Revelation 1 - Revelation of Jesus

Revelation 1 - Revelation of Jesus

Note:

It is advisable to read the Revelation Overview first. Over there you can get some history about the book, and it also It explains that the events are not sequential from early chapters to later chapters. I have attempted to line up the chapters and verses according to when they happen. It would be good for you to understand it, to reduce any confusion as you read the blog chapter by chapter.  


v1-9: Introduction

In Chapter 1, it said that the book is the revelation of Jesus Christ, from an angel sent by God to John, to show what must soon take place. (v1)  It is a book of prophecy, much like the book of Daniel. Most of Daniel's prophecy has been fulfilled in the past ages, but Daniel also have similar prophecies that matches or support those of Revelation.

Revelation 1:3 said: "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." The scripture is telling us that understanding revelation is a blessing, and hence it should not be avoided just because it is difficult to interpret. 

John sent his writings to the 7 churches in Asia (v4-v6). He started by greeting them in the name of God the Father, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ. In v4, John used the words "seven spirits" before His throne. Some people say these are the angels that stood before God. However, in Revelation 4, where John describe the throne of God, he did not mentioned the seven angels, but only the four living creatures (i.e. the seraphim). 

Furthermore, the "seven spirits" were mentioned together with the Father and the Son of God - Jesus Christ. Therefore, it appears to refers to the Holy Spirit. The word "seven spirits" had also occur in Revelation 3:1, 4:5, and 5:6. It may not mean there are seven Holy Spirit, but a symbolic number referring to the multifaceted presence and manifold work of the Holy Spirit.  

Revelation started by revealing the ending first. It said in v7: "Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen." It's like some movies that tells you what happens in the end, and then goes back to the beginning to explain how it happens. Jesus second return is the climax of the book. 


v10-20: Description of Jesus

John suddenly heard Jesus spoke from behind him: “I am the Alpha and the Omega,...who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (v8)  Jesus is the starting point and the ending point. Everything that happened before our creation until after the end of earth are designed and controlled by the Trinity.

Illustration Only
He turned around and saw Jesus in the middle of the seven lampstands. The image of Jesus was majestic and awesome, and John fell to ground when he saw him. Jesus' hair was white, and his eyes like a flame of fire, and his face was as bright as the sun, representing his holiness.  He held seven stars, and a "sharp two-edged sword" came out from his mouth, representing his living words and his sovereignty to judge.  (v12-16)

Hebrews 4:12 says  “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

John heard Jesus told him to write his vision in a book and send it to the seven churches, and Jesus named the 7 churches. (See blog on Rev chapter 2-3)

The seven lampstands represent the seven churches, and the seven stars represents their angels (v20). The lampstand is an ideal representation of the churches, for they are to bring spiritual light and salvation to the world darkened by sin. Jesus stood in the middle of them, symbolizing His authority and sovereignty above the churches and the church members.  

As for the seven angels, theologians have different opinion on them. Some, such as Adam Clarke, believe that the angles represent the pastors of the churches. The Greek word for angles, aggelos, literally means "messenger". Others believe that the are guardian angels for the church. 

Jesus conclude this chapter by saying: “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades." (v17b-18)

Hallelujah! It was assuring for John to see Jesus again and that He had been glorified and full of power and sovereignty! 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Revelation Overview

Image
I. Background The book of Revelation was written by Apostle John, son of Zebedee, when he was exiled to the island of Patmos (Ch 1:9) by the Romans for his teaching of the Gospel. John was said to be born in 6 AD, and died in 100 AD at age of 94. He was one of the "inner circle" of Jesus's disciples. The other in the inner circle were Peter and James.  The year John wrote Revelation was controversial. Some said is the 40's AD, others said in the 90's AD. Most people also believe that John wrote Revelation just before he died. If he wrote it when he was 90 years old, then it should be around 96 AD.  I wonder what will we be doing when we are 90 years old! Revelation is not an easy book to understand. It's a book of prophecy of the far future. It is difficult to understand even for the author himself, just as Daniel were filled with confusion and fear when he has a vision of the future empires until the Roman empire, even though it was just over 500 years ahead
Read more

Revelation 8: The Seven Trumpets

Image
 Revelation 8: The Seven Trumpets v1-5: The Seventh Seal and Golden Censer. When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for half an hour. Then seven angels were given trumpets. Another angel came with a golden censer with incense to offer the prayers of the saints at the altar in front of the throne. The prayers rose with the smoke before God. Then the angel filled the censor with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there was an earthquake with thunder and lighting. (v1-5) The seventh seal will bring great destruction to the earth, through the trumpets, so much so everyone in heaven was in solemn for half-an-hour, which is a long time. As mentioned the incense symbolize the prayers that was offered to God. Trumpets were used for war and calling for an assembly. It is used here to declare war on evil forces on earth.  v6-13: The First Four Trumpets The first angel blew his trumpet. hail and fire, mixed with blood, are thrown upon the earth. A third
Read more

Revelation 11: Two Witnesses and Seventh Trumpet

Image
Revelation 11: Two Witnesses and Seventh Trumpet  v1-2: The Temple during Tribulation John was given a measuring rod and told to measure the temple of God and the altar, and to count the number of worshipers there. He is to exclude the courtyard outside the temple, which has been given to the nations whom will trample the city for 42 months. (v1-2) This temple does not exist today. The second temple built by the Jews after being freed from Babylon, and renovated and expanded by King Herod. However the Romans destroyed in during a Jewish rebellion in 70 AD. Today, only a wall remains where the Jews visit to pray.  The temple mentioned by John is not the temple that was measured in Ezekiel 40 as well, for that is the final temple that was built by Jesus after his return. Therefore, John is referring to a temple that was built before or at the beginning of the 7 year tribulation. This is the temple where the antichrist will proclaim himself as god:  “He will oppose and will exalt himself
Read more