Revelation 5/21

Chapter 1

verse 4 -John is writing to 7 churches in Asia minor – modern day Turkey

-7 is the # of God – # of completion

-the 7 churches represent the complete church age & history of the church

-We are living in the church age right now – Eph 2:11-22

-Jesus is the head of the church – Col 1:18

-the church consists of those who are Jewish and Gentile

The Greeting is from Jesus and the Holy Spirit

Jesus – Who is – present

           – Who was – Jesus has done great things

           -Who is to come – He will do great things

The 7 spirits before the throne – Isaiah 11:2

-there is one Holy Spirit who has 7 qualities or characteristics

-the Spirit of the Lord, wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge and the fear of the Lord

verse 5 – John gives some characteristics of Jesus Christ

1. Faithful Witness

faithful – means reliable,,,dependable…keeps His Word

witness

-someone who shares things they have seen and tells the truth

-someone who will be faithful to the point of death

2. The firstborn from the dead

-Jesus was the first person to rise from the dead with a new resurrected body

-this does not mean Jesus was born

3. He is the ruler over the kings of the earth

-Jesus is the most powerful person in the universe

          Jesus loves us and released us from our sins

He loves us – in the present tense meaning He loves you NOW – Rom 8:35-39

He released us from our sins – in the present tense

-Jesus washed us clean and keeps on washing us in His blood

verse 6 – Jesus created us…saved us…gave us every spiritual blessing in Christ

Jesus has made us a kingdom of priests

-kingdom – Jesus placed us in His kingdom by making us children of God (saving us)

-the enemy tries to get us to doubt our salvation

Priests – refers to believers being ministers

-everyone who is saved is a minister of the gospel

to Him be the glory – John just has to praise the Lord

verse 7 – Behold – means to get someones attention because something is about to happen

a. Jesus is coming

b. do not be a mocker – 2 Peter 2:3-10

c. Jesus is coming with the clouds

-this represents the glory of God and His manifest presence

coming – describes the arrival of Jesus and the changes His arrival will produce

d. every eye will see Him

-through presence and technology

e. Mourn – this is the judgment of God that hits the earth

verse 8 – I AM – reveals Jesus Christ is God – Ex 3:14 & John 8:58

Alpha & Omega – the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet which represents the Lord has always existed

The Almighty – speaks of the power of God

verse 9 – John – means the Lord is gracious

1. John was a brother and Fellow Partner

-this speaks of being an owner and stockholder in the things of the Lord

-we are all stockholders in CCWC meaning we all take part in the ministry here at CCWC

2. John knew all about trouble and pressure

-John was in trouble for doing what was right – preached the gospel

***DOING RIGHT DOESN’T MEAN EVERYTHING WILL ALWAYS TURN OUT RIGHT OR GO RIGHT***

-John was banished to the island of Patmos for preaching the gospel and not bowing to the govt and Caesar worship…

-patience – refers to perseverance and patient endurance – a spirit of not giving up and continuing on…pressing through