Revelations in Revelation
Want to know Jesus… or know Him better? Revelation is the Father’s answer to your seeking…
Revelation is dramatic with mindblowing imagery. Some are frightened by it, others obsessed by it. The book opens with a blessing for those who both read and act on what is written in it. It closes with a warning that to add or take away from it endangers our place in the Holy City.
Blessings!
The blessing that comes from reading Revelationis the assurance that Jesus has already won the victory over Satan. Satan’s final overthrow and ejection from this world are just a matter of time.
Seven times in Revelationthose who keep the faith are referred to as blessed.
Those who read and keep what is written in it (Rev 1:3).
Those who die in the Lord (Rev 14:13).
Those who watch (Rev 16:15).
Those invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev 19:9).
Those who are part of the first resurrection (Rev 20:6).
Those who keep these words of prophecy (Rev 22:7).
Those who do His command [washed their robe] (Rev 22:14).
Receiving the blessing requires keeping what the book teaches. Therefore we need to study it in order to be blessed by it. Besides the blessing there is an assurance that the time is near. God will
delay no longer than necessary to complete His purposes. What may seem a never ending age to us in this life is nothing compared to eternity.
The revelation of Jesus Christ
This is not just a revelation given by the Father to His Beloved Son, or even a book which reveals things to come. The opening words state that it is ‘a revelation of Jesus Christ’ . Each section brings a new revelation of the character of Christ.This is the first of eleven articles each of which will study an aspect of the character of Christ as revealed in Revelation.
The writer is introduced as John. The early church fathers attribute Revelationto the Apostle John. Written towards the end of the first century whenJohnwas about ninety-five years old and imprisoned on the island of Patmos, the book comes from the highest authority. The introduction states that the originator is God the Father. It is transmitted via the Son then by an angel to John who wrote down what was revealed.
The teaching of Revelation applies to every age but especially to those living at the end of the age. It brings encouragement to those who are facing persecution and martyrdom. It also warns sinners of the inevitability of judgment.
The first revelation … (1:5-20)
The first revelation is of the glorified Christ. We tend to think of Jesus as the carpenter of Nazareth or the teacher wandering the foothills of Galilee. The incarnate Son of Man humbly living a life here on earth. We will never meet that mortal Jesus. That is the Jesus of history. We meet here the glorified, immortal Jesus.
John records that he was in the spirit on the Lord’s Day. Early on, Christians started meeting on the first day of the week. (Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2). It was not until later in the 2nd century AD that the first day of the week became referred to as the Lord’s Day. Some translations read“In the Spirit on the Imperial Day”.On the Imperial Dayall the peoples of the Roman Empire were required to swear allegiance to the Roman Emperor as Lord. Refusal to worship Caesar as Lord could result in exile or death.
Revelation was given during the reign of Emperor Domitian (81-96 AD). Domitian was obsessed with his own deity insisting on being called “Lord and God”. The cult of Emperor Worshipwas viciously applied especially in Asia Minor. It was the Roman way of unifying the empire. You could have your own gods but the emperor had to be one of them. On this day, many John knew and loved, were under intense pressure to renounce their faith and worship Caesar. While John is interceding, for those he loved, the Lord brings this message of encouragement for the churches of Asia.
The grounds for that encouragement are set out in John’s brief introduction. Jesus Christ is: ‘
the faithful witness’
A reminder that Jesus became one of us and suffered for us. “He humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on the cross”. (Philippians 2:8). He knows what it is like to suffer and to be tempted, but not give up. (Hebrews 2:18). He asks less of us than He went through Himself.
‘first born of the dead’
An encouragement to know that whatever this life brings, we have a glorious future. Because Jesus was raised, we can be sure that we will be raised from the dead.
‘the ruler of the kings of the earth’
Jesus has won the victory. He is now sovereign. Power can only be exercised on earth with His permission. (Ephesians 1:20-22)
‘To Him who loves us’
He loves us whatever our outward circumstances. However dark our situation we cannot be separated from His love. (Romans 8:35 -39)
‘and has loosed us out of our sins by His blood’
We are forgiven not because of our efforts but due to His sacrifice. If it were by our own efforts, we would always question if we had done enough to earn His forgiveness. (Ephesians 1:7).
‘kings and priests’
The world may despise us but whatever the world may think, our status is settled. We are now in royal service.
‘Look, He comes with the clouds’
He is coming again to judge the world. Those who have suffered for Jesus in this life will soon be rewarded. (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10). Israel will repent and receive her saviour. (Zechariah 12:10).
The world will mourn when Jesus appears. The return of Christ will be the ultimate disaster. They will know that the one so long scorned has returned as the Judge. For the Christian it will be pure joy.
The Glorified Christ
We are now introduced to the Jesus of the present. This is the Jesus to whom we address our prayers. A long time before this vision, John had glimpsed Christ as He is now seen. On the mount of transfiguration, Jesus was revealed in His eternal glory. (Matthew 17:2)
As John is intently interceding a loud authoritative voice breaks in. John is commanded to write and send. His prayers are answered with a word for the seven churches which he once cared for. The word is not one of instant relief for the present suffering. Instead he receives an assurance of Christ’s final victory.
John turns and sees seven golden lampstands which we are told represent the seven churches. Among the lampstands is one which John recognises as the Son of Man. John would have remembered how that when Jesus said He was the Son of Man, it condemned him to the cross. (Matthew 27:64). Jesus was referring to Daniel 7:13, 14. At the trial the High Priest recognised it as a claim to be the Messiah. In a later vision Daniel saw what John now sees (Daniel 10:5-8). Ezekiel also saw a similar vision by the river Chebar. (Ezekiel 1:26- 28)
Jesus among his people
At the Last Supper, John records how he lay on Jesus’ breast. Jesus was like a close friend or brother. The glorified Jesus invokes a different response. Ezekiel, Daniel and John all respond in the same way. They fall at His feet as if dead.
‘the First and the Last’
is a title of the Lord, the King of Israel. (Isaiah 41:4, 44:6).
This same Jesus, now glorified, still lives and moves among His people. He speaks to the churches and their pastors on the state of their faith, commending what is good, and correcting their faults.
He will warn us of the dangers of failing to correct the things which are going wrong, while at the same time assuring us that He is concerned to ensure that we come through. For the pastors of the churches there is a special encouragement. Jesus doesn’t just walk among them. They are held as seven stars in His right hand.
John saw Jesus die. He also saw Jesus after the resurrection. Jesus has conquered death, He is alive for ever more. This is the Jesus before whom one day each of us will have to stand and give an account of our lives (Romans 14:12). Before those eyes of fire nothing is hidden. (Hebrews 4:12, 13). Like John on that day we will fall at His feet as if dead. There will be no arguments which we can put forward to justify our actions. No explaining away of what we have thought and done.
On that day we will understand as never before that it is by grace that we have been saved through faith, not by works but by the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8-9).