INTRODUCTION/ PART ONE

The study of the Book of Revelation is, perhaps, more relevant to the present generation of believers than it has been to any previous generation. The unfolding events in our world, the increasing turmoil among nations, the growing spiritual challenges confronting the Church, and the prevailing conditions pointing towards the end of this present age make it imperative for every serious-minded believer to give careful attention to the revelations contained in this prophetic book. This is not a book to be treated with indifference, but one whose message demands our serious attention, spiritual understanding, and readiness.

The primary objective of this study is to provide a spiritual compass to guide believers through the turbulent events and spiritual challenges of these end times. As the Church navigates through the prevailing circumstances of this present age, awaiting the glorious appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to rapture His saints into Heaven, it is important that believers understand the prophetic revelations concerning the things that must shortly come to pass. Our understanding of these revelations should strengthen our faith, establish our spiritual convictions, encourage steadfastness, and prepare us for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Furthermore, in approaching this study, it is important to establish our interpretative position concerning the letters of Jesus Christ to the seven churches in Asia Minor, recorded in Revelation chapters 2 and 3.

Bible scholars have advanced different interpretations of these letters. While some maintain that they were addressed literally to seven historical churches that existed in Asia Minor during the time of Apostle John, others interpret them as symbolic representations of different periods or successive ages in the history of the Church, extending from the apostolic era to the end of this present age. There are also those who regard the seven churches as representing different spiritual conditions that can be found within the Church throughout the Christian era.

However, the position adopted in this study is that these letters should be understood primarily as literal messages addressed to seven actual churches that existed in Asia Minor. Although the spiritual lessons and warnings contained in them remain relevant to believers and churches across generations, nothing in the immediate context of these letters suggests that the seven churches were intended to represent seven successive historical ages of the Church, beginning from the apostolic era and extending through the present time until the coming of Christ.

We shall, therefore, approach these revelations with due regard for their immediate scriptural context, allowing the Scriptures to guide our understanding rather than imposing interpretations that are not clearly established by the biblical text.

It is my prayer that, as we embark on this study, the Holy Spirit will grant us the spiritual understanding necessary to comprehend the mysteries revealed in this prophetic book and, above all, prepare our hearts to remain faithful to the end.

May the Lord grant us understanding as we study His Word. Amen!

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REVEALING THE MYSTERIES OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION (PART ONE)

The Bible Book of Revelation is filled with mysteries, each of which is divinely designed to be revealed and understood in its own time. We can see this divine design in the opening verses of the Book, thus:

“Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be here after”… Revelation 1:19.

From the format given by the Lord in the quoted verse of Scripture above, we shall naturally divide the Book of Revelation into three parts, namely:

1. The Things Which Thou Hast Seen

This forms the first part of the Book of Revelation, and the first chapter of this Book is dedicated to explaining it.

2. The Things Which Are

This forms the second part of the Book of Revelation, and chapters two, three, four, and five are dedicated to explaining it.

3. The Things Which Shall Be Hereafter

This forms the third part of the Book of Revelation and, except for some parenthetical chapters, the rest of the chapters of the Book are dedicated to explaining it.

It is important to understand why chapters four and five are included in the second division of this prophetic Book.

Chapter four presents a picture of the continued activities in the Throne Room of God in Heaven, particularly the worship, praises, and manifestations of God’s glory. These were not activities that began at the time of John’s revelation; rather, they represent the ongoing heavenly realities that were already taking place at that material time.

Chapter five, on the other hand, introduces a significant development in the heavenly scene. It records the appearance of Jesus Christ at the Throne of God to take the Book and open its seven seals. The opening of these seals would subsequently reveal to Apostle John the events that were yet to unfold in the future.

This understanding also provides the context for interpreting the statement in Revelation 4:1, where John was invited to come up and see the things which must be hereafter. The expression “things which must be hereafter” refers to the future events that would be revealed through the opening of the seven seals in that heavenly gathering.

Thus, although chapters four and five form part of the second division in our classification, they also establish the setting and introduce the transition into the third division of the Book, where the future events revealed through the opening of the seals are subsequently unfolded.

Let us now examine these three divisions individually.

1. THE THINGS WHICH THOU HAST SEEN (REVELATION 1:1-20)

The actual verses dedicated to this part are verses 10 to 20. However, the entire chapter is structured as follows:

1. Introduction: Verses 1-3.

This opens up the narration that follows throughout the Book. It identifies Jesus Christ as the source of the message, God’s Angel as the conveyor, and Apostle John as its disseminator to all of God’s servants, of whom we are also a part today, as long as we walk with God in the light, with no hidden works of darkness to discredit us.

It stresses that the events to be narrated must shortly come to pass. This is more evident today than at any other time because, from all indications, this generation appears to be the one upon which the end of the world has come!

2. Greetings: Verses 4-6.

Interestingly, this greeting to the churches came from Heaven: from God the Father Almighty, from the seven Spirits before God’s Throne, and from Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. These greetings are still relevant to churches that remain steadfast in the service of God’s Kingdom.

3. Attestation: Verses 7-9.

Here, the Apostle John affirms the validity of Christ’s return to the earth, as revealed to him in the Book of Revelation.

See Revelation 1:7:

“Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen”.

He thereafter quoted God’s own sure Word, which authenticates the promise made in the previous verse, showing that it must surely come to pass in due time.

“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty”. Revelation 1:8.

He ended his attestation by declaring that he, too, was a fellow Christian brother, patiently awaiting God’s coming Kingdom, just as other true believers were doing then and are still doing today. It was for the sake of this Kingdom that he suffered tribulations and was banished to the prison island of Patmos, the land of no return, from where he received this revelation.

“I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the Kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the Word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ”. Revelation 1:9.

The actual verses dedicated to the first part of our study are verses 10-20, with particular emphasis on verses 12-17.

What did the Apostle John see in these verses?

He saw the glorified Jesus Christ standing in the midst of seven candlesticks, which were symbolic of the seven churches to whom the messages were initially sent.

See Revelation 1:12, 13, 20; 2:1.

This symbolizes the continued presence of Jesus Christ in the midst of His churches.

“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” Matthew 18:20.

John also saw the fear-inspiring countenance of the glorified Jesus Christ, which he described as follows:

Eyes as flames of fire: Revelation 1:14; 2:18-23; Hebrews 10:26-32; 12:29.

A two-edged sword projecting from His mouth: Revelation 1:16; 2:12-16; 19:11-15, 20-21.

The descriptions above in verses 14 and 16 conjure up a picture of judgment. When placed alongside the previous description in verses 12 and 13, they give us a clearer picture of Jesus Christ standing in the midst of His churches as Judge.

This interpretation sets the stage for the second part of the Book of Revelation, particularly chapters two and three, where the warnings to the seven churches were given.

These warnings remain applicable to the churches today because Jesus Christ is still the same today as He was yesterday and will remain the same forever. See Hebrews 13:8.

“For the time is come that Judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” 1 Peter 4:17.

Lastly, John saw the glorified Christ holding seven stars in His right hand. Revelation 1:16, 20.

“….The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches…”

The point is quickly made here that each of those seven churches had angels appointed to them.

But were they real angels or merely symbols of something else?

This question will be explored and answered in Part Two of our study, where we shall examine the messages God addressed to each of the seven angels of the churches in the then-existing cities of Asia Minor.

TO BE CONTINUED.