Revelation 1:1-8
Lesson 469
Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."
"The Revelation of Jesus Christ to Saint John"
"Book of prophecies"
Authorship:
The book of Revelation was inspired by God and written (in Greek) by the apostle John (1:1; 1:4; 1:9; 22:8) circa AD 96, just as the reign of Roman Emperor Domitian (AD 81-96) was coming to an end. Revelation is the final book in the Bible and the last to be written. By now, John is the sole survivor of the original twelve apostles and a prisoner in exile on the island of Patmos (Revelation 1:9), a Roman penal colony in the Aegean Sea.
John was the son of Zebedee (Matthew 4:21-22; 10:2; Mark 1:19-20; 10:35; Luke 5:10-11) and Salome, the younger brother to the disciple James (Matthew 10:2), and a fisherman when called by Jesus. John's mother, Salome, and the Virgin Mary were sisters, making Jesus and John cousins. John was a Jew, born in Palestine (Bethsaida) into a wealthy family. He was well-connected, knew the high priest (John 18:15), and captained a fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee. But John gave up everything to follow the Messiah. He first heard of Jesus from John the Baptist. Jesus nicknamed John and his
brother James the "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17). John 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7; and 21:20 refer to him as "the disciple whom Jesus loved," quite an honor. John is often called the "apostle of love" due to his concern for believers. In his writings, he routinely calls Christians "my dear children" (1 John 2:1). Along with Peter and James, John was part of Jesus' inner circle. He sat next to Jesus at the Last Supper, leaning on Him (John 13:23). John was allowed to witness the resurrection of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37-42), the Transfiguration (Mark 9:1-13; Luke 9:28-36), and Jesus praying in Gethsemane while waiting to be arrested (Mark 14:32-34). Unlike the other disciples who ran and hid when Jesus was arrested, John followed Christ to Calvary, watched the crucifixion, and stayed by Jesus' side until the end. While dying on the cross, Jesus turned over His mother's care to John (John 19:26-27). It is believed that Mary lived and traveled with John until her death.
After the crucifixion, John became a driving force for Christianity. Bold yet uneducated (Acts 4:13), John wrote "The Gospel According to ST. John," the Three Epistles of John, and the prophetic "The Revelation of Jesus Christ to Saint John." Polycarp (the bishop of Smyrna), Papias (bishop of Hierapolis), and Ignatius (bishop of Antioch) were students of John. Late in life, the Romans exiled John to the island of Patmos, a penal colony in the Aegean Sea fifty miles offshore from Ephesus (in modern-day Turkey), for preaching the word of God (Revelation 1:9). The Romans eventually freed him, and he died an old man around AD 98 in Ephesus. But what a life John led. He traveled with Jesus, saw the miracles, heard the sermons, and witnessed the Messiah's suffering, crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension. He was the last of the original twelve disciples to die and the only one to die a natural death.
Purpose and Theme:
The book of Revelation expounds Jesus' words on the final days (Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21) and tells us God's plan for the end of the world. Revelation tells us what will happen in the closing years on earth. We learn that there will be a final judgment and what to do while we wait for Christ to return.
After a brief introduction, we find Jesus dictating seven letters (epistles) to John. Each letter lays out instructions to seven churches (2:1-3:22). Each church was struggling with its own unique problems. Like all the New Testament, Revelation teaches Christianity. It is a book of prophecy and revelations from God. But isn't the entire Bible a revelation from God? Most prophecies are about the end times and Jesus' thousand-year reign (Revelation 20:1-6). Some of the predictions have already come true. Many are yet to occur. The Bible does not tell us when, but Revelation assures us that Jesus will return and vanquish evil forever.
There are numerous interpretations of Revelation. Many Christians believe that Revelation depicts the early years of the church (the persecution, the destruction of Jerusalem, etc.). They are convinced that Revelation's prophecies were fulfilled centuries ago with the wars, religious persecution, and social chaos that led up to and followed the fall of the Roman empire in AD 476. This is called the Preterist view. Other Christians (Futurists) believe that Revelation describes real people and predicts events yet to come in the final days before Christ returns. Although Futurists may differ among themselves over the precise interpretations of some passages, they take Revelation literally. Other Christians (Idealists) believe Revelation is simply a book about the triumph of good over evil and that the events described are merely symbolic and not prophecies at all. Still other Christians (Historicists) believe Revelation has a complex dual meaning pertaining both to the early years of the church (Preterist view) and coming events (Futurists view). They teach that Revelation is a history of Christianity from the early church until the day Christ returns. They believe the persecution of the first Christians and the fall of Rome was a foreshadowing of the future and that Revelation is a prediction of both past and future events.
Revelation is a challenging read; many of its prophecies will not be understood until they are fulfilled. Revelation
is filled with visions and metaphors, some of the predictions will remind you of those found in the Old Testament books of Ezekiel and Daniel. Few people grasp Revelation with the first read but remember that God opens each heart according to its faith maturity. Don't get caught up trying to precisely interpret each vision. Instead, read Revelation for what it is, the beautiful story of Christ's final victory over evil. Moreover, as you read, try to break free of the limited human understanding that keeps us from thinking out of the box. Imagine God's majesty, divine wisdom, and incredible power. Think of God as you have never thought of Him before. Revelation proves that we are but children standing in
the presence of the all-powerful creator. The God who created everything and can do anything. Revelation's hidden
meanings will open up to you as God sees fit, so plan on reading Revelation again and again as you grow in Christ.
The next thirty-two lessons will help you interpret Revelation but allow you to form your own conclusions.
What is in Revelation?
Revelation is an integral part of the Bible. It is a book of hope, promising that good will win out over evil and believers will be rewarded. It encourages Christians to stand firm against persecution and warns against apostasy. Revelation speaks of the power and majesty of God, and tells us that, although Jesus left this world a sacrificial lamb, He will return a victorious lion and defeat evil. Revelation is a fitting ending to the Bible.
God grants a blessing on anyone who reads or hears Revelation (1:3) and a second blessing on those who apply it to their lives (22:7). God also promises to punish anyone who adds or subtracts from Revelation (22:18-19).
"The seven churches with their angels represent the whole Christian church, dispersed throughout the whole world as it subsists, not, as some have imagined, in one age after another, but in every age. This is a point of deep importance, and always necessary to be remembered: that these seven churches are, as it were, a sample of the whole church of Christ, as it was then, as it is now, and as it will be in all ages."
(From British theologian John Wesley's (1703-1791) "Notes on the New Testament.")
The book of Revelation was inspired by God and written (in Greek) by the apostle John (1:1; 1:4; 1:9; 22:8) circa AD 96, just as the reign of Roman Emperor Domitian (AD 81-96) was coming to an end. Revelation is the final book in the Bible and the last to be written. By now, John is the sole survivor of the original twelve apostles and a prisoner in exile on the island of Patmos (Revelation 1:9), a Roman penal colony in the Aegean Sea.
John was the son of Zebedee (Matthew 4:21-22; 10:2; Mark 1:19-20; 10:35; Luke 5:10-11) and Salome, the younger brother to the disciple James (Matthew 10:2), and a fisherman when called by Jesus. John's mother, Salome, and the Virgin Mary were sisters, making Jesus and John cousins. John was a Jew, born in Palestine (Bethsaida) into a wealthy family. He was well-connected, knew the high priest (John 18:15), and captained a fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee. But John gave up everything to follow the Messiah. He first heard of Jesus from John the Baptist. Jesus nicknamed John and his
brother James the "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17). John 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7; and 21:20 refer to him as "the disciple whom Jesus loved," quite an honor. John is often called the "apostle of love" due to his concern for believers. In his writings, he routinely calls Christians "my dear children" (1 John 2:1). Along with Peter and James, John was part of Jesus' inner circle. He sat next to Jesus at the Last Supper, leaning on Him (John 13:23). John was allowed to witness the resurrection of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37-42), the Transfiguration (Mark 9:1-13; Luke 9:28-36), and Jesus praying in Gethsemane while waiting to be arrested (Mark 14:32-34). Unlike the other disciples who ran and hid when Jesus was arrested, John followed Christ to Calvary, watched the crucifixion, and stayed by Jesus' side until the end. While dying on the cross, Jesus turned over His mother's care to John (John 19:26-27). It is believed that Mary lived and traveled with John until her death.
After the crucifixion, John became a driving force for Christianity. Bold yet uneducated (Acts 4:13), John wrote "The Gospel According to ST. John," the Three Epistles of John, and the prophetic "The Revelation of Jesus Christ to Saint John." Polycarp (the bishop of Smyrna), Papias (bishop of Hierapolis), and Ignatius (bishop of Antioch) were students of John. Late in life, the Romans exiled John to the island of Patmos, a penal colony in the Aegean Sea fifty miles offshore from Ephesus (in modern-day Turkey), for preaching the word of God (Revelation 1:9). The Romans eventually freed him, and he died an old man around AD 98 in Ephesus. But what a life John led. He traveled with Jesus, saw the miracles, heard the sermons, and witnessed the Messiah's suffering, crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension. He was the last of the original twelve disciples to die and the only one to die a natural death.
Purpose and Theme:
The book of Revelation expounds Jesus' words on the final days (Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21) and tells us God's plan for the end of the world. Revelation tells us what will happen in the closing years on earth. We learn that there will be a final judgment and what to do while we wait for Christ to return.
After a brief introduction, we find Jesus dictating seven letters (epistles) to John. Each letter lays out instructions to seven churches (2:1-3:22). Each church was struggling with its own unique problems. Like all the New Testament, Revelation teaches Christianity. It is a book of prophecy and revelations from God. But isn't the entire Bible a revelation from God? Most prophecies are about the end times and Jesus' thousand-year reign (Revelation 20:1-6). Some of the predictions have already come true. Many are yet to occur. The Bible does not tell us when, but Revelation assures us that Jesus will return and vanquish evil forever.
There are numerous interpretations of Revelation. Many Christians believe that Revelation depicts the early years of the church (the persecution, the destruction of Jerusalem, etc.). They are convinced that Revelation's prophecies were fulfilled centuries ago with the wars, religious persecution, and social chaos that led up to and followed the fall of the Roman empire in AD 476. This is called the Preterist view. Other Christians (Futurists) believe that Revelation describes real people and predicts events yet to come in the final days before Christ returns. Although Futurists may differ among themselves over the precise interpretations of some passages, they take Revelation literally. Other Christians (Idealists) believe Revelation is simply a book about the triumph of good over evil and that the events described are merely symbolic and not prophecies at all. Still other Christians (Historicists) believe Revelation has a complex dual meaning pertaining both to the early years of the church (Preterist view) and coming events (Futurists view). They teach that Revelation is a history of Christianity from the early church until the day Christ returns. They believe the persecution of the first Christians and the fall of Rome was a foreshadowing of the future and that Revelation is a prediction of both past and future events.
Revelation is a challenging read; many of its prophecies will not be understood until they are fulfilled. Revelation
is filled with visions and metaphors, some of the predictions will remind you of those found in the Old Testament books of Ezekiel and Daniel. Few people grasp Revelation with the first read but remember that God opens each heart according to its faith maturity. Don't get caught up trying to precisely interpret each vision. Instead, read Revelation for what it is, the beautiful story of Christ's final victory over evil. Moreover, as you read, try to break free of the limited human understanding that keeps us from thinking out of the box. Imagine God's majesty, divine wisdom, and incredible power. Think of God as you have never thought of Him before. Revelation proves that we are but children standing in
the presence of the all-powerful creator. The God who created everything and can do anything. Revelation's hidden
meanings will open up to you as God sees fit, so plan on reading Revelation again and again as you grow in Christ.
The next thirty-two lessons will help you interpret Revelation but allow you to form your own conclusions.
What is in Revelation?
Revelation is an integral part of the Bible. It is a book of hope, promising that good will win out over evil and believers will be rewarded. It encourages Christians to stand firm against persecution and warns against apostasy. Revelation speaks of the power and majesty of God, and tells us that, although Jesus left this world a sacrificial lamb, He will return a victorious lion and defeat evil. Revelation is a fitting ending to the Bible.
God grants a blessing on anyone who reads or hears Revelation (1:3) and a second blessing on those who apply it to their lives (22:7). God also promises to punish anyone who adds or subtracts from Revelation (22:18-19).
"The seven churches with their angels represent the whole Christian church, dispersed throughout the whole world as it subsists, not, as some have imagined, in one age after another, but in every age. This is a point of deep importance, and always necessary to be remembered: that these seven churches are, as it were, a sample of the whole church of Christ, as it was then, as it is now, and as it will be in all ages."
(From British theologian John Wesley's (1703-1791) "Notes on the New Testament.")
Revelation is broken down into three main segments:
Chapter one covers the things that were. Chapters 2-3 the things that are. Chapters 4-22 the things that will be (Revelation 1:19).
1) John's vision of Jesus in His glorified state, messages and praise 1:1-5:14 - Introduction and opening benediction (1:1-3); The coming of Christ (1:7); The first vision, John's revelation from the Messiah, Jesus appears (1:9-11); Why this book (1:12-20); Letter to the Church at Ephesus (2:1-7); Letter to the Church at Smyrna (2:8-11); Letter to the Church at Pergamos (2:12-17); Letter to the Church at Thyatira (2:18-29); Letter to the Church at Sardis (3:1-6); Letter to the Church at Philadelphia (3:7-13); Letter to the Church at Laodicea (3:14-22); John in heaven, God, seven seals and the Lamb (4:1-5:14).
2) Judgments 6:1-20:15 - Seven seals of judgment, four horsemen, martyrs, a great earthquake, and falling stars
(6:1-7:17); Two more visions, who will be spared (7:1-17); The Seventh seal is opened, and heaven goes silent, seven trumpets of judgment, the sun and moon go dark (8:1-8:12); The first woe, stinging locusts, the second woe, slaughter
(9:1-9:21); John eats the little book (10:1-11); The two witnesses, the beast kills the two witnesses, the seventh trumpet brings the third woe (11:1-11:19); The woman, the dragon, and the man child, the war in heaven (12:1-17); Two beasts and
the talking statue (13:1-18); Judgment on Earth (14:1-14:20); Seven vials (bowls) of judgment, Armageddon (15:1-16:21); The great whore and the scarlet beast, the fall of Babylon (17:1-18:24); Shouts of praise, Armageddon, Christ returns on a white horse and imprisons Satan, final judgment, a new earth and new Jerusalem (19:1-20:15).
3) Glory forever 21:1-22:21 - A new heaven, a new earth; A description of New Jerusalem (21:1-22:5); Jesus is coming soon, a warning (22:6-20); Final benediction and epilogue (22:21).
Chapter one covers the things that were. Chapters 2-3 the things that are. Chapters 4-22 the things that will be (Revelation 1:19).
1) John's vision of Jesus in His glorified state, messages and praise 1:1-5:14 - Introduction and opening benediction (1:1-3); The coming of Christ (1:7); The first vision, John's revelation from the Messiah, Jesus appears (1:9-11); Why this book (1:12-20); Letter to the Church at Ephesus (2:1-7); Letter to the Church at Smyrna (2:8-11); Letter to the Church at Pergamos (2:12-17); Letter to the Church at Thyatira (2:18-29); Letter to the Church at Sardis (3:1-6); Letter to the Church at Philadelphia (3:7-13); Letter to the Church at Laodicea (3:14-22); John in heaven, God, seven seals and the Lamb (4:1-5:14).
2) Judgments 6:1-20:15 - Seven seals of judgment, four horsemen, martyrs, a great earthquake, and falling stars
(6:1-7:17); Two more visions, who will be spared (7:1-17); The Seventh seal is opened, and heaven goes silent, seven trumpets of judgment, the sun and moon go dark (8:1-8:12); The first woe, stinging locusts, the second woe, slaughter
(9:1-9:21); John eats the little book (10:1-11); The two witnesses, the beast kills the two witnesses, the seventh trumpet brings the third woe (11:1-11:19); The woman, the dragon, and the man child, the war in heaven (12:1-17); Two beasts and
the talking statue (13:1-18); Judgment on Earth (14:1-14:20); Seven vials (bowls) of judgment, Armageddon (15:1-16:21); The great whore and the scarlet beast, the fall of Babylon (17:1-18:24); Shouts of praise, Armageddon, Christ returns on a white horse and imprisons Satan, final judgment, a new earth and new Jerusalem (19:1-20:15).
3) Glory forever 21:1-22:21 - A new heaven, a new earth; A description of New Jerusalem (21:1-22:5); Jesus is coming soon, a warning (22:6-20); Final benediction and epilogue (22:21).
Study Tip:
Revelation is a complex and controversial book, so it helps to study more than one translation.
As you read, scroll back and forth between the "King James" text and the "New Living Translation" below.
Also, check the "Margin Notes" in blue and click on the live links.
But remember, even Bible scholars can disagree over some of John's vision.
Revelation is a complex and controversial book, so it helps to study more than one translation.
As you read, scroll back and forth between the "King James" text and the "New Living Translation" below.
Also, check the "Margin Notes" in blue and click on the live links.
But remember, even Bible scholars can disagree over some of John's vision.
