Verses 1-3 Introduction
Verses 4-11 Salutation and Occasion
Verses 12-18 Vision of the Risen Christ
Verse 19 Outline of the Book of Revelation
Verse 20 Preparation for Chapters 2 & 3
Its title is singular, not plural – it is a singular revelation
The Greek name is apokalupsis which means to reveal, unveil or uncover
Apocalypse (noun) (19 times in scripture) means unveiling or uncovering
Apocalypsis (verb) (26 times in scripture) means to reveal, unveil or uncover
The Catastrophic end-crisis of the present age
The Spectacular reappearance of the King of Kings in His global empire
The Internment of Satan in the Abousso
The Millennial Earth-Reign of Christ
The Final Insurrection and the Abolition of Sin
The New Heaven and New Earth
God is the Revealer
Yeshua is the receiver of God the Father’s Revelation
There is an Implication of the Father revealing to the Son things previously hidden, even to Him – see Matthew 24: 36
The book’s Author is Jesus through John (the disciple) via His Angel
By His angel – the Revelation: Father—Son—Angel—John
Signified it – that is, rendered into signs
The signs are explained either in Revelation itself or in the Old Testament
“Things which must shortly take place”
Shortly – they will happen quickly when they come…suddenly
It is John the disciple
John – who bore witness to the Word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ
It is he who testified in his gospel of Yeshua and His words
Witness to things he saw
Saw…visual images…John was there…not a dream
John was transported, in the Spirit, to the end times
John also wrote John’s Gospel and 3 Hebrew Epistles
John was born in Bethsaida – a Galilean fisherman
An early disciple – first of John the Baptist, then of Yeshua
A Beloved disciple – see John 13: 23-25
Daniel, who was also ‘greatly beloved’, also received significant end-time revelation – see Daniel 9: 23-27, 10: 18-19
His mother (Salome) was a prime supporter of Jesus
He was well connected (High Priest, Nicodemus) – see John 18: 15-16
Thought to be deep…not soft – a Son of Thunder
One of Jesus’ inner-circle of disciples (Peter, James & John)
Jesus gave His mother into John’s care – see John 19: 25-27
Released from Patmos 96AD (Domitian died) and retired to Ephesus
Patmos is 24 miles offshore from Miletus in the Aegean Sea
It was a penal colony to which John was exiled by Domitian (81AD-96AD)
Revelation was written either on Patmos 95AD or in Ephesus soon after John’s release
Revelation is the only book to say ‘read me, I’m special’
Verse 3 pronounces a blessing on its readers (and hearers…and those who keep the words of the prophecy)
Blessing for reading…hearing…keeping
Watch out for the ‘threes’ in this chapter –usually three tenses or aspects
This blessing is one of Seven Beatitudes (blessings) in Revelation
It is repeated in Revelation 22: 7 with the focus on ‘keeping’
Note the word ‘prophecy’ – the book claims to be (and is) prophecy, not allegory
The time is at hand, repeated in Revelation 22: 7 and 22: 10
Time refers to epochs, eras, or seasons – the next great epoch of God’s redemptive history is imminent
Although Christ’s coming is the next event, it may be delayed so long that people begin to question whether He will ever come (see Matthew 24: 36-39; 2 Peter 3: 3-4)
To the 7 Churches in Asia
Asia – the Roman Province of what is now Western Turkey
There were more than 7 in Asia…but it is to these churches that chapters 2 & 3 are addressed
A Greeting of Blessing – John shows the Lord God’s (and his) heart for the churches
Grace and Peace (Greek: charis and eirēnē) both embodied in the Hebrew word shalom
Not just salutations but biblical statements – this is an apostolic benediction
From Him who is and who was and who is to come (3 tenses) – The Father God; and from the Seven Spirits before the Throne (see Isaiah 11: 2) – The Holy Spirit; and from Jesus Christ, named specifically…it is His revelation
The descriptive names of Christ in Ch1 will be used in the letters in Chs 2 & 3
Faithful Witness (First Earthly Ministry) – Yeshua often said “I tell you the truth” – See Matthew 11: 11, 13: 17, 17: 20, 18: 13, 24: 2, 26: 21
Yeshua is ‘the truth’ – John 14: 6 – He is a completely trustworthy and perfectly accurate witness to the truth of God
A title used in the letter to Laodicea (Revelation 3: 14)
First Born from the Dead (Firstfruits) – see Colossians 1: 15-18
It emphasises Yeshua, Jesus, as the one who rose from the dead – He is the ‘resurrection and the life’ (John 11: 25-26) – and because He lives, we to shall live (John 14: 19)
Similar to a title used in the letter to Smyrna (Revelation 2: 8)
Prince of the Kings of the Earth (Now and at His Second Coming) – see Matthew 28: 18; Ephesians 1: 21
The key of David refers back to Isaiah 22: 15-25 and is a messianic term indicating authority – see Isaiah 9: 6-7; Luke 1: 32-33; Matthew 28: 18; and Revelation 1: 18
Implied in a title used in the letter to Philadelphia (Revelation 3: 7)
Note the 3 titles – these also represent 3 tenses.
John Responds with a Doxology (a short hymn of praise)
To Him That: Loved us, Washed us from our Sins in His own Blood, and Made us Kings and Priests unto God
Again: 3 tenses (Past – Loved; Present – Washed; and Future – Made Kings & Priests)
To Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Loved Us – many versions translate this in the present continuous sense – it is an ongoing continual love – see John 13: 1 and 34; Romans 8: 35-39
Washed Us – many versions translate this in the present continuous sense – it is a washing both complete (at our rebirth) and continuous – see Ephesians 1: 7 and 2: 13; 1 John 1: 7
“To Him loving us and washing us from our sins by His blood,” Rev. 1: 5b (LITV)
Made us Kings and Priests – only true of Melchizedek (Genesis 14: 18-20), Yeshua (Psalm 110: 4: Hebrews 6: 20) and Believers (Rev. 1: 6 and 5: 8-10)
In Jewish ancestry – the Kingly line was thought the tribe of Judah and the Priestly line was through the tribe of Levi – the two lines were separate
Some translations render this as “a kingdom and priests.” – e.g.: “who has caused us to be a kingdom, that is, cohanim for God, his Father” (CJB)
All who believe live in the sphere of God’s rule, a kingdom entered by faith in Jesus Christ; and as priests, believers have the right to enter God’s presence and can do so with boldness (Hebrews 10: 19-22)
Behold, He is coming – the theme of the book…there is a link here to the closing of the book (see Revelation 22: 20)
His coming is certain to happen
With clouds (see Daniel 7: 13) …every eye will see Him…even they that pierced Him (see Zechariah 12: 10-11)
This echoes Yeshua’s prophetic words about His coming at the end of the Tribulation (see Matthew 24: 29-30, 25: 31)
The gospels contain 8 ‘I Am’ statements by Yeshua
This statement by Yeshua to the Pharisees is a reference back to the declared name of God to Moses from amidst the burning bush ‘I AM THAT I AM’ (Exodus 3: 14)
Here, in the Book of Revelation, is the supreme ‘I Am’ statement by the Lord.
Alpha & Omega – from the Greek alphabet, the first and last letters…His excellence exhausts the vocabulary
Repeated in Revelation 22: 13
Beginning and the End – He spans time and eternity (Isaiah 41: 4)
Repeated in Revelation 22: 13
Who is, who was and who is to come – 3 tenses of Yeshua (see Isaiah 9: 6)
He spans time and eternity: He is the source and goal of creation and it is He who began and will end the divine program in the world (see Colossians 1: 15-18)
The Almighty – Greek: pantokratōr, meaning the all ruling one – that is, God as absolute and universal sovereign
He is El Shaddai; Almighty and Omnipotent, eternal and unchangeable.
John describes himself as a brother (of those in the churches)
The Father, through His Son, has made us brothers and sisters (Romans 8: 29)
John describes himself as a companion (walking the same road)
In the tribulation – persecution for their faith
In the kingdom – membership of the redeemed community over which Yeshua is Lord and King
In patience – twofold; (i) eager anticipation of the glory of His coming millennial reign on earth; and (ii) endurance and perseverance in spite of difficult times
For the Word of God – hold fast to the truth
For His testimony to Jesus…his witness (martyria)
Patmos: located in the Aegean Sea off the coast of Asia Minor (modern Turkey) and part of a group of about fifty islands, Patmos is a barren, rocky, crescent-shaped island that is about ten miles long and less than six miles wide at its widest point. It served as a Roman penal colony. According to early Christian historian, Eusebius, the emperor Nerva (A.D. 96-98) released John from Patmos.
I was in the Spirit – John was transported by the Spirit
His body may have been on Patmos but John in his spirit was transported
– into the presence of the Lord
– later into the throne room of heaven (Chs 4 & 5)
– and later still through time into the tribulation period and beyond
This was not a dream. John was supernaturally transported out of the material world awake, not sleeping – to an experience beyond the normal senses (similar to Peter in Acts 10: 11)
The Holy Spirit empowered his senses to perceive revelation from God
On the Lord’s Day – commonly in the New Testament this refers to Shabbat or Sunday
It could also be a reference to the Revelation having its focus on ‘The Day of the Lord’, when Yeshua will return to rule and reign
John hears “a Loud Voice, as of a trumpet”
Loud (Greek: megas – from which we get the word megaphone)
Such a voice signifies the solemnity and importance of the announcement
Such loud voices of proclamation and announcement are heard throughout Revelation (1:10, 1:12, 1:15; 3:20; 5:1-2, 5:11-12; 6:6-7, 6:10; 7:2, 7:10; 9:13; 10:3-4, 10:7-8; 11:12; 12:10; 14:2, 14:7, 14:9, 14:13, 14:15; 16:1, 16:17; 18:2, 18:4, 18:22-23; 19:1, 19:5-6, 19:17; and 21:3)
Like a trumpet – announcing…John hears a similar ‘trumpet’ voice in Revelation 4: 1
The Voice comes from ‘Behind’ him – possibly to accustom John to the voice, and to avoid him collapsing in fear and awe immediately (as he does subsequently in verse 17).
The Identity of the Speaker is revealed in His Nature (repeated in Revelation 22:13)
Alpha and Omega- it is Yeshua…as in Revelation 1: 8
First and the Last – Yeshua is the creator, sustainer and culmination of creation (see Colossians 1: 16-17)
Write – Yeshua instructs John to write what he sees (and hears)
In a ‘book’ (Greek: biblion) –this was to be no short memo – rather a long scroll
What you see – John was going to see and hear things for himself, and have conversations with angels and elders – it was not a ‘dream’.
To the 7 Churches – the churches are listed…they are the churches of Chs 2 & 3
These seven churches portray prophetically the churches of the church age chronologically; and the types of churches which will exist
The entire letter is to all the churches…and to us
It is the Lord Jesus Christ…Yeshua
It is a description of Him like no other in scripture
It is the Risen and Glorified Christ
It is Jesus as Judge…cf. Jesus as Saviour
In Luke 4: 16-21 Jesus announces His ministry – it is right at the start of His ministry and announces His coming as Jesus the Saviour
He reads from Isaiah 61 but stops at a comma….in verse 2
The phrases He reads describe His first earthly ministry
The phrases He omits describe the Jesus who is now revealed to John
Seven golden lampstands – explained in v20…the seven churches
The Risen Glorified Yeshua is in the midst of His Church(es)
Note – the impact and importance of looking to Yeshua: ‘Turn your eyes upon Jesus’.
One like the Son of Man
Son of Man – a title of Yeshua used of Himself frequently (especially in Luke)
See, for example; Matthew 8: 20, 18: 11; Mark 8: 31; Luke 6: 5, 12: 8, 22: 69; John 3: 14
A title used of Yeshua in Daniel’s vision of the end times (Daniel 7: 9-14).
Clothed…a garment down to the feet…a golden band about the chest (v.13)
Similar to Daniels vision (Daniel 10: 5) and to the Angels with the Bowls (Revelation 15: 6)
Garment down to the feet – a priestly robe
Most occurrences of this word in the Septuagint, the Greek OT, refer to the garment of the high priest
Golden band about His chest – like Aaron’s breastplate (Exodus 28: 15-30)
The golden sash across His chest completes the picture of Christ serving in His priestly role
Head and hair white – like wool/snow…indicating purity and holiness (v.14)
This is not a ‘flat’ white but a glowing white of shekinah (meaning abiding or dwelling) glory of God’s presence (see Exodus 24: 16-18; Leviticus 16: 2; Numbers 7: 89)
The same glory as was seen by Peter, James and John at Christ’s transfiguration (see Matthew 17: 2; Mark 9; 2-2; Luke 9: 29)
Similar to the Ancient of Days seen by Daniel (Daniel 7: 9)
Eyes like a flame of fire (v.14)
Piercing eyes indicate perfect knowledge (Hebrews 4: 13)
Fire indicates purification and righteousness (Malachi 3: 2)
The eyes of the exalted Lord look with a penetrating gaze into the depths of His church and all mankind (Revelation 19: 12) – indicating that all will be revealed and sin will be exposed and judged
Feet like fine brass – as if refined in a furnace (v.15)
Brass indicates an offering for sin…as on the brazen altar
Brass refined in the furnace speaks of the judgement of sin and purification
The allusion here is to the Brazen Serpent (a serpent being a symbol of sin) – yet looking to this serpent brought healing and life (Numbers 21: 4-9)
This peculiar symbol was only explained later by Yeshua in conversation with Nicodemus (John 3: 14-15)
Yeshua exercises chastening authority in His church
His Voice – like the sound of many waters (v.15)
Like the roar and thunder of a ‘Niagara’ (Ezekiel 43: 2); not like Elijah’s still small voice
It is the Voice of Authority (as in Revelation 14: 2)
Psalm 29 tells of the power and authority of ‘the voice of the Lord’
Seven stars in His right hand (v.16)
The seven stars are explained in v 20…the angels of the seven churches
The messengers to the churches are in His right hand – He controls the churches and its leaders through His Word to them
The ‘Right Hand’ is a phrase with Hebraic symbolism
Quiz – Mentions of the Lord’s Right Hand in Scripture, and what they Teach Us:
First Mentions in the Song of Moses:
Strength & Power – Exodus 15: 6 and 12
Anointing – Exodus 29: 20; Leviticus 8: 23
Cleansing –Leviticus 14: 14, 17, 25, 28
Law & Decree – Deuteronomy 33: 2
Strengthening – Psalm 16: 8; 18: 35
Blessing – Psalm 16: 11; 17: 7
Saving Strength – Psalm 20: 6; 60: 4-5; 108: 5-6; 138: 7
Victorious Power – Psalm 44: 3; 78: 54; 98: 1; 118: 15-16
Awesome Reverence – Psalm 45: 3-4
Righteousness – Psalm 48: 10
Sustaining Power – Psalm 63: 8; 139: 9-10; Isaiah 41: 10
Establishing Power – Psalm 80: 14-15
Authority & Decree – Psalm 110: 1-2; Isaiah 62: 8-9; Revelation 5: 1
Creative Power – Isaiah 48: 13
Judgement – Lamentations 2: 3-4; Habakkuk 2: 16
A Place of Honour – Matthew 20: 23; 26: 64
A Place of Blessing – Matthew 25: 33-34
Yeshua’s Place Now – Acts 7: 56-57; Romans 8: 34; Hebrews 1: 3, Hebrews 8: 1, 10: 12-13, 12: 2
A Place of Intercession – Romans 8: 34
A Place of Authority – Ephesians 1: 20-21
Authority over the Church – Revelation 1: 16
Comfort & Assurance – Revelation 1: 17