Prologue Rev. 1:1-3 - The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his.

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Prologue

Rev. 1:1-3 - The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw-- that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 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.

Prologue

Rev. 1:1 - The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John

The source of the revelation is God

It is a revelation “OF JESUS CHRIST”It is either the revelation was made BY Jesus;The revelation was made ABOUT Jesus;Or, the revelation BELONGS to Jesus.

In a sense all of these are trueThe revelation comes from God, through Jesus Christ, who communicates it to John via an angel.

Prologue

Rev. 1:1 - The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John

It is a revelation “OF JESUS CHRIST”It is either the revelation was made BY Jesus;The revelation was made ABOUT Jesus;Or, the revelation belongs to Jesus.

In a sense all of these are trueThe revelation comes from God, through Jesus Christ, who communicates it to John via an angel.

The chain of communication is:God to Jesus

Jesus to the angelThe angel to John

John to the churches

Prologue

Rev. 1:1 - The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

“What must soon take place” - Greek evn ta,cei We must remember that time in prophecy is often a secondary

consideration and events are not always portrayed in a strict chronological sequence. The Greek means only that what John is about to see will take place after his vision.

As 21st century western readers, we want everything to be laid out in chronological order. This was not always the case with 1st century writers. They were more concerned with the message than the timing.

Prologue


This phrase has become somewhat of an enigma. After 2,000 years the consummation of history has yet to occur. This creates a problem for some people. So how do we read the word “soon?”

It can mean suddenly when the appointed time arrives.

It can denote the certainty of the events in question.

It can point to the persecution of Christians rather than the end of history.

It can mean that the present world order has already begun with the first advent of Christ and will be consummated with his universal recognition.

Prologue


We must remember that time in prophecy is often a secondary consideration and events are not always portrayed in a strict chronological sequence.

Prologue


The phrase we translate “made known” is literally translated “signified by sending his angel or messenger.”

The Greek reader knew that what follows is not always a literal presentation of the future.

This is symbolic communication (sign – ified) as opposed to a simple transfer of information. The primary means of communication in Revelation is visual (1:2; 11).

Prologue

Rev. 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.

This is the first of seven “Beatitudes” found in Revelation (1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:19; 20:6; 22:7, 14)

Very close to Luke 11:28He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and

obey it."

The fact that the reader/hearer was to “take to heart” what was read means that it was to be considered as much moral instruction as it was considered prediction.

Salutation and Doxology

Rev. 1:4-8 - John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father-- to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen. "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."


Rev. 1:4 - John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne,

Revelation now takes the form of a letter.The salutation begins is verse 4The book concludes with a benediction in 22:21

“The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen.”



Revelation now takes the form of a letter.The salutation begins is verse 4The book concludes with a benediction in 22:21

Grace and peace proceed from a 3-fold source – God is eternally existent



Grace and peace proceed from a 3-fold source – God is eternally existent

There is the temptation to say that the seven spirits represent the complete manifestation of the Holy Spirit. This arises from the Messianic prophecy found in Isaiah 11:2:

The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him-- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit 1 2 3

of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD--4 5 6 7

We really don’t have enough information to make an air-tight case


Rev. 1:5 - and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,

In Greek the word for “witness” is ma,rtuj from which we get the English “martyr.”




Points to Jesus’ priority and sovereigntyColossians 1:18 - And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning

and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.




Points to Jesus’ priority and sovereigntyColossians 1:18 - And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning

and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

What Satan offered Jesus in return for obedience (Mt. 4:1-11, Mk. 1:12, 13; Lk. 4:1-13), Jesus achieved through faithful obedience.


Rev. 1:5b, 6 - To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father-- to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

The redemptive work of Christ is central to the eschatological drama about to unfold.


Rev. 1:5b, 6 - To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father-- to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

The redemptive work of Christ is central to the eschatological drama about to unfold.

Concludes with a doxology – we shall see this later as well (5:13)


Rev. 1:7 - Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.

Here we have two OT prophetic motifs that are joined:

1) Daniel 7:13 - In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and

was led into his presence.

2) Zechariah 12:10 - And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they

have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.


Rev. 1:7 - Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.

Note that mourning is NOT repentance, it is remorse over having rejected the Savior.


Rev. 1:8 - "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.“

We will see this phrase twice more (21:6, 22:13) before our study ends.

It is a literary device to signify everything from the beginning to the end. Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet and Omega is the last. What is being said is true for the first, the last and everything in between.

The Inaugural Vision

Revelation 1:9-20 - I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea." I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man," dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. "Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.


Revelation 1:9 - “I John, your brother who share with you in Jesus the persecution and the kingdom and the patient endurance, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.”

John is a fellow sufferer. He is “one of us” not just a reporter.

Sets Revelation a part from standard Jewish Apocalyptic literature.


Revelation 1:11 - which said: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.“

This is the first of twelve commands to write down what he [John] sees.

The seven churches probably formed a postal circuit these are certainly not all of the churches that read the letter. The order of the churches is most likely geographical and not symbolic.

The number seven is symbolic and appropriate for an apocalypse.

Background – To whom was the book written?


Revelation 1:10 - On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,

“In the Spirit” means under the power and control of the Holy Spirit


Revelation 1:10 - On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,

“In the Spirit” means under the power and control of the Holy Spirit

This brings us back to Moses’ encounter with God on Mt. Sinai

Exodus 19:16 - On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, as well as a thick cloud on the mountain, and a blast of a trumpet so loud that all the people who were in the camp trembled.

The Inaugural Vision (Rev. 1:9-20)

Revelation 1:13 - and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man," dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.

The Son of Man image takes us back to Daniel 7:13,14.

"In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

It shows us how deeply John was steeped in the Old Testament. More importantly, the Son of Man is in the midst (among, middle, between) the lampstands. Jesus Christ is with us, in our midst, particularly when we suffer.



The Son of Man image takes us back to Daniel 7:13,14. It shows us how deeply John was steeped in the Old Testament. More importantly, the Son of Man is in the midst (among, middle, between) the lampstands. Jesus Christ is with us, in our midst, particularly when we suffer.

This is the what I call the “Good News” of chapter one.


Revelation 1:12-16 - I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man," dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

Compare this description of Christ with Daniel’s vision in chapter 10

Daniel 10:5-6 - I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of the finest gold around his waist. 6 His body was like chrysolite, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.



Verses 12-16 use allusions to Old Testament imagery for the attributes of God.John’s audience would have understood these as a statement of the divinity ofChrist.

Three things get “nailed down”1 – The oneness of Christ with God 2 – Christ, the content of Revelation is a present reality3 – Christ is in the midst of the troubled churches. He identifies with the churches as he is identified with God.


Revelation 1:19 - Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.

Many commentators will tell us that this verse lays out the structure for the entire book. They understand:

“what you have seen” to be the inaugural vision of vv. 9-20

“what is now to be the contents of chapters 2 and 3 (the letters to the seven churches).

“what will take place later” as the rest of the book (chapters 4 and following).

The most significant problem with this view is that chapters 4ff contain events that are both current and future.


Revelation 1:19 - Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.

I think a better understanding of this sentence might be:

Write, therefore, what you have seen, [namely] what is now …

The first half of the sentence is understood to be a restatement of the command to write in v. 11.

The second half of the sentence is loosely read to mean the entire mixture of things that are taking place and those that are to come (chapters 2-22).


Revelation 1:20 - The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Many explanations have been offered as to the identity of the seven “angels.”

The Greek word aggeloj can be rendered either “angel” or “messenger.”

Matthew 11:10 - This is the one about whom it is written: "'I will send my aggeloj ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.‘

Matthew is speaking of John the Baptizer.


Revelation 1:20 - The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Therefore, the “angel” has been identified as:

1) A person, probably the bishop or other prominent church leader.

2) A guardian angel such as we find in Dan. 10:13; Mt. 18:10 and Acts 12:15

3) Heavenly beings – which is more consistent with the usage of the term in other parts of the book.


We leave the first chapter with the understanding that Christ is with us. Christ is with us in our triumphs, our failures and our suffering. If nothing else the first chapter reaffirms the three offices of Christ.

As PROPHET, Christ is the recipient of revelation (v. 1).

As KING, Christ is the ruler of the kings of the earth (v. 5).

As PRIEST, Christ stands with us and for us in our times of tribulation (vv. 9-20).

Next Week

The seven letters to the churches (chapters 2 and 3)

The Throne Scene in Heaven (chapters 4 and 5)

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Prologue Rev. 1:1-3 - The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his.

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