Revelation 2:8-2:17, Enduring persecution is healthy. Compromising God's truth with the world's culture is deadly

Rev 2:8-11 (ESV) "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: 'The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.


9 "'I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.  10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.  11  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.'


DESCRIPTION
• Destination is Smyrna
• Greek word for myrrh. Used in embalming. Would also mix with wine for fragrance. Taste is  "bitter"
• Ephesus meant desired
• So, Smyrna would suggest the opposite
• The city is also a harbor town
• Probably a better harbor town than Ephesus but looked northwest, while Ephesus was south and most traffic would have come from the south
• Black sea traffic would choose Smyrna
• In Smyrna, Rome found its most loyal supporters (due to some political interactions with Pergamum)
• Smyrna was the first city to dedication a temple to the cult of Rome (195 BC)
• Little remains of the city (earthquake  and the real city of Izmir
• Metroum - sanctuary to the mother of the gods
• Gymnasium
• Two-storied colonnades
• Library
• Homereium - sanctuary to Home
• Stone paved streets laid out in a grid
• City lacked sewers
• Residents worshipped a goddess, Cybele, who rose from the dead every spring
LITERAL / UNIVERSAL
• What is the point of the description of Jesus?
• First and last; died and came to life again
• Beginning and the end; overcame death; death is not the end -- Jesus is the proof (this would be an especially encouraging reminder for those who are about to die)
• What do we learn about the church from the commendations?
• Unusually poor suggesting some inability to maintain wealth or to own homes
• But they haven't lost a thing because their reward was in heaven
• One possibility: People who called themselves Jews could be a reference to a people who thought they were the people of God. The Romans considered themselves God's people with the emperor as God himself
• Exhortation
• Devil will put some in prison (coercion to compel obedience or to restrain a person before execution)
• Technically, the only acceptable worship was the Emperor
• Judaism was granted an exception (apparently, their proselytizing was not enough to be a nuisance)
• Most other religions were not against adding in the imperial cult
• Christianity was perceived as a sect of Judaism, which it was, and it was awhile before the Romans figured it out.
• Most likely a literal ten days to the recipients of the letter
• Ten days of persecution - the Romans did not use long-term incarceration
• No free room and broad
• Fine, whip, release, or kill
• Although, only a few places had authority to execute capital punishment
• APPLICATION: You will have ten days to live. Don't give up! You are going to die
• Death is a good thing and a bad thing in scriptures (and is used both ways)
• It is a good thing when we have served the Lord faithfully
• It is a bad thing when God has to remove us from the earth because of our witness
• Scriptures talk about 5 crowns for believers

An Imperishable Crown	For leading a disciplined life	1 Cor. 9:25
A Crown of Rejoicing	For evangelism and discipleship	1 Thess. 2:19
A Crown of Righteousness	For loving the Lord's appearing	2 Tim. 4:8
A Crown of Life	For enduring trials	James 1:12; Rev. 2:10
A Crown of Glory	For shepherding God's flock faithfully	1 Pet. 5:4

2 Tim 4:7-8 (ESV) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
1 Cor 9:24-25 (ESV) Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
• What do we learn from the condemnation?
• There is no condemnation
• In the first century the enemies of Christians leveled six slanderous ("reference to slander")accusations against Christians: cannibalism, lust and immorality, breaking up homes, atheism, political disloyalty, and being incendiaries (because they taught that the world would burn up)
• The promise is specific to the individuals and what does it mean "not be hurt by the second death"
• What is the second death? It occurs after the second coming where the unbelievers are thrown into the lake of fire
• That is the real death to fear
• Dying on earth is nothing compared to the reality of the second death
• Their persecutors will die twice but they will only die once
PROPHETIC
• For the purpose of the historical-prophetic interpretation,  Smyrna is the "The Church of Roman Persecution" and covers the period of AD 100-313
• The ten days may also represent ten emperors of the period (overlapping some with the previous church age)
1. Nero, persecution years 64-68 (followed by Galba, Otho, Vitellius, Vespasian, Titus)
2. Domitian, persecution years 95-96 (followed by Nerva)
3. Trajan, persecution years 104-17 (followed by Hadrian and Pius)
4. Marcus Aurelius, persecution years, entire reign, 161-180 (followed by Commodus, Pertinax, Julianus)
5. Septimus Severus, persecution years 200-211 (followed by Caracall, Macrinus, Elagabalus, Alexander Severus)
6. Maximus, years of persecution, entire reign, 235-237 (followed by Gordian I, II, III, Philip the Arabian)
7. Decius, years of persecution, entire reign, 249-251 (followed by Galllus, Aemilianus)
8. Valerian, years of persecution, 257-260 (followed by Gallienus, Claudius II)
9. Aurelian, years of persecution, 274, 275 (followed by Tacitus, Probus, Carus, Carinus, and Numerian)
10. Diocletian, years of persecution, 303-305
• Suffering afflictions
• At the martyrdom of Polycarp in 168, the Jews assisted by gathering wood on the Sabbath for the fire (Ryrie)
• APPLICATION: the church continued to grow despite the heavy persecution. Not too many years ago, the fastest growing church in the world was in Communist China. Persecution helps you to realize what is really important in the world. Jesus has no condemnation for this church, because they were seeking him, not the things of the world. How does my seeking "things" divert my attention from God


Rev 2:12-17 (ESV) "And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: 'The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.


13 "'I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.  14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.  15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.  16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.  17  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.'


DESCRIPTION
• Destination is Pergamum
• The direct translation from Greek means "citadel" or "tower"
• Fruchtenbaum and Armstrong: "thoroughly married"
• Town is noteworthy on multiple counts
• Center for many pagan religious cults -- emperor worship was also intense
• Temple of Zeus
• Altar of Zeus taken to Berlin. Excavated and transferred to Germany stone by stone (1930)
• Speer used the design to create the Zeppelin parade review in Nuremburg
• Temple of Athena
• Three temple to Caesar
• Temple to Demeter
• A major healing complex dedicated to the god Asclepius (held a snake-entwined staff)
• Went in through the basement
• Given a sedative
• Slept in the dormitory with a large number of non-poisonous snakes
• Snakes would heal the petitioners
• It had a university with a large library (rivaled Alexandria)
• It was the leader and center of the production of parchment
• Imperial governor held court -- one of the places where a capital sentence could be execute
LITERAL / HISTORICAL
• What is the point of the description of Jesus, "him who has the sharp double-edged sword'
• In the original description, the sword comes out of his mouth, signifying the word of God
• One thought: the Romans held the sword, the power of life and death, but God really holds the true power of life and death
• Second thought (preferred): the picture of Jesus is a picture of judgment used later in the book of revelation. Jesus is the judge of all the earth and he will judge the people for their sins
• What about the location might have something to do with the description of Jesus
• If a large parchment producer and a large library, it may be a source of intelligence/wisdom of the world to spread
• Jesus' word is the answer to the world's wisdom and writings
• What do we learn about the church from the commendations?
• Even after Antipas' martyrdom, the church remained true
• Antipas cast out a lot of demons. Demons complained in dreams to pagans
• "Antipas is said to have been a dentist and a physician, but the Aesculapiades suspected that he was propagating Christianity secretly and they accused him of disloyalty to Caesar. He was condemned to death and was shut up in a brazen (or copper) bull, which was then heated until it was red-hot." (Tatford)
• It could be that they live in a particularly saturated area of worldly wisdom and pagan religious ideas, and no one wanted to listen to the truth of Jesus Christ?
• Sometimes it is difficult to stay true when it doesn't seem like anyone else believes
• Which is why fellowship is so important, because if I think I am the only one out there I will be defeated. We need support from other brothers and sisters
• Not really sure about the "Satan's throne" reference
• Some think it is an emperor worship
• Some think it is one of the temples (like the altar of Zeus)
• The temple of Esculapius contains an idol in the image of a serpent
• It could literally have been his throne (at that time) for a variety of reasons
• What do we learn from the condemnations? (There are two)
• FIRST: The teaching of Balaam was essentially to mix ideologies through marriage
• Balaam told Balak to form alliances through marriage and to bring foreign concepts of worship in the Israelite community
• APPLICATION: You need to marry another believer, and not just some who calls themselves a Christian
• SECOND: We already discussed the teaching of the Nicolatians previously. The word is related to rule and Fruchtenbaum believes that this is where the distinction between clergy and laity starts to blossom (with different rules for each)
• Exhortation
• Repent, which means change your mind and choose to act differently
• Otherwise, you will be fighting against God (and you will be fighting against his word of truth)
• The promise is "hidden manna" and "white stone" -- what do they mean?
• Hidden manna is spiritual nourishment and sustainment
• White stone could be received three ways
• One, when found innocent in a trial
• Two, when received into membership of a private club
• When you left the healing facility, you would pick up a stone and write what you were healed of and place in a pile near the exit. Would be a great marketing tool (Armstrong)
• APPLICATION: Jesus provides real healing to those who conquer the false marriage of Christianity and culture. This is a universal struggle for the church. Nowadays, people are trying to combine an acceptance of homosexual marriage with the church
• In the bible, a person receives "a new name" when he has overcome some spiritual obstacle, like Abram and Jacob being renamed Abraham and Israel
PROPHETIC
• For the purpose of the historical-prophetic interpretation,  Pergamum is "The church of the age of Constantine" and covers the period of AD 313-600
• The condemnation of Balaam fits the period well
• The legalization of Christianity in the emperor allowed many pagan ideas to marry into it such that it was hard to determine what Christianity really was …
• The separating of the church into clergy and laity picked up steam, and the mixing of the state and the church. Constantine becomes the head of the church
• True Christianity is attacked because it is an attack on the state and an attack on the head of the church
• APPLICATION: the danger of mixing the ways of the world and it's culture into our faith is very real even today. We may not have a "state" controlling our faith, but we have the "loud" voices of culture that tell us what is acceptable or not, and it gets into the faith (homosexual marriage, living together before marriage, pornography as freedom of speech, white lies on taxes, accepting other's beliefs as appropriate ways to worship God, …)

Intro to Churches; and Revelation 2:1-7, The need to stay in the word and in fellowship

• Common characteristics
• Messages to churches; last audible message of Christ in the scriptures
• The message is to the visible church (as opposed to the invisible church, which would be all believers)
• Visible church is the local body or local church manifestation
• Church is made up of believers and unbelievers (in differing percentages)
• Sitting in a church does not make you a believer
• Example of Derwood Elder
• Invisible church has only believers
• Tone
• Jesus has something negative to say to 5 of the 7 (2 have nothing negative)
• Jesus has something good to say to 6
• One church, the 7th church has nothing good to say about it
• Four common things in all 7 letters
• Description of the Messiah
• Every letter contains the words "I know" -- God is not unaware
• Every letter has the phrase "he that overcomes" -- promise
• Every letter has the phrase "he who has an ear, let him hear" -- obedience
• Interpretation
• They are clearly 7 real churches (LITERAL)
• All 7 church types have existed throughout history (UNIVERSAL)
• [Controversial] "The historical-prophetic interpretation" -- while all types of churches always exist, one type dominates a particular era of church history (PROPHETIC)
• Letter outline
• Destination
• Description of Jesus
• Commendation
• Condemnation
• Exhortation
• Promise
• Angel
• Definition: literal angels (do concordance search in LOGOS)
• 79 results in 75 verses
• Notice Greek words
• Notice assumption: Greek word is not always present but assumed in the context
• Some think they are messengers or pastors (it is possible, but does not fit the context well. I think the author would have used a different word)
• Why the picture or image of a star?
• Over us
• Doesn't change
• Marker in the sky (helpful) -- Hebrews: ministering angels to serve the church
• Church
• Why seven? Completeness
• We are all part of the one church: universal church
• Seven churches are the local representation of the church
• Seven lamps on a lampstand remind us of the menorah
• Menorah was in the tabernacle
• Light to the nations
• Responsibility of the light to the nation is now the church's (we are salt and light)
• Seven churches of Revelation
• All scholars seem to agree on 2 propositions; the third is questioned by some
1. They were real churches
2. All the church types have existed throughout church history
3. One particular type of church dominates an era
• Timeline (Fruchtenbaum, 2003)
• Ephesus, AD 30-100, Apostolic Church
• Smyrna, AD 100-313, Persecuted Church
• Pergamum,  AD 313-600, Married Church, Age of Constantine
• Thyatira, 600-1517, Dark ages
• Sardis, 1517-1648, Reformation Church
• Philadelphia, 1648-1900, Missionary movement
• Laodicea, 1900-present, Apostasy


Rev 2:1-7 (ESV) "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: 'The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.


2 "'I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.  3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary.  4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.  5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.  6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.  7  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.'


• Destination is Ephesus. What might be significant about Ephesus in context with the whole book?
• Meaning of the name: Desired or desirable (Fruchtenbaum)
• Important port city. Very wealthy and prosperous. At its peak in the first and second centuries
• Lots of sailors
• Largest city in Roman Asia
• Many temples in the city
• Sexuality was common in pagan worship
• Largest number of believers in the first century -- probably the most important Christian center by the end of the first century
• Commercial center status changes as the harbor and river is silted up
• Goths destroyed city in 263 AD. Earthquake destroyed it again in 614 AD. There is no church in Ephesus today
• Early church writers suggest that John was ministering at Ephesus prior to and after his imprisonment. Timothy ministered here, as did Paul
• What is the point of the description of Jesus?
• It comes from 1:13, 16, 20
• It points to Jesus overall authority and control over all the churches (and under the historical-prophetic, over all the church age)
• In other words, "I can fire you"
• God can remove a church (its lampstand)
• What do we learn about the church from the commendations?
• Deeds -- actually doing things; not just playing church
• Hard work (NIV); toil (ESV) - (Grk kopos: literally a cut, translated toil or pain)
• 1/2 Timothy, there is an issue of false teachers, so possibly the commendation is related to dealing with that issue
• They did "hard" work. Whatever the problems or issues, it wasn't easy. Sometimes there is this false thinking that everything in the Christian life has to be easy because we have to "let go and let God." But here, the needed to put effort into their service
• Perseverance (NIV); patient endurance (ESV)
• What are the conditions that require perseverance? Things don't work the first time; change happens slowly; there doesn't seem to be any effect
• Very pagan city with a lot of immorality
• The Ephesians didn't give up even when things did not go right the first time ("they were blessed")
• Related to perseverance is the phrase (you cannot bear with those who are evil). What is Jesus saying?
• They didn't compromise
• I believe they hated the sin, but I am not saying they hated the sinners
• They have tested those who claim to be apostles, and found them to be false
• How do we discover false teaching today? We compare it against the word of God
• Acts 20, Paul warns them of false teachers
Acts 20:29-32 (ESV) I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears. 32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified

• Timothy is also warned of false teachers (1 Tim 1:19,20; 2Tim 2:17-18; 2 Tim 4:3-4)
1 Timothy 1:18–20 (ESV) — 18 This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, 20 among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
2 Timothy 2:16–18 (ESV) — 16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some.
2 Timothy 4:3–5 (ESV) — 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

• How does false teaching slip into a church?
• If we don't know the word, we are susceptible to error
• We fall for Gnosticism (idea of secret teachings)
• APPLICATION: Highly recommend a daily reading program (both Youversion and DailyBible apps have really improved their daily reading programs). Also recommend a regular QT (5-10 minutes a day of a short devotion)
• They haven't grown weary. How do we see that today or maybe the opposite?
• Nowadays, lots of young adult believers have grown weary of the faith
• It's not your parent's faith, make it your own
• #1 suggestion: don't give up meeting together with other believers (Heb 10:24, 25)
• The verse in Hebrews is written to second generation believers who were having their doubts
• They were thinking of going back to Judaism
• We need fellowship to encourage us and give us strength
• (verse 2:6) Hate the work of the Nicolaitans
• There is no record or mention of this group in church history, so we need to imply the meaning from the word itself (three lines of thinking …)
• Nicolaitans: Greek means victor or destroyer of people. Fruchtenbaum suggest "rule over the people." In this sense the word could mean an attempt to separate the church into clergy and laity, where the clergy exercise leadership over the laity
• Elders do have authority to lead the church but they are subject to the local church. This would appear to go much farther
• Issue is not authority. The issue is the idea of gaining higher status and people come to clergy to go to God (UNBIBLICAL)
• Also, there is some suggestion that they were compromisers. They would fit pagan practices into biblical understandings in order to create peace. They took Paul's teach on "meat sacrificed to idols" to an extreme (to include sexual immorality)
• Finally, there is some literature suggesting they were Gnostics, believing in secret teachings not revealed in the bible
• What do we learn from the condemnation?
• They had lost their first love. What is the first love?
• Love for God
• Love for his word
• Two thoughts
• This is probably the second generation of believers and they don't have the same zeal and fervor as the first generation (this is very similar to the book of Hebrews)
• Wealth has pushed God to the side. This was a very rich city
• What is the solution?
• Repent
• Return
• Take action -- do the things you did at first (I believe this starts with a love for the word of God)
• What about the consequence of not returning, can you lose your salvation? What is Jesus saying?
• First of all, you can never lose your salvation for that would violate other scripture (remember our hermeneutic, scripture interprets scripture)
• Secondly, the warning is to remove the lampstand from its place. What is the lampstand and how does that help us to understand the meaning?
• It is the church. The light represents the witness
• Failure to respond will be the removal of the local body as a light in the community
• This church was removed. It does not exist today
• The promise in this letter is specific to the individuals. What does it mean "to eat from the tree of life?"
• What is eating associated with? Fellowship protects a person from losing their joy
• Who is the tree of life? Jesus
• There the promise is deeper fellowship with Jesus to the person who overcomes. Fruchtenbaum suggest participation in the future order (reward)
• For the purpose of the historical-prophetic interpretation,  Ephesus is the "The Apostolic Church" and covers the period of AD 30-100

Revelation 1, You are never too old for God to use you

Rev 1:1-3 (ESV) The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2  who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3  Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.


• What is the purpose of the book?
• A revelation of Jesus Christ -- Greek word ἀποκάλυψις. The word means to unveil (see LOGOS)
• To show his servants what the things that must soon take place (we will come back to this point)
• Interestingly, the book is a revelation of Jesus Christ. So what does the book reveal about Jesus?
• It reveals the person of Jesus, who he is (the climax of Christology)
• The books gives titles to Jesus which expands our understanding of what and who Jesus is -- He is more than the Messiah to the people of Israel
• The book reveals the power of Jesus (over all things)
• The book reveals the program of Jesus (1:19) to include his purpose
• A key point is a word that first appears here and then 44 times in the book ("I saw")
• John is telling us what he saw. He is describing the future from the view of a first century believer
• There are actually seven blessings mentioned in the book of Revelation. Here is the first, it is a blessing to those who read it
• Who wouldn't want a free blessing?
• APPLICATION: Make a goal to read through the book at least once over the next few weeks. Recognize that Revelation is similar to a modern TV series (it flashes back and forward in time, and it repeats exact sequences but for a new or unique perspective)
• APPLICATION: If you have a smartphone, use the youversion app to listen to the book of Revelation
• We have already talked about the word "near." It means imminent, that is it could happen at any time (i.e., the whole course and not some individual items)


Rev 1:4-8 (ESV) John to the seven churches that are in Asia:

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

8  "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."



• John writes this as one would write a letter. Also, this is specifically written to the seven churches in Asia (later referenced). Why only them?
• In past letters, John writes his letter in an open (no destination) style. Of course, Jerusalem is gone, but why not Rome, or Antioch, or others?
• In some ways, the seven churches represent the body Christ (my opinion)
• Also, there are more than seven churches in Asia. Troas, Hierapolis, and Colossae are not mentioned
• John also includes as the author of the book who (… and from … (3x))? The Triune God
• God the Father
• Who was
• Who is
• Who is to come
• Normally we think of this as Jesus, but if the Father is sending the son, it would be the same essential thing
• Also, the three-fold description represents his eternality
• The seven spirits (also the sevenfold spirit of God)
• While some argue that the term refers to the seven angelic messengers later sent to the churches or the archangels, that would sandwich angels between the Father and son and encourage angel worship
• A better view is that it is the Holy Spirit in all his fullness (7 meaning completeness)
• The 7 Spirits is seen in Isa 11:2 (NIV)
  The Spirit of the Lord[number one] will rest on him --
  the Spirit of wisdom[number two] and of understanding[three],
  the Spirit of counsel[four] and of power[five],
  the Spirit of knowledge[six] and of the fear of the Lord[seven] -- (Isaiah 11:2 NIV) From <http://www.raystedman.org/new-testament/revelation/behind-the-scenes-of-history>
• "… Moreover, two passages from the Tanakh suggest a special relationship between the Holy Spirit and the number seven—Isaiah 11:2, which gives seven attributes of the Spirit, and Zechariah 4:2-10 (better 4:2-6,10), in which some of the “seven”-imagery of Revelation is associated with the Spirit." (from Jewish New Testament Commentary Copyright © 1992 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved. Used by permission.)
• Jesus Christ
1. The faithful witness
2. The firstborn from the dead (references the first coming) as the suffering servant
3. The ruler of the kings of the earth (references the second coming) as the lion of the tribe of David
4. Loves us
5. Freed us
6. Made us a kingdom
7. Made us priests to God (we represent God to others). We appeal to God on the behalf of others
• The first prophetic oracle is verse 1:7-8. The only other one where God the Father speaks is 21:5-8. What is the point of the oracle?
• It is the theme of the book, the return of Jesus Christ and his ultimate victory
• This is a key promise in the book. It is also combines Daniel 7:13–14 (ESV) — 13 “I saw in the night visions, // and behold, with the clouds of heaven // there came one like a son of man, // and he came to the Ancient of Days // and was presented before him. // 14 And to him was given dominion // and glory and a kingdom, // that all peoples, nations, and languages // should serve him; // his dominion is an everlasting dominion, // which shall not pass away, // and his kingdom one // that shall not be destroyed.  with Zechariah 12:10 (ESV) — 10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.  The allusion to this combination occurs 31 times in Revelation. It is also the thesis statement
• He is coming
• Every eye will see him
• And they will wail (and not in a good sense)


Rev 1:9-16 (ESV) I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10  I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 saying, "Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea."

12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14  The hairs of his head were white like wool, as white as snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15  his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16  In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.



• Next John relates a vision of the glorified Christ
• Why was he at Patmos?
• Probably some type of prison term or detention
• According to early church leaders, he was sent there from Ephesus in AD 95. The island is very close to Ephesus
• The island served as a Penal colony for political prisoners of Rome. He worked in the mines or quarry (probably)
• He was freed after AD 96  by Nerva, Domitian's successor
• John would be between 80 and 90 years old. APPLICATION: Who says God can't still use you late in life?
• The Lord's day is peculiar construction. Lord is used as an adjective, and so the exact phrase is Lordy day
• It could be Saturday (the Sabbath)
• It could be Sunday (the first day of the week and the day of Jesus' resurrection)
• It could be a day that he was in the spirit, praying (most likely)
• None of the NT writers refer to Sunday as the Lord's day, although it became common in the second and third centuries
• Point out the 7 churches on the map and Patmos
• Verses 12-16 describe the person who gave him his commission. What do we note in the description (also show Graphic)
• He is among the churches (7 lampstands--explained in the next passage) -- we are the body of Christ and he is in our midst. The world is supposed to see Jesus through the church
• Son of man (Rev 14:14 golden crown and a sharp sickle)
• Robe and golden sash emphasize his priestly role (Rev 15:16 angels with golden sashes carry the bowl judgments)
• This is his current role (interceding for us)
• During his first coming, he was a prophet
• During his second coming, he will be a conquering king
• White hair emphasizes wisdom
• White as snow emphasizing holiness
• Eyes like flame of fire -- fire burns and in this case it sees right through you (all-knowing) (Rev 19:12 -- at the second coming to judge the evil in the world)
• Feet of burnished bronze -- steadfast & immutable
• Voice like the roar of many waters -- could be authority; water can't be stopped (Rev 14:2 standing with 144K; Rev 19:6 announcement of the marriage supper but not sure if it Jesus)
• Right hand held seven stars -- the angels of the seven churches report to him (explained in the next passage)
• Sword comes out of his mouth. Revelation is a book of judgment. Jesus will judge the nations by his word (Heb 4:12) (Rev 19:15,21 second coming and judgment of evil upon the earth)
• APPLICATION:
• No matter how old you are, God can use you in his plan
• John's example of "Lordy day" is a challenge to us. Have you ever had a day alone with a God, or a half-day? A time of prayer, singing, reading, and writing down what the Spirit speaks. We see Pastors take "sabbatical" but why are we so slow to think that we don't need to do the same?


Rev 1:17-20 (ESV)  When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last,  18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.  19  Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.  20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.


• This must have been an amazing sight for John. The man who laid his head on Jesus' chest and one of his closest human friends (as he tells us), and now to see him in his full glory -- I'm not surprised he collapsed at his feet
• Jesus, ruler over all, touches him and says "do not be afraid"
• We all could remember that touch
• How often we let the world steal our joy
• Jesus repeats the instruction to write down what he sees and gives him an outline
• What you have seen
• What is now
• What will take place later
• Now fitting the outline with the purpose (to show what must soon take place)
• "The things you have seen" is Jesus, the vision of the future king (he holds the keys)
• "Those that are" refers to the whole church (and its history)
• The church is a mystery
• Eph 3:6 (ESV) This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
• Eph 3:8-10 (ESV) To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
• "Those that are to take place after this" -- same exact phrase points to 4:1
• "After this" would then refer to after the church period (the mystery)
• Also another argument for a pre-trib rapture to remove the church prior to the tribulation
• And Jesus begins to explain some of the symbols
• Seven lampstand are 7 churches. Why lampstand?
• Because the church is supposed to be a light in a dark world
• Seven stars are the angels of the 7 churches
• Since the word means messengers they could be the human representative of the churches -- pastor or elders
• Could be the spirit that characterized the church
• Could be actual angelic guardians
• Most likely if you look at the use of angel in the book
• Repeats a theme in the book where the angels have roles, authority, and purpose (good example: Rev 16:5 angel in charge of the waters)
• As we try to interpret symbols we will use scripture (Old and New Testament) when a symbol is clearly in use
• APPLICATION: Just as the 7 churches represent the larger body of Christ, so each one us represents part of the local body. We are called to be lights to a dark world. If the individual members are not lights then the local church will not have a light either