CHAPTER 1

The Book of Revelation can be understood if we understand right division of the scripture. To understand the prophecy in the Book of Revelation we must also understand that the Body of Christ (the church) of today has no part of this prophecy. In fact, there is no prophecy being fulfilled today. The next thing to happen to the Body of Christ is the catching up to meet the Lord in the air. (I Thes 4:13-17: I Cor 15:51). The next thing to happen to the Nation of Israel is the wrath of God poured out on the earth as prophesied in the Book of Daniel. Daniel 9: 24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Sixty- nine weeks have been fulfilled when Messiah was cut off but the seventh week will be fulfilled in the first 19 Chapters of the Book of Revelation. The Book of Revelation is not figurative, symbolical, apocalyptic, hidden or secretive prophecy as many teach. It can be understood if we believe it as it is written and to whom it is written. Every verse of scripture has three applications: Historical, Doctrinal, and Spiritual. 2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: The doctrine in the Book of Revelation will apply to the Nation of Israel not the Body of Christ. The Book of Revelation is the unveiling of prophecy.

Revelation 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:

The Book of Revelation is written to the Nation of Israel the servant of God. Isaiah 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

John is given a revelation of Jesus Christ and is transported in time to see the things as they happen in the tribulation period. He was sent an angel to show him signs and wonders that were shortly coming to pass.

Revelation 1:2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

The testimony of Jesus Christ is defined as the Spirit of Prophecy, which is the ability to tell the future. Revelation 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. John had already seen the things that now he could write down.

Revelation 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.

Many people are afraid to read the Book of Revelation because they believe these events will happen to them. If they are save by the grace of God they will not have part in the tribulation period. So it is a blessing to read the Book of Revelation because we know that has not appointed us to wrath (Rom 5:9; I Thes 1:10; I Thes 5:9). Daniel was told to seal up the time until the time of the end. Daniel 11:40 And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. Daniel 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

Revelation 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;

The seven churches are in Asia during the tribulation period and are not a picture of the church age as many teach. The seven Spirits were before the throne of God not on the earth. The ministry of the Holy Spirit will be different during the tribulation period than it is during the age of grace. The Holy Spirit does not seal the believer and only the 144,000 and the two witnesses are sealed. When Paul writes to the churches , he

always writes from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, but he never writes from the Holy Spirit. We can now see that when John see the seven Spirits before the throne, the Body of Christ has already been take off the earth. A definition of the seven Spirits of God can be found in Isaiah 11:2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; During the tribulation period the ministry of the Holy Spirit will be different. It will fall on who it will because it can also leave them like it did in the OT.

Revelation 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,

The Lord Jesus Christ is the first begotten of the dead, who was the first man to rise from the dead and who will never die again. He is also the first fruits of the resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

Revelation 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.

The “us” is referring to God’s chosen people the Nation of Israel. They are the ones that will inherit the earth, which God promised Abraham and He promised them that they would be a nation of priest. 1 Peter 2: 9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; Exodus 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

Revelation 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.

This is the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth and He is coming to judge and make war. Acts 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. Matthew 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. This is not the rapture of the church because the rapture is a mystery and the second coming of Christ is a prophecy event. The rapture of the church is an appearing in the clouds, He does not come to earth. Ever eye will not see him when He calls the church to meet him in the air. 1 Corinthians 15: 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Revelation 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.

This refers to the Lord Jesus Christ. Revelation 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

Revelation 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.

John is placed on the Isle of Patmos because of the Word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

Revelation 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.

The Lord’s day is not Sunday as many teach but it is a day of judgment and John is caught up into heaven and get to look down on the earth when the wrath of God is poured out. Zephaniah 1:15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,

John is told to write in a book what he saw and send it to the seven churches in Asia. Historical during John’s day there were seven literal churches in Asia. Doctrinal there will be seven churches in the tribulation period with angels over them. The meaning of each church are as followed: 1. Ephesus means “fully purposed” 2. Smyrna means “myrrh” 3. Pergamos means “much marriage” 4. Thyatira means “odor of affliction” 5. Sardis means “red ones” 6. Philadelphia means “brotherly love” 7. Laodicea means “civil rights”

Revelation 1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

John hears a voice and he get to see what is going on. The candlesticks are the seven churches in the tribulation period.

Revelation 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.

Revelation 1:14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

Revelation 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.

Revelation 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

John gets to see the glorified risen Jesus Christ as Almighty God. He is no longer the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world, but He is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Note the difference in what He looks like when He came born of a woman. At His first coming, He appeared a Jew. He was described in the Son of Solomon Chapter Five. We can also see that the Lord Jesus Christ didn’t look like the pictures painted by Leonardo daVinci. Remember what Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, called Him. “Rabbi” He looked like a priest. His hair was trimmed and His beard was not rounded. (Ezk 44:20; Lev 19:27).

Revelation 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:

Revelation 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.

When John sees him in His glorified body, he falls over as dead. Jesus tell him that He was dead but now is alive for evermore and He had the keys of hell and of death.

Revelation 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

When John sees the prophecy of the Book of Revelation, he was ahead of his present time. The Holy Spirit has taken him into a future time, which is the Lord’s Day. He writes what he has seen which is the whole Book of revelation. He wrote them down as he saw them happen .

Revelation 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.

The Book of Revelation can be understood because it is self-interpreting. The seven stars are the seven angels of the seven churches. The seven candlesticks are the seven churches in the tribulation period.

~  ~    ~