Revelation 1:1-20
In the introduction to this book, John writes
that this is the "Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show
His servants - things which must shortly take place. And He sent and
signified it by His angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the
word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he
saw" (1:1-2). John immediately states that his purpose for writing is
to uncover Jesus Christ's future glory as a result of perfectly
following the will of God. Jesus became the perfect sacrifice for sin
therefore freeing all those who would believe in Him from the penalty of
sin. God the Father wanted the servants of Jesus to have a glimpse into
His future kingdom and also the eternal state which awaits believers.
The visions given to John would assist all readers in understanding the
end times. Revelation is a unique book because it is the only one which
also comes with a blessing to all those "who read[s] and those who hear
the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in
it..." (1:3).
Moving from his introduction to his greeting, John
identifies the recipients of Revelation as the seven churches of Asia
Minor (1:4). Although these churches are historical, they also represent
modern day churches. We'll explore this more in Revelation 2-3. John
sends greeting to his readers from the Holy Spirit (1:4) and from Jesus
Christ "who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood..."
(1:5).
From the greeting, John immediately reveals the event which produced the things about
which
he was getting ready to write. John, on the island of Patmos, was taken
from the present world and caught up into a vision of the things which
would transpire in the future. This was not a dream, but a literal
vision which John supernaturally experienced through the power of God. A
voice said to John, What you see, write it a book and send it to the
seven churches which are in Asia" (1:11). John turned to see who was
speaking to him and saw seven golden lampstands as well as One who was
walking in the midst of the lampstands (1:12-20). As we read these
verses, we discover that the seven lampstands are the seven churches
and Jesus Christ is the One walking amongst them. This represents His
personal involvement in the church body as well as His knowledge of what
is happening in them. When John caught a glimpse of Jesus, he "fell at
His feet as dead. But he laid His right hand on me, saying to me, 'Do
not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was
dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore'" (1:17-18). Jesus Christ then
speaks specifically to John about what He wants him to do with what he
is about to experience:
"Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this" (1:19).
Using this outline given by Jesus, we will proceed as follows:
"The things which you have seen" represent what John is currently experiencing (Revelation 1)
"The things which are" represent the current state of the churches (Revelation 2-3)
"The things which will take place after this" represent those events at the end of history (Revelation 4-22)
Dear
God, thank You for giving these words to John so we can know the things
which will take place in the future. Bless me for reading this book of
Revelation.