More on Apocalyptic – usually written during tough times in history.

-         God breaks through and brings the victory – God triumphs over evil

-         usually a summation of history to explain the situation and victory

-         usually written as a revelation from some celestial being to a known character in history (Moses, Abraham, etc.)

-         the trouble they face is NOT the end – God delivers and saves His people

-         always a pointing to the Messiah coming to usher in the Kingdom

-         sees evil as already overcome by God’s intervention into history

-         different symbolism – bizarre – not mean to be identified

o       John is painting a picture with words – can’t equate the symbols to our time

Revelation differs from usual Apocalyptic –

-         John constantly calls this writing – “prophecy” – the Word of the Lord!

-         typical prophetic warnings and call to repentance

-         not a pseudonymous work – the writer uses his own name

-         not a pessimism writing – though evil is present – generally optimistic

-         not recapping history looking to the future of the author’s present time

o       Revelation is written in the author’s present time and looks to the future

-         addresses history as well as eschatology at the same time

o       the beast is Rome and the future antichrist at the same time

o       the reader knows it is Rome yet it can’t be fully equated with historical Rome

-         strange visions are not always explained by angelic revelation

o       the reader is left to figure much of it out on our own (narration).

-         usually looks forward to Messiah’s coming – introducing a new thing

o       Revelation – Messiah already came to defeat evil by His crucifixion

o       The Lamb as though slain – show’s God’s Messiah already came

o       He bears the marks – BUT – is King of kings and Lord of lords

o       John hears a lion but sees the Lamb of God (victory)

-         Genre – this is a letter, epistle – follows the standard form of a letter

-         While meant for a much wider audience, it is address to 7 other churches

-         In some places we get the notion it was meant to be read aloud.

-         Why these 7 churches – a number of perfection, completeness – symbolic? Why not?

o       Dualism – 7 meaning then – all now – could be all churches everywhere now.

vs. 4 – “who was, and is, and is to come”  Who?  God the Father – the changelessness of God.

-         “grace and peace from Him” – from Father, Spirit, and from Jesus Christ – God qualities

-         “seven spirits” – the completeness of the Holy Spirit? “seven-fold spirit” over the churches

vs. 5 – The third source is Jesus Christ – the faithful witness

-         He is the first born from the dead – the ruler of the kings of the earth

-         Jesus is a figure of majesty – He loves and redeems – kingship of Jesus established

vs. 6 – He made us a Kingdom – Gospels – Jesus speaks of the Kingdom

-         Only those who are His – Faith = divine conviction and evidence

-         More than belief – Jas. 2:19 – A deep conviction – the light goes on for us

-         When all we are talking about clicks – makes sense – numinous (a God moment)

-         Released from sin that separates us from the Kingdom/God – then to live for God

-         Believers are priests of God in the Kingdom of God

-         Jesus Christ’s God and Father

vs. 7 – John looks to the future – the second coming of Jesus (at the end of the age)

-         clouds – O.T. – symbol of God’s Glory (presence) – manifestation of holiness to humans

o       Dan. 7:13 - -  and cloud in the temple, tabernacle, Sinai, etc.

-         Zech. 12:10 – First coming (look ahead) – Now in victory and glory

-         Every eye will see Him – the one pierced – Jesus

-         All mourn – God and suffering Christians are vindicated – Victory!

vs. 8 – “I am …”  - A statement of the sovereignty of God – Revelation is concerned with power

            God is sovereign – the ultimate power – Almighty  (9 times in Rev. – 1 time in N.T.)

-         The Alpha and Omega – beginning and ending of all things – 1^st & last Greek alphabet letters

-         None can resist the all-embracing power of God-Almighty

-         This is speaking of God, the Father, LORD God

The First Vision:

vs. 9 – John – no special person – your brother (fellow Christian) – a fellow believer and sufferer

-         on Patmos – a small island – why? – for preaching Christianity

-         “was”  -  maybe released at the time of the writing of this letter

vs. 10 – John was “in the spirit” – a state of being in-tune with God!

-         able to see visions, hear the Spirit’s instruction, etc.

-         “the Lord’s Day” – day commemorating Jesus’ resurrection? – rather than Sabbath (O.T.)  Now they worship on the Lord’s Day!

-         Hears a loud voice – trumpet – announcement of something to happen – last things

vs. 11 – John is commanded by God (the Voice) to write down what he sees

-         the writing is to be sent to the named 7 churches

-         listed in the order as they would be visited by a messenger – reading the letter

-         these are words for all to hear, but particularly these 7 churches

-         pay particular attention to what John sees in Rev. and what he hears

vs. 12-16 – the vision of the Lord, Jesus Christ

-         he turns to see the voice, but sees 7 lampstands (7 churches) – O.T. symbol recognizable

-         Christ in the midst – centered – in the churches – His people – His body

-         One  “like a son of man” – Dan. 3:25 & 7:13 reference – the heavenly being – coming with clouds – receiving a mighty dominion

-         “robe” – a person of distinction – royalty – rather than priestly

-         “white hair” – dignity – wisdom – respect – age – the Ancient of Days (Dan. 7:9)

-         “white as wool” – “white as snow” – pure wool – purity – holiness

-         “eyes life blazing fire” – not just calm wisdom and age – spiritedness – energy – activity

-         “feet like burnished bronze” – unknown – some metal alloy

-         “voice like the roar of many waters” – see. Ezek. 43:2 – the voice of God – John on Patmos can relate – breakers of the seas on the shore.

-         “stars” – angels of the 7 churches

-         “right hand” – saving, protecting, hand of strength

o       They are not abandoned with their problems and issues

o       Jesus holds them in His right hand  (anthropomorphic)

-         “sharp two-edged sword” – decisive offense against opposers

o       Roman sword – tongue shaped – imagery is reasonable

o       All who oppose His will, will meet the sword of the Lord

-         “face shines like the sun” – strength – dazzling yet terrible for the foe – can’t even look into the face of God – awe and terror – recognition of the strength and power of God

vs – 17 – John is so awestruck at the vision he falls as though dead before Him.

-         beyond the respectful prostration – total weakness from the Godly vision

-         Jesus reaches down with that same “right hand” to pick him up

-         Jesus holds His church in His right hand and supports the individual as well

-         He says, “Do not be afraid” – He said this numerous time (in the Gospels)

-         He speaks to us still – Be Not Afraid – God is for us who believe – on our side

-         “first and last” – like the Alpha & Omega for God – now Jesus is the beginning and end

vs. 18-20 -

-         “the living One” – “I died and am alive forevermore” – emphasis on the resurrection of Jesus

o       Very meaningful to the early Christians – identification for them and us

-         “death and hades” – death – hades is the place where spirits go after death – an enemy

-         “keys” – Christ has victory over these enemies of the soul – authority

-         He alone has the power to send people to or deliver from these places (death and hades)

-         He has supremacy over all things even over the oppressors of the people in John’s time

-         “write” – what you have seen – what is now – and what will take place in the future

-         It is important to look at the future events for encouragement to these persecuted people

-         “mystery” – something that could not be figured out by human minds – revealed by God

-         Christ makes known the meaning of certain symbols that could not have been guessed.

-         “angels” – messengers – human or supernatural – mostly referring to spiritual beings

-         “of the churches” – is there an angel over or in charge of each church?   May more likely mean the message to the spirit of the church itself – churches as spiritual entities

-         The spirits representing each church – but addressed to the church not the angel

-         The church – the lampstands that shine forth the light that is Christ (church function)