The Revelation Of Jesus Christ

As Told To the Apostle John

Study 1 –Chapters 1-3

“Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.”  Rev. 1:3

The time is at hand and the Book of Revelation is the last event in God’s Messianic timetable.  The Book is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, the “apokalupsis” – the unveiling of spiritual truth, that is, Jesus Christ and His Second Coming in judgment and in glory as the Father presents to His Son all that is to be His in the future glory!

Outline

The Subject of the Book –The Things That Must Shortly Take Place

1.                  The Things Which John Saw (chap. 1)

a.                                           Title and Greeting

b.                                          The Vision of Christ In Judgment Robes (1:9-20)

2.                  The Things Which Are:  Letters From Our Lord (chaps. 2,3)

a.                                           To Ephesus (2:1-7)

b.                                          To Smyrna (2:8-11)

c.                                           To Pergamos (2:12-17)

d.                                          To Thyatira (2:18-29)

e.                                           To Sardis (3:1-6)

f.                                            To Philadelphia (3:7-13)

g.                                           To Laodicea (3:14-22)

The Rapture (1 Thess. 4:16-17) 

3.                  The Things Which Will Take Place After This (chap. 4-22)

a.                                           The Vision of God’s Throne (chap.4)

b.                                          The Lamb and the Seven-Sealed Scroll (chap. 5)

c.                                           The Opening of the Six Seals (chap.6)

d.                                          The Saved In the Great Tribulation (Chap.7)

e.                                           The Seventh Seal and the Start of the Seven Trumpets (Chap. 8,9)

f.                                            The Mighty Angel and the Little Scroll (Chap. 10)

g.                                           The Two Witnesses (chap. 11:1-14)

h.                                           The Seventh Trumpet (chap. 11:15-19)

i.                                             The Key Figures In the Tribulation (chap. 12-15)

j.                                            The Seven Bowl Judgments (chap. 16)

k.                                          The Fall of Babylon the Great (chap. 17,18)

l.                                             The Coming of Christ and His Millennial Kingdom (chap. 19:1-20:9)

m.                                         The Judgment of Satan and All Unbelievers (chap. 20:10-15)

n.                                           The New Heaven and the New Earth (chap. 21:1-22:5)

o.                                          Closing Warnings, Comforts, Invitations, and Benedictions (22:6-21)

The Things Which John Saw - Chapter 1

Believers often mistakenly call this book, “The Revelation of John.”  It is the “Revelation of Jesus Christ,” an unfolding of the future and a wrap up of all the other Biblical Books.  It unwraps what was first revealed in their prophesy, their symbols, numbers, colors, etc. It covers the time and subjects of God’s inspired revelation from Genesis on, the redemptive work of blood, the nation of Israel, the Gentiles, the church, Satan and his demons against God’s people, the Antichrist, the end time, judgment, and the New Creation.

1: 1,2 - This revelation was given by the Father to His Son, Jesus Christ, who then gave it to His angel, who in turn, made it known to His servant John.  John’s purpose in writing the Book was to share the revelation with the other saints In Christ.  John gave witness to the prophetic Word, which God had spoken, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ as witness.  John testified to all things that he saw in the heavenly visions.  Believers are often hesitant to read the Revelation, but God promises a special blessing to the one who reads it aloud and to all those in the assembly who hear it and take it to heart.  Why?  The time for the fulfillment of these prophesies is at hand.  Be ready.

1:4 - John addresses the Book to the seven churches in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey).  Grace and peace are wished upon the churches from The One who is, who always was, and who is still to come, Father God, from the “sevenfold Spirit” (either a reference to the seven fold ministry of the HS in Isaiah 11:2, or to the lamp stand with seven lamps, which represents the HS.  Either way, 7 is the number of completeness, so John is identifying the HS.

1:5 – The message is from Jesus Christ, who as the faithful witness makes this an inspired book.  The same Jesus who is the first One to rise from the dead to die no more, and who holds the position of superiority over all will be resurrected to eternal life.  John praises Jesus as the One who loves us (a present, continuous action), and freed us from our sins by shedding His blood for us (a past, completed work).  He loved us long before He freed us.  The price He paid?  His own blood!

1:6 – His work did not stop at freeing us from sin.  He made us His kingdom and His priests forever to His God and Father.  As holy priests, (yes, that is what you already are!) we offer spiritual sacrifices to God:  our persons, our possessions, our praise, and our service.  As His royal priests, we cry out to the world as His witnesses and give Him all the honor and glory forever!

1:7 - 8– This Blessed One (Jesus) is coming back to earth in the clouds and introduces Himself as the Alpha and Omega – the Beginning and the End.  He is the source of all creation, the One who began it and the One who will end what was purposed for this world.

The Vision of Christ In His Judicial Robes (1:9-20)

1:9 – Back to John, a partner with all the believers: in the suffering of persecution (present), in the redeemed community over which Christ serves as Lord and King; anticipation in the glory of His coming Millennial reign on earth (future); in endurance and perseverance in spite of difficult times.

1:10-11 – John writes of his exile on the island of Patmos because of his loyalty to the Word of God and his witness to Jesus the Savior.  He was worshipping “In the Spirit,” that is, walking in close fellowship with his Lord and therefore in a position to receive divine communication.  He suddenly hears a loud voice, like that of a trumpet, ordering him to write what he hears and send it to the seven churches given.

1:12 – John sees Jesus in the middle of seven lampstands that represent the literal seven churches of Asia Minor from which the light of life was to have shown.  Seven is the number of completeness and ultimately represents all of the churches until the end.

1:13 – Jesus is wearing as His outer garment, the long robe of a judge and the golden sash across His chest represents the garment of the High Priest in the OT and pictures Christ in His High Priestly role and symbolizes the righteousness and faithfulness with which He judges (Is. 11:5).

1:14 – “head and hair white as wool” – a picture of His eternity as the ancient of Days (Dan.7:9) and speaks of His holiness.  “Eyes...flames of fire” – He looks with a penetrating glaze into the depths of the churches and sees all things.  Nothing escapes Him.

1:15 – “The Lord’s feet were like fine bronze or brass” – In the OT, the altar of burnt offering was covered in this material as well as all of the utensils.  His glowing, hot bronze feet is a reference to the divine judgment with which He moves through the churches.

1:16 “He held seven stars in His right hand” – indication possession, control, and honor– He controls the church and its leaders.  The “sharp two-edged sword in His mouth” – the Word of God (Heb. 4:12).  It refers also to the accurate verdict He judges His churches with.

1:17 – John is stunned and falls at His feet as if dead.  He comforts John and reveals Himself as the Alpha and Omega, the first and the Last, the Living One who died, Jehovah God, Jesus the Christ (Is.44:6; 48:12) who lives forever.  He holds the keys to death and the grave (has control over).  Death the condition of the body and the grave (Hades or Sheol) as the place for the soul.  For believers, Hades meant being in Paradise with God.  At the resurrection, the soul is reunited with the glorified body and raptured (caught up) to the Father’s house.

1:20 – The Lord reveals the hidden meaning of the seven stars and seven golden lampstands.  The seven stars are the angels (literally messengers) but in the context, are the seven elders or pastors of the seven churches.  The lampstands are the churches themselves.

The Things Which Are: Letters From the Lord (Chaps.2,3)

The Letter to the Churches:

The letters may be applied in at least three ways.  First, they describe conditions as they actually existed in the seven local churches at the time John was writing.  Second, they show the church and Christianity at any one time in its history.  Third, they give a consecutive look of the history of Christianity, each church representing a distinct period.

2:1-7 – Ephesus – The basic message to this church is to remember Who is in charge.  It is the loveless church – it had loved the Lord for over 40 years, but their love is now mechanical & cold.  This is the church of the first century, which was generally praiseworthy for its hard work and patient endurance.  Jesus has one complaint against them - it had left its first love (Jesus).  They were to repent and work as they did at first, otherwise Jesus would remove the lamp stand, that is, the church at Ephesus would cease to exist.  The commendation –they hated  “The deeds of the Nicolaitans” - followers of Nicholas, a deacon in Acts 6, who led believers into immorality and sensual temptations.

2:7  - Anyone with an ear to hear should listen to and understand what the Spirit has to say in His messages to the churches.  “Everyone who is victorious” – to be an overcomer is to be a Christian.  To eat of the tree of life – true believers enjoy the promise of all that is theirs in heaven.

2:8-11 - Smyrna – its message – the world is no friend.  This is represents the church from the first to the fourth century.  It is the persecuted church – a city with a strong emperor worship cult.  Jesus tells them that He understands their suffering and poverty, but says they are rich in spiritual things.  The ones who call themselves Jews were persecuting them, but by their blasphemous behavior showed, they were really “a synagogue of Satan” (with the rejection of Christ, Judaism became as much a tool of Satan as emperor worship).  2:10 The believers were not to fear even when thrown into prison “for ten days” (a short time).  “Whoever is faithful until death” (willing to die rather than renounce Christ) would receive “the crown of life” – the believer’s reward of eternal life.  2:11 – Those victorious would not be hurt by the “second death” – 1^st death is physical – 2^nd is spiritual and eternal, unbelievers are cast into the Lake of Fire forever.

2:12-17 - Pergamous – the compromising church – it was the capital of the emperor worship cult. This also represents the church from the fourth and fifth centuries, a period during which Christianity was recognized as an official religion through the emperor Constantine.  The message is from Jesus, “The One with the “sharp two-edged sword.”  2:13 - “where the great throne of Satan’s is” – the headquarters of satanic opposition to Christianity and a Gentile base for false religions. The Lord commends them for remaining loyal to Him.  2:14 – The Lord has this against them “they were like  Balaam,” – a false prophet who plotted to have Moabite women seduce Israelite men into inner marriage resulting in Israel falling into idol worship and fornication (Numbers 22:25). Some also followed the Nicolaitan false doctrine, similar to that of Balaam.  Christ’s' warning, ”Repent or He would come  against them suddenly and fight against them with His two-edged sword.”  2:17 – Everyone victorious will “eat the manna hidden in heaven” – God promises to give true believers the spiritual bread the unbelieving world cannot see (John 6:51).  “A white stone with a new name engraved on it, known to no one but the recipient.” – an athlete’s prize as admission to the winner’s celebration – the overcomer’s ticket to the eternal victory celebration in heaven, his new name an indication of acceptance by God and the title to glory.

1.                  2:18-29 -Thyatira – the corrupt church.  It represents the church from the sixth to the fifteenth century.  The Letter is from the Son of God whose eyes are like fire, and whose feet are polished bronze (speaks of threatened judgment).  The church was outstanding in several ways –works; love; service; faith; patient endurance.  However, impure doctrine had been permitted to come into the church resulting in immorality and idol worship.  A prophetess was at work,  a “Jezebel” type of woman who leads the church into sexual immorality, supposedly without them sinning.  The Lord gave her time to repent, but she refused.  She and all her followers would suffer greatly and be struck dead.  Everyone will then see that the Lord rewards according to man’s deeds, each what he deserves.  To the faithful remnant who have not followed Jezebel into her secret doctrine –the depths of Satan, Jesus only asks that they hold on tightly to what they already have, His truth.  To the overcomers, who obey Christ until the very end, his reward would be to reign with Christ during the Millennium.  v.27 – “They will rule over the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots” – all sin and rebellion would be punished severely and quickly.  V.28 –  They will be given the same authority Jesus has and be given “the morning star” -  Jesus in His fullness will return like the morning star to rapture His church to heaven before He reigns over the earth.

3: 1-6 - Sardis –the dead church.  Represents the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries of the Post-Reformation period, when the light of the Reformation would begin to dim.  The church had a great reputation but inside it was dead, simply going trough the routine.  The Lord called it to get up with new energy and strengthened what it did have – even that was almost dead.  He wants them to go back to their first love, that which they heard and believed at first.  Those whose character was still godly would walk with Jesus in “white garments” that are reserved for Christ, the angels, and the glorified church (19:8-14).  All believers have their name in the “Lamb’s Book of Life” -a divine journal which records the names of all whom God has chosen to save and who, therefore, are to possess eternal life (13:8; 17:8; 20:12,15; 21:27;22:19; Luke 10:20; Dan.12:1).  No one can erase it!

3:7-13- Philadelphia –the faithful church.  It represents the church during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, during which there were mighty revivals and great missionary movements.  They received only praise from the Lord.  The Lord appears as “The One Who is holy and true.  He opens doors, and no one can shut them; He shuts doors, and no one can open them.”  The message to this church deals with the promises of God to those who are faithful to Him.  Even though they had little strength, they continued to obey Him.  As a result, they had been able to preserve the truth by living it out in their lives.  Even in their trials, they did not deny Christ’s name.  Persecuted by Jews who called themselves God’s chosen people but were actually a synagogue of Satan and opposed the church.  They would be forced to admit that these Christians were actually the chosen ones.  Jesus will keep them from the hour of trial which will come upon the whole world – a promise of exemption from the Tribulation Period.  Jesus is coming back and they should not let anyone rob them of the victor’s crown of reward.  The overcomer will become a pillar in the inner sanctuary of God.  Note the absolutes in Christ’s statement: “will become pillars”; “they will never have to leave it”; I will write My name on them”; “they will be citizens in the city of my God”; they will have My new name inscribed on them.”

3:14-22 - Laodicea –the lukewarm church (today’s church).  This church of the last days (our period of time) is pictured as lukewarm and apostate.  It is the church of liberalism and ecumenism (the forerunner of the “one world church”).  “The “Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation” – is Jesus.  The Lord says that He will spit this church out of His mouth because they are lukewarm.  Why is that bad?  Because it deceives people into thinking that it was a church of God, looking rich and prosperous on the outside and not much substance on the inside, insensitive to their spiritual need.  He advises them to buy white robes –a picture of God’s righteousness, holiness and purity –a symbol of true salvation.  He advises them to buy gold from Him, gold refined in the fire.  1 Peter 1:7, “that the genuiness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the Revelation of Jesus Christ.”  They should anoint their eye with eye salve to gain spiritual vision through the light of the HS.  For those who rebel at the Lord’s discipline- “I am the One who corrects and disciplines everyone I love.”  “Look!  Here I am standing at the door and knock.  If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends.”  Note that Jesus is now politely knocking and inviting individuals, no longer the mass of people.  The overcomer is promised that he will share in the glory of Christ’s throne and reign with Him over the Millennial earth.

The Rapture –1 Thess. 4: 13-18  (See Separate Sheet)