Introduction to Revelation –
The apostle John is the writer; around 95 A.D. It was written to God’s servants (1:1, 22:21). It was written by John’s hand to the seven churches in Asia (1:4). The whole letter (the Book of Revelation) is for those churches (and churches today)– 22:16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches”. There is also a blessing to all who hear and keep the words of the prophecy (1:3, 22:7).
The 4 Hermeneutical Positions –
The Preterist: Preterist (from Latin praeter meaning “past”) holds that through use of symbols and allegory, the Revelation deals with events that were fulfilled in John’s time and that it was written primarily to provide hope and comfort to the first century church persecuted by Rome.
Famous theologians supporting this type: William Barclay, FF Bruce, Hank Hanegraff, Bruce Metzger, RC Sproul,
The Historicist: that it is a chart of the whole of history from Christ’s first coming to his second, and beyond. In this method people will try to make sections of Revelation fit in with specific historical events.
Famous theologians supporting this type: Albert Barnes, John Calvin, Adam Clarke, John Gill, Matthew Henry, Martin Luther, RA Torrey,
The Idealist: Maintains that Revelation is not predictive prophecy, but a symbolic portrait of the cosmic conflict between the forces of good and evil. In this view the Revelation becomes merely a collection of stories designed to teach spiritual truth. Some refer to this method of interpretation as “Spiritualizing”.
There are no well known theologians that support this view.
The Futurist: that it is largely a prophecy of events still to come, especially just prior to the return of Christ. This is the normal interpretation of someone reading the book for the first time. It follows a generally literal interpretation methodology.
Famous theologians supporting this type: MR Dehaan, Norman Geisler, HA Ironside, Donald Barnhouse, Hal Lindsey, John Macaurthur, J Vernon McGee, Henry Morris, Dwight Pentecost, Charles Ryrie, J.A. Seiss, John Waalvord, Warren Wiersbe.
One can interpret this book mainly in a ‘symbolic’ viewpoint; or one can interpret it mainly in a literal viewpoint. There are many who jump back and forth between these 2 extremes as they feel led. I interpret the Bible, and the book of Revelation in a mainly literal viewpoint. I will only entertain a symbolic view when the literal seems too absurd and the symbolic makes perfectly good sense. I must be ‘forced’ to view it symbolically in any given passage. I also view it mainly in a chronological format. There are just a few sections that seem to ‘review’ or summarize and thus for a moment stop the chronological progression. I have a pre-tribulation rapture, pre-millenial 2nd Coming doctrinal stance concerning this book.
Overview of The Revelation –
The Book of Revelation ‘reveals’ the future. The 7 churches of Asia are representative of the Church Age (but not each one as a separate ‘age’). This ‘age’ will close with the ‘catching away’ (Rapture). After this, the Tribulation 7 year period begins on earth. During this Tribulation period, the following events occur: 6 Seals Judgment; the sealing of the 144,000 Witnesses; the 7 Trumpets Judgment; the 7 Vials Judgment; the Great Whore revealed. The saved are in heaven during this period and will be judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ, and then some will be at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. At the end of the Tribulation, Jesus Christ will take all the saved with Him from Heaven and come to Earth, defeat the armies against Israel at Armaggedon, and then begin to set up His Millenial Kingdom here on Earth. During the Kindom, the righteous saints will reign with Him, the others will be servants. At the end of this 1000 year period the Devil will try one last time to destroy Jesus Christ, but of course will fail. He and all the unholy angels will then be judged and cast into the Lake of Fire. After this, all the lost people of all time will be judged at the Great White Throne Judgement and will also be cast into the Lake of Fire and will be left there forever and ever without any hope of ever escaping its torments. After this judgement, God will destroy the entire universe and will create a whole perfect new one. The saints will inhabit the new Earth. There will also be a New Jerusalem, a 1500 by 1500 by 1500 mile city setting just off the Earth at the present site of Jerusalem. And so shall we ever be with the Lord.
REVELATION 1
1 The aRevelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must bshortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: 2 Who bare crecord of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. 3 dBlessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
a) It is not “The Revelation of St. John the Divine,” as the heading in our Bibles would have us believe, but it is “THE
REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST.” This book is all about a ‘revealing’, not a ‘hiding’; it is suppose to reveal
things which must shortly come to pass. This ‘Revelation’ is revealed from God the Father, by Jesus Christ, thru ‘his
angel’, to his servant John, to shew unto his servants.
b) Shortly in whose perspective? John’s I presume. And they did indeed begin happening to those 7 churches shortly
after John wrote them. But, it has been over 1900 years since they were begun. Shortly may be relative to the 4000
years of history that had already taken place.
c) The apostle John was faithful in bearing record of God’s holy Word and Jesus Christ’s testimony and all that he
saw…are you?!
d) There is a 3-fold prerequisite for obtaining the special blessing promised from this specific book of the Bible: reads
with eyes, understands/receives the words, and keeps/follows them. The main ways of being blessed might be in
being an ‘overcomer’ and receiving the rewards promised them, being motivated to living a life more carefully seeing
that we are near the end, and understanding that we are spared from these horrible judgements. But, there also may be
a special ‘blessing’ here on Earth right now for anyone who fulfills these criteria.
4 John to the aseven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from bhim which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the c seven Spirits which are before his throne; 5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the dprince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own eblood, 6 And hath made us fkings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
a) Were these literal local assemblies or dispensational eras? By ‘secular’ history and the Bible, we know that these were
real churches in that day. Thus, the main interpretation and application are those being 7 real churches there in Asia.
One can attempt to secondarily apply these 7 churches to so-called ‘dispensations’ during the ‘Church Age’, but I
believe this is a wresting of the Scriptures. Why was it written to just the 7 churches in Asia? Weren’t there more
churches in the world then? Yes. Were there just 7 in all of Asia? Yes. Where they more important churches than
the others? Doubtful. Is there any prophetic significance to the locations of these churches? Possibly.
b) He is the same yesterday, and today, and forever. Jesus Christ was indeed on the Earth, and existed eternally in the
past. He also is seated at the right hand of the Father. And, He is going to come again to receive us!
c) Can grace come from anyone but God? They can’t be ministering spirits, i.e. angels, then. This must be related to
the Holy Spirit. The word Spirit is capitalized. There may very well be a connection between this and the 7 churches
(the number used is just too coincidental). There is one Holy Spirit but may be mentioned here with the number 7 to
show how the Holy Spirit administers individually in each church and is also before the throne of God, whom He
ministers for….though, the verb is plural here, i.e. ‘are’. It is surely not Jesus Christ for He is separated out in the
next verse. It could refer to seven aspects of the Holy Spirit in Isaiah 11:2. Zechariah 4 indicates that seven lamps
represent the “eyes of the Lord” throughout the earth. This is connected with the Spirit (Zech. 4:6). “Seven spirits”
may be expressing the Spirit’s perfection. Rev. 5:6 speaks of this as 7 eyes sent out into all the Earth. Some support
this referring to angelic beings because there is not one example of the Holy Spirit greeting believers as a part of a
salutation in all of the New Testament.
d) He is right now in charge of the kings of the Earth; He is the King of kings; undisputed. He soon will reign visibly as
the king of the universe.
e) Don’t ever demean the blood of Jesus Christ; Jesus’ blood literally washes our sins away, not symbolically.
f) Those associated with His churches He has made to be kings and priests in the Millenium (and eternal state?); are these
two separate offices that we might serve in? Could it be true that we are actually kings and priests right now? The
Catholics sure believe this.
7 Behold, he cometh with aclouds; and every beye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall cwail because of him. Even so, Amen. 8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the dAlmighty.
a) At His 2nd Coming, He will come with the hosts of Heaven (clouds). Some say this is referring to the Rapture, but I
believe this to be referring to the 2nd Coming (‘with’ saints vs. ‘for’ saints; and, they shall ‘wail’)
b) Every person on the Earth will see Jesus Christ at His 2nd Coming; even the Jews will see Him. How
will this be possible though? CNN? But, at the Rapture, I don’t believe this to be so.
c) When He comes at the Rapture, there probably will be cheering when all these ‘wicked’ Christians are
gone. At His 2nd Coming, they will be hiding in the rocks from the face of Him who sendeth these
judgements!
d) Is Jesus Christ The “Almighty”? Yes! The JW’s don’t like this verse. Only Jesus Christ is referred to as
Alpha and Omega; The Greek alphabet has alpha first, and Omega last. He is the One that is to come.
9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called aPatmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10 I was in the bSpirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and csend it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
a) Patmos is a small Greek island of the modern day coast of Turkey. It was the last stopping place when sailing from
Rome to Ephesus. There was a prison on this island, which John was sent to because of His preaching and teaching.
John was probably thinking before this that it sure was disappointing that he wouldn’t be able to have much of a
spiritual effect being now imprisoned. But, little did he know that he would pen Revelation while there!
b) John was having a special spiritual time on none other day than the 1st day of the week. It is known as the Lord’s
Day because that is the day that He rose from the dead (early, albeit). This mention here in Revelation is the only
mention of this term. The ‘Sabbath’ is always on ‘Sabado’, the 7th day of the week, Saturday. His visions occurred
while being controlled by the Holy Spirit of God. Are you in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day?! Match up ‘trumpet’ here
with 1 Thess. 4 and see that when Jesus speaks it may be similar to, or the same as, the trump of God.
c) Not just those 7 churches, but, all churches eventually, including ours. This information is very pertinent to our
church today. Some ‘scholars’ state that ‘Asia’ here was referring to ‘Asia Minor’ only; these 7 churches
geographically form a ‘circle’ in Asia Minor, modern day Turkey. Either way, there were apparently only 7 sound
churches at that time in that large area. Are these churches listed best to worst? Or is it age? Or is it by size?
12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden acandlesticks; 13 And in the bmidst of the seven candlesticks one c like unto the Son of man, dclothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. 14 His head and his e hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; 15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. 16 And he had in his right hand seven f stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the gsun shineth in his strength. 17a And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as hdead…..
a) These candlesticks must have been pretty impressive, for they caught his eye first amongst all the glory of the Lord!
Verse 20 explains their identity. A candlestick was the entity that was typically used to give off light (no electricity
back then); the same for a church, spiritually. How about an individual Christian?
b) Jesus Christ stands in the midst of “His” churches. He, therefore, is not in the midst of ‘other’ churches. Jesus Christ
stands ‘in the midst’ via the Administrator of the churches, the Holy Ghost.
c) As with Melchizadek, “like unto” often means (or always means) exactly the same as. Dan. 10:5,6 has the same
description and is referring to the Messiah.
d) Jesus Christ sets the standard for proper, modest clothing: a garment down to the foot. No skin was showing except for
face, neck, hands, and possibly feet. The girdle was for making sure the garment didn’t come off and thus become
naked. This is the standard godly dress that will be worn in Heaven throughout eternity.
e) White, not gray; doesn’t signify old age necessarily, but rather wisdom, honor, and respect, as does the ‘hoary head’ of
an elder. The hair being white may point to Him being the ‘Ancient of Days’. Whiteness seems to be an important
factor in godliness, holiness, righteousness. This is why I like snow; it is oh so white…is there anything whiter?! It
speaks of the whiteness of Jesus Christ’s holy hair…i.e., His righteousness.
f) Verse 20 explains that the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches. He keeps a tight hold on them.
g) The key aspect of His glorified appearance is ‘white’ and ‘brite’! His face was much like looking right at the sun at
high noon at the Equator! This is why we won’t need the sun in eternity future.
h) When we see our dear Lord, we will see Him much like this! It won’t be a time of arm waving and dancing
(Charismatics); it will be a time of honor, fear, respect, and devotion! John, who knew Jesus probably better than any
other mortal did, passed out cold at this Revelation! And so will we, at least if in our mortal bodies.
17b …And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18 I am ahe that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the bkeys of hell and of death.
19 Write the c things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; 20 The dmystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
a) John was reassured that His beloved Master was indeed alive. He explained that he did actually physically (human
flesh) die; but, never again! Amen! When He says Amen, that’s an AMEN!!!
b) Jesus Christ is in charge of when a person dies and who goes to Hell. We would do well to respect his authority by
trying to please Him. The keys to the kingdom were given to His churches (but not to the Roman Catholic Whore
Church, via Peter, their first Pope). But, Jesus Christ specifically holds the keys of Hell and Death.
c) This is the only explanation of the division of this book. The ‘things which thou hast seen’ is Rv 1:9+; the ‘things
which are’ is Rv 2 – 3; and the ‘things which shall be hereafter’ is Rv 4 – 22.
d) It may be that these 2 mysteries are referring to the ‘hereafter’ (notice the semicolon and how the ending to the
sentence is made). Or, better, it is referring to the ‘things which are’. These angels are either true angelic messengers,
or they are God’s messengers and ministers to churches, i.e. pastors. Does each church have a special holy angel
assigned to it? Why would God write to an angel? What happens if there were a plurality of pastors at a church?
What happens if your pastor ain’t no angel?! I believe these stars to be Pastors. A candlestick represents a true church
of the Lord’s. It’s main function appears to be to give off light. Later we learn that a candlestick can be removed
(2:5). How does a candlestick here refer to a ‘church age’? It doesn’t. Thus, the main application of these 7 churches
must be to learn from the statements made to each church. Nowhere here does it even hint to a church age. Never try
and force something to be symbolic; rather, it must force you to render it symbolic. “He that hath an ear, let him hear
what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”