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As the years rush on, we sense an air of apprehension and expectation about us. The
events in the Middle East, the rash of natural disasters, and the moral decadence of our
day arouse in Christians the expectation that Jesus Christ will return soon. No amount
of effort can stop the clock of history. Every day that passes, every flash of a digital
crystal, brings us closer to the dramatic events predicted in the Bible. That can be an
unsettling thought. The prophetic passages of the Bible are filled with frightening
scenes and complicated symbols. There are predictions of the sun going dark and the
moon turning red. Four terrible horsemen are pictured as riding forth over the earth
bringing war, famine, disease and death. A beast shall rise to shake his fist in the face
of God and bring untold suffering to G-d’s children. A cataclysmic war will be fought
and blood will flow 5 ft. deep in a valley 200 miles long. These are frightening
confusing images. The message of Revelation is to help you know G-d more intimately,
know what to expect and know how to live at this time in history. It addresses the
problems we face in our churches, portrays the awesome end time events that will
prepare the earth for Christ’s return, and gives us a glimpse of the eternal glory that
awaits every Christian.
The title of this book comes from Rev. 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ. Another title
is the Apocalypse, which is found in the original Greek meaning A Revelation. Thus the
book shows forth things previously hidden. It was written by the Apostle John about 95-
96 A.D. from the island of Patmos. This is firmly substantiated by the testimony of
Irenaeus who lived in 170 A.D. Irenaeus was the pupil of Polycarp who in turn sat at
the feet of John himself. The testimony of the early church fathers confirms Ireneus’
words, as do the words of the Book of Revelation itself. Its purpose is to reveal the full
identity of Christ and to give warning and hope to believers. It was written to the 7
churches in Asia and all believers everywhere.
When we read about prophecy, we come across technical terms like the great
tribulation, the abomination of desolation, the return of Jesus Christ, the Great White
Throne and the lake of fire. The first chapter of Revelation sets the stage for all that
will follow. Chapters 2-3 focus on the present, Christ’s messages to 7 real churches
that were in existence when the book was written. Chapters 4-5 take us to the control
center of the universe where the exalted Christ sets in motion the end time program that
will prepare the earth for His return. Chapters 6-8 portray the events that accomplish
this purpose. And chapters 19-22 depict its results. As we study the book my
suggestion to you is to underline or highlight your Bible in 2 different colors like blue
and red. Use blue for the promises of God and red for the judgments of God.
Verse 1:1-3
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His
servants—things, which must shortly take place. And He sent and
signified it by His angel to His servant John, 2 who bore witness to the
word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he
saw. 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this
prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is
near.
Jesus gave His message to John in a vision, allowing John to see and record certain
future events so they could be an encouragement to all believers. Verse 3 we see our
first promise from G-d. Here we learn of the blessedness of the reader (singular) and
the hearers (plural). The early church did not have a Bible for each person; one-person
read while all others listened. All would be blessed we are promised. To many of the
book of Revelation is most confusing. To the non-Christian it appears to be
unbelievable, strange and filled with fairy-tale-like frightening events. They read this
book but with understanding. And Jesus Christ, himself spoke of such a confusion
when He said in Luke 8:10 unto you (His followers) it is given to know the mysteries of
the kingdom of G-d: but to others (non-believers) in parables; that seeing they might not
see, and hearing they might not understand. Because the book of Revelation was
written in about 95 A.D. some took the phrase in 1:1 things, which must shortly come to
pass to mean these events, would occur within a few years that John was inspired of G-
d to write this book. However 2 Peter 3:8 tells us “one day is with the L-rd as a
thousand years and a thousand years as one day.” Only in this current day does it
appear that the prophecies of Revelation are finally becoming fully ripe for fulfillment.
Despite the multitude of divergent opinions concerning its details, in this book the final
triumph of G-d over sin and satin is unmistakably revealed; and in it the final safety of a
believer is assured. Hallelujah!
Many Christians are not fully aware of the royalty of their inheritance. We tend to look
in awe at those in high office such as Presidents and Kings. Christ has made every
Christian a King and a priest. He has given us royalty. And our destiny is a royal
destiny. In the Old Testament only the priest had the right of access to G-d. When a
male Jew entered the Temple, he could pass through the court of the gentiles, the court
of the women, the court of the Israelites but there he must stop. By our new birth in
Christ we now have royal blood and can come directly and boldly into the throne of
Grace as promised in Heb. 4:15. In John’s day, Roman citizenship was for the
privileged few. John was not a citizen, but he rejoiced in the fat that in Christ he now
had a celestial citizenship.
Revelation 1:4-6
4 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace
from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven
Spirits who are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful
witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the
earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own
blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him
be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
John addresses his letter to the seven churches which were in the Roman province of
Asia. The letter could be read and passed on in a systematic fashion, following the
main Roman Road clockwise around the province of Asia now called Turkey. Seven
churches or assemblies (not buildings) and seven spirits are mentioned in verse 4. Just
as the seven days of the Genesis creation account included the entire creative action of
G-d and even His rest, so the seven’s of this book represent the entirety of the subject
at hand. This number is used to symbolize completeness and perfection. The seven
spirits is another name for the Holy Spirit. 1:5 – Speaks of Christ’s attributes. It sings
of His trustworthiness, His power over death, his Lordship, His savior hood in washing
our sins by dying at Calvary.
Others had risen from the dead, people whom the prophets, Jesus, and the apostles
had brought back to life during their ministries, but later these people died again. Jesus
was the first who rose from the dead in an imperishable body, never to die again. 1:6
Tells us we who have trusted in Christ are today Kings and priests. We are kings in
that Christ’s servants are under bondage to no man; we are priests in that we ourselves
can come directly to G-d in prayer because of Christ’s finished work, we need no other
human priests. Many hesitate to witness about their faith in Christ because they don’t
feel the change in their lives has been spectacular enough. But you qualify as a
witness for Jesus because of what He has done for you, not because of what you have
done for Him. Christ demonstrated His great love by setting us free from our sins
through His death on the cross. The fact that the all powerful G-d has offered eternal
life to you is nothing short of spectacular!
events in the Middle East, the rash of natural disasters, and the moral decadence of our
day arouse in Christians the expectation that Jesus Christ will return soon. No amount
of effort can stop the clock of history. Every day that passes, every flash of a digital
crystal, brings us closer to the dramatic events predicted in the Bible. That can be an
unsettling thought. The prophetic passages of the Bible are filled with frightening
scenes and complicated symbols. There are predictions of the sun going dark and the
moon turning red. Four terrible horsemen are pictured as riding forth over the earth
bringing war, famine, disease and death. A beast shall rise to shake his fist in the face
of God and bring untold suffering to G-d’s children. A cataclysmic war will be fought
and blood will flow 5 ft. deep in a valley 200 miles long. These are frightening
confusing images. The message of Revelation is to help you know G-d more intimately,
know what to expect and know how to live at this time in history. It addresses the
problems we face in our churches, portrays the awesome end time events that will
prepare the earth for Christ’s return, and gives us a glimpse of the eternal glory that
awaits every Christian.
The title of this book comes from Rev. 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ. Another title
is the Apocalypse, which is found in the original Greek meaning A Revelation. Thus the
book shows forth things previously hidden. It was written by the Apostle John about 95-
96 A.D. from the island of Patmos. This is firmly substantiated by the testimony of
Irenaeus who lived in 170 A.D. Irenaeus was the pupil of Polycarp who in turn sat at
the feet of John himself. The testimony of the early church fathers confirms Ireneus’
words, as do the words of the Book of Revelation itself. Its purpose is to reveal the full
identity of Christ and to give warning and hope to believers. It was written to the 7
churches in Asia and all believers everywhere.
When we read about prophecy, we come across technical terms like the great
tribulation, the abomination of desolation, the return of Jesus Christ, the Great White
Throne and the lake of fire. The first chapter of Revelation sets the stage for all that
will follow. Chapters 2-3 focus on the present, Christ’s messages to 7 real churches
that were in existence when the book was written. Chapters 4-5 take us to the control
center of the universe where the exalted Christ sets in motion the end time program that
will prepare the earth for His return. Chapters 6-8 portray the events that accomplish
this purpose. And chapters 19-22 depict its results. As we study the book my
suggestion to you is to underline or highlight your Bible in 2 different colors like blue
and red. Use blue for the promises of God and red for the judgments of God.
Verse 1:1-3
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His
servants—things, which must shortly take place. And He sent and
signified it by His angel to His servant John, 2 who bore witness to the
word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he
saw. 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this
prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is
near.
Jesus gave His message to John in a vision, allowing John to see and record certain
future events so they could be an encouragement to all believers. Verse 3 we see our
first promise from G-d. Here we learn of the blessedness of the reader (singular) and
the hearers (plural). The early church did not have a Bible for each person; one-person
read while all others listened. All would be blessed we are promised. To many of the
book of Revelation is most confusing. To the non-Christian it appears to be
unbelievable, strange and filled with fairy-tale-like frightening events. They read this
book but with understanding. And Jesus Christ, himself spoke of such a confusion
when He said in Luke 8:10 unto you (His followers) it is given to know the mysteries of
the kingdom of G-d: but to others (non-believers) in parables; that seeing they might not
see, and hearing they might not understand. Because the book of Revelation was
written in about 95 A.D. some took the phrase in 1:1 things, which must shortly come to
pass to mean these events, would occur within a few years that John was inspired of G-
d to write this book. However 2 Peter 3:8 tells us “one day is with the L-rd as a
thousand years and a thousand years as one day.” Only in this current day does it
appear that the prophecies of Revelation are finally becoming fully ripe for fulfillment.
Despite the multitude of divergent opinions concerning its details, in this book the final
triumph of G-d over sin and satin is unmistakably revealed; and in it the final safety of a
believer is assured. Hallelujah!
Many Christians are not fully aware of the royalty of their inheritance. We tend to look
in awe at those in high office such as Presidents and Kings. Christ has made every
Christian a King and a priest. He has given us royalty. And our destiny is a royal
destiny. In the Old Testament only the priest had the right of access to G-d. When a
male Jew entered the Temple, he could pass through the court of the gentiles, the court
of the women, the court of the Israelites but there he must stop. By our new birth in
Christ we now have royal blood and can come directly and boldly into the throne of
Grace as promised in Heb. 4:15. In John’s day, Roman citizenship was for the
privileged few. John was not a citizen, but he rejoiced in the fat that in Christ he now
had a celestial citizenship.
Revelation 1:4-6
4 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace
from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven
Spirits who are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful
witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the
earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own
blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him
be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
John addresses his letter to the seven churches which were in the Roman province of
Asia. The letter could be read and passed on in a systematic fashion, following the
main Roman Road clockwise around the province of Asia now called Turkey. Seven
churches or assemblies (not buildings) and seven spirits are mentioned in verse 4. Just
as the seven days of the Genesis creation account included the entire creative action of
G-d and even His rest, so the seven’s of this book represent the entirety of the subject
at hand. This number is used to symbolize completeness and perfection. The seven
spirits is another name for the Holy Spirit. 1:5 – Speaks of Christ’s attributes. It sings
of His trustworthiness, His power over death, his Lordship, His savior hood in washing
our sins by dying at Calvary.
Others had risen from the dead, people whom the prophets, Jesus, and the apostles
had brought back to life during their ministries, but later these people died again. Jesus
was the first who rose from the dead in an imperishable body, never to die again. 1:6
Tells us we who have trusted in Christ are today Kings and priests. We are kings in
that Christ’s servants are under bondage to no man; we are priests in that we ourselves
can come directly to G-d in prayer because of Christ’s finished work, we need no other
human priests. Many hesitate to witness about their faith in Christ because they don’t
feel the change in their lives has been spectacular enough. But you qualify as a
witness for Jesus because of what He has done for you, not because of what you have
done for Him. Christ demonstrated His great love by setting us free from our sins
through His death on the cross. The fact that the all powerful G-d has offered eternal
life to you is nothing short of spectacular!
| In-Depth Study of The Book of Revelation By Rabbi Esther Boucher |
| Ministry of Gates of Praise Ministries, Inc. © Copyright Gates of Praise Ministries 2007/2008 |