Presents the Tell it like it is! series of studies:

Revelation 2:17  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.

John 15:26
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

John 16:13-14
[13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. [14] He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

This Bible Study was originally written by Roger Christopherson,

 published at http://www.theseason.org/ 

Without the leading by the Holy Spirit, there is no understanding of the truths, for all the truth of the Scriptures are revealed to us by God's Spirit.

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 Now here is our revised study of: Christopherson's Revelation chapter 1.

This is not the Revelation of John,
but a Revelation of Jesus Christ.

"Jesus" means "God's Savior", and "Christ" means the "Anointed One [Messiah]".

Jesus the Christ is the person that this Revelation is by.

Jesus showed the Revelation to John, and Jesus told John to write it down.

This Revelation is directed to, and revealed to God's servant's, and those servants are living in every corner of the earth in the
"time of the end".

Jesus told John to write this so that you and me,
living and witnessing events in these latter days, 
will have the wisdom to understand everything that happens is all part of God's plan, 
and to see where each of us fit into that plan.

The word "shortly" is explained in verse ten, and we can better understand it when we study it there.

This verse then, tells us it was Jesus Christ that is the Revelator; 
while John did the writing.

The purpose here is to show Christians of our generation the things that will occur at the end of this earth age.
It was sent, and signified, or guaranteed by Jesus Christ Himself. 

The willingness of a person to search for the wisdom of Revelation separates the man of God, from the puff of smoke found in many churches today.

When Satan, as the false-christ, does appear as the savior of the world, the lazy Christian will follow him, thinking that Satan is Jesus Christ.

Revelation 1:2 "Who bare record [witness] of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw."

John bore witness of this record given by Jesus, God's anointed Messiah. 

The record of Revelation reveals more then John had seen, but in the Greek, it means "to both see and to hear with understanding". 

Now let's let the Word speak for Himself.

Revelation 1:3 "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand."

"Blessed" means "happy", and you will be very happy when you read, and come to understand the full knowledge of all of the events coming to pass in these end times. 

It gives us security, and peace of mind to know exactly what will take place, and how God will use us, and protect His elect. 

This is Jesus Christ's own words, or commitment to you and me, as we live in this godless one world system, that is tightening it's grip on the nations of the world today.

Read God's Word with understanding, for it is what Jesus is telling us, then do those things that He has put into writing in His Word, the Bible.

Revelation 1:4 "John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be to you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before His throne"

This "grace", or "unmerited favor", is extended to all the churches, and comes from Jesus Christ.

"He is" today, and He lives as our Savior,

"He was" when he walked the earth in the flesh,
and died on the cross of Calvary; 

"He is yet to come"; when He shall return at the sound of the seventh trumpet, which is the Second Advent.

The "seven Spirits" also refer to Jesus Christ. For "Seven" shows completeness, and Christ is all the spirits of the Throne joined into one.

The "seven churches" of Asia are formed into a circle geographically, and these churches are symbolic of all the churches around the globe today. 

They are symbolic of all the forms of church doctrine represented in the Christian world today.

God is not the God of the Middle East, but of the universe; of all the world.

Revelation 1:5 "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed [loosed] us from our sins in his own blood,"

We see here other titles of Jesus Christ, so it cannot be misunderstood who it is revealing this to us, and sending His blessing to us. His title, "Prince of the kings of the earth", is in reference to Christ being the "Prince of the King's of the Gentile nations", recorded in chapter 21; and "King of Kings" in Revelation 19:16. Race has nothing to do with this, for it is dealing with the "elect" of God, and the overcomers of this earth age.

The word "washed" is better translated, "freed"; for Jesus Christ freed us from our sins. There can be no mistake in identifying Jesus Christ by this description. When Jesus Christ shed His blood, He became "the first begotten of the dead." He defeated death and the devil. 

That was Jesus Christ's sole mission for coming to earth; being born of a woman; living in the flesh body; and then dying on the cross and shedding His blood. Our Lord Jesus Christ conquered death, and Satan the devil, [Hebrews 2:14]. Satan's name is Death.

Hebrews 2:14 "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil."

Revelation 1:6 " And hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory, and dominion for ever and ever. A-men."

The "priests" are the "elect", while the "kings" are the "ethnos", the saved Gentile people of this earth age. They are not the chosen, but the "overcomers". 

They read and heard God's word,
then they believed and repented,
and "overcame" the devil in this earth age.

Revelation 1:7 "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of [mourn over] Him. Even so, A-men."

This event is the second advent taking place here, when Jesus Christ will return "with clouds", or "with the masses" of His saints. 

This is not, and has nothing to do with flying away, as many Christian churches teach today.

"They that pierced Him," is referring to all the "Kenites" those Jewish religious leaders, the ones that killed Jesus by delivering Him up to Pilot. 

Every person on this earth will see Jesus Christ upon His second coming. Some will "wail" in joy, for they kept His Word, and did not yield to Satan, the spurious messiah.

However, most will "wail" in sorrow and shame for they were taken by the wrong Christ in the wrong marriage. They followed after the Antichrist, Satan, who came first and appeared as they were taught Christ would appear, through their churches tradition, which they called the "rapture doctrine".

Whether you stand or fall in this final generation, it will be according to whether you had prepared yourself to stand against Satan.

 If you have, you will stand; and if you did not, then you will be deceived by Satan, the false-christ.

When Satan arrives, you will not resist him by accident, nor can you prepare in that late hour.

The understanding of this Revelation of Jesus Christ must occur before Satan arrives on earth. Revelation 9:1.

It is stated in this book of Revelation that the spurious messiah, Satan, shall come before the second advent of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, which is at the sounding of the seventh trumpet.

Revelation 1:8 "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.:

Jesus Christ is everything, in all ages [earth ages] to all sons [no gender applied here] of the living God.

Revelation 1:9 "I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the Kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Pat'-mos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ."

Most teachers of the Bible believe that John was exiled to the isle of Pat'-mos, for his faith in Jesus Christ. "Pat'-mos" is an island called "Patino" in the Aegean Sea.

The word "was", in the Greek manuscripts is "came to be". The word "for" as used in the Greek is used in the "Accusative", and it has the sense of "on account of", or "because of". This would leave nothing to indicate that John had been banished there to the isle of Pat'-mos.  

American Wisdom Series Editor's Note: Verse 9 does not say anything about being exiled. Remember, this is the apostle John writing this, the same John who wrote in John 1:1 concerning Jesus.  John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word(Jesus), and the Word(Jesus) was with God, and the Word(Jesus) was God. So when John says here in Revelation 1:9, "...was in the isle that is called Pat'-mos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ." what do you think he meant he was in the isle that is called "Pat'-mos, for? 
I think he meant he was there for the Word(Jesus)!  Plain and simple!

 "...companion [partaker] in tribulation, and in the Kingdom..."; should read, "...in the tribulation, and in this Kingdom." John was there and partook in (saw)"the tribulation" that our generation is about to witness also. He was taken to our 21st century generation not in body but in the spirit, and those things and events that he saw, he wrote about.

John also visited in the spirit, "the Kingdom" of God in the Heavens; 

both in this age and the next to come.

The next earth age to come is the "kingdom of Jesus Christ", which is established at the sounding of the seventh trumpet. It is called the "Millennium kingdom" and continues for the next thousand years. Then after the Christ's Millennium kingdom, God's Kingdom goes on eternally here on earth, following the "Judgment seat of God [The Great White Throne].

All of these events are going to be revealed within this study of the book of Revelation, and when you read and study this book with understanding you will not be deceived when they take place before your eyes. There are many negative things that are going on right now, today, and they must happen, just as Jesus death on the cross happened, because they are all part of the glorious plan of God.

Revelation 1:10 "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,"

This verse is the key to understanding the book of Revelation. Without a clear and full understanding of this verse, the entire book just will not make sense to you. The sequence of order will seem strange.

"I"; this is John speaking and telling us where he was. "I was in the Spirit". He was not in his flesh body; "on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet". John is taken forward in time, "in the Spirit", to the day of the Lord (the 1000 year period after Christ returns). Don't make the same mistake many Christians make! The "Day of the Lord" is not referring to Sunday or Saturday. This is the same "Day of the Lord" Paul speaks about in I Thessalonians 5:2, as "coming as a thief in the night". Later in II Thessalonians 2:2-3 Paul makes it clear that at the "Day of the Lord" Christ's return will not happen until "after there will be a great falling away first; and "that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition". Satan must be revealed in his role as the false-christ first, before that seventh (the last trumpet) trumpet will sound, 

The time, or day, John was taken to was to a time later than we are currently living in, however we are living in the generation that will see it come to pass, and this current generation will live through what John saw and lived, while he was "in the Spirit". 

There is only one day that is called "The Day of the Lord" in all the Scriptures and that day, starts on the day of His return for His second advent and  continues for His entire 1000 year Millennial Kingdom.

Isaiah 2:12 "For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low."

This is the day that our Lord returns. 

This is the day "God's cup of wrath" is poured out upon His enemies.

So John was taken in the Spirit to the last day of this earth age, before the start of the age of the Millennium.

If you are still in your flesh body, that day that John was taken to, hasn't happened yet, it is still future to us.

Every verse that you read in Revelation from this verse to the end of chapter twenty two, will be viewed from the Lord's day, either looking backwards or forwards a short period of time.

If you haven't come to that point in your understanding of how, [in the spirit] and where, [into the furture] our Lord took John to, the rest of what John is telling us just will not make any sense to you.

American Wisdom Series Editor's Note: We are going to stop here in this "Revelation of Jesus Christ" study to review some commentary from verses 1 through 10 in an earlier study we published on the "Revelation of Jesus Christ."  I don't believe you will find much difference in the general opinion of these 2 authors, but to read another person's perspective of events that did and will take place may prove helpful in our understanding of Jesus' revelation. Also, our introduction #9300 was taken from this earlier study so keep your eyes open for study tips and rules to help simplify your grasp of Jesus' end time revelation.

Today we begin the study of the Book of the Revelation, the name of which means to "Disclose", to "Unveil", to "Reveal", i.e. to make known.  The Greek word for "revelation" is apokalupsi (Strong's #602) which comes from apokalupto (#601) and more specifically means to "Take the Cover Off". It is Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who has given this open, unsealed, book as a special gift to those who love and serve Him.

Perhaps those who have studied the Book of Daniel will recall that Daniel was instructed to SEAL UP the words that he wrote until the time of the end, when the wise would understand.

So in contrast to Daniel, John was given specific instructions by one of the seven angels, whom we will read about shortly, NOT TO SEAL the sayings and prophecy of this book. That means that the Book of Revelation is UNSEALED, free and open for the partaking and understanding by God's "servants". Here is John relaying his instructions:

And guess what? It is a documented fact that people remember infinitely more of what they "see" than what they "hear" or "read". Please allow me to digress for a moment:

We also have a few "easy rules" to apply in learning the pictures of Revelation. The first is to begin reading and studying the rest of the Bible, for Revelation is the "last" book. If you have read the entire Bible you will basically discover nothing prophetically nor symbolically new in Revelation, it's just that it is now tied together and simplified into pictures for us. The other rules we will point out as we come to them.

Now, having exceeded the length of an introduction, let us begin the "Unveiling".  John, that disciple Jesus loved, wrote these words in approximately 96 A.D. from the isles of Patmos.

The reason John writes that these things must "shortly come to pass" is because we will find in verse 10 that John isn't writing from the perspective of 96 A.D. He was taken to the future and wrote from there. This is another "rule" that you must understand.

John now addresses The Seven Churches.

Also, "7" in Biblical numerics denotes spiritual completeness (see appendix 10 if you have a Companion Bible), meaning ALL churches are being addressed. Then too, if you look at a map and note the location of these churches, you will see that they basically form a circle, another symbol of completeness. The point is, your church is identified in chapters two and three of this book. This will be your opportunity to test its fruits!

We will learn about the seven Spirits later on.

For those who are familiar with the closing chapters of Ezekiel, because they have read the rest of the Bible, these priests are the same as the "Zadok", the just, i.e. God's elect.

When does Christ return? At the seventh trump, the last one! Just wait 'till we see that picture a few chapters from now. Did you know that His return ends this "flesh" age, instantly, in the twinkling of an eye, at the sound of last trump?

And because we know that the final generation began on May 15, 1948, when both the good and the bad figs were set forth in Judea, that means that there will be "Baby Boomers" who will hear that Seventh Trump. Pretty exciting, isn't it?

Live Link to- Parable of the Fig Tree

Would you believe me if I told you that the Book of Revelation is one of the easiest, if not "the" easiest books of the Bible to understand?  Sure, it's filled with symbolism, but that's what makes it so easy. Remember, it is an uncovering, a revealing. Yes, of course you have to understand what the symbols mean. But that is really easy too! They are either already used and explained in the prior books of the Bible or they are clearly defined for us in Revelation. You'll "see".

Let's continue in Revelation. Christ is speaking.

And did you know, that in all that expanse of time, the Lord is the same? The apostle Paul explains:

Silly Christian, salvation is spiritual, of the soul, not of the flesh!

So we see John, the Christian realist, who knew there was no "easy ride", on the isle of Patmos for  God's Word. 

Remember we discussed earlier how that one should read and study the entire Word of God?  Well, here is an example of a verse that a student of the Bible would immediately understand. The "day of the Lord" is spoken of in Isaiah 2, 2 Peter, 1 Thessalonians, etc., and is a time yet future, beginning with the first day of the Millennium, the day the Lord returns, His day, the Lord's day.

If you're not familiar with God's Word you may be unprotected and susceptible to listening to the unlearned tell you that it's now Sunday on the isle of Patmos!

But know this well. The understanding of verse 10 is extremely important in order to know the time frame of the Book of Revelation. The Lord's day is where John was taken when he saw the visions.

Let's look at a few verses concerning the day of the Lord. Paul talks about Christ's return, the day of the Lord, in 1 Thes. 5:2.

Christ's return will only come as a thief in the night to those who aren't watching (which is the majority of Christianity), to those who do not have the seal of God, His word, in their foreheads. God's children, His servants to whom the Book of Revelation is addressed, have the solar calendar, if you will, i.e. the calendar of events in the order in which they occur.

Peter also discusses the day of the Lord in his second book.

 Now back to our current 2013 study of the "Revelation of Jesus Christ". Here is verse 11.

Revelation 1:11 "Saying, I am the 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 Ephesis, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea."

This is Jesus talking to John, and asking him to look around on this Lord's day, and write what you see, and then send it to the seven churches of Asia.

These seven churches represent all of the types of Christian churches in existence on the earth in these last days.

Which of these churches represents your church? 

Can you identify the type of church by what is taught in that church? 

Jesus said, I want you, John, to show each of those churches exactly what is going to happen at the end of this earth age, and what I think of each of them.

The next two chapters will give us the details of the doctrine of each of these end time churches.

Revelation 1:12 "And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;"

Wow, that sounds deep. Well, let's break it down so we can understand what it is saying. We use objects all the time to teach our children lessons. That is all that is happening here. These candlesticks are symbolic of something.

Revelation 1:13 "And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

 John's Note: If the only image of Jesus you have in your mind is the one of "little baby Jesus" in the manger, it's time to get it out of your mind, at least for now. That was His first advent when God came to earth as a flesh and blood being (Jesus) to give His life for your sins.  Jesus as described here is the one who is coming back to earth shortly for His second advent to take vengeance on those who refused His offer of salvation.

The one standing or the focus of attention in these seven candlesticks looked like the "Son of man" [Christ], because it was Jesus Christ.

Revelation 1:14 "His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire."

Why were Christ's eyes "as a flame of fire"? Because of God's magnificent splendor and glory that is shown through His eyes. So we see Christ is standing among the seven candlesticks; However, the candlesticks also stand for something.

Revelation 1:15 "And his feet like unto fine [burnished] brass, as if they burned [as if it had been refined] in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters."

"Waters" in the Greek text are peoples. When Christ talked, it gave the sound of many people speaking. [see Revelation 17:15 for documentation.]

Revelation 1:16 "And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength."

The "stars" are symbolic of angels, they are guiding angels for John, as he makes his trip into his future; all the way to the "day of the Lord".

The "seven" represents completeness, and there is one angel for each of the churches.

The "two-edged sword" is what Jesus will return with, as He returns as a man of war at the seventh trumpet. "I come not to bring peace, but a sword;" Jesus said in Matthew 10:34. 

Those that are against Christ shall be cut deep, but they shall heal if they repent. 

We will all be in our spiritual body, on the Lords day, when He has returned to earth. 

For as we saw in [I Corinthians 15:51]; "Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed."

To "sleep" is better translated "die". While our changing is to be into our spiritual bodies, from the physical bodies of the flesh we are now in.

Then in [I Corinthians 15:52], "In a moment, in the twinkling [wink] of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible [never decaying], and we shall be changed." 

This change to our spiritual body is for every soul living in a flesh body. It shall take place on the very day that John is brought forward to, on this "day of the Lord".  What Paul is telling us is that we will not all die the shadow of death, which is the death of our flesh and blood body, but we will all be changed into our spiritual bodies at the Lord's return, whether dead or alive, when He comes. 

This is why the Sword is given with words from Christ and not with physical armor.

Christ's sword will make all things right, and the glory around our Lord will cause all to bow and praise His holy name.

Revelation 1:17 "And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:"

The Lord Jesus Christ put His hand upon John, and He comforted John as Jesus reminded him who He was. Just as when Jesus walked and talked with the disciples as a man. John had peace within his soul being with our Lord again.

Revelation 1:18 "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen, and have the keys of hell and of death [death and Hades]."

The "keys of hell and of death", means you have the authority, and ability to control what ever is on the other side of the locked door of this physical life.

It means that what you do with those keys is entirely up to you. Jesus Christ holds the keys which will allow you to escape out of Hell, and the death of your soul. 

That is why our prayers when offered to the Father, we are to give "in Jesus Name", for "Jesus Name" identifies you as one who is under the shed blood of Jesus Christ. 

It is your credentials before the throne of God.

Revelation 1:19 "Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;"

Jesus told John to write down the things that he has seen; about those candlesticks, and the stars; "and that I have shown you Myself with the sword", now write it all down.

John is to record the things Jesus is going to show, both before, and after "the day of the Lord". [remember from back in verse 1:10, that is where John is.] We will also be on that day, very shortly.

Revelation 1:20 "The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches."

How simple could it be; Jesus has explained that the "seven stars" are "the seven angels of the seven churches"; While the "candlestick are the seven churches". A candlestick holds a candle giving off light. 

The church is on a mission to hold up the light of God's Word. The "right hand" is the hand of power and might and it shows where the work is done.

So, the vision John saw taking place on the "day of the Lord"; is Jesus Christ standing in the middle of this circle of seven churches, not candlesticks, for the candlesticks are symbols for the churches.

There was an angel of God standing over each church.

In Christ's mouth is the sword within those churches, and the sword is the words of authority that Jesus has over Satan, and all the ungodly.

While that sword is in the hands of us Christians, we hold the keys over death and Hell.

 John's Note: We are going to stop here in this "Revelation of Jesus Christ" study to review some commentary from verses 11 through to the end of chapter 1 in the earlier study we published on the "Revelation of Jesus Christ."  

So in verse 10 John heard a great voice as of a trumpet,

And now John will "SEE" exactly why he was just given the instructions of verse 11.

Got it so far? OK, let's look first at the twoedged sword. What is it?  Do swords come out of peoples mouths? Oh please! Words come out of the mouth, in this case His Word! Christ's Word is the sharp twoedged sword. This is nothing new. Paul, tell us!

And, guess what? God's elect also have this sharp Sword. It is part of the Gospel Armor that you must have on to be in the battle we are soon going to read about in this exciting Book of Revelation. So, you can see why it must be handled with the utmost care, for it is razor sharp!

Christ is alive for evermore. He's not dead on a cross any more. And He has the keys of both hell and death. This would be a good person to get to know.

Oh, and just to wrap up the rest of the symbols in Illustration 1, here it is.

Now, let me see if I got the picture:

OK, it's time for a pop quiz!

Now that we're all in the testing mood, feeling confident because we scored 100%, it's time to test the seven candlesticks. We do that in chapter two where Christ will address the seven churches, one at a time.

In chapters 2 & 3, pamphlets 9302a,b,c.d & 9303a,b,c  Jesus will show John what all 7 of our 21st century churches are doing, 2 of them are doing right, for Jesus find no fault in them, but 5 of them have faults, some major. Which of those 7 do you attend?

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