Podcast Introduction

This is Prophecy Friday and today we’ll begin the last book of the Bible, the book of Revelation. Chapters 1-6. I’m calling today’s episode “It Begins."

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Harry Shelton on Unsplash

Comments on Revelation 1-6

Introduction to Revelation

The book of Revelation is the only book in the Bible that promises a blessing for those who read it and who hear and heed it. Listen to the first three verses of chapter 1 from the ESV: "1The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 ]Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near."

The "John" mentioned in verse 1 is the Apostle John. John, the one who Jesus loved. John, the brother of James...Jesus called James and John Boanerges, "sons of thunder." John, the disciple who was at the foot of the cross with Mary, the mother of Jesus when Jesus was crucified, and into whose care Jesus placed his mother on that day. John, the writer of the Gospel of John, the three epistles bearing his name, and the book of Revelation.

Thoughts on Revelation 1

John is either shown a vision of Heaven, or he is taken there. We can’t really tell from his description.

And when he is there, a voice tells him to write down what he sees. When he turns to see who was speaking to him, he sees someone who looked like a son of man. He didn’t know who it was, and no wonder. John says, “He was dressed in a long robe with a gold strip of cloth around his chest. 14The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow. His eyes were like a blazing fire. 15His feet were like bronze metal glowing in a furnace. His voice sounded like rushing waters. 16He held seven stars in his right hand. Out of his mouth came a sharp sword that had two edges. His face was like the sun shining in all of its brightness.”

What would you do if you saw someone or something like that? Probably what John did. He fainted. 

But this awe inspiring person puts his right hand on John and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18I am the Living One. I was dead. But look! I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys to Death and Hell.”

It was Jesus! And he told John not to be afraid. Despite His appearance, despite the fact that He holds the keys to Death and Hell, He tells John not to be afraid.

If we are in Christ Jesus, if we are His, we have no cause for fear. We don’t need to fear what is in the past, we don’t need to fear what is in the present, we don’t need to fear what is in the future. We are His. We are in Him, and He is in us. And greater is He that is in us than he that is the world. 

Do not be afraid. 

Thoughts on Revelation 2 and 3

The Lord told John to write to the seven churches which were spoken of in the first chapter as the seven golden lampstands. What does a lampstand do? It brings light into darkness, and the church is meant to bring light into a dark world.

As we read here in chapters 2 and 3, each of the seven churches is singled out by Jesus, and He has a message for each. Of the seven, only two receive commendations with no negative comments. Those two are the Philadelphian church and the church at Smyrna. 

Jesus says He knows that the church at Smyrna is suffering and is poor. “But,” he tells them, “you are rich!” 

How could they be rich if they are poor and suffering? Because they are faithful. 

This sort of puts the lie to those who say that God wants you to be materially rich, doesn’t it? It puts the lie to those that say that God will bring prosperity to your church if you are pleasing Him, doesn’t it?

The Philadelphian church is similar to the church at Smyrna,