Revelation 1

1. Intro: In Revelation we get a chance to see how everything ends. It is the climax to the whole story as to why. How does it all end? This book has to be one of the best known and misquoted books out of the Bible. Both unbelievers and followers of other religions are aware of the type of content in the book of Revelation. It was written by John and is a book that may seem scary with vivid images of creatures that are literally unexplainable to our imaginations, but in reality it is a book of hope and really of victory in a time when hope was needed for the Christian and non Christian alike. It was written near the end of John's life probably around 96 A.D.

1. Title and Salutation 1:1-8

1. Vs. 1-3

2. Revelation holds it's own beatitudes. Oddly enough there are seven of them.

1. 1. 1. Revelation 1:3

2. Revelation 14:3- Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.

3. Revelation 16:15- Blessed is he who watches and keeps his garments, lest he walks naked and they see his shame.

4. Revelation 19:9- Blessed is He who is called to the marriage supper of the Lamb.

5. Revelation 20:6- Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

6. Revelation 22:7- Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.

7. Revelation 22:14- 14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

2. This is the Key verse:

3. What is this blessing?

1. First century Palestine was still an oral culture, so many of the people were illiterate and received instruction by having it read to them.

2. It is important to understand that Revelation not only pronounces judgement on the faithless, but also blessing to those who are faithful.

3. I think part of the blessing is also that sense Revelation quotes the Old Testament more than any other New Testament Book, reading it will help you experience more of God's word.

4. Reads, Hears and keeps...

1. This is the key because if we can read it we should, if we can't read but only hear, then do that and once we do both of the things there we need to keep the things written in it.

2. Vs. 4-8 Greeting the Seven Churches

1. John greets the seven churches.

1. We can look at this a couple of different ways.

1. The literal seven churches in Asia at that time.

2. The church throughout the ages from the time of this writing all the way up through present day.

3. Another way that this is taken is that the significance is placed on the number seven. In scripture we see the number seven representing completeness. So this represents truths for the complete church of God.

4. A fourth way that the churches are viewed here is within each person as a personal message as they are part of the church.

2. Vs. 4. Who are the seven spirits that this message is coming from?

1. Holy Spirit. Isaiah 11:2

1. The Spirit of the Lord

2. the Spirit of wisdom

3. Spirit of Understanding

4. Spirit of Counsel

5. Spirit of Might

6. Spirit of Knowledge

7. Spirit of the Fear of the Lord

3. Vs. 5 The Faithful Witness-

1. Isaiah 55:4 Indeed I have given him as fa witness to the people, gA leader and commander for the people.

4. Vs. 5 The Firstborn...

1. Psalm 89:27 Also I will make him vMy firstborn,wThe highest of the kings of the earth.

5. Vs. 8. I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Jesus is referring to His eternal nature.

1. Isaiah 41:4 eWho has performed and done it, Calling the generations from the beginning? ‘I, the LORD, am fthe first; And with the last I am gHe.’ ”

3. Vision of Christ in Judicial Robes

1. Vs. 4-8 Greeting the Seven Churches

2. Key Verses: 4-5

1. Seven Churches which are in Asia

1. This is the complete church.

2. From Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

1. This message is from God to His people.

3. Firstborn from the dead

1. Not the first to rise from the dead, but the most important to rise from the dead, because His resurrection overcame death for us as well.

4. Ruler over the kings of the earth.

1. John saw Jesus go from suffering servant earlier in His life to ruler of His life and then through this vision the ruler of the world and by the end of the vision the ruler over everything.

4. Vision of Christ in Judicial Robes. 1:9-20

1. Vs. 9- John was in exile here because of his testimony of Jesus.

2. Vs. 10- John states that he was in the spirit. What does this mean?

1. In the New Living Translation it says he was worshipping in the Spirit.

1. Remember John

3. Vs. 11- Paul had his letters to the churches, John had his letters that he wrote to the church. This is Jesus's personal letters to these seven churches.

4. Vs. 12- It seems that John is being visited by Jesus in a vision, but at the same time Jesus is really speaking to Him.

5. Vs. 13- Notice how Jesus is in the midst of candle sticks.

6. This is the same as the vision experienced in Isahai

7. Vs. 14 His hair were white like wool.

1. This is a reference to Daniel 7:9. In that vision Jesus was called the Ancient of Days.

8. Vs. 15 His feet eyes were like a flame of fire.

1. These references match up with Daniel 10:6.

9. Vs. 16- Out of His mouth went a sharp two edged sword. This goes with the Isaiah 49:2 Prophecy.

10. Vs. 16. Do you remember the Mount of Transfiguration? Matthew 17:2. There you got a discription of Jesus's heavenly body.

11. Vs. 17-18 Jesus uses this saying again to describe/identify who He is exactly so there are no mistakes about it.

1. JW's will say this is the title for Jehova, not Jesus until you ask them when Jehova died.

12. Vs. 19. This is the natural outline of Revelation.

1. Things which he has seen.

1. Chapter 1

2. Things which are:

1. Chapter 2-3 the church age.

3. The things which are yet to take place. Chapters 4-22

13. The seven stars and the seven lampstands mystery is revealed.

1. Seven stars are the angels of the seven churches.

1. Could very well mean the pastors as angel does mean messenger in the Greek.

2. The seven lampstands are the seven churches.

14. Key Verse: 13-20

1. Jesus is in the midst of the churches. He holds them in His hands.

1. Just like Jesus was in the midst of the churches then He is with us now. He knew what all their struggles were and what was going on in their lives. He knows that in our lives as well, and because He knows that He knows best how to instruct us to the other side of whatever it is that we are going through. We can get a lot of advice from everyone out there, but it is important that we get directions from Jesus.

5. Conclusion: This is a message of hope. As christians we have gotten to know Jesus as a suffering servant for our sins. Like John this is our chance to see Jesus as a ruling king and standing for His kingdom. He is ever present with us.