Day 359: Revelation 1-3

(The Book of Revelation was the final book of the Bible. It was written by John from the island of Patmos around 96 AD. This would have been about five years after his epistles. In much the same way the Book of Daniel was the main prophetic book for those who lived during the Dispensation of the Law, this book was the main prophetic book for those who live during our current dispensation. This book had four sections relative to chronology to prophecy. The first section was made up of the first three chapters which documented events prior to the Tribulation. The second section was made up of the next three chapters which presented a big picture perspective of events in order from the beginning of the Tribulation to the end of the Tribulation. The third section was the largest and most confusing section. In twelve chapters, the events of the Tribulation were presented from several different perspectives, resulting in a layered presentation of the Tribulation. The fourth and final section consisted of four chapters that presented, in chronological order, events from the end of the Tribulation through eternity.)

(We will be using the preceding diagram to help organize the chronology of the events mentioned in the Book of Revelation (click on diagram to enlarge).
Going from left to right:
-the cross represents Jesus' crucifixion,
-the time period until the first hash mark is our current Dispensation of Grace,
-the area between the two large hash marks is the seven year Tribulation (with a small hash mark denoting the midpoint of the Tribulation),
-the period after the Tribulation is the 1000 year Millennial reign of Christ on earth (the 7th Dispensation), and
-the area after with the infinity symbol denotes eternity.

Today's post completely occurred during the first section.)

Revelation 1
¹ The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show unto his servants, even the things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John;
² who bare witness of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, even of all things that he saw.

(This was the revelation of Jesus Christ that was given to John to show believers the things that will come to pass. This was done by an angel. John saw everything that was in this account.)

³ Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written therein: for the time is at hand.

(This book came with a blessing!: Blessed are those who read and hear/understand (the why) the words of this prophecy and keep those things that were written within. After all, the purpose of this book was to uncover/unveil what would happen. The point of this book was that we can understand the events of this book, to the point the reader would receive a blessing. The reason this book is so difficult to understand is that it contained a tremendous amount of Doctrine and one must understand Doctrine at a high level to receive the blessing from reading this book.

In this commentary for the Book of Daniel, we stated that Daniel had the greatest understanding of Doctrine among any author of the Old Testament. Likewise, John had the greatest understanding of Doctrine among any author of the New Testament. Consequently, like Daniel, he was the author of the book with the greatest prophecies within his dispensation.)

⁴ John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from him who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits that are before his throne;

(Doctrine: There are seven Spirits before the throne of God. Isaiah 11:2 listed the seven Spirits of God. They were the Spirit of: Jehovah, wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and fear of Jehovah.)

⁵ and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loveth us, and loosed us from our sins by his blood;
⁶ and he made us to be a kingdom, to be priests unto his God and Father; to him be the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

(John began his letter to the seven churches in Asia with a greeting from God the Father, the seven Spirits of God, and Jesus Christ.)

⁷ Behold, he cometh with the clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they that pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth shall mourn over him. Even so, Amen.

(Verse 7 referred to the physical coming of Christ to earth at the end of the Tribulation. John referenced Zechariah 14:1-5 and Zechariah 12:10.)

⁸ I am the Alpha and the Omega, saith the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

(This was stated to John by Jesus.)

⁹ I John, your brother and partaker with you in tribulation and kingdom and patience which are in Jesus, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

(John was exiled to the island of Patmos because of his beliefs when he received this revelation.)

¹⁰ I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet

(Even though John was exiled to this island, he was still in the Spirit. He heard a great voice as of a trumpet, which was Jesus.)

¹¹ saying, What thou seest, write in a book and send it to the seven churches: unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamum, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
¹² And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And having turned I saw seven golden candlesticks;

(The seven gold candlesticks represented the seven churches that Jesus told John to write to.)

¹³ and in the midst of the candlesticks one like unto a son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about at the breasts with a golden girdle.

(Daniel saw something similar in Daniel 7:13 and Daniel 10:5-10.)

¹⁴ And his head and his hair were white as white wool, white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
¹⁵ and his feet like unto burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace; and his voice as the voice of many waters.
¹⁶ And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

(The phrase "out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword" was similar to Matthew 4:4 when Jesus referenced Deuteronomy 8:3 which stated that man lived by everything that proceeded out of the Mouth of God. In Matthew 4:4 everything was replaced by every word, and "word" was rhema. We have seen in Ephesians 6:17 that rhema, the Word of God, was the sword of the Spirit. Notice throughout this book, Jesus will fight with what proceeds out of His Mouth. Jesus will do spiritual warfare with words.)

¹⁷ And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as one dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying, Fear not; I am the first and the last,

(Daniel responded in a similar way in Daniel 10:9.)

¹⁸ and the Living one; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.

(Doctrine: Jesus has the keys of death and Hades, which we also call hell.)

¹⁹ Write therefore the things which thou sawest, and the things which are, and the things which shall come to pass hereafter;
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 are seven churches.

(The seven stars represented the angels of seven churches. Each church had an angel.)




(Chapters 2 and 3 covered the letters John wrote to the seven churches in Asia. Each of these letters to the seven churches in Asia were similar to a performance review. We should look at what Jesus told these churches to see if we can learn what He expects out of His Church (Bride). Each of these churches were actual churches to whom John sent these writings. Also, many scholars believed each of these churches represented a "church age" during our current dispensation, with the last church (Laodicea) representing our time today. Finally, each letter followed a general structure:
-the beginning gave a description of Jesus,
-the church was told what it did well and what it did not do well, and
-the end told of a benefit to those who overcome, those that make it to eternal life.
Each section closed with the exhortation for those who have ears to hear. For the first three churches, the exhortation introduced the benefit to the overcomer.)

Revelation 2

(Verses 1-7: the church of Ephesus.)

¹ To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, he that walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks:

(Description of Christ: Jesus held the seven angels in His right Hand and walked in the midst of the seven churches.)

² I know thy works, and thy toil and patience, and that thou canst not bear evil men, and didst try them that call themselves apostles, and they are not, and didst find them false;
³ and thou hast patience and didst bear for my name's sake, and hast not grown weary.

(Did well: could not bear evil, did try (prove out) false apostles, was patient, and for Christ's name they worked and did not faint.)

⁴ But I have this against thee, that thou didst leave thy first love.

(Did not do well: they did leave their first love, which was the First Command. The word Ephesus came from "permitted, to let go, relax." In this sentence, "first love" meant the emotion and desire one has when they first fall in love.)

⁵ Remember therefore whence thou art fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I come to thee, and will move thy candlestick out of its place, except thou repent.

(They were warned to repent or Jesus would remove that church.)

⁶ But this thou hast, that thou hatest the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

(They did not follow the works of the Nicolaitans. The Nicolaitans were a gnostic sect. They believed they had special revelation that was not possessed by others. This special revelation introduced new doctrine, contradicting God's Doctrine, that allowed them to do whatever they felt like doing. It also created a hierarchy within the church: those with the special revelation ruled over everyone else instead of serving. Jesus was pleased with this church because they knew God's Doctrine, not only to the point they resisted the Nicolaitans, but they were also able to try (prove out) false apostles.)

⁷ He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.

(Those who overcome: will eat of the tree of life in the midst of the paradise of God.)

(As it related to our dispensation, the church in Ephesus represented the time from Christ's resurrection to about 200 AD. Notice, the emphasis on focusing on God (First Command) and knowing God's Doctrine. The church during the first church age did know its Doctrine, but it focused on the effects more than the cause, which was the First Command.)

(Verses 8-11: the church in Smyrna.)

⁸ And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These things saith the first and the last, who was dead, and lived again:

(Description of Christ: Jesus is the first and last who was dead and is now alive.)

⁹ I know thy tribulation, and thy poverty (but thou art rich), and the blasphemy of them that say they are Jews, and they art not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

(Did well: Their works, tribulation, and poverty were known. Some Jews there only said they were Jews but were actually of the synagogue of Satan.)

¹⁰ Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to 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 the crown of life.

(Did not do well: There was nothing that this church did wrong. Instead, they got an exhortation concerning impending difficulties: Do not fear suffering; there will be persecution. Be faithful to death and you will receive life. The word Smyrna was a derivative of myrrh which meant "bitter.")

¹¹ He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

(Those who overcome: will not be hurt of the second death (see Revelation 20:14).)

(As it related to our dispensation, the church in Smyrna represented the time from around 200 AD to around 325 AD. The church was persecuted by Rome right up to rise of Constantine in 313 AD.)

(Verses 12-17: the church in Pergamum.)

¹² and to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These things saith he that hath the sharp two-edged sword:

(Description of Christ: Jesus has the sharp sword with two edges, the rhema: the powerful and revelatory Word of God without precedent.)

¹³ I know where thou dwellest, even where Satan's throne is; and thou holdest fast my name, and didst not deny my faith, even in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwelleth.

(Did well: They held fast to Jesus' name and did not deny the faith even during martyrdom. The word Pergamum meant "height, elevation.")

¹⁴ But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there some that hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication.

(Did not do well: they held doctrine of Balaam, which meant they supplied their own how/why, which sounded a lot like...)

¹⁵ So hast thou also some that hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans in like manner.

(The Nicolaitans supplied their own how/why to justify their man-made doctrine that contradicted God's Doctrine.)

¹⁶ Repent therefore; or else I come to thee quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth.

(They were commanded to repent or Jesus would come quickly and fight against them with the sword of Jesus' Mouth, which is God's Word. How much more proof do you need to understand that spiritual warfare is not physical but is done by words and sentences?)

¹⁷ He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knoweth but he that receiveth it.

(Those who overcome: will eat hidden manna and will receive a white stone with a new name which only the man receiving will know. This "new name" will be the name of who you ARE, who God created you to BE. The word name meant "cause." Who you ARE is the cause of who God created you to BE.)

(As it related to our dispensation, the church in Pergamum represented the time from around 325 AD to around 600 AD. Constantine declared himself a defender of Christianity. While this seemed like a victory for Christianity, it actually resulted in Christianity being institutionalized. In the process of making Christianity available to the masses, it was infused with pagan practices, including hierarchy. Christianity had a good appearance (right what), however the doctrines (how/why) were not completely from God.)

(Verses 18-29: the church in Thyatira.)

¹⁸ And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet are like unto burnished brass:

(Description of Christ: Jesus has Eyes like a flame of fire and Feet of burnished (fine) brass.)

¹⁹ I know thy works, and thy love and faith and ministry and patience, and that thy last works are more than the first.

(Did well: Their works, love, service, faith, patience, and humility were known.)

²⁰ But I have this against thee, that thou sufferest the woman Jezebel, who calleth herself a prophetess; and she teacheth and seduceth my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.

(Did not do well: permitting Jezebel who facilitated fornication.
Note: This Jezebel in Revelation was someone that was living at that time, not the Jezebel from the Old Testament. Notice, the name Thyatira meant "dominating female.")

²¹ And I gave her time that she should repent; and she willeth not to repent of her fornication.
²² Behold, I cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of her works.
²³ And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he that searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto each one of you according to your works.

(In verse 23, reins referred to kidneys, meaning the inner most part of the mind.)

²⁴ But to you I say, to the rest that are in Thyatira, as many as have not this teaching, who know not the deep things of Satan, as they are wont to say; I cast upon you none other burden.

(Again, this church was dealing with man-made doctrine. We should know the depths of Satan.)

²⁵ Nevertheless that which ye have, hold fast till I come.
²⁶ And he that overcometh, and he that keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give authority over the nations:

(Those who overcome: will receive authority over the nations.)

²⁷ and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to shivers; as I also have received of my Father:
²⁸ and I will give him the morning star.

(The "morning star" referred to Jesus.)

²⁹ He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.

(As it related to our dispensation, the church in Thyatira represented the time from around 600 AD to around 1500 AD. This period covered the Dark Ages. Some people believed the dominating female of this time period was the Catholic Church which they believe was the same as the Mystery of Babylon. In 607 AD, Boniface III was recognized as the first universal Pope. The Inquisition began in 1184.)




Revelation 3

(Verses 1-6: the church in Sardis.)

¹ And to 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 thou art dead.

(Description of Christ: Jesus has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars. Sardis lived (physically) but was dead (spiritually). The word Sardis meant "red." It also had a derivation sardonic that meant "ironically humorous, scornful and mocking, in a sarcastic manner." This church had the reputation (man's perspective) of being alive, but actually (God's perspective) they were dead. This church had a right what with a wrong (or no) how/why.)

² Be thou watchful, and establish the things that remain, which were ready to die: for I have found no works of thine perfected before my God.

(Did well: nothing.)

(Did not do well: No works of theirs were perfected: were increased because of a right how/why. They had some things (what's) that remained. This church got a warning to be watchful and establish what they had not completely lost.)

³ Remember therefore how thou hast received and didst hear; and keep it, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

(This church was told to repent after remembering what they had originally received and heard. Continuing not to remember and repent would cause this church not to be aware when Jesus came back.)

⁴ But thou hast a few names in Sardis that did not defile their garments: and they shall walk with me in white; for they are worthy.

(A few individuals in Sardis were not defiled.)

⁵ He that overcometh shall thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

(Those who overcome: will be clothed in white raiment and will not be blotted out of the book of life (Salvation) but Jesus will confess their name before the Father and before His angels.)

(As it related to our dispensation, the church in Sardis represented the time from around 1500 AD to around 1700 AD. This was the time of Martin Luther and John Calvin, two men who even today have "a name that livest":
-Martin Luther taught the man-made doctrine of grace: "unmerited favor."
-John Calvin taught the same religion of the Pharisees and Nicolaitans: A right what with a contradictory how/why that was not supported by God's Word. Like Mormons and Muslims, John Calvin combined the Dispensation of the Law with the current Dispensation of Grace.

Both of these men introduced man-made doctrines that compromised the Doctrine of Salvation.)

⁶ He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.

(Verses 7-13: the church in Philadelphia.)

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 none shall shut, and that shutteth and none openeth:

(Description of Christ: Jesus is holy, true, hath the key of David, and He openeth and shutteth. The "key of David" had to do with the coming Kingdom of God. The part about Jesus opening and shutting had to do with the final judgment. The "door" is open now, once the final judgment is complete, the "door" will be shut.)

⁸ I know thy works (behold, I have set before thee a door opened, which none can shut), that thou hast a little power, and didst keep my word, and didst not deny my name.

(Did well: More about the door, this church did two things well, but they were really good things: they kept the Word and they did not deny Jesus' Name.)

(Did not do well: Nothing? The next verses spoke of benefits.)

⁹ Behold, I give of the synagogue of Satan, of them that say they are Jews, and they 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.

(The unbelievers who claimed to be believers would bow down before this church. This didn't mean that they would be worshipping people but that they would be worshipping in front of people. Ultimately, this was in tandem with these people seeing the love Christ had for this church.)

¹⁰ Because thou didst keep the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of trial, that hour which is to come upon the whole world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

(The hour of temptation will be an extended period of time, the Tribulation. This verse referred to the pre-Tribulation Rapture of Christians.)

¹¹ I come quickly: hold fast that which thou hast, that no one take thy crown.

(Notice, if no one is able to forfeit their Salvation ("thy crown") then why would people have to be told to hold fast so that no one took their Salvation? Again, this was another example that God provided everything for Salvation, but it is the responsibility of the individual to attain it and walk in it.)

¹² He that overcometh, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out thence no more: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and mine own new name.

(Those who overcome: will be made a pillar in the temple of the Father and will go no more out and will have written on them the Name of God and the name of His city - the new Jerusalem.)

(As it related to our dispensation, the church in Philadelphia represented the time from around 1700 AD to around 1900 AD. This time period was one of "brotherly love" (meaning of Philadelphia) in the church, especially in America with the Great Awakenings. Believers loving believers led to a great revival.)

¹³ He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.

(Verses 14-22: the church in Laodicea.)

¹⁴ And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God:

(Description of Christ: Jesus is the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.)

¹⁵ I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

(Did well: Nothing.)

(Did not do well: Jesus wanted them to go COLD or HOT. The terms "cold" and "hot" were directional. Go hard one way or the other; state your will; God will correct you if you are wrong. Being LUKEWARM was not stating your will and remaining under mercy.

God responds through Justice to a person who is gaining or losing value. This means that God cannot respond to a person who is doing nothing and remaining under mercy. The individual ought to go towards what they believe is right, believing it is HOT, and then be willing to find out if it was COLD or HOT based on God's response.

Some people try to say COLD and HOT are both good, that cold water refreshes and hot water soothes. They are not both good, otherwise Jesus would not have had to make the obvious point that He would that we were good. Jesus stated He would that we either made progress the right way (so His Will could be done through us) or we made progress the wrong way (so He could correct us through Justice, which would eventually be for our good).)

¹⁶ So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth.

(This church was lukewarm. They did not state their will. Lukewarm is spewed (vomited) out of Jesus Mouth (the place of creation). This statement was more extreme than it reads to most people. It would be as if Jesus emphatically stated about LUKEWARM people, "You make me SICK!!"

Many people are deceived by thinking LUKEWARM is better than COLD. This is comparative thinking. Believing that as long as you are not a murderer, you are a "good" person and God will let you attain Salvation is deception. Actually, Jesus would rather you be COLD than LUKEWARM because He cannot do anything with a person who is LUKEWARM.)

¹⁷ Because thou sayest, I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art the wretched one and miserable and poor and blind and naked:

(This church was focused on the physical. They were satisfied with their physical wealth and declared they were in need of nothing (pride), they did not need to state their will and progress towards anything because they were satisfied.)

¹⁸ I counsel thee to buy of me gold refined by fire, that thou mayest become rich; and white garments, that thou mayest clothe thyself, and that the shame of thy nakedness be not made manifest; and eyesalve to anoint thine eyes, that thou mayest see.

(They should "buy" (an exchange of value) gold tried by fire from Jesus that they would be spiritually rich, "buy" white raiment to cover their sin, and anoint their eyes so they could see. The first step towards making progress is to be aware, to see. The first step for this church is to become aware of their true spiritual condition: poor, naked, and blind.)

¹⁹ As many as I love, I reprove and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

(Those Jesus loves He rebukes and chastens. Jesus told this church to be zealous (get some energy so they could make progress) and repent which meant turn and make progress in the other way.)

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.

(Doctrine: Jesus is knocking on our doors.

Doctrine: It is up to us to choose to open it.

Doctrine: If we do, Jesus will dine with us. Jesus loves to eat.)

²¹ He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father in his throne.

(Those who overcome: will be granted to sit with Jesus on His throne.)

(As it related to our dispensation, the church in Laodecia represented the time from around 1900 AD through today and to the end of our dispensation. Today, the church is LUKEWARM. In fact, many churches and "Christian" authors justify being LUKEWARM. It is very difficult to get "Christians" to state their will and share the definitions for the words they use. The church today needs to recognize its true spiritual condition and repent. Periods of satisfaction and inactivity will occur to those who follow periods of tremendous growth (Philadelphia Age) by allowing their flesh to convince them they deserve a break.)

²² He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.

(This ended the first section of the Book of Revelation that focused on the seven churches in Asia and the events prior to the Tribulation. Revelation chapters 1, 2, and 3 all occurred in the first section of the diagram (click on diagram to enlarge).)

Day 360