Preface

Many people say, "Stay out of the book of Revelation. That's a sealed book and you really can't understand it." It's true that, by attempting to interpret Revelation, people have done many weird things with it. But, in reality, it's a book that was not intended to be sealed. It was intended to be read and understood.

In this commentary on the book of Revelation we have sought to express concepts and conclusions drawn after years of study. We do not ask you just to accept them because we have stated them, but we urge you to search the Scriptures to see if these things be so.

The Bible says,

These [people of Berea] were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so (Acts 17:11).

Also, the Scriptures tell us to "prove all things" and to "hold fast that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21).

 

Forewarning

"THE END OF THE WORLD IS NEAR."

That statement used to be associated with old, gray bearded men walking barefooted in long robes with sandwich boards over their shoulders. The front of the board read "Repent" and the back read "The end of the world is near." We used to pass them off as crackpots and laugh at such a thought or idea.

But lately I've been reading not the wild fanatical statements of some old, so-called prophet but, rather, the statements of men of science, men with a Ph.D. who are highly respected for their knowledge. These men have studied the environmental conditions of the earth. Do you know what they're saying? They're saying, "The end of the world is near."

In fact, these experts are saying that man has anywhere from fourteen to forty years left upon this planet until we have so totally raped our natural resources that we can no longer survive. These men with their doctorates, who are carefully studying the balances of nature, are saying that the end of the world is near.

Is this possible? Can we really believe these ecologists? Are we really destroying nature's balances? Are we really wiping out hundreds of species, are we depleting our energy resources, and destroying the environment around us? Is it true that certain birds cannot hatch their eggs because of the DDT deposits in the eggshells? Is it true that the earth's ozone blanket is steadily disappearing? Are such things really happening? Maybe they're just trying to scare us.

However, they aren't the only ones warning us. Our militarists are telling us that the end of the world is near. They're warning us that if man engages in a full-scale atomic war, we'll exterminate ourselves from the face of the earth and it will be the end of civilization.

In the face of these warnings, the United States continues to maintain its atomic arsenal and the systems to deliver atomic bombs upon our enemies. By the same token, our enemies are maintaining their atomic arsenals and the means of delivering them upon the United States. The real danger is the widespread proliferation of nations now possessing atomic weapons. We're in this mad war of building these huge atomic arsenals. And already there are enough atomic weapons stockpiled to obliterate mankind from the face of the earth.

Not only are the ecologists and militarists warning us, but so are the diplomats. Those analysts who study world conditions tell us that the world is sitting on a powder keg - and the fuse is being lit in the Middle East. At any time the situation can explode into a full-scale conflagration of the great world powers. The end of the world is near.

Is it possible that man could come to the end of an era? Don't we just go on forever, one society replacing another, one generation following another, on and on and on? Hasn't man cried this before? What do they mean, "The end of the world is near"?

The Answer

When Christians talk about the end of the world, they mean something different than the scientists. The scientists are talking about the end of mankind. Christians are talking about the end of the cosmos. This Greek word for world means "the set order." Christians are talking about the end of the present world order which is governed by Satan and in rebellion against God.

Man has had his day, and the day of man's attempt to govern himself is about to close. For a long time we've sought to govern ourselves and to live independently from God. We've tried about every conceivable form of government. We've sought for equality and justice. We've replaced one system of government with another. But we've proven, by the variety of governmental forms tried, that it's impossible for man to govern himself without falling into corruption. Even communism, the newest form, has already slipped into an irrevocable form of corruption from which there is no recovery.

What's the answer? What's the answer to the world's cries for peace, and the world's cries for love, and the world's cries for dwelling together in harmony? There is no answer except Jesus Christ.

We who are of the church look for a new form of government - a monarchy that embraces the entire world. We're waiting for our King to come and set up that monarchy. We're waiting for righteousness to cover the earth as the waters cover the seas. This glorious coming Kingdom and the momentous events surrounding its establishment are described to us in the prophetic book of Revelation.

 

1. The Revelation

The Bible is unique and different from any other book in the world. It is a book that still stands today after years and years of criticism. It has been hammered on by all kinds of people for thousands of years. The hammers have worn out but the book still remains.

The Bible took over two thousand years to write and includes more than forty different authors. Yet, it is one, beautiful, continuous story of God's love and God's plan for sinning man.

The book of Revelation, written by the apostle John, is the last book of the Bible. It is divided into three sections or divisions. In Revelation 1:19 John was told by the angel to "write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be after these things."

In chapter one, John wrote the things which he had seen - the vision of Jesus Christ. This is the first section of the book.

In chapters two and three, John wrote the things which are the letters of Jesus to the seven churches of Asia dealing with - things concerning the church, the ministry of the church, and the witness of the church in the world. These letters are the second section of the book and they describe the various periods of church history.

From Revelation 4 onward, the third section of Revelation, John prophesied those things which are to take place after the church has been taken out of the world - the future which is about to unfold before us.

REVELATION 1:1-2

The head of your King James Bible says "The Revelation of St. John the Divine." That is not accurate. That is man's heading. The book of Revelation does not reveal St. John the Divine. It reveals Jesus Christ.

We get the truth in verse one: "The Revelation of Jesus Christ." The word revelation is a translation of the Greek word "apokalypsis" which literally means "unveiling."

Picture, if you will, a draped statue that is about to be dedicated in front of city hall. The band is playing, the mayor gives a speech, and the artist who carved the statue tells about designing it. Then, the dramatic moment comes and the canvas is lifted. Everybody sees this statue that will now adorn city hall for the next century. That lifting-off of the canvas in the Greek is the word apokalypsis. It is taking off the wraps so you can see. The book of Revelation is the unveiling of Jesus Christ. So rather than being a sealed book, as some claim, it is taking the wrap off so that we might see Jesus in His future glory.

It is extremely important for you to know what God is and who Jesus Christ is. Some of you are totally ignorant concerning God. Your hearts are darkened. You have no knowledge of Him. Some of you have a veil over your eyes and heart, and you really don't want any knowledge of God. The Bible states, "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God" (Psalm 141). The man is a fool who doesn't seek to know God.

God has spoken to man. In times past He spoke by the prophets. In these last days he has spoken to us by His own dear Son "whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds" (Hebrews 1:2). Jesus Christ is the faithful witness of what God is. If you want to know what God is like, you can look to Jesus Christ and understand what God is all about.

The Revelation [or unveiling] of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John (Revelation 1:1).

Here we find the route by which this revelation came to us. God gave it to Jesus Christ, showing Him the glory that should be revealed. Concerning the cross the Bible said, "Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame" (Hebrews 12:2). This book of Revelation, to a great extent, is the joy that was set before Jesus Christ as the Father showed Him the place that He would have in the ages to come.

Jesus, in turn, gave the revelation to His angel who brought it to His servant, John, "who bore record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw" (Revelation 1:2).

In his first epistle John wrote,

That which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life... That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ (I John 1:1,3).

John is the faithful recorder writing the things that he saw and heard, writing as the Lord dictated to him. This revelation came by vision as well as by voice. The people in the vision, the spiritual entities that John saw, were conversing with him and explaining many of the things that he saw.

REVELATION 1:3

Included in this book of Revelation is a built-in blessing.

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 1:3).

The blessing is upon those that hear and those that read this book. It was addressed to the seven churches in Asia. It was actually intended to be read in the churches and, no doubt, a copy was made for each church.

In those days they did not have bookstores or racks in the supermarkets. Writing material was very scarce. The early writing material was papyrus from Egypt. Then Egypt put a premium on it and began a papyrus embargo in order to raise prices and put the squeeze on the world. So, in Pergamos, they invented parchment as a writing material. But it, too, was very scarce. At the time of Christ there were great libraries but very few people had any books of their own. They did, however, have the materials to write personal letters. Each of the churches received a copy of the letter and it was to be read aloud in the church.

Much of the church service in those days was given to the reading of the various epistles and this book of Revelation. The blessings are to those that hear, to those that read the words of this prophecy, and to those that keep the things that are written in it.

Notice that John himself calls it a prophecy. Thus, when we read it we must look to the future. It's speaking of things that shall happen.

Interpretations

There are various interpretations of the book of Revelation. There's the preterist interpretation of the book of Revelation, which seeks to make all the events correspond to the church's struggle against imperial Rome. It sees the whole book transpiring during the period of Roman history when the church went through great persecution by various emperors. It interprets the book as completed and fulfilled.

There is the historic interpretation which sees the book of Revelation as the history of the church's struggle against the world systems. This goes beyond the Roman period and follows through to the present time.

There is also the spiritual interpretation which confuses things so completely that nobody understands what is what. This interpretation spiritualizes everything so nothing means what it says. Everything is interpreted as a spiritual allegory. When you spiritualize the Scriptures you remove any authority or teaching from them, because every man is free to interpret the spiritual allegory as he desires.

Then there is the futurist interpretation of the book of Revelation. I personally feel that the futurist view is the correct view. With the futurist view you can read the book and believe that it meant what it said, and it said what it meant. You don't have to start twisting things to make them fit here and there, and changing them to fit some scheme. The futurist view takes the Revelation just as it says, to be understood just as it is.

REVELATION 1:4-5

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 seen Spirits which are before his throne (Revelation 1:4).

The number seven is mentioned over and over throughout this prophecy. Seven is sometimes called God's perfect number because it represents completeness or totality. Seven days make a complete week, seven notes comprise the musical scale, and seven colors are in the rainbow. Thus, seven churches would indicate the complete church.

Geographically, these churches complete a small circle. There were many more churches in Asia Minor than these seven; one of the major churches, Colosse, was not addressed here. But, because seven is the number of completeness, these seven present us with the complete history of the church.

In this prophecy here also have the seven seals, the seven trumpet judgments, the seven thunders, and the seven vials of God's wrath - all of which demonstrate God's complete judgment on the earth.

It is also worth noticing that the number eight is the number of new beginnings. The eighth day starts the new week; after seven musical notes the eighth note starts the new upper scale. Since each letter of the Greek alphabet carries a numeric equivalent, it is interesting that the total numeric value of the names for Jesus in the Greek are all divisible by eight - Jesus, Christos, Kurios. He is the new beginning, and we have a new beginning in Christ.

"Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come." This is God's eternal character. God is past, He is present, and He is future. He was, He is, and He is to come. He's all these at the same time. Everything is the "eternal now" with God.

"And from the seven Spirits which are before his throne." Here (and in Revelation 3, 4, and 5) we read of the seven Spirits before the throne of God. Again, the number seven indicates the completeness of the work of the Holy Spirit. The prophet Isaiah, speaking of the ministry of Jesus Christ declared,

The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD (Isaiah 11:2).

Thus, the seven-fold working of the Holy Spirit is defined and described.

John sends the blessings from God, from the Holy Spirit, "and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness" (Revelation 1:5). Jesus Christ is the faithful witness of what God is. He came to reveal the Father.

The night in which He was betrayed, Jesus was talking with His disciples. Philip cried to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us." Jesus said, "Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?" (John 14:8-9).

Today, God wants to reveal Himself through you. It is God's purpose that the world sees Him through you. That is a very heavy obligation on our part. Jesus said, "Ye shall be witnesses unto me" (Acts 1:8). Our lives are to bear witness of Jesus Christ and who He is.

The word witness in Greek is "martus," from which we get our English word "martyr." "Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness [martyr], and the first begotten of the dead" (Revelation 1:5).

This phrase first begotten doesn't mean the first in time but the first in priority. First begotten is speaking of prominence. It refers to Jesus Christ as the most important one ever raised from the dead.

Also, Jesus was begotten of the dead unto eternal life never to die again. Others had been raised from the dead only to die a second time. But Jesus arose never to die again. In this sense, He is "the first begotten of the dead."

He is "the prince [ruler] of the kings of the earth" (Revelation 1:5). This is the title and position that Jesus will have during the kingdom age. God "has made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor" (Psalm 8:5). We see a world that is in chaos and under the power and dominion of Satan. But we're looking for that glorious coming Kingdom when Jesus will assume His position as the ruler of the kings of the earth.

Revelation 1:5 describes Jesus and His relationship to you: "Unto him that loved us." Never doubt the love of Jesus Christ for you! Satan will seek to have you doubt that love. He'll whisper, "You've been bad! God certainly doesn't love you now. You've failed! You haven't lived up to His standards. Jesus doesn't love bad little boys." That isn't true. Jesus loves you no matter what your condition. "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Jesus died for the ungodly. And if, while you were a sinner and rebelling against Him, He loved you enough to die for you, how much more shall you experience the fullness of that love and grace now that you've opened your heart to Him and sought to walk after Him.

Unto him that loved us, and [because He loved us] washed us from our sins in his own blood (Revelation 1:5).

For the blood of Jesus Christ, God's son, cleanses a man from all sin. In His love, Jesus shed His blood and washed you from all of your sins. For "all we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6). He died in our place.

REVELATION 1:6-7

"And hath made us kings and priests unto God" (Revelation 1:6). Or, more literally, "hath made us a kingdom of priests unto God."

A priest of the Old Testament had a two-fold ministry. First of all, he represented the people before God. While doing this, he wore a breastplate with twelve stones representing the twelve tribes of Israel. His second function was to represent God to the people. He was the go-between for the people and God. Jesus is our great high priest who has come down to the earth and represented God to us and has now entered into heaven for us. There He is representing us before the Father (Hebrews 4:14).

In the kingdom age we will be a kingdom of priests, going before Christ for the people and representing Christ to the people. "To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen" (Revelation 1:6).

Jesus Christ will be coming back to the earth very soon to establish the Kingdom of God. The age of man is almost over. The world is being destroyed by man.

And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened (Matthew 24:22).

We're living in those days that are now being shortened. God is doing a quick work in these days. We're coming to the end of the age and Jesus will soon be returning.

When He returns we'll be returning with Him. "Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints" (Jude 14). "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory" (Colossians 3:4). He will be coming in clouds with great glory to establish the Kingdom of God, and we will be reigning with Him for one thousand years upon the earth. The Bible speaks of a yearly convocation when we shall gather in Jerusalem to bring the offerings and the glories of the nations unto Him (Zechariah 14:16). The Scripture doesn't specify the nature of our reign or what it will be like, but it's going to be great!

"Behold, he cometh with clouds" (Revelation 1:7). There are many places where the coming of Jesus Christ is mentioned as coming in clouds. "And they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory" (Matthew 24:30). Daniel prophesied, "One like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days" (Daniel 7:13).

When Jesus was with His disciples on the Mount of Olives, He ascended into heaven and a cloud received Him. The angels (the two men in white apparel) said,

Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven (Acts 1:1).

"Behold, he cometh with clouds." This could be the clouds of saints, the great cloud of witnesses, with which Jesus shall return. "And every eye shall see him" (Revelation 1:7).

When God comes again, it's not going to be a secret coming. It won't be in some secret chamber and revealed only to a specified, elect few. The whole world is going to know when He returns.

"And every eye shall see him." This surely refutes the theory that the coming of Jesus Christ was a secret event in 1848, 1878,1917,1918, or one of the many dates that people have given for His coming. When you confront them, quoting "Every eye shall see him," they say that Jesus came in a secret chamber, and only the real initiated knew that He came. But Jesus said, "If they shall say unto you... Behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not" (Matthew 24:26). "Every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him," that is, the Jewish people (Revelation 1:7).

Zechariah also prophesied this coming again of Jesus Christ. He said the Jews will say unto Him, What are these wounds in your hands?" (Zechariah 13:6). Zechariah said, "And they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him" (Zechariah 12:10).

The Jews will weep over the fact that they failed to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. They will actually bewail and mourn the spiritual blindness that had gripped their nation in the time of Christ and is gripping their nation even now.

"They also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him" (Revelation 1:7). Zechariah describes the bewailing as a woman travailing for her only son who had died (Zechariah 12:10). The Jews will weep and cry over their national blindness.

REVELATION 1:8-9

"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" (Revelation 1:8).

In describing His eternal nature, God declares that He is the Alpha and Omega. That is the Greek for A and Z - the first and the last letters of the Greek alphabet. God is the totality. He is the beginning and the ending. It all started with God and it all ends with God. He is, He was, He is to come. He is eternal.

In Revelation 21:6 Jesus says the same thing. From this we conclude that Jesus also is eternal - co-eternal with the Father, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending.

John describes the circumstances by which the vision first came to him. "I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation" (Revelation 1:9). The beautiful humility of John. He is not coming on as a great leader demanding submission to his authority. He calls himself a brother."

God never intended a spiritual hierarchy to be established within the church. We're all part of one body. That is so glorious! God has no favorites or specials. "God is no respecter of persons" (Acts 10:34), which means that God is as interested in you as He is in Billy Graham and as He was in Dwight Moody, Charles Finney, John Wesley, John Knox or Martin Luther. God didn't love them any more than He loves you. God didn't listen to them any more readily than He will listen to you.

John said, "I'm a brother and a companion." Pray to God that men within the ministry today will have the same attitude as a brother and a companion. As Paul said, "We are laborers together with God" (I Corinthians 39). We're all one in this body of Christ. We all share together. We're all just people. When the crowd was going to worship Paul, he tore his clothes and said "Hey, I'm just a man like the rest of you! I'm no god!" (Acts 14:14-15).

We're all equal in the eyes of the Lord. God considers us as individuals and loves us as individuals. He is no respecter of persons. You can't buy God. You can't influence God. You can't con God. He is the same to everybody. You can't bully or pressure Him. Looking at Him, what can you do for Him? People are always trying to peddle influence in the world. You can't peddle any influence with God. He treats us all alike and loves us all the same.

"John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ" (Revelation 1:9). The patience of Jesus Christ is the waiting for Jesus Christ to return.

James wrote, "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious [perfect] fruit of the earth" (James 5:7). Peter encouraged us to have patience in waiting for the Lord (II Peter 38-15). Paul also encouraged us to have patience - waiting for the coming of the Lord (I Thessalonians 1:10, et al).

John "was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the Word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ" (Revelation 1:9).

Persecutions - The first major persecution under the Roman Empire took place as the result of Nero's reign. Thousands of Christians were crucified and executed. During Nero's persecution Paul and Peter were both killed.

Then under the reign of Domitian (81-96 A.D.) the second persecution took place. About forty thousand more Christians were put to death for their faith. It was during this time that John was exiled to the Island of Patmos. There, John received these visions from the Lord.

John, the overseer of the church in Ephesus, was exiled to the Island of Patmos because of the Word of God and his testimony of Jesus Christ. According to Eusebius, the church historian, John was boiled in oil. This, though, had no adverse effect on him, and he was sent to the small, craggy, rocky Island of Patmos off the coast of Asia Minor, about thirty-two miles from Ephesus in the Aegean Sea.

John was exiled to the Island of Patmos because God had a special message to give him. God had to get him in a quiet place, away from the disturbances and pressures of the church in Ephesus. Whether or not he was still on the Island of Patmos when he actually wrote the letter is uncertain. After his exile on Patmos (c. 96 A.D.), John returned to Ephesus where he eventually died. It is possible that when he came back to Ephesus John wrote this book of Revelation, the last of the New Testament canon of Scriptures.

REVELATION 1:10A

"I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day" (Revelation 1:10a). This can have two possible meanings. First, it can mean that the revelation came to John on a Sunday. It seems that early in the church Sunday was referred to as the Lord's day, being the eighth day and the first day of the week. Sunday was the day in which Jesus rose from the dead. It was a day when the church was accustomed to gathering together. Paul told the Corinthians to bring their offerings when they gathered together on the first day of the week so there would be no collections when he came (I Corinthians 16:1-2). In Acts the Christians gathered together on the first day of the week to break bread (Acts 20:7).

Early in church history Sunday was called the Lord's day. It was not a change that was brought about by Constantine, which the Seventh-day Adventists would have you believe. In fact, Tertullian, who wrote almost two centuries before Constantine, said that Sunday should be the only day on which the church would have communion, because Jesus rose on the first day of the week. Of course that was his logic and not necessarily true, but it shows that the first day of the week was set apart early in church history as a time for the worship of Christ. John may have been saying that he was in the Spirit or in a spiritual trance on Sunday.

A Time Chamber

With equal authority from the Greek, Revelation 1:10a could be translated, "I was in the Spirit unto the day of the Lord" rather than "on the Lord's day." This would mean that the Lord put John into a time chamber, so to speak, and transferred him to the end of the age. There John saw all the battles and judgments that are described in the Revelation. The Lord took him out in time to the day of the Lord, and John recorded these events as though he were actually there.

When Jesus took His disciples unto the Mount of Transfiguration, He took them into a kind of time chamber. Prior to this, He had said, "Some of you here are not going to taste of death, until you see the Son of man coming in his kingdom." Six days later He took Peter, James, and John up to the top of the high mountain. There He was transfigured before them. His raiment was white as the light and His face did shine like the sun. There appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking to Jesus about things of the kingdom (Matthew 16:28 - 17:4).

What happened? The disciples were taken to a time zone which is yet future to us. They saw the Lord's future glory. He was talking with Moses and Elijah about the kingdom age.

John, possibly, was also taken in a time chamber by the Lord. It would be very easy for God, who is eternal, to put John into that eternal dimension for a moment and take him out to the end of the age where he could see all these things that are going to happen.

God has already seen the things that are transpiring on the earth today. He has omniscience. He knows all things. God knows exactly what the next move will be, how it'll take place, where it's going to transpire. Your life is like a rerun as far as God is concerned.

And so, it was very likely that John saw the future coming of Jesus Christ. I personally believe that this is the intent here. "I was taken in the Spirit unto the day of the Lord."

REVELATION 1:10B-16

John continues the vision: I "heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 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. And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks" (Revelation 1:10b-12).

The "seven golden candlesticks" takes us back to the tabernacle in the wilderness (Exodus 25:31-39). A part of its furnishings was a golden menorah, a candelabrum with three branches protruding from each side of the main stem. These seven sticks had little cups which served as candleholders. This furnished the light in the sanctuary.

These seven golden candlesticks represented what the nation Israel was to be to the world. It was to be God's light to the world.

The seven golden candlesticks, when applied to the church, show God's intention for the church in the world. The church is to be God's light in the world. Jesus said, "Ye are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14).

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 breasts with a golden girdle (Revelation 1:13).

Jesus is walking in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks and is described as the Son of man. Jesus made reference to Himself as the Son of man as well as the Son of God. The Son of man was a prophetic reference to Daniel's prophecy concerning the second coming of Jesus Christ the King, and was one of the titles of the Messiah (Daniel 7:13-14).

John then describes a little bit of His clothing:

Clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the breasts with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; and his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength (Revelation 1:23-16).

His face was just brilliant, like looking into the sun, and He was walking in the midst of the candlesticks.

Jesus said, "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst" (Matthew 18:20). Here John sees Jesus in the midst of His churches. Jesus is in the midst of His church as we gather together in His name. He is present with us. He has promised to bestow upon us His love, His grace, His kindness, His mercy, His Word. Jesus is here to minister to you and to your needs. He is still in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks - His church through the ages.

John saw Him holding the seven stars in His right hand. The seven stars are the seven angels of these churches (cf. Revelation 1:20). The word angel translated in Greek means "messenger," which is usually the pastor. What joy and comfort to the pastor to realize that Jesus holds him.

This is the only description of Jesus Christ in the New Testament. We have one description of Him in the Old Testament in Daniel (Daniel 7:9-10). Revelation 1:13-16 is not a description of a suffering Savior but of our exalted Lord in His glory in heaven. John sees Him in His glory and describes Him in that glory.

Jesus said in His prayer in John 17, "Father, I would that they that you have given me, might see me in my glory that I had with thee before the world was" (John 17:5, 24). He asked for that glory to be returned, and then He asked that we might see Him in that glory.

Here John sees Jesus and what He'll look like when we see Him. His face is shining like the sun at noontime. His head and His hair are like wool, white as snow. His eyes are like flames of fire and His feet like fine brass heated to the point of incandescence. His words sound like a great waterfall. Out of His mouth is a sharp two-edged sword. "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword" (Hebrews 4:12).

REVELATION 1:17-18

When John saw Him, he said, "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" (Revelation 1:17).

John is really overwhelmed by the whole vision. Daniel, who also received some pretty venerable visions, was always falling on his face. He said, "And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days... I was astonished at the vision" (Daniel 8:27). He was actually sick as a result of some of these experiences of passing through spiritual dimensions and receiving these spiritual revelations. Paul the apostle received so much spiritual revelation that it actually resulted in a thorn in his flesh (II Corinthians 12:7).

Here is John falling on his face. On various occasions throughout the book John is falling down on his face. It would no doubt be a very powerful sensation to go through these kinds of experiences.

Jesus then laid His right hand on him and said,

Fear not; I am the first and the last: 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 (Revelation 2:17-18).

Jesus triumphed over hell. He triumphed over death. He rose triumphant. He said, "I have the keys of hell and death," by which He was speaking of releasing the prisoners. In Luke's gospel, Jesus described hell as being in two compartments divided by a gulf. On one side they were being comforted, the other tormented.

Isaiah prophesied concerning Jesus Christ:

"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek... to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound" (Isaiah 61:1).

Referring to those that had died, those that were captive in hell, in the grave, Jesus said, "I have the keys of hell and of death." He opened up Hades and released those souls that were in prison.

Paul said that He who has ascended is the same one who first descended into the lower parts of the earth. When He ascended He led the captives from their captivity (Ephesians 4:8-9). Peter said that Jesus went and preached to those souls that were in prison (I Peter 3:19). Jesus opened up hell and delivered Abraham and the others who by faith were believing and waiting for the coming Messiah.

REVELATION 1:19-20

The Key To The Book

The key to the book of Revelation is found here. The Lord said unto John, "Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter" (Revelation 1:19). The word hereafter in the Greek is "meta tauta" which means "after these things."

This command actually divides the book of Revelation into three sections. (1) The things which John saw, the vision of Christ in Revelation chapter one. (2) The things which are, which deals with the messages to the seven churches in Asia in Revelation chapters two and three. (3) The things which shall be meta tauta, "after these things," chapters four through twenty-two. John sees the events of the future, the things that transpire after the church has finished its mission on the earth and has been removed.

It is significant that the fourth chapter of Revelation begins with this same phrase, meta tauta, "after these things." After what things? After the things of the church are completed. "I saw a door open in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as of a trumpet saying unto me, Come up hither, and I will show you things which must be after these things [meta tauta]" (Revelation 4:1).

Beginning with Revelation 4:1, we are dealing with things that are future - things which have not yet taken place but shall take place after the church's testimony is finished upon the earth. If you follow this key, you'll find the divisions in the book of Revelation easy to understand. (1) The things which John saw. (2) The things which are. (3) The things which will be after these things.

Jesus explains to John the vision that he has seen. "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" (Revelation 1:20).

The word angels actually means "messengers." They generally refer to divine messengers, supernatural beings created by God. But the word literally is "Messenger." The "seven stars" are the messengers of the seven churches. They could refer to the ministers of those particular churches.

"And the seven candlesticks which you saw are the seven churches" (Revelation 1:20). The "seven churches" symbolically speak of completeness. I believe that in these messages we have a picture of the complete church history.

There is a three-fold application of these messages. First, they were written to the seven churches and dealt with problems within the church at that very time (local application). Second, I believe that there is an historic application in these messages, giving us the seven periods of church history. Third, I believe that even today this message is applicable because you can find these same conditions in different churches today.

In many places these messages will apply directly to us.

 

2. Four Messages

REVELATION 2:1-3

Ephesus

"Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks" (Revelation 2:1).

There are certain similarities in all the messages to the seven churches. Each message begins with a description of Christ given by Himself and then includes a description of Christ taken from the vision in Revelation 1.

"From Him who is holding the seven stars and walking in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks": a message from Jesus as He walks in the midst of His church, holding the angels of the churches.

To each of the churches Jesus declares His knowledge concerning them. "I know thy works" (Revelation 2:2).

Many times we think that we're hiding things from God. No way! He knows our works. More than that, He knows the motivation behind our works. Some of the works will be burned - those done for vainglory (to be seen of men), about which Jesus said, "You have your reward" (Matthew 6:2, 5). Every man, one day, will be judged according to his works - what manner or sort they are (Revelation 2:23, 20:13).

Jesus continues to the church of Ephesus, "I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how you cannot bear them which are evil: you have tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and have found them liars" (Revelation 2:2).

In the early church there were itinerant ministers who went from church to church. There were two companies: those who were apostles (they claimed apostleship and the authority of apostleship), and those who went around as prophets ministering to the local bodies.

In time these traveling ministers became a problem in the church because of false prophets. These deceivers would come into a church and really rip things up. To guard against this, a manual was written to warn the church against the false prophets and how to spot them. If one came along and prophesied, "Thus saith the Lord, 'Prepare a big turkey dinner'!" - he was not to eat of it. If he ate of it, he was a false prophet. If he declared to you by the Spirit that you were to give him gifts, he was a false prophet. He was to stay for two days. If he stayed any longer and tried to sponge off you, he was a false prophet. This advice was intended to keep these itinerants on the move and to prevent them from profiting from the churches.

In Ephesus the Christians exercised discernment on those who came in and claimed to be apostles but were not. "You found them to be liars." The Lord commended them for their discernment.

He commended them for their holiness. They would not bear those which were evil. He commended them for their work, their labor, and their patience. "And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast labored, and not fainted" (Revelation 2:3).

Ephesus was a working church according to Christ's description. In labor they did not faint. They had patience and discernment. They had all of these things going for them.

REVELATION 2:4-5

Return to Your First Love

Yet, the Lord said, "Nevertheless I have this against thee, because thou hast left thy first love" (Revelation 2:4).

Ephesus was a church that was still going through the motions but they had left the emotions. They were no longer motivated by the love of Jesus Christ. They were now being motivated by pressure, habit, form, or ritual.

What a sad day when your ministry turns into a job! Paul said, "For the love of Christ constraineth us" (II Corinthians 5:14). It was the love that drove Paul onward.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal... And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor... and I have not love, it profiteth me nothing (I Corinthians 13:1-3).

I can have a lot of things going for me. I can be the hardest and most diligent worker in a church. I can give myself tirelessly to the spreading of the Gospel. But if I have not love, if I have left my first love, it profits me nothing. Jesus said that, though you have all this going for you, you have left your first love.

"Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works" (Revelation 2:5).

Many people say, "Oh, you've lost your first love." You don't lose it, you leave it. If you lose something, you never know where to pick it up again. You don't know where to find it. If you leave something, you know where to pick it up again. Jesus tells us how to pick it up again.

The three R's: "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen." Remember that love that you once had? "Repent." Then Repeat. "Do the first works." Come back to that first work of love. It is first above everything else. Do your first works over again, those works motivated and prompted by love.

To most of the churches Jesus said, "Repent." There is the necessity of repentance in most churches. There were only two to whom He didn't have to say "Repent."

Repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. (Revelation 2:5).

Unless there was a repentance, a return to that first love, Jesus would remove the candlestick from its place. Where was its place? In the presence of Christ, for He walked in the midst of the candlesticks. Jesus is saying, "I will not stay around a loveless church." This is a very solemn consideration.

Unfortunately, as we look at the church today - so filled with factions, fighting, and divisions - in many cases the candlestick has been removed from its place. You go to church but you don't feel the presence and the power of Jesus Christ. Instead, you feel the factions and all the pressures and strain. Jesus said, "I won't stay around a loveless church."

REVELATION 2:6-7

"But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate" (Revelation 2:6).

"Nicolaitanes" comes from two Greek words: nikao and laos meaning "establishing a priesthood over a laity." The church of Ephesus hated that establishment of a spiritual hierarchy. Jesus said, "Which I also hate."

Why? Because, in our minds, it suddenly puts some men closer to God than others. God doesn't want anyone to feel far from Him. He wants every man to feel close to Him. God doesn't want you to feel that you have to go through someone to get to Him. He wants you to come directly to Him in His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus has opened the door to God for every man alike, and He doesn't want anyone to stand in your way of coming to Him. To each church Jesus said, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give..."

To each church there is a blessing to the overcomers. It is interesting to note, and I do bear witness, that in every church, even the most apostate, there are the individual overcomers who truly know Jesus Christ.

To the church of Ephesus He promised, "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God" (Revelation 2:7).

In the Garden of Eden God had given to man the fruit of the trees for his meat. Two specific trees were mentioned. There was the tree of knowledge of good and evil which man was forbidden to eat, and the tree of life which, if a man ate of it, he would live forever.

Adam and Eve had their choice of the trees. It would seem to me that they would have chosen immediately to eat of the tree of life. Why would they choose the tree of knowledge of good and evil over the tree of life? Why would they eat of its fruit before the fruit of the tree of life? The knowledge of good and evil, however, was more important to them than life.

In reality, man has the same choice today. You can't blame Adam for all your evils or troubles or ills, because God has given you the choice of the tree of life, if you'll just partake of it. The cross of Jesus Christ is life to those who believe and trust in Him. You have the opportunity to partake of that life in Christ.

A lot of people have intellectual hang-ups. They have made their intellect their god. Because they cannot fully understand or comprehend the meaning of the incarnation and its purpose - the substitutionary death of Christ - they do not partake of the tree of life, though the opportunity is there for them.

When Adam ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, God banished him from the Garden. The cherubim stood above the Garden with a flaming sword to protect it lest man would return, eat of the tree of life, and live forever in his sins (Genesis 2:9,16-17; Genesis 3:24).

That cherubim was not stationed there as a judgment of God but as a representative of the mercy of God. God in His mercy didn't want man to go on forever in this corrupt, sinful body. For man's sake, He put the cherubim there to keep stupid man from the garden lest he would eat of the tree of life and go on living forever in a body corrupted by sin.

Too many times people see God as a God of judgment and wrath when, in reality, He's a God of love and mercy. But they misinterpret the mercy of God for judgment. God was protecting man from himself by placing the cherubim at the entrance to the Garden to keep man from reentering.

The tree of life is in the midst of the Paradise of God, wherever that may be. He that overcomes will have the opportunity to eat of that tree. We'll partake of the tree of life!

Historically, Ephesus is the early church, the apostolic church that existed up until the time of the death of John (c. 99 A.D.). Even at the time of John's writing, the fire of love had begun to wane a bit in the early church. When they first started out they were fervent. They went everywhere preaching the Gospel. The love of Christ was driving them throughout the world. Now, they were already becoming a bit established, leaving the first love.

REVELATION 2:8-9

Smyrna

Historically, Smyrna is the church that followed Ephesus. It continued for the next couple of centuries (second to fourth centuries) and went through such tremendous persecution from the Roman government. It is thought that perhaps as many as six million Christians were martyred for their faith during the Roman government's attempt to wipe out Christianity.

"Unto the angel of the church in Smyrna" (Revelation 2:8).

If the "angel" refers to the local bishop of the church, the bishop of Smyrna was Polycarp, a disciple of John, martyred in his 90's. The government planned to kill this aged man by burning him at the stake. As the fagots were gathered around him, the executioner said, "I hate to see an old man die. Just recant Christ and we'll set you free. Then you can live your last days in peace."

Polycarp said, "For over eighty years I have served my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Not once has He denied me. I shall not deny Him."

The executioner said, "The fire will be hot."

Polycarp said, "Not nearly as hot as the fire you'll experience!"

The executioner lit the fagot. At first the flames leaped up around Polycarp but didn't touch his body. Seeing this, the executioner took a spear and thrust him through. The blood that poured out extinguished the fire. The Christians took his body and gave him a Christian burial.

It is significant, in a church whose members should suffer persecution and tribulation and have many martyred, that even the bishop of the church was put to death. The early leader was not above the people he ministered to; he shared in the trials and sufferings with his flock.

Unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive (Revelation 2:8).

Because they were to be martyred, Jesus is reminding these Christians of His triumph over death. "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live" (John 11:25). Jesus said, "Because I live, ye shall live also" (John 14:19). By reminding them of His triumph over death, He's giving them courage and strength for the hour when they would be facing death.

To the church at Smyrna John was told to write: "I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich)" (Revelation 2:9). This is in contrast to the church of Laodicea that said, "We are rich," but Jesus said, "You're poor."

The estimate of ourselves is one thing, but His estimate of us is far different. The estimate of the church of Smyrna of themselves was that of poverty. Jesus said, "Thou art rich." "Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith?" (James 2:5).

"I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan" (Revelation 2:9). Most of the persecution that came in the early church was instigated and inspired by the Jews. Wherever Paul went, the Jews followed him and stirred up agitation in each city against him.

The term "Jew" refers to one who practices Judaism. It isn't a nationality. You can actually proselyte and become a Jew, that is, a worshiper of God through Judaism. Some Jews were claiming to be worshipers of God but they were not. They had their synagogues, but Jesus said of them that they were the synagogues of Satan.

The Jews said to Jesus, "We are of our father Abraham. Who your father is nobody knows." Jesus said, "If your father were Abraham, then you would have believed in me, for Abraham testified of me." Jesus said, "You are of your father the devil, and you do his works" (John 8:31-47).

REVELATION 2:10-11

To the church of Smyrna He said, "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison" (Revelation 2:10). The Lord recognizes that Satan is behind all the persecution and tribulation of the church. Jesus said to His disciples, "In the world ye shall have tribulation" (John 16:33). The devil works through people even as God works through people. We need to realize that Satan is behind the inspiration and works of many people.

"The devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days." The "ten days" could refer to the ten great periods of tribulation under the Roman government. "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" (Revelation 2:10).

Jesus has nothing bad to say about the church of Smyrna. No call to repentance. Smyrna is the church that will be purified by persecution, They'll be martyred and experience great tribulation. Tribulation never hurt the church. It always had a purifying effect. Jesus is encouraging them to be faithful unto death and He will give them a crown of life.

There is the crown of life. There's also a crown of righteousness. Paul said,

There is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing (II Timothy 4:8).

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death (Revelation 2:11).

The second death is explained to us in Revelation 20, when all the world (excluding Christians) stands before the Great White Throne Judgment of God. Death and hell will give up the dead. Whosoever's name is not found written in the Lamb's Book of Life shall be cast into Gehenna, the second death.

Those who overcome shall not be hurt of the second death. "Blessed and holy is he," the Scripture said, "who hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power" (Revelation 20:6).

When Jesus comes again to reign upon the earth and establishes His kingdom, Satan shall be bound for one thousand years and placed in the abyss. During this period Jesus will reign upon the earth in righteousness. The church will be reigning with Him as kings and priests. At the end of the thousand years, Satan will be loosed for a short season and will go throughout the world again to deceive the nations. He'll gather a great army to try to destroy Christ and to drive Him out of Jerusalem.

At times Christians come to me and say, "At the end of the thousand years, what if I'm deceived by Satan?" I answer, "Impossible!" "Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power." You'll be in your new body, and there's no way you'll come into conspiracy with Satan at that time.

This short season will be a trial for those who have never had a trial as far as their Christian walk is concerned. Those who have been forced to live righteously during the kingdom age will be given an opportunity to do otherwise. The surprising thing is that so many will take it!

REVELATION 2:12-17

Pergamos

"And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges, 'I know thy works and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat [throne] is.'" The city of Pergamos was a city filled with sensuous worship of pagan deities.

"And thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith" (Revelation 2:12-13). A faithful remnant in this city of pagan worship is holding fast to the name of Jesus Christ. "Even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth" (Revelation 2:13).

Jesus knows the works of the church of Pergamos - holding fast to His name in a pagan world, not denying the faith even at the martyrdom of Antipas, one of its members.

"But I have a few things against thee, because you have there those that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication" (Revelation 2:14).

The worship of these pagan deities was usually marked by the most abominable practices. The pagan temples had priestesses who were actually prostitutes, and the revenue for most of the pagan temples was gained through prostitution. Part of their religious rites involved sexual orgies with these priestesses.

In that area of Asia the Gnostics said that everything material was evil. Their belief was that God had nothing to do with the material world. Therefore, it didn't matter what you did to your body. They taught that you could do anything you wanted, because God wasn't concerned with your evil body. He was only concerned with your spirit. Thus, the Gnostics allowed all kinds of lasciviousness. Peter warned against this in his epistle (I Peter 4:1-3).

In Pergamos some were saying, "We can do whatever we want! We're Christians and we're covered by grace. The body doesn't count, anyhow." Even though they were now professing Christians, they advocated worshipping in these pagan rites. This was the doctrine of Balaam - the worship of idols and committing fornication.

"Also you have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes" - the establishment of a priesthood. Jesus said, "Which thing I hate." The Lord's word to them was, "Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth" (Revelation 2:15-16).

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it (Revelation 2:17).

The "hidden manna" is that life in Jesus Christ. He said, "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger" (John 6:35).

The "white stone" was actually the stone of acceptance or approval and was used in voting. A white stone signified a "yes" vote and a black stone a "no" vote. Some clubs have adopted a similar practice today. White or black balls are dropped into a ballot box whenever an applicant is considered for membership, and he is rejected, or black-balled," if someone drops in a black ball.

Jesus said that He will give us a white stone - "Accepted." I've been accepted by God in Christ. The white stone has "a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it" (Revelation 2:17).

Two evils had begun to creep into the church - the introduction of idolatry and the introduction of a priesthood. The church of Pergamos historically is the development of the church-state system under Constantine in 316 A.D. It was the beginning of the Roman Catholic Church.

REVELATION 2:18-22

Thyatira

"And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass." "Brass" always symbolizes judgment in the Scriptures. "I know thy works, and love, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first" (Revelation 2:18-19).

This church had a lot of things going for it. Thyatira was one of the most active churches around. Works, love, service, faith, patience; tremendous characteristics - yet, the Lord said,

I have a few things against thee, because you allow that woman Jezebel, which calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols (Revelation 2:20).

That Jezebel system is the introduction of idolatry into the church and spiritual fornication. These things also took place with the nation Israel and, thus, Israel was rejected by God.

I gave her space to repent of her fornication and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds (Revelation 2:21-22).

Is the church going to go through the Great Tribulation? I must, answer, "Yes, a part of the church will be going through the Great Tribulation." The part of the church that does go through is the church of Thyatira, the woman Jezebel who failed to repent of her spiritual adultery and spiritual fornication.

Those who want to make a case of the church going through the Tribulation - this is the case that they can make. The unrepentant church of Thyatira will go into the Great Tribulation.

When God, in the Ten Commandments, specifically forbid their making any images or likenesses of things in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water beneath, why do they adorn their churches with images of Jesus, Mary, or the saints?

REVELATION 2:23-29

"And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. But that which you have already hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" (Revelation 2:23-29).

The promise to the overcomers is that beautiful promise of ruling with a rod of iron in the Kingdom of God and being given the morning star, Jesus Christ. The rod of iron signifies the type of reign during the kingdom age. People will be forced to be good. Our duties as the church reigning with Christ will be to enforce His righteousness.

 

3. Three Messages

REVELATION 3:1-6

Sardis

And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee (Revelation 3:13).

Protestantism has a name that is alive but is dead. It's tragic what has happened to the Protestant churches. A great percentage of the ministers don't believe in the virgin birth of Jesus Christ. They don't believe in His atoning death. They don't believe in heaven or hell. They practically deny the faith. So many Protestant churches are just a social club and a social organization, the term, born again, is meaningless to them. They have a name that they're alive but really they're dead. The Lord encourages them to strengthen those things which are left, because He has not found their works complete.

One thing about the Protestant Reformation - it didn't reform enough. Actually, the Protestants continued to use the many pagan customs adopted by the churches of Pergamos and Thyatira. They still had infant baptism. They still had so many pagan symbols. They still had the pagan holidays. Their reformation was incomplete.

The Lord says, "I've not found your work complete before God. Remember how you received and heard? Hold fast and repent. If you will not watch, I will come as a thief and you'll not know what hour I will come." He's warning the Protestant churches of His coming; but if they're not watching for His coming, He'll come upon them as a thief. They'll be taken by surprise.

Jesus said that we should watch and be ready for we know not what hour our Lord will come (Matthew 24:42,44). Paul the apostle said that "we are not the children of darkness that the day should overtake us as a thief, but we're children of light; therefore, walk as children of light" (Ephesians 5:8).

"Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white," the Lord said.

For they are worthy. He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment and I will not blot out his name out of the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels (Revelation 3:4-5).

What does Jesus mean about blotting names out of the Book of Life? He means just that. Don't think I'm going to take away from this book. For in the final chapter it says that if any man shall take away from this book, his name will be taken out of the Book of Life (Revelation 22:19). I don't want mine blotted out! You say, "What did He mean by that?" I don't know but I won't try to explain it away. "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" (Revelation 3:6).

REVELATION 3:7-13

Philadelphia

The church of Philadelphia is God's faithful church in the last days. God help us that we would be the church of Philadelphia.

To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that opens, and no man shuts; and shuts, and no man opens. I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name (Revelation 3:7-8).

We're not really powerful. We have a little strength. Thank God for the little strength that we have. "You have kept my word." God help us to be faithful to the Word, to study the Word, and to keep the Word as the paramount issue within the church. And we've not denied the name of Jesus Christ; we've not denied Him and who He is.

Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee (Revelation 3:9).

In the kingdom age the Jews will know that God has loved the Gentile church.

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth (Revelation 3:10).

Here is God's promise to the faithful church to keep them from the Great Tribulation. In Luke 21 Jesus said as He was talking of the events of the great tribulation, "Pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things... and to stand before the Son of man" (Luke 21:36).

Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches (Revelation 3:13).

This is the promise that we'll be a pillar in the temple of God. We will be actually a part of the kingdom age and rule and reign with Him in the New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven.

REVELATION 3:14-17

Laodicea

The church of Laodicea is the apostate church of the last days.

Write, "These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God" (Revelation 3:14).

In Revelation, Jesus is referred to as the true and faithful witness of God. "The beginning of the creation of God" the Greek does not signify that Jesus is a created being, but that He is the original cause of creation. For "all things were created by Him, and for Him: and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist" (Colossians 1:16-17). "All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:3). Jesus is the origination of the creation powers or the origin of God's creation. So He is actually the creative force, and that's what Revelation is speaking of here - the creative force of the creation of God.

I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would that you were cold or hot. So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue you out of my mouth (Revelation 3:15-16).

The reason for the lukewarm conditions: "Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing" (Revelation 3:17). Their trust in materialism has brought them to a lukewarm state. "You cannot serve God and mammon" (Matthew 6:24). Mixing the two will lead you into becoming lukewarm.

"You know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked" (Revelation 3:17). The contrasting views one was their own view about themselves, the other was God's view about them. Jesus said that you do err if you judge yourself by men (Luke 18:9-14). Many times we look around and judge ourselves by man's standard. We might think we're all right. But man's standard isn't the standard by which we're to judge ourselves or by which we'll be judged. Jesus Christ is the standard. He demonstrates to us what God intended man to be. Hold yourself up next to Him and see how you look. That will give you an idea of what the true judgment will be like. If you say, "Well, I'm better than Chuck Smith" - that's not going to buy you anything!

Jesus said, "Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:20). You'll never make it on your own righteousness. The only righteousness which is acceptable is the righteousness which God has imputed unto you by your faith in Jesus Christ. The righteousness which is of Christ through faith is the only way you'll get an entrance into the kingdom of heaven.

REVELATION 3:18-22

Those of Laodicea had their own opinion of themselves. The Lord had a different opinion of them. "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; and white raiment, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten" (Revelation 3:18-19).

"My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord... for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth" (Hebrews 12:5-6). If you're not chastened then you're a bastard. You're really not His son. God only chastens His sons. Don't get down on God when He chastens you. Rejoice! At least it proves you're His son. If He didn't care, He wouldn't even bother. This is His first cure for being lukewarm.

The second cure for lukewarmness: be zealous. Get out of that lukewarm rut. Get out of that tepid state. Become zealous for the Lord. The final cure for lukewarmness is to open your heart to God and repent. "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him [or eat supper with him], and he with me" (Revelation 3:20).

The Lord is inviting Himself into the closest, deepest, most intimate communion and fellowship with you - eating together with you, partaking with each other, becoming a part of each other by supping together. "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne" (Revelation 3:21). We'll be ruling with Christ and sitting by Him on His throne even as Jesus has been exalted and is sitting at the right hand of the throne of the Father on high. "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" (Revelation 3:22).

 

4. The Rapture

REVELATION 4:1

Here we enter into the third division of the book of Revelation. Chapter 4 begins with the Greek phrase meta tauta or "after these things."

After these things [the things of the church] I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter [also meta tauta - 'after these things'] (Revelation 4:1).

We have now come to the end of the church history upon the earth and the final message to the churches.

In His messages to the last four churches, Jesus spoke of His second coming. He warned the churches of His return. "Behold, I come quickly," He said. If they didn't repent they would be cast into the Great Tribulation. If they kept the word of His patience, Jesus promised that He would keep them from the hour of temptation.

"After these things" - after the church has finished her testimony upon the earth and God is through with us - there shall come from heaven,

The voice of the archangel, and the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord (I Thessalonians 4:16-17).

The church will be transported into heaven for a seven-year period during which time there will be Great Tribulation upon the earth. (For an expanded commentary on the rapture of the church, see Snatched Away! by the author.)

After the church's witness and work upon the earth is completed, the trump of God shall sound. The trumpet sound will be saying to the Christians, the body of Christ, "Come up hither!"

While in summer camp, I've heard the trumpet say "Rise and shine!" and I've heard the trumpet say "Go to bed." I've heard the trumpet say "Come and eat!", and at football games I've heard it say "Charge!" But I'm waiting for the trumpet to say "Come up hither!" I don't know what kind of a trumpet call it will be - but I'll understand it and recognize it the minute I hear it!

When the trump of God shall sound, the dead will be raised incorruptible. And "we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye" (I Corinthians 15:51-52), "caught up... to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (I Thessalonians 4:17). The Bible does not say that we shall be in heaven forever. It says that we shall be "with the Lord."

Wherever Jesus is, that's where everyone who is a Christian will be, because we're all part of the body of Christ. We'll never be separated from Him. While He is in heaven, we'll be in heaven. When He comes back to earth, we'll come back to the earth. When He goes into the new heaven and the new earth, we'll go into the new heaven and the new earth.

The Jehovah's Witnesses say, "I don't want to go to heaven and twiddle my thumbs for eternity." Born-again Christians don't intend to. We intend to be there for seven years while the earth goes through the Tribulation. We'll enjoy the Marriage Supper of the Lamb in heaven. Then we expect to come back to reign with Christ upon the earth. We'll reign with Him as kingdom priests on the earth for one thousand years, then enter into the new heaven and new earth wherein dwells righteousness, and we'll live and reign with Him forever.

If the Lord told me to sit on a cloud and twiddle my thumbs, I'd be the happiest thumb-twiddler in all the universe! I'm not afraid of what God has in store for me. I can hardly wait! I'm sure it'll be more exciting than twiddling my thumbs. I feel sorry for those people who degrade heaven. They say, "You're always talking about the 'sweet by and by' or the 'pie in the sky.' You should be more concerned with the 'here and now'."

It was Jesus who encouraged us and gave us this glorious hope. I'm looking forward to going to heaven. I don't care what they say, I'm anxious to see it. Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14:2-3). There's the clue. Where Jesus is, that's where I'll be, and in His presence is fullness of joy.

It took seven days for the Lord to create this beautiful world. He's been preparing heaven for two thousand years. Imagine what it must be like by now! And you don't want to go there? Friend, you can stay here in all this pollution if you want to, but I'm going up!

I believe that the rapture of the church takes place in verse one of Revelation 4 - after the things of the church history are completed. John heard a voice as a trumpet saying, "Come up hither, and I will show you things that shall be after these things." Now John will see the things that shall take place after the church is gone.

REVELATION 4:2-7

The Heavenly Scene

"And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne" (Revelation 4:2).

Why was John "in the spirit"? Because flesh and blood cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. "And one sat on the throne." This is the great, beautiful throne of God. As John looked at God, he didn't see any form.

"And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone" (Revelation 4:3). Jasper is a diamond-like, clear, crystal stone with a purple hue. The sardine stone is blood red. The sardine stone was the first stone and the jasper stone was the last stone that the high priest in the Old Testament wore on his breastplate (Exodus 28:17-20). "And there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald" (Revelation 4:3).

John saw God sitting upon His throne in majesty on high. What an awesome sight this must have been! He saw the brilliance of God like the brilliance of the jasper and sardine stones - a mixture of clear, crystal, purplish hue with blood red - and an emerald green rainbow "round about the throne" of God.

"And round about the throne were twenty-four smaller seats" The word translated seats in the King James is the Greek word for "thrones." "And upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold" (Revelation 4:4).

There are many Bible expositors who believe that the twenty-four elders are actually representative of the church. They have white robes, as does the church in Revelation 19:8, which is the righteousness of the saints. The twenty-four elders also have crowns of gold upon their heads. We the church have been promised the crowns of life, the crowns of righteousness by our Lord. Many Bible expositors see the elders representing the church on its throne, ruling and reigning with Christ in heaven. This is a very possible interpretation.

It is also possible that these elders represent the saints from the Old and the New Testaments - the twelve tribes and the twelve apostles. It is also possible that they're created beings of God like angels and cherubs. These elders may be created beings for the specific ministry of sitting on the twenty-four thrones around God's throne. We cannot know for sure.

And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God (Revelation 4:5).

Again, I refer you to Isaiah 11:2 for the seven-fold working of the Holy Spirit in Jesus Christ (see Revelation 1:4 commentary).

And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts [proper translation is "living creatures"] (Revelation 4:6).

These are not beasts like wild or dumb animals; they are actually highly intelligent created beings of God. As they are described in and compared with Ezekiel 1 and 10, we know that these are cherubim about the throne of God.

These four living creatures were "full of eyes before and behind. The first living creature was like a lion, and the second was like a calf, and the third had a face as a man, and the fourth was like a flying eagle" (Revelation 4:6-7).

Some see these creatures as manifestations of Christ in the Gospels. In the first Gospel, Matthew presents Jesus as the lion of the tribe of Judah. Mark presents Him as a calf, a beast of burden representing a suffering servant. Luke presents Him as the Son of man. John presents Him as the Son of God, the eagle representing the Divinity.

REVELATION 4:8-11

And the four living creatures had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and they worship him that lives for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created (Revelation 4:8-11).

Here we get a view of the heavenly scene. Study Revelation 4. Fix it in your mind. You don't want to look like a country bumpkin on his first trip to the big city when you get to heaven. You don't want to be looking around and asking everyone, "What's that!?"

You'll see God sitting upon the throne with the emerald rainbow about the throne. You'll see the twenty-four lesser thrones for the elders and you'll see the cherubim who stand before God continually saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come" - declaring the holiness and eternal character of God. As they do this, the twenty-four elders fall down upon the crystal sea which is before the throne of God, cast their crowns before the throne, and declare God's worthiness to receive their worship. God is worthy by virtue of the fact that He has created all things and that all things were made for Him and for His pleasure.

Now, like it or not, God created you for His own pleasure. You say, "I don't think it's fair!" Well, that's tough. That's the way it is. Like it or not, that's why you've been created.

If you truly submit to that scriptural truth, you'll find fulfillment. If you don't submit to it, you'll go around forever empty, always frustrated, and ever reaching out for something more, but never finding satisfaction. Since God created you for His pleasure, the only way your life will be meaningful and fulfilling is by bringing pleasure to God.

"Without faith it is impossible to please God: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Hebrews 11:6). When you diligently seek after God, you bring Him pleasure. The way to have fulfillment is to live a life of faith seeking after full fellowship with God. You'll find the most satisfying and complete life you can have when you're fulfilling the basic reason for God creating you.

"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." All things were created for God's good pleasure. A lot of people come down on God for this. That's their problem. You can fight against it if you want but you won't get anywhere. The best thing is to submit to it. You can fight against a block wall to get through it. You can beat yourself against it all you want, but I happen to know what's in a block wall. I've watched them put in the steel bars and pour the grout. I know that, try as you may, you'll only hurt yourself. You're not going to affect that wall one bit. You might stain it a bit with your blood, but that won't hurt it.

Likewise, you may fight against God all you want, but you're the one who's going to suffer. Your fighting doesn't take anything away from God. It's time you wake up and quit fighting against God.

 

5. Who Owns the Earth?

REVELATION 5:1-7

I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne [in the right hand of God] a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals (Revelation 5:1).

The word book in the King James Version is better translated as "scroll" from the Greek.

And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the scroll, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the scroll, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the scroll, neither to look thereon (Revelation 5:2-4).

The Father is sitting upon the throne. In His right hand there is a scroll. It has writing on the inside and on the outside and is sealed with seven seals. An angel proclaims with a strong voice, "Who is worthy to take this scroll and to break the seals?" Because no one is found worthy in heaven or earth to take it, John begins to sob convulsively.

What is the scroll? What are the seals? What is their significance? This scroll must be the title deed of the earth.

When God created the earth He gave it to man, who was in the Garden of Eden. God said, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth" (Genesis 1:28). He placed man in Eden to dress the garden and to keep it. God gave man one restriction: don't eat