REVELATION 5

Today we will look at REVELATION CHAPTER 5. We find that we are still in the Heavenly Realm in John's vision given unto him by God of things that would take place "hereafter."

1. 
   
   vs. 1-5: We see a Book sealed with seven seals and no one has been found who is worthy to open this book, except for The Lion of the Tribe of Judah. This is none other than Jesus Christ who is the final heir to the Davidic throne. Notice that the Book (or scroll) is sealed with seven seals which will begin to be opened in Chapter 6. What does the scroll contain? Apparently the judgment of God, since each seal loosed brings down judgment upon the world.


2. 
   
   vs. 6-7: In the vision Christ is represented not only as a regal Lion of Judah, but also as God's Lamb sacrificed for the sins of the whole world. He comes and takes the book for it will soon be opened.


3. 
   
   vs. 8-10: Now the four beasts and the 24 elders begin to worship the Lamb of God. I want to pay particular attention to the elders here and what they do...this identifies them as believers and not angels. They sing a song that states Christ, the Lamb, has "redeemed" them by his blood from every kindred, tongue, people and nation! These are believers, clearly! Notice also that they expect to reign with Christ as kings and priests under His rule!


4. 
   
   vs. 11-14: Now we have the follow-up from all creation! First we have an innumerable company of Angels who are worshipping the Lamb, Jesus Christ...boy if he isn't God, somebody should tell them, cause they are all worshipping HIm! (yes, sarcasm...of course Jesus is God!)


5. 
   
   All of creation follows in their adoration of the Lamb and He that sits upon the Throne...God the Father. And since we have a triune God, we know that Jesus said, I and my Father are one..."if you have seen me, then you have seen the Father."

STAY TUNED: In the next Chapter we descend to find what is taking place upon the Earth as the seven seals are loosed by Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.

REVELATION CHAPTER 4

NOW WE FIND OURSELVES ENTERING INTO THE FINAL PHASE OF REVELATION'S ORDER: Things which must be hereafter!

1. 
   
   Several things happen here: First John has an experience which very closely matches the events foretold in the Rapture of the Church (1 Thess 4:16). He hears a voice like a trumpet telling him to come up - into heaven. Since this also follows the seven letters to the churches and begins those things which are still future, we may hazard an educated guess that this is a reference to the Rapture within the order of Revelation. Also, John is told that these following events are taking place "hereafter," or future. Future to what? Future to the organized congregations we find in Revelation 2 & 3.


2. 
   
   John is immediately taken into the spiritual realm into the Third Heaven. There he finds a magnificent throne established.


3. 
   
   We find various colors in play in the appearance of God upon His throne.


4. 
   
   The elders mentioned here, appear to represent the church in heaven - Why? First of all, they sit upon minor thrones with authority under God as the church is promised to be kings and priests of God and co-govern in the millenial kingdom. Secondly, they cast crowns, (stephanos) like those given in competition during ancient olympian games. The church is said to recieve such for our faithfulness and service. Thirdly and most important is a Rev 5:9 where these elders identify themselves as the REDEEMED.


5. 
   
   We find displays of power and a symbolic manifestation of the complete Spirit of God - seven lamps of fire.


6. 
   
   The sea of glass is unclear though there are thoughts on its meaning.


7. 
   
   The living creatures or "beasts" have appearance which may represent Christ in his ministry: The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the son of man as a servant, the sacrifice as the calf, and as a Heavenly King in the Eagle. This of course is speculative.


8. 
   
   Notice their role and of those in Heaven, is to praise the Lord...these in fact appear to have that sole purpose...Holy, holy, holy, perhaps representative of the Father, Son (Word), and HOly Spirit.


9. 
   
   These beasts appear to lead the worship...


10. 
    
    The elders, representing the redeemed, follow in their adoration and cast their reward crowns at the feet of the Lord. We would have earned nothing in service to God had he not had mercy on sinners in the first place and then motivated us to action in His service.


11. 
    
    Notice the entire creation has a purpose...the please the Lord who created it!

REVELATION CHAPTER 3

Hello everyone! I hope you are enjoying our continuing journey through the Book of Revelation. This is one of my favorite books in the bible as it deals so much with that which is still to come. Today as we study chapter 3 we find ourselves seeing "things which are" concerning the ORDER of the prophecy. Christ continues his dealings with the seven churches in Asia Minor which are meant to be representative of his churches in all locations. The encouragement as well as rebukes that Christ delivers unto the churches serve as potent warnings to those of us alive today as to how we conduct ourselves in the work of God.

We will take a look at verses and groups of verses:

1. (1-6) Here Christ admonishes the Church at Sardis that they aren't walking right before the Lord. In fact they "have a name that they live, but are dead." It would appear that either many unbelievers were involved here or that the church had taken up a worldly stance..."there is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Folks, it is sad to say that many churches claim to be doing God's work, but rather than following the biblical mandate to preach the gospel and win souls, they are watering down the word and giving lost people anything they want in order to provide entertainment or psychological coddling to get them to come to church! Entertainment is not the job of the church! We have a job to do - a great commission to fulfill and we can't do that our way. It must be done God's way or it is dead!


2. The warning, again, is to repent or turn from the identified wrong-doing to right-doing...in other words, obeying the Lord's commands regarding the work and our conduct before man and God.


3. (7-13) Here we find Encouragement and praise from the Lord to the Church at Philidelphia. This is one of two (Smyrna) churches that receives no rebuke from the Lord. Oh how we need to be like this Church today! This church had little strength in appearance, but they held fast to God's word and to his name! Folks, its not about big buildings and campuses and all of the glitz and glam we see taking place in churches today...it is about holding fast to God's Word and to His Name, period!!


4. Finally we find Christ's admonishment to the lukewarm Church at Laodicea. This church appears to have it all...but their spiritual condition is completely opposite of the appearance! They appear rich and increased with goods, having need of nothing...but nothing could be further from the truth. Before the Lord, they are poor, blind, wretched, miserable and naked! WOW! How often we think things are going well in a church...I wonder how surprised we would be if we understood how Jesus sees our condition?!


5. There is a startling example shown here: Christ on the outside of the Church knocking for admittance. There are many churches that are so far away from scriptural service unto the Lord that he's not even in it at all!!

From Revelation 3 we depart the here and now of the Church Age to journey into "things which shall be hereafter," or the future! Stay with us as we'll soon find ourselves surveying God upon the throne in Heaven and then the opening of the Tribulation period!

REVELATION CHAPTER 2

In this chapter we find Christ's admonition and praise for Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos and Thyatira. It must be noted that the characteristics found in the Seven Churches are still found in the churches today. Thus we have the warning: "He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear what the spirit saith unto the seven churches."

While there is a teaching which traces the historical connection between the main characteristics of the seven churches, we will not deal with it now due to the lack of biblical evidence to support such a teaching. (Although it remains an interesting study)

Christ's Message to Ephesus:

1. He first praises them for their dedication and hard work


2. He then warns them that they have left their first love. The Bride of Christ's (Church) first love can be no other than the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ. Now, clearly the believer cannot be separated from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Rom 8) but the intimacy of that relationship can grow cold. We ought never to replace our closeness with our savior for the work he has left us to do. Christ makes it clear that this problem overrode all of their hard work and they were in danger of having their candlestick removed. For the local congregation, we have an opportunity to be a "light" to the community around us. Surely they were in danger of losing that opportunity should they not repent and return to the intimate fellowship with Christ.


3. Christ also praises them for avoiding the Doctrine of the Nicolatians, which He himself hates. While some point to the hierarchy among clerics in some faiths like the Catholic church, it seems more likely that this refers to the teaching which allowed for Christians to go on willfully in sinful behavior claiming the grace of God gave them safe passage to do as they desired. Once again, Christ hated the teaching! The liberty of a Christian is not to go on in willful sin, but to be freed from sin and live unto God!

Christ's Message to Smyrna: This church was heavily persecuted and Christ encourages them to endure the persecution faithfully even unto death. They already had a promised reward waiting for them. They are one of two out of the seven that do not receive any rebuke from the Lord Jesus.

Christ's Message to Pergamos: located in a city noted for its worship of the Roman Emperor and Zeus who's altar was located at the Acropolis. (Satan's Seat?)

1. Christ admonishes them concerning doctrine they allowed in their midst promoting fornication among believers and the doctrine of the Nicolatians, promising a license to willfully sin.


2. Repentance was the key to avoiding a harsh judgment from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ's Message to Thyatira: Once again we find a congregation which had allowed someone in their midst who promoted fornication among believers and idol worship. Christ calls it the "depths of Satan" and promises swift judgment except for those who had not participated in this teaching. It should be noted that fornication is rampant among our churches today along with the idea that one may truly become born again and then go on living life simply to fulfill their own desires and appetites without the Lord doing anything about it. We find here as well as Hebrews 12 that God, as a Father to His Children, disciplines them to the measure necessary, even to the point of physical death (1 cor 5). A truly saved individual belongs to the Lord and we are not our own any longer!

REVELATION CHAPTER ONE

Welcome to the Bible-Smart study of The Book of Revelation. As we begin this study, allow me to say that every time I study this book or any book of the bible, I find the Lord showing me new insights. So, it may be that we won't cover every possible detail, but shoot for a clear, good working overview of this amazing prophecy. We will either look at single verses at a time or look at groupings of scripture (ex: 1-3) within each chapter and note the main points within those groups before moving on in the chapter. Thanks so much for joining this weekly study (usually a new post each Friday) and I hope it proves helpful in your understanding of God's word.

Revelation Chapter One:

Firstly this is the Revelation (revealing) of Jesus Christ, despite sometimes being headed in bibles as "The Revelation of St. John." In this book of prophecy, Jesus is seen in all of his heavenly glory as God's sacrificial lamb to atone (pay) the penalty for man's sins to His own Holy Law. Jesus is seen as God Almighty and our coming King to takeover the Earth and reign forevermore. Now to the verses...

1. 
   
   God intends His servants to understand the things He will shortly bring to pass in human history. The apostle John (not John the Baptist) will be his instrument to bring this information to other believers.


2. 
   
   John attests that he is baring record of what he saw there on Patmos, that which God showed him through this vision.


3. 
   
   A blessing is added unto those who read and hold onto these truths with this prophecy...so you'll definitely get a blessing from this study, eh? Notice the admonition, "The Time is at Hand." In Daniel's vision, he was told to seal the book of prophecy given to him by visions "until the time of the end." Now, the time is at hand, so God's people were to be informed!


4. 
   
   Notice God referred to as "Him which is, which was, which is to come." This shows us God's eternal nature...He always has been and always will be!


5. 
   
   Jesus is characterized by being, "The faithful witness," for we spake as the Father gave him to speak during his earthly ministry..."the first begotten of the dead," for he was the first to die and be raised incorruptible in a glorified body, just as Believers are promised to receive (phil 3:21)..."prince of the kings of the Earth" which may refer to either to his own royal lineage through the line of King David or of Believers who through him made kings and priest unto God in the world to come. Notice the work of shedding his blood for our sins on the cross was a work of LOVE! (Rom 5:8)


6. 
   
   As we said, Christ has taken sinners and rebels from the earth and transformed them into kings and priests unto the Creator of the Universe...all possible through the cross!


7. 
   
   Notice not only the promise that "He comes" but that "every eye shall see him." How will this be accomplished? Television? Perhaps, he and the armies of heaven ride around the world before finally touching down in Israel? Or perhaps Jesus and his army remain stationary in full view while the Earth rotates beneath and then comes to touch down on the Mount of Olives? We cannot be precisely sure as is the nature of all future events. Notice the response to his coming--all kindreds (different ethnic groups) shall wail because of Him. The first coming was to provide himself a sacrifice for man's sins, the second coming will be to judge man's sins.


8. 
   
   Jesus declares himself to be The Eternal God by these statements. Can their be any doubt of his true identity as God, when he rose from the dead was seen of above 500 credible witnesses at one time and then ascended into Heaven in plain view of his disciples?


9. 
   
   John gives us his location: exiled to the little grecian island of Patmos because of his preaching Jesus Christ.


10. 
    
    Whether John means that he was simply in prayer or already within the vision is unclear, but the voice is Jesus Christ...


11. 
    
    ...who declares himself as Eternal God and instructs John to write what he sees in a book (scroll) and send it to these seven churches in Asia Minor. It should be noted that these seven were not the only churches at the time. However, some numbers have special meaning in Scripture. Seven refers to completion, as in "the seven spirits of God" or the Holy Spirit complete in all His attributes. These seven churches therefore represent all of God's congregations and later we will see that all believers are to heed the words written unto these seven.


12. 
    
    John turns to find the vision--firstly, seven golden candlesticks (lampstands).


13. 
    
    In the midst of these candlesticks we find Jesus described as wearing a robe (almost certainly white representing His holiness) wearing a golden girdle (sash)...


14. 
    
    ...His head hair is white as snow, his eyes like blazing light or fire...


15. 
    
    ...His feet like brass in a fire (usually signifying judgment) and a voice of great power.


16. 
    
    Christ is seen holding seven stars in his right hand. Seven (complete) and the right hand being a place of honor. Out of His mouth goes a sharp two edged sword and he glows brilliant like the sun. Now we must point out that this is a vision and symbolism is given here. How do we know? First, the meaning will be given soon...but we should understand that Jesus didn't have a "literal" sword stuck in his throat. It represents the power of his word and we find the Word of God described as such in (Hebrews 4:12).


17. 
    
    Notice John's reaction to seeing Christ in His glory...he loses all strength and faints, BUT the Lord responds by strengthening not holding him down as with many supposedly "spritual phenomena" like Holy Ghost glue and spirit slaying. These are never manifested in scripture. A similar fainting happens in Daniel, but it is only the prophets natural reaction to seeing the glory of God, not God knocking him down. As then, so here, God provides strength and stands his servant on his feet so they may continue with what the Lord has to say!


18. 
    
    Christ's affirms his sovereign authority even over death itself!


19. 
    
    HERE WE HAVE A KEY VERSE TO UNDERSTANDING THE ENTIRE BOOK OF REVELATION! Christ gives John the order of the events that he will witness in the vision and as we go through, we will find the events given in a consecutive (one after the other) order. Along the way, we'll find pauses where more details are given concerning certain events or people, but otherwise we are going from: "Things which thou hast seen" (Chapter One), to "the things which are" (Chapters Two & Three - instructions to the seven churches), and finally to "the things which shall be hereafter" (the future events - Chapters 4-22)


20. 
    
    Here Christ gives the interpretation of the Seven candlesticks and seven stars. Seven candlesticks symbolize the seven churches (same mentioned in verse 11) and the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches. The "Angels" referred to here could mean heavenly angels guarding the church, BUT why would Christ need John to write any instructions for them and how would he send them?? NO, these "angels / messengers" must refer to the human leaders (Pastors) of these particular congregations of believers.

This concludes our study of Chapter One...next week we will begin looking at Christ's instructions and admonition to the Seven Churches...Please join us and spread the word about BIBLE-SMART and our Revelation study!

A CHAPTER BY CHAPTER STUDY OF REVELATION COMING SOON

Hey folks from Bible-Smart! Glad you've found your way over to the Revelation Study page! We'll soon have Chapter One of Revelation up and I hope this indepth yet easy study will be very helpful to you all! STAY TUNED!