Feb. 21, 2024
“REVELATION”
CHAPTER 1
Introduction and the Christ of the Church
The book of Revelation makes it clear that Christ and Christians are the ultimate winners in the game of life.
Revelation is a open book in which God reveals His plan and purposes to His church.
Key verse: Revelation 1:19 “Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.”
“What you have seen”
“What is now..”
“What will take place later”
Introduction: Revelation 1:1-8
Revelation 1:1 “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John.”
The subject- vs.1 “The revelation of Jesus Christ…”
“revelation”-an unveiling, to show or expose to view. To uncover, to reveal, to make manifest.
In Revelation 1-3, Christ is seen as the exalted Priest-King ministering to the churches. In Revelation 4-5, He is seen as the glorified Lamb of God, reigning on the throne. In Revelation 6-18, Christ is the Judge of all the earth, and in Revelation 19, He returns to earth as the conquering King of kings, the book closes with the heavenly Bridegroom ushering His bride, the church, into the glorious heavenly city.
Whatever you do as you study this book, get to know Jesus better!
Revelation 1:1-2 “And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, 2who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.”
John the writer of Revelation-was pastor of the church at Ephesus for much of the last half of the first century.
Revelation was written around A.D. 95 near the end of John’s life.
The word “signify” vs.1 means “to show by a sign.”
Revelation is singular not plural, it is the “Revelation” the unveiling or uncovering of Jesus Christ.
*The Readers- Revelation 1:3-4
Revelation 1:3 “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.”
Revelation 1:4 “John, to the seven churches which 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.”
The Seven Spirit refer to the seven-fold work of the Spirit.
Isaiah 11:2 “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.”
*Greeting to the seven churches and to all believers. vs.5-8
*Seven titles given to Jesus Christ: vs.5-6
Revelation 1:5-6 “And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.
To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
- “Faithful witness” (a prophet)
- “First begotten of the dead.” (A priest)
- “The ruler (Prince) of the kings of the earth”
- “To Him who loves us”
- “Washed us from our sins in His own blood”
- “And has made us kings, and priests to His God and Father”
- “To Him be glory and dominion forever and ever”
Revelation 1:7-8 “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. 8“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Acts 1:11 “Who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
vs.8- God is the beginning of all things and also their end.
*What John Heard- Revelation 1:9-11
Revelation 1:9-11 “I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11saying,“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
John’s vision of the post-incarnate Christ- 1:10-18
vs.11-Seven basis divisions of church history:
- Ephesus-Apostolic church (A.D. 30-100)
- Smyrna-Persecuted church (A.D. 100-313)
- Pergamos-State church (A.D. 313-590)
- Thyatira-Papal church (A.D. 590-1517)
- Sardis-Reformed church (A.D. 1517-1790)
- Philadelphia-Missionary church (A.D. 1790-1900)
- Laodicea-Apostate church (A.D. 1900-present)
*What John Saw- Revelation 1:12-16
Revelation 1:12 “Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands”
vs.12 -The “lampstands” are the seven churches, vs.20
Revelation 1:13-16 “And in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 14His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; 16He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.”
Ten Details About Christ:
- Someone “Like the son of man” vs.13
- “Dressed in a robe reaching to His feet” vs.13
- “girded about the chest with a golden band” vs.13
- “His head and hair were white like wool, white as snow…” vs.14
- “His eyes like a flaming fire.” vs.14
- “His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace..” vs.15
- “And His voice as the sound of many waters.” vs.15
- “He had in His right hand seven stars” vs.16
- “out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword…” vs.16
- “and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.” vs.16
*What John Did- Revelation 1:17-18
Revelation 1:17-18 “And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.”
Jesus tells John, “do not be afraid” vs.17-18
- “I am the First and the Last.” vs.17- this speaks of eternity.
- “I am He Who lives…” vs.18- we worship a risen, living Christ.
- “and behold, I am alive forevermore…” vs.18- He is not dying again. He will always be.
- “And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.” vs.18- He has authority and power. Hebrews 2:14-15
Revelation 1:19-20 “Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. 20The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.”
“The things which you have seen-chapter 1
“The things which are- chapter 2-3
“The things which will take place after this-4-22
Live Steaming
Groups
