STUDY 1
The writer of the Book of Revelation is the Apostle
John. The book is addressed to suffering Christians. (This is one of the keys to understanding the book.)
Please note two things:
1. John classifies himself as a servant (slave) of Jesus Christ,
and because of his steadfast witness to Jesus, he was exiled (to suffer and die) on the island of Patmose which is off the
west coast of Asia Minor. It was here that the Roman government had a penal colony where prisoners worked the mines.
In other words, John was a slave laborer!
It was here
that he wrote down the things he heard and saw in a vision - granted to him by the risen Lord.
2. John wrote this letter to the persecuted and suffering Christians of Asia Minor.
These Christians refused to engage in emporer worship and as a result were severely persecuted and many had been put to death.
Let us remember that the Roman emperor called himself "August", "Saviour", "Lord", and even
"god". He had statues built throughout the Empire and required citizens to offer sacrifices as evidence of their allegiance
to him. Christians, (who accept only one God and Lord), refused and consequently suffered persecution, arrest, loss
of possessions, economic boycot and death (much the same as Christians today have suffered the same treatment under communist
or other totalitarian regimes).
That is the background you need to understand as you study this book.
The over-riding emphasis that shines through its pages may be summed up in three facts:
- (1) Jesus Christ is Lord
- (2) God is the Sovereign Ruler
- (3) Jesus Christ will be victorious over the evil forces of darkness.
Notice how the Lord Jesus Christ is described by John:
He states in chapter 1:
"His face was like the sun shining in full
strength" (1:16). This a very descriptive
statement that conveys something of the awesome majesty and holiness of God.
We cannot look at the sun with our naked eye without endangering or permanently damaging the
delicate retina. We must have a dark screen or other protection lest we go blind. The light is too great for us.
Just so, the holy radiance of the Lord cannot be viewed by human sight. His glory is too awesome and too brilliant to
be endured.
In other words, when Jesus comes again, He shall no longer appear as a lowly Servant and as
the Lamb of God, but as the majestic Lord of the universe, whose face shall shine as the sun and the heavens and earth (and
all who see Him) shall flee away! In His light, there is no place to hide - and no darkness can escape His light!
No wonder John fell at His feet as though he were dead! What a contrast between this
descriptive vision and what is today portrayed in our churches! The church in North America today has not only lost
its identity (as Charles Colson states), but the Church has also lost the sense and reality of the awesome holiness and majesty
of God!
All across North America, the Church has succumbed to the popular cult of a "feel
good" religion and is attempting to make church "worship" services "fun" in order to attract the world. God, it
seems, doesn't really matter; after all, He's just "our buddy" and exists only to shower us with happiness and self-esteem
so we can be "self-actualized".
In other words, God has become our servant to make us "healthy, wealthy and wise". But
this whole concept is foreign to the holy Scriptures and orthodox Christianity! The Bible states "Worship the Lord
in the beauty of holiness." (Ps. 29:2 and 1 Chron. 16:29)
John also describes the Lord's head and hair as being as "white as wool", and "white as snow"
(1:14). Using these and other descriptive words reveal Jesus as the "Ancient of days" (see Daniel 7:9). The "whiteness"
refers to wisdom, dignity and holiness. He is portrayed as the One who was before all things, and One so
holy that in the blazing brightness of His glory all things seem dirty and soiled!
He is also described as holding "seven stars in His right hand". These are the "angels"
(pastors, messengers) of the seven churches which are described as seven "lamp-stands" (1:20).
In other words, He holds the Church in His hand - which He sustains as a glory to Himself.
Yet the Church is no more than a "lamp-stand". The lamp stand does not create the illumination. It only holds
the illumination and expresses it.
The Church then, is like the planets - which shine, not with their own light, but reflect
the light of the sun.
If the Church mimics the world, it no longer shines in the dark as a reflection of Christ's
light - but only deepens the darkness around it!
In the Old Testament, the seven-branched lamp-stand in the Holy Place represented the testimony
of God's truth as it was to be carried by the nation Israel - to the world (society) around it.
In the book of Revelation, the lamp-stands symbolically emphasise that the Church's function
in society is to reflect the light of Jesus Christ in a dark world.
- The Church can do this ONLY through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit and the annointed
preaching of God's holy Word (the "two-edged sword" in the mouth of the Risen Lord). This can NEVER be achieved
by "fun" services or clever programs!
If there is one message that shines through the first chapter of this Book, it is the holiness
and awesomeness of the Risen Lord Who has created the Church to reflect His light in a dark world.
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