioned and not others?

Revelation: Verse by Verse John Greets the Churches and Praises the Trinity (1:4–6)

It is hard to know why these particular churches were chosen, when many like Hierapolis or Colossae (a few miles from Laodicea) are omitted. It is possible they were chosen because these cities lay on the major Roman roads through the province, and they were intended to be representative of the rest of the churches. The cities are addressed in the geographical order by which a courier could drop off copies of the book traveling on these Roman roads. Each letter addresses the historical situation and needs of each church in turn. At the same time, they are intended to typify the problems of all churches. The message is plural: “what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Grace and peace to you - typical greeting

From Him who is and was and is to come

Clearly a reference to God’s divine name Yahweh, from Exodus 3:13-15

Exodus 3:13–15 BSB

13 Then Moses asked God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is His name?’ What should I tell them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” 15 God also told Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered in every generation.

This name or something similar is used 4 other times in Revelation:

Revelation 1:8 BSB

8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and was and is to come—the Almighty.

Revelation 4:8 BSB

8 And each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around and within. Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

Revelation 11:17 BSB

17 saying: “We give thanks to You, O Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign.

Revelation 16:5 BSB

5 And I heard the angel of the waters say: “Righteous are You, O Holy One, who is and was, because You have brought these judgments.

Why do you think John emphasizes this about God? Does it relate at all to the Exodus theme?

Because God is the God of the past, present and future; God has demonstrated his power in the past, and this book tells us of how He will demonstrate His power in the future; but we also need to be reminded that He is the same God today in the midst of suffering and persecution we may endure.

7 Spirits?

Revelation: Verse by Verse Seven Spirits (1:4B)

The second anchor for the greeting, “the seven spirits before his throne,” is debated (see also 3:1; 4:5; 5:6). Some think the spirits are angels, perhaps the seven archangels mentioned in Jewish apocalyptic literature or the angels to whom the seven letters are written in chapters 2–3. However, the term “spirit” is not used of angels in the book, and the context is more favorable to a Trinitarian emphasis here. The use of “seven” probably stems from Isaiah 11:2 in the Septuagint (which adds a seventh virtue, “godliness,” to the six in the Hebrew Bible) and Zechariah 4:2, 10 (which has seven lamps as the “eyes of the LORD that range throughout the earth”). In Zechariah 4:6 the “LORD Almighty” says these things take place “not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit.” In Revelation 5:6 this “sevenfold Spirit” has “seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth,” a further allusion to Zechariah 4:6. Inlight of this background, it is best to translate, “the sevenfold (or perfect) Holy Spirit.” The perfect Spirit is both “of God” (3:11; 4:5) and of the Lamb (5:6); thereby he stands “before the throne,” the place of divine sovereign rule over this world. In 4:2 God sits on the throne, and in 5:6 the Lamb is “standing at the center of the throne.” Thus the Spirit of God and of Christ stands with the other members of the Godhead “before the throne.”

Verses 5-6

Who Jesus Is and What Jesus Does

Revelation 1:5–6 BSB

5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has released us from our sins by His blood, 6 who has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and power forever and ever! Amen.

Who He Is:

The Faithful Witness

-perseverance and faithful commitment to the truth in spite of persecution and suffering

The Firstborn from the dead

-shows He is sovereign over life and death, and his resurrection is the basis for our own hope of resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:20–23 BSB

20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own turn: Christ the firstfruits; then at His coming, those who belong to Him.

The Ruler of the kings of the earth

1 Corinthians 15:24–25 BSB

24 Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power. 25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.

Hebrews 12:2 BSB

2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Revelation 12:5 BSB

5 And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was caught up to God and to His throne.

Revelation 17:14 BSB

14 They will make war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and He will be accompanied by His called and chosen and faithful ones.”

Revelation 19:16 BSB

16 And He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

What He Does:

He loves us - past, present, and future - his special love for the people he has chosen

Deuteronomy 4:37 BSB

37 Because He loved your fathers, He chose their descendants after them and brought you out of Egypt by His presence and great power,

Deuteronomy 7:8 BSB

8 But because the LORD loved you and kept the oath He swore to your fathers, He brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

Ephesians 1:4–5 BSB

4 For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love 5 He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will,

He has released us from our sins by His blood

Galatians 1:4 BSB

4 who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

Ephesians 1:7 BSB

7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace

Revelation 5:9 BSB

9 And they sang a new song: “Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father - Jesus is the King of Kings and the Great High Priest, yet he allows us to participate in these offices as well. This takes us back to God’s original purpose for humanity seen in God’s covenant with Adam.

Exodus 19:6 BSB

6 And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to speak to the Israelites.”

1 Peter 2:9–10 BSB

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Revelation 5:10 BSB

10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign upon the earth.”

Because of Who He Is and What He Does:

“To Him be the glory and power forever and ever! Amen.”

The proper response to God’s revelation of Himself in Christ is worship and praise.