Revelation: An Introduction

2023-06-04

Pastor Jonathan Falwell

The Revelation Series / Revelation 1:1–8

   Today, we begin a summer study of the book of Revelation. It’s a study which will help us understand this perplexing book considering the current condition of the world.  Oftentimes, people struggle with the book of Revelation as they may find it difficult to understand or follow. Danny Akin writes in his Exalting Jesus in Revelation commentary:

“It does not constitute an unsolvable puzzle but contains a definite promise and a magnificent portrait of the coming again of the Lord Jesus.” [1]

In taking a look around at the current state of events both here and abroad, it does raise some significant questions about whether we are close to the rapture (1 Thess. 4:15-17) of the church.

In looking at other passages in Scripture we see some pretty interesting signs we are nearing the end. In 2 Timothy 3:1-4 “But know this: Hard times will come in the last days. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, demeaning, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,”

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In Daniel 9:26 “and until the end there will be war; desolations are decreed.”

‌In Matthew 24:6 “You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, because these things must take place, but the end is not yet.”

  • There are approximately 30 wars going on right now around the world and according to research, it seems that in the past 6000 years of recorded human history, there has only been about 200 of those years where there were no wars.[2]

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In 2 Timothy 3:1-4: materialism skyrockets and lawlessness takes over

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Population Growth: It took 1803 years for the world’s population to grow to 1 billion from 0 A.D. It took 123 years to grow to 2 billion, 33 more years to grow to 3 billion. Now, about every 12-13 years we add another billion.

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Increase in knowledge: In Daniel 12:4 “But you, Daniel, keep these words secret and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will roam about, and knowledge will increase.”

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Buckminster Fuller spoke of the “Knowledge Doubling Curve” in 1982: he suggested that in 1900, human knowledge doubled approximately every 100 years by the end of 1945, the rate had come down to every 25 years and by 1982, every 13 months.[3] In 2020, it is estimated knowledge doubles every 12 hours.[4] Today, with Artificial Intelligence….?

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  • Departure from the Christian faith

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  • Attack on marriage

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  • Unity of world systems

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It doesn’t require theological or prophetical gymnastics to think we’re not actually getting close to the end times. A Pew Research study completed last Fall gives us a picture of what some are thinking about this important topic.

“Christians are divided on this question, with 47% saying we are living in the end times, including majorities in the historically Black (76%) and evangelical (63%) Protestant traditions.” [5]

When reading other passages of Scripture such as 2 Timothy 3 & 4 we see a clear parallel between Paul’s statement about the “end times” and today. However, I’m fully aware the predictions of the end times have gone on all the way back to the moment Jesus ascended into Heaven in Acts 1. The disciples themselves stood there waiting for his imminent return.

I must be fully honest in saying I have no idea when Jesus will rapture His church and the tribulation will begin. But I do know we must be ready. We need to understand what tomorrow holds for those who trust Jesus as Lord and King.

So, we’re going to spend the next 12 weeks walking through the book of Revelation along with some supporting Scriptures from other Old Testament and New Testament books to help us all understand what God has in store for His children.

The New King James Version (Revelation 1:1-8)

1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. 4 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blo od, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty

1. Who, When & Where

A. This is Jesus’ Revelation

In the very first verse of this book, we are clearly told these words come directly from Jesus Himself. This is not the rambling of an old man who is sitting in isolation on island far away from his homeland. This is a direct revelation of God Himself to one of His choice servants so we would all understand what was to come.

Let’s look at the first part of verse 1…

  • vs 1a The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants…

In other words, Jesus is speaking loudly here in the very first verse of this revelation…THIS IS WHAT I WANT YOU TO KNOW. Jesus wants us to clearly understand what the end looks like so we will be encouraged in the middle of the here and now. It would be so easy for us to get discouraged and desperate if we had no idea what God has in store for those who believe. So, this revelation is given so we have a clear picture of Jesus’ victory and our future. When Jesus died on the cross and rose again, he demonstrated and declared this victory. Oswald Chambers said it this way…

“The death of Jesus was not the death of a martyr, it was the revelation of the eternal heart of God.” [6]

– Oswald Chambers

In other words, the eternal heart of God was revealed through the death and resurrection of Jesus for all eternity. So, this book is Jesus’ declaration to us all. The very use of the word Revelation in verse 1 (also the title of the book) is the greek word:

apokalupsis which is translated “to reveal, unveil, uncover, or disclose.”[7]

And He chose His beloved disciple (and the only one of the 12 still living) to be His scribe.

B. Delivered to John

  • Vs 1c …And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John

This revelation was “sent and signified” which means it was given and reported to John who is described as His “servant.” This is the greek word “doulos” which translated means slave. John makes no bones about the fact that even at this late stage in his life, he is still nothing more but nothing less than a slave to Jesus Christ. Here, John was writing somewhere around the time of his 90th birthday and he clearly understood from the moment he encountered Christ at the Sea of Galilee to the day he wrote these words; he was a slave to the truth.

C. Written around 95 A.D. from the Isle of Patmos

Vs 9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

  • John had been exiled to Patmos because of his faithfulness in preaching the Gospel, and I’m sure because of his personal connection to the Christ of whom he preached. While the “who, when and where” is certainly important, what is truly important is the “what and why.”

2. What & Why?

A. So we might know…So we might go

Vs 2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.

  • John is given the description of a faithful witness of what Jesus has revealed. Kendall Easley says it this way:

“John uses the language of a legal witness called to appear in a courtroom. His role is simply one who reliably testifies to everything he saw. This is John’s way of affirming that the book is “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”[8]

Vs 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

  • “blessed” (makarios) is a word which connotes the idea of “how fortunate”
  • In other words, how fortunate we will be if we read and hear this revelation and then make sure we let others know of the victory which comes from Christ.

B. Because time is short

Vs 1b …things which must shortly take place.

  • Obviously, this is a thought which has been present in the minds of believers going back to the beginning. But even though this is the case, we must still act as if the time is NOW!

C. He’s our only hope

Vs 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty”

  • This is statement of the omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent nature of Jesus Christ.
  • As songwriter/singer Mark Schulz says:

He is, He was, He always will be!

3. So What Now?

  • Rejoice, Jesus wins!

Vss 4-7 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.

  • It is important to note that John writes to the “seven churches” while in exile. This is more evidence of the “revelation” which came for Jesus Christ as John would have no way of knowing the specific issues and needs within the churches as described in chapters 2 & 3.
  • Verse 5 describes the nature of Jesus as the “Priest, Prophet and King” through the description of “faithful witness, the firstborn form the dead and the ruler over the kings of the earth.”

Daniel 2:21 (CSB) “He changes the times and seasons; he removes kings and establishes kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.”

  • “He is coming with clouds” is not a reference to the rapture but rather his second coming at the end of the tribulation period. This will be a public display rather than the rapture which is the catching up of his church as described in 1 Thess. 4.
  • Verse 7 further references that all will see Him, even those who killed Him and didn’t believe.
  • This passage is a declaration of the finishing work of Jesus Christ. It is designed as an anthem for His followers indicating Jesus will do exactly what He has promised, and we should let others know of God’s promise of eternity.

Verse 8 states, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty”

Warren Wiersbe states:

“When Daniel finished writing his prophecy, he was instructed to “shut up the words, and seal the book” (Dan. 12:4); but John was given opposite instructions: “Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book” (Rev. 22:10). Why? Since Calvary, the Resurrection, and the coming of the Holy Spirit, God has ushered in the “last days” (Heb. 1:1–2) and is fulfilling His hidden purposes in this world. “The time is at hand” (Rev. 1:3; 22:10).” [9]

“Peter Marshall once said, “It is better to fail in a cause that will ultimately succeed than to succeed in a cause that will ultimately fail.” 6

In the quadrangle of Leland Stanford University near San Francisco there stood a magnificent memorial arch, built so largely, solidly, and splendidly, it seemed it would stand forever. But when the earthquake came, it collapsed in ruin. Its foundations were disclosed … the builder had put in chips and rubble. Many seem successful for a time, then suddenly collapse. The secret sin comes to light; the foundation’s rottenness is disclosed![10]

In The Message, verses 5-7 read this way:

Glory and strength to Christ, who loves us, who blood-washed our sins from our lives, Who made us a Kingdom, Priests for his Father, forever—and yes, he’s on his way! Riding the clouds, he’ll be seen by every eye, those who mocked and killed him will see him, People from all nations and all times

will tear their clothes in lament. Oh, Yes.[11]

[1] Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in Revelation, ed. Daniel L. Akin, David Platt, and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2016).

[2] https://acleddata.com

[3] https://jimcarroll.com/2022/12/23-trends-for-2023-8-knowledge-velocity/#

[4] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/human-knowledge-doubling-every-12-hours

[5] https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/12/08/about-four-in-ten-u-s-adults-believe-humanity-is-living-in-the-end-times/

[6] Draper’s Book of Quotations Copyright © 1992 by Edythe Draper. Database © 2009 WORD search Corp.

[7] Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in Revelation, ed. Daniel L. Akin, David Platt, and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2016), 5.

 

[8] Easley, Kendell H. Revelation. Vol. 12. Holman New Testament Commentary. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998.

 

[9] Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996.

[10] Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc., 1996), 1119.

[11] Eugene H. Peterson, The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005), Re 1:5–7.

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