Revelation, I have been excited for this book so let’s get started. The name Revelation, or Apocalypse, simply means “The lifting of the veil” or to open or to make known. Now we will study this book like all the other books, chapter by chapter and verse by verse. Revelation 1 and verse 1 reads.
Rev.1:1] The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
From Jesus Christ, to make known to you, opened to John to give to us a clear vision of what is to come. Meaning for John to write for us in these end times.
Rev.1:2] Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
John bearing witness in this book as he bared witness in his gospel, and explained very well in his 1st epistle 1:1-5.
Rev.1:3] Blessed 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.
This is written to God’s elect, in which it will be made known unto in the end times. Notice this book is prophesy written to us today.
Rev.1:4] John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
John has a message for the seven churches from Jesus and the seven Spirits which are Spirits of the seven churches. These seven Spirits are the LORD’s Spirit, we find them in Rev.7:12 and it reads.
Rev.7:12] Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
Now, back to verse 4 and it also gave us the three earth and heaven ages. The “Him” was Jesus and said “Who was, and who is, and who is to come”. Back to Rev.1 and verse 5 reads.
Rev.1:5] And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
This is why we teach Christ crucified, he took the stripes and we get the healing. Check out this word “Witness”. G3144 in your Strongs’ Martus in the Greek or Martyr in English. And means; Those who after his example has proved the strength and genuineness of their faith in Christ by undergoing a violent death.
Rev.1:6] And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Has made us kings and priests unto the Father. We know that Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, but that we also are kings and priests, how? We are talking about those that are his elect, his chosen, those he sent. How can we be sure that we are his elect? The answer is simple. Do you know that the sixth trump comes before the seventh trump, if so and you are here with the truth to stand before Satan, then Yes you are one of God’s Elect. Then you must know that we have work to do in the millennium also. There is more written about the millennium in Ezekiel than anywhere else in God’s word. from chapters 40-48 is all the millennium. Let’s find out what God’s elect will be doing. Eze.44 and verse 23 reads.
Eze.44:23] And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.
We will be teachers, priest.
Eze.44:24] And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to my judgments: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies; and they shall hallow my sabbaths.
[25] And they shall come at no dead person to defile themselves: but for father, or for mother, or for son, or for daughter, for brother, or for sister that hath had no husband, they may defile themselves.
We will know our loved ones in heaven, and we will be able to go to them to bring them to the Father through the Son.
Eze.44:26] And after he is cleansed, they shall reckon unto him seven days.
[27] And in the day that he goeth into the sanctuary, unto the inner court, to minister in the sanctuary, he shall offer his sin offering, saith the Lord GOD.
It will cost us seven days away from the LORD to be cleansed of their sins. A good price to pay for a loved one.
Eze.44:28] And it shall be unto them for an inheritance: I am their inheritance: and ye shall give them no possession in Israel: I am their possession.
Our inheritance is not land, but the LORD himself is our inheritance. Back to Rev.1 and verse 7 reads.
Rev.1:7] Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
At the second advent all shall see him, even those who pierced his hands and feet. Let’s go to the Old Testament where it was prophesied that those that pierced him would wail for him. Zech.12 and verse 10 reads.
Zec.12:10] And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
They will be ashamed and the Word of the Lord shall come to pass exactly as it is written. Back to Rev.1 and verse 8 reads.
Rev.1:8] I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Saying he is Genesis through Revelation, the Word of God, Jesus Christ the Son of God.
Rev.1:9] 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 Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
John was sentenced to Patmos only because he survived the vat of boiling oil that they threw him in. Checking out this word testimony we find it is G3141 Marturia and means; The office committed to the prophets of testifying concerning future events.
Rev.1:10] I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
Here we have John being taken in the Spirit (upper case) to the Lord’s Day. This would be at the seventh trump and just before, to give us the Word of God. I want you to notice that it was John and not the churches being brought to the Lord’s Day. Some would have you believe differently. Those that teach the rapture theory.
Rev.1:11] Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send 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.
These churches should be considered the churches in these end times, more on that in the next lesson.
Rev.1:12] And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
These golden candlesticks are the churches. Jesus is only happy with two of them, the rest are given warnings. But let’s think about this for a moment. What is a candlestick for? Jesus taught us this when he was with us in the flesh. Mark 4 and verse 21 reads.
Mark 4:21] And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?
The candlestick is for the candle, to give Light to the room. Jesus is that Light and as God’s elect we are to give it for the world to see the truth.
Mark 4:22] For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.
The truth will be made known to all that seek him, seek his word.
Mark 4:23] If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
Proving this was written to God’s elect, do you have ears to hear? Back to Rev.1 and verse 13 reads.
Rev.1:13] And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
[14] His head and his 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.
The description given of Jesus Christ. Don’t overlook that he stands in the midst of the churches.
Rev.1:16] And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
Here is the sword of the Lord. It is a two-edged sword that comes out of his mouth, it is the Word of God. We’ll get to these stars in a minute.
Rev.1:17] And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
Saying I Am the Word.
Rev.1:18] I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
This is Christ in his transfigured body. He has the keys of the grave and death because he has overcome death. Heb.2:14.
Rev.1:19] Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
Telling John to write these things just before and just after the Day of the Lord. Again, talking to John and not the churches. Now, he explains the stars and the candlesticks, remember Jesus is doing the explaining.
Rev.1:20] The mystery 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.
Let no man tell you differently. God’s word is simple if you just let him explain it. Great beginning to another great book, let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible