Sermon Notes 2/12 – Revelation Chapter 1
REVELATION
CHAPTER ONE
V12 – 7 Golden Lampstands
-7 is the number for God that speaks of completeness
-This represents the complete periods of church history
—lampstands represent the church being the light of the world
—Matthew 5:15-15
A Description of Jesus Christ – Revelation 1:13-18
JESUS HAD A GOLDEN BAND AROUND HIS CHEST
-The higher the belt was worn, the more powerful the person was
-It represented wealth and provision and power
-Philippians 2:5-11
THE HEAD AND HAIR OF JESUS WERE WHITE AS SNOW
-This represents the glory and presence of the Lord
THE FIRE OF GOD’S EYES
-He sees everything and reveals everything
HIS FEET ARE LIKE FINE BRASS
– This represents the judgment of God
-This is a slow judgment that inches forward and hopes for repentance
-Noah and 120 years
-1 Thess 5:9 & 1:10 – the church is not under the judgment of God
HIS VOICE IS LIKE THE SOUND OF MANY WATERS
-The Lord is speaking to leaders and pastors
JESUS HAS A SHARP TWO-EDGED SWORD COMING FROM HIS MOUTH
– verse 16
-Jesus is the Word and speaks the Word
HIS COUNTENANCE IS LIKE THE SUN SHINING
– vs16-17
-John crumbles at the sight of Jesus
verse 17 – do not be afraid…His presence is always with us
verse 18 – Jesus is not dead. He is alive…
verse 19 – The Outline of Revelation
Rev 1 – the past – a description of Jesus
Rev 2-3 the 7 churches – the church age
Rev 4-22 – The Future
verse 20 – Stars are pastors
Lampstands are churches
We now start the church age
THE CHURCH AGE
1. THE CHURCH AGE STARTED IN THE UPPER ROOM
– Acts 1:1-4,8/2:1-21
-This reveals the pattern of what the church today should be like
-the Lord designed it as He is the Head of the church – Colossians 1:15-18
2. The church age is a mystery
– Eph 3:3-8 & 2:13-21
mystery – is something hidden that is now revealed
-The church comprises those who are Jewish and Gentiles
3. The church age ends when the rapture takes place
– John 4:35-36
4. The Purpose of the church age
– Matthew 28:18-20 & John 4:35-36
-to build the kingdom of God and fulfill the Great Commission
THE SEVEN CHURCHES
1. They were all actual churches
-based in Asia Minor, which is modern-day Turkey today
2. The messages to each church speak to the body of Christ today
3. The 7 churches represent the 7 church ages:
1. Ephesus – The Apostolic church age – 30-100 AD – Rev 2:1-17
2. Smyrna – the Persecuted church age – 100-313AD – Rev 2:8-11
3. Pergamos – The Imperial Church Age – 313-600 AD – REV 2:12-17
4. Thyatyra -the dark or Middle Ages – 600-1500AD – Rev 2:18-29
5. Sardis – The Reformation – 1500-1750 AD – Rev 3:1-6
6. Philadelphia – The Modern church age – 1750-1900AD – Rev 3:7-13
7. Laodicea – The Present church age – 1900-present – Rev 3:14-22
EPHESUS – Rev 2:1-11
1. Ephesus represents the first church age that we see in the Book of Acts
2. Ephesus was the largest church of the 7 churches
3. Timothy pastored the church, and so did John the Apostle
4. Paul pioneered the church – Acts 20:31 – stayed there 3 years
John shares 3 things about the church at Ephesus:
1. The commendation – vs1-3, 6
2. The complaint – vs4-5
Ephesus – means to relax and become laid back
-This is what happened to the early church – they started on fire, but the fire decreased
-The key in Christianity is sustained fire and family
-sustained – means to keep what you have and keep increasing it
-Ephesus had become a bunch of hot tub Christians
How do we keep a sustained fire and God’s enthusiasm?
Eph 5:18 and Gal 5:16
-Being filled is daily
-Being filled is a command
-Being filled is not a church thing
-Being filled defeats the flesh
-Being filled gives you an awareness of demonic and enemy activity
verse 1 – Angel – means messenger – human or angelic
-the ONE is Jesus Christ
-The pastors are in the Lord’s right hand, and He will deal with them
-Jesus never abandons His church – He walks up and down the aisles in each church
-church means someone who makes an exit from society & is called into something different