This summary is provided to understand the meaning of the Book of Revelations- the last book in the Bible. Apostle John introduces his book as a revelation given to him by Jesus and pronounces a special blessing on those who read , hear and take to heart “the words of this prophecy”. The book is sent to the seven churches with which John has special ties and is dedicated to Jesus as coming Savior. This is the Coronation of a Savior! John now tells his story, while exiled to Patmos by the Roman emperor Domitian (A.D. 81-96). John was praying one Sunday, when a voice instructed him to write what he was about to see. John turned and was given a vision of Jesus in His full glory, so awesome that John fell to the ground, stunned. Jesus lifted him up, identified Himself, and told John to write. NOTICE- Jesus touched and lifted John up .
Key Verses 1:5b-6.
The Revelation of Jesus. READ 1:1-In the N.T. revelation (unveiling of a mystery) is always used of a divine unveiling of something that has been hidden. Here Jesus is the one who discloses “what must soon take place” – and in the process reveals something of His glory.
Blessing. READ 1:1-The “one who reads” and “those who hear” refer to a public reading of the book in church. Because this is “prophecy”, in the sense of divine revelation, it merits immediate acceptance as Scripture. Because the revelation comes directly from the risen Jesus, it is of utmost importance.
The seven churches. READ 1:1-. All seven were in the Roman province of Asia, now Asia Minor. They are listed in 1:11, and a message directed to each is found in Rev. 2 and 3. It describes the churches of John’s day- but they are also present churches, with good and bad qualities- all during the Church Age, which is from Pentecost (50 days after Jesus’ resurrection) to Rapture.
Firstborn from the dead. READ 1:5aChrist’s resurrection is the pledge that we too will be raised. He was not only the first, He is the One who has supreme authority over the vast family of faith destined to follow Him.
Doxology to Christ. READ 1:5b-6Here is some of the most powerful praise found in the Bible, celebrating Christ’s love, the forgiveness won for us by His blood, and the exalted position to which He has raised us.
John’s Exile.READ 1:7-10- Tradition agrees that as an old man John was exiled during the reign of Domitian and that he wrote Revelation from Patmos, an island off the coast of Asia Minor, probably in the mid A.D. 90’s.
The Vision of Jesus. READ 1:7-10-Each element in the seven-element description of the glorified Christ has symbolic significance. The white head and hair reflect Daniel 7:9 and symbolize wisdom and judgment. The eyes of blazing fire reflect Daniel 10:6 and may indicate a penetrating gaze or perhaps the fierceness of the judgment to come. The feet of glowing metal reflect a common O.T. symbol of God’s glory, found in Ezek. 1:13, 27; 8:2; and Dan. 10:6. The voice like rushing waters is a familiar simile in Jewish writings for the power of God’s voice, repeated in Rev. 14:2 and 19:6. Anyone who has heard a thundering waterfall can sense why. The doubled edged sword may reflect Isa. 11:4, which is again a portrait of final judgment. Overall, John’s language serves to express the awesomeness of the glorified Christ’s appearance and the unity of this book with O.T. prophetic books that describe history’s end.
First and the Last. READ 1:17 This title granted to God in Isa. 44:6 and 48:12 affirms Jesus as Lord of Creation and Master of history.
The keys of death and Hades READ 1:18- . Keys were a symbol of authority. Jesus has full control over every realm.
The key to interpreting Revelation. READ 1:19-20- Many understand verse 19 to provide the key to understanding Revelation. “What you have seen” is John’s vision of Jesus, found in chapter1. “What is now” is reflected in the letters Christ dictates, to be sent to the seven Asia Minor churches, found in chapters 2 and 3. And “what will take place later” is a vision of history’s end, correlated with the O.T. prophet’s vision of that time, found in chapters 4-21, which is the Tribulation, the Millennium, and then the New Heaven and the New Earth.
These end events will not be fulfilled until the Church Age is over- or when the Rapture occurs. To close let’s hear Jesus’ words in Revelation 3:10-“Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.” (NIV)
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