YAHWEH JESUS IS IN THE MIDST OF HIS CHURCHES (PART 2)
Revelation 2:12-29
As taught by Dave Lindstrom
I. Church #3: The Church at Pergamum
A. A brief history of the city of Pergamum: Pergamum in 95 A.D. was a large (over 200,000 population) and important city located about 70 miles north of Smyrna and about 15 miles inland from the coast. It boasted itself as the capital city of Asia Minor (along with Ephesus and Smyrna), had the second largest library in Rome with over 200,000 volumes (Alexandria was first), and was known as a learning and medical community. It also was a multiple temple and shrine city with three temples dedicated to the worship of the Roman Emperor (represented by a Bull), and temples to Zeus, Athena, and the healing god Asclepius (represented by a snake). In modern Turkey today, the city is known as Bergama.
B. Christ’s attributes, assessment, and award for the congregation at Pergamum (Revelation 2:12-17).
1. Christ’s attribute for the church to meditate on is found in Revelation 2:12. He identifies Himself as the one who has the sharp two-edged sword and we know from Revelation 1:16 that it comes out of His mouth. This shows Yahweh Jesus as the one who conquers, judges, and rebukes by the power of His words and the one who perfectly carried out the words of prophecy (Isa. 11:4; Rev. 12:10, 11; 19:13-15).
2. Christ’s assessment of the churches situation and problem (Rev. 2:13-16).
a. Christ knows that the church at Pergamum is in a city that has given itself over to multiple forms of idol worship including Emperor worship (Satan’s throne). In the midst of persecution, including one of their own being killed by the name of Antipas, the church has not denied Christ’s name or their faith (verse 13).
b. Christ knows that there are some in their congregation who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans (like the Ephesian church Rev. 2:2, 6) which ends up leading people astray. From church history we know that this group taught their followers to overcome (“nike” Greek) the lusts of this world and their flesh by giving themselves to licentious living. They probably believed that their physical bodies didn’t matter since God is essentially Spirit. Christ likens this teaching to that taught by the prophet Balaam. He advised the pagan King Balak on how to lure the Israelites into the sin of sacrificing to the false gods of the Moabites by seducing them by their women (verses 14, 15; Numbers 22:1-25:17, 31:16; 2 Peter 2:15; Jude 11).
c. Christ knows that false teachers need to repent (change their mind and accept and do truth) and the church leaders need to repent and not allow these false teachers to teach and exercise authority. Without repentance the church could come under Yahweh Jesus’ discipline (verse 16).
3. Christ’s award for His faithful ones (Rev. 2:17). To His true overcomers who will listen and put His words into practice Christ will give two things: 1) Hidden manna – manna was the daily food given by Yahweh to the Israelites during their 40 years of wandering in the desert of which some of it was hidden in the Ark of the Covenant (Ex. 16:31-34; Heb. 9:4). This promises sustaining intimacy with Christ now and millennial and eternal intimate fellowship in His service in the future (John 6:48-51; Revelation 19:6-9); 2) A White Stone with a new name – In the Roman world, white stones were given for special feasts or banquets which were presented at the time of entrance into the event. Many times the name of the person was inscribed on the stone. Christ is going to give His overcomers a stone with a new name picked out specifically by Him (Christ also has a new name, Rev. 19:12).
THOUGHT: Believers today need to watch out for some of the same problems that influenced the church at Pergamum. The lust for other things (idols) and sexual immorality are all around us. Christ’s word will speak to us and purify us if we let it!
II. Church #4: The Church at Thyatira
A. A brief history of the city of Thyatira: Thyatira was a merchant city located 45 miles southeast of Pergamum. During 95 A.D. at the time of the writing of Revelation, the city had a multitude of trade guilds which supplied the Roman military (being one of its military outposts) as well as the other cities since it was on Asia Minor’s major trade route. There were guilds (workers unions) for wool, linen, clothing, dyers, potters, bakers, leather, tanners, bronze smiths and slave traders. In the city were temples to Apollo, Artemis (Diana) and shrines to individual trade guild gods. Members of the trade guilds were expected to worship the god of that guild, participate in its feasts, and follow its social and sexual practices. Not participating in any of these could involve financial and social hardship. Lydia was from Thyatira as a “seller of purple” when the Apostle Paul witnesses Christ to her in Philippi (Acts 16:12-15).
B. Christ’s attributes, assessment, and award for the congregation of Thyatira (Revelation 2:18-29).
1. Christ’s attributes for the church to meditate on are found in Rev. 2:18. He is the Son of God which is the only time it is used in the book. The Apostle John uses this term to show the divine side of the Messiah whom he described for us as the Son of Man earlier (Rev. 1:13; John 1:34, 49; 20:31). He is also the one with blazing fire eyes and glowing bronze feet. His eyes speak of His all-knowing ability to exercise wise judgment and His feet speak of His ability to purify and conquer. These came from Revelation 1:14, 15 and could particularly speak to trade workers.
2. Christ’s assessment of the churches situation and problem (Rev. 2:19-25).
a. Christ knows the Thyatiran church’s ministry of love and faith, their endurance (the ability to “remain under” their situations), and commends them for doing more now than when they first started
(verse 19).
b. Christ knows that as a church, they are putting up with and giving a woman, who calls herself a prophetess, a platform to teach ideas that are not in conformity to the teaching of Christ and the apostles. Christ identifies her as similar to the Old Testament person Queen Jezebel. She was a Baal worshipping Canaanite who married Israel’s King Ahab and brought idolatry and deception to Israel provoking Yahweh to anger (I Kings 16:31-33; 2 Kings 9:22). This prophetess in Thyatira seemed to be teaching a form of Nicolaitan licentious living which has already been discussed in the churches of Ephesus and Pergamum (verse 20).
c. Christ has already confronted her with her error before this and has been waiting patiently for her and her followers to repent (change their mind and obey) (verse 21). If they choose to go their own way and not follow Christ’s discipline which could include affliction and suffering (“thlipsis” Greek), sickness (“I will cast her on her bed”), and death (verse 22). When this happens, those in the seven churches will take Christ’s discipline seriously (verse 23; I Cor. 11:30-32; James 5:19, 20; I John 5:16, 17).
d. Christ speaks comfort for those in the church who refuse to accept this prophetesses teachings on “the deep things of Satan.” This is probably the wrong view that Christians cannot be hurt by this world, and therefore can participate in it fully, because they are essentially spiritual beings. However, Christ says they should “hold fast” to His and the apostles true teaching until He comes. Christ took on human flesh (now has a glorified human body) and walked in purity and truth in His mortal body (verse 24, 25; Col. 3:5; I John 2:14-20).
3. Christ’s award for the faithful Thyatirans (Rev. 2:26-29).
a. True overcomers in Christ are promised a co-reigning with Him in His Millennial Kingdom on this earth (verse 26, 27; Psalms 2:8, 9; Daniel 7:27; Rom. 8:17; Rev. 20:4-6).
b. True overcomers in Christ (the Morning Star, Rev. 22:16) are given the glories and splendors of being with Christ forever. In new and glorified bodies, they can shine like the brightness of the heavens (verses 28, 29; Daniel 12:3).
THOUGHT: This is the center church (the fourth out of seven). Many times the main Hebrew and Greek message is found in the center of a writing. In this writing, the Son of God calls us to hold to the truth and to live for the Kingdom. This is also the message of the whole book!
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Revelation 2:1-11
YAHWEH JESUS IS IN THE MIDST OF HIS CHURCHES (PART I)
Revelation 2:1-11
As taught by Dave Lindstrom
I. Church #1: The Church as Ephesus (Rev. 2:1-7).
A. A brief history of the city of Ephesus: Ephesus was one of the most important and largest cities in Asia Minor (modern Turkey) at the time of Revelation (95 A.D.). It was given “free city” status and, therefore, could be self governed. It was a major trade city for Rome and a “temple warden” city for the fertility goddess Artemis (Greek) or Diana (Roman version). In this city of over 200,000 people, the temple had thousands of priests and priestesses dedicated to prostitution. The Apostle Paul planted the church at Ephesus in about 52 A.D. (Acts 18:19-21), spent three years ministering there between 54-56 A.D. and wrote his Ephesian letter while imprisoned in Rome in 60 A.D.
B. Christ’s attributes, assessments, and award for the congregation at Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7).
1. Christ’s attributes for the church to meditate on are found in Revelation 2:1. He identifies Himself as the churches’ powerful protector (“holding the seven stars in His right hand”) as well as the one who has intimate knowledge of their activity (“walking in their midst”) (Rev. 2:1, 1:13, 20). 2. Christ’s assessment of the churches’ situation and problem (Rev. 2:2-6).
a. Christ knows that the Ephesian church has been faithful at discerning and calling out evil men who are false apostles (probably claiming special authority from God) (verse 2). These are probably the same as the Nicolaitanes of verse 6 (possibly followers of the deacon Nicolas Acts 6:5). From church history we know that this group seemed to be teaching their followers to overcome (“nike” Greek) the lusts of this world and their flesh by giving themselves over to licenscious living. They probably believed their physical bodies didn’t matter since God is essentially Spirit. However, they were deceived since Christ took on human flesh (now has a glorified human body) and walked in purity, truth, and sinlessness (Revelation 2:2, 6; Col. 3:5;
I John 2:14-20).
b. Christ knows that the Ephesian church has patiently endured hard conditions for Christ’s name and have not given up. This probably relates to being a church in such a pagan city (verse 3).
c. Christ knows that the Ephesian church has forsaken or left their first love. The “first love” is like the passion and zeal of a new bride and groom for each other. Leaving the “first love” of Christ probably indicates a staleness or mediocrity with their individual and congregational witness of Christ’s love. If this church does not repent (change their minds or perspective), they could be removed as Christ’s light to this city (verse 4 and 5).
3. Christ’s award for the faithful Ephesians (Revelation 2:7).
a. There is a universal call to all of His churches then and now to this message. To repent, a person or congregation first needs to listen and obey (Greek “listen under”) (Isa. 6:9, 10; Matt. 13:9-17).
b. Christ’s true overcomers will eat of the tree of life. In other words, they will come back to the full situation of life with Yahweh and even more so that Adam and Eve were banished from (Gen. 3:22-24; Revelation. 22:1-5). This seems to promise a deeper life of knowing Yahweh Father and Son now and throughout eternity (John 17:1-5).
THOUGHT: On a scale of 1 to 10 is our passion and love for Christ higher or lower than it was 3 months, 3 years, or 30 years ago? How about our church as a whole?
II. Church #2: The Church at Smyrna (Rev. 2:8-11).
A. A brief history of the city of Smyrna: Smyrna was a large (200,000 population) and beautiful seaport city located 35 miles north of Ephesus. In modern Turkey, it is now called Izmir and is known to be the birthplace of Homer. It was an educational center for the area, wealthy, and a center for imperial worship as well as the Greek temples of Cybele, Zeus, Apollo, Asclepius, and Aphrodite. Under the Roman Emperor Domitian (81-96 A.D.) emperor worship became compulsory. A Christian who refused to worship Caesar or any of the other numerous Greek gods risked societal alienation, persecution, and death.
B. Christ’s attributes, assessment, and award for the congregation at Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11).
1. Christ’s attributes for the church to meditate on are found in Revelation 2:8. He identifies Himself as the churches’ promised Old Testament king and Messiah (Rev. 1:17; Isa. 44:6) that has made and will make everything right in the end. Yahweh Jesus suffered, died, and rose again and He will supply strength for the believers in Smyrna to do the same.
2. Christ’s assessment of the situation without a rebuke (Rev. 2:9, 10).
a. Christ knows that the Smyrnan church has had suffering (“thlipsis,” distress, ordeal) and economic hardship due to their stand for Christ. Evidently, Jewish non-believers have made matters worse for them by aggressively persecuting them and reporting Christian non-compliance (verse 9).
b. Christ knows that the Smyrnan church will still suffer some more specific things in the future and will experience a certain amount of fear. For a specific ten day period of time (same as Dan. 1:12-15), they would undergo very severe suffering and they are encouraged to remain faithful (verse 10a,b,c).
3. Christ’s award for the faithful Smyrnans (Revelation 2:10d, 11).
a. Christ’s faithful sufferers will receive a crown of life. The crown (“stephanos” Greek) was a reward given to the winner of the Olympic Games receiving a laurel wreathed (woven branched) crown. This seems to be a consistent specific reward for faithful suffering (James 2:12) which overcomers are rewarded with to lay before Christ’s throne in worship (Rev. 4:10d).
b. There is a universal call to all of His churches then and now to overcome and know that even though the first death hurts, the second death (being thrown into Hell, Rev. 20:6, 14, 15) will never hurt them (Rev. 4:11).
THOUGHT: Let’s meditate on our Yahweh Jesus’ attributes this week and receive
His strength.
Revelation 2:1-11
As taught by Dave Lindstrom
I. Church #1: The Church as Ephesus (Rev. 2:1-7).
A. A brief history of the city of Ephesus: Ephesus was one of the most important and largest cities in Asia Minor (modern Turkey) at the time of Revelation (95 A.D.). It was given “free city” status and, therefore, could be self governed. It was a major trade city for Rome and a “temple warden” city for the fertility goddess Artemis (Greek) or Diana (Roman version). In this city of over 200,000 people, the temple had thousands of priests and priestesses dedicated to prostitution. The Apostle Paul planted the church at Ephesus in about 52 A.D. (Acts 18:19-21), spent three years ministering there between 54-56 A.D. and wrote his Ephesian letter while imprisoned in Rome in 60 A.D.
B. Christ’s attributes, assessments, and award for the congregation at Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7).
1. Christ’s attributes for the church to meditate on are found in Revelation 2:1. He identifies Himself as the churches’ powerful protector (“holding the seven stars in His right hand”) as well as the one who has intimate knowledge of their activity (“walking in their midst”) (Rev. 2:1, 1:13, 20). 2. Christ’s assessment of the churches’ situation and problem (Rev. 2:2-6).
a. Christ knows that the Ephesian church has been faithful at discerning and calling out evil men who are false apostles (probably claiming special authority from God) (verse 2). These are probably the same as the Nicolaitanes of verse 6 (possibly followers of the deacon Nicolas Acts 6:5). From church history we know that this group seemed to be teaching their followers to overcome (“nike” Greek) the lusts of this world and their flesh by giving themselves over to licenscious living. They probably believed their physical bodies didn’t matter since God is essentially Spirit. However, they were deceived since Christ took on human flesh (now has a glorified human body) and walked in purity, truth, and sinlessness (Revelation 2:2, 6; Col. 3:5;
I John 2:14-20).
b. Christ knows that the Ephesian church has patiently endured hard conditions for Christ’s name and have not given up. This probably relates to being a church in such a pagan city (verse 3).
c. Christ knows that the Ephesian church has forsaken or left their first love. The “first love” is like the passion and zeal of a new bride and groom for each other. Leaving the “first love” of Christ probably indicates a staleness or mediocrity with their individual and congregational witness of Christ’s love. If this church does not repent (change their minds or perspective), they could be removed as Christ’s light to this city (verse 4 and 5).
3. Christ’s award for the faithful Ephesians (Revelation 2:7).
a. There is a universal call to all of His churches then and now to this message. To repent, a person or congregation first needs to listen and obey (Greek “listen under”) (Isa. 6:9, 10; Matt. 13:9-17).
b. Christ’s true overcomers will eat of the tree of life. In other words, they will come back to the full situation of life with Yahweh and even more so that Adam and Eve were banished from (Gen. 3:22-24; Revelation. 22:1-5). This seems to promise a deeper life of knowing Yahweh Father and Son now and throughout eternity (John 17:1-5).
THOUGHT: On a scale of 1 to 10 is our passion and love for Christ higher or lower than it was 3 months, 3 years, or 30 years ago? How about our church as a whole?
II. Church #2: The Church at Smyrna (Rev. 2:8-11).
A. A brief history of the city of Smyrna: Smyrna was a large (200,000 population) and beautiful seaport city located 35 miles north of Ephesus. In modern Turkey, it is now called Izmir and is known to be the birthplace of Homer. It was an educational center for the area, wealthy, and a center for imperial worship as well as the Greek temples of Cybele, Zeus, Apollo, Asclepius, and Aphrodite. Under the Roman Emperor Domitian (81-96 A.D.) emperor worship became compulsory. A Christian who refused to worship Caesar or any of the other numerous Greek gods risked societal alienation, persecution, and death.
B. Christ’s attributes, assessment, and award for the congregation at Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11).
1. Christ’s attributes for the church to meditate on are found in Revelation 2:8. He identifies Himself as the churches’ promised Old Testament king and Messiah (Rev. 1:17; Isa. 44:6) that has made and will make everything right in the end. Yahweh Jesus suffered, died, and rose again and He will supply strength for the believers in Smyrna to do the same.
2. Christ’s assessment of the situation without a rebuke (Rev. 2:9, 10).
a. Christ knows that the Smyrnan church has had suffering (“thlipsis,” distress, ordeal) and economic hardship due to their stand for Christ. Evidently, Jewish non-believers have made matters worse for them by aggressively persecuting them and reporting Christian non-compliance (verse 9).
b. Christ knows that the Smyrnan church will still suffer some more specific things in the future and will experience a certain amount of fear. For a specific ten day period of time (same as Dan. 1:12-15), they would undergo very severe suffering and they are encouraged to remain faithful (verse 10a,b,c).
3. Christ’s award for the faithful Smyrnans (Revelation 2:10d, 11).
a. Christ’s faithful sufferers will receive a crown of life. The crown (“stephanos” Greek) was a reward given to the winner of the Olympic Games receiving a laurel wreathed (woven branched) crown. This seems to be a consistent specific reward for faithful suffering (James 2:12) which overcomers are rewarded with to lay before Christ’s throne in worship (Rev. 4:10d).
b. There is a universal call to all of His churches then and now to overcome and know that even though the first death hurts, the second death (being thrown into Hell, Rev. 20:6, 14, 15) will never hurt them (Rev. 4:11).
THOUGHT: Let’s meditate on our Yahweh Jesus’ attributes this week and receive
His strength.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Revelation 1:9-20
THE COMMISSION OF THE APOSTLE JOHN’S WRITINGS AND
THE VISION OF THE GLORIFIED CHRIST AND
HIS PRESENCE IN THE MIDST OF HIS CHURCHES
Revelation 1:9-20
As taught by Dave Lindstrom
I. The Apostle John gives the historical setting as well as his commission to write the book of Revelation (Rev. 1:9-11)
A. John tells his Christian readers and hearers that he is their fellow brother (they are all in the same family of God in Christ). He also explains to them that they share fellowship together (Greek “koinonia”) in three areas: 1) suffering (Greek “thlipsis,” distress, ordeal); 2) kingdom (as believers we are now part of Christ’s kingdom (Matthew 28:18-20; John 12:12-16) and await Christ’s completed kingdom reign (Rev. 19:11-22:5); 3) patient endurance (Greek “hupomona,” remaining under), as Christians we call upon Yahweh to help us to remain a faithful witness through the trials and temptations of this world we are in (I Cor. 10:13; Rev. 1:9a).
B. John had been exiled to the island of Patmos and writes Revelation from there (Rev. 1:9b).
1. The historian Eusebius confirms that the Apostle John was banished to the island of Patmos in the fourteenth year of Roman Emperor Domitian’s reign (95 A.D.).
2. It was an island 10 miles long and 6 miles wide 37 miles off the coast of Miletus. It became a penal colony area for Rome but also had a decent population of citizens on the island, two gymnasia and a temple of Artemis.
3. There is presently a cave near the top of the island marked off as a shrine where it is thought that John received his visions and wrote the book of Revelation. He probably did this while looking out on the deep blue waters of the Aegean Sea.
4. He had been banished because of his teaching and preaching the Word of God and for being a witness of Jesus Christ.
5. Emperor Domitian died in 96 A.D., a general amnesty for the exiles were given, and it is believed that John returned to Ephesus.
THOUGHT: Right now, we as believers share a life in Christ’s Kingdom that has trouble and needs patient endurance. However, as we are faithful to our individual callings, Yahweh accomplishes His Kingdom purposes in and through us. Look at the example of the Apostle John!
C. John explains how he received his calling and commission to write the book of Revelation in a manner similar to an Old Testament prophet (Rev. 1:10,11; Ezek. 2:2, 3:12, 14, 24; Dan. 7:1,15).
1. John’s commission happened on the Lord’s Day. Scripture and church history helps us to understand this as Sunday (John 20:19, 26; Acts 20:7;
I Cor. 11:20; 16:2).
2. John’s commission happened while he was in the Spirit. This seems to be another way of saying that he was given the Holy Spirit’s understanding in his spirit through supernatural means (Rev. 4:2, 17:3, 21:10).
3. John heard his commission from a loud voice (probably Christ’s see also Rev. 1:19). It sounded to him like a trumpet which many times is used in Scripture to alert, warn, and prepare God’s people (Matt. 24:31;
I Cor. 15:52; I Thes. 4:16).
4. John was to write this book on a scroll to seven churches in Asia Minor which would now be in modern day Turkey.
a. This scroll would have been on a papyrus scroll and on completion might have spanned 17 feet rolled out.
b. The seven churches were probably selected because they were well known to the Apostle John, they were postal distribution centers, and they each showed important church issues (which churches for all time could relate to).
c. It seemed to be that the book would first go to Ephesus where it would be copied and then sent off to the next destination. After all seven churches copied their scroll, it was then probably sent to other Christian churches where it became widely known.
THOUGHT: Christianity is both supernatural and rational at the same time. The commission, writing, and distribution of Revelation shows both/and not either/or.
II. The Apostle John’s vision of the glorified Christ (Rev. 1:12-20).
A. Someone “like a son of man” is seen among or in the midst of a golden seven- branched lampstand which represents the seven churches (Rev. 1:12, 13a).
1. The coming Messiah (anointed one) is prophesied in Daniel 7:13 as “someone like the son of man” and while on earth Jesus called Himself the “Son of Man” (Luke 5:24, 6:5, 17:22, 24, 26, 30). Now in Revelation, John picks up this theme for our glorified Jesus Christ.
2. The golden seven-branched lampstand comes from the Old Testament lampstands found in the Jewish Tabernacle and Temples (Ex.25:31-40) and from the prophet Zechariah (Zech. 4:2 already used in Rev. 1:4 and will be used again in Rev. 11:4). The lampstand was the structure which supported the oil which could be lit and give light to an area. In the New Testament, Christ’s church is Yahweh’s light to this world (Matt. 5:14).
THOUGHT: It is interesting that the churches vision of the glorified Christ, after a time of over 60 years from the time of Acts, finds Jesus actively among His churches. We are not alone!
B. John next describes features of the glorified Son of Man (Rev. 1:13b-16).
1. John describes Jesus’ clothes, head and hair, eyes, feet, voice, right hand, mouth and face in which reveals the majesty of the King-Judge-Messiah of Isaiah 22:21, 22, Daniel 7:9-14, and Daniel 10:5, 6.
2. A ruler or dignitary wore a long robe with a golden sash around the chest as opposed to a day laborer whose robe would have been tucked in with the sash around his waist (Rev. 15:6). The white hair and blazing eyes speaks of Christ’s wisdom to judge (Daniel 7:9). The glowing feet show Christ’s ability to conquer and purify (Ezek. 1:13, 27). The voice of many waters demonstrates Christ’s awesome power and glory (Ezek. 43:2), His right hand held seven stars which are interpreted for us as seven angels evidently assigned to each of the seven churches (Rev. 1:20; Dan. 12:1; angels are always real angels in the rest of the book). His mouth with the double- edged sword expresses Christ’s ability to conquer, judge, and rebuke by the power of His Words, Word and faithfulness to His Father’s will (Isa. 11:4; Rev. 12:10, 11; 19:13-15). Finally, Christ’s amazingly bright shining face reveals His divine splendor and glory (Matt. 17:2).
C. This glorified Christ which the Apostle John has just seen is the very same one which was prophesied to come and the one who has accomplished the salvation of all who have and will believe (Rev. 1:17-20).
1. The Apostle John is strengthened by the glorified Christ after seeing this supernatural amazing sight (verse 17a; Matt. 17:6, 7).
2. Jesus proclaims Himself as the First and the Last revealing Himself to be the prophesied Old Testament’s King and Messiah (verse 17b; Isa. 44:6).
3. Jesus proclaims His own death, burial, and resurrection as the basis and power of His authority just as He has always done (verse 18a; John 5:19-30, 11:25; Matt. 28:18-20).
4. Jesus proclaims that because of His faithfulness to this plan of redemption that He now possesses the keys to death and Hades (the place of the dead which was Sheol in the Old Testament) (verse 18b; Isa. 53:4-12; John 5:38; Matt. 16:18, 19; John 5:38).
5. The Apostle John is again told to write this message of the glorified Christ which will include the things which he has seen (visions and instructions) for both the current and future time periods (verses 19, 20).
THE VISION OF THE GLORIFIED CHRIST AND
HIS PRESENCE IN THE MIDST OF HIS CHURCHES
Revelation 1:9-20
As taught by Dave Lindstrom
I. The Apostle John gives the historical setting as well as his commission to write the book of Revelation (Rev. 1:9-11)
A. John tells his Christian readers and hearers that he is their fellow brother (they are all in the same family of God in Christ). He also explains to them that they share fellowship together (Greek “koinonia”) in three areas: 1) suffering (Greek “thlipsis,” distress, ordeal); 2) kingdom (as believers we are now part of Christ’s kingdom (Matthew 28:18-20; John 12:12-16) and await Christ’s completed kingdom reign (Rev. 19:11-22:5); 3) patient endurance (Greek “hupomona,” remaining under), as Christians we call upon Yahweh to help us to remain a faithful witness through the trials and temptations of this world we are in (I Cor. 10:13; Rev. 1:9a).
B. John had been exiled to the island of Patmos and writes Revelation from there (Rev. 1:9b).
1. The historian Eusebius confirms that the Apostle John was banished to the island of Patmos in the fourteenth year of Roman Emperor Domitian’s reign (95 A.D.).
2. It was an island 10 miles long and 6 miles wide 37 miles off the coast of Miletus. It became a penal colony area for Rome but also had a decent population of citizens on the island, two gymnasia and a temple of Artemis.
3. There is presently a cave near the top of the island marked off as a shrine where it is thought that John received his visions and wrote the book of Revelation. He probably did this while looking out on the deep blue waters of the Aegean Sea.
4. He had been banished because of his teaching and preaching the Word of God and for being a witness of Jesus Christ.
5. Emperor Domitian died in 96 A.D., a general amnesty for the exiles were given, and it is believed that John returned to Ephesus.
THOUGHT: Right now, we as believers share a life in Christ’s Kingdom that has trouble and needs patient endurance. However, as we are faithful to our individual callings, Yahweh accomplishes His Kingdom purposes in and through us. Look at the example of the Apostle John!
C. John explains how he received his calling and commission to write the book of Revelation in a manner similar to an Old Testament prophet (Rev. 1:10,11; Ezek. 2:2, 3:12, 14, 24; Dan. 7:1,15).
1. John’s commission happened on the Lord’s Day. Scripture and church history helps us to understand this as Sunday (John 20:19, 26; Acts 20:7;
I Cor. 11:20; 16:2).
2. John’s commission happened while he was in the Spirit. This seems to be another way of saying that he was given the Holy Spirit’s understanding in his spirit through supernatural means (Rev. 4:2, 17:3, 21:10).
3. John heard his commission from a loud voice (probably Christ’s see also Rev. 1:19). It sounded to him like a trumpet which many times is used in Scripture to alert, warn, and prepare God’s people (Matt. 24:31;
I Cor. 15:52; I Thes. 4:16).
4. John was to write this book on a scroll to seven churches in Asia Minor which would now be in modern day Turkey.
a. This scroll would have been on a papyrus scroll and on completion might have spanned 17 feet rolled out.
b. The seven churches were probably selected because they were well known to the Apostle John, they were postal distribution centers, and they each showed important church issues (which churches for all time could relate to).
c. It seemed to be that the book would first go to Ephesus where it would be copied and then sent off to the next destination. After all seven churches copied their scroll, it was then probably sent to other Christian churches where it became widely known.
THOUGHT: Christianity is both supernatural and rational at the same time. The commission, writing, and distribution of Revelation shows both/and not either/or.
II. The Apostle John’s vision of the glorified Christ (Rev. 1:12-20).
A. Someone “like a son of man” is seen among or in the midst of a golden seven- branched lampstand which represents the seven churches (Rev. 1:12, 13a).
1. The coming Messiah (anointed one) is prophesied in Daniel 7:13 as “someone like the son of man” and while on earth Jesus called Himself the “Son of Man” (Luke 5:24, 6:5, 17:22, 24, 26, 30). Now in Revelation, John picks up this theme for our glorified Jesus Christ.
2. The golden seven-branched lampstand comes from the Old Testament lampstands found in the Jewish Tabernacle and Temples (Ex.25:31-40) and from the prophet Zechariah (Zech. 4:2 already used in Rev. 1:4 and will be used again in Rev. 11:4). The lampstand was the structure which supported the oil which could be lit and give light to an area. In the New Testament, Christ’s church is Yahweh’s light to this world (Matt. 5:14).
THOUGHT: It is interesting that the churches vision of the glorified Christ, after a time of over 60 years from the time of Acts, finds Jesus actively among His churches. We are not alone!
B. John next describes features of the glorified Son of Man (Rev. 1:13b-16).
1. John describes Jesus’ clothes, head and hair, eyes, feet, voice, right hand, mouth and face in which reveals the majesty of the King-Judge-Messiah of Isaiah 22:21, 22, Daniel 7:9-14, and Daniel 10:5, 6.
2. A ruler or dignitary wore a long robe with a golden sash around the chest as opposed to a day laborer whose robe would have been tucked in with the sash around his waist (Rev. 15:6). The white hair and blazing eyes speaks of Christ’s wisdom to judge (Daniel 7:9). The glowing feet show Christ’s ability to conquer and purify (Ezek. 1:13, 27). The voice of many waters demonstrates Christ’s awesome power and glory (Ezek. 43:2), His right hand held seven stars which are interpreted for us as seven angels evidently assigned to each of the seven churches (Rev. 1:20; Dan. 12:1; angels are always real angels in the rest of the book). His mouth with the double- edged sword expresses Christ’s ability to conquer, judge, and rebuke by the power of His Words, Word and faithfulness to His Father’s will (Isa. 11:4; Rev. 12:10, 11; 19:13-15). Finally, Christ’s amazingly bright shining face reveals His divine splendor and glory (Matt. 17:2).
C. This glorified Christ which the Apostle John has just seen is the very same one which was prophesied to come and the one who has accomplished the salvation of all who have and will believe (Rev. 1:17-20).
1. The Apostle John is strengthened by the glorified Christ after seeing this supernatural amazing sight (verse 17a; Matt. 17:6, 7).
2. Jesus proclaims Himself as the First and the Last revealing Himself to be the prophesied Old Testament’s King and Messiah (verse 17b; Isa. 44:6).
3. Jesus proclaims His own death, burial, and resurrection as the basis and power of His authority just as He has always done (verse 18a; John 5:19-30, 11:25; Matt. 28:18-20).
4. Jesus proclaims that because of His faithfulness to this plan of redemption that He now possesses the keys to death and Hades (the place of the dead which was Sheol in the Old Testament) (verse 18b; Isa. 53:4-12; John 5:38; Matt. 16:18, 19; John 5:38).
5. The Apostle John is again told to write this message of the glorified Christ which will include the things which he has seen (visions and instructions) for both the current and future time periods (verses 19, 20).
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