Revelation 3
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THE DEDICATION (Rev 1:4-6
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.
"If you don't stop writing books," a friend told me, "you will run out of people to dedicate them to!" I appreciated the compliment, but I did not agree with the sentiment. John had no problem knowing to whom his book should be dedicated! But before he wrote the dedication, he reminded his readers that the Triune God had saved them and would keep them as they faced the fiery trials of suffering.
God the Father is described as the Eternal One (see Rev. 1:8; 4:8). All history is part of His eternal plan, including the world's persecution of the church. Next, the Holy Spirit is seen in His fullness, for there are not seven spirits, but one.
The reference here is probably to Isaiah 11:2
2 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;
Finally, Jesus Christ is seen in His threefold office as Prophet (faithful Witness, Priest (First-begotten from the dead), and King (Prince of the kings of the earth). First-begotten does not mean "the first one raised from the dead," but "the highest of those raised from the dead." Firstborn is a title of honor (see Rom. 8:29; Col. 1:15, 18).
But of the three Persons of the Trinity, it is to Jesus Christ alone that this book is dedicated. The reason? Because of what He has done for His people. To begin with, He loves us (present tense in most manuscripts). This parallels the emphasis in John's gospel. He also washed us from our sins, or, as some texts read, freed us from our sins. This parallels the message of John's epistles (see 1 John 1:5ff.). As a grand climax, Christ has made us a kingdom of priests, and this is the emphasis of Revelation. Today, Jesus Christ is a Priest-King like Melchizedek (Heb. 7 NTv), and we are seated with Him on His throne (Eph. 2:1-10).
In His love, God called Israel to be a kingdom of priests (Ex. 19:1-6), but the Jews failed God, and their kingdom was taken from them Matt.
21:43). Today, God's people (the church) are His kings and priests (1 Peter 2:1-10), exercising spiritual authority and serving God in this world.
THE THEME (Rev 1:7-8
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.
The overriding theme of the book of Revelation is the return of Jesus Christ to defeat all evil and to establish His reign.
It is a book of victory and His people are seen as "overcomers" (see Rev. 2:7, 11, 17
17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
In his first epistle, John also called God's people "overcomer" (1 John 2:13-14; 4:4; 5:4-5). Through the eyes of unbelief, Jesus Christ and His church are defeated in this world, but through the eyes of faith, He and His people are the true victors. As Peter Marshall once said, "It is better to fail in a cause that will ultimately succeed than to succeed in a cause that will ultimately fail."
The statement in Revelation 1:7, "Behold, he cometh with clouds," describes our Lord's return to the earth, and is amplified in Revelation 19:11ff.
This is not the same as His return in the air to catch away His people (1 Thess, 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51ff.). When He comes to catch away (rap-ture) His church, He will come "as a thief" (Rev. 3:3; 16:15) and only those who are born again will see Him (1 John 3:1-3). The event described in Revelation 1:7 will be witnessed by the whole world, and especially by a repentant nation of Israel (see Dan. 7:13; Zech. 12:10-12). It will be public, not secret (Matt. 24:30-31), and will climax the tribulation period described in Revelation 6—19.
Godly Bible students have not always agreed as to the order of events leading up to the establishment of God's eternal kingdom (Rev. 21—22).
I believe the next event on God's calendar is the rapture, when Christ shall return in the air and take His church to glory. Christ's promise to the church in Revelation 3:10-11 indicates that the church will not go through the tribulation, and Paul further supports this in 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9-10. It is significant to me that there is no mention of the word church between Revelation 3:22 and 22:16.
After the church is raptured, the events depicted in Revelation 6—19 will occur: the tribulation, the rise of the "man of sin," the great tribulation (the wrath of God) and the destruction of man-made world government, and then Christ's return to the earth to set up His kingdom. Daniel indicates that this period of worldwide trouble will last seven years (Dan. 9:25-27).
Throughout the book of Revelation, you will find measurements of time that coincide with this seven-year time span (Rev. 11:2-3; 12:6, 14; 13:5).
The titles given to God in Revelation 1:8 clarify that He can work out His divine purposes in human history.
Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet; so, God is at the beginning of all things and also at their end. He is the eternal God (see Rev. 1:4), unlimited by time. He is also the Almighty, able to do anything.
Almighty is a key name for God in Revelation Rev. 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7, 14; 19:6, 15; 21:22).
God the Father is called "Alpha and Omega" in Revelation 1:8 and 21:6, but the name is also applied to His Son (Rev. 1:11; 22:13). This is a strong argument for the deity of Christ. Likewise, the title "the first and the last" goes back to Isaiah (Isa. 41:4; 44:6; 48:12-13) and is another proof that Jesus is God.
THE OCCASION (Rev1:9-18
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.
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
11 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.
12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
13 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.
14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
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.
17 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:
18 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.
This book was born from John's profound spiritual experience while exiled on Patmos.
What John heard (w. 9-11). On the Lord's Day, John heard a trumpet-like voice behind him. It was Jesus Christ speaking! As far as we know, the apostle had not heard his Lord's voice since Christ had returned to heaven more than sixty years before. The Lord commissioned John to write this book and to send it to the seven churches He had selected. Later, John would hear another trumpet-like voice summoning him to heaven (Rev. 4:1). (Some students relate this to 1 Thess. 4:13-18 and see John's "rapture" as a picture of the rapture of the church.)
What John saw (w. 12-16). He saw a vision of the glorified Christ.
Revelation 1:20 clarifies that we must not interpret this vision literally, for it is made up of symbols.
The seven lampstands represent the seven churches that would receive the book. Each local church is the bearer of God's light in this dark world. Compare this vision with Daniel's (Dan. 7:9-14).
Christ's garments are those of a Judge-King—one with honor and authority. The white hair symbolizes His eternality as "the Ancient of Days" (Dan. 7:9, 13, 22). His eyes see all (Rev. 19:12; Heb. 4:12), enabling Him to judge righteously. His feet of burning brass also suggest judgment since the brazen altar was the place where the fire consumed the sin offering. The Lord had come to judge the churches, and He would also judge the evil world system.
The "sound of many waters" (Rev. 1:15) makes me think of Niagara Falls!
Perhaps two ideas are suggested here:
(1) Christ gathers together all the "streams of revelation" and is the Father's "last Word" to man (Heb. 1:1-3);
(2) He speaks with power and authority and must be heard. The sword from His mouth represents God’s living Word (Heb. 4:12; Eph. 6:17). He fights His enemies by using His Word (Rev. 2:16; 19:19-21).
Revelation 1:20 informs us that the seven stars in His hand represent the angels (messengers, see Luke 7:24 where the Greek word is so translated), or perhaps pastors, of the seven churches. God holds His servants and places them where He wants them to "shine" for Him. In Daniel 12:3, wise soul winners are compared to shining stars.
The Lord's shining countenance reminds us of His transfiguration (Matt. 17:2) and also the prophecy of Malachi 4:2 ("the Sun of righteousness (shall) arise"). The sun is a familiar image of God in the Old Testament (Ps. 84:11), reminding us of blessing and judgment. The sun can burn as well as bless!
This vision of Christ was totally different in appearance from the Savior that John knew "in the flesh" when He was ministering on earth. He was not the "gentle Jewish carpenter" that sentimentalists like to sing about. He is the risen, glorified, exalted Son of God, the Priest-King who can judge all men, beginning with His own people (1 Peter 4:17).
What John did (w. 17-18) was predictable.
He fell at the Lord's feet as though he were dead! And this is the apostle who leaned on Jesus' breast (John 13:23)! A vision of the exalted Christ can only produce awe and fear (Dan. 10:7-9). We need this attitude of respect today when so many believers speak and act with undue familiarity toward God. John's response illustrates what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:16: "Though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more." John no longer "nestled" next to the Lord's heart, relating to Him as he had done before.
The Lord reassured John by touching him and speaking to him (note Dan. 8:18; 9:21; 10:10, 16, 18), "Fear not!" is a great encouragement for any child of God. We need not fear life, because He is "The Living One." We need not fear death, because He died and is alive, having conquered death. And we need not fear eternity because He holds the keys of hades (the world of the dead) and of death. The One with the keys is the One who has authority.
At the very beginning of this book, Jesus presented Himself to His people in majestic glory. The church needs a new awareness of Christ and His glory today. We need to see Him "high and lifted up" (Isa. 6:1).
There is a dangerous absence of awe and worship in our assemblies today.
We are boasting about standing on our own feet, instead of breaking and falling at His feet. For years, Evan Roberts prayed, "Bend me! Bend me!" and the great Welsh Revival resulted when God answered.
THE OUTLINE (Rev 1:19
19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
To the best of my knowledge, the book of Revelation is the only book in the Bible that contains an inspired outline of the contents. "The things which thou hast seen" refers to the vision in Revelation 1. "The things which are" refers to Revelation 2—3, the special messages to the seven churches. "The things which shall be hereafter" covers the events described in Revelation 4—22. What John heard in Revelation 4:1 substantiates this interpretation.
In review, we can summarize the essential characteristics of this remarkable book as follows:
It is a Christ-centered book. To be sure, all Scripture speaks of the Savior, but the book of Revelation especially magnifies the greatness and glory of Jesus Christ. The book is, after all, the revelation of Jesus Christ and not simply the revelation of future events.
It is an "open" book. John was told not to seal the book (Rev. 22:10) because God's people need its message.
Revelation can be understood, even though it contains mysteries that may never be comprehended until we meet at the throne of God. John sent the book to the seven churches of Asia Minor with the expectation that, when it was read aloud by the messengers, the listening saints would understand enough of its truths so as to be greatly encouraged in their own difficult situations.
It is a book filled with symbols.
Biblical symbols are timeless in their message and limitless in their content. For instance, the symbol of "Babylon" originates in Genesis 10-11, and its meaning grows as you trace it through Scripture, climaxing with Revelation 17-18. The same is true of the symbols of "the Lamb" and "the bride." It is exciting to seek to penetrate deeper into the rich meanings that are conveyed by these symbols.
It is a book of prophecy. This is stated in Revelation 1:3; 22:7, 10, 18-19; note also 10:11. The letters to the seven churches of Asia Minor dealt with immediate needs in those assemblies, needs that are still with us in churches today, but the rest of the book is devored almost entirely to prophetic revelations. It was by seeing the victorious Christ presented that the persecuted Christians found encouragement for their dificult task of witnessing. When you have assurance for the future, you have stability in the present. John himself was suffering under the hand of Rome (Rev. 1:9), so the book was born out of affliction.
It is a book with a blessing.
We have already noted the promise in Revelation 1:3 and the six other "beatitudes" scattered throughout the book. It is not enough simply to hear (or read) the book; we must respond to its message from the heart. We must take the message personally and say "Amen!" to what it says. (Note the many "Amens" in the book:
Rev. 1:6-7, 18; 3:14; 5:14; 7:12; 19:4; 22:20-21.)
It is a relevant book.
What John wrote about would "shortly come to pass" (Rev. 1:1) because "the time is at hand" (Rev. 1:3). (Note also Rev. 22:7, 10, 12, 20.) The word shortly does not mean "soon" or "immediately," but "quickly, swiftly." God does not measure time as we do (2 Peter 3:1-10).
No one knows when our Lord shall return, but when He begins to open the seals of the scroll (Rev. 6:1ff.), events will occur with speed and without interruption.
It is a majestic book. Revelation is the book of "the throne," for the word throne is found forty-six times throughout. This book magnifies the sovereignty of God. Christ is presented in His glory and dominion!
It is a universal book.
John saw nations and peoples (Rev. 10:11; 11:9; 17:15) as part of God's program. He also saw the throne room of heaven and heard voices from the ends of the universe!
It is a climactic book.
Revelation is thé climax of the Bible. All that began in Genesis will be completed and fulfilled in keeping with God's sovereign will. He is "Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending" (Rev. 1:8).
What God starts, He finishes!
But before visiting the throne room of heaven, we must pause to listen to "the Man among the lampstands" as He reveals the personal needs in our churches and in our own hearts. "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" (Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 29)!
