Article 8

UNDERSTANDING REVELATION 8

Revelation’s Prologue

The first seven articles of this blog have focused on the organization, design, and literary construction of this Apocalypse.  It did not originate with John; its origin is divine.  Its design thoroughly informs its theology—what God is teaching us!  We now begin to look more closely at its details, the goal – to correctly understand its message.  This article will focus on Rev. 1:1-8.

These eight verses are rich in content, revealing much in few words.  Hebrews 1:1-2 states that in the past God spoke to us through the OT prophets but “has in these last days spoken to us by [or thorough] His Son.”  In the four gospels Christ the Son speaks to us directly by His words and mission.  The NT writers flesh out the exciting ramifications of Christ’s successful mission.  Just as Genesis is the book of beginnings, Revelation is the book of consummation.  It is a “disclosure” of things previously concealed or unknown.  These first eight verses introduce us to the purpose of the book and set the tenor for the entire document.  The purpose—to bring man back into access to the tree of life in the New Jerusalem (22:2).

According to verse 1 the purpose of the book is “to show His servants—things which must shortly take place.”  This corresponds to the prophet Daniel’s statement in Daniel 2:28, that “there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days.”  Both prophets attest the encouraging truth that God is in control of the events of world history—His purposes will prevail.  As this blog progresses we will discover that these two prophetic books are intimately connected; the one Daniel who was instructed to “shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase” (12:4), and the other Revelation, where the angel said to John, “do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand” (22:10).  The increase in knowledge in Daniel has to do specifically with the fulfillment and understanding of Bible prophecy.

In Rev. 1:2 John bares “witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ”, that is, “to all things that he saw.”  Jesus then instructs John, “what you see, write in a book” (1:11).  When John writes down “all things that he saw”, the book is called “the words of the prophecy of this book” (Rev. 1:3; 22:7, 10, 18), that is, the book of Revelation.

 Continuing in verse 3, a blessing is pronounced on the reader, hearer, and keeper of “those things which are written in it; for the time is near.”  “Blessed” means “happy” and signifies the joy of the person who trusts in the God and the fulfillment of His promises and predictions.  This is the first of seven beatitudes in Revelation (1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14).  Since the number “seven” is so prevalent in the book, this is no coincidence.  It denotes divine fullness and completeness.  The fullness of blessing is promised to all who pursue the book of Revelation to understand it (22:7).

In Rev. 1:4 John is writing “to the seven churches which are in Asia.”  His writing results from his amazing encounter with Christ (One like the Son of Man, v. 13) in verses 9-20, specifically verse 11.  John writes to seven local churches in Asia but speaks to all.  Again, since “seven” is a symbolic number prevalent in Revelation, it suggests that John is writing to the whole church throughout history.  Significantly, John repeats to each of the seven churches, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

John addresses the churches with a triune greeting— “grace to you and peace”.  Grace is divine favor extended to mankind; peace is the sure and certain product experienced by those who by faith embrace God’s favor.  And it is always in that order – grace, then peace, never vice-versa.  This grace/peace greeting comes from three divine persons, “from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ.”  The very beginning of the book introduces these three persons of the Godhead working on behalf of God’s people throughout Christian history.  What encouragement!  (As we move through the book we will discover a “counterfeit trinity” opposing God and His end-time people.)

It would seem obvious that the first person of this trinity is God our heavenly Father.  He is the one who has faithfully related to the human race all down through its history and will continue even to the end.

The second in this trinity is referred to as “the seven spirits who are before His throne.”  Elsewhere in Revelation these seven spirits are portrayed as seven lamps of fire (4:5), and the seven eyes of the Lamb.  These imply that they represent the Holy Spirit.  See Isaiah 11:2.  The Holy Spirit came in fullness on the Day of Pentecost as a result of Christ’s inauguration (Acts 2:32-33).

Jesus completes the triune greeting (1:5).  He is “the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.”  These titles inform us of just who Jesus is.  First, He is the only one who could witness to and fully accomplish God’s purposes on planet earth.  This is the theme of the four gospels.  This book of Revelation reveals the same.  Second, He is the firstborn from the dead.  Anyone who has a knowledge of the Bible knows that Jesus was the first one to rise from the dead in point of time, but He must be regarded as first in the sense that all others resurrected before and after Him gained their freedom from the bonds of death only by virtue of His triumph over the grave.  His power to lay down His life and to take it again (John 10:18) sets Him apart from all other people ever to come forth from the grave.  Third, Christ is “the ruler over the kings of the earth.”  This world is His legitimate domain.  Jesus triumphed over sin and won back the lost dominion of Adam and is the rightful Ruler of mankind.  See Rev. 11:15; Matt. 28:18; Eph. 1:20-21.

This reality elicits a doxology of praise in 1:5b-6.  Please note that all His accomplishments are on behalf of His people.  “To Him who loved (actually loves) us: all that Christ did was founded in His divine love for the race.  It was the same for the Father, John 3:16.  Although every other kind of blood stains, the blood of Christ washes us clean from all our sins and therefore “has made us kings (literally “a kingdom”) and priests to His God and Father.  The church of God on earth is a spiritual kingdom through which God works to accomplish His will.  It is our high privilege to intercede to God on behalf of our families, friends, and the world beyond.  How appropriate is it then for believers to proclaim “to Him glory and dominion forever and ever.  Amen!

John has described who Jesus is and what he has done.  Now he excitedly describes what He will do!  Please read 1:7 carefully.  This reveals the ultimate theme of the book of Revelation.  The entire document moves doggedly and progresses consistently toward the second coming of Christ in glory.  Every eye will see Him and all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him.  Even so, amen!  The next to the last verse of the entire book (22:20) states, “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly,’ Amen.  Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”

The introduction of Revelation ends with a ringing affirmation from the Originator and Consummator of all things universal.  What is written in the pages of this book will ultimately come to pass.  He who has worked in the past and is working in the present will continue working until His purposes are accomplished.  This is the promise of the eternal God, the Almighty.

~Rex Frost