I.        INTRODUCTION

A.      The first lesson in this series presented an introduction to the book of Revelation and some keys to interpreting the signs and meaning of the book.

B.      Before we proceed, let us notice a few other points from 1:1-8 that we did not cover in Lesson 1.

                                                             1.      Whereas we typically think of the beatitudes as Matthew 5:1-12, Revelation contains seven beatitudes of its own (1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7; 22:14).  The beatitude of 1:3 pronounces a blessing on those who read, hear, and heed (keep) the words of this book.

                                                             2.      This book was initially addressed to the seven churches of Asia (1:4).  Note two points:

a.       These were not all of the churches in Asia (Colossae, Hierapolis, Troas, etc.), but these seven (number for completeness) were representative and typical of all the churches.

b.       The fact that this book was addressed to churches in Asia and not to churches in Judea lends credence to the opinion that this book is not about the destruction of Jerusalem.

                                                             3.      Greetings are extended from God, including the “seven Spirits” (1:4), which is descriptive of the Holy Spirit (seven indicates His completeness and omnipresence – see also 3:1; 4:5; 5:6).

                                                             4.      Two descriptions are given for Christians in 1:6.

a.       One is that of a kingdom (ASV, NASB).  This indicates that the kingdom was (and is) in existence contrary to the teachings of premillenialists (see also 1:9 5:10).

b.       The other is that of priests, meaning that Christians serve God directly (1Pet. 2:9).

                                                             5.      Also notice the emphasis on the eternal nature of God and Christ (1:4, 8 – alpha and omega were the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet) and their authority (“ruler of the kings of the earth” – 1:5).  These will be themes throughout the book.

II.      JOHN’S VISION OF THE LORD

A.      John was “in the Spirit” when he heard and saw the things recorded in Revelation (1:9-11).

                                                             1.      John was on the island of Patmos (either in exile because of his preaching or on a mission for the purpose of preaching), but the things he saw did not occur on Patmos, for he saw a vision.

                                                             2.      Being “in the Spirit” was typical of all those who received divine visions throughout the ages (Ezek. 1:1; 3:10-15; 8:1-4; Dan. 2:19; Joel 2:28; Matt. 1:20; Acts 2:17; 10:3, 10-16; 22:17-18).

                                                             3.      John wrote that this happened on “the Lord’s day,” which likely refers to the first day of the week, but there is no conclusive evidence to say this for certain.

                                                             4.      John’s vision began with a loud voice directing him to write unto the seven churches of Asia.

B.      The first vision of the revelation to John was that of the Lord (1:12-16).

                                                             1.      When John “turned to see the voice” (v. 12), he saw a vision of Christ.

a.       He saw seven golden lampstands and one like the Son of Man (a term Christ used of Himself and a Messianic term – Dan. 7:13-14; Matt. 8:20) in the middle of them.

b.       Notice that this is not the image of Jesus as a man.  John saw Christ in His glorified state.

                                                             2.      The terms used to describe Christ in this vision are symbols that approximate what John saw (notice the words “like” and “as”).  Let us consider what these symbols might represent:

a.       His clothing – royalty, high position (compare to 15:6)

b.       The whiteness of His head and hair – purity, holiness (compare to 3:4-5, 18; 4:4; 6:11; 7:13-14; 19:14)

c.        Eyes like a flame of fire – penetrating vision, awareness, insight

d.       Feet like burnished bronze – strength to crush His enemies (see 19:15)

e.        Voice like the sound of many waters – powerful, irresistible, overwhelming

f.        Seven stars in His right hand – the “angels” of the churches under His control (see below)

g.        A sharp two-edged sword from His mouth – His words of judgment (2:16; 19:15)

h.       Face like the sun – His divine glory (reminiscent of Moses, Ex. 34:29-35)

i.         These images are used throughout the letters to the churches to identify Christ.

C.      The Lord comforted John and explained what he was seeing (1:17-20).

                                                             1.      John reacted as all men do when they encounter the glory of God – he fell to his face in fear (Isa. 6:5; Ezek. 1:28; 3:23; Dan. 8:17; Matt. 17:6).

                                                             2.      Christ told John not to fear and announced who He was.

a.       The phrase “I am the first and the last” indicates His eternal nature (see Isa. 41:4; 44:6; 48:12).

b.       By virtue of having conquered death, Christ has the keys of death and Hades (the waiting place of spirits).

                                                             3.      Christ gave John instructions and an explanation.

a.       He was to write what he had seen (the vision of Christ), the “things which are” (letters to the churches), and things which shall take place after these things (subsequent visions).

b.       Regarding the mystery of what he had seen, the seven stars represented the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands represented the seven churches.

i.         The “angel” of each church seems to indicate the church’s collective spirit (compare to Peter’s angel in Acts 12:15).  Whatever was said to the angel of the church was said to the church (“what the Spirit says to the churches” – 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22).

ii.        A lampstand is a fitting symbol of a church, for it should be a bearer of light.

III.   LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES

A.      As we study these letters, let us notice some common themes and patterns.

                                                             1.      In each letter, the Lord declared His personal knowledge of each church’s work and conduct.

                                                             2.      He also directed these messages to each individual Christian by saying, “He who has an ear to hear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches…”

                                                             3.      Each letter also has a promise for “he who overcomes.”  This captures the theme of the book.

                                                             4.      Each letter repeats an almost identical pattern – commendation, condemnation, commandment, and promise (we will consider the promises more fully in the next lesson and in lessons to come).

B.      The first letter was to the church at Ephesus, which had left its first love (2:1-7).

                                                             1.      The church at Ephesus was commended for their work, perseverance, and stand for the truth.

a.       These things are encouraging, considering the warning that Paul gave the Ephesian elders many years earlier (Acts 20:17-38).

b.       Regarding the Nicolaitans (followers of Nicolas), all we can know is that the Ephesians hated their deeds, which pleased Christ, and that some of the Christians at Pergamum held their teachings, which Christ condemned.  Anything else is speculation.

                                                             2.      The Epheisan church was condemned for “leaving their first love” (v. 4).

a.       Their outward show of faith lacked the inward sincerity of love.

b.       Their “first love” indicates that they needed to go back to their original motivation – love for the Lord.

                                                             3.      The Lord commanded them to “repent and do the deeds you did at first” (v. 5).

a.       Leaving their first love was manifested as a cessation from their original deeds.

b.       The penalty for failing to follow the Lord’s commandment was that He would remove their lampstand, which indicates that He would no longer identify them as His church.

                                                             4.      The Lord promised that those who overcome will “eat of the tree of life” (v. 7).

C.      The next letter was to the church at Smyrna, which was rich in its poverty (2:8-11).

                                                             1.      The Lord’s commendation of the Smyrna church for their perseverance in suffering is implied.

a.       Notice that the Lord acknowledged their poverty but declared them to be rich.  Christ referred to their spiritual treasure in Him (Matt. 6:19-21; Luke 12:13-21; 2Cor. 8:9).

b.       “Those who say they are Jews and are not” (v. 9) were likely Jews who facilitated persecution against Christians by the Roman government.

                                                             2.      This church was not condemned by the Lord (only Smyrna and Philadelphia have this distinction).

                                                             3.      The Lord’s commandment to this church was to have no fear and to remain faithful.

a.       Even though they had persevered, greater testing of their faith was yet to come.

b.       The ten (number for full power) days of suffering likely symbolized the full dose of persecution that the Smyrna church was soon to suffer at the hands of men through Satan.

                                                             4.      The Lord stated two promises in the letter to the church at Smyrna:

a.       If they would be faithful until death (or unto death, indicating faith which may lead to their death), then He would give them a crown of life.

b.       Those who overcome “shall not be hurt by the second death” (the second death will be discussed further in 20:6, 13-15; 21:8).

***To be continued in Part 2 – In the next lesson, we will study the remaining letters to the churches of Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea (2:12-3:22).***