Revelation: A Study

[Calypso Jones]

Let's do it. The first few chapters are pretty easy. That is Christ talking to each of the seven churches and they are examples of churches of today.

I like to start with the basics. Revelation was penned by John the Apostle, youngest of the apostles, one of the sons of Zebedee. He was the brother of James. He adored Jesus. It was to John that Jesus gave the care of His (Jesus) mother. John was old and exiled on Patmos (by Rome, probably emperor Domitian), a greek island in the Aegean sea. He was exiled there because he would not stop preaching the gospel. He was the last surviving of the original disciples. John was the only apostle to die of old age. His brother James was the first apostle to be martyrd. The Book of Revelation was written in 90AD.

This book carries a blessing to the reader or listener.

[Calypso Jones]

here's the first chapter.



Revelation 1 New American Standard Bible (NASB)The Revelation of Jesus Christ

1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and [a]communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, 2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.
Message to the Seven Churches

4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who [c]is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins [d]by His blood— 6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to [e]His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.
8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who [f]is to come, the Almighty."
The Patmos Vision

9 I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and [g]perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was [h]in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet, 11 saying, "Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea."
12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands; 13 and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like [j]a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. 14 His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. 15 His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. 16 In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun [k]shining in its strength.
17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living One; and I [l]was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. 19 Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things. 20 As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Footnotes:

Revelation 1:1 Or signified
Revelation 1:3 Or keep
Revelation 1:4 Or is coming
Revelation 1:5 Or in
Revelation 1:6 Or God and His Father
Revelation 1:8 Or is coming
Revelation 1:9 Or steadfastness
Revelation 1:10 Or in spirit
Revelation 1:11 Or scroll
Revelation 1:13 Or the Son of Man
Revelation 1:16 Lit shines
Revelation 1:18 Lit became

[Calypso Jones]

The analogy of ' iron sharpens iron' would certainly seem to apply. One of the more striking revelations in chapter 1 is that of what God actually looks like. This astounding information clears up a mystery that nobody ever knew. Christ said that " If you have seen me, you have seen the Father." In other words, Christ, who became a man, had previously under the authority of God the Father made man in the image of God. Chapter 1 gives a vivid, detailed picture of what God looks like. Both ( God and the Word) no man had ever seen, at anytime, anywhere. John 1:18 and John 5:37.

In John 5:37 we also learn that nobody has ever heard the voice of God the Father either. That means that Christ, as the Word, was the One who Moses heard and the One who gave the Commandments .

The point is that just from one part of the Bible, by checking references to other parts, and asking God for understanding, we can learn a great deal from just a few passages.---CWF

[Calypso Jones]

Last nite I read over chapter one again with all the notes at the bottom. One part said not to get so caught up in understanding it all because even John didn't. He was shown things that he would have no good descriptions for. @Rita Marley.

This book is supposed to give us hope and assurance with a glimpse of what is going to happen in the future. God repeats in the bible. I think he knows we need that for it to sink in.

Many say John's visions and writings were for his time. that's true...but it is also for the future. God gives a small taste in current time of what is going to happen in the distant future. For example, the many examples of Jesus before the real Jesus came along....we saw that especially in the old Testament. Also, the many tastes of the anti-Christ...each getting worse.....before we see the 'real' antichrist.

[Calypso Jones]

Yes! There are also things that John had no way of knowing but are instantly recognizable to us today. It's been a while, but I recall reading of John having a vision of 'something like flying locusts spouting fire with the faces of men," which instantly brought to mind attack helicopters.--RitaMarley

[Calypso Jones]

I know that you must read slowly and think and it doesn't hurt to use the references in the margins on the page of your bible. It appears that It was the Christ himself that appeared to John. The seven spirits is? I think if I understand another name for the Holy spirit. Correct me if I have misunderstood that.


Secondly note the descriptions of Jesus in that next verse. Faithful witness is understood, the firstborn of the dead. While it is true Jesus did raise others from the dead as did some of the prophets...they eventually died again. Jesus was the first to return in an uncorrupted body never to have to die again.

[Calypso Jones]

12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands; 13 and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like [j]a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. 14 His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. 15 His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. 16 In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun [k]shining in its strength.

Seven golden lampstands are the seven churches coming up in chapter two. Christ is standing among them...he is with them. 1:13 Here Jesus appears as the mighty son of man. The white hair indicates his wisdom and divine nature. His bright eyes symbolize judgment of all evil. The gold sash across his chest reveals him as the high priest who goes into God's presence to obtain forgiveness of sin for those who have believed in him.

The Sword in his mouth symbolizes the power and force of his message. His words are sharp as swords.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

[Calypso Jones]

It is my understanding that Christ appeared to John. Jesus gave John 7 letters to deliver to the 7 churches in what is now Turkey (Patmos is just off the western coast). Seven is the symbol that represents completeness (days of creation).--Jen

[Calypso Jones]

Other parts of the Bible also tie in closely to Revelation - Daniel, the Olivet Discourse in Matthew/Mark/Luke, 2 Thessalonians, Isaiah, Ezekial. They all play a part in understanding the story. Others besides John read the scroll. Ezekial read it (Ezekial 3:3) and loved it but then was sick after he realized the meaning. Daniel (Daniel 10-12) read the scroll and it made him so distraught the Lord commanded the scroll be rolled up and sealed until the end time.--Wilson

[drifter106]

The one item that I have come to understand...."we are made in the image of God".  My way of thinking is that it is our spirit...our soul that is in his image.  Our bodies die, but the soul has eternal life.

Many people I have talked to tell me, from their standpoint, The Book of Revelations is one of the more difficult books to "understand (comprehend the meaning of).  For that matter, much of the Old Testament is a challenge for me to comprehend....thus I find myself relying more of the New Testament for reading and guidance.

[Calypso Jones]

You need a good study bible.  Do you have one?  If you don't i can recommend a really good one that i use all the time.

[Calypso Jones]

So basically the first chapter is John explaining to us what he was doing at the time this revelation came to him.

We can always come back and and to it if we believe we've missed something.

[Calypso Jones]

Revelation 2 New American Standard Bible (NASB)Message to Ephesus

2 "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks [a]among the seven golden lampstands, says this:
2 'I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; 3 and you have [c]perseverance and have endured for My name's sake, and have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the [d]deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent. 6 Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.'
Message to Smyrna

8 "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write:
The first and the last, who [e]was dead, and has come to life, says this:
9 'I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. [f]Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.'
Message to Pergamum

12 "And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write:
The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:
13 'I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. 15 So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.'
Message to Thyatira

18 "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write:
The Son of God, who has [g]eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze, says this:
19 'I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and [h]perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than [j]at first. 20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her [k]on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of [l]her deeds. 23 And I will kill her children with [m]pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the [n]minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds. 24 But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them—I place no other burden on you. 25 Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come. 26 He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the

• nations; 27 and he shall [p]rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as I also have received authority from My Father; 28 and I will give him the morning star. 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'
  Footnotes:
  
  Revelation 2:1 Lit in the middle of
  Revelation 2:2 Or steadfastness
  Revelation 2:3 V 2, note 1
  Revelation 2:5 Lit first deeds
  Revelation 2:8 Lit became
  Revelation 2:10 Or Prove yourself faithful
  Revelation 2:18 Lit His eyes
  Revelation 2:19 Or steadfastness
  Revelation 2:19 Lit last deeds
  Revelation 2:19 Lit the first
  Revelation 2:22 Lit into
  Revelation 2:22 One early ms reads their
  Revelation 2:23 Lit death
  Revelation 2:23 Lit kidneys, i.e. inner man
  Revelation 2:26 Or Gentiles
  Revelation 2:27 Lit shepherd
  
  
  Cross references:
  
  Revelation 2:1 : Rev 1:11
  Revelation 2:1 : Rev 1:16
  Revelation 2:1 : Rev 1:12f
  Revelation 2:2 : Rev 2:19; 3:1, 8, 15
  Revelation 2:2 : John 6:6; 1 John 4:1
  Revelation 2:2 : 2 Cor 11:13
  Revelation 2:3 : John 15:21
  Revelation 2:4 : Jer 2:2; Matt 24:12
  Revelation 2:5 : Rev 2:16, 22; 3:3, 19
  Revelation 2:5 : Heb 10:32; Rev 2:2
  Revelation 2:5 : Matt 5:14ff; Phil 2:15; Rev 1:20
  Revelation 2:6 : Rev 2:15
  Revelation 2:7 : Matt 11:15; Rev 2:11, 17; 3:6, 13, 22; 13:9
  Revelation 2:7 : Rev 2:11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; 21:7
  Revelation 2:7 : Gen 2:9; 3:22; Prov 3:18; 11:30; 13:12; 15:4; Rev 22:2, 14
  Revelation 2:7 : Ezek 28:13; 31:8f; Luke 23:43
  Revelation 2:8 : Rev 1:11
  Revelation 2:8 : Is 44:6; 48:12; Rev 1:17; 22:13
  Revelation 2:8 : Rev 1:18
  Revelation 2:9 : Rev 1:9
  Revelation 2:9 : 2 Cor 6:10; 8:9; James 2:5
  Revelation 2:9 : 2 Cor 6:10; 8:9; James 2:5
  Revelation 2:9 : Rev 3:9
  Revelation 2:9 : Matt 4:10; Rev 2:13, 24
  Revelation 2:10 : Rev 3:10; 13:14ff
  Revelation 2:10 : Dan 1:12, 14
  Revelation 2:10 : Rev 2:13; 12:11; 17:14
  Revelation 2:10 : 1 Cor 9:25; Rev 3:11
  Revelation 2:11 : Matt 11:15; Rev 2:7, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22; 13:9
  Revelation 2:11 : Rev 2:7, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; 21:7
  Revelation 2:11 : Rev 20:6, 14; 21:8
  Revelation 2:12 : Rev 1:11
  Revelation 2:12 : Rev 1:16; 2:16
  Revelation 2:13 : Matt 4:10; Rev 2:24
  Revelation 2:13 : 1 Tim 5:8; Rev 14:12
  Revelation 2:13 : Acts 22:20; Rev 1:5; 11:3; 17:6
  Revelation 2:13 : Rev 2:10; 12:11; 17:14
  Revelation 2:13 : Rev 2:9
  Revelation 2:14 : Rev 2:20
  Revelation 2:14 : Num 31:16; 2 Pet 2:15
  Revelation 2:14 : Num 25:1f; Acts 15:29; 1 Cor 10:20; Rev 2:20
  Revelation 2:15 : Rev 2:6
  Revelation 2:16 : Rev 2:5
  Revelation 2:16 : Rev 22:7, 20
  Revelation 2:16 : 2 Thess 2:8; Rev 1:16
  Revelation 2:17 : Rev 2:7
  Revelation 2:17 : Rev 2:7
  Revelation 2:17 : Ex 16:33; John 6:49f
  Revelation 2:17 : Is 56:5; 62:2; 65:15
  Revelation 2:17 : Rev 14:3; 19:12
  Revelation 2:18 : Rev 1:11; 2:24
  Revelation 2:18 : Matt 4:3
  Revelation 2:18 : Rev 1:14f
  Revelation 2:19 : Rev 2:2
  Revelation 2:20 : Rev 2:14
  Revelation 2:20 : 1 Kin 16:31; 21:25; 2 Kin 9:7, 22, 30
  Revelation 2:20 : Acts 15:29; 1 Cor 10:20; Rev 2:14
  Revelation 2:21 : Rom 2:4; 2 Pet 3:9
  Revelation 2:21 : Rom 2:5; Rev 9:20f; 16:9, 11
  Revelation 2:22 : Rev 17:2; 18:9
  Revelation 2:23 : Ps 7:9; 26:2; 139:1; Jer 11:20; 17:10; Matt 16:27; Luke 16:15; Acts 1:24; Rom 8:27
  Revelation 2:23 : Ps 62:12
  Revelation 2:24 : Rev 2:18
  Revelation 2:24 : 1 Cor 2:10
  Revelation 2:24 : Acts 15:28
  Revelation 2:25 : Rev 3:11
  Revelation 2:25 : John 21:22
  Revelation 2:26 : Rev 2:7
  Revelation 2:26 : Matt 10:22; Heb 3:6
  Revelation 2:26 : Ps 2:8; Rev 3:21; 20:4
  Revelation 2:27 : Ps 2:9; Rev 12:5; 19:15
  Revelation 2:27 : Is 30:14; Jer 19:11
  Revelation 2:28 : 1 John 3:2; Rev 22:16
  Revelation 2:29 : Rev 2:7
  
  
  New American Standard Bible (NASB)

[Calypso Jones]

first off...is the angel...represented by the star...an actual angel looking out for the church or could it be perhaps the leader of that particular church.

[Calypso Jones]

I think it's more all-encompassing. Each church may have an angel that oversees it, but whatever faults or sins being committed at that time weren't always to be so.

I think it's an individual message to all believers everywhere for all time.--RitaMarley