Intro to Revelation 2

A study on Revelation

Introduction to Revelation 2

Revelation 1:1-8

Theme: God shows us the presentation of the book

Introduction: There are times in our lives when we go to socials or birthday parties when the person for whom the party is given is totally forgotten. I fear in the modern teaching and preaching of Revelation, if not all of Scripture we forget who the passage is about. While Revelation is futuristic or as the scholars call it eschatological, it is still about Christ.

The events and the scenes in this passage is about the Lamb of God. Tonight, rather than doing a flyover of the book as I thought about last week As I thought, tonight, we will dig right into the text. We are given two parts in these first 8 verses of the chapter.

We learned last week, the book was written nearly two thousand years ago but it is still future fulfillment. It is very difficult to lock down on a time table of events, since large significant portions of Revelation are in heaven. This book transports us up and brings us back down. Though actions are taken on the earth, the events and prophecies are settled in heaven where there is not time or calendar.

We also learned that Domitian was the Roman Emperor who demanded everyone to worship him as God. He either jailed, beat, confiscated their possessions, or killed dissenters publicly as an example. So this book was written to point them to a coming Deliverer who will conquer all.

Please notice the parts are: the presentation of the book 1:1-3 and the person of the book 1:4-8.

I. The presentation of the book 1:1-3

A. Its content v.1a

1. The revelation is the unveiling of Jesus Christ

“But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these; As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.” (Daniel 2:28–29)

2. This prophecy was given nearly two thousand years ago yet to be fulfilled which points to

“But, 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 Peter 3:8)

3. Shortly means when these things occur, they happen rapidly.

4. Since these events are catastrophic events of God’s judgement, it is also a warning and a message of God’s grace.

B. Its authority vv. 1b-2

1. Sent by God through an angelic messenger-signified means to declare or make known.

2. Angel is used 67 times in Revelation.

3. Three witnesses are here.

a. Word of God-not a produce of John’s mind

b. Testimony of Jesus Christ-validation of Christ which attested these things to be true.

c. What he saw-things that John personally saw and experienced.

“Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.” (Revelation 1:2)

C. Its promise v. 3

1. Blessing on the reader-to those in first century who were being persecuted and to us today who see the world getting worse and we are comforted with a better future.

2. Blessing on the hearer-present tense-probably congregations of Asia Minor.

3. Keep means to obey and take the words to heart.

4. Time at hand-very close to fulfillment.

God gives these evidences to believe.

II. The person of the book 1:4-8

This was written to people of all ages and to these 7 churches from God.

The word 1 John 1:1 “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;”

A. His eternality v. 4

1. Written to 7 churches in Asia Minor-western part of Turkey today-not the continent of Asia but a province of Roman Empire called Asia Minor.

2. Comes from Christ which speaks of His unchangeable person

3. Seven spirits-more than likely points to the spirits before His throne

“And the spirit of the Lordshall 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; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: And he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, Neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:” (Isaiah 11:2–3)

4. John leaned on Christ’s breast during His earthly ministry, now we find Him seeing Him in His glorified state.

5. Grace always comes before peace-there is no peace without salvation by grace.

B. His character v 5a

1. Faithful-His life and being was one of truth

“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17)

2. Totally trustworthy in all of His person.

C. His priority v. 5b

1. Reference to His priority of position

“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:” (Colossians 1:15)

2. Prince of kings-giver of their authority-speaks of His future victory and reign over all kings.

D. His work vv. 5-6

1. Work of salvation-loves us first.

2. Work of adoption-we became a part of Gpd’s plan and we are included in His reign-we make up the priesthood and kingdom.

E. His coming vv. 7-8

1. Behold-attention grabber v7a

2. Clouds represent the judgement in contrast to His going Acts 1:11 “Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”

3. All nations shall see Him in His Second Coming

“And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, The spirit of grace and of supplications: And they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, And they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, And shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.” (Zechariah 12:10)

4. Verse 8 signifies the completeness of His person-Alpha and Omega-Greek alphabet-refers to His omnipotence.

Conclusion: As we consider these wonderful truths. God is reminding no matter how bad it gets, He is coming back to conquer evil. Let’s do all we can to reach those without Christ.