* 1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, Isaiah 42:1 Behold my servant whom Ephesians 3:3&5 How that by revel- The Author: Jesus Christ, Your comments go here! * which God gave unto him, to show I uphold; mine elect, in whom my ation he made known unto me the "the faithful witness", * unto his servants things which must soul delighteth; I have put my mystery,... "the first begotten of the dead", * shortly come to pass; and he sent Spirit upon him: he shall bring Which in other ages was not "the prince of the kings of the * and signified it by his angel unto forth judgement to the Gentiles. made known unto the sons of earth", * his servant John: Psalms 90:4 For a thousand years men, as it is now revealed "him that loved us, and washed us * in thy sight are but as yester- unto his holy apostles and from our sins in his own blood,", * day when it is past and as a prophets by the Spirit; "hath made us kings and priests, * 2 Who bare record of the word of watch in the night. I John 1:3 That which we have seen unto God and his Father", * God, and of the testimony of Jesus Genesis 22:11 And the angel of the and heard declare we unto you, "he cometh with clouds; and every * Christ, and of all things that he Lord called unto him out of that ye also may have fellow- eye shall see him, and they also * saw. heaven, and said, Abraham, ship with us: and truly our which pierced him:, * Abraham: and he said, Here am I. fellowship is with the Father, "and all kindreds of the earth * and with his Son Jesus Christ. shall wail because of him.", * 3 Blessed is he that readeth, and Deuteronomy 11:27 A blessing, if Luke 11:28 But he said, Yea, "Alpha and Omega, the beginning * they that hear the words of this ye obey the commandments of the rather, blessed are they that and the ending," * prophecy, and keep those things Lord your God, which I command hear the word of God, and keep "which is, and which was, and * which are written therein: for the you this day: it. which is to come", * time is at hand. Psalms 12:6 The words of the Lord I Corinthians 16:19 The churches "the Almighty", * are pure words: as silver tried of Asia salute you. "Alpha and Omega, the first and * 4 John to the seven churches which in a furnace of earth, purified Hebrews 2:17 Wherefore in all things the last", * are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and seven times. it behooved him to be made like "one like unto the Son of man" * peace, from him which is, and which Isaiah 11:2 And the spirit of the unto his brethren, that he might "His head and his hairs were * was, and which is to come; and from Lord shall rest upon him, the be a merciful and faithful high white like wool, as white as * the seven Spirits which are before spirit of wisdom and understand- priest in things pertaining to snow", * his throne; ing, the spirit of counsel and God, to make reconciliation for "his eyes were as a flame of * might, the spirit of knowledge the sins of the people. fire", * and of the fear of the Lord; Matthew 25:31 When the Son of man "his feet like into fine brass", * Psalms 103:19-20 The Lord hath pre- shall come in his glory, and all "his voice as the sound of many * pared his throne in the heavens; the holy angels with him, then waters", * and his kingdom ruleth over all. shall he sit upon the throne of "out of his mouth went a sharp * Bless the Lord, ye his angels, his glory: two edged sword", * 5 And from Jesus Christ, who is that excel in strength, that do "his countenance was as the sun * the faithful witness, and the his commandments, hearkening unto Colossians 1:18 And he is the head shineth in his strength", * first-begotten of the dead, and the the voice of his word. of the body, the church: who is "he that liveth, and was dead; * prince of the kings of the earth. Daniel 9:25-26 Know therefore and the beginning, the firstborn and am alive for evermore", and * Unto him that loved us, and washed understand, that from the going from the dead; that in all "have the keys of hell and of * us from our sins in his own blood, forth of the commandment to things he might have the pre- death". * 6 And hath made us kings and restore and to build Jerusalem, eminence. This introductory chapter * priests unto God and his Father; to unto the Messiah the Prince shall II Timothy 2:12 If we suffer, we presents a very impressive list * him be glory and dominion for ever be seven weeks, and threescore shall also reign with him, if we of characteristics and credent- * and ever. Amen. and two weeks: the street shall deny him, he also will deny us: ials of the author in an attempt * be built again, and the wall, I Timothy 6:15-16 ..the King of to minimize any confusion to man. * even in troubled times. kings, and Lord of lords, The purpose of this book is * And after threescore and two Who only hath immortality, primarily to state the role of * weeks shall Messiah be cut off, dwelling in the light which no Christ and the church in the * but not for himself: man can approach unto; whom no prophecies told to the prophets * man hath seen, nor can see: to of earlier times. A story of * whom be honour and power ever- the judgments and victory to * lasting. Amen come that the prophets have long * 7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; Exodus 16:10 ...behold, the glory Matthew 24:30 And then shall written about. * and every eye shall see him, and of the Lord appeared in the appear the sign of the Son of * they also which pierced him: and cloud. man in heaven: and then shall The Messenger: "an angel of the Lord" * all kindreds of the earth shall Psalms 22:16 ..they pierced my all the tribes of the earth Often the term "angel of the Lord" * wail because of him. Even so, Amen. hands and my feet. mourn, and they shall see the is interpreted to be an appearance * Son of man coming in the clouds of the Messiah to the prophets of * of heaven with power and great old when it appears in the Old Test- * glory. ament. In many cases and especially * 8 I am Alpha and Omega, the begin- Isaiah 41:4 .. I the Lord, the I Timothy 1:17 Now unto the King from verse 22;16 "I Jesus have sent * ning and the ending, saith the first, and the last; I am he. eternal, immortal, invisible, the mine angel to testify unto you" we * Lord, which is, and which was, and only wise God, be honour and understand that the messenger is most * which is to come, the Almighty. glory for ever and ever. Amen. often an angel and not Jesus Himself. * 9 I John, who also am your Romans 8:17 And if children, then But often from the context we concl- * brother, and companion in tribu- heirs; heirs of God, and joint- ude that the vision is of Jesus and * lation, and in the kingdom and heirs with Christ, if so be that the Words are his. For example from * patience of Jesus Christ, was in we suffer with him, that we may verse 17 " I am the First and the * the isle that is called Patmos, be also glorified together. Last", this can be only the Messiah. * for the word of God, and for the I Thessalonians 1:3 ...patience of * testimony of Jesus Christ. hope in our Lord Jesus Christ,... The Scribe: John the apostle, " the * 10 I was in the Spirit on the Ezekiel 2:1-2 And he said unto me, Acts 11:5 I was in the city of beloved apostle", the son of * Lord's day, and heard behind me Son of man, stand upon thy feet, Joppa praying: and in a trance Zebedee and Salome. He along with * a great voice, as of a trumpet. and I will speak unto thee. I saw a vision, his brother James were named the * 11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, And the spirit entered into me Acts 9:3-4 And as he journeyed, he "sons of thunder". He along with * the first and the last: and, What when he spake unto me, came near Damascus: and suddenly Peter and James were in the inner * thou seest, write in a book, and Joel 1:15 Alas for the day! for the there shined round about him a circle that were present with Jesus * send it unto the seven churches day of the Lord is at hand, and light from heaven: at the transfiguration. He was * which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, as a destruction from the Almighty And he fell to the earth, and seated next to the Lord at the * and unto Smyrna, and unto Per- shall it come. heard a voice saying unto him, passover supper and was accorded * gamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Exodus 25:37&39 And thou shalt make the honor of being entrusted with * Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and the seven lamps thereof: and they the care of the earthly mother of * unto Laodicea. shall light the lamps thereof, Jesus. Possibly his mother was the * 12 And I turned to see the voice that they may give light over Hebrews 9:2 For there was a taber- natural sister of Mary the earthly * that spake with me. And being against it. nacle made; the first, wherein mother of Jesus. He was living at * turned, I saw seven golden candle- Ezekiel 1:27-28 And I saw as the was the candlestick, and the Ephesus when exiled to Patmos where * sticks; colour of amber, as the appear- table, and the showbread; which the visions occurred and returned * 13 And in the midst of the seven ance of fire round about within is called the sanctuary. to Ephesus when set free. Trad- * golden candlesticks one like unto it, .. so was the appearance of Matthew 20:28 Even as the Son of ition is that he died a natural * the Son of man, clothed with a the brightness round about. This man came not to be ministered death at Ephesus. * garment down to the foot, and girt was the appearance of the like- unto, but to minister, and to * about the paps with a golden ness of the glory of the Lord. give his life a ransom for many. The Addressee: The Ecclesia (the * girdle. and when I saw it I fell upon my I Timothy 2:5-6 For there is one God, assembly, the congregation, the * 14 His head and his hairs were face,... and one mediator between God and churches), the seven churches of * white like wool, as white as snow; Daniel 7:9 ...and the Ancient of men, the man Christ Jesus; Asia which did not include all * and his eyes were as a flame of Days did sit, whose garment was Who gave himself a ransom for of the churches of Asia at that * fire; white as snow, and the hair of all, to be testified in due time. time or even the largest of the * 15 And his feet like unto fine his head like the pure wool: churches. * brass, as if they burned in a fur- Ezekiel 1:24 ..noise of great waters, * nace; and his voice as the sound as the voice of the Almighty,... The Outline: The author seems to * of many waters. Daniel 10:5 Then I lifted up mine outline the book when he states * eyes, and looked, and behold a "the things which thou hast seen, * certain man clothed in linen, and the things which are, and the * whose loins were girded with fine things which shall be hereafter", * gold...and his face as the appea- since the book concerns the past, * rance of lightning, and his eyes the present, and the future. As * as lamps of fire, and his arms shown from the references given * and his feet like in colour to from other sections of the Word, * polished brass, and the voice of the majority of the visions and * his words like the voice of a Words have been given to other * multitude. prophets and apostles and often * 16 And he had in his right hand Psalms 149:5-7 Let the saints be Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God in slightly different formats. * seven stars: and out of his mouth joyful in glory: let them sing is quick, and powerful, and However, the words and descrip- * went a sharp two-edged sword: and aloud upon their beds. sharper than any two-edged sword, tions of this book give such * his countenance was as the sun Let the high praises of God be piercing even to dividing asunder graphic and picturesque detail * shineth in his strength. in their mouth, and a two-edged of soul and spirit, and of the that such words and concepts * sword in their hand; joints and marrow, and is a as apocalypse and Armageddon have * To execute vengeance upon the discerner of the thoughts and infiltated the language of all * heathen, and punishments upon intents of the heart. the world, be it Christian or * the people; Luke 9:29 And as he prayed, the non-Christian. * Genesis 37:9 ..the eleven stars fashion of his countenance was * made obeisance to me. altered, and his raiment was The Symbology: We are introduced to * Daniel 10:7,12 And I Daniel alone white and glistening. the symbology of the book with * 17 And when I saw him, I fell at saw the vision: for the men that the first vision. Symbols * his feet as dead. And he laid his were with me saw not the vision identical or similar to those * right hand upon me, saying unto but a great quaking fell upon them, found in Ezekiel, Daniel, and * me, Fear not; I am the first and Then said he unto me, Fear not Zechariah. Christ in his prie- * the last: Daniel: .... stly apparel is seen amongst * 18 I am he that liveth, and was Psalms 68:20 He that is our God Romans 6:9-10 Knowing that Christ symbolic "lampstands" and with * dead; and, behold, I am alive for is the God of salvation; and unto being raised from the dead dieth symbolic "stars" in his right hand. * evermore, Amen; and have the keys God the Lord belong the issues no more; death hath no more His appearance with fire in his * of hell and of death. from death. dominion over him. eyes and feet of brass is symbolic * Isaiah 44:6 ...the Lord of Hosts; For in that he died, he died of judgment. Fortunately for us * I am the first, and I am the last; unto sin once: but in that he the last verse explains the * and besides me there is no God. liveth, he liveth unto God. meaning of the lampstands and * 19 Write the things which thou Zechariah 4:2 What seest thou? Matthew 5:15-17 Neither do men the stars. As we go through the * hast seen, and the things which And I said, I have looked, and light a candle, and put it under book we will not be so fortunate * are, and the things which shall be behold a candlestick all of gold, a bushel, but on a candlestick; with the many symbols that follow. * hereafter; with a bowl upon top of it, and it giveth light unto all that are We will then look to the writings * 20 The mystery of the seven stars his seven lamps thereon, and in the house. of the other prophets for possible * which thou sawest in my right hand, seven pipes to the seven lamps, Let your light so shine before intrepretations and also to areas * and the seven golden candlesticks. which are upon the top thereof: men, that they may see your good of the Bible that are not necess- * The seven stars are the angels of Psalms 118:16 The right hand of works, and glorify your Father arily considered to be prophetic * the seven churches: and the seven the Lord is exhaulted: the right which is in heaven. but do give us clues as to the * candlesticks which thou sawest are hand of the Lord doeth valiantly. Think not that I am come to meanings of symbols. * the seven churches. destroy the law, or the prophets: * I am not come to destroy, but to The Blessing: Verse three informs * fulfil. us that we can expect a blessing * Philipians 2:15-16 ...in the midst if we will read, understand, and * of a crooked and perverse nation, observe the contents. We must * among whom ye shine as lights in then often revisit these writings * the world; and pray for guidance and under- * Holding forth the world of life; standing as we study them. This * that I may rejoice in the day of is the first of seven blessings * Christ, that I have not run in found in the book (see also * vain, neither laboured in vain. verses 14:13, 16:15, 19:9, 20:6 * 22:7 and 22:14 ). * * Seven: Seven Spirits, seven stars, seven candlesticks, seven 1:1 "things which must shortly come to pass" * angels and seven churches, there can be no doubt that the 1:3 "for the time is at hand" * number seven plays a big part in the symbology of this 3:11,22:7,22:12,22:20 "I come quickly" * book. Seven seems to indicate a totality or completeness. Many have had problems with the fact that many years have passed * We thereby conclude that when the number seven is used we since John put the Words down and most of the events seem to * are provided with a complete and final story with no part have not happened in a short time. While some scholars believe * left unsaid. We then take the examples of the seven many of the described events happened early in church history. * churches that we will study to cover the totality of the ( As examples, the early church was very heavily persecuted, * conditions that the Church of Christ will experience. also false prophets and false practices borrowed from the pagans * Seven appears fifty four times in the book. intruded, and many early writers called Emperor Nero " the beast") * Few scholars would claim that the end time events have happened * in which satan is bound and the faithful are resurrected to reign * Seven Spirits: We know little of the full significance with Christ for a thousand years. Or who would claim to have * of the seven Spirits before the throne. Possibly Isaiah seen the new heavens, new earth and new Jerusalem appear as * had given us a clue as he named the spirits which would described. However, if we consider the passage of II Peter 3:8 * rest upon the Savior; "That one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand * The spirit of the Lord years as one day." we have a better understanding of the timeless * The spirit of wisdom nature of the Lord. Many would prefer to infer that God has * The spirit of understanding no set time table, but instead his actions are triggered by * The spirit of counsel certain acts or conditions that occur on this earth. The theme * The spirit of might would seem to be that once the events begin they will happen * The spirit of knowledge quickly and very much as a surprise to those who are not watching * The spirit of fear of the Lord for the key events or who have no understanding of the message. * * Seven stars: Seven stars equals seven angels or mess- 1:7 "every eye shall see him" * engers to the seven churches, probably the pastors. Stars Many have said that this is physically impossible and could happen * can be used as symbolic of heavenly angels. But in this only in spiritual terms. But with the inventions of television * case reference to earthly messengers is more likely since and satellite transmission, we now know that this is also physically * chapter two starts with "Unto the angel of the church of possible as the Lord so desires. * Ephesus write;" and it seems unnecessary to send earthly * writings to heavenly angels. 1:10 " I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day," * It is most likely that the phrase "on the Lord's day" refers to the * Seven candlesticks: (lampstands) Represent seven churches. "day of the Lord" or the time of final judgment as found in the * Obviously the seven churches do not include the totality writings of Isaiah, Joel, Amos, Zephaniah, Zechariah, Malachi and * of existing churches or even all the churches in the area. also I Thessalonians 5:2 and II Peter 3:10. Many interpret this to * Instead the seven churches generally represent the seven be on the day of worship or Sunday as the term is more often used * conditions that will be prevalent in the growth and life of in modern english. But no where else in the Bible is such a * the church on earth. A close study of all the churches reference found. * present today and each could be classified into one of * these categories as presented in the following chapters. The Scriptures begin with the "Genesis" in which we are given * Symbolically a lamp (candle) sheds light, the light of the a much too brief account of the beginning for us of a curious nature. * Word. Golden because the churches and their leaders are Mankind spends billions of dollars in an attempt to understand the * precious, even with their faults. full nature of the beginning and mostly he seems to uncover many more * questions than answers. He digs holes all over the earth looking for * Matters of contention: Not all scholars have been willing to accept the ancient relics that will help him better understand how life came to * Revelation as rightfully belonging to the works of the Scripture. this earth. He desires to better understand the nature of man and how * A number of early compilations at times omitted it as well as life on this earth can be so full of the failings of mankind with its * others of the last ten Books of the New Testament except for many wars and atrocities. It is only in the book of the Revelation * I Peter. Scholars have argued that the style of the Book is that we find the conclusion and the final victory. Only here are we * sufficiently different from that of the Gospel of John so as to given an insight to the final atrocities and the final victory over * cause doubt that it was written by the Apostle John and instead the "sin" nature of man and the coming of true peace and victory * it should be attributed to another early believer with the name through the LORD JESUS CHRIST. The Scriptures would be very incomplete * of John. Today these doubting scholars are far in the minority without this Revelation of the termination of sin and the final * and the Book is almost universally accepted. victory. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *