Introductory Material:
The title (1:1-3)
Greetings to the 7 churches (1:4-6)
Confession of faith in the risen, victorious
Christ (1:7-8)
I. The Church on Earth (1:9 - 3:22)
A. Setting: The 7 golden Lampstands (1:9-20)
B. The letters to the 7 Churches: (2-3)
| 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: | Introductory Material
Vs. 1:1-3 The Title..."The Revelation of Jesus Christ" Vs. 1 The author is John of Patmos. Probably the same disciple John who wrote the 4th Gospel. Vs. 1 What the book is about..... current events. The Christians are to be aware of an impending crisis. "What must soon take place." |
| 1:2 | Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. | Vs. 2 God uses an angel to reveal the Word. John is to record what he saw. |
| 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. | Vs. 3 "reads aloud" "hears" Book to be read in public setting (Worship?) |
| 1:4 | John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; | Vs. 1:4-6 Greeting
to the 7 churches
Vs. 4 Our 1st number! In the O.T. 7 is a sacred number indicating perfection /completion (e.g. 7 days of creation, Genesis 1) "the 7 spirits" -- the 7 archangels of heaven: Michael (warrior), Gabriel (God's chief messenger), Raphael (healing), Uriel, Remiel, Raquel, Sarakael Aside: Cherubim are not archangels. Cherubim are the angels who guard the tree of life and support the throne of God. Ezekiel tells us they have 4 wings & 4 faces. Seraphim have 6 wings & surround the throne of God, singing praises. |
| 1:5 | And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, | Vs. 5 "the faithful witness" - the Greek word can mean "martyr". A reminder of Christ's saving work. |
| 1:6 | And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. | Vs. 6 "Kingdom of priests" (see 1 Peter 2:9) |
| 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. | Vs. 7-8 Confession
of Faith
a) all people will see Christ b) John speaks of Christ in the present, not the future tense. The Christ who will come, is already present among his people. c) Alpha & Omega - the 1st & last letters of the Greek aiphabet, to show his complete rule over all. |
| 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. | * |
| 1:9 | I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. | I. JESUS AMONG THE 7 CHURCHES
(1:9-3:22)
A. The Setting (1:9-11) Vs. 9 John's credentials.. he shares in the persecution all Christians were suffering. He's exiled to the prison island of Patmos because of his loyalty to Christ & refusal to worship Caesar. |
| 1:10 | I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, | Vs. 10 - "the Lord's day"... Sunday/the day our lord rose from the grave "in the Spirit"... ecstatic vision, dream |
| 1:11 | Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. | Vs. 11 - the 7 churches listed (see map)
Problem: Why only these 7? Other churches were just as important. Solution: Could 7 be symbol of all, the whole church? |
| 1:12 | And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; | Vs. 12 - 14 "the 7 qolden lampstands"
surrounding Christ. We learn in 1:20 14 that these represent the 7 churches.
(See Exodus 25:31-37...7
lampstands in tabernacle!)
"the one like a son of man" (see Daniel 10:5-6, 18-19) |
| 1:13 | And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. | The
7-fold perfection of Christ (1:13-16)
What a carefully crafted description of the glory of Jesus Christ! a. "head & hair white as wool" (Ancient of Days) b. "eyes on fire" (penetrating insight) c. "feet like bronze" (strength) d. "voice like many waters" (majesty) e. "7 stars in right hand" (angels of Churches) f. "two-edged sword" (Word of God) g. "face shining like the sun" (deity) "the double edged sword ~ out of his mouth" (Hebrews
4:12)
|
| 1:14 | His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; | |
| 1:15 | And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. | |
| 1:16 | And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. | |
| 1:17 | And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: | Vs.17 "the 1st and the Last" = a phrase
used by God the Father in Isa.
44:6 and 46:12
to refer to himself. When Christ uses it here He is claiming to be equal
with God the Father
"Do not be afraid" How often the Risen Christ said this to his disciples! |
| 1:18 | I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. | Vs. 18 - "the keys to death and Hades"
= Christ has power over death and Hades (and therefore can release his
faithful followers from their grip)
Note: Hades = the Hebrew (OT) Sheol, the grave not "Hell". Sheol was the dark pit where souls of both good and evil people go after death. There existence is airrost at the vanishing point because God's presence doesn't reach this dark, cheerless pit beneath the surface of the earth. Here the dead can 't even remember their God. (see Psalm 6:4-5) Conclusion: Why is this section called "the Setting"? Because the letters to the 7 churches (2:1-3; 22) are given against this backdrop. As you read the letters to 7 churches, hold the image of Christ surrounded by the lampstands before your eyes. |
| 1:19 | Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; | * |
| 1:20 | The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. | * |
| 2:1 | Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; | B. The Letters to the 7
Churches (2:1-3:22) Introduction, Table
on the churches
Scene 1: Ephesus (The Passionless Church) (2:1-7) Vs. 1: "Here is the message of the one who holds... 7 golden lampstands." This letter has an awesome beginning. To understand it, bear in mind that Ephesus (a town in which Paul began a church) was the place where the cult of emporer worship was most widely practiced. With this beginning, the power of the heavenly Lord is confronting the power of the earthly ruler. Note: the 7 stars and 7 candlesticks were symbols used in the practice of Emperor Worship. So this introductory sentence says "here the Heavenly Emperor, the One who is their true Lord, is speaking to the churches." |
| 2:2 | I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: | Vs. 2: "I know your works" - There is no notion
of good works here. This is a reference to the whole of Christian
conduct as Christ gives a spiritual diagnosis.
"patient endurance" - a reference to persecution |
| 2:3 | And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. | * |
| 2:4 | Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. | Vs. 4: "the love you had at first" - love for each other (not a reference to love for Christ) |
| 2:5 | Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. | Vs. 5: "the works you did at first"- a reference to the way they used to act toward each other, in love1 the mark of a true lampstand (church). |
| 2:6 | But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate. | Vs. 6: The Nicolaitans - we know very little of this heretical sect. These are the ones referred to in Vs. 2 as "those who call themselves apostles but are not." These people are believed to be the followers of an early deacon of the church named Nicolas (Acts 6:5) It is said he fell away from the faith by taking a very lax attitude toward pagan society (including all sorts of immorality) and by trying to co-exist in peace with Rome. At that time it was impossible to co-exist peacefully with Rome and still remain faithful to Christ because of the requirement that all loyal citizens worship to the emperor and carry the piece of paper which certified that they had performed such worship. |
| 2:7 | He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. | Vs. 7 "the tree of life' - eternal life
(Genesis 2:9, 15-16
& 3:21-24)
"paradise of God" - the heavenly Jerusalem (Rev. 22:2) |
| 2:8 | And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; | Scene 2: Smyrna (The
Persecuted Church) (2:8-11)
Note: The early bishop Polycarp was martyred in this town. |
| 2:9 | I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. | Vs. 9. "but you are rich" - spiritually
rich
"false Jews" - a reference to those Christians who claimed to be Jews because Jews were not required to participate in emperor worship. To escape persecution, some Christians claimed to be Jews even after Christians were kicked out of the synagogue |
| 2:10 | Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. | Vs.10: "for ten days" -- a short time;
God controls the extent of the days of suffering.
Note: the devil is seen to be the real power behind Roman persecution of Christian. "the crown of life" - in the Olympic games, the winners received a wreath for their heads instead of a blue ribbon or trophy. The Christian reward for winning = the crown (or wreath) of life: eternal life. |
| 2:11 | He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. | Vs .11; "the Second Death" - the eternal death of those who will be condemned in the last judgment (Matthew 10:28). |
| 2:12 | And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; | Scene 3: Pergemum
(The Tolerant Church) (2:12-17)
Note: This city was the site of the first temple erected for Emperor Worship in 29 AD. It was also a major site for worship of the god of healing, Askelepios, a serpent god. |
| 2:13 | I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. | Vs. 13: "where Satan's throne is" - a
reference to the temple in which so much Emperor Worship was going on.
"Antipas" - a martyr's name |
| 2:14 | But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. | Vs. 14-16: "The Balaamites"
-- a nasty way to refer to those who are trying to combine pagan piety
and pagan lifestyle with Christianity. These people had a mistaken idea
of tolerance: compromise. When a church is persecuted there can
be no compromise. (Remember who Balaam was! See Numbers
31:16 -- seducer, an evil man)
The Balaamites are closely linked with the Nicolaitans (see note on 2:6). Both are considered destroyers of the people of God. |
| 2:15 | So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate. | |
| 2:16 | Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. | |
| 2:17 | He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. | Vs .17: "hidden manna" -- to understand
this you need to be familiar with a book John and the early Church knew
quite well but which is not part of the Protestant Canon: 2 Macchees.
2 Macc 2:4-8 tells that some of the manna in the wilderness was hidden
in the temple by Jeremiah until the time of the Messiah when it will be
the food of those who are saved in the heavenly Kingdom.
"white stone" - a badge or token of admittance or membership; used also as a vote of innocence in a courtroom trial. Thus these martyrs will be admitted to the presence of God with a token that bears the name of Christ. "new name" - possibly the name of God (see Rev. 3:12) but definitely indicating a change of status. When one's status changed in the Biblical world, a person's name was also changed: Abram became Abraham, Jacob became Israel, etc. |
| 2:18 | And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; | Scene 4: Thyatira (The
Compromising Church) (2:18-29)
Note: The Sun God was the special god worshipped at Thyatira. |
| 2:19 | I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. | * |
| 2:20 | Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. | Vs. 20: Jezebel - by this name, Jonn
is referring to a prophetess of the Nicolaiten sect (remember Jezebel in
old Testament? 1 Kings 16:31)
"immorality" -- this is the "adultery" of eating food sacrificed to idols. Remember the OT prophets who refer to religious faithlessness as adultery against YHWH. Remember the OT Jezebel worshipped foreign gods, but was never known as an adulteress against her husband. |
| 2:21 | And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. | * |
| 2:22 | Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. | Vs .22: "Those who commit adultery with her" - her followers |
| 2:23 | And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. | Vs .23: "Her children" - her followers |
| 2:24 | But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. | Vs .24: "the deep things of Satan" -- a reference to the secret teachings of groups who claimed to be Christian but were not. These secrets were hidden from all except those who were members of the sect. |
| 2:25 | But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. | * |
| 2:26 | And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: | Vs. 26-27: Those who remain faithful
to the end will share in Christ's Messianic Rule (see
Psalm 2:8-9)
"the Morning star": a) In Isa. 14:12-20 we find a song that makes fun of the Babylonian King by comparing him with the morning star that decided to rise higher than all the other stars and sit with the gods. To its great dismay, this star was forced to return to the earth and stay lower in the sky than all the other stars. This is therefore a reference to the Roman Emperor who claimed a place with the gods. b) The symbol of dawn & the coming of a new day: a reference to Christ himself (see 22:16). |
| 2:27 | And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. | |
| 2:28 | And I will give him the morning star. | |
| 2:29 | He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. |
| 3:1 | And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. | Scene 5: Sardis (The
Dead Church) (3:1-6)
Note: This town competed with Pergamum for the honor of erecting the temple to the emperor, but lost. Vs. 1-3: The church has become apathetic |
| 3:2 | Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. | * |
| 3:3 | Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. | * |
| 3:4 | Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. | Vs. 4: "soiled garments/white garments" - a reference to spiritual purity and faithfulness, not clothing. |
| 3:5 | He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. | Vs. 5: "The Book of Life" - a reference to the belief that God keeps a heavenly book in which the names of all who are to enjoy paradise are recorded (21:27). |
| 3:6 | He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. | * |
| 3:7 | And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; | Scene 6: Philadelphia
(The Missionary Church) (3:7-13)
Vs. 7: "the Key of David" --(See Isa. 22:22; John 10:1-10) This represents the claim that Eliakim can open and close the doors of David's palace during Hezekiah's reign. |
| 3:8 | I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. | Vs. 8: "an open door" - entrance into
the Kingdom of God
"denied my name" -- make sacrifice to the Emperor |
| 3:9 | Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. | Vs. 9: "fall at your feet" -- see
Isa. 45:14
"I have loved you" - see Isa. 43:4 |
| 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. | Vs. 10-11: "the hour of trial" - The Church is under attack from within and without. |
| 3:11 | Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. | * |
| 3:12 | Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. | Vs .12: pillar in the temple of my God"
this has the same meaning as when we refer to a parish leader as "pillar
of the church". There is to be no temple in the heavenly Jerusalem except
God (see 1 Pete 2:4-5).
"the name of God and his city" - the sign that the Christian belongs to God and the New Jerusalem (that nessianic city which will descend after the last judgment and the creation of the new heaven and new earth). (see Rev. 21:1-2) "Christ's own new name" - "King of Kings and Lord of Lords" |
| 3:13 | He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. | * |
| 3:14 | And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; | Scene 7: Laodicea (The Arrogant Church) (3:14-22) |
| 3:15 | I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. | Vs. 15-16: lukewarm Christians - indifferent, no fire or zest |
| 3:16 | So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. | * |
| 3:17 | Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: | Vs. 17: spiritually poor, blind and naked |
| 3:18 | I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. | * |
| 3:19 | As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. | Vs. 19: "Those whom I love, I reprove and chasten" - another claim by Christ to be equal with God (see Prov. 3:12). Christ disciplines those he loves. |
| 3:20 | Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. | Vs. 20-21: open the door to Christ and conquer! |
| 3:21 | To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. | * |
| 3:22 | He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. | * |