REVELATION

            Revelation is the only book that within its’ text reveals its own title, which is, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ”. As a matter of fact they are the first five words of the book.  “Revelation” means “an uncovering”, “an unveiling” or “a disclosure”. In this case what is being uncovered is SPIRITUAL TRUTH. This truth was relayed to John, referred to as God’s “bond-servant”, by an angel sent to John by the Lord.   

          Shortly after the book begins, John saw a vision of Jesus standing among seven golden lampstands that had materialized in the cave. In the midst of the lampstands was “one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. His head and hair were white like white wool; His eyes were like a flame of fire. His feet were like burnished bronze, and his voice was like the sound of many waters. 

In his right hand the Lord held seven stars and out of his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and his face was like the shining sun ...” ^{(Rev. 1:12-16)}. How do we know it’s Jesus? Because in Rev. 1:8 it states, “I am the Alpha & the Omega”, says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” 

In his vision John receives instructions to write to the seven churches of Asia Minor. In those letters John both commends them for their strengths and warns them about their flaws. Each letter was sent to an existing church where they were told to constantly fight against the temptation to become listless, loveless, immoral, lenient, compromising, lifeless and/or too casual about their faith. The letters point out to the readers just how the Lord feels about those qualities. 

The book proceeds with John addressing the seven churches in Asia Minor (today it would be Turkey) in Revelation 1:4. The seven churches were in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. These churches had begun to spiritually decline in faithfulness and were found by the Lord to be wanting. Because of this scholars reason that the decline probably took place in the 90’s, since there is no mention of such a decline in the AD 50 thru 60 years when Nero raged with his horrific persecution of the church. 

This book is both a warning to believers who have become apathetic and an encouragement to those who are faithfully enduring the struggles of this world. God’s entire family, past, present, and future, learn from this book that though we face difficult times, evil really does lose in the end and that gives hope to those believers in the 1^st Century and today. 

Next we will look over the Mega Themes that Revelation offers. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Sources: The Life Application Study Bible; The John MacArthur Study Bible, The Notes & Outline of Revelation.