The word revelation is the Greek word apokalupsis, from which the word “apocalypse” is derived. A “revelation” exposes what was formerly hidden or secret. The revelation recorded in this book will give believers information that had been formerly veiled but would now be disclosed.John saw the vision and then faithfully reported the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Revelation, according to John, is God’s word—not simply John’s narration of what he saw. It is an eternal message. The words of this book describe the promises and actions of God that have come true through Jesus.
The promise found in verse three assures us that God blesses the reader and listeners of these words as they are taken into each heart. The meaning is simple if we will do what we are commanded, be obedient to His word, God will bless us and protect us and provide for us.
John began to address the recipients of this letter; Jesus told John to write to the seven churches that knew and trusted John and had read his earlier letters. These were literal churches in literal cities. The letter was addressed so that it could be read and passed on in a systematic fashion, following the main Roman road clockwise around the province of Asia (now called Turkey).
Why did the Lord direct John to write to these seven in particular? It is possible that the number seven, as with the other sevens in the book, signifies completeness. While the seven churches were actual churches, they also represented all churches throughout the ages.
The book of Revelation describes that day when he will return to earth. That Jesus will come with the clouds of heaven summarizes the message of Revelation. Jesus’ second coming will be visible and victorious. Everyone will see him arrive (Mark 13:26), and they will know it is Jesus. When Christ returns, he will conquer evil and will judge all people according to their deeds (Revelation 20:11-15).
Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. The Lord God is the beginning and the end. God the Father is the eternal Lord and Ruler of the past, present, and future. God is sovereign over history and is in control of everything. The one who is, who always was, and who is still to come. The phrase the Almighty One comes out of the Old Testament and conveys military imagery, referring to God as a mighty warrior. The military imagery helped the people in the churches to whom this book was written understand that they had the ultimate Warrior fighting on their side. God rules over all.
The seven gold lampstands are the seven churches in Asia to whom this letter is addressed. Jesus, the Son of Man, stands among them. No matter what the churches face, Jesus is in control and protects them with his all-encompassing love and reassuring power. The long robe pictures Jesus as a leader. The gold sash across his chest reveals him as the high priest who goes into God’s presence to obtain forgiveness of sin for those who have believed in him. In the first century, wearing a sash, especially across the chest, indicated leadership and authority. His snowy white hair indicates his wisdom and divine nature. His blazing eyes symbolize judgment of all evil and deep insight, not only over the churches and the believers but over the entire course of history.
The feet like bronze picture an exalted person with great power. Bronze usually symbolized the might of Rome—bronze shields and breastplates were used by the Roman army. Again, this is a picture of an all-powerful Victor. The voice like mighty ocean waves evokes the image of a huge waterfall roaring over a high cliff. Thus, the voice is powerful and awesome. When this man speaks with authority, nothing else can be heard.
This shining brilliance of his face probably describes Christ’s entire being. The same sort of picture is described in the Transfiguration, an event that John himself had witnessed ( Matthew 17:2).
John’s response to the awesome sight of the glorious Son of Man was to fall at his feet as dead. Most likely this was not a trance; rather, it was in response to having seen a spectacular vision. The message given by this glorious figure—Christ—is the same one that had been given to the women at the tomb (Matthew 28:5): “Don’t be afraid!” For those who believe, there is no need to fear. This Christ is the First and the Last—essentially the same as the Alpha and the Omega. Christ is the living one—not a dead idol but alive and always with his people, every moment, in control of all things. He is the same one who was resurrected. He died; that is, he experienced physical death on the cross. But now he is alive forever and ever. Because Jesus rose from the dead, he can promise the same for his people.
SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read?)
The key verse to really “getting” the book of Revelation is Revelation 1:3, “Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it because the time is near.”
Revelation is a book with a guaranteed blessing. It has been since the moment Jesus left this earth. God’s saying, “I want to bless your life.” One of the ways is by reading this book, hearing it and taking it to heart. Let it affect your life. Let it impact your life and who you are.
Let’s go through and orient ourselves to the book of Revelation as we prepare ourselves to begin a study in earnest of it this next week. Four things:
#1. First, DON”T MISS the background of the book
Who wrote it and when it was written? That’s important. It’s important to know that it was recorded by John the Apostle, one of those who walked with Jesus. I put the word “recorded” because actually it wasn’t written by him. It was actually written by God. God wrote it down, delivered it to Jesus who delivered it to an angel who delivered it to John the Apostle. He recorded what God said to write down. This is a letter written by God to us.
The book of Revelation, like all the books of the Bible, is meant to impact our lives and make us different. Somebody wrote that we’ve missed the whole purpose of prophecy if it doesn’t conform us to Jesus Christ in our daily living. I think that’s the truth. We have to take it to heart.
For the believer a knowledge of what God’s going to do in the future does several things.
1. It promises us joy even in the midst of affliction. 2 Corinthians 4:17 reminds us of that.
2. It cleanses us and encourages us for daily living to be the kind of people God wants us to be.
3. It gives us facts about life after death that result in hope in our lives.
4. It gives us proof of the reliability of scripture. When you see what God’s going to do in the future and how it matches up we have a real sense of proof about how reliable God’s word is.
5. It draws our hearts in worship towards God.
The book is recorded by John the Apostle, and it’s written from a place called Patmos. This is a wonderful place to take a vacation. It was a Roman prison island, the Alcatraz of its day before Alcatraz became a tourist attraction. It was a terrible place to be. John the Apostle was exiled here later in life. I think that the Roman government finally got smart about what to do with the Christian prisoners. Remember that the Apostle Paul was put him in the middle of Rome and they chained him to the Roman guard and he won all of them to Christ and changed the world right there! So years later they’re taking the Christians and exiling them. I think they got smart about that.
It’s the kind of writing that sort of pulls the curtains open and shows you something clearly that you haven’t seen before. It’s the kind of writing that was all over in John’s day. We don’t see it anymore like we saw it back then but it was the kind of writing that they were very familiar with. So God used what they were familiar with and He used it to picture for them what He was going to do in the future.
#2. Don’t miss the PERSON
Don’t miss the main emphasis, the main character, the main deal, the most important thing in Revelation. The beast is important. It’s mentioned 37 times in Revelation. The throne of God is important – 41 mentions. The angels are mentioned 71 times. But the most important character in the book of Revelation is Jesus. Jesus Christ is the main character of this book. On every page, through every chapter, chapter after chapter is about Jesus Christ. The Son of Man, He’s called, the Lamb, the Rider on the White Horse and a number of other names. He’s the central person in the book of Revelation. You can’t miss that. To miss the fact that Jesus is the central person of Revelation in the midst of all these other studies of what did this mean and what did that mean, if you miss that it’s liking going to New York harbor and looking at the boats and not seeing the Statue of Liberty, or going to see Mount Rushmore and only noticing the trees, never noticing that there’s a statue up on the mountain, or going to the Grand Canyon and standing on the edge and only noticing the ants that are making a line in between your feet. Never lifting up your eyes and seeing this incredible view. Jesus is what Revelation is all about. He’s the one who brings the hope.
#3. DON’T MISS the purpose
Why did God write it? Very simple. To warn us of what's coming so we don't get complacent.
#4. DON’T MISS THE HOPE
One more thing that’s so important. When you take the book as a whole and you see that it’s talking about the future I don’t want us to miss as believers that the purpose of this book is a four-letter word – HOPE. The believers who first read this book were under incredibly intense persecution. They were in times that probably none of us are ever going to face, but some of our brothers and sisters in Christ face this around the world. If you were in a time of intense persecution, your life was falling apart, you had no hope and the world was the most terrible, horrible place you could imagine can you come to grips with how much hope it would give you to open up this book and realize that this world is not going to last like it is. It’s not going to keep going on and on like this. God’s going to bring it all to an end someday. It’s going to be a terrible day but He will bring it to an end. When He does, there’s going to be a new heaven and a new earth and I'm going to be there with Him forever and there’s going to be no more suffering or crying or pain or any such thing. Can you imagine the need for that kind of hope in a suffering persecuted world?
Sometimes when we read Revelation we get very scientific about it. We try to figure out all the ins and outs of it. I think it’s good to try to understand God’s word to its depth but we should not miss the hope that’s in this book. Many people do. I pray that God will use these last few weeks of 2009 to speak to your heart and give you hope about His plan and purpose for your life.
One more thing that’s so important. When you take the book as a whole and you see that it’s talking about the future I don’t want us to miss as believers that the purpose of this book is a four-letter word – HOPE. The believers who first read this book were under incredibly intense persecution. They were in times that probably none of us are ever going to face, but some of our brothers and sisters in Christ face this around the world. If you were in a time of intense persecution, your life was falling apart, you had no hope and the world was the most terrible, horrible place you could imagine can you come to grips with how much hope it would give you to open up this book and realize that this world is not going to last like it is. It’s not going to keep going on and on like this. God’s going to bring it all to an end someday. It’s going to be a terrible day but He will bring it to an end. When He does, there’s going to be a new heaven and a new earth and I'm going to be there with Him forever and there’s going to be no more suffering or crying or pain or any such thing. Can you imagine the need for that kind of hope in a suffering persecuted world?
Sometimes when we read Revelation we get very scientific about it. We try to figure out all the ins and outs of it. I think it’s good to try to understand God’s word to its depth but we should not miss the hope that’s in this book. Many people do. I pray that God will use these last few weeks of 2009 to speak to your heart and give you hope about His plan and purpose for your life.
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