Revision as of 16:41, 28 March 2019

By Richard Wakefield (1917-2007)

Introduction

The Book of the Revelation has always exercised a certain attraction to Christians as they desire to see what the future may have in store. Events of the past two years, amazing political changes in Europe and the collapse of the Russian Communist Empire are causing many to return to the Book and to re-evaluate their thinking of the possible course of the future.

To understand "Revelation" (or any other book) we need to know who is the author, his qualification to write. to whom the book was addressed and the reason it was written.

We are told who was the human author . Rev . 1:4 and 1:9 tell us clearly that John was the penman and we find that chapters two and three were written as they were dictated to him by Jesus Christ. Chapter 1:19 teaches that ALL the Book was to be an account of what was being revealed to him. We believe this was John, brother of James and writer of the Gospel of John. He was one of the "Inner three" apostles who seemed to be closest to the Lord and he was the "Disciple whom Jesus loved" (John 13:23, 20a2, 2L220) . He was also the last of the apostles to die, tradition has him dying at a very advanced age.

His intimate association with the Lord during His earthly ministry, his years of faithful service and, above all, the special revelation given to him and the instruction to record it, all qualify him for the job.

The book was written "To show unto His (The Lord's) servants---" Rev. 1;1. Therefore we can say the book is intended to be read, and understood, by those who are in facts servants of the Lord. This should include all who profess to be Christians, and certainly all who have truly been saved through faith in the finished work of Jesus. Unfortunately not all who claim to be saved can claim to be servants! This may explain why many Christians are unable to understand it.

At the time Revelation was written the "Church" which had been in existence a little more than 60 years was undergoing very severe persecution. The Christians knew of the Lord's promise to return and to establish a kingdom on earth. Yet, as those who had seen and heard Jesus died, He had still not returned. Wickedness was increasing everywhere, immorality, violence, crime of every type was universal. And the increasing severity of the officially instigated persecution of the church appeared to threaten its very existence. Was it possible that God was no longer in control? Could it be that, finally, Satan would win in his contest with God?

This Book was written to reassure those of the early Church that God was (and is) still in control, that He has a plan and that all Satan's efforts fit into that plan for God's greater glory.

In our day, we may not experience persecution as did the early church (although it cannot be ruled out if the Lord delays His return much longer) but we do see a tidal wave of evil sweeping over the world as predicted in 2 Timothy 3:1-4, so it is very timely for us to look anew et God's plan for the future. the early church

A simple outline the Book is given in 1:19.

1. "The things which thou has seen" Ch 1
2. "The things which are" Ch 2-3
3. "The things which shaLL be hereafter" Ch 4 -22

1. deals with the heavenly vision of the Risen Lord 2. covers the period from the Day of Pentecost up to the Rapture of the Church 3. is sub-divided:

1. 1. Seven years of Tribulation Ch 4-19
   2. The Millennium Ch 20
   3. Eternity ch 21-22

Before we proceed further we must state our firm c onviction that the Church, composed of all who have been saved through the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord, is to be "caught up---to meet the Lord in the air" (1 Thess. 4:17). Before the beginning of the Tribulation. We will look at this more as we study chapters 3 & 4.

The Things Which Thou Hast Seen

Chapter 1

This chapter is an introduction to the whole Book. We are told in the very first verse Who is giving the revelation and to whom it was given.

1:1

The Revelation of JESUS CHRIST! This is not intended to be a revelation of Antichrist (although many seek to find a means to identify him). The central figure is Jesus Christ even though He does not always appear on center stage through the main part of the Book.

This Revelation - the Greek word "Apocalipse" means "Removing the veil-" - was given to Jesus Christ by God the Father in order that the Persecuted church might be able to see the final outcome of the battle being waged by Satan against God.

During His earthly ministry Jesus voluntarily gave up the independent use of some of His attributes so that He might, indeed, be tempted in every way as we are. He gave up His knowledge of the future, "But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angel"s which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father" (Mark 13:32). And on the day of His ascension He told the" disciples "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power". (Acts 1:7).

As we read this introductory verse we can imagine God the Father saying, "Son, in this period of great Persecution, the church needs to know the victory is Ours. It is not yet the time of the end, and the Church must not be given dates but show Our servants that Ile are in full control and let them see the final defeat of Satan". the expression "which must shortly come to pass" should not be understood as indicating ALL the events in this Book were to occur soon after it was written. The process was to begin "shortly" and we will see it beginning in chapter two.

1:2-3

The human penman is introduced, John. We have already said that we believe this was John the Apostle, the disciple whom Jesus loved. But here he humbly identifies himself as "His servant". He than pronounces a blessing on those who read or hear what is written in the Book and live with it constantly in mind.

1:4-5.

The "seven churches which are in Asia". Asia was the Roman province which included much of modern Turkey (not the continent of Asia). At the time John was writing there were more than seven churches in that area but there are two things we should note,

1. Seven is the number of completeness so we might understand this to mean "to all the churches in Asia". We will find the number seven repeatedly in Revelation.
2. The seven churches specified by name, and in the order in which they are addressed, represent seven stages in the development of Christendom (as opposed to genuine Christianity).

The benediction, Grace and Peace, from the Eternal Father, the Seven-fold Holy Spirit and from Jesus Christ, the Three Persons of the Holly Trinity. Jesus is the faithful' witness in the sense that He fully revealed to us just Who God is so he could tell Philip "He that hath seen Me' hath seen the Father" (John 14:9b) "First begotten of the dead---" The 0ld Testament records three who were raised from the dead in the New Testament Jesus Himself raised three and both Peter and Paul also restored dead people to life but all of these died again, their resurrections were onJ.y temporary extensions of life in mortal bodies. Jesus rose from the dead with a glorified, immortal body. He was raised as the firstfruits, a promise of our future resurrection.

1:5b-6

What He has done .f or us and what we ere because of Him. He loved usr He poured out His own blood so that, through it, we might be cleansed from our sin and He has (a1r"ay) made us a kingdom of priests (o" kinely priests) to serve God. This was a timely encouragement to those who felt themselves to be a despised and Persecuted minority.

I:7

This verse speaks of the Lord's return to reign. In our studies we will see that He will come first to take His Bride, the Church, from this world before the seven years of tribulation begin. this will be secret, the world will not see Him but, seven years later, every eye shall see Him (those who pierced Him). It will be a time of general lamentation as all the gentile

1:8

John breaks into his introduction to give one of the titles of the Lord, Alpha and Omega, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. We might express it, A to Z, the All Inclusive One. The Eternal, the Almighty.

1:9-10

The circumstances under which John received the Revelation. The Roman emperor Domitian had instigated en empire wide persecution of the Christian church. John was banished to the tiny island called Patmos because of his position as leader of the churches in the province of Asia. 0n the LORD'S DAY, the first day of a week, he was "in spirit" (the definite article is not in the Greek). The meaning seems to be that John was so engrossed in the things of the Lord, in meditation on Him as the Alpha and Omega that he was completely unmindful of his body. It is Possible that anyone observing him at that time would have thought him in a coma or even dead.

In this state he heard a loud voice and saw the vision of the Glorified Jesus Christ.

1:11

The commission to write all that was being revealed to him to seven specified churches. Probably these seven churches had sent messengers to John, perhaps bringing him material help or, perhaps, to seek his guidance during the time of persecution. But, as we have already said' seven is the number of completeness so this writing is intended for All churches at all times.

1:12-20

The Glorified Lord. The Lord is seen in the midst of seven "candlesticks", this should really be "lamp-stands" and these are interpreted as churches. (Every Christian should be a light [Matt. 5 : 14 ] and a church upholds these lights).

This vision is very similar to that seen by Daniel (Dan 10:5-6). There are two signifieant differences, Daniel saw the girdle round the Lord's waist, the position where it would be worn so the long robe could be gathered up so as not to impede work; John sew it higher, indicating the work had been completed and the wearer was at rest. Daniel saw the feet and arms like brass (which speaks of judgement and punishment): John saw only the feet like brass, after Calvary His arms are opened wide to pardon but He will still trample underfoot all who reject Him.

We should not think we will meet the Risen Lord on terms of easy familiarity. Both Daniel and John, men greatly loved (Dan 10:11, John 21:20) fell down at the vision, Paul also fell and was blinded when the Lord met him on the Damascus road. But both Daniel and John were told "Fear not!" We will meet Him and will worship Him and also hear "Fear Not".

The Things Which Are

Chapter 2