1. Rev 1vv1-20 The Revelation of Jesus Christ

2. 1 1The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2who testifies to everything he saw--that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. 4John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spiritsA before his throne, 5and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

3. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father--to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. 7Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen. 8"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

4. 9I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11which said: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea."

5. 12I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man,"B dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

6. 17When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. 19"Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. 20The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angelsC of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

7. Style Apocalyptic, (Gk: an unveiling) highly symbolic. Provides a number of clues for its own interpretation (e.g., stars are angels, lampstands are churches, 1:20; "the great prostitute," 17:1, is "Babylon" [Rome?], 17:5,18; and the heavenly Jerusalem is the wife of the Lamb, 21:9-10). Author Four times the author identifies himself as John (1:1,4,9; 22:8). Main tradition is that this John was the apostle, the son of Zebedee (see Mt 10:2. Minority position - a John the Presbyter, Date Revelation during a time of persecution. Favourite date latter part of Domitian's reign (AD 81-96) Occasion & Purpose Christians-were facing increasing hostility. John exiled to Patmos (1:9). John writes to encourage the faithful to resist the demands of emperor worship

8. 4 broad views on how to interpret Revelation.  Preterist – vast majority of predictions fulfilled during the decline and fall of the Roman Empire  Historicist - predictions cover the entire Church Age - a coded history of AD in symbolic form  Futurist - central block of predictions applies to last few years leading up to the second coming of Christ - therefore still future to us today  Idealist - Revelation pictures an eternal struggle between good an evil, God and Satan - application can be applied to any time in history.

9. No one model has all the truth  Chapters 1-3 - 7 churches - Preterist correct – there were 7 real 1 st Century AD churches – but there is an idealist element  Chapters 4-18 Futurist interpretation best - but also measure of idealist approach – events now foreshow final fulfilments.  Chapters 19-22 The End - Futurist interpretation the best

10.  Don’t over systemise the theology - not a hard puzzle to be solved.  Not a systematic theological argument like Romans nor a linear history like Luke - It’s apocalyptic. Uses symbols and pictures to impart a message.  Images are powerful & sometimes disturbing, and often uplifting. Read in the Holy Spirit.  Purpose is to encourage the Church to stand firm through the coming troubles, which come in all church ages, and will intensify in measure as time progresses.

11.  This is the revelation of Jesus Christ - given by God – through an angel to John – and then via this letter to Christian readers in the Church.  3Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it,  Timing - this a revelation about what must take place soon …because the time is near.  Daniel’s apocalyptic visions refer to the end of days e.g Dan 8v17 Early church believed the last days had begun with Jesus, when `the God of heaven.. set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed’ Dan 2:44 e.g. Peter at Pentecost Acts 2 16No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17" `In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

12. Greeting from the triune God - Grace and peace  The Father - from him who is, and who was, and who is to come paraphrase of Ex 3v14 I am who I am  The Holy Spirit - from the seven spirits before his throne, (or seven-fold Spirit - the perfection of God)  The Son - Jesus Christ  The prophet - the who is the faithful witness – to the gospel of Salvation  The priest – who sacrificed himself, the one who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood  The king - the ruler of the kings of the earth.

13.  Jesus has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father  This is the OT description of Isreal (Ex 19v6, Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation, c.f. Zech 3)  Now applied to the NT church (c.f. 1 Pt 2v5)

14. Then prophecy of Jesus’ second coming 7Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen. Reiterates parts of Daniel 7v13 and Zech 12v10 and Jesus own words recorded in Mt 24v30  30 "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory

15. 8"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."  The beginning and end letters of Gk alphabet - the everlasting creator who spans all eternity - title that Jesus applies to himself in Rev 22v13.

16.  Section opens with a vision of the living Christ who addresses the 7 churches of Asia  9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus,  3 recurring themes throughout the book  Suffering  Kingdom  Patient endurance  On Patmos - small island 4x8m in Aegean Sea 5m SW of Ephesus in modernTurkey – Roman penal colony – mining. Eusebius, Xtian historian reported John as being released under Emperor Nerva c. AD 96

17.  10On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, - Sunday, day of resurrection  A voice like a trumpet and the sound of rushing waters  John turns and sees first 7 golden lampstands - stand for the 7 churches of Asia v20  Jesus the light of the world says of his disciples you too are the light of the world Mt 5v15 - Paul reflecting on this in Phil 2 v15 become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16as you hold out the word of life-

18.  Among the lampstands is 13 someone "like a son of man, B dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.  Reference to Christ as the high priest as in Ex 28:4  14His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.  Speak of wisdom, dignity and holiness  Prov 16v31 Grey hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life.  and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword.  Symbolic of divine judgement  C.f. Is 49v2 He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me;

19. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance  His glory eclipses the brightness of the stars - Christ’s glory is greater than the glory of His church  God says in Is – I will not give my glory to another  We as his Church are here to reflect his glory, not to usurp it

20. 16In his right hand he held seven stars, ……. 20The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.  Angels Grk messenger - possibly a church leader but far more likely a spiritual being.  Individuals can have angelic representatives e.g. Mt 18v10 angels of little ones in heaven, Acts 12v15 - Peter’s angel  Nations - Dan 10v13 the prince of Persia & Micheal the angel of Isreal  Churches can have a spiritual counterpart, an angel in the heavenly realm

21.  The 7 churches as symbolic of the whole church - 7 completeness,  The lampstands are separate, dispersed throughout the world, yet the stars are held together in the right hand of Jesus.  So, the Church in the world is separated into congregations throughout the earth, yet it is spiritually united, held in the loving grip of our Lord Jesus Christ.

22. The opening words of Jesus – to John and His Church  17When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last  Repeating the sentiment of God the Father who said I am the Alpha & Omega  18I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.