Studies in the Book
of Revelation
Chapter One
(Part 2) / Chapter Two (Part 1)
By: Brian A. Yeager
1:10 “I was
in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as
of a trumpet.”
-
Here John speaks begins
to point out that he had a vision. This passage brings what Paul
expressed to the Corinthian brethren to mind (II Corinthians 12:1-7).
-
The Lord’s Day of the
New Testament would have been the first day of the week (Acts 20:7).
-
The voice would have been
loud and clear, like a trumpet.
1:11 “Saying,
I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write
in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto
Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto
Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.”
-
The voice identifies Himself
[see notes on verse eight in our first article].
-
Instruction is given to
write what is seen and send it to the seven churches in Asia.
-
Notice that interpreting
this vision is not what John is to do (II Peter 1:20).
1:12 “And I
turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven
golden candlesticks.”
-
When John looked he saw
seven golden candlesticks [lamp stands], which are the seven churches (Revelation
1:20).
1:13 “And in
the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed
with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden
girdle.”
-
In the midst of the seven
churches John saw one who appeared to be Christ. This surely fits
into the fact that Christ knows what is going on in His church (Revelation
2:1).
-
The long garment would
symbolize a priest (Exodus 28:4), of which Christ was (Hebrews 3:1; 4:14).
-
The golden band holding
the garment around the chest would symbolize royal rank.
1:14 “His head
and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were
as a flame of fire.”
-
His hair appearing would
symbolize His purity (Isaiah 1:18).
-
His eyes likened unto
a flame of fire would show that they pierce through and are all-seeing
eyes (Hebrews 4:13).
1:15 “And his
feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice
as the sound of many waters.”
-
His feet symbolized feet
that had been tried in fire (I Peter 1:7).
-
His voice being likened
unto many waters shows power (Colossians 1:14-17).
1:16 “And he
had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged
sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.”
-
The seven stars are the
messengers of the seven churches (Revelation 1:20), shown in the hand of
Christ to illustrate His control of the message being sent.
-
Out of His mouth is an
image illustrating that from Him comes the Gospel (Romans 1:16 and Hebrews
4:12).
-
The total sum of the whole
appearance shows that Christ is wonderful in appearance, and bright like
the sun.
1:17 “And when
I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon
me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last.”
-
John was in awe and fell
at the feet of the Lord, and again we see the Lord identifying Himself
through His attributes.
-
Christ is reassuring,
telling John not to fear, Jesus is harmless (Hebrews 7:25-28). Christ
is the Good Shepard appearing for a reason (John 10:1-18).
1:18 “I am he
that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen;
and have the keys of hell and of death.”
-
Death is where we lose
our bodies, Hades is where our souls await the Lord (Luke 16:19-31).
Christ is Lord over both having overcome both (Acts 2:24-27).
1:19 “Write
the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things
which shall be hereafter.”
-
Again, as in verse eleven,
John is instructed to write what he sees.
1:20 “The mystery
of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden
candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and
the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.”
-
Jesus shows what the symbols
meant to John, as we have already noted in our studies (vs. 12; 16).
Studies in
the Book of Revelation
Chapter Two
(Part 1)
2:1 “Unto
the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth
the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven
golden candlesticks.”
-
Ephesus was the greatest
city in the province of Asia that we are studying. All roads west of the
Euphrates River and Mesopotamia met in Ephesus. This city was 40 miles
south of Smyrna, 80 miles south of Troas, and 20 miles north of Miletus.
It was 60-70 Miles from Patmos where John was exiled to and writing from
(Revelation 1:4; 9). Ephesus was famous for it’s idolatry. The temple
of Diana (Artemis the Greek Goddess), the goddess of the moon, of chastity,
modesty, and childbirth was in Ephesus. She was also praised for
her hunting prowess. The building was 425 feet long, 220 feet wide, with
columns standing 60 feet tall and is one of the seven wonders of the ancient
world. Idolatry is surely condemned throughout the inspired text
(Leviticus 19:4, Psalms 115:1-9, Habakkuk 2:18-20, Acts 17:16-31, I Corinthians
6:9-10, and I Corinthians 10:14).
-
We learn about Ephesus
in the book of Acts chapters eighteen and nineteen. Apollos, an eloquent
man, taught the baptism of John (Acts 18:24-25) which was no longer valid,
is noted for preaching in the area of Ephesus and is credited with forming
disciples there who were not properly converted. Aquila and Priscilla corrected
this false teaching (Acts 18:26-28). The twelve that began the church in
Ephesus had been taught only the baptism of John. Paul corrected that and
baptized them into Christ as the church at Ephesus began (Acts 19:1-7).
-
The writing of this is
to the messenger of the church of Ephesus. Thus, implication would
lead us to realize that some teaching from these words would occur.
-
As learned in chapter
one, the seven stars in the right hand of Jesus are the messengers whom
the Lord controls and the seven golden candlesticks are the churches of
Asia Minor (1:20).
-
Jesus as the head of the
church, (Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:23, and Colossians 1:18), walks in the midst
of the seven churches knowing what is going on (1:13).
2:2 “I know
thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear
them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles,
and are not, and hast found them liars.”
-
Jesus states that He knows
their works, as Jesus is all-knowing or omniscient (Matthew 9:4 and Hebrews
4:13).
-
Jesus compliments them
by acknowledging their work (I Corinthians 16:1-3 and I Thessalonians 1:7-8),
perseverance (James 1:2-4), hatred for error (Psalms 119:104), and trying
of false teachers (Acts 20:28-31, II Corinthians 11:12-15, and I John 4:1).
Keep in mind that being where this great goddess Diana was would be a challenge
all in itself (Acts 19:27).
2:3 “And hast
borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast
not fainted.”
-
The church in Ephesus
has taken on the burdens and persevered for the Lord’s sake without growing
weary and ceasing. This is commendable. But…
***The Lord’s words
to Ephesus will continue in next week’s bulletin…
********************************************************************
References
1. All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version unless
otherwise noted.
2. James Orr, John L. Nuelsen, Egar Mullins, Morris Evans, and Melvin
Grove Kyle, The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (Hendrickson,
1929),
3. Brian A. Yeager, Textual Sermons on the Seven Churches of Asia
Minor, (www.wordsoftruth.net; 2003).
4. Joseph H. Thayer, Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament,
(Reprint by Hendrickson, 2002, original copyright 1896).
© 2006 May
be used if proper acknowledgment as to the authorship of this material
is made and if the material used from these works are not used in a way
to make a profit. - B.A.Y.
What must one do to be saved (Acts
2:37)? Hear and believe the Gospel (Mark 16:15-16), repent of their
sins (Acts 3:19), confess Christ (Acts 8:37), and be baptized (immersed)
for the remission of sins into the church (Acts 2:38, I Corinthians 12:12-13,
and Romans 6:3-5). One must then remain faithful (Revelation 2:10).