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| In-Depth Study of The Book of Revelation By Rabbi Esther Boucher |
Verse 1:7 (Promise)
Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced
Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.
Every eye shall see Him is a promise of G-d. With the development of the space age this
promise has become possible. Through orbiting satellites that bounce back radio and TV
signals every eye will be able to see the exact same occurrence simultaneously. In this verse
John is announcing the return of Jesus to earth. Other scriptures proclaim the same Matt. 24,
Mark 13, 1 Thess. 4:15-18. Jesus' second coming will be visible and victorious. Thus here
the prelude at the beginning of the Revelation flashes out with one of the mighty themes of
the book: He comes in the clouds.
Verse 8
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who
was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Here the announcement
is that Christ is the very start and conclusion of every matter. This could only be said of G-d,
thus this verse alone proves the deity of Christ. He is the eternal was, is and shall be, the
Almighty.
Verse 9
I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of
Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of G-d and for the
testimony of Jesus Christ.
We learn of the circumstances of the Apostle. His Spiritual location is that He is the brother of
believers everywhere. He is as human as we are. Thus 2 Peter 1:21 tells us that it was
through men moved by the Holy Ghost that prophecy came. Because of faithfulness to G-d
the Apostle was banished to the island of Patmos by the anti Christian Roman emperor
Domitian. Patmos is an isle which runs north to south, and is 8 miles long; it is located in the
Aegean Sea twenty five miles due south of the west edge of Samos. Imagine yourself
banished in exile on a lonely island about 50 miles from the nearest town. And Patmos was
no paradise island. Then possible wearing chains, being poorly fed and clothed and made to
sleep on the bare ground. This is the life John faced as he took refuge on Patmos. And yet
persecuted by Rome's attempt to shut off his witness for the L-rd, John found triumph in
tragedy. G-d used him as a witness to reveal things to come.
Verse 10
I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,
John received the vision while in the Spirit in prayer on the day of worship, the L-rd's Day.
The voice of the omnipotent deity sounded to John's ears in majesty like a trumpet.
Verse 11
saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in
a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to
Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
Here we see John instructed to put the matter in written form. A scroll was the ancient form of
the book, as the bound book with pages as we know it called a codex was not invented until
about the beginning of the 3rd century. Papyrus was rolled to form a scroll. Sometimes a
scroll was 40 yards in length. The more durable animal parchment scroll was also used in
John's day but was mainly a possession of the wealthy.
Verses 12-13
Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden
lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed
with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.
The candlestick or lamp-stand of the Old Testament Tabernacle was called the Menorah. It
had one main branch with six side branches. The olive oil that burned its seven lights
represented the Spirit of G-d's omnipresence and His giving light to the world. Here Jesus is
seen standing in the midst of them. The title Son of Man means a genuine man but is also
one of the Old Testaments names for the Messiah. This usage comes from Dan. 7:13-14.
Thus Jesus, who is a real man and who is also the Messiah is to be served forever by all
people. John sees Him as the risen glorified King of Kings. Garment down to the foot is the
dress of a majestic ruler. Clothed about the chest with a golden sash symbolizes His absolute
righteousness.
Verse 14-16
His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;
15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of
many waters; 16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-
edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
Here the pure white head and hair matches exactly the scene of Dan. 7:9. The hair indicates
His wisdom and divine nature. His flaming eyes show His supernatural ability to see
everything. He sees what is going on upon the earth at all times. He sees into the heart of
every man.
His feet seem to be clad in brass boots, still glistening white hot from the furnace. This
symbolizes the fierce judgement which is about to fall upon the ungodly from the feet of the
Son of Man.
The two edged sword out of his mouth is symbolizing power and force, also refereed to in
Rev. 19:15. Thus is the Word of G-d where by Christ smites the wicked nations with His
Revelation from Heaven at the end of the tribulation. Christ speaks and it is done; thus His
word of judgement is like a sharp swift cutting sword. At this time Christ comes like the
shining sun in power and glory.
Verse 17 -18
And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to
me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and
behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
This vision was so over powering that John fell at His feet as dead. It's no wonder! G-d's
glory is so awesome that no mortal on earth can see it and live (Ex. 33:20, 1 Tim 6:16). Just
a glimpse of His glory overwhelmed Job (Job 42:1-6) Ezekiel (1:28) and Daniel (7:28. It is
before this awesome Person that each of us will someday stand - believers for an evaluation
of the quality of their lives to determine rewards (I Cor. 3:12-15; II Cor. 6:10) and unbelievers
to determine the degree of punishment they will receive (Rev. 20:11-15). While John was
lying prostrate at the feet of the vision of Christ's comforting words. Our sins have convicted
and sentenced us, but Jesus holds the keys of death and hell. He alone can free us from
eternal bondage to Satan. He alone has the power and authority to set us free from sin's
control. Believers don't have to fear hell or death because Christ holds the keys to both. We
must turn from sin and turn to Him in faith. When we attempt to control our lives and
disregard G-d, we set a course that leads directly to hell. But when we place our lives in
Christ's hands, He restores us now and resurrects us later to an eternal peaceful relationship
with Him.
Verse 19
Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will
take place after this.
In obedience to Christ's commission John wrote about the past, present and future. The past
was what he had seen in the vision described. The present was Christ's presence and His
words to the seven churches. And the future was in the scenes depicted in the rest of the
book.
Verse 20
The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden
lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven
lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.
The Greek word musterion "mystery" has its roots in the Greek Mystery cults. The mysteries
or secrets of the cult, were known to its initiated members, but not to those on the outside. So
here, the L-rd reveals to us secrets which now only we Christians know. Those on the
outside neither know nor comprehend these things. The solutions to two of the mysteries are
here supplied. Items seen in the vision will often represent things, people, events and places
which pertain to the spiritual struggles of the ages. Here lamp-stands stand for churches and
stars for angels. This verse teaches that Christ ever stands in the midst of His congregations
where He can quickly see all, help all or judge. He is always concerned and nearby. Christ
controls the angels of each church - He holds them in His right hand. The Greek word
anggelos means messenger such as a pastor or a divinely appointed spirit (angel) could be
meant. Commentators differ, both are accountable to Christ. In Revelation , a powerful Christ
makes His presence know. John sees the L-rd walking among seven first century churches,
represented by seven golden lamp-stands. It is a sight that confirms Jesus' earlier promise in
Matt. 18:20 that He would be present among them even to the end of the age. The L-rd told
John to address specific messages to those churches. It becomes apparent that the seven
were like churches in our own day. Ephesus was a busy church that had lost its first love.
Smyrna was suffering for its testimony. Pergamos was a church living in a tough
neighborhood. Thyatira was a growing church marked by serious moral and spiritual
compromise. Sardis was a church that had a better reputation than it deserved. Philadelphia
was a weak church to which the L-rd promised an open door that no one could shut. The
seventh, Lasdicea, was a rich church so caught up in materialism that its members were
neither hot nor cold; they were like lukewarm water that the L-rd said He would spit out of His
mouth. The churches are not measured by one another but by Christ Himself.
Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced
Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.
Every eye shall see Him is a promise of G-d. With the development of the space age this
promise has become possible. Through orbiting satellites that bounce back radio and TV
signals every eye will be able to see the exact same occurrence simultaneously. In this verse
John is announcing the return of Jesus to earth. Other scriptures proclaim the same Matt. 24,
Mark 13, 1 Thess. 4:15-18. Jesus' second coming will be visible and victorious. Thus here
the prelude at the beginning of the Revelation flashes out with one of the mighty themes of
the book: He comes in the clouds.
Verse 8
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who
was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Here the announcement
is that Christ is the very start and conclusion of every matter. This could only be said of G-d,
thus this verse alone proves the deity of Christ. He is the eternal was, is and shall be, the
Almighty.
Verse 9
I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of
Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of G-d and for the
testimony of Jesus Christ.
We learn of the circumstances of the Apostle. His Spiritual location is that He is the brother of
believers everywhere. He is as human as we are. Thus 2 Peter 1:21 tells us that it was
through men moved by the Holy Ghost that prophecy came. Because of faithfulness to G-d
the Apostle was banished to the island of Patmos by the anti Christian Roman emperor
Domitian. Patmos is an isle which runs north to south, and is 8 miles long; it is located in the
Aegean Sea twenty five miles due south of the west edge of Samos. Imagine yourself
banished in exile on a lonely island about 50 miles from the nearest town. And Patmos was
no paradise island. Then possible wearing chains, being poorly fed and clothed and made to
sleep on the bare ground. This is the life John faced as he took refuge on Patmos. And yet
persecuted by Rome's attempt to shut off his witness for the L-rd, John found triumph in
tragedy. G-d used him as a witness to reveal things to come.
Verse 10
I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,
John received the vision while in the Spirit in prayer on the day of worship, the L-rd's Day.
The voice of the omnipotent deity sounded to John's ears in majesty like a trumpet.
Verse 11
saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in
a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to
Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
Here we see John instructed to put the matter in written form. A scroll was the ancient form of
the book, as the bound book with pages as we know it called a codex was not invented until
about the beginning of the 3rd century. Papyrus was rolled to form a scroll. Sometimes a
scroll was 40 yards in length. The more durable animal parchment scroll was also used in
John's day but was mainly a possession of the wealthy.
Verses 12-13
Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden
lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed
with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.
The candlestick or lamp-stand of the Old Testament Tabernacle was called the Menorah. It
had one main branch with six side branches. The olive oil that burned its seven lights
represented the Spirit of G-d's omnipresence and His giving light to the world. Here Jesus is
seen standing in the midst of them. The title Son of Man means a genuine man but is also
one of the Old Testaments names for the Messiah. This usage comes from Dan. 7:13-14.
Thus Jesus, who is a real man and who is also the Messiah is to be served forever by all
people. John sees Him as the risen glorified King of Kings. Garment down to the foot is the
dress of a majestic ruler. Clothed about the chest with a golden sash symbolizes His absolute
righteousness.
Verse 14-16
His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;
15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of
many waters; 16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-
edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
Here the pure white head and hair matches exactly the scene of Dan. 7:9. The hair indicates
His wisdom and divine nature. His flaming eyes show His supernatural ability to see
everything. He sees what is going on upon the earth at all times. He sees into the heart of
every man.
His feet seem to be clad in brass boots, still glistening white hot from the furnace. This
symbolizes the fierce judgement which is about to fall upon the ungodly from the feet of the
Son of Man.
The two edged sword out of his mouth is symbolizing power and force, also refereed to in
Rev. 19:15. Thus is the Word of G-d where by Christ smites the wicked nations with His
Revelation from Heaven at the end of the tribulation. Christ speaks and it is done; thus His
word of judgement is like a sharp swift cutting sword. At this time Christ comes like the
shining sun in power and glory.
Verse 17 -18
And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to
me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and
behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
This vision was so over powering that John fell at His feet as dead. It's no wonder! G-d's
glory is so awesome that no mortal on earth can see it and live (Ex. 33:20, 1 Tim 6:16). Just
a glimpse of His glory overwhelmed Job (Job 42:1-6) Ezekiel (1:28) and Daniel (7:28. It is
before this awesome Person that each of us will someday stand - believers for an evaluation
of the quality of their lives to determine rewards (I Cor. 3:12-15; II Cor. 6:10) and unbelievers
to determine the degree of punishment they will receive (Rev. 20:11-15). While John was
lying prostrate at the feet of the vision of Christ's comforting words. Our sins have convicted
and sentenced us, but Jesus holds the keys of death and hell. He alone can free us from
eternal bondage to Satan. He alone has the power and authority to set us free from sin's
control. Believers don't have to fear hell or death because Christ holds the keys to both. We
must turn from sin and turn to Him in faith. When we attempt to control our lives and
disregard G-d, we set a course that leads directly to hell. But when we place our lives in
Christ's hands, He restores us now and resurrects us later to an eternal peaceful relationship
with Him.
Verse 19
Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will
take place after this.
In obedience to Christ's commission John wrote about the past, present and future. The past
was what he had seen in the vision described. The present was Christ's presence and His
words to the seven churches. And the future was in the scenes depicted in the rest of the
book.
Verse 20
The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden
lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven
lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.
The Greek word musterion "mystery" has its roots in the Greek Mystery cults. The mysteries
or secrets of the cult, were known to its initiated members, but not to those on the outside. So
here, the L-rd reveals to us secrets which now only we Christians know. Those on the
outside neither know nor comprehend these things. The solutions to two of the mysteries are
here supplied. Items seen in the vision will often represent things, people, events and places
which pertain to the spiritual struggles of the ages. Here lamp-stands stand for churches and
stars for angels. This verse teaches that Christ ever stands in the midst of His congregations
where He can quickly see all, help all or judge. He is always concerned and nearby. Christ
controls the angels of each church - He holds them in His right hand. The Greek word
anggelos means messenger such as a pastor or a divinely appointed spirit (angel) could be
meant. Commentators differ, both are accountable to Christ. In Revelation , a powerful Christ
makes His presence know. John sees the L-rd walking among seven first century churches,
represented by seven golden lamp-stands. It is a sight that confirms Jesus' earlier promise in
Matt. 18:20 that He would be present among them even to the end of the age. The L-rd told
John to address specific messages to those churches. It becomes apparent that the seven
were like churches in our own day. Ephesus was a busy church that had lost its first love.
Smyrna was suffering for its testimony. Pergamos was a church living in a tough
neighborhood. Thyatira was a growing church marked by serious moral and spiritual
compromise. Sardis was a church that had a better reputation than it deserved. Philadelphia
was a weak church to which the L-rd promised an open door that no one could shut. The
seventh, Lasdicea, was a rich church so caught up in materialism that its members were
neither hot nor cold; they were like lukewarm water that the L-rd said He would spit out of His
mouth. The churches are not measured by one another but by Christ Himself.
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