Bible Study - Revelation 1-3 & ”Ears that Hear” Part 2

Last week, we looked at an introduction to the Book of Revelation, written down by the Apostle John while he was on the island of Patmos, exiled by Roman authorities (Revelation 1:9). This was the “revelation of Jesus Christ” to be sent to seven churches in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey, Revelation 1:5); and blessings would come to those who read aloud this Word of God and to those who heard that Word and sought to keep it and follow it (Revelation 1:1-3). Blessings will still come to us today as we hear and read that Word, as we are doing now. 

The word “revelation” (apokalupsis) in v.1 is important. It means the revealing or disclosure of hidden things and sometimes, but not always, refers to things in “the last times.” We find this “apocalyptic” writing in the Old Testament in places like Isaiah 24-27, Zechariah 9-14, Ezekiel, Joel, and Daniel, and now in Revelation, as well. This writing used many symbols and picture images and things like numbers and colors and stars, which had special meanings.

The Book of Revelation often reflects some of these Old Testament passages and has more allusions to the Old Testament than any other New Testament writing. (That is part of what makes Revelation more difficult for us to read, because we are often not so familiar with the Old Testament. These images tie the Old and New Testaments together, though, showing the fullness of God’s revelation, predicted in the Old Testament and revealed and fulfilled in the New Testament, especially in Jesus our Savior.)

Here is one example. The number “seven” represents “fullness and completion.” The word “blessed “ is used in Revelation in Chapter 1:3 and then six other times scattered throughout Revelation, ending in Revelation 22:7,14. The seven “blesseds” represent all the fullness of God’s blessings. John is directed to write to seven real churches in one area (Revelation 1:11), with specific messages for each. These seven really represent all churches, and as we listen, we can all learn from what is said to each of these churches. God created the world in 6 days and rested on the seventh, a perfect, complete week (Genesis 2:2). Peter asks Jesus if he should forgive people up to seven times. That sounds like a complete enough number for forgiving. Jesus tells him to forgive 70 times 7 times - an uncountable number of times (Matthew 18:21-22). We could go on and on with this. This does not mean that numbers are not real, but they often represent something more.

In Revelation 1:4, then, John begins to reveal what has been shown to him and who revealed it - the one true Triune God, who wants to bring “grace and peace” to the churches and to all of us. There is He, “who is and who was and who is to come,” God the Father, who has always existed, present and past and future. (See also Exodus 3:14 and John 8:58 and Revelation 1:8.) There is also God the Holy Spirit, who is pictured here as seven Spirits, going to each of the seven churches to whom this original letter went. (See also Isaiah 11:2. The Spirit is one Spirit, but He will go to all these churches. There is also God the Son, Jesus Christ, “the Faithful Witness” to all of God’s plans, who lived them out for us (Revelation 1:5, John 18:37). Jesus is also “the Firstborn of the dead.” He died for us, but was also raised for us, that we too might have new and eternal life. Jesus also is “the Ruler of kings,” “the King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16 and Matthew 28:18).

Since Jesus is at the center of God’s saving plan, even more is said of Him. “He loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood.” In His love for us, Jesus, as a true man, as well as God the Son, was willing to be sacrificed on the cross, shedding His blood in payment for our sins, that we might be freed from their condemnation (Romans 8:1). Through Jesus we become part of God’s kingdom and priests to our God and Father (Revelation 1:6). This is what is described in 1 Peter 2:9-10. All those who trust in Christ as Savior become part of the New Israel, the new people of God. We cannot all be pastors or teachers, but we can serve the Lord and “proclaim the greatness of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.” We can also say: “To Christ be glory and dominion forever!”

For, as Revelation 1:7 says, Christ “will come again with the clouds, and every eye will see Him.” As believers, we can rejoice with great joy when Jesus comes again (Luke 21:27-28 and Hebrews 9:26-28). We are prepared by trusting Christ, but others who have rejected the Lord will mourn and have great sorrow at the salvation they have lost. (See also John 19:37.) “Amen.” This is most certainly true. This will really happen. The time to trust in Christ in now, before He returns and it is too late.

The Lord God also says that he is “the Alpha and the Omega” (Revelation 1:8). These are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. This is another way of saying that God is eternal. He is the beginning and the end of all things. He has always existed and always will, as v.4 also said. (Notice that the same words are used by God the Son, Jesus, about Himself in Revelation 22:13. This is true of each Person of the Trinity and by the Trinity as One True God.)

We will stop here for today. If you have time, read Revelation 1:9-20. Notice the unusual words and descriptions. These are part of the “apocalyptic” way of speaking that we find here and then in the letters to the churches in Chapters two and three, at times, too. The Lord’s blessings on your week.