1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

2 who testifies to everything he saw – that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

4 John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits

5 before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

6 To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father–to him be glory and power for ever and ever!  Amen.

7 Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be!  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.”

9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and testimony of Jesus.

10 On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,

11 which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”

12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned, I saw seven golden lampstands,

13 and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.

14 the hair on his head was white like wool, as white a snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.

15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.

16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.

18 I am the living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

19 “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.

20 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”

We continue with Daniel 7:15-28:

Daniel 7:15-28

15 “I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me

16 I approached one of those standing there and asked him the true meaning of all this. “So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things:

17 ‘The four great beasts are four kingdoms that will rise from the earth.

18 But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever-yes, for ever and ever.’

19 “Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws-the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left.

20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell-the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully.

21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and defeating them,

22 until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favour of the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.

23 “He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it.

24 The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings.

25 He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time.

26 “‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever.

27 Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’

28 “This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled by my thoughts, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.”

There is one verse referenced above (7:18) which explains a mystery – no longer a mystery but reality in Jesus. This refers to Revelation 1:6 and already printed earlier.  Please re-read Revelation1:4-6. Further comments on 7:18 is made later.

The truth of the end of our history is being revealed. Jesus, the Eternal Living Word (John 1:1) is victorious. The study of these two Chapters in Daniel 7 and 8 come to this realisation in Daniel 8:10 re-enforcing Judges 5:20-21. The LORD is in total control and is waiting for people to repent and believe. Read again Luke 16:19-31.

In addition to Daniel 7:18 referring to Revelation 1:6, this verse also refers to part of John’s vision in Revelation 2:26. I have included all of Revelation 2 for context, including some explanatory notes as we read – it is so important to read Holy Scripture.

Continuing Comment on Revelation 1

John’s Reflection Concerning His Time and/or All Lifetimes

As mentioned, what John has recorded masks events of suffering and persecution in his lifetime. This author explains his symbolism and adds that the symbolism applies to Christians in every lifetime. The above heading will be used throughout this study.

A wonderful truth to be revealed to the seven churches then – and symbolic concerning the spiritual condition of the Church of God in this world today!

John, from Patmos shares his pain and suffering. He comments on patient endurance and the reality of the Kingdom – the rule of Jesus in a born-again heart – a heart now and always with Jesus in and after this physical lifetime.

We get a glimpse of this in Revelation 7:9-12. John was sent to isolated Patmos because Rome did not like the truth of the Kingdom.

John was in the spirit of prophesying. John heard a voice – seven golden lampstands, i.e. seven churches. He saw a figure like a Son of Man (Daniel 7) – Jesus (Daniel 7:9) – Ancient of Days.

There is an eternal truth here – Jesus’ rule is eternal; man’s rule is temporary.

I keep thinking of Pilate when he died – next breath standing before Jesus in judgement. How awesome! And v17 – John falls to his knees as dead. Jesus’ caring words (v17-18) – three “I AM’s” and the words – do not be afraid.

And Jesus is the key to life – eternal life and eternal death. And now John will write.

To the Churches

Below is the map of the Seven Churches in Asia: