Revelation – Lesson 2

 

Revelation’s Themes and Overview

These passages sum up the theme of Revelation:

Revelation 1:4-8; 22:7 – the coming again of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 2:9-10; 13:10b; 14:12 – be faithful, even to the point of death, don’t fear what you are about to suffer, be patient and endure.

Revelation 12:10-17; 13:5-7 – there is real evil in the world who makes war with believers, Satan will try to accuse us before God, but Christ will defeat him.

Revelation 19:6-9; 11-16 – Jesus will commence His physical reign on earth.

Revelation 21:1-4; 22:1-5 – God will create a New Heaven and a New Earth; believers will dwell with God. 

Revelation’s Writer and Recipients

The book of Revelation was written by the John.  Who was John?  He was a faithful friend and disciple who loved Jesus.  He was a servant of Jesus.  He wrote 5 books of the Bible – 1, 2, & 3 John  and Revelation.

Matthew 4:21-22; 17:1-3 – John was one of the first disciples called by Jesus.

John 19:25-27 – John was at Jesus’ crucifixion; Jesus asked John to take care of his mother.

John 20:1-10 – John was one of the first to see that Jesus had risen and was referred to as the one Jesus loved.

John 21:20-25 – at the Last Supper John asked Jesus who was going to betray Him.

Acts 4:13 – John along with Peter spoke before the Sanhedrin who saw their courage and were astonished because they were unschooled, ordinary men.

These passages reveal the suffering of some of the original recipients of the book –

Revelation 1:9 – John suffered, but had patient endurance.  He suffered because of his beliefs and his boldness in speaking of Jesus Christ.  He was exiled on the island of Patmos and left there to die.  There on Patmos he had a vision of Christ and was told to write the book of Revelation.  He was an eye witness to these things told in Revelation.  This book is the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 2:2-3 – the believers at the church in Ephesus persevered and endured hardships, but did not grow weary. 

Revelation 2:9-10 – the church in Smyrna suffered poverty and slander, but were rich.

Believers still suffer today.  Christians are mocked and ridiculed because of their beliefs.  They are even hated, despised, and persecuted.  Some suffer in prison due to false charges.  Others are subjected to terrorism, kidnappings, assault and martyrdom. 

Revelation Shows God on Display

Attributes of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are revealed:

God is holy.  He is sovereign.  He is the Lord God Almighty who was and is and is to come.  He is to be worshiped and will be continually worshiped in Heaven by all, because He is creator of all things. 

Jesus is the only one worthy to open the scroll, because He was slain.  The Holy Spirit speaks to all who will hear Him.  All make up the Trinity.  Each is an entity, but are the same. 

Revelation is when God shows His truth to us.  In the book of Revelation is all about Jesus.  God shows us what we must do and say.  He shows Himself through Jesus Christ.  The Bible is full of God’s prophecy.  It reveals His redemptive story.  This book describes the glorious fulfillment of God’s eternal plan.  It tells us about the future climax of world history with God’s final judgment.  He will judge those who don’t believe in Him.  For those who do believe it is a book of joy.

Revelation is apocalyptic literature, full of symbolism.  Each image represents something literal.  People interpret it differently so we are focusing on the themes of the book. 

Revelation 1:3 – “Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near”.   Revelation is the only book in the Bible that says you will be blessed when you hear, read, and put in practice what it says.  The early church read the entire book of Revelation each time them met.  The reader and the congregation that read and hear and heed the teaching taught here will be blessed.  In other words your life will be changed.  You will live your life differently.  You will realize the collision course the world is on and the terrible times that are coming for those who are not saved.  You will have a clearer picture of God’s plan for the saved and the unsaved.  You will know “the end of the story”.  You will know the truth when trials and temptations come.  Keep these things in your mind and remember them.

I hope verse 3 convinces you to read this book.  Don’t be afraid that you won’t understand, because none of us completely understand it all and never will until it is revealed to us in heaven.  God will reveal to you exactly what you need to know. 

John began by writing to the 7 churches in Asia that existed at that time.  7 actually signifies completeness in the Bible.  He was actually writing to all the churches which applies to the churches today.  You will see where they are doing what God expects and where they are falling short.  Hopefully we will see where we too are not living up to God’s standards.

“Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him.  So shall it be! Amen.” – Revelation 1:7.  John praised Jesus and told of His return when He will come in the clouds and that every eye will see His returning.  Everyone will mourn over Him.  It will be a day of judgment when Jesus will pour out His wrath on the earth.  The Lord said, “I am the Alpha and the Omega… who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” – Revelation 1:8.  God declares that He existed in the beginning, now and at the end.  I love this verse! 

John was exiled on the island of Patmos because of His testimony of Jesus.  John was filled with the Spirit and heard a voice like a trumpet which told him to, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches:  to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.” – Revelation 1:11.  

John saw Jesus and described His hair, eyes, feet, voice, hand, mouth, and face.  Jesus was walking in the middle of the 7 lampstands.  The 7 lampstands represent the 7 churches.  They are lamps that hold the light of Christ.  They must show His light to the world.  Jesus was holding 7 stars in His right hand, which are the angels of the 7 churches. (Revelation 1:20)  These angels are probably angels who watched over the churches.  Some believe these stars are the pastors of the churches who lead and watch over the people. 

Revelation Gives Us Eternal Hope

John was in awe of Jesus.  Can you imagine?  How wonderful it will be when we see Him for the first time?  John fell to his feet in worship of Jesus.  Jesus told him not to be afraid.  He said He was the First and the Last, the Living One, was dead and now alive for ever and ever, and that He held the keys of death and Hades. (Revelation 1:17-18)  Having the keys to death and Hades means He has the power over them.  He proved that because He rose from the dead.  John was told to write down everything and not leave anything out.  “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.” – Revelation 1:19.  This is the key verse that unlocks the door to the entire outline of the book. 

Knowing Christ’s return should impact our perspective and actions in our broken world.  We should tell others about Jesus so they can live forever with Him.  Acts 1:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:51-55; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 22:12-13 tell us that He will come back in the same way He went into heaven.  When He returns, we as believers will be changed in a twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet.  The dead will be raised imperishable. Death is swallowed up in victory.  He will come down from heaven, the dead will rise first, those left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and we will be with Him forever.  He will bring His reward with Him and give to everyone according to what he has done.  He is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, The Beginning and the End. 

Principle:  God promises eternal victory which gives believers hope and assurance. 

Hope to see you here for our study of Revelation 1. – I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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