Revelation 1
Revelation 1:1 - 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: Revelation is the Greek word "apokalypsis" which means: revelation, unveiling, uncovering, or manifestation. It is important to note that if something needs to be
revealed, then it is hidden. This same word is used in Romans 8:19 concerning the sons of God; meaning that they are hidden. Because it was signified (to be written or spoken in signs & symbols) the natural mind
would not be able to comprehend what it was saying. It has to be revealed, uncovered by the Spirit of God. Only the mind that has the understanding of the keys can understand it. Just as the revelation came to
Jesus and to John, so it is also coming to us today. It will be those that love Him, that love light rather than darkness, that will receive the impartation of the Spirit of God concerning the mystery, "Christ in you,
the hope of glory" Col. 1:27. When He is through, He shall be our temple (Rev. 21:22). Revelation 1:2 - Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that
he saw. Here we have the three-fold witness of John concerning Jesus Christ as the word of God, the fulfillment of the old covenant and the institution of the new; the life, the walk, and the
martyrdom of Jesus; and finally everything that he saw with his natural and spiritual eyes. Revelation 1:3 - Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which
are written therein: for the time is at hand. Readeth to know again, to read. From the primary root word to perceive, understand, to be sure. Also
from another primary root word which means repetition. Hear give audience to, come to the ears, to hear, to understand.
Keep to watch over, hold fast, to guard or serve. Time due season, set time At hand to be within one's grasp, at your fingertips, ready
Clearly, John is saying for us not to look for future things, for the time is within reach, for it is within us. We are blessed if we read, hear (understand), and protect the words that have been penned down in this book. It
is in this reading and hearing that we will perceive the Son and His kingdom; and it is in the use of this understanding that God measures proportionately. Mark 4:24 And he said unto them, Luke 17:21
Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the Revelation 1:4 - John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which
was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; Grace and peace is the heart of our Father and that is the only administration that is flowing from the
throne today. Jesus was the full expression of a ministry of grace and peace. Not only does this life flow from the Son but it is also the ministry of the Holy Spirit (seven Spirits).
Truly, the Son is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8).
1. Which IS - He IS (today) for there is a real man in the heavens and He is tabernacled within each of us and corporately in a body. 2. Which WAS
- He WAS (yesterday) for He was God in the flesh that walked this earth. He defeated sin the FLESH thereby reconciling man and creation back to God. 3. Which IS TO COME
- He WILL (tomorrow) come again for there is a REAL man in the heavens, AND
.
He is the ever-coming Lord who is continually coming into lives and hearts "Christ in you the hope of glory" - for Jesus IS COME in the flesh (John 4:2-3) even today! We are not the man Jesus, but He is come in us! The coming of the Lord is a past, present and a future truth!
Revelation 1:5 - 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. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, Jesus was faithful even unto the death and became the perfect witness
concerning the resurrection, love, and keeping power of God. Although there were many raised from the dead, He was the first to take up His own life out of the pit of death giving life back unto Himself (John 10:17-18).
He is our prince for He has made us kings and priests (next verse). We have been WASHED!!!! That means that we are CLEAN!!!! And He did it with that which was most precious, HIS OWN BLOOD!!!! That which was
sufficient to fulfill and judgment and answer any penalty! Revelation 1:6 - And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
We are a royal priesthood and a holy nation (1Peter 2:5,9). As kings we are to rule, as priests we are to serve. It is Him (Jesus) that has the fullness of all glory and dominion. And it
is through Him that we have been given glory (John 17:22) and the power to reign. Revelation 1:7
Behold, he cometh 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. Throughout
scriptures, clouds have been indicative of people. The Word tells us that He comes both IN and WITH the clouds. Jude talks about a people who are clouds without water. In Matthew the 27th chapter we see that
the graves were opened and the saints went into the city and appeared to many. In Acts Jesus ascends with the clouds, the risen saints, and in like manner He shall return again (Acts 1:9-11). Then Heb. 1:12 speaks that we are
encompassed about by a great cloud of witnesses. Just as surely as the rain comes from the clouds, so has He placed His rainbow (covenant) in the clouds (people) to release into the earth. A people who have become
ministers as a flame of fire and a cloud of witnesses, becoming one with the Cloud by day and the Fire by night to show forth the way in which to go. Wail means to mourn and this is not a
term to be negative but rather it is to reveal the transition which will take place. All who pierced Him shall mourn concerning their role in what He suffered, but it is in that mourning that they shall inherit the kingdom of
God. This sorrow of heart, this depth of groaning wroughts within us the new creation as we recognize and receive His sacrifice. Revelation 1:8
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. He not only created all things, but He is the BEGINNING and He is
the ENDING! He has the final say in all things! He is sovereign and all things are kept in His hands! Revelation 1:9
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. Patmos literally means the place of my killing. The isle of Patmos is the place where we die to ourselves and become a living sacrifice unto our God. In the laying down of our lives,
then His life is released in us and can come forth. Testimony is the greek word for martyr. Our testimony is IT IS FINISHED and it is through His death that we have come alive. Revelation 1:10
I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Note that John said that he was in the Spirit and not in the flesh. For it is only in the Spirit
that one can see clearly, that one can understand, and one can hear. Had John been in the flesh his mind would have looked for a trumpet of brass, but he heard the VOICE! A prophetic voice that had a clear sound. Revelation 1:11
Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
Once again, clarity is given once again as to who it is that is speaking to John. John is instructed to write what he sees! (7 Churches see the Revelation 1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; See the voice (a lifestyle that declares) Our
message won't set creation free, our lifestyle will. It is not important what we say, rather it is what we live. How beautiful are the feet of them that bring good news saying Our God Reigns. Those who are living
epistles unto their God. Revelation 1:13 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.
Seven perfection and completeness Candlesticks - Churches Garment to the feet - covering Golden nature of God Midst of the church the center or heart where the life proceeds from Exodus 25 vs. 31 "And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall it be made: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his
branches, his bowls, his knops and his flowers shall be of the same." vs. 32 - "And six branches shall come out of the sides of it: three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the
candlestick out of the other side:" vs. 36 - "their knops and their branches shall be the same: all it shall be one beaten work of pure gold" vs. 37 - "And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall
light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it." vs. 39 - "Of a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels" In The
Holy Place, we find the Golden Candlestick, the Altar of Incense (worship & prayer of the saints), and the Table of Shewbread (the Word of God). The Holy Place was fully enclosed and shut off from OUTSIDE light. The
candlestick was the only source of light within that room. It was ONE piece and made from a solid piece (one talent) of pure gold and was a beaten work.. The gold was not melted down and poured into a mold. The branches
were not made and then attached to the candlestick, they were one with the Candlestick. From the beating of the gold, the formation of the central shaft took place which progressively began to bring forth the branches as one.
The central shaft is Jesus and the 6 branches (six is the number of man) are man and together they constitute ONE body, the Church. Revelation 1:14
His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; Head symbolizes one who is in authority, and preeminence. Hairs symbolize not only
covering but that which grows and proceeds FROM the head and bespeaks of the mind of Christ. Pure thoughts and imaginations. Both the Head and the hairs are white and symbolize purity and holiness. So we see that
the Head and covering is pure and holy Because God is a consuming fire, so His eyes are purifying, refining, and discerning. He sees and knows all things. Revelation 1:15 And his feet like unto
fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. Brass speaks of judgment. Feet represent a walk. Furnace represents a refining and a
purging. A walk tested and solidified through fire that has fulfilled all the requirements of the law bringing one's judgment into a state of righteous judgment. Feet also speak of the body of Christ with Jesus as the
Head, people taken into judgment with Him and found guiltless. This one has a voice with many flows of life: healing, deliverance, love, peace, prosperity, etc. And it is out of the midst of His people that this
river is released as the "rivers of living waters". Revelation 1:16
And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. Right speaks of hand of authority, strength, and power.
Two-edged sword speaks of the Word of God that reveals (cuts) and heals at the same time. It also speaks of the Word of God concering the Old and the New Testiments. Seven (perfection) stars (Churches) Here we
see not only perfected churches, but they are together in one hand symbolizing their oneness and unity. There is only one Church in the earth and it is in this perfected (mature) Church that His authority, strength, and power
is made manifest. His countenance emanates with the nature and the glory of God and it reflects His strength as equal in nature. The voice that proceeds out of her mouth is a voice that cuts and heals at the same time.
Revelation 1:17 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: John was not dead
but literally could not stand before Him. No man (the flesh nature) can look into the face of God and live. Here we see the old man passing away and a new man arising. The old nature (carnality) dying. When
the hand of all power and authority came upon John, he arose and could stand without fear before the presence of His God and His maker! Revelation 1:18
I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Testifying once again that He is the one that was a man, and that He died
and that He now lives forever. Keys are the mysteries, those things which are hidden from those that are not the sons of God. Because He has the keys, it is only He that can unlock or lock a door. For us, being
one with Him and joint heirs with Him, the door has been unlocked and we have been given the keys.too Revelation 1:19
Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; John is instructed not just to write of that which he has seen or which shall be, but
those things that ARE! Revealing to us that this book is past, present, and future! And yet they are all one and interwoven together. Revelation 1:20
The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
Quite clearly does the scripture reveal itself so that there is not room for misunderstanding. In His hand of authority and government are the Angellos (messengers, pastors). And the
candlesticks are the churches. Seven bespeaks of perfection, completion.
The seven Spirits of God: (This indepth study is on our Bible Studies webpage).