REVELATION LESSON 2


    We will begin this lesson in Revelation chapter 1 verse 1.

     Revelation 1:1 "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave
unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to
pass; and he sent and signified [it] by his angel unto his servant
John:"

    This Revelation is a revealing of the mysteries of Jesus Christ.
God the Father gives this message to Jesus, Jesus gives it to His
personal angel, the angel gives the message to John, and John writes
this message to all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.  This message
is given to John to encourage the Christians.  These Christians should
not be caught unaware. These things must come to pass because it is
the will of the Father.

    "Signified" means made known by symbol and figure.  Some might say
signs which  reveal God's truth.

    Angels are ministering spirits.  This particular angel was Jesus'
own personal angel who brought this message. "Jesus Christ" means the
Savior, the Anointed One.

    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."

    To "bear record" indicates that John actually saw these things.
John proclaims in his books that he is an eye witness testifying of
all he saw and heard.

    John could easily bear record of the Word (Jesus).  He was a daily
companion of Jesus. This particular Scripture however is speaking of
the things that John sees in his visions. The testimony of Jesus is
salvation to all who believe.

    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."

    The early church read the entire book of Revelation every time
they met. This is the only book in the Bible that promises a blessing
to those who read it, and those who listen to it being read.  The
preacher and the congregation that heed the teachings taught here will
be blessed.

    "...the time is at hand." is an interesting true statement.  Even
the people that read this a thousand years ago saw this happen in
sixty or seventy years, because they died. Of course, it is even more
current to our generation, because the rapture of the church is pretty
imminent.

    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 are two of the blessings promised to those who
read and listen to Revelation.

    The number seven means spiritually complete.  I believe this
number is symbolic of all churches for all time. These seven churches
were probably literal churches of that day as well as giving us a view
of the churches of our day in general.  These seven Spirits take in
all the Spirits of God. There are actually many more than seven
Spirits. This seven is a symbolic number meaning all.  "...Spirits..."
is capitalized so this is the Holy Spirit  in all His workings. When
it speaks of these Spirits ever before the throne, we see Teacher,
Guide, Helper, Provider, just a few of the works of the Holy Spirit.
John explains in this who Jesus is.

    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,"

    We see in verse 4 and 5 the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  As we
said Jesus'  witness is faithful, because He is the Truth. Jesus was
the very first person ever resurrected. There was someone who went to
heaven before, Enoch, when he was carried away into heaven
mysteriously disappearing from the earth because he pleased God. Then
there was Elijah, who was carried to heaven in a whirlwind accompanied
by the chariot of fire. Neither of these, however, were resurrected.
They were never buried. We read in Matthew 27:52 "And the graves were
opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose," Matthew
27:53 "And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went
into the holy city, and appeared unto many."

    Notice, here that these saints' bodies were resurrected after
Jesus' resurrection. You see Jesus' body was the first body to rise
from the grave.

    Notice, too, that we are spoken of as rulers in verse 5 of
Revelation. During the 1000 year reign of Jesus Christ here upon the
earth, we Christians will rule with Him. We will not be His equal,
however. This tells us that He will be ruler above us.

    The love that is spoken of here, that He has for us, is "agape
love". This is love beyond our comprehension.  So much love that He
willingly suffered the pain and humiliation of the cross for us. I
love the song that says "...when He was on the cross, I was on His
mind..." How true this is. He died for us individually.

    "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life
for his friends." John 15:13

    It is this precious blood that cleanses us from all
unrighteousness. We take on His righteousness.  This love that Jesus
has for us is not in the past tense, but is still just as powerful
today. His love is never ending.

    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."

    The most important statement in V-6 is that Jesus is called God.
The statement "...God and his Father..." leaves no doubt that Jesus
was, is, and always will be God.  Notice, too, that it is nothing we
do that makes us kings and priests.  Jesus made us kings and priests.
We will sit on thrones in heaven with Jesus.  There is no greater
glory due anyone  than Jesus who actually did all the work. We see
that Jesus is supreme in dominion in Philippians 2:9 "Wherefore God
also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above
every name:" Philippians 2:10 "That at the name of Jesus every knee
should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things]
under the earth;" Philippians 2:11 "And [that] every tongue should
confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

    Each Christian shares in Jesus' priesthood.  He is the High Priest
forever. So be it. Forever never ends.

    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."

    The interesting thing here is Jesus is coming in the clouds just
as the angels said He would in Acts. In chapter one of Acts, Jesus was
caught up to heaven in the clouds and the disciples were told by the
angels, that Jesus would come back the same way. Acts 1:9 "And when he
had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a
cloud received him out of their sight." Acts 1:10 "And while they
looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood
by them in white apparel;" Acts 1:11 "Which also said, Ye men of
Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is
taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have
seen him go into heaven."

    Some people believe Jesus' return will be secret, I do not.  How
 could every eye see Him, if He came back secretly.  Don't you know
 that there will be some grieving people, when they realize who Jesus
 really is?  Wouldn't you hate to be the one who spit on Him, or the
 one who drove the nails in His hands, or even the Scribes and
 Pharisees? Anyone who rejected Him will have grief beyond
 explanation. The grief will be so great that they will be moaning and
 grating their teeth. Here John indicated in V-7, even if this is so,
 let it be. The terrible thing even worse than the first crucifixion
 for our sins is the terrible times when we, knowing better, crucify
 Him all over again. We must walk in our salvation.  We must not enter
 back into sin after we have been freed from sin by His precious
 blood.

    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."

    We see here that God the Father, God the Word, and God the Holy
Spirit are all three eternal.  They each have no beginning and no end.
Their Spirit is one. Their embodiments are three.  "...Almighty..."
indicates the power of the Godhead as being unlimited and omnipotent,
omnipresent, omniscient.  There is no other power. This word indicates
power beyond human imagination. Jesus is equal to the Father and the
Holy Spirit. All three are the Spirit of God. They have separate
personalities. This is Jesus speaking when He says "I am Alpha and
Omega, the beginning and the ending...". It is red in my Bible
indicating Jesus' own spoken words. This leaves no doubt who He is.

    Additional scriptures to look up and study: Matthew ll:25 and St.
John 5:20.

    Memorize Philippians 2:9,10,11.




































                        REVELATION QUESTIONS 2

1.  This is the Revelation of whom?
2.  Who gave it to Jesus?
3.  Who did Jesus give it to?
4.  What is this revelation?
5.  Why was this message given to John?
6.  Why must these things come to pass?
7.  What does "signified" mean?
8.  Who was this angel?
9.  What does Jesus Christ mean?
10. What does "bear record" indicate?
11. What is the testimony of Jesus?
12. Who will be blessed by reading or hearing Revelation?
13. How often did the early church read Revelation?
14. Who did John address this to in V-4?
15. What two blessings did he speak on them?
16. Who were these blessings from?
17. Why was the number seven used for the churches?
18. What does the seven Spirits mean?
19. Name four operations of these seven Spirits.
20. Who was the first person resurrected?
21. Who mysteriously vanished from the earth, because he pleased God?
22. Who was accompanied to heaven by a chariot of fire?
23. When the saints were resurrected, who showed themselves in
    Jerusalem?
24. During what period will the saints reign with Jesus on earth?
25. What kind of love is Jesus' love?
26. When Jesus was on the cross, according to the song, who was on His
    mind? Is that true?
 27. He made us kings and priests to whom?
 28. What is the most important statement in V-6?
 29. Who will bow to Jesus?
 30. What will every tongue confess?
 31. How long is forever?
 32. How will Jesus come back?
 33. Who will see Him?
 34. In Acts chapter one, what do the angels tell the men of Galilee?
 35. What is worse than the first crucifixion of Jesus?
 36. What does "Almighty" indicate?
 37. Write Philippians 2:9,10,11.
 38. Write a few words on what you learned in this lesson.