Chapter 1
-The revelation (the unveiling,
the prophecy) of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him, in order to show His
servants the things that are and are to come (Revelation 1:1). The Lord choose
John, who was banished on the Isle of Patmos (a 24 square mile Aegean Island
where Rome banished exile political criminals, it is 40 miles off the coast of
Asia Minor, tradition states that John was allowed some freedoms there and
probably lived in caves, he would have been an aged man at this point) on
account of the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus, to proclaim this message
of apocalyptic proportions. “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of
this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in
it, for the time is near (Revelation 1:3).”
-John begins with addressing the
seven churches that are in Asia with grace and peace from God who is and who
was and who is to come and from the seven spirits who are before His throne and
from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first born of the dead, and the
ruler of kings on earth (Revelation 1:4-5). This Christ is said to love us and
has freed us from our sins by His blood making us a Kingdom and priests to His
God and Father. To Him be glory and dominion forever (Revelation 1:5b-6). This
One is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who
pierced Him, and all the tribes of the earth will wail an account of Him. He is
the Alpha (beginning) and the Omega (end) and He is Almighty from the past,
present, and future (Revelation 1:7-8). *Application* Just as John takes time
to praise the Lord, we should pause in our busy schedules to often realize what
kind of King we are serving. He is holy, majestic, radiant, and powerful! Give
Him credit and praise as you bow before His awesome authority realizing He has
lifted up His saints to a high position as Kingdom servants and priests
(reconcilers). From the beginning we are to consider the nearness of His coming
and be ready for it.
-John claims his partnership, as a
Christian brother, in the tribulation and the Kingdom and the patient endurance
that are IN Jesus (Revelation 1:9). He was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day
(Sunday) and perceived the presence of the Lord in a powerful way (Revelation
1:10-16). He was given instructions to write what he saw in a book and send the
message to the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis,
Philadelphia, and Laodicea (Revelation 1:11). The descriptions of the Lord
represent His wisdom (white hair), His omniscience (all knowing eyes as flames
of fire), His power (bronze feet), His authority (voice of the roar of many
waters), His might (control of the seven stars), His judgments (double-edged
sword that searches hearts and judges rebels, Isaiah 49:2, Ephesians 6:17, Hebrews
4:12, Revelation 19:15), and His glory (face that shined like the sun in full
strength). This powerful scene made John fall at His feet as though dead, but
the Lord raised him and assured him not to fear. The Lord identified Himself as
the first and the last, the living One who died and rose again with life
forevermore, and that He had the keys of Death and Hades (Revelation 1:17-18).
John is told to write what he had seen of the things that are and are to come.
He is told the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven
lampstands are the seven churches (Revelation 1:19-20). *Application* This type
of encounter with God is something we should crave like the air we breathe. It
may freak us out to think about being in the Lord’s presence to this degree,
but we must remember that the Lord is always assuring when we are in His
presence. He is the great Comforter and wants us to draw close in every way
(James 4:8). He is still capable of showing us great and mighty things that
line up with His Word in incredible power. Seek to pray in the Holy Spirit (Ephesians
6:18, Philippians 3:3, Jude 1:20, Revelation 1:10)!
Verse to Memorize:
Revelation 1:3
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