Revelation 1
Blessings to those who read this bookverses 1-3
The Revelation of Jesus Christ – which God gave to him
to show to HIS servants things which must
shortly come to pass
And HE sent and signified it by HIS angel to HIS servant John
who bare record of the word of God
and of the testimony of Jesus Christ
and of all things that he saw
Blessed is he that reads
and they that hear the words of this prophecy
and keep those things which are written therein
FOR the time is at hand
Letter to the churches regarding futureverses 4-6
John to the seven churches which are in Asia
Grace be to you – and peace from HIM which is
which was – which is to come
and from the seven Spirits
which are before HIS throne
and from Jesus Christ – WHO is the faithful witness
and the first begotten of the dead
and the prince of the kings of the earth
To HIM that loved us and washed us from our sins in
HIS OWN blood
and has made us kings and priests to God and HIS Father
To HIM be glory and dominion for ever and ever AMEN
Introduction to Jesus Christverses 7-8
BEHOLD – HE comes with clouds
and every eye shall see HIM
and they also which pierced HIM
and all kindreds of the earth shall wail
because of HIM
EVEN SO – AMEN
I am Alpha and Omega
the beginning and the ending – says the Lord
which is – which was – which is to come – the Almighty
Revelation given to John the Apostleverses 9-11
I John – who also am your brother – and companion in tribulation
and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ
was in the isle that is called Patmos
for the word of God
and for the testimony of Jesus Christ
I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day
and heard behind me a great voice – as of a trumpet – saying
I am Alpha and Omega – the first and the last
and What you see – write in a book
and send it unto the seven churches
which are in Asia unto Ephesus
Smyrna – Pergamos – Thyatira
Sardis – Philadelphia – Laodicea
John explains what HE sawverses 12-16
AND I turned to see the voice that spoke with me
and being turned – I saw seven golden candlesticks
And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man
clothed with a garment down to the foot
and girt about the paps with a golden girdle
HIS head and HIS hairs were white like wool – as white as snow
and HIS eyes were as a flame of fire
and HIS feet like unto fine brass – as if they burned in a furnace
and HIS voice as the sound of many waters
And HE had in HIS right hand seven stars
and out of HIS mouth went a sharp two-edged sword
and HIS countenance was as the sun shining in his strength
Jesus Christ speaks to Johnverses 17-20
AND when I saw HIM – I fell at HIS feet as dead
and HE laid HIS right hand on me – saying to me
Fear not – I am the first and the last
I am HE that lives – and was dead
And – behold – I am alive forevermore
AMEN
and I have the keys of hell and death
Write the things which you have seen
and the things which are
and the things which shall be hereafter
The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in MY right
hand and the seven golden candlesticks
The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches
and the seven candlesticks which you saw are the
seven churches
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto HIM, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and HE sent and signified it by HIS angel unto HIS servant John (602 “Revelation” [apokalupsis] means be revealed, manifestation, a disclosure of truth, instruction, concerning things before unknown, appearance, or an uncovering)
DEVOTION: The apostle John had a vision from the LORD on the island of Patmos. He had been exiled there by the Emperor for his witness for Jesus Christ. He was worshiping the LORD on Sunday. He worshiped on Sunday because that was the day that the LORD arose from the dead and met with the disciples. It is the first day of the week.
Now during worship time God gave instructions regarding what was going to come to pass shortly. Remember with God shortly doesn’t mean what we think it means. To HIM one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years is as one day. Our time and HIS time is very different. HE is longsuffering with HIS creation. HE is giving everyone an opportunity to receive HIS Son as their personal Savior. So the return of Christ could happen in three thousand years which would be as three days to HIM. Remember no one knows the time of the LORD’S return. If anyone predicts a day, they are a false prophet. Watch out for these individuals.
One of the lessons we can learn from the Word of God is that God doesn’t want HIS servants in the dark regarding what HE is doing in the world. HE has presented HIS plan starting in the book of Genesis and ending in this book of Revelation
We are to read HIS Word and through the ministry of the Holy Spirit understand HIS plan and work until HE calls us home through death or Rapture.
HE gives instructions through HIS angel to John for him to write a book for us to read. HE gives us an overview of what is going to happen in the present and future.
Sometimes I wish that the LORD would come to us and give each one of us a disclosure of truth, so that, we could understand how we are doing in our work for HIM. Too often we are not satisfied with just reading the Bible and waiting. We want more action from HIM in our life. Again, that is another temptation that we need to overcome. We have enough information in the Bible for us to live a life that is pleasing in HIS sight. We need to be content with what HE has revealed to us. HE continually opens to us more instructions as we mature in our understanding of HIS Word through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Be satisfied with what HE has already given us in regards to the future. Don’t be looking for more revelation to add to the Word of God. The Bible is closed. We are not to add to or take away from the Word of God.
CHALLENGE: Be content in our standing in the LORD based on the teachings of the Word of God. We have been declared HOLY because of our trust in HIM
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 3 Blessed is he that reads, and they that hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. (3107 “blessed” [makarios] means fortunate, well off, privileged recipient of divine favor or happy)
Alaska is called the final frontier but here we have a book that really describes the final frontier – eternity. God had a plan before the foundation of the world and HE is working HIS plan. HE knew about the fall of man. HE knew about the coming Savior, Jesus Christ. HE knew about the church age that we presently living in. HE knows what is going to happen next.
Some hold to the belief that the next thing in God’s plan is a Rapture of the Church before the Tribulation. Then the Tribulation happens for seven years, which ends with the battle of Armageddon. After that there is the Millennial reign of Christ with HIS saints for a thousand years. Finally, there is a battle before the Great White Throne judgment of those who have rejected Christ. Now we are into eternity.
One group goes to a place called the lake of fire for eternity with the devil and his angels. The other group spends eternity in the presence of the LORD. I am one of the some. The difference between the two groups is that one became a follow of Christ while they were living on this earth and the other did not. The ones who became followers of Christ read this book and believed everything that was written in this book.
The word is used seven times in this book. Those who read this book are fortunate because they realize that the LORD is sovereign. They are fortunate because they know that God knows the future. They are fortunate that they understand that no one escapes from the judgment of God.
However, everyone who reads this book has to work with what they learn from this book. There is going to be a coming tribulation period, which will complete the seventh week of Daniel. There is going to be a time when Christ will reign on this earth with HIS saints. There is going to be a time when Satan is bound for a season. There is going to be a new heaven and a new earth. There is going to be those who follow Christ even in the tribulation time period.
The disciples are supposed to be watching for the return of Christ. They are supposed to realize that the time is at hand. It is hard for us to understand because over 2,000 years have passed since this book was written. However, we need to remember that a thousand years is as one day in the sight of the LORD. HE lives outside of time and space. Our responsibility is to WATCH and PRAY. Are we fulfilling our responsibility?
CHALLENGE: We are to read – hear – keep the words that are written in this book. The real challenge is to hear and keep. Once there is an understanding of this book we need to share it with others. Hopefully, when we are finished with this book, you will have understanding from the LORD.
: 7 Behold, HE comes with clouds, and every eye shall see HIM, and they also which pierced HIM: and all kindred of the earth shall wail because of HIM. Even so, Amen (1574 “pierced” [ekkenteo] means to cut or make a way through, to stab, to dig through, to transfix, massacre or to prick)
DEVOTION: When I started out in ministry in 1971 I couldn’t get a handle on the fact that every eye shall see HIM. There wasn’t the communication network available to everyone that is available today. When we got the new from around the world it would take days.
Now that has all changed. We can know what is happening anywhere in the world when it is happening. We don’t have to wait any time at all. Every nation has reporters who will put what is happening on the air within seconds of it happening. On one channel today there is always “breaking news” and they show what is happening after a commercial. So we get it after the commercial to keep us watching.
When Christ returns the second time the whole world will see HIM coming. They will not want to see HIM coming because a majority will not believe in HIM. They will reject HIM. That is the reason they will be crying. They know that HIS Word is true and they will face judgment for eternity in the lake of fire.
A majority don’t want to believe it will happen. They teach it will not happen. They have taken over our schools and colleges to teach that there is no such thing as Christ returning to our world. It is sad but true.
There are even churches that are teaching that HE is not coming back. They think that they can eat, drink and be merry because there is no accountability. They are wrong. Watch out for their teaching. Don’t fall under their spell.
CHALLENGE: Jesus Christ is coming again and with HIM will be judgment for those who have rejected HIM!!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What you see, write in a book, and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia, to Ephesus, and to Smyrna, and to Pergamos, and to Thyaira, and to Sardis, and to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea. (1125 “write” [grapho] means to communicate or express by writing, record, compose, to describe, to give information, or to make a mark on paper)
DEVOTION: Jesus describes HIMSELF as the Alpha and Omega. These are the first and last letter of the Greek Alphabet. HE is the beginning and the end of all truth. HE is the first and the last.
HE wants everyone to understand that without HIM there is no understanding regarding what is going on in the world. HE existed before the world was created. HE will be around after the world is burned up and HE creates a New Heaven and a New Earth that is without sin.
In the meantime, HE wants to communicate with the churches that existed in Asia Minor in the time of John. Also, HE is communicating with all those who will read this book until HE returns at the end of the age.
The seven churches are said to represent seven different types of churches. Each church has a special message given to it regarding where they stand with the LORD. If they don’t correct their problem HE could come and take the Holy Spirit out of the church and it would not exist in HIS presence anymore.
The church of Philadelphia was a mission minded church that didn’t seem to have any negative comments regarding what it was accomplishing for HIM. The other churches needed to work in some areas of service to HIM.
If we are listening, we can see that Jesus is still communicating with HIS churches regarding what they are doing right and what they are doing wrong. Many churches never open their Bible on Sunday. Many preachers never mention what the Bible has to say about what is going on in our world that the LORD dislikes. They will both answer to the LORD for their false witness.
Our local church should be listening to what the Holy Spirit has to say to it in regard to their service to the LORD. Each church has a witness within it and outside of it. The LORD is concerned with both.
CHALLENGE: This book of the Bible is just as important to your local church as it was to the local churches in John’s day. Listen to what Christ is concerned about.
:17-18 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, “Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” (5399 “Fear” [phobeo] means 1 to put to flight by terrifying (to scare away). 1a to put to flight, to flee. 1b to fear, be afraid. 1b1 to be struck with fear, to be seized with alarm. 1b1a of those startled by strange sights or occurrences. 1b1b of those struck with amazement. 1b2 to fear, be afraid of one. 1b3 to fear (i.e. hesitate) to do something (for fear of harm). 1c to reverence, venerate, to treat with deference or reverential obedience. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship])
DEVOTION: If Jesus were to appear bodily to you, what would be your first reaction? For many in the Bible who saw God, the first reaction was that of fear in response to His great glory. They would fall on their faces in worship to Him. None of this “Jesus is my friend and brother” stuff! So, it is no surprise that when John saw the resurrected Jesus in this chapter, his first reaction was to fall down in fear before the glorified Savior.
In light of it, we find God’s reassuring words (“Do not fear!”) many times in Scripture. This is not the voice of condemnation which we hear, but one of gentle comfort. There are two connotations to the word “fear,” however. One is that of being afraid, and is the sense in which Jesus addresses John in this vision. The other is that implied in the old English use of “fear,” of “reverence,” and God never teaches that we should not feel reverence in His presence. It is the opposite of thinking of God in a colloquial sort of way like “the man upstairs.”
Contrasting these two, we should fear God in a reverential way, because He is due our respect. This form of fear is what is referred to as “the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). Furthermore, He will exercise His justice on the world both when we die and when He returns in His second coming. This will be the time when those who have not received Him and even mocked Him will find that there is much to fear! On the other hand, those who call Jesus as Lord should not tremble at the idea of seeing God. We should make it our goal to be in His presence every day and realize that He is watching every action that we take. This is not to condemn us, but rather to reward us.
CHALLENGE: God’s reassurance often comes right before He gives us an exceptionally difficult task for Him. This was John’s situation there in Patmos. What humanly impossible thing do you sense God is calling you to do today? (MW)
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Bare recordverse 2
Write in a bookverse 11
Write these things which were seen – are – hereafterverse 19
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Blessed is he that readsverse 3
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Lord’s dayverse 10
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Revelationverse 1
Word of Godverses 2, 9
Prophesyverse 3
Write in a bookverses 11, 19
Write what verse 19
Have seen
Things which are
Things which shall be hereafter
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Godverses 1, 2, 6, 9
Word of Godverses 2, 9
HIS throneverse 4
Fatherverse 6
Glory and dominion for ever and eververse 6
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Jesusverses 1, 2, 5, 9
Christverses 1, 2, 5, 9
Jesus Christverses 1, 2, 5, 9
Testimony of Jesus Christverses 2, 9
HIM which is – which was – which is to comeverses 4, 8
Faithful witnessverse 5
First begotten of the deadverse 5
Prince of the kings of the earthverse 5
HIS bloodverse 5
HE has made us kings and priestsverse 6
HIS Fatherverse 6
HE comes with cloudsverse 7
Every eye shall see HIM
Piercedverse 7
Alpha and Omegaverses 8, 11
Beginning and endverse 8
Lordverses 8, 10
Which is and which was and which is to comeverse 8
Almightyverse 8
Kingdom of Jesus Christverse 9
Patience of Jesus Christverse 9
Lord’s dayverse 10
Great voiceverse 10
I am Alpha and Omegaverse 11
I am the first and lastverses 11, 17
Son of manverses 13-16
Garment down to the foot
Girt about the paps with a golden girdle
Head and hair were whit like wool
Eyes as a flame of fire
Feet like unto fine brass
Voice as the sound of many waters
In HIS right hand seven stars
Out of HIS mouth went a sharp two-edged sword
Countenance as the sun shines in HIS strength
Lives and was deadverse 18
Alive forevermoreverse 18
Have keys of hell and of deathverse 18
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Spiritverses 4, 10
Seven Spiritsverse 4
Seven stars = angels of seven churchesverse 20
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Angelverse 1
Clouds (?)verse 7
Angelsverse 20
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Kings of the earthverse 5
Every eye shall see Jesus returnverse 7
All kindreds of the earthverse 7
Patmosverse 9
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Sinsverse 5
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Servantsverse 1
Blessingverse 3
reads – hears – keeps
Graceverse 4
Peaceverse 4
Lovedverse 5
Washed from out sinsverse 5
Made kings and priestsverse 6
Tribulationverse 9
Patienceverse 9
Testimonyverse 9
Fear notverse 17
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
They that pierced HIMverse 7
Church (New Testament people of God)
Servantsverse 1
Servant Johnverse 1
Seven churches: Asiaverses 4, 11
Ephesus – Smyrna – Pergamos
Thyatira – Sardis – Philadelphia
Laodicea
John the apostleverse 9
Brotherverse 9
Companion in tribulationverse 9
Lord’s dayverse 10
Seven candlesticks = seven churchesverses 12, 13, 20
Last Things (Future Events)
Glory and dominion for ever and eververse 6
Kingdomverse 9
Hellverse 18
Deathverse 18
Hereafter verse 19
DONATIONS:
Remember that all donations to Small Church Ministries are greatly appreciated. The treasurer will send a receipt, at the end of the year unless otherwise requested. Please be sure to make check out to “Small Church Ministries.” The address for the treasurer is P.O. Box 604, East Amherst, New York 14051. A second way to give to the ministry is through PayPal on the website: www.smallchurchministries.org. Also, if you can support this ministry through your local church please use that method. Thank you.
QUOTES regarding passage
9 This verse begins a third introduction in which the author again identifies himself as John and adds further significant information about where and when the visions took place together with their divinely appointed destination. John stresses his intimate identification with the Asian Christians and the reason for his presence on Patmos.
One of the Sporades Islands, Patmos lies about thirty-seven miles west-southwest of Miletus, in the Icarian Sea. Consisting mainly of volcanic hills and rocky ground, Patmos is about ten miles long and six miles wide at the north end. It was an island used for Roman penal purposes. Tacitus refers to the use of such small islands for political banishment (Annals 3.68; 4.30; 15.71). Eusebius mentions that John was banished to the island by the emperor Domitian in a.d. 95 and released eighteen months later by Nerva (Ecclesiastical History 3.20. 8–9).
John indicates that it was “because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus” that he was formerly on Patmos (cf. Rev 1:2; Rev 6:9; Rev 20:4). He was not there to preach that Word but because of religious-political opposition to his faithfulness to it. John sees his plight as part of God’s design and says he is a partner with Christians in three things: “suffering” (“ordeal,” “tribulation,” “distress,” “agony”), “kingdom,” and “patient endurance” (or “faithful endurance”). John and the Asian believers share with Christ and one another the suffering or agony that comes because of faithfulness to Christ as the only true Lord and God (John 16:33; Acts 14:22; Col 1:24; 2 Tim 3:12). Also, they share with Christ in his “kingdom” (power and rule). In one sense they already reign (1:6), though through suffering. Yet, in another sense, they will reign with Christ in the eschatological manifestation of his kingdom (20:4, 6; 22:5).
Finally, John sees the present hidden rule of Christ and his followers manifested through their “patient endurance.” As they look beyond their immediate distresses and put their full confidence in Christ, they share now in his royal dignity and power. Whether those distresses were imprisonment, ostracism, slander, poverty, economic discrimination, hostility (both violent and nonviolent by synagogue, marketplace, and police), disruption of the churches by false prophets, and the constant threat of death from mob violence or judicial action, believers are to realize their present kingship with Christ in their faithful endurance.
Endurance is “the spiritual alchemy which transmutes suffering into royal dignity” (Charles, Commentary on Revelation, 1:21). It is the Christians’ witness and their radical love in all spheres of life. It produces the conflict with the powers of the world, and it calls for long-suffering as the mark of Christ’s kingship in their lives (Rev 2:2, 19; Rev 3:10; Rev 13:10; Rev 14:12; cf., e.g., Luke 8:15; 21:19; Rom 2:7; 1 Cor 13:7; Col 1:11). Christ’s royal power does not now crush opposition but uses suffering to test and purify the loyalty of his servants. His strength is revealed through their weakness (2 Cor 12:19). Christians are called, as was John, to reign now with Christ by willingly entering into suffering conflict with the powers of this age. (Johnson, A. F. (1981). Revelation. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews through Revelation (Vol. 12, p. 424). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
I John (Ἐγω Ἰωανης [Egō Iōanēs]). So 22:8. In apocalyptic literature the personality of the writer is always prominent to guarantee the visions (Dan. 8:1; 10:2). Partaker with you (συνκοινωνος [sunkoinōnos]). See already 1 Cor. 9:23. “Co-partner with you” (Rom. 11:17). One article with ἀδελφος [adelphos] and συνκοινωνος [sunkoinōnos] unifying the picture. The absence of ἀποστολος [apostolos] here does not show that he is not an apostle, but merely his self-effacement, as in the Fourth Gospel, and still more his oneness with his readers. So there is only one article (τῃ [tēi]) with θλιψει [thlipsei] (tribulation), βασιλειᾳ [basileiāi] (kingdom), ὑπομονῃ [hupomonēi] (patience), ideas running all through the book. Both the tribulation (see Matt. 13:21 for θλιψις [thlipsis]) and the kingdom (see Matt. 3:2 for βασιλεια [basileia]) were present realities and called for patience (ὑπομονη [hupomonē] being “the spiritual alchemy” according to Charles for those in the kingdom, for which see Luke 8:15; James 5:7). All this is possible only “in Jesus” (ἐν Ἰησου [en Iēsou]), a phrase on a par with Paul’s common ἐν Χριστῳ [en Christōi] (in Christ), repeated in 14:13. Cf. 3:20 and 2 Thess. 3:5. Was (ἐγενομην [egenomēn]). Rather, “I came to be,” second aorist middle indicative of γινομαι [ginomai]. In the isle that is called Patmos (ἐν τῃ νησῳ τῃ καλουμενῃ Πατμῳ [en tēi nēsōi tēi kaloumenēi Patmōi]). Patmos is a rocky sparsely settled island some ten miles long and half that wide, one of the Sporades group in the Aegean Sea, south of Miletus. The present condition of the island is well described by W. E. Geil in The Isle That Is Called Patmos (1905). Here John saw the visions described in the book, apparently written while still a prisoner there in exile. For the word of God and the testimony of Jesus (δια τον λογον του θεου και την μαρτυριαν Ἰησου [dia ton logon tou theou kai tēn marturian Iēsou]). The reason for (δια [dia] and the accusative) John’s presence in Patmos, naturally as a result of persecution already alluded to, not for the purpose of preaching there or of receiving the visions. See verse 2 for the phrase. (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Re 1:9). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)
The location of the dramatic revelation of Christ recorded in this book was the island of Patmos, a small island in the Aegean Sea southwest of Ephesus and between Asia Minor and Greece. According to several early church fathers (Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, and Eusebius), John was sent to this island as a prisoner following his effective pastorate at Ephesus. Victorinus, the first commentator on the Book of Revelation, stated that John worked as a prisoner in the mines on this small island. When the Emperor Domitian died in a.d. 96, his successor Nerva let John return to Ephesus. During John’s bleak days on Patmos, God gave him the tremendous revelation embodied in this final book of the Bible.
1:9–11. This section begins with the expression I, John. This is the third reference to John as the human author in this chapter and the first of three times in the book when he referred to himself as I (cf. 21:2; 22:8). This contrasts with his reference to himself in 2 John 1 and 3 John 1 as an elder and his indication in John 21:24 that he was a disciple.
In these opening chapters addressed to the seven churches of Asia, John described himself as a brother who was patient in his endurance of suffering. His suffering had come because of his faithful proclamation of and faith in the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus. (Some Gr. texts add “Christ” after Jesus.) “The testimony of Jesus” means John’s testimony for and about Jesus, not a testimony given by Jesus. Like many other well-known writers of Scripture (Moses, David, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Peter), John was writing from a context of suffering because of his commitment to the true God.
John’s revelation occurred on the Lord’s Day while he was in the Spirit. Some have indicated that “the Lord’s Day” refers to the first day of the week. However, the word “Lord’s” is an adjective and this expression is never used in the Bible to refer to the first day of the week. Probably John was referring to the day of the Lord, a familiar expression in both Testaments (cf. Isa. 2:12; 13:6, 9; 34:8; Joel 1:15; 2:1, 11, 31; 3:14; Amos 5:18, 20; Zeph. 1:7–8, 14, 18; 2:3; Zech. 14:1; Mal. 4:5; 1 Thes. 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10). “In the Spirit” could also be rendered “in [my] spirit” (cf. Rev. 4:2; 17:3; 21:10). That is, he was projected forward in his inner self in a vision, not bodily, to that future day of the Lord when God will pour out His judgments on the earth.
The stirring events beginning in Revelation 4 are the unfolding of the day of the Lord and the divine judgments related to it. The idea that the entire Book of Revelation was given to John in one 24-hour day seems unlikely, especially if he had to write it all down. Being transported prophetically into the future day of the Lord, he then recorded his experience. (Walvoord, J. F. (1985). Revelation. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, pp. 929–930). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
1:9 tribulation and kingdom and perseverance. Four characteristics that John and his believing readers share: 1) persecution for their faith; 2) membership in the redeemed community over which Christ serves as Lord and King; 3) eager anticipation of the glory of His coming millennial reign on earth; and 4) endurance and perseverance in spite of difficult times. island called Patmos. Located in the Aegean Sea off the coast of Asia Minor (modern Turkey) and part of a group of about 50 islands, Patmos is a barren, rocky, crescent-shaped island that is about 10 mi. long and less than 6 mi. at its widest point. It served as a Roman penal colony. According to early Christian historian, Eusebius, the emperor Nerva (a.d. 96–98) released John from Patmos. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Re 1:9). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
Ver. 9. 1 John, who also am your brother, &c.] Here begins the narrative of the visions and prophecies of this book, the former verses containing a general preface to the whole; and this, and the two following verses, are the introduction to the first vision, which John saw; who describes himself by his name, 1 John, the evangelist and apostle, a servant of Christ, and a beloved disciple of his; one that was well known to the seven churches to whom he writes, and who had no reason to doubt of his fidelity in the account he gives them; and also by his relation to them as a brother, not in a natural, but in a spiritual sense, they and he belonging to that family that is named of Christ, to the household of God, and of faith, and having one and the same father, even God: thus, though he was an elder, an evangelist, yea, an apostle by office, yet he puts himself on a level with the several members of these churches, as he was a believer in Christ: and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ; many are the afflictions and tribulations of the saints; these lie in the way to the kingdom; and they are companions and partners with one another in them, both by enduring the same, and by their sympathy and compassion with each other; and as they go sharers in the troubles of this life, so they do, and shall in the kingdom; in the kingdom of grace now, being all of them made kings and priests unto God, and in the kingdom of Christ on earth, where they will all reign with him a thousand years, and in the kingdom of glory, where they shall reign together to all eternity; and in the meanwhile, they join in the exercise of the grace of patience, of which Christ is the author, exemplar, and object; they are directed by the spirit of God into a patient waiting for Christ, or a patient expectation of his coming, kingdom, and glory: the Alexandrian copy reads, patience in Christ; and the Complutensian edition, patience in Christ Jesus: this same person John, who gives this account of himself, was in the isle that is called Patmos; but now Palmosa; it is one of the islands of the Cyclades, in the Archipelago, or Icarian sea, and sometimes called the Ægean sea, and had its name from the turpentine-trees in it; it is, as Pliny says, about thirty miles in circumference; and it lay next to the churches on the continent, and is said to be about forty miles south-west of Ephesus, from whence John came thither, and to which church he writes first; how he came here he does not say, concealing, through modesty, his sufferings; he did not come here of his own accord; Ignatius saysw, John εφυγαδενετο, was banished to Patmos: by Domitian emperor of Rome, as Irenæus says, at the latter end of his reign, about the year 95 or 96; and, as Tertullian, after he had been cast into a vessel of flaming oil, where he got no hurt: and this banishment was not for any immorality, and capital sin he had committed, but for the word of God; for believing in Christ, the essential Word of God, and for professing and bearing record of him, both in preaching and writing: and for the testimony of Jesus; for the Gospel of Christ, see ver. 2 for embracing it, adhering to it, and publishing it: it is generally thought that John wrote his Revelation in this isle, though some think it is not to be concluded from these words, but the contrary; that he had been here, but now was not, but at Ephesus, where he wrote what he had a vision of here. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 3, pp. 687–688). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
John says, I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. The church will not go through the Great Tribulation, “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7; Matt. 24:21; 1 Thess. 5:1–9). But it is by no means exempt from persecution. Jesus warned us, “In the world ye shall have tribulation” (John 16:33). Paul said, “We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). The apostles were no strangers to the hatred of this world. John, writing the Apocalypse, was a prisoner on a small, rocky, inhospitable island about fifteen miles from Ephesus, having been banished there by Domitian. Rome lay to the west; Babylon, Jerusalem, and the Euphrates to the east. Patmos itself lay in the arm of the Great Sea, the Mediterranean, which figures so largely in the Apocalypse. He was a prisoner on Patmos because of his witness to the word of God and for his testimony for the Lord Jesus. This underlines the first great characteristic of the age. It is an age of individual witness. (Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring Revelation: An Expository Commentary (Re 1:9). Kregel; WORDsearch Corp.)
FROM MY READING:
KNOWING GOD
No man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Matthew 11:27
Salvation brings me a knowledge of pardon and forgiveness, of reconciliation with God. Yes, but beyond all that, it gives me a knowledge of God.
Have you ever considered this text in that way? Have you ever seen the span and the ambit [scope] of the gospel of Jesus Christ? Here it is. There is this little babe on the ground in his smallness and weakness and helplessness, yet the gospel gives Him a knowledge of the Lord of heaven and earth, the Maker, the sustainer of everything that is. What a knowledge! Amazing! I, the pygmy creature of time, can know God the in?nite, the absolute, and the eternal—and know Him as my Father—not as some great, mighty force away in the distant heavens, but as my Father.
Those who are interested in Greek words can examine the word for babies, used in Matthew 11:25, in the original and will find that it has a sense of sonship unfolding in it. That is what our Lord was saying: that we, though we have sinned, become in Him the sons of God, the heirs of heaven and of eternal and everlasting bliss.
What a way of salvation! May I say it with reverence—who but God could have thought of it? In such an astounding way, in our utter nakedness and helplessness He just draws back the veil and reveals it to us perfectly in Jesus Christ. He “of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30)—everything, a complete salvation. All you must do is to look at the Lord Jesus Christ and believe this record concerning Him. Surrender yourself to Him and accept the gift, and you will know the Lord of heaven and earth as your Father.
A Thought to Ponder: I, the pygmy creature of time, can know God the infinite, the absolute, and the eternal.
(From The Heart of the Gospel, pp. 118-119, by Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Samson uses foxes to burn the Philistines’ crops and kills 1,000 men.
INSIGHT
A list of the sins of Samson:
1. Fraternizing with pagans
2. Marrying an unbeliever
3. Disobeying his parents
4. Touching a dead animal
5. Murdering innocent people
6. Visiting a harlot
7. Lying
We are often tempted to disregard the truth. We weary of being good and fighting natural inclinations. But one look at Samson’s life reveals the consequences of giving in to that weariness. We must wait on the Lord and have our strength renewed. (Quiet Walk)
Righteous Friends
“Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (James 4:4)
The phrase “a man is known by the company he keeps” has been used in English-speaking countries since the 1500s. Not only is the saying biblically based, but it is easily observable in everyday life.
Friends Shape Friends: “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend” (Proverbs 27:17). In our text above, James notes that the world’s friendship so contrasts with the heart and mind of God that such a friendship turns our relationship with God into enmity. The apostle John gives the clear reason: “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world” (1 John 2:16).
Friends Love Each Other: “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you….I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you….These things I command you, that ye love one another” (John 15:14-17). This is pretty simple. If I love the Lord Jesus, and you love the Lord Jesus, then we will love each other—because we have a common friend!
Friends Stick Together: Because of our common love for the Lord Jesus, we do not forsake “the assembling of ourselves together” (Hebrews 10:25). Neither do we follow the “counsel of the ungodly,” or hang around “in the way of sinners,” or feel at home with “the scornful” (Psalm 1:1), because there is no fellowship in “righteousness with unrighteousness” (2 Corinthians 6:14). Godly people will have godly friends.
(HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
Undeserved Suffering
“Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1)
This cry of the psalmist has been echoed times without number by those persecuted for their faith. “Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter. Awake, why sleepest thou, O LORD? arise, cast us not off for ever. Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression?” (Psalm 44:22-24). Consequently, one of the great mysteries of life is the suffering of the righteous. How can a God of love and power allow such undeserved suffering in His creation?
The fact is, however, that there is no such thing as undeserved suffering, “for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). The reason there is suffering in the world is that there is sin in the world. Even though one’s particular experience of suffering may or may not be directly related to his particular sin, all of us are sinners before God, and therefore deserving of nothing but suffering and judgment in the sight of a holy God.
It is not suffering that is undeserved but God’s grace and mercy! “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us” (Titus 3:5). There has only been one person in all history whose suffering was undeserved, and He suffered for us, “the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18).
Our sufferings are not undeserved, but neither are they uncontrolled, for God “worketh all things after the counsel of his own will” (Ephesians 1:11). There are many good reasons why God permits a faithful Christian to suffer, but even if one cannot discern the particular reason at the time, he can at least “rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy” (1 Peter 4:13). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
The controlling individual, on the other hand, is one who does not allow for anyone to disagree and quickly silences any differing opinion even the opinions of the board. (p. 104, Developing Leaders for the Small Church by Glenn C. Daman)
Visit our Facebook page for Small Church Ministries – please invite others to join us on Facebook. Thank you. Look for the logo from the devotionals.