Revelation 1

The Purpose:
Purpose To instill confidence in saints.
There are no new doctrines in this book.
Theme is Victory of Christ over Satan.
We are more than conquerors.
(Rom 8:37)
Christianity
Christianitywas
wasseem
seemas
asaa suspect
suspectreligion:
religion:
••Worshipped
Worshippedaacondemned
condemnedcriminal
criminal
••Thought
Thought to
toeat
eat &&drink
drinkblood
blood
••Refused
RefusedCaesar
Caesarworship
worship
Chapters 1-11 Man’s view of the Battle
Chapters 12-22 God’s view of the Battle
THE MESSIAH WOULD COME AND ESTABLISH HIS
KINGDOM AND NOTHING COULD STOP HIM
His resurrection proved this to be true

HIS KINGDOM WOULD STAND FOREVER AND

NOTHING COULD EVER DESTROY IT
Victory over the Roman empire would prove this to be true
Dan. 2:31-43 Dan 2:44 And in the days of these kings
shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom
that shall never be destroyed.
Babylon
GOLD but it shall break in
pieces and consume
SILVER all these kingdoms,
Medo-Persian
and it shall stand for
BRASS ever.
Grecian

ROME
KINGDOM
IRON
OF
GOD
&&
CLAY
 Dan
Dan. 7:21-23
2:31-43 COMPARE Dan. 7
21 I beheld, and the
sameDan horn made war
7:17-18
These
with
17 great
theGOLD
saints, and Babylon
beasts,
prevailedwhich are
against
four, areSILVER
four kings, Medo-Persian
them;
which shall arise out of
22 Until the Ancient
the earth.
of days BRASS
came, and Grecian
18 But the saints of the
judgment was
most High shall take
given
to
the the saints
kingdom, andof the
most
possessHigh; and the
the kingdom
time
for came
ever, IRON
even that
for the
ever ROME
and ever. &
saints possessed the
kingdom. CLAY
“The grand theme of Revelation is that of war and conflict between good and evil resulting in victory
for the righteous and defeat for the wicked. The verb polemeo,
polemeo “to make war, to fight,” is found six
times in Revelation and only once elsewhere in the New Testament. The noun polemos, “make war on
someone,” is used nine times in the book and nine times in the remainder of the N.T.” (Hailey, p. 51)

While Satan uses the Roman govt.. along with false religions and immorality, God uses Christ
in this great battle. It is a war to the death. For one it will be eternal victory and to the other,
eternal death.

Faith Nikao = overcome, conquer Rome

used 17 times

Just as the prophecies concerning the Christ had to be proven ultimately by his resurrection, so
the prophecies of an indestructible kingdom had to be proven in this ultimate battle of good and
evil. This book promises God’s people that they will be victorious, overcome and conquer in
 1. FOR MORE THAT 700 YEARS ROME HAD GATHERED A GROUP OF CITY-STATES.
It awed the world. Its power seemed unlimited. Rome accepted foreign deities and fused them with
Julius Caesar their own which helped unify the people. Rome’s goal was to dominate the world, however in
such a system there was bound to be civil wars. Out of these wars Julius Caesar emerged as the
102-44BC victor. He was the first to begin the imperial rule of Rome. He presented himself as a god and upon
his death the senate deified him as a god.

With Julius Caesar’s death the empire again had civil wars. Octavian Caesar (Julius’
nephew) came forth victorious. He gave himself the title of “Augustus,” meaning the
“possessor of superhuman Increase.” This term had been applied to temples and sacred
Augustus objects. Temples and altars were erected in his honor and the concept of divinity and
worship of Rome and Augustus spread rapidly. After death he is referred to as “the
31BC - 14 AD Divine Augustus.” Romans were free to worship whatever god they chose, but worship of
Rome and Augustus was a symbol of loyalty to the state. With him the foundation of
“emperor worship” as a state action was solidly laid.
laid His followers could easily turn it
into a “cult” action.

Tiberius “All
All prayers were addressed to Tiberius….They (the Senators) raised their hands to the gods, to the statue of
Augustus and to the knees of Tiberius,
Tiberius when he ordered a document to be produced and read.” (Hailey, p.
14-37 63)

He began his reign with moderation, but after and illness he became mentally unbalanced and became one of
the most cruel and debased of men. He assumed the role of a god, and insisted on being treated as a god,
Caligula sending for the most revered or artistically famous statues of the Greek deities (including that of Juppiter at
Olympia) and having their heads replaced by his own. He established a shrine of himself as God, with a
37-41 priest, the costliest possible victims, and a life-sized golden image, which was dressed every day in clothes
identical with those he happened to be wearing. Caligula offended the Jews by commanding his statue to be
set up in the temple at Jerusalem, but he died before the order cold be carried out.

Claudius Claudius restored the Jew’ rights revoked by Caligula, however he drove the Jews from Rome (Acts 18:2).
He gave Agrippa, grandson of Herod the Great, the Palestinian kingdom formerly controlled by his
51-54 grandfather.
 Claudius was the great-uncle and father by adoption of Nero. Nero’s mother was a scheming and ruthless woman who tried to
dominate his life. He was fearful of his mother and half brother taking the throne so he killed them both along with his wife. His life
was filled with crimes and immoralities of every conceivable character. He was vain, arrogant and extravagant. He added taxes and
misery to the people until it threatened to bankrupt the empire.
Nero Nero enjoyed having the populace sacrifice to his image and wanted the people to think of him as a god. It is said that in the entry of
his golden house stood a bronze stature of Nero as sun god, taller than the Statue of Liberty.
54-68
Nero is primarily remembered by the fire that destroyed a great part of Rome. He blamed the Christians and used it to persecute
those in Rome severely, however it appears to be confined to Rome and not the whole empire. It is believed by some that Nero
outlawed the religion of Christ and said it is not lawful for a Christian to exist. Whether this is true of not his rule paved the way
future emperors to make Christianity as an “illicit or forbidden religion” in the empire.

Galba He outraged all classes and was assassinated.

6 mo.

Otho He committed suicide at age 37

95 days

Vitellius His sins were gluttony and cruelty. He hosted extravagant feast and would torture and kill anyone on the slightest pretext,
not excluding his own friends and students. His soldiers revolted, murdered him, threw his body in the Tiber river when he
11 mo. was 56.

Vespasian Vespasian was a general to whom the soldiers turned. Nero had given him the job of conquering Jerusalem. Vespasian
returned to Rome to sit as emperor and Titus his son continued the conquest. The city fell in 70 AD. There seems to have
69-79 been no conflict between Vespasian and the Christians. He died a natural death.

He was a mild and popular ruler who followed in his father’s footsteps.
Titus
79-81 Domitian, Titus’ brother, was mild in the beginning as his father and brother were. Seutonius says his vices were first
balanced by his virtues. Later, he transferred his virtues into vices, too. Hailey said, “In Domitian the spirit of Nero was
reincarnated and soon his cruelties and crimes knew no bounds. Men of nobility were put to death and he was discourteous
Domitian and presumptuous. His vanity and arrogance are well expressed in the salutation with which he would have his letters
begin. “Our Lord God instructs you to do this!” Lord God became his regular title. He was conscious of feeling toward
81-96 him and spend his last days in fear of death. A conspiracy was formed and he was slain by the steward of his niece,
Domitilla. After his death t he senators had his images torn down and smashed, “decreeing that all inscriptions referring to
him must be effaced and all records of his reign obliterated.”
 THE MESSAGE OF
REVELATION IS THROUGH
VISIONS - SYMBOLS
The reader is expected to
interpret these signs to get the
meaning of the message
It is like seeing a stage play
 FIRST SCENE
Chapter 1
Introducing Jesus Christ
1. Jesus is introduced in all of his grandeur.
2. His appearance is awesome.
3. He is walking among the churches and holds
their destiny in his hand.
4. He has died and is alive forever more.
5. He is in control
SECOND SCENE
Chapters 2-3
The Seven Letters
Jesus sends letters to the churches of Asia,
showing them that he knows everything about
them. He tells them their weaknesses and their
strengths.
He is holding them responsible to be faithful.
THIRD SCENE
Chapters 4-5
The Throne Scene
GOD is seated on His throne in awesome
grandeur. Everything in heaven is paying Him
homage.
He has a book containing the destiny of the battle
of Satan & Christ, Rome and the church.
God’s will contained in this book will be done.

JESUS is introduced as the strong lion of Judah

and at the same time the blessed sacrificial lamb
of God. He takes the book from God’s and and
will reveal and control all of the events contained
therein. He will open the seals and accomplish
God’s plans.
 FOURTH SCENE
Chapters 6-7
Opening the seven seals
 An overview of saints in heaven and earth.
The four horsemen show that saints on earth will
suffer greatly in this battle.
The altar scene shows that those who die for the
Lord will enjoy the comforts of heaven while
Jesus Christ is carrying out God’s will.
 FIFTH SCENE
Chapters 8-9
The Seven Trumpets
 AND THIS
CONTINUES
ON
THROUGH
CHAP. 11
 Revelation 1
I. Revelation of Jesus Christ: (1:1- 3)

v.1 The Revelation – (apo calypse) Our word = Apocalypse !

Greek apo = from; kalupto = cover.
Hence “to remove the cover from anything;
to unveil” (Vincent's Word Studies)

v.1 Of Jesus Christ—It is the revelation given by Him.

First, God gave this to Jesus to show to saints (v.1)
Second, it pertains to things shortly to come to pass (v.1)
Third, Revelation is mostly about events, not Jesus.
 Revelation 1
I. Revelation of Jesus Christ: (1:1- 3)
v.1 Which God gave Him [ ie. to Jesus]–
(John 7:16) My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me
(John 12:49) The Father Himself who sent Me has given
Me a commandment as to what to say…
(John 14:24) The word which you hear is not Mine, but
the Father's who sent Me.
v.1 Things which must shortly come to pass –
Greek = Tachos
• Vines = Swiftly; Thayers = Quickly, shortly
• (Luke 18:8) He will bring about justice for them quickly.
• (1 Tim 3:14-15) I am writing these things to you, hoping
to come to you before long;
 Revelation 1
I. Revelation of Jesus Christ: (1:1- 3)

.1 He sent and communicated it – Greek: see-mai-noo

• Literally: “Give a sign or token.” Vincent Word Studies
• Compare : Rev 12:1 A great sign appeared in heaven,
a woman clothed with the sun, the moon..

.1 By His angel to his bondservant – Note interesting process

from
from to
to by
by to
to to
to to
to
Father
Father Son
Son Angel
Angel John
John Angels
Angels Churches
Churches
(1:1)
(1:1) (1:1)
(1:1) (1:1)
(1:1) (1:1)
(1:1) (2:1)
(2:1) (2:1)
(2:1)
 Revelation 1
I. Revelation of Jesus Christ: (1:1- 3)

.2 [John] Who bore witness to the word .. to all that he saw–

• John is recording all that he “SAW”
in these visions.

.3 Blessed is he who reads & those who hear

the words of the prophecy –
• This is public reading of the scriptures.
• (1 Tim 4:13) “Until I come, give attention to the public
reading of Scripture.”
 Revelation 1
I. Revelation of Jesus Christ: (1:1- 3)

v.3 And heed the things which are written in it –

• Hearing without heeding (action) is useless.

• (James 1:22) Prove yourselves doers of the word,

and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

v.3 For the time is near – Jesus time was

OT “ready” near Mat
to vanish Heb26:18
8:13
• (Rev 22:10) Do not seal up the words of the
prophecy of this book, for the time is near.
Events were about to begin very shortly !
 Revelation 1
II. God’s message to the 7 Churches: (1:4-8)
v.4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia --

There were more

than 7 churches
in Asia (Minor)..
such as Colosse
and Hierapolis,
(Col 1:2; 4:13).
But the seven
mentioned are
typical and 7 is a
complete number
 Revelation 1
II. God’s message to the 7 Churches: (1:4-8)
v.4 From Him who is, who was, and is to come --

v. 4 Him who is and was: The Father.

The eternal one-- “I AM” (Ex 3:14)
v.4 Seven Spirits: Holy Spirit that
was given to lead the apostles
into all the truth (John 16:13
and 14:26).
v.5 And from Jesus Christ:
Tremendous comfort! Here’s
Deity saying grace & peace
to you.
 Revelation 1
II. God’s message to the 7 Churches: (1:4-8)
v.5 From Jesus Christ -- Encouragement

v.5 The faithful witness—he

witness is totally trustworthy.
A martyr.. bears witness even thru death.
v.5 The firstborn of the dead—(1
dead Cor 15:20)
v.5 The ruler of the kings—(Rev
kings 17:14; 19:16)
v.5 Who loves us—(John
us 15:13)
v.5 Released us from our sins—(Acts
sins 22:16)
v.6 Made us to be a kingdom—(Col
kingdom 1:13)
v.6 And priests—(1
priests Pet 2:5) royal priesthood
 Revelation 1
II. God’s message to the 7 Churches: (1:4-8)
v.7 Behold he is coming with the clouds, every eye
shall see him, even those that pierced him --
Language of judgment
SUCH AS THE DESTRUCTION
OF JERUSALEM
(Mat 24:30) They will see
the SON OF MAN COMING
ON THE CLOUDS OF THE Clouds = Used to show the irresistible
power of God
SKY with power & great glory. Egypt = Isa. 19:1; Ezek. 30:3; 32:7
Israel = Ezek. 34:12
Jerusalem = Mt. 24:24-30; Mk. 13:24

v.7
v.7 John
John says:
says: “So
“So itit is
is to
to be,
be, Amen.”
Amen.”
 Revelation 1
II. God’s message to the 7 Churches: (1:4-8)

v.8 I am the Alpha and Omega says the Lord God …

the Almighty


a. This is the self-designation of the Father here in v.8
(4:8-9) Lord God Almighty…who lives forever & ever
(21:22) Lord God Almighty & the lamb are its temple
note “Father” & “Son”

b. Alpha & Omega are also used by the Son (22:12-13)

I am coming quickly.. I am the alpha & omega