 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
Greeting to the Seven Churches4 John to the seven churches that 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 of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and 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 tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Vision of the Son of Man9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 saying, “Write what you see in a book 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 to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. 20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that 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. Meditation Resurrected Jesus historically ascended into Heaven and will return. Until then, we have Revelation of God’s plan and promises of God’s blessing when we study God’s word. The book of Revelation is an apocalyptic, prophetic, letter written by the Apostle John for persecuted Christians who need to be strengthened by Jesus and His plans for the world. Jesus is the Great Revelator, meeting John in exile on Patmos and speaking hope to Christians in major urban centers across the Roman empire. Jesus is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and ruler of kings of the earth (5). Jesus loves us, freed us, and made us to be a kingdom of priests to mediate God’s blessings to the world until He returns on clouds (6-8). In the midst of suffering and struggle, Jesus stands victorious and promises to return, making all sad things untrue. Jesus stands among temple furnishings such as lampstands, ancient imagery celebrating God’s desire to dwell among His people, and gives a present promise to empower weary Christians. Fear is banished with risen Jesus reveals His authority over time, death, and all of history (17-19). Jesus is communicating to the churches (represented by the lampstands and reinforcing the presence of Jesus with His persecuted people) a reinforcement of His covenant faithfulness to catalyze hope. Problems, pain, and persecution are part of this fallen world but they are not the end of the story. Our Savior who came in humility will return in glory. Jesus is present with us until His promises are fulfilled for us. Richly Dwelling -What descriptions of risen and ascended Jesus stand out to you in this chapter? -Why is it significant that Jesus is giving revelation to actual Christians in actual churches in actual times of persecution? -How does the revelation of the supreme authority of Jesus give believers power to persevere in the pain, problems, and persecution of the world? For you specifically? Key Verse To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Comments are closed.
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