These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Originator e of God’s creation. ii. “When we see in the picture his head and his hair white as snow, we understand the antiquity of his reign.” (Spurgeon)

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, “I am the Alpha and the 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, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.” v. Some scholars believe that John wrote and loosed us from our sins. There is only one letter different between the words washed and loosed in the ancient Greek language. Both words show up in ancient manuscripts, so it’s hard to say which one John wrote. Nevertheless, both are true – we are both washed and loosed from our sins . b. He is coming with clouds : When Jesus comes, He will be surrounded by clouds . This will be true literally, because when Jesus left this earth, He was taken up into a cloud and God said that He would return in the same manner (Acts 1:9-11). It will also be true figuratively, because multitudes of believers are called clouds in a figurative manner (Hebrews 12:1). Clouds are commonly associated with God’s presence and glory (Exodus 13:21-22, 16:10, 19:9, and 24:15-18), relating to the Old Testament cloud of glory called the Shekinah. A. The introduction and prologue to the Book of Revelation. 1. (1-2) The writer of the Book of Revelation. I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

About

who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will give the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone inscribed with a new name, known only to the one who receives it. I will strike her children dead, and all the churches will know that I am the One who searches minds and hearts, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. b. He laid His right hand on me : First, Jesus comforted John with a compassionate touch. Perhaps the touch of Jesus felt more familiar than the appearance of Jesus. Then Jesus gave John a command: “ Do not be afraid .” John didn’t need to be afraid because He was in the presence of Jesus, and Jesus clearly identifies Himself to John with three titles. These are the words of Him who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.

d. This was a spectacular vision, and many people wish they could have a spectacular vision like John had, but we can know the very same Jesus John saw. We can know His purity, His eternal wisdom, His searching judgment, His victory, His authority and His majesty. Each of these aspects of His nature are ours to know intimately.

Ministries

b. His eyes like a flame of fire : Fire is often associated with judgment in the Scriptures (Matthew 5:22, 2 Peter 3:7). Jesus’ eyes displayed the fire of searching, penetrating judgment. i. Walvoord defined in the Spirit like this: “Carried beyond normal sense into a state where God could reveal supernaturally the contents of this book.”

ii. The First and the Last is a title that belongs to the Lord, Yahweh, the God of Israel (Isaiah 41:4, 44:6, and 48:12). The title Alpha and the Omega has the same idea as First and the Last . This is one of the New Testament passages where Jesus clearly claimed to be God. ii. “What do you see in Christ’s right hand? Seven stars; yet how insignificant they appear when you get a sight of his face! They are stars, and there are seven of them; but who can see seven stars, or, for the matter of that, seventy thousand stars, when the sun shineth in his strength? How sweet it is, when the Lord himself is so present in a congregation that the preacher, whoever he may be, is altogether forgotten! I pray you, dear friends, when you go to a place of worship, always try to see the Lord’s face rather than the stars in his hand; look at the sun, and you will forget the stars.” (Spurgeon) each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around and within. Day and night they never stop saying: i. “Blessed position! Does the death alarm you? We are never so much alive as when we are dead at his feet.” (Spurgeon) i. He knew it was Holy Scripture because he called it a revelation from God. He knew it came from the Father through Jesus, and not from any mere human.ii. Brass is also a strong metal, the strongest known in the ancient world. Therefore feet… like fine brass are “An emblem of his stability and permanence, brass being considered the most durable of all metallic substances or compounds.” (Clarke) i. This great word Almighty is used ten times in the New Testament, and nine of the ten times are in the Book of Revelation. This book has a striking emphasis on God’s sovereignty, the understanding that He has His hand on everything. C. John is commanded to write. 1. (9) John on the Island of Patmos. a. The Revelation of Jesus Christ : The ancient Greek word translated Revelation is apokalupsis (apocalypse). The word simply means “a revealing, an unveiling.” The Book of Revelation is the Revelation of Jesus Christ in the sense that it belongs to Him, He is the one doing the revealing. It is also Jesus’ Revelation in the sense that He is the object revealed; Jesus is the person revealed by the book.

has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and power forever and ever! Amen.

Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. ii. “It matters not what aileth us if we lie at Jesus’ feet. Better be dead there than alive anywhere else.” (Spurgeon)