Revelation
1:1-8, “Introduction To The Book Of Revelation”
By
1.
INTRODUCTION
1.1.
The book of
Revelation is considered to be the last book of the New Testament which was
written. Virtually all scholars believe
that the book was written somewhere around 95-96AD. This was also the belief expressed in the
writings of the early church fathers.
Also, there is really no serious doubt among scholars as to the fact
that the book was written by the apostle John.
1.2.
The early church
fathers write about the apostle John as having been exiled to the
1.3.
Patmos is an
island 12km long and 7km wide and lies about 55 km off the SW coast of Asia
Minor, and almost the same distance southeast of
1.4.
Domitian was
assassinated in 96AD, and some of the early church writers mention that the
next Roman emperor pardoned John, and that he spent his last days in
2.
AUTHORSHIP
2.1.
John mentions
himself four times in the book (1:1, 4, 9;
22:8), and he refers to himself each time simply as “John”. It has been commented that perhaps the
authorship of the book of Revelation is best proved to be John by the fact that
he does not write anything more about himself than the simple name of “John”. John knew that the church would know and
accept his authorship if he simply used his name, whereas the same could not
have been said of anyone else. John does
not however describe himself in the book as an apostle, but rather as “a
servant” (1:1), and “your brother, and companion in tribulation and in the
kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ” (1:9). However, this should not detract us from
knowing that he is the author since the apostles thought and sometimes wrote of
themselves using these types of terms.
Also, in his gospel John doesn’t identify himself specifically but
writes of himself only as the disciple whom Jesus loved.
3.
NUMEROLOGY IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION
3.1.
There are several
instances in the book of Revelation of the use of numerology for the purpose of
revealing God’s purposes, especially the use of the number “seven” which
signifies “completeness” or “perfection” in the scriptures:
3.1.1. Seven Churches (Rev. 1:4, 11, 20)
3.1.2. Seven Spirits (Rev. 1:4, 3:1, 4:5, 5:6)
3.1.3. Seven candlesticks (Rev. 1:12, 13, 20; 2:1)
3.1.4. Seven stars (Rev. 1:16, 20; 2:1, 3:1)
3.1.5. Seven lamps (Rev. 4:5)
3.1.6. Seven seals (Rev. 5:1, 5:5)
3.1.7. Seven horns (Rev. 5:6)
3.1.8. Seven eyes (Rev. 5:6)
3.1.9. Seven angels (Rev. 8:2, 6)
3.1.10.Seven trumpets (Rev. 8:2, 6)
3.1.11.Seven thunders (Rev. 10:3, 4)
3.1.12.Seven thousand (Rev. 11:13)
3.1.13.Seven heads (Rev. 12:3; 13:1; 17:3, 7, 9)
3.1.14.Seven crowns (Rev. 12:3)
3.1.15.Seven angels (Rev. 15:1, 6, 7, 8; 16:1; 17:1; 21:9)
3.1.16.Seven plagues (Rev. 15:1, 6, 8; 21:9)
3.1.17.Seven vials (Rev. 15:7; 17:1; 21:9)
3.1.18.Seven mountains (Rev. 17:9)
3.1.19.Seven kings (Rev. 17:10, 11)
3.1.20.Seven be-attitudes, beginning with “blessed” (Rev.
1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7; 22:14)
3.1.21.Seven years of judgments (Rev. 11:3; 12:6, 14; 13:5)
3.1.22.Seven divisions to each of the letters to the seven
churches
3.1.23.Seven “I am’s” of Christ (Rev. 1:8, 11, 17, 18; 21:6;
22:13, 16)
3.1.24.Seven doxologies in heaven (Rev. 4:9-11; 5:8-13;
7:9-12; 11:16-18; 14:2, 3; 15:2-4; 19:1-6)
3.2.
The number “seven”
has signified “completeness” amongst almost all people groups in
history, and in the Bible we see how that the first mention of the Lord’s
causing this number to have significance in the creation when He rested on the
seventh day, and then decreed that the seventh day be set aside as holy unto
the Lord.
3.3.
Some of the other
numbers which appear to have significance are:
3, 4, 10, 12 (a perfect administration is symbolized as see by twelve
tribes of
4.
USE OF SYMBOLS IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION:
4.1.
The book of
Revelation is full of symbols to be interpreted.
4.1.1. Why are there so many symbols?
4.1.1.1.It may be the case that since the church was to go
through such a tremendous persecution during the first three hundred years of
its existence that the Lord saw fit to reveal many things to the church through
symbols so their persecutor’s confusion at reading the letter would give them
less cause to persecute them.
4.1.2. How do we interpret the symbols?
4.1.2.1.In most cases in the book of Revelation the symbols
are interpreted by the book itself.
4.1.2.2.In the case of symbols which are not interpreted by
the book, we have to try to look at how those same symbols are interpreted by
scripture at large, and come up with our best and prayerful guesses concerning
their meaning.
4.1.2.3.We cannot be too dogmatic about our interpretations of
the symbols because they lend themselves to speculations about which many good
commentators disagree.
5.
PURPOSE OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION:
5.1.
Though John was
an apostle, the book of Revelation was not written by him using his authority
as an apostle in order to communicate truth to the church. Rather, John was merely the recipient of a “revelation”
which came to him via an angel who received it from Jesus Christ who received
it from God the Father. John is told in
several places in the book to write down the “revelation” which he has
received, and he is likewise told to send the “revelation” to the
churches. The word “revelation”
which is a translation of the Greek word from which we get our English word “apocalypse”
means “an unveiling”. Jesus Christ
is unveiling to John a revelation of Himself, a revelation of the state of
seven representative churches which the churches of all ages can relate to, as
well as what the future holds in store both for the saved and for the lost. The book looks all the way into eternity.
6.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION:
6.1.
The book of
Revelation records the summation of everything in which the rest of the Bible
points. In the book of Genesis it is
said that there are recorded the beginnings of every major doctrine of the
Bible, and in the book of Revelation there is recorded the summation of all of
God’s plans for mankind, looking all the way into eternity itself.
6.1.1. Tim Lahaye in his Revelation Commentary lists some of the
doctrinal themes that were begun in the book of Genesis and completed in the
book of Revelation:
6.1.1.1.“Genesis shows
humanity’s beginning in a beautiful paradise.
Revelation shows the wonderful paradise to come.
6.1.1.2.Genesis shows how human beings lost
a chance to eat of the tree of life(Gen. 3:22-24). Revelation shows that humankind will
yet eat of that tree (Rev. 22:2).
6.1.1.3.Genesis tells of humanity’s first
rebellion against God (Gen. 3-4). Revelation
promises an end to humanity’s rebellion against God.
6.1.1.4.Genesis records the first murderer,
drunkard, and rebel. Revelation promises
a city where “nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what
is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s
book of life (Rev. 21:27).
6.1.1.5.Genesis reveals the tragic sorrow
that resulted from sin (Gen. 3-4). Revelation
promises, “[God] will wipe every tear from their eyes” (Rev. 21:4).
6.1.1.6.Genesis records the first death
(Gen. 4:8). Revelation promises
that “there will be no more death” (Rev. 21:4).
6.1.1.7.Genesis shows the beginning of the
curse (Gen. 3:15-18). Revelation
shows the curse lifted (Rev. 22:3).
6.1.1.8.Genesis introduces the devil for
the first time as the tempter of the human race (Gen. 3:1-18). Revelation shows the final doom of
Satan (Rev. 20:10).
6.1.1.9.Genesis promises that Satan’s head will be bruised (Gen. 3:15). Revelation shows Satan bruised and
defeated (Rev. 19:20)…”
6.2.
In the book of
Revelation one will find that his entire systematic theology is tested and
proven, and if there is an error theologically it must manifest itself in his
interpretation of the book.
6.3.
The book of
Revelation is the only book of the Bible in which is promised (Rev. 1:3) that
there is a special blessing for everyone who reads it and hears it read.
6.3.1. This is very interesting especially in light of the
fact that there is also no other book of the Bible for which there are more
interpretations which people have come up with.
However, since the Lord has promised that there is a special blessing in
reading it and hearing it read (public reading), and since it is a book which
was written for the purpose of “unveiling” truth, God can give us
interpretation of most of what the book contains.
6.3.2. No one will be able to understand the book of
Revelation completely or with complete assurance of understanding until the
future time when the events described come to pass.
6.4.
“No book of Scripture more specifically sets
before the believer in Christ his eternal hope in the new heaven and earth and
gives greater assurance of God’s triumph over wickedness, rebellion, and
unbelief,” John Walvoord.
7.
PORTRAYAL OF JESUS CHRIST IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION:
7.1.
In the book of
Revelation, we see the exalted Christ who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords,
whose eyes are a flame of fire, and before whom John falls as a dead man.
7.1.1. In the gospels, we see Jesus in humility as the one
who is made in the likeness of men in order to suffer the death on the
cross. In the book of Revelation we see
Him in power as the resurrected Christ who is coming to judge the world and
make an end of sin.
7.1.2. In the gospels, we see Jesus as the lamb without spot
or blemish who has come to be the perfect sacrifice for the sins of
mankind. In the book of Revelation we
see Jesus as the “lion of the tribe of
8.
MAJOR WAYS OF INTERPRETING THE BOOK OF REVELATION:
8.1.
PRETERIST (PAST) INTERPRETATION:
8.1.1. This way of interpreting the book of Revelation is to
look at it as a book whose prophesies have been fulfilled in history past. In particular this view tends to see these
events as having occurred prior to 300BC, at the very latest. The most common interpretation is that they
were completed with the fall of
8.1.1.1.The author writes in the first verse that the events
in the book are to take place “shortly” (not several centuries later).
8.1.1.1.1.However, in regard to this argument, from God’s perspective
a thousand of our days are as one to Him, so the events can be said to “shortly”
take place. Plus, it appears that once
the events prophesied begin to take place, they will all “shortly” be
fulfilled, as is seen by the seven total years of tribulation depicted in the
future prophesy. So, this explanation
could account for the use of the idea of the things in the book occurring “shortly”.
8.1.1.2.It would seem cruel that the author would write a book
for encouragement because of future events and yet have those events be so far
away from the original recipients of the writings, the first and second century
church.
8.1.1.2.1.However, In regard to this argument, most prophesy
that was originally recorded by Biblical writers was written about events that
were to be fulfilled many centuries in the future.
8.1.2. Arguments against this interpretation:
8.1.2.1.It is the case with this view that there are hardly
two interpreters who have ever seen the events fulfilled in the book of
Revelation by the same people and historical occurrences.
8.1.2.2.It is also true that there is a very heavy exegetical
tendency to avoid a literal interpretation of most events described in favor
for an allegorical one, which is a poor exegetical habit.
8.1.3. Amillennialists can hold this interpretation, for as their
name suggests they do not hold to interpreting literally the 1,000 year reign
of Christ mentioned in the book.
8.2.
HISTORICAL
INTERPRETATION:
8.2.1. This way of interpreting the book of Revelation is to
see it as a chronological sequence of events that began occurring after the
resurrection of Christ and will continue until His second coming to earth when
He establishes His kingdom. This view
sees many of the passages concerning the beast as being fulfilled with the Roman
Catholic church, and other passages to perhaps predict events such as the rise
of Islam, Napoleon, etc.
8.2.2. Arguments against this interpretation:
8.2.2.1.It is also the case with this view that there are
hardly two interpreters who have ever seen the events fulfilled in the book of
Revelation by the same people and historical occurrences.
8.2.2.2.It is also true that there is a very heavy exegetical
tendency to avoid a literal interpretation of most events described in the book
in favor for an allegorical one, which is a poor exegetical habit.
8.2.3. Amillennialists can also hold this interpretation, for
as their name suggests they do not hold to interpreting literally the 1,000
year reign of Christ mentioned in the book.
8.3.
CYCLICAL
INTERPRETATION:
8.3.1. Similar to the historical view, this view sees the
events in the book of Revelation as being fulfilled cyclically all throughout
history beginning with the early church and continuing until the present day.
8.3.2. Arguments against this interpretation.
8.3.2.1.It is likewise the case with this view that there are
hardly two interpreters who have ever seen the events fulfilled in the book of
Revelation by the same people and historical occurrences.
8.3.2.2.It is also true with this view that there is a very
heavy exegetical tendency to avoid a literal interpretation of most passages in
favor for an allegorical one, which is a poor exegetical habit.
8.3.3. Amillennialists can also hold this interpretation, for
as their name suggests they do not hold to interpreting literally the 1,000
year reign of Christ mentioned in the book.
8.4.
IDEALIST INTERPRETION:
8.4.1. This is the view held by modern day apostate liberals
who view the Bible as being inspired as in the sense of a nice painting and
containing nice literature and moral standards, however not as being the
inspired and inerrant Word of God. This
view sees the book of Revelation as being a book about the continuing war of
good verses evil.
8.4.2. Arguments against this interpretation.
8.4.2.1.Those who discredit the inspiration of the scriptures
will suffer the fate of all of those who reject Christ as their Lord and
Savior: the eternal lake of fire. Need I say more…
8.5.
FUTURIST
INTERPRETATION:
8.5.1. This view sees the events described in the book of
Revelation beginning at chapter 5 as dealing with a time that is yet in the
future. This view is based upon what are
the most sound Biblical hermaneutic for exegesis, including the looking to a
literal interpretation of literal accounts unless those accounts are said in
the text itself to have an allegorical interpretation, or there is no other
logical explanation for them. For
instance, when the book unfolds an event occurring where all of the life is
destroyed in the ocean, this view understands that this is a real historical
event, and since there has never been a time in recorded history where this has
occurred, this event must be future to both the writer of the book as well as
the reader.
8.5.2. This is the view that I hold to and which I will
primarily expound upon in this inductive study of the book of Revelation. This view is also called the “premillennial”
interpretation since this view typically accepts a literal 1,000 year of reign
of Christ upon earth, just as prophesied in the book of Revelation.
8.5.3. Among those who hold this view are those who believe
that the church will be taken off of the earth (raptured) before the seven year
tribulation (pre-trib), during the middle of the tribulation (mid-trib), and at
the conclusion of the tribulation (post-trib).
There is likewise a new view called the “pre-wrath” interpretation
which sees the rapture of the church happening part way through the seven year
Tribulation yet before the great “wrath” occurs.
9.
REFERENCE FOR
SYMBOLS USED IN THE BOOK:
9.1.
Having expressed
my preference for the Futurist Interpretation of the book of Revelation, it
will be helpful to include what John Walvoord has compiled for defining the
meaning of the various symbols used in the book:
9.1.1. Seven stars (1:6) represent seven angels (1:20).
9.1.2. Seven lampstands (1:13) represent seven churches
(1:20).
9.1.3. Hidden manna (2:17) speaks of Christ in glory (Exodus
16:33-34; Heb. 9:4).
9.1.4. Morning star (2:28) refers to Christ returning before
the dawn, suggesting the rapture of the church before the establishment of the
Kingdom (Rev. 22:16; 2 Peter 1:19).
9.1.5. Key of David (3:7) represents the power to open and
close doors (Is. 22:22).
9.1.6. Seven lamps of fire represent the sevenfold Spirit of
God (4:5, Isaiah 11:2).
9.1.7. Living creatures (4:7) portray the attributes of God.
9.1.8. Seven eyes represent the sevenfold Spirit of God
(5:6).
9.1.9. Odors of the golden vials symbolize the prayers of the
saints (5:8).
9.1.10.Four horses and their riders (6:1 ff) represent
successive events in the developing tribulation.
9.1.11.Fallen star (9:1) is the angel of the abyss, probably
Satan (9:11).
9.1.12.Many references are made to
9.1.13.Stars of heaven (12:4) refer to fallen angels (12:9).
9.1.14.Woman and the child (12:1-2) seem to represent
9.1.15.Satan is variously described as the great dragon, the
old serpent, and the devil (12:9; 20:2).
9.1.16.Time, times, and half a time (12:14) are the same as
1,260 days (12:6).
9.1.17.Beast out of the sea (13:1-10) is the future world
ruler and his empire.
9.1.18.Beast out of the earth (13:11-17) is the false prophet
(19:20).
9.1.19.Harlot (17:1) variously described as the great city
(17:18), as
9.1.20.Waters (17:1) on which the woman sits represent the
peoples of the world (17:15).
9.1.21.Ten horns (17:12) are ten kings associated with the
beast (13:1; 17:3, 7, 8, 11-13, 16-17).
9.1.22.Lamb is Lord of lords and King of kings (17:14).
9.1.23.Fine linen is symbolic of the righteous deeds of the
saints (19:8).
9.1.24.Rider of the white horse (19:11-16, 19) is clearly
identified as Christ, the King of kings.
9.1.25.
9.1.26.Jesus Christ is the Root and Offspring of David
(22:16).
10.
VS 1:1 - “1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him
to show to His bond-servants, the things which must shortly take place; and He
sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John,” - John declares that he is writing down a
‘revelation’ which he has received from Jesus Christ concerning the future
10.1. The word “revelation”, as I mentioned in my
background comments, is from the Greek word from which we get the word “apocalypse”,
and it means an “unveiling”. The
book of Revelation was intended by God not to be a book which mystifies us, but
conversely one which clarifies and reveals God’s mind and future plans for
mankind, angels, and this world.
10.2. This revelation is a revelation of ‘Jesus Christ’. That is, this revelation was given to Jesus Christ
by God the Father. The book itself is a
revelation of Jesus Christ both as the resurrected Lord of Lords and King of
Kings glorified and reigning, but also of His conquering and judgment of the
world and angels.
10.2.1.Jesus Christ is seen in this book as carrying out the
judgment of the nations and of angels as He brings His kingdom to earth in
power and glory.
10.2.2.We in the church need to often take a long look at the
hope that we have been given beyond the grave, which the reading of the book of
Revelation affords us. There is no other
book in the New Testament which can give us believers more encouragement for
the eternity which we are assured with the Lord.
10.3. Jesus Christ was given this revelation and the
revelation was given Him by God the Father (first person of the Trinity) ‘to
show to His bond-servants’ the things that the future would hold.
10.4. Several times in the book John is told to write down
the things that he has been shown. Then,
he is finally told to send the things he has written down to the churches for
their edification and encouragement.
10.5. The revelation is given not to the curious, not to the
non-believing, not to the religious, but to God’s ‘bond-servants’ who
have Christ as their sovereign Lord and Master.
10.6. Jesus Christ sent the revelation which He had received
from God the Father to an ‘angel’ for delivery.
10.7. The apostle ‘John’ is the one who has received
this revelation, as is seen most clearly by the fact that he simply identifies
himself as ‘John’. Any other John
would have included some sort of an introduction of himself since he would not
be widely known or trusted.
10.8. In this verse, John describes himself as a ‘bond-servant’
of God, literally God’s slave to do His will.
John shows his humility in using this title for himself since he wrote
the letter as an old man who was famous in churches, all around the known
world, being the only one of the apostles to live a long life.
11.
VS 1:2 - “2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the
testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.” - John tells us that he is writing concerning
the vision that he saw, or ‘bore witness to’
11.1. John describes in this verse how it is that he has
received this revelation from Jesus Christ.
He writes that he is simply bearing witness, or testifying, to the Word
of God which he has heard and seen, as well as to the very ‘testimony of
Jesus Christ’ Himself who has spoken to him in this revelation.
11.2. Further, John writes in this verse that he is
testifying ‘even to all that he saw’, so we know that he didn’t hold
back from his readers anything of what he saw and heard.
12.
VS 1:3 - “3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the
words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the
time is near.”
– John tells us that the man who reads and hears this book will be ‘happy’
(blessed)
12.1. As I mentioned in the forward of my commentary on this
book, this is the only book of the Bible where a specific promise is made that
those who read it, or hear it read, will receive a blessing.
12.2. In his epistles, Paul commanded that the churches
practice the public reading of scripture, and thus John mentions the blessing
that is guaranteed for those who hear the book read.
12.3. The third group who will be blessed is those who ‘heed
the things which are written in’ the book.
We should ask the question, “How can we ‘heed’ the things in the
book?”
12.3.1.Since the book consists primarily of prophesy, it
appears that the main way in which the book can be heeded is by simply reading
and studying the book seriously.
12.3.2.Also, churches of every age can heed the stern
warnings and exhortations given to the seven representative churches in the
book.
12.3.3.We can heed the things written by clinging to Jesus
Christ as our Savior and Lord and by resisting any false worship, including
that which will accompany the wearing of the mark of the Beast.
12.4. John writes in this verse ‘for the time is near’,
and we can analyze what is meant by this phrase from a couple of different
perspectives.
12.4.1.From God’s perspective of time, a day on earth is as a
thousand years to the Lord, so in that sense ‘the day’ of the Lord, that
is, the day of His coming judgments upon the earth, is always ‘near’.
12.4.2.Christ taught that all people ought to expect and be
prepared in heart, mind, and deeds for His “imminent” return to the
earth. So, all Christians ought to think
of His coming as being near or imminent.
12.4.3.Any of us could die unexpectedly at any moment only to
find it too late for us to repent and turn our lives over to God. So, since we never know how fleeting this
life can turn out to be for us, the day of the Lord should be looked at as
always being ‘near’ at hand.
12.5. It will be very good for us as Christians if we will
read and study the words of the book of Revelation, for we are guaranteed a special
blessing for doing so. Let’s read and
hear and take heed to these very important words that have been given to us by
the Lord in the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
13.
VS 1:4 - “4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come; and
from the seven Spirits who are before His throne;” - John writes a salutation to the seven
churches that are in
13.1. We do know that there were more than seven churches in
13.1.1.Literal letters are written from the Lord to the seven
churches in the cities mentioned.
13.1.2.The churches are representative churches in that the
church in every age can look at the warnings and exhortations given to these
churches as being for their own edification
13.1.3.The churches may also represent seven different
periods in the history of the church.
13.2. As Paul sent epistles to churches which are compiled
in our modern day Bibles, these warnings and exhortations from Christ are
epistles given by Him for the church in that day, as well as in every period of
church history. These churches can be
looked at as being representative of seven different types of churches, and
thus the church of any age can be sure to heed all of these warnings.
13.3. Paul began all of his epistles mentioning God’s ‘grace’,
and likewise in this book it is the risen and exalted Christ who wishes ‘grace’
to come upon each of the churches. Every
good thing that any believer or church has received has come as a gift from
God, and therefore everything in life has come to all people through God’s
grace as blessings which are undeserved.
13.4. Not only is grace mentioned by Paul in his epistles,
but ‘peace’, as a greeting, and likewise Jesus in His salutation wishes them ‘peace’
from God, as the good news of the gospel message itself is a message of the ‘peace’ of God available for all
mankind through God’s giving of His only begotten Son for the sins of the
world. Through Jesus, salvation has come
and through the gospel message men and women are brought to have ‘peace’ with
God.
13.5. In this verse, Jesus describes Himself as ‘Him who
is and who was and who is to come’.
That is, He “is” the eternal God who “was” before all that
exists, as in fact He is described in scripture as being the One through whom
all things have come, and He is going “to come” (Jesus’ Second
Coming).
13.6. If Jesus Christ were not God, this verse would be
blasphemy, for the praise that is given can only be designated to the One who
is very God of very God.
13.7. It is believed by many that the ‘seven Spirits who
are before His throne’ describe the seven-fold work of the Holy Spirit
which Isaiah described in Isaiah
11:2-3, “2 And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom
and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge
and the fear of the Lord. 3 And He will
delight in the fear of the Lord, And He will not judge by what His eyes see,
Nor make a decision by what His ears hear.”
14.
VS 1:5 - “5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the
first-born of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who
loves us, and released us from our sins by His blood,” - John tells us that the salutation is also
from Jesus Christ
14.1. In this verse, John writes of many things which
characterize Christ.
14.1.1.John writes of Jesus Christ as being ‘the faithful
witness.’
14.1.1.1.We know that Jesus Christ on earth was 100% faithful
to God as a ‘witness’ in telling His disciples all of the things that
the Lord had shown Him.
14.1.1.2.John records in his gospel Jesus saying that He is
just bearing witness to the things that the Father had shown Him (See John
3:11,32; 8:14-16; 18:37 for example), and that He did nothing on His own
initiative.
14.1.1.3.When on trial before Herod, Jesus said of Himself, “I
came to bear witness to the truth”:
John 18:37, “Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have
been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth.
Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.””
14.1.2.John writes in this verse of Christ as being ‘the
first-born of the dead’.
14.1.2.1.He was raised from the dead and is written in the
writings of Paul as being the ‘firstborn’ among many brethren since His
resurrection has proceeded theirs. All
Christians will share in that same resurrection body which Christ currently has
as John writes in his epistle, 1 John
3:2, “2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet
what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because
we shall see Him just as He is”.
14.1.3.John writes here of Christ being ‘ruler of the
kings of the earth’.
14.1.3.1.In the book of Revelation we see Jesus as King of
kings, or the Sovereign who is above and over all rule in the universe. In the Millennial Reign of His upon the earth
after His second coming, we shall see this carried out on the earth.
14.1.4.John writes about the work that Christ has completed
upon the cross for the Christian in this verse:
‘To Him who loves us, and released us from our sins by His blood’.
14.1.4.1.Christ’s love for mankind is seen in the cross and how
that He shed His blood so that men and women now may come to know forgiveness
for all of their sins.
14.1.4.2.Have you been released from your sins by His
blood? If not, now is the time to come
to salvation through Christ, for the Lord is near at hand and His return is
imminent. He will come as a thief in the
night, so you must be prepared at every moment lest He come at a time when you
do not expect.
15.
VS 1:6 - “6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to
His God and Father; to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever.
Amen.” –
John tells us that the Lord has made His people to be ‘a kingdom of priests to
His God and Father’
15.1. In this verse, John speaks of what Jesus’ intentions
for man in the future entail: ‘He has
made us to be a kingdom.’
15.1.1.The book of Revelation shows the risen and exalted
Christ finally conquering and subduing the nations and establishing His ‘kingdom’.
15.1.2.Jesus will set up His ‘kingdom’ upon the earth,
and His people will come to reign with Him as kings (2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 20:6).
15.2. Further, John writes that the function for His people
within the kingdom which Christ shall establish is that we shall be, ‘priests
to His God and Father.’
15.2.1.The Bible teaches clearly the priesthood of every
believer (see 1 Peter 2:5 for instance).
15.2.2.Today the believer can pray and intercede to God for
others, and lead them to faith in Christ.
15.2.3.In the
15.3. Finally, in this verse John writes ‘to Him be the
glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen’ signifying that when Christ
returns it is to establish His eternal dominion over the earth, and forever
Christ shall receive all ‘glory’.
16.
VS 1:7 - “7 Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every
eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth
will mourn over Him. Even so. Amen.” - John tells
that when Jesus comes again that it will be with the clouds and that every eye
will see Him
16.1. There are two ways of interpreting this phrase ‘Behold,
He is coming with the clouds’.
16.1.1.Some believe that this is a reference to His coming
upon the clouds of the sky (I believe this is correct).
16.1.1.1.We read in Acts chapter 1 of Jesus’ ascension up into
heaven in a cloud after the 40 days which He spent upon the earth after His
resurrection and that the angels told those who were watching that in the same
way He would return to the earth.
16.1.2.Paul wrote about this event in 1 Thessalonians
4:13-17, “13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about
those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no
hope. 14 For if we believe that
Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have
fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by
the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the
Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with
a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God,
and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up
together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall
always be with the Lord.”
16.1.3.However, others believe that this phrase is a
reference to the multitudes of believers who will accompany Him upon His return
to the earth, with the ‘clouds’ being symbolic of multitudes of people.
16.1.3.1.We see multitudes of people sometimes in the
scriptures as being symbolized by ‘clouds’. This interpretation is probably derived from
where it says in the book of Hebrews that we Christians are surrounded by a
great “cloud of witnesses”.
16.2. Whether or not the first or the second explanation is
correct, none-the-less we have to see that it is not the “Rapture of the
church” which is being taught in this phrase.
16.2.1.The “rapture” event is not mentioned in the
book of Revelation.
16.2.2.The “Rapture” will occur in the twinkling of an
eye (quickly) and the world at large will be unaware of its occurring. However, this event is His “Second Coming”
which will occur at the end of the seven year Tribulation, and every eye upon
the face of the earth will see it, and all will mourn over Jesus.
16.3. In the book of Revelation, we do not see the church on
earth even mentioned after chapter 4 when all of the events of the 7 Year
Tribulation begin to unfold. This is
because Christ will first return for His church in the “Rapture.” After
the “rapture” the church will celebrate the Marriage Supper of the Lamb
as well as go through the “Bema Seat” Judgment of Rewards for
believers. They will then return with
Christ at His Second Coming (chapter 19).
16.3.1.However, after the seven years of the Great
Tribulation the “Second Coming” of Christ for judgment of the nations
and unbelievers will occur. Jesus will
return to earth right into the Battle of Armageddon, bringing with Him the
multitude of those who are His people.
16.3.2.The Second Coming of Christ is the event that is
mentioned in this verse.
16.4. This phrase ‘every eye will see Him, even those who
pierced Him’ is both interesting and problematic however.
16.4.1.When Christ returns at the end of the Great
Tribulation, every single person on the face of the earth will see Him,
especially the Jewish nation which will repent when they see the one whom they
pierced.
16.4.2.Does this verse imply that even those who had Jesus
crucified as well as all of those who are not God’s people and have died and
are in Hades will see from Hades Jesus Second Coming to the earth at the end of
the 7 Year Tribulation?
16.4.2.1.We do know that all unbelievers will be resurrected to
appear bodily before the Great White Throne judgment of condemnation mentioned
in Rev. chapter 20 at the conclusion of the Millennial Reign of Christ.
16.4.2.2.If we don’t take the literal view to understand this
phrase, the verse could just be referencing the Jewish nation as a whole who
will see Him when He returns, along with all of the rest living in the world
who have survived the 7 Year Tribulation.
16.5. Zechariah wrote about the Israelites mourning over
Christ when He returns in Zech.
12:10-14, “10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants
of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look
on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an
only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him, like the bitter weeping over a
first-born. 11 “In that day there will be great mourning in
16.6. John further shows what this “Second Coming” of
Christ will entail when he writes that ‘all the tribes of the earth will
mourn over Him’. Every single people
group which is upon the earth shall ‘mourn’ over their spiritual
blindness in not accepting Christ as their personal Lord and Savior before His
coming to earth for judgment. This will
occur for all those who survive the Great Tribulation.
16.6.1.Why wait to mourn when it is too late to repent? It is better to believe on Jesus for
salvation today than to wait. It will
never be easier than it is today to receive Christ, and for this reason the
scriptures say that, “Today is the day of salvation”.
16.7. John is not found in disagreement with God about His
performing judgment of evil upon the earth for he writes ‘Even so Amen’.
16.7.1.Every government upon the face of the earth must have
a justice system in which evil-doers are brought to justice, and this is so
with God’s kingdom which Christ is coming to establish upon the earth.
16.7.2.He will first bring judgment of evil-doers and fallen
angels before He sets up His throne to rule the nations.
16.7.3.This seems right to John.
17.
VS 1:8
- “8 “I
am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to
come, the Almighty.”” - The
Lord Jesus declares that He is the ‘alpha’ and the ‘omega’ who is and who was
and who is to come
17.1. We know that these words are spoken by Jesus of
Himself first of all because this revelation comes from Jesus, but also because
these same words are spoken of about Jesus in other parts of the scripture.
17.1.1.We see these words spoken of about Jesus in Rev. 21:6 for instance, “6 And He said to me, “It is done. I am
the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who
thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.”
17.2. The ‘alpha’ is the first letter of the Greek
alphabet, and the ‘omega’ is the last letter of the Greek alphabet. When Christ says of Himself that He is the ‘alpha
and the omega’, He is asserting that He is the Almighty God whose wisdom
and glory exceeds every other being which He has created.
17.3. He is before all, for from Him all things have come,
and He is the ultimate end or consummation for all that has been created.
17.4. He always has been, He is the great “I am” who
lives now, and He is the One who shall forever be.