Revelation 1:4-8
Notes
Transcript
Revelation 1:4
Location of the seven churches in Asia (Modern Day Turkey)
Greeting: It is often fascinating to see that John and Paul wrote their letters to also be from God and Jesus Christ. This shows that the power of the letter is inspired by God, the message is from God to His servants, namely Christians.
God is eternal, He is everlasting, He is infinite. He has always existed and will continue to exist, everlasting.
The seven spirits, at first, seems confusing. But it is important and helpful to search other passages to help us understand what the seven spirits are. When we look at other passages in Revelation and the number seven, it could be that these seven spirits are angels or other spirits of some sort. Consider the seven angels; but the angels are specifically designated as such and not referred to as spirits.
It is the perfect Holy Spirit, to which end seven represents the perfection of the Holy Spirit. Others have considered Isaiah 11:2.
Jesus Christ:
The Faithful Witness
The Firstborn
The Ruler of Kings on Earth
Freed Us from our Sins
Made us a Kingdom
We are Priests of God
Verse 7 is very powerful and needs deeper understanding of His return for His people. Here is is very explanatory of how Jesus is to return.
“I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
The New Bible Commentary 1:1–8 The Prologue
I am the beginning of history and the end of history and the Lord of all that lies between.’ Such is implied in the ‘translation’ of the following line: the Lord God, … the Almighty maintains his control over the world from the beginning to the end of all times, even when the powers of this world resist his will, and he intends to come and complete his good purpose for it
Cross Reference 22:13 - This is a direct reference to Jesus. 1:8 is a direct reference to God. Note, that this enhances the divine nature of the trinity.
Lastly, gives us a clue to what is to come. We have a repeated clause from verse 4. Take special note again in the greeting and the clause, the last few words, “Who is to come.” He has not come yet, He will yet return. This verse flies in the face of amillennialism and others who claim Jesus will not return.
The Almighty is used seven times in Revelation. Only one other time in all the New Testament (2 Cor. 6:18).