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1: The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
The term Apocalypse is not applied to any Old Testament book. The book of Daniel appears the closest to it, but God told Daniel to seal the mysteries up until the time of the end. John on the other hand is told that it is time for the revealing because the time was at hand. All of this revealing came from Jesus and was carried by an angel to John, John simply wrote down what the Lord revealed to him. Some try to make the angel and Jesus one and the same. Jesus is not an angel, he is the creator and it pleased God for him to be the creator and his Son, God did not choose an angel.

Revelation 22:16: I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

The four Gospels and the book of Acts are a revealing of the first Advent of Christ, the letters are a revealing of the benefits of it, but the book of Revelation is about the second Advent of Christ and the events that would lead up to it.The Book of Revelation is for all of God’s children not just to John or the seven Churches of Asia, but every Christian in the world.

2: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
John wrote the book of Revelation down as God gave it to him for a record and a testimony of all things that Jesus revealed to him. John knew that Jesus wanted him to share this message with everyone.

3: Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
"Revelation" to the Divine Being who reveals His will, here Jesus Christ. God gave the revelation to Jesus: He by His angel revealed it to John, who was to make it known to the Church. John said that we would be blest to read and adhere to the words of this prophecy, a warning "the time is at hand." It seems while reading this book that Christ is at hand or about to appear any second. Yet at the time it was written it was almost two thousand years ago. The way man computes time is no comparison to the way God computes time. Secondly "the time is at hand" would certainly be applicable to the seven Churches of Asia whose circumstances and spiritual condition were in a state of judgment.

4: John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
John the Apostle, would be recognized by the seven churches of Asia as one having Gods authority as an apostle and could be trusted for the truth. John greeted the seven churches with a similarity that Paul often spoke by saying "Grace be unto you, and peace," but John said something different when identifying God. It was said in the this fashion, "from him which is, and which was, and which is to come." This could be used for either the Father or the Son. It is easy to define this as being Jesus because he came to the earth and was, he is, because he is risen and is alive for evermore and that he is still yet to come, speaking of his 2^nd Advent or appearing.

In this particular case it is speaking of the Father who was sitting on the throne. We know that it is the Father because in the fifth chapter we see the Lamb, who is Jesus, go the throne and receive the book that is sealed with seven seals. This may sound confusing but it is very revealing to see this. Jesus said my Father and I are one. I am not trying to say that Jesus and the Father are one and same person, they are not. But, when Jesus came to this earth he came to show us the Father. The Father was in him from the beginning of his ministry and was revealed to us in the person of Jesus, he was. The Father is still with us and revealed to us through his son in the Spirit. Jesus said that he and his father would make their abode in us, he is (John: 14:23). 2Cor: 5:19: To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself. The Father is to come to us at the appearing of Christ and we that are still alive at his appearing will be able to see God for the first time. So the Father is to come to us in His Son, he is to come. We will see this same phrase "which is, and which was, and which is to come", in a description of Jesus himself in verse 8 of this same chapter.

In this chapter of Revelation we will get a look at the Trinity being revealed to a certain extent. In the next few verses we will see Jesus, in this verse we see the Father and we also see the Holy Spirit being described as the seven Spirits that are before his throne. The Holy Spirit is described this way for our understanding, not confusion. There are seven Continents on this earth, the people during John’s time did not realize this, but today we know it is true. The number seven in God’s numbers define a sum, or total. The number "seven", is often described by the Church as being God’s Holy number. This is not describing spiritual attributes such as the ones found in Isaiah 11 verse 2. Simply because there are too many more things that apply as a spiritual attribute, such as; the spirit of love, the spirit of grace and so forth. The number seven is showing the fullness of the Holy Spirit as being poured out and being given in the full measure that God is giving to all of mankind through out the entire earth. Of course Jesus was given the Spirit without measure because of his complete understanding of all things. The seven Spirits of God are the same view as the seven churches of Asia. In reality the Church in Asia was only one church. It was the locations of the seven churches that they are spoken of in this manner. The same with the seven Spirits of God, there is only one Holy Spirit according to Ephesians 4:4: There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling. This is speaking of the Church and the Holy Spirit. We will see the Holy Spirit described again by the horns and eyes on the Lamb in Revelation chapter five.

5: And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
This is a continuation of John’s greeting that now includes Jesus Christ. John describes Jesus as "the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth".

Jesus was the faithful witness because he always spoke the truth no matter what the opposition, he never sought to please men as men often do. He came to reveal the Father’s will to this world and it led him to his death at the cross.

John described Jesus as the first begotten of the dead. This did not mean that no one had ever been resurrected from the dead. For example, Lazarus and the widow’s son were both raised from the dead. These were raised from the dead to die again, but Jesus was raised again for eternity and became what the apostle Paul called the first-fruits of the resurrection that is yet to come. 1^st Corinthians 15:23: But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

John described Jesus as being the prince of the kings of the earth. The kings that he is referring to is not those of the Church who have been made kings and priest, but are the rulers of this earth, any and all that are in authority and rule over mankind. Here Jesus is spoken of as being the prince of these people. This does not mean that they all believe and recognize his authority. It is simply the truth. God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ to all men, many do not recognize or believe but it does not alter the truth. Jesus is Lord therefore the prince of the kings of the earth.

John also continues his greeting as from Jesus described as being the one who loved us and washed from our sins with his own blood. The love that Jesus has for us is not an earthly type of love, but a perfect love that looks beyond our faults. His love is eternal, a never-ending love. He proved this by going to the cross to die for us. We are now washed from our sins and cleansed from all unrighteousness so that we can spend eternity with him. This is his love for us.

6: And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
The oldest manuscripts read, "He hath made us, " this tells us that it is God, not us that have made us kings and priests. They also read that "he has made us a kingdom of kings and priest." The Children of God make up the Kingdom of God. We are kings in relationship to man, priests in relationship to God, serving him night and day in spiritual matters. Someday this will become more apparent after Christ has established his throne on the Earth for a thousand years reign. He that is faithful in little will be ruler over much.

Notice that John said, "unto God and his Father." The Father is first named: God the Father, which may be taken either essentially, for God as God, or personally, for the first person in the ever-blessed Trinity, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

John then said, "to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever." May God be glorified forever, and may his authority and powers be established forever. John did not doubt as to whether God’s authority would last forever but was showing his desire for this to happen.

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.
John was moved as to say behold, another meaning lo, "he cometh with clouds". Clouds are often taught to mean the great number of Saints that will return with him at his coming. This is a possibility, however many theologians believe that it is simply a fulfillment of Acts 1:11 that said that Jesus would return in like manner. This was spoken by angels as Jesus was taken away on a cloud. So to me it could be both, whatever the meaning we know that this is the great expectation of the Church that Jesus is coming back to reign and rule for a thousand years, then the New Heaven and New Earth.

In this verse it says every eye shall see him, it is certain that this will happen. It is important to realize the difference between the catching away or the rapture of the Church and the actual coming of the Lord to put down his enemies and to establish his reign.

John said "and they also which pierced him." John is the only one in the Gospels that mentions Jesus being pierced. John witnessed this himself as him and Mary the mother of Jesus, watched while Jesus being crucified. This is not only speaking of those who actually pierced Him, but those who did so by their sins, shall look with trembling upon Him. It is followed by all kindred of the earth shall wail because of him. This is showing God’s fiery judgment on the ungodly at the appearing of Christ at the second Advent. This will be the time for the Battle of Armageddon and the judgments that will follow.

John completed this verse with even so, Amen. It grieves John to think on those who will wail and suffer judgment because they refuse to receive Christ and be saved. But there is nothing that can change this fact, so therefore let it be so, Amen.

8: 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.
Greek, "I am the Alpha and the Omega," The first and last letters of the alphabet. God in Christ comprises all that goes between, as well as the first and last. This verse is speaking of Christ himself. Jesus is all and must become everything to a believer. He is the beginning of creation and all things that will make it to him, will be in the end of all of this world that we know of. We will live forever because he defeated death, he is the end of death and all the death that this present world brings. To those who hold their Church doctrines dear it is worth the evaluation that Christ must become everything to us. Some preach Christ as merely the addition to the law, for example an ice cream sundae. The Law or church doctrines being the ice cream and topping with Christ only being the cherry on top of it to make it complete. Christ is the whole ice cream sundae, he is the ice cream, the topping and the cherry and we are complete in him.

Again we see the words which is, and which was, and which is to come. He is all of the fullness of the Godhead bodily therefore in these scriptures Jesus is described as being the Almighty. God made it so. The meanings of these sayings are simple to understand. Jesus was the Messiah, or the Christ that was to come, therefore he was. We know that he is because he was raised from the dead and seated at the right hand of the Father. He now lives in us, therefore he is. We are now looking forward to the day that He will return and we will see him as he is and be changed to be like him, therefore he is that which is to come.

9: 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.
John wanted to remind those who were to read his letter that he saw himself as their brother and companion in tribulation, in the kingdom and in the endurance of the faith. He spoke of a time that he was on the Island of Patmos. He was there because he was exiled to it for preaching the Word of God and for sharing his testimony about Jesus. The Church in those days went through a certain amount of severe persecution from time to time.

10: I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
I like and agree with the this belief from the Jameison-Faussett-Brown 1871Commentary that said this:
"I was--Greek, "I came to be"; "I became."
in the Spirit--in a state of ecstasy; the outer world being shut out, and the inner and higher life or spirit being taken full possession of by God's Spirit, so that an immediate connection with the invisible world is established. While the prophet "speaks" in the Spirit, the apocalyptic seer is in the Spirit in his whole person. The spirit only (that which connects us with God and the invisible world) is active, or rather recipient, in the apocalyptic state. With Christ this being "in the Spirit" was not the exception, but His a continual state." [Jameison-Faussett-Brown]

John is in the Spirit or a spiritual trance such as the one that Peter had when he was on the rooftop and had a vision about a sheet being let down from heaven. In this spiritual trance John heard a voice behind him. It was a great voice. John described this voice as being as of a trumpet. Trumpets are used to sound an alarm or to make a sound for battle. This voice reminding him of a trumpet is for both. The events that are to take place are the cause for this. As in the case of the seven churches it was the message was to sound a warning. As in the seven Trumpets to become a signal as each one occurs to signal the approaching coming of the Lord.

John was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day. According to many ancient writings the Lord’s day was the day that Christ began creation and the day that Christ was resurrected from the dead to bring new life to everyone. This would be on the first day of the week rather than the last day of the week. Although everyday of the week is Holy and should be consecrated to the Lord, the historical church worshipped on Sunday. Hebrews tells us that when we entered into Christ we entered into that day of rest. Jesus said that he would give us rest unto our souls. Christ is the Sabbath, it is in him that we rest from our labors and cease from our own (Hebrews 4:3-10). But, John according to old manuscripts was in the spirit on Sunday.

11: Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

Once again we hear Jesus say that he is Alpha and Omega only this time instead of saying the beginning and the end, he says the first and the last.

John is told to write down what he sees in the Spirit and to put it in a book and send it to the seven churches of Asia. The seven churches of Asia are listed as Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.

There are many theories about these seven churches. Some believe that what is to be written was to the whole Church all over the world. Others believe it was written to the seven churches that were on this list during the days of John, while others believe that these seven churches represent seven church ages that would follow John down through the years to come. I believe that this message was written to those seven churches at that time to warn them of certain evils that were headed their way. But, I also believe that this same church scenario will occur again. Meaning that I believe that just before the Tribulation period begins that this message will go out to the whole church that is in the middle East to warn them to stay in tune with God. Although many of these cities do not exist today I believe that it will be given as an overhaul message to churches and people of those churches who are living in the Middle East. The Anti-Christ will take over that part of the world and God will want his people to be ready, some will escape.

12: And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
John then turned around to see whom it was that was speaking to him. When John had turned he saw seven golden candlesticks. Because verse 11 spoke of the seven churches of Asia, and this seems to be God’s point of conversation, then it is only natural to assume that these seven golden candlesticks are the seven churches of Asia. Since there are historical records of more churches in Asia at John’s time we cannot believe that these seven churches were the only churches in Asia. They are seven churches in particular that God has chosen to use as examples to bring perfection to the Church or body of Christ at that time and down through the ages to come. These churches would be given specific instruction on the things that please God and the things that don’t.

The candlesticks are golden which is an allegory of how precious they are in the eyes of the Lord. The light that comes from these candles is the light of the Lord, it is something that we are unable to do in ourselves. The church is the candlestick that God’s light will shine from. We are vessels for the light who is Christ.

13: And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
In the midst of the seven candlesticks that John saw was a person that he recognized. There is only one who could be described as the Son of man and that was Jesus. There was something different because Jesus is shown in a different kind of appearance much like the one when he was on the mount of Transfiguration. The things he is wearing is similar to that of a priest and he is the high priest of the Church today.

However the garments he wears are more descriptive of the items found in the Tabernacle in the wilderness. Around his chest is a golden wrap that is described as a girdle. This golden wrap is the same as in the furniture in the Tabernacle that was located inside the Holy Place. Everything outside in the outer court were made of brass. This golden wrap around his chest is an allegory of the relationship and love that he has between the Church and himself. It is very valuable and as gold, everlasting. In the tabernacle were the seven-branch candlestick, the table of shew-bread and the altar of incense. All of these were overlaid with gold. We see bread for priests, he has made us kings and priest. We see the incense Altar, the altar of worship and praise, also a symbol of our laying down our lives as a living sacrifice. The seven-branched candlestick symbolizing the Church that would be from all seven continents of the world. The golden girdle represents all of these things and the everlasting love that Christ has for us.

14: His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
John knew that he was the Son of man, because he knew him and walked with him. But John noticed that hair on Jesus was as white as snow and his eyes were as a flaming fire.

The white hair does not represent old age because Isaiah said in chapter 1:11 that are sins would become white as snow, that being after Christ has cleansed us from them. Hoary hair was the description of those who were old. Hoary hair is a sign of decay, whereas white hair describes the purity, holiness and glory of Jesus. This was seen as Jesus was transfigured before his disciples when he became white in appearance.

The fiery or eyes who were as a flame in appearance is descriptive of penetrating eyes, who can see into the very heart of a person. Also they could appear this way to those who about to face his wrath. I also believe that it could represent a flame of passion, to receive those he loves at his coming. This is not to taken in an evil sense, but a good sense such as he disciples saying to one another as the walked on the road to Emmaus, " Lk:24:32: And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?" Could this fire be connected to the fact that Christ is opening the revelation such as he did with his disciples who said this concerning "while he opened to us the scriptures."

15: And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
John noticed that the feet of Jesus were like fine brass as if they burned in a furnace. Jesus was apparently barefooted. The priest in the Temple when ministering in the sanctuary was always barefooted. This again reminds us that Christ is the High Priest of our Souls.

His feet appeared as glowing brass as from a furnace. This is a symbol of another piece of furniture that was in the Tabernacle in the wilderness. Everything in the courtyard was made of brass, everything in the Tent was overlaid with gold. The reason we see the feet of Jesus as burning brass is a shadow of the Brazen Altar at the gate of the Tabernacle. This brazen Altar was the Altar of sacrifice, it was the same altar for the sin offering. Jesus is the door or gate to enter into Salvation. It is at his feet that we must come to be saved. It is there that we find that God has already made a sacrifice for sins and that our sins will become white as snow. We must come to the brass before we can enter into the gold of the sanctuary where we will do our service for Christ.

His voice sounded like many waters, or the sound of a multitude. In Ezekiel 43:2 he said that his voice was like the sound of many waters. In Daniel 10:6, Daniel said that it was "like the voice of a multitude." Have you ever been to a large stadium and listen to sound of people cheering? It sounds like a waterfall or a large river that is swiftly running past us, like many waters. The reason he sounds as a voice of a multitude of people is because that is the way he speaks to the world today. Through his Church who is a multitude of voices he is sharing the Gospel with everyone. God is speaking to the world through the Church.

16: And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
John noticed that Jesus had seven stars in his right hand. Jesus will later say that this is the seven angels, greek word aggelos meaning angel or messenger from God. These men must be the seven Pastors of the seven churches of Asia because God holds them accountable for the conduct and condition of the seven churches.

Then it says that out of the mouth of Jesus went a sharp two-edged sword. The Greek word for this was "romphaia," the Thracian long and heavy broad sword. This sword is an allegory of "the Word of God" that is preached and taught. The Church has received this word from his own lips, first to the disciples from them to us. Paul called this the sword of the Spirit. There are two sides to this sword, there are two parts of the Word of God that we call the Bible. The Old and New Testaments. It will be this sword that will destroy his enemies at Armageddon. It his is promise in the Word that he will destroy the Antichrist and he will. This same sword is a blessing to you and me as Christians because God uses it to cut away the things that we do not need and replaces those things with his righteousness.

Again we see his countenance as it was on the mount when he was transfigured before three of his disciples. His countenance is not that of man but of the God that he is in all of his glory.

17: And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
John said that when he saw him he fell at his feet as dead. It is the same feeling that Peter had when he met Jesus. He said, "depart from me Lord for I am a sinful man". When Peter said this, the Lord encouraged him by telling him to follow him and he would make him a fisher of men. When John fell prostate, just as him and two other disciples did when Jesus was transfigured before their eyes, Jesus encouraged them by saying Be not afraid. Now we see Jesus place his right hand upon him. The right hand symbolized great approval the same as when the children of Israel placed their right hands on their first born for the blessing.

Jesus told him to fear not because he was the first and the last. When God spoke to Jesus and asked him to create all of creation Jesus was before all things that were ever made. John said that all things were made by him and that there was not anything made that wasn’t made by him. It pleased God that all the fullness of the God-head should dwell in his son. Jesus will be the last when it comes to creation because everything that will survive the end will have to be in him. He will remain forever, and everything that is in him will stand.

18: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
This is Christ speaking. He is identified by the statement "I am he that liveth and was dead and, behold , I am alive forevermore." He was crucified and resurrected from the dead. He said amen as to say and that’s the way it was supposed to be.

He said that he had the keys of hell and death. This is to say that he has authority over hell and death. What ever he wants to do concerning both hell and death he has the authority and power to do.

19: Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
The things John has seen are things that John will see in his visions. The things which are, are the present state of the churches that he is writing to and the things which shall be hereafter are the things symbolically shown throughout the book of Revelation. These things will reveal future events before the coming of the Lord, at his coming, the thousand year reign of Christ and the New Heaven and the New Earth.

20: The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
The mystery of the seven stars was described as being the angels of the seven churches and he said the seven candlesticks were the seven churches. It would be easy to say that this the world wide Church of believers, but he was not saying that. He was speaking about the seven churches of Asia. It could be to individuals or Churches who are the same problems we could say that it is to everyone in that sense. But this message is defined to these seven churches for these reasons. Number one, we will learn that the seven stars are the pastors of these churches. Question, who are the seven pastors today? We would have to believe that if this message is to the worldwide church in general, then there must also be seven men in this world that God holds accountable for the condition of these churches. Number two if this is speaking to seven church ages down through time then we would ask the same question. Who were the seven pastors in those church ages that God held personally responsible for the conditions of the churches in those ages? So this message was to the seven churches of Asia at the time of John.

The seven stars as being angels that watch over each church would be understandable except for one thing. In the following chapter the Lord tells John to write a letter to each of the seven churches. He tells John to give the message to the angel of each church. He then makes the angel responsible for the conduct of each church. It would be hard to believe that God would hold angels responsible for the conduct of the Church. The Pastors are held accountable for the church and this makes a lot more sense. These stars represent the Pastors that are over the congregations in each one of these seven churches. The key word in this is messenger. In Strong’s Concordance the word angel is the Greek word "Aggelos" that means a messenger, envoy, one who is sent, an angel, a messenger from God. A Pastor is considered a messenger from God.

God Bless You.
Tommie Spurgeon

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