Revelation 1 - 3
The following is based on an "estudy" of the first three chapters of Revelation. Several brothers shared their thoughts and these thoughts have been included in this section.
Revelation 1:1-8
1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
This is a book of revelation of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we must come to the words in faith and by faith. To take it in an outward way, will be of no spiritual profit. Believers must not depend on their own intellect or interpretations to figure out what God desires to reveal to us (2 Peter 1:20-21).
A couple translations use the phrase, `He made it known by signs' or `He made known and signified' … implying using outward means to show inward, spiritual realities. It is easy to look at the outward things and to interpret everything in an outward way … but this causes us to miss the spiritual realities and revelation that God is showing to us in this book.
God gave these words to Jesus Christ who in turn was to show His servants the things soon to take place. His means of initial revelation was an angel sent to the apostle John.
Why did John call himself a “servant”? (`slave' in other translations). Yet, in 1:9 he calls himself our brother and fellow partaker.
2 who testifies to everything he saw-that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
John testified based on what he actually saw of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. … what is the difference between these two items? Later, in Revelation, similar phrases are used which may distinguish between Jews (the commandment of God 12:17; 14:12) and believers in Christ (the testimony of Jesus 12:17 and the faith of Jesus 14:12). It may be that God is including the Old Testament saints along with the New Testament saints in this book. They were very different ages in which God treated His people differently. 1:7 seems to indicate a diversity of persons as well.
3 Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
The words of Revelation are prophetic, meaning they were foretelling events and also speaking forth God's revelation.
Our role is to hear and to take the words to heart … again, not in an outward, doctrinal way. Too many believers take God's word in an outward way of “do's and don'ts”, but God's word is intended to fill our inner man, our regenerated spirit and soul. Our fallen flesh, our natural man cannot apprehend God's word as intended. Romans 12:1-2 confirms this. We are not to be fashioned according to the age we live in (outward), but transformed by the renewing of our minds. Only a renewed mind can apprehend the will of God (that which is good, well pleasing and perfect).
4 To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits[a] before his throne, 5and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father-to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
It is clear that the seven churches would be the avenue through which God would reveal His words in the book of Revelation. Many of us have questions within related to the matter of the practical church life. Hopefully, we will see some revelation in this study.
The “seven churches” should be signs, meaning they are outward symbols of a spiritual reality. 1:11 makes it clear that these are real churches at that time. 1:12, 20 then call these churches the “golden lampstands”. Based on the wording, I believe the 7 churches are signs. The number 7 has a spiritual meaning, the churches as golden lampstands are also signs. This is important because so often today, ministers, reverends, church leaders put all too much attention in the outward organization of the “church”. They spend millions on buildings and salaries. They create elaborate hierarchies of leadership and methodologies to match their outward view of God's words. I think all these outward things miss the mark. It is the churches as golden lampstands that is significant. What does gold refer to? What does a lampstand mean?
“Grace and Peace” suggest a wonderful blessing coming rather than a warning of doom. So often, revelation is seen as a gloom and doom book. But here, John portrays a blessed environment and goes on to reveal the Triune God (trinity) in his opening remarks.
God (the Father??) is presented as “Him who is and who was, and who is to come … God the Spirit as the seven spirits (??) before His throne (again implying the former was the Father) and from Jesus Christ. So the entire Trinity is mentioned here in John's introductory words.
The phrase “faithful witness” is used later in 3:14 addressing the church in Laodicea.The phrase “the firstborn from the dead” is similar to 2:8 addressing the church in Smyrna … “who became dead and lived again.”
The ruler of the kings of the earth. Is this outwardly true or is John referring to behind the scenes leadership of His people?
This sections seems to relate to the Lord's humanity and His direct involvement with us.
John says, “To him who loves us” … this is a crucial point since John mentions it in his introduction. The book of revelation is loaded with fearsome judgment. However, to His own, the Lord first and foremost extends us His love. John began this letter by calling himself a slave/servant. Yet, now he brings in the matter of love.
“and has freed us from our sins by his blood” à the Lord Jesus was a real man who died for our sins. Yet, here John says he freed us from our sins. We were captives to our sins and now we are free. However, the worldly people are not free and hence, judgment is coming. My experience is that I am still enslaved to some sins. Yet, the spiritual reality is that we have been freed and are free from our sins. This does not mean we are sinless or do not have to deal with sins that exist due to our fallen nature. I believe the power of the Lord's blood is to free us, on one hand, once for all in God's eyes, yet also day by day in our experience as fallen people on the earth. We still need to confess our sins (1 John 1:9) as God exposes them in our lives. He frees us/releases us from our sins so we can live for him … not so we can sin more (Romans 6:1-2).
“made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father” à Not only are we freed from our sins, be we have been made a kingdom and priests. It seems the lack of sins is a prerequisite for realizing our kingship and priesthood. The thought of “slave/servant” does not seem to be here, but a strong relationship of ministering to God and being His kingdom. God's people are His kingdom. Not some organization or particular group. We as His kingdom are also His priests, ministering by sacrificing and bringing others to God. These are spiritual activities that result in outward actions, not the other way around. As we'll see in chapters 2-3, there are a lot of actions going on (works, labors, even endurance), but what is the source of those things? Our source is our person, not an action. We do not act as priests because we do certain things. We ARE priests of God and therefore, certain actions result from who we are.
7 Behold, He comes with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the land will mourn over Him. Yes, Amen. 8I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, He who is and who was and who is coming, the Almighty.
This seems to put a timeframe on the book of Revelation. The Lord has already been crucified and raised (1:2,5,7) … so we are mainly dealing with the so called `church age' to eternity future as is evidenced by 1:8. The book of Revelation speaks of the time after the Lord's death and resurrection all the way into the New Jerusalem (eternity future) as mentioned in chapters 2-3. The 7 epistles to the 7 churches in Revelation 2-3 mention many items that are eternal (Paradise of God 2:7; second death 2:11; hidden manna, white stone, and new name 2:17; authority over the nations 2:26; book of life 3:5; New Jerusalem 3:12 and sitting on the throne with the Father 3:21). On one hand, we live in a physical world with outward needs, etc., but we must remember that inwardly, spiritually, invisibly there is an eternal plan being carried to fruition. Our faith is of utmost importance.
Who pierced Him? At that time, it was the Romans backed up by the Jews. Does this include all of us figuratively? All those who crucified the Lord will see Him?
All the tribes will mourn over Him. Who are the tribes? Is this Israel? Will they mourn because they finally “see” what they did to the Lord?
Who is the Alpha and Omega? The titles “Lord God” along with “He who is, who was and who is coming, the Almighty” seem to refer to the Father (1:4). Yet, 1:7-8 are connected and seem to refer to the same Person who is Christ (the One pierced).
