Revelation Chapter One – The Things Which Thou Hast Seen
Revelation 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:
Verse 1: The Revelation of Jesus Christ:
The word “Revelation” is the Greek word, apokalypsis. This is Strong’s #602, which is defined as: “from 601; disclosure: — appearing, coming, lighten, manifestation, be revealed, revelation.” Strong’s #601 is defined as: “apokalyptō; to take off the cover, i.e. disclose: — reveal.”
As we can see, these underlying words are where we get our word Apocalypse from. Unlike the secular definition of apocalypse, which is basically utter destruction and the end of everything we know, this term actually refers to the unveiling and revealing of the Lord Jesus Christ when He comes back to judge this sin-cursed world. Yes, there will be destruction as this ungodly world undergoes the wrath of God, but the message of this book is ultimately that Jesus will change this world system, and then rule on the throne of David from Jerusalem as the King of Kings. It is not the end of everything man has ever known, but the beginning of God’s direct, sovereign rule over this planet, through the reign of the Messiah (God manifest in the flesh) who will come as the Old Testament Scriptures have been prophesying for thousands of years.
Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Verse 1: Which
God gave unto Him:
God the Father gave Jesus Christ this
revelation, which Jesus then gave to the Apostle John through an angel. Jesus,
the second member of the Trinity, took on a human body and became a man in
Bethlehem. Now as God and man, He is
the perfect (and only) mediator between both. (1 Timothy 2:5)
This explains why the Father would give Jesus the book of Revelation to pass on
to His Apostle John. This revelation is intended for all His (Jesus’) servants,
to reveal to them – and encourage them about – “things which must shortly come to pass.”
Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray
always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall
come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
It is also interesting to note that the Law was
given to Moses through the mediation of angels. We are seeing a similar process
here. Compare Revelation 1:1 with these three passages: Acts 7:53; Hebrews 2:2;
Galatians 3:19.
Verse 1: His
servants:
Strong’s definition of "servants" in this verse is: “a slave
(literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary; frequently, therefore in a
qualified sense of subjection or subserviency).”
The idea of a bondservant is found in the
book of Exodus. In fact, it is the first judgement presented to Israel after
the giving of the ten commandments to them.
Exodus 21:2-6 If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the
seventh he shall go out free for nothing. If he came in by himself, he shall go
out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him. If his
master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife
and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself. And if
the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I
will not go out free: Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall
also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore
his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.
This is a fascinating passage, and one that
blesses the heart of God. If you love your Master (the Lord your God) and give
yourself in service back to Him once He has set you free from your slavery to
sin and Satan, you are His bondservant. We see this very example in the great
Servant of the Lord, Jesus Christ (see Isaiah 42:1), who loved His Master (His
heavenly Father) and His spiritual family so much He was willing to give
Himself in service to them. He delights to do His Father’s will, and His ear
was pierced through spiritually – as was His body physically! (see Psalm 22:16)
– to fulfill the will of God completely. He did this to be our Saviour.
Notice the seven references to “thy will” found in the Bible:
Psalm
40:8; 143:10; Matthew
6:10; 26:42; Luke 11:2;
Hebrews 10:7, 9.
Psalms
40:6-8 Sacrifice and offering thou didst
not desire; mine ears hast thou opened:
burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I
come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will,
O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
First,
Jesus’ ear was opened or pierced through spiritually to indicate His complete
submission to His Father’s will, then notice His body was also literally
pierced through on the cross:
Hebrews
10:5-7 Wherefore when he cometh into the
world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt
offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I
come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
For
further thought on this theme, consider Isaiah 50:4-6 and Romans 12:1-2.
I
love sevens and the book of Revelation is FULL of sevens – not just the number
seven, but the Apostle John (and the Holy Spirit) gives us many lists of sevens
(people, events, word studies, etc.). I will point out some of the most
noteworthy ones as we go through this book.
The full
name "Jesus Christ" is used 7
times in six verses: Revelation 1:1, 2, 5, 9; 12:17; 22:21.
The name "Jesus" is also used by itself 7 times in
six more verses: Revelation
14:12; 17:6; 19:10; 20:4; 22:16, 20.
Verse 1: Things
which must shortly come to pass:
This
Greek word translated as "shortly" (also, quickly, speedily) is used seven times in the New Testament:
Luke
18:7-8; Acts
12:7; 22:18; 25:4; Romans
16:20; Revelation 1:1; 22:6.
Revelation 1:2 Who
bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of
all things that he saw.
Verse 2: Who bare record of the word of God, … and of
all that he saw:
The Apostle John was a witness of the Lord
Jesus Christ during the years of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Closer to the end of
his life, he wrote the Gospel that bears his name and then a bit later penned
three letters to the church that he pastored (which according to some
traditions was the church in Ephesus, some years after Timothy was pastor
there). He was a faithful witness, used by the Lord. Here is his testimony about
what he personally witnessed:
John 19:35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth
that he saith true, that ye might believe.
John 20:30-31 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples,
which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might
believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might
have life through his name.
John 21:24-25 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these
things: and we know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other
things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I
suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be
written. Amen.
1 John 1:1-3 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have
seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of
the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear
witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and
was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you,
that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the
Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
Now he is writing the final book of the Bible,
containing the testimony of what he had seen and heard while on the Isle of
Patmos concerning:
Verse 2: The
testimony of Jesus Christ:
Jesus is at the heart of the book of
Revelation and of the whole Bible (it is the revelation and Revelation of
Jesus, after all). In the volume of the
whole Book it is written of Jesus Christ. See Psalm 40:6-8 and Hebrews
10:5-9.
Revelation 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do
it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of
Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
"The spirit" – ie. heart, central thought, person, theme
– of all prophecy, including this book of prophecy, is the Lord Jesus Christ.
That bears repeating: Jesus is at the heart of all the Bible and all Bible
prophecy. Don’t miss the central character of the Word of God or the message of
Jesus in all your Bible study – or you are truly missing out, both now and for
eternity!
Look up and meditate on each of the following
passages:
Luke
24:26-27, 44-47
John
1:45; 5:39
Acts
7:52; 10:38-43; 26:22-23; 28:23
1 Peter 1:10-11
Is
the Lord Jesus Christ at the heart of all your Bible studies – is He the
central focus of your whole spiritual walk, yea, your whole life? He should be!
Revelation 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.
Verse 3: He that readeth:
Notice the blessing is upon “he that readeth.” To read in the
New Testament means “to know again, to know by personal experience.” It is so
important for true believers to keep reading the Word of God. This will build
up our faith and strengthen our walks with the Lord, as well as protect us from
so much of the deception and danger in our world. Consider the following
verses:
1 Timothy 4:13; 2 Timothy 1:13; Titus 1:9.
“Readeth” is in present tense, implying continual
reading, not just a quick skimming through of its contents. Many commentators
take this to mean the person publicly reading the book of Revelation to a local
gathering of believers, but I also believe it refers to any Bible-believer
taking the time to diligently study it for himself. (See 2 Timothy 2:15)
Contrary to popular opinion, and according to Revelation 22:10, this book
was never sealed (contrast with Daniel 12:9); God intended His servants to
understand it. That is where the studying comes into place. Revelation is the
culmination of the whole Bible, especially of Bible prophecy, concluding in the
revealing (revelation) of Jesus Christ. There is a saying that the Book of
Revelation is the Grand Central Station of the whole Bible, meaning that all
the symbolism can be found and explained elsewhere in the Word of God.
In 1 Corinthians 2:13, we are told to compare “spiritual things with spiritual”; this means comparing Scripture
with Scripture. The Scriptures are the best commentary on themselves and seeing
how the Holy Spirit uses each word or phrase throughout the whole Bible is a
better definition than any dictionary. The more you read and study all of
Scripture, the more you will understand this book.
Verse 3: They that hear:
This has the idea of “to heed, to hearken” (ie. apply to
our lives). See James 1:22-25.
The blessing is also upon “they that hear… and keep those things that
are written therein.” A thoughtful and prayerful reading through of
this book will give you a simple overview of events and a basic understanding
of how the Lord wants His children to live, though more thorough study will put
those events in context with the rest of Scripture.
There are three points I want to make at this
time:
1) If you do not know Jesus Christ as your
personal Lord and Saviour, until you do, studying this book will be a fruitless
exercise for you because you will not have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside you
to help you understand it. This is according to what God Himself says in His
Word. (See 1 Corinthians 2:9-14) The only way to remedy that situation is to
repent of your sins and to come to Jesus Christ, accept Him as your Lord and
Saviour, believing that He died for your sins, that He completely paid the penalty
that you could never pay, that He was buried, and that He rose again the third
day in fulfilment of the Scriptures. (This is the Gospel of salvation according
to 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.) The moment you come to Jesus in repentance and faith,
the Holy Spirit will seal, indwell, and guide you, to become your permanent
Comforter and teacher.
2) All Scripture testifies of Jesus Christ.
Our goal is to search the Scriptures to find Him, like a miner digging for
hidden treasure and precious stones. Read the following verses: Proverbs 2:2-5; 25:2; Luke 24:27, 44-48; Acts 10:43; Hebrews 10:7. Revelation 19:10 also bears this out. “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of
prophecy.” The word “testimony” here
is the same word in Greek as “testify” in John
5:39. It means to be a witness
of. The way the word “prophecy” is
used several other places in Revelation shows that here it is a synonym for the
Scriptures. See Revelation 22:18-19. So this passage is teaching that the testimony (witness) of Jesus is the heart (spirit) of the Scriptures. Jesus is also at the
heart of the book of Revelation; it is the revelation of Jesus Christ after
all.
The word “prophecy” is used seven times in the book of Revelation:
Revelation 1:3; 11:6; 19:10; 22:7, 10, 18, 19.
3) You don’t need to understand the whole
book of Revelation to obey it. There are many clear commands and admonitions in
this book. In James
1:22, we are told to be doers
of the word, and not hearers only. Scripture isn’t intended to be an
intellectual sharpening stone, but a Book that we learn from and live by.
(See John 13:17) If
in all your reading of God’s Word your life isn’t changed, then you are missing
the point of Bible study. (2 Timothy 3:15-17) Jesus promises to give us greater understanding and
wisdom if we obey what we already know, if we put into practice what the Holy
Spirit teaches us. (Matthew 13:12; 7:24-25)
Verse 3: And keep those things that are
written therein:
The word “keep” in this verse is Strong’s #5083 and means “to
watch; to guard (from loss or injury, properly, by keeping the eye upon.)” Pay
attention to what God is saying to you from His Word; keep it by applying it to
your life, and then you will be blessed indeed!
Meditating on the Lord Jesus Christ’s soon
return ought to stir you up to greater zeal and faithfulness. Contrast 1 John 3:2-3 with Matthew 24:48-51.
Revelation 1:3 is the first of seven “blesseds” in the book of
Revelation. The other six are found in: Revelation 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14. Notice that the second to last one of these seven promises is also a
blessing for keeping the Word of God (the word “keepeth” here is the same word as used in Revelation 1:3):
Revelation
22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
This same word for "keep" is also used twice in the
following verse:
Revelation 3:10 Because thou hast kept
the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of
temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon
the earth.
Because true believers in the Lord Jesus
Christ keep God’s Word, the Lord will keep them from the tribulation,
the time of God’s wrath and judgement that is coming upon the whole world.
Revelation 1:4-5a. 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; 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.
Verses 4-5:
Here we see the three members of the Godhead
(a Biblical word referring to the Trinity):
Grace be unto you, and peace:
“From Him which is, and which was, and which
is to come” – God the Father.
“and from the seven Spirits which are before
His throne” – the Holy Spirit. The seven Spirits
refers to the seven-fold attributes of the Holy Spirit found in Isaiah 11:2.
Isaiah 11:2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest
upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the
spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of
knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
("The
seven Spirits of God" is also referred to in Revelation 3:1; 4:5; 5:6.)
“and from Jesus Christ” –
the Son of God.
("Him
which is, and which was, and which is to come" - is also used
in reference to the Son in several other places, such as Revelation 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 16:5.)
In Verse
5, Jesus is also declared as Prophet ("the
faithful witness" – see Matthew 12:41), Priest ("the first begotten of the dead" –
see Matthew 12:5-6; Romans 4:25; Hebrews 7:27; 9:24-28), and King ("the prince of the kings
of the earth" – see Matthew 12:42).
This word for "first begotten" (also translated as firstborn) comes from the
Greek word prōtotokos. Prōtos means “foremost (in time, place, order or
importance).” This word is used seven times in the New Testament in reference
to Jesus:
Matthew 1:25; Luke 2:7; Romans 8:29; Colossians
1:15, 18; Hebrews 1:6; Revelation 1:5.
Jesus is the firstborn from the dead
(ie. the first to rise and never die again), the firstborn of all
creation, the firstborn of all God’s children, the firstborn of
every creature. No one else in this whole universe is higher or greater than
Him – He is the foremost Person, the most important Person, in all of creation.
Are you giving Him the foremost place in your life?
The word for “prince” in Revelation 1:5 is Strong’s #758, which
means “first in rank or power; ie. chief ruler.” Not only is the Lord Jesus
Christ the King of the Jews (see Matthew 2:2 and John 19:19), He is truly the
King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Revelation 19:16 And he hath on his
vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
1 Timothy 6:15 Which in his times he shall
shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of
lords;
Philippians 2:9-11 Wherefore God also hath
highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the
name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth,
and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Revelation 1:5b-6. Unto Him that loved us,
and washed us from our sins in His own blood, And hath made us kings and
priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and
ever. Amen.
Verses 5-6:
Two ways that Christ has shown His love for
us through His death, burial, and resurrection are:
A. "He washed us from our sins in
His own blood,"
B. "and hath made us kings and priests unto God"
the Father.
The Greek word in this passage for "washed"
is Strong’s #3068, which means “to bathe (the whole person,” and indicates being
washed completely. The God of the Bible doesn’t give the gift of partial salvation
– but complete forgiveness (past, present, and future), eternal life, eternity dwelling
in the presence of our Saviour forever.
John 13:10 Jesus saith to him, He that is
washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are
clean, but not all.
The first use of the word "washed" above
is the same word – Strong’s #3068. The second usage is Strong’s #3538, and
means “to cleanse (especially the hands or the feet or the face)”, ie. wash
those extremities that got dirty. Jesus states that those who are washed
completely in His sight need only to wash the parts that got soiled by walking
each day in this world. The true believer has been cleansed completely by the
blood of Jesus, and we only need to wash our hands (indicating what we do) and
our feet (indicating where we go) – the parts that have been affected by dwelling
in this world, affected by the sins we allow in our lives. In other words, we
need to keep short accounts with the Lord, and deal with (ie. confess and make
right) those areas wherein we have sinned to restore and maintain our
fellowship with the Lord each day.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins,
he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.
The Blood Of Jesus Christ
The Son of God shed His blood for the sins of
the world on the cross of Calvary, and those who trust Him for salvation are washed
completely in His blood, justified (declared righteous in His sight), forgiven,
accepted in the Beloved. In this sin-cursed world, a world that is at enmity
with God and hates anything to do with Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection,
it is wonderful to meditate on the blood that Jesus shed for us! Consider just
how much a part His blood plays in our salvation.
According to God’s Word, the blood that Jesus
shed was part of the everlasting covenant that the Father made with His Son –
the precious blood of a pure and sinless sacrifice, the blood that was poured
out on Calvary was the price paid to the Father to redeem forever all those
that would repent and put their trust in Him:
Hebrews 13:20-21 Now the God of peace,
that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the
sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect
in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in
his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 1:18-20 Forasmuch as ye know that
ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your
vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the
precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was
manifest in these last times for you,
A. Jesus’ death upon the cross and the blood that
He shed was the propitiation needed for our sins (the only sacrifice
that could appease the wrath of God):
Romans 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be
a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his
righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance
of God;
1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation
for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we
loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation
for our sins.
B. His blood covers our sins (that is what atonement means):
Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh
is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement
for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the
soul.
Leviticus 16:30 For on that day shall the
priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean
from all your sins before the LORD.
Romans 5:10-11 For if, when we were
enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being
reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in
God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
C. His blood bears our sins away out of the
sight of God (which is what remission means):
Matthew 26:28 For this is my blood
of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by
the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
D. Jesus bought us and redeemed us with His
blood. Redemption means to “buy back”, and has reference to us being
bought back from our slavery to sin and the Devil:
Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto
yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you
overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own
blood.
Revelation 5:9 And they sung a new song,
saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for
thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of
every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
E. Faith in Jesus Christ and in His shed blood
saves us from the wrath of God:
Romans 5:9 Much more then, being now
justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
F. Jesus’ shed blood is the reason we are
forgiven by God the Father:
Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption
through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through
his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
It is interesting to note the definitions for "sins" in the above two verses:
In Colossians 1:14, the Greek word used for "sins"
is Strong’s #266: “hamartia; from 264; a sin (properly abstract) : — offence, sin(-ful).”
Strong’s #264: “properly, to miss the mark (and so not share in the prize),
i.e. (figuratively) to err, especially (morally) to sin: — for your faults,
offend, sin, trespass.”
-
This is referring to a life of sin, going our own way in life.
Contrast
with the word used for "sins" in Ephesians 1:7, which is Strong’s #3900: “paraptōma;
from 3895; a side-slip (lapse or deviation), i.e. (unintentional) error or
(wilful) transgression: — fall, fault, offence, sin, trespass.”
-
This is referring to individual sins, crossing a line, sinning against someone
else, and even momentary lapses in our Christian walks.
The
blood of Jesus Christ can not only forgive our life of rebellion against the
Lord, but also our day to day struggles and faults towards the Lord God and
towards others.
G. His
blood cleanseth us (not just at the moment of salvation, but ongoing –
day by day - as we walk with the Lord); cleanseth us from our sins, cleanseth
our hearts and our lives:
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as
he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of
Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Revelation 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir,
thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great
tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood
of the Lamb.
H. We have peace with God through the blood of
Christ:
Colossians 1:20 And, having made peace through
the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by
him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
I. We are brought near to God and can enter into
His very presence through the blood that Jesus shed:
Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye
who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Hebrews 10:19-22 Having therefore,
brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a
new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is
to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw
near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled
from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
J. Salvation and cleansing through the blood of
the Lord Jesus Christ makes us overcomers - gives us the victory over this dark
world, victory over our flesh, and victory over the Devil:
Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by
the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved
not their lives unto the death.
Verse 6: and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father;
Through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are adopted into the family of God. We are made children of the Heavenly King – we are now part of His family. As such, we are also kings - royalty - in the eyes of God. That is such an amazing concept to think about. Not only that, but we are also made priests; in fact, we are a royal priesthood. A priest is someone that represents God to men and men to God. We are to stand in the gap for our fellow men, to bring them before the throne of God and to pray for them. We are also to bring the Gospel to them, to represent God to men.
The people of God - whether in the Old Testament (ie. the nation of Israel), or in the New Testament (ie. the Bride of Christ, the church) - are God's peculiar treasure, a treasure He has made His own.
Exodus 19:3-6 And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
1 Peter 2:9-10 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
In Exodus, Israel is declared to be God's peculiar treasure, and in 1 Peter, the church is called His peculiar people. The passage in 1 Peter basically applies the same terms to us today that God used for Israel. (In eternity, the people of God will be one.)
Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines “peculiar” as:
One's own property. Appropriate; belonging to a person and to him only. Exclusive property; that which belongs to a person in exclusion of others.
One thing worth noting about God’s children is that we are glorious in His sight, we are declared all fair; in Christ, we are without fault or blemish before the throne of God. The Bride of the spotless Lamb of God is also considered pure and spotless, cleansed forever from the stain of our sins, forgiven.
Psalm 45:9, 13 Kings' daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir… The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.
Song of Solomon 4:7 Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.
Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Verse 6; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
The Greek word for “glory” is doxa (where we get doxology from, a song of praise). According to Strong’s Concordance, doxa means “glory, honour, praise, worship.” The word “dominion” means “dominion, might, power, strength.” According to Webster’s 1828 Dictionary, “dominion” means “Sovereign or supreme authority; the power of governing and controlling.” This passage ends with the word “Amen,” which means “It is true, so be it.” This word is used ten times in the book of Revelation. (See Revelation 1:6, 7, 18; 3:14; 5:14; 7:12 (x2); 19:4; 22:20, 21.)
The right to rule as our Sovereign King belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ alone. (More on that theme when we get to the Kinsman Redeemer in Revelation Chapter 5.) Truly, to the Lord Jesus Christ belongs all praise, all glory, all honour, all worship. Amen!
Philippians 2:9-11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Revelation 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.
Verse 7 is a quote from Zechariah 12:10, and refers to the fact that Christ’s return will affect the whole world, whether mourning in repentance for sins (in the case of the remaining Jews – see Romans 11:26) or wailing in horror at the eternal judgements about to be pronounced on the nations of the world.
At the end of the seven year tribulation, Jesus’ return will affect the whole world. The nations will be divided. Those who have turned to Christ during those years of trouble (including the Jewish remnant) will be gathered together by the angels and brought to the Lord, and those who have worshipped the Antichrist (ie. the tares) and rejected the Lord Jesus Christ will face God’s final earthly judgements (the remaining seven vials of God’s wrath, poured out just prior to the battle of Armageddon), then face eternal judgement in the Lake of Fire after they appear before the Great White Throne Judgement (in Revelation 20).
Zechariah 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.
Matthew 24:29-31 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Matthew 13:41-43 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Jesus Christ is coming again and all eyes will see Him. Are you ready for His return? If not, there are yet seven years of tribulation coming. Turn in repentance and faith to Jesus now, so you can escape all those judgements that are soon to come upon the whole earth!
Luke 21:35-36 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Revelation 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.
Verse 8.
There are seven different names or titles that Jesus Christ is called by in the first chapter of Revelation.
He is:
1. Alpha and Omega,
2. the beginning and the ending,
3. the Lord,
4. which is, which was, and which is to come,*
5. the Almighty,
6. the first and the last, (verse 17) (This is a direct claim to Jesus’ Deity – and there is only one true God. See Isaiah 44:6)
7. He that liveth and was dead… and is alive for evermore (verse 18).
Jesus has an 8th name in chapter one if you count His I Am statements as a declaration of His deity, that He is the I Am of the OT.
*A comparison of verses 4 and 8 will reveal the Deity of Jesus Christ. In verse 4, God the Father is called “Him which is, and which was, and which is to come.” In verse 8, Jesus is also called by this same name, thereby giving Jesus equality with God the Father. See also Revelation 21:5-7, where the Father also calls Himself Alpha and Omega and The Beginning and the End. Several names listed above (the Lord, the Almighty, the First and the Last) are names of God in the OT.
Other verses that teach Jesus is co-equal and co-eternal with God the Father, of the same essence and nature:
John 10:30; 14:9; Colossians 1:19; 2:9; Hebrews 1:3; Deuteronomy 6:4.
Jesus says “I Am” seven times in Revelation (8 times if you count Revelation 1:18 as two statements):
Revelation 1:8, 11, 17, 18; 2:23; 22:13, 16.
The “I Am” in Revelation 21:6 is the Father speaking.
Seven all-encompassing names of Jesus:
(1) The Author and Finisher of our Faith (Hebrews 12:2)
(2) The Cornerstone and the Chief of the Corner (ie. capstone) (1 Peter 2:6-7)
(3) Alpha and Omega (Revelation 1:8)
(4) The Beginning and the Ending (Revelation 1:8)
(5) The First and the Last (Revelation 1:11)
(6) The Lion and the Lamb (Revelation 5:5-6)
(7) The Root and the Offspring of David (Revelation 22:16)
“Alpha and Omega” is used 4 times:
Revelation 1:8, 11; 21:6; 22:13.
“The Beginning and the End(ing)” is used 3 times:
Revelation 1:8; 21:6; 22:13. See also Revelation 3:14.
“Almighty” is used 8 times in Revelation:
Revelation 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7, 14; 19:15; 21:22. The same word is also translated as “omnipotent” in Revelation 19:6. See 2 Corinthians 6:18.
“The First and the Last” is used 7 times (4 in Revelation):
Isaiah 41:4; 44:6; 48:12; Revelation 1:11, 17; 2:8; 22:13.
Revelation 1:9-11. 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. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 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.
Verses 9-11:
Now we come to the background on John the Apostle. He was imprisoned on the Island of Patmos for the Word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. This, historically, was during the reign of the Roman Caesar, Domitian, in the year A.D. 96. This was the second persecution of Christians by the Roman Caesars; the first was under Nero. (Under Nero’s reign, Peter and Paul were both martyred, as were many of the Christians we read about in the book of Acts.)
John’s vision in the book of Revelation fulfilled, in a way, Jesus’ words about him in John 21:22.
John 21:22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
While those words may or may not have been prophetic, it is still very interesting that John lived to see (via revelation from God) the physical return of Christ and His coming Millennial kingdom.
John is the only Apostle to have died of old age, the rest of the twelve were martyred for their faith and their testimony about Jesus Christ, beginning with John’s own brother, James, who was murdered by Herod (in Acts chapter 12).
The Greek word for “
witness” and “
testimony” used in the book of Revelation is "
martus" (
Strong’s #3144, 3141, or a form thereof); from this word we get our English word “martyr.” Millions of true Christians throughout history sealed their testimony with their own lives. Three good books to read about this subject are:
Foxe’s Book of Martyrs by John Foxe;
Martyr’s Mirror by Thieleman J. van Braght (these two books can be found easily online, and downloadable in pdf format, and Foxe’s Book Of Martyrs is included for free in various Bible study programs); and
Rome and The Bible by David Cloud. I highly recommend brother Cloud’s book which traces the history of the Roman Catholic Church and its persecution of the Bible and of Bible believers. This pdf file can be downloaded for free through Way of Life Literature.
Next, John is told to write down the visions that Jesus Christ gave him and send them to the seven churches which are in Asia. These seven are Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. The letters in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 depict these literal, local churches as they were in the first century, with varying degrees of faithfulness and compromise, running the whole spectrum in which any local church throughout time can fall into at any given moment. Each church (and each individual Christian) can examine itself in light of Christ’s warnings, exhortations, and praises. A careful study of these churches and a comparison of their descriptions with the eras of church history from the time of Christ until His return again will reveal a prophetic overview of the Church Age. In the Bible, the number seven symbolically represents perfection; fullness; completion. In these seven letters we have a complete overview of church history and its development throughout the centuries from God’s perspective.
These periods are as follows (these dates are approximate):
1. Ephesus: 32 – 100 A.D. The Backslidden (Loveless) Church
2. Smyrna: 100 – 312 A.D. The (Persecuted) Suffering Church
3. Pergamos: 312 – 590 A.D. The Compromising Church
4. Thyatira: 590 – 1517 A.D. The Corrupt Church
5. Sardis: 1517 – 1750 A.D. The Dead Church
6. Philadelphia: 1750 – 1881 (or 1900) A.D. The Missionary Church
7. Laodicea: 1881 (or 1900) A.D. – the Tribulation. The Lukewarm Church
Verse 10: I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day,
I believe the phrase, “the Lord’s day”, means the Apostle John was given visions of the tribulation period, etc. (literally, the contents of the whole book of Revelation) on the first day of the week, ie. Sunday (consistent with the early church observing the resurrection of Jesus Christ and gathering together on that day, as they did many times in the book of Acts and as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 16:1-2). Though John saw the actual Day of the Lord unfolding before him in his visions, he was not caught up ON the day of the Lord (but caught up TO the day of the Lord). See Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:9; Luke 24:1; John 20:1; Acts 20:7. This is the only reference to “the Lord’s day” in the whole Bible, so some may choose to debate my viewpoint here, but it is consistent with Biblical and church history.
Revelation 1:12-18, 20. And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 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. His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire; And His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters. 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. 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: 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. 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.
Verses 12-18, 20:
But before Christ gives His descriptions of the seven churches, He reveals His glorified self to His beloved Apostle. Though John was Jesus’ closest friend, during His 3 1/2 years of ministry, and had previously caught a glimpse of Jesus’ glory on the Mount of Transfiguration, he still fell at Jesus’ feet as though dead. To comfort John, Jesus laid His right hand on him and told him to fear not.
Note: when a person (especially a believer) is truly given a glimpse of the utter holiness and the glory of God, they are overwhelmed by their utter unworthiness and sinfulness, they are not lighthearted and frivolous. (See also Exodus 3:6; Isaiah 6:5; Luke 5:8; Acts 9:6.)
Here is what John saw: "in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of Man" (which are the seven churches – see verse 20). Jesus was holding in His right hand – the place of honour – seven stars, which represent the angels of the seven churches. The Greek word for “angel” is Strong’s #32, and is defined as: “ἄγγελος aggelos; from ἀγγέλλω aggellō (probably derived from 71; compare 34) (to bring tidings); a messenger; especially an ‘angel’; by implication, a pastor: — angel, messenger.” Notice one of the definitions of aggelos is “messenger,” and is so translated seven times in the KJV. (See comments in next paragraph, where I list all seven verses.) An angel is a messenger, one who is sent by God.
In several other places in Scripture, the messengers/angels (referring to passages using that same Greek word) are actually human messengers, like John the Baptist, some of the disciples, and several spies. See Matthew 11:10; Mark 1:2; Luke 7:24, 27; 9:52; James 2:25. (There is one passage where a demonic messenger is in view - one of Satan’s fallen angels who was allowed by God to afflict the Apostle Paul, to keep him humble and clinging to the Lord Jesus Christ - see 2 Corinthians 12:7.)
In Revelation 1:20, the angels (messengers) refer to the pastors of the seven churches, to which each of the letters in chapters 2 and 3 are addressed. (See also Malachi 2:7.) A pastor is the messenger giving God’s Word to the local church he is the shepherd over. John 20:15-17; Acts 20:21; 1 Peter 5:1-4. Jesus is in the midst of His churches, and is holding the pastors (angels) in His right hand, in the place of honour. (See the following verses on this theme: Psalm 16:8, 11; 110:1; Romans 8:34; Ephesians 1:20; Hebrews 12:2.)
At the time of the writing of the book of Revelation, the Apostle John was the pastor of Ephesus, and Polycarp was the pastor of Smyrna. This is noteworthy in light of the letters to those specific churches.
It is interesting to note that John calls Jesus “one like unto the Son of Man.” (See also Revelation 14:14.) Before Jesus’ incarnation, Daniel also referred to Christ in this way in Daniel 7:13. In Daniel’s time, Jesus may have revealed Himself as He would look six hundred years later when He would be incarnated in a human body. In the Old Testament (especially the book of Ezekiel), the term “son of man” was simply a reference to a human being. In His years of public ministry, Jesus referred many times to Himself as the Son of Man, giving this term the further connotation of Messiah – God’s Anointed one who would be both God and man, in fulfilment of many O.T. prophecies. In A.D. 96, over sixty years later, John saw one like unto the Son of Man. Jesus was then (and forever will be) both God and man, but now in heaven He is glorified once again, bearing a recognizable, though changed, appearance.
Helpful Study Tips On Interpreting The Book Of Revelation:
All symbolism used throughout the book of Revelation is found elsewhere in the Word of God. A Strong’s Concordance or good Bible program can easily help you find many other references where each item, name, and description are used elsewhere throughout the Bible. Prayerful study will reveal what God intends to convey by using each symbol in this book.
Note: I want to caution all readers against making everything in the book of Revelation into a symbol.
1st point: There is much in these 22 chapters that is plain and literal (like the New Jerusalem; the new heaven and earth; the thousand-year reign of Christ, the 144,000 sealed Jews, etc.), and even in some passages where obvious symbolism is used, there is still a literal event going on. (Like in Revelation 6:12-13 where the sun becomes black as sackcloth of hair, the moon becomes as blood, and the stars of heaven fall to the earth. This means the sun will literally turn black, but its colour will be like that of black sackcloth made of hair. In chapters 8, 9, and 16, “like” and “as” are used many times as comparisons.) By studying the rest of Scripture, you will realize that some of these events are also described elsewhere. (See Matthew 24:29 and Joel 2:31. Another example: compare Revelation 14:14-20 with Joel 3:12-15.)
One reason that I believe that the trumpet and vial judgements are real, literal events is because they are basically the same as the plagues that God (through Moses) poured out on Egypt, except now they are on a world-wide level instead of a local level. Check it out. Why would God perform literal, miraculous acts of judgement on Egypt 3500 years ago, and then use the same descriptions in regards to His end-time judgements, if He did not also mean to teach us that these plagues would also be literal? Romans 15:4 and 1 Corinthians 10:11 teach us that the Scriptures were given to us to learn from past examples and events. By seeing how God has worked in the past, we get a glimpse of how He will work in the future.
2nd point: Look how Scripture defines Scripture, how God in His own Word explains what He means by a symbol. Some examples of this can be found in Revelation 1:20 and 17:7, 9-12, 15, 18. Passages like these remove much of the guesswork out of prophecy, and help you sort out false interpretations. Because the Lord Jesus said in Revelation 1:20, that the candlesticks stand for the churches, I don’t need to search out another meaning. It would be pretty foolish of God to define a symbol by a symbol. (Please note previous comment about the word “angel.” In this case the word has a double meaning.) He meant for His children to understand His Word – how else could we keep the sayings of the prophecy of this book? (Revelation 22:6) “For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance.” Matthew 13:12 “He who hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
Determine what the symbolism is, see how that word (or phrase) is used elsewhere in Scripture, and then see how that symbol fits into the passage you are studying. Let Scripture define and explain Scripture, and always seek the Holy Spirit’s understanding and wisdom.
Notice the following seven-fold description of Christ in this chapter, and see how other passages of the Bible itself open up this symbolism for us.
Verses 13-16:
Jesus’ Sevenfold Description - Symbolism Explained:
1. Girt about the paps (chest) with a golden girdle.
- Jesus was dressed like a high priest. See Exodus 28:4. Jesus is our High Priest, interceding for His people. See John 17 (Jesus’ High priestly prayer); Romans 8:33-34; Hebrews 4:14-16; Hebrews 7:24-25.
- Gold many times in Scripture symbolizes both Jesus’ deity and Kingship, especially in reference to the tabernacle system. Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh; He is also the King of Kings. See 1 Timothy 3:16; John 1:1-3; 5:18; 8:58; 10:30; Matthew 2:2, 11; 27:11, 37; John 19:14, 19; 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 19:16.
2. His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow.
- White hair represents wisdom. Proverbs 16:31. See also Psalm 119:98-100.
- Also represents sinlessness, purity. Isaiah 1:18; John 14:30; James 1:13; 1 John 3:5; 1 Peter 2:22; 2 Corinthians 5:21. Jesus, the Lamb of God, is pure, spotless, and undefiled. 1 Peter 1:18-19. Jesus is referred to as “the Lamb” 28 times in Revelation. (Lamb is also used once in Revelation 13:11 in reference to the false prophet.) Forgiveness is compared to being as white as snow, as wool. Psalm 51:7.
This description of hair like wool associates Jesus Christ with “the Ancient of Days” in Daniel 7. This name is used three times in Daniel 7 - twice in reference to Jesus (Daniel 7:9-10, 23) and once in reference to God the Father (Daniel 7:13). Notice, it is “the Son of Man” (ie. the Messiah) that comes to the Father and receives His kingdom (in verses 13-14).
3. His eyes were as a flame of fire.
-
- Christ’s omniscience. His ability to know, see and judge all things. Jeremiah 32:19; Hebrews 4:13; Revelation 2:18; 19:12. Jesus knows and sees all; He knows our hearts. 1 Samuel 16:7; 1 Kings 8:39; 1 Chronicles 28:9; Jeremiah 17:10; John 2:25; Revelation 2:23. See also 2 Chronicles 16:9; Psalm 33:18; 139:23-24; Proverbs 15:3.
- The judging power of God’s Word. Jeremiah 23:29; Hebrews 4:12.
4. His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace.
-
- Brass equals judgement in reference to its use in the tabernacle, on the sacrificial altar and in the implements. Exodus 27:1-4. Compare Numbers 21:6-9 with John 3:14 and 12:32. The serpent on the pole, picturing sin and judgement for sin, was fulfilled in Jesus bearing the judgement for our sins upon the cross. 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13.
- Symbolic of judging and crushing Jesus’ enemies underneath His feet. Genesis 3:15; Joshua 10:24; Romans 16:20; 1 Corinthians 15:25.
5. His voice as the sound of many waters.
- God’s glory. Ezekiel 43:2; 1:24; Daniel 10:6; Revelation 17:15. As Niagara Falls would drown out any sounds that we could make, so God’s glory thunders and drowns out everything else. God’s glory drowns out the sounds of the nations, the clamour of a world in rebellion against Him. Contrast with Isaiah 17:12-13.
6. Out of His mouth went a sharp twoedged sword.
- The Word of God; the Sword of the Spirit. Hebrews 4:12; Ephesians 6:17. See also Revelation 2:16; 19:19-21.
7. His countenance was as the sun shineth* in his strength.
- The brightness of Christ’s glory. 1 Timothy 6:16; Matthew 17:2; Mark 9:3; Acts 9:3-9; Hebrews 1:3; Revelation 21:23.
*The verb ending “eth” indicates ongoing action. Jesus’ glory was only glimpsed temporarily by Peter, James, and John on the Mount of Transfiguration – shining for a time, but then veiled to man after that; however, now in Heaven, Jesus’ glory is no longer veiled or hidden; it is revealed forever (and this is the glory He had before He came down to earth to take on a human body, His glory which is now shining forevermore). See John 17:5 and Malachi 4:2.
Verse 18: Behold, I Am alive for evermore, and have the keys of Hell and of death.
The first reference in the Bible to a key is physical. See Judges 3:25. (You will find many times in the Word of God that the Holy Spirit portrays someone or something literally and physically before He gives a spiritual picture of that same person or object. First, you need the person, object or event before you can later use it as a symbol. See 1 Corinthians 15:46. For example, Exodus 12:3-7 refers to the Passover Lamb. Later we see this used as a symbol for Jesus, the Lamb of God. See Genesis 22:7-8; John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Revelation 5:6.)
There are seven passages in the Bible about spiritual keys:
1. Isaiah 22:22; Revelation 3:7 – the key of David
2. Matthew 16:19 – the keys of the kingdom
3. Luke 11:52 – the key of knowledge
4. Revelation 1:18 – the keys of Hell and death
5. Revelation 9:1; 20:1 – the key of the bottomless pit
Jesus has the keys of Hell and death. That means He is the only one who can open or close those doors. He is in total control of when we live and die. No one dies until He says it is time for them to do so, even in the midst of the tribulation – and no unbeliever goes to Hell until God says his time on earth is done. This is a comforting fact to keep in mind as we study the unfolding of events during the tribulation period. That means the Lord Jesus Christ is in control of each judgement that happens, even in control of their limit and effects. See Revelation 6:7-8 and 9:5-6, 10.
For some more passages on this theme of God being in control of when we live or die, consider Psalm 31:5, 15; 68:20; Ecclesiastes 3:2; Matthew 10:29-31; Luke 12:6-7; 21:18; Acts 17:26; Hebrews 9:27.
I find it so comforting to know that Christ alone holds the keys of hell and of death. My times are in His hands. (See Psalm 31:15.) Truly if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground apart from the will of the Father, I know that even if I am to die for my witness of Jesus Christ, it will only be in God’s perfect timing and completely in His sovereign control. I cannot die until God wills to take me home!
Verse 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.
The "seven stars" are the seven churches that we will soon see portrayed in Revelation chapters 2-3. The "candlesticks" represent their reflection of the Light of the World in this dark place. As we live for the Lord and witness for Him, we shine out among those that are lost. The darker the world, the greater the light of the Saviour shines! His Word is also a light that shines in a dark place – make sure you are holding forth the Word of life!
See Daniel 12:3; Matthew 5:14-16; John 8:12; 9:5; 12:16.
2 Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
Philippians 2:15-16 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
Verse 20: The mystery of the seven stars…
Here is an intriguing mystery. The seven stars represent the seven churches and their leadership (ie. their pastors). According to the following passage, the church was one of the mysteries hidden in past ages and is now revealed in the New Testament:
Ephesians 3:9-11 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
If you have a sense of wonder, I think you will be amazed by this. Yes, the church was not clearly revealed in the Old Testament (there are several types and shadows of it, though); however, God refers to it symbolically by the phrase, “the seven stars.” Pleiades, the constellation with seven stars (see Strong’s #3598) is referred to three times in the Old Testament (twice as Pleiades, once as “seven stars”). See Job 9:9; 38:31; Amos 5:8. There are also four references to the seven stars (ie. the churches of Asia Minor) mentioned in the New Testament. See Revelation 1:16, 20; 2:1; 3:1. That makes seven references in the Bible to the seven stars.
Now here comes the amazing part: get some good maps of the seven churches of Revelation and compare them to the constellation of the seven stars (Pleiades). The position of the seven churches on a map of Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) are exactly the same as the layout of the seven stars in Pleiades. So even though the church was a mystery not revealed to man in the Old Testament, it was in the heart of God since the foundation of the world, and on His mind as He spread out the stars in His universe on day four. If you are a child of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, don’t ever fall for the lie that God does not care about you!
Psalm 8:3-4 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
Revelation 1:19. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
Verse 19:
Final comment about chapter one: God even tells us how to rightly divide the book of Revelation.
God’s Outline of the Book of Revelation:
“The things which thou hast seen” – this vision of Jesus glorified (chapter 1).
“The things which are” – the Church Age. (Historic and Prophetic, chapters 2-3).
“The things which shall be hereafter” (after the Church Age) – the Tribulation (Revelation chapters 4-19), the Millennium (chapter 20), and eternity in the new heaven and new earth (chapters 21-22).
Clarence Larkin’s lists of Seven Sevens in the book of Revelation:
1. The Seven Churches - Revelation 2:1-3:22
2. The Seven Seals - Revelation 6:1-8:5
3. The Seven Trumpets - Revelation 8:7-11:19
4. The Seven Personages - Revelation 12:1-13:18
5. The Seven Vials - Revelation 15:1-16:21
6. The Seven Dooms - Revelation 17:1-20:15
7. The Seven New Things - Revelation 21:1-22:5
In the next chapter, we will take a look at the seven churches that the Apostle John wrote letters to in Revelation chapters 2-3.
Chapter completed October 7th, 2025
Jerry Bouey
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