Revelation 1 Studies

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each chapter is divided into a number of studies and each study or passage has a simple four-Part, verse-by-verse approach, to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Study 1: Rev 1:1-8

The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, ² who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. ³ Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. ⁴ John,

To the seven churches in the province of Asia:

Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, ⁵ and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, ⁶ and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

⁷ “Look, he is coming with the clouds,”
    and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him”;
    and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”
So shall it be! Amen.

⁸ “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

A. Find out:

• 1. What is the fourfold order of conveying this book? v.1
• The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 
• 2. How are we to read it and with what result? v.3
• Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
• 3. How is God first described? v.4a
• Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come,
• 4. How is the Holy Spirit described? v.4b
• and from the seven spirits before his throne, 
• 5. What threefold description is given of Jesus? v.5a
• and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
• 6. What has he done? v.5b,6
• To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, ⁶ and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father
• 7. What is going to happen? v.7
• “Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”
• 8. How is God finally described? v.8
• “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

B. Think:

• 1. As a greeting to the seven churches what does it first convey in terms of wishes from the Godhead?
• 2. What, do you think, would the descriptions of the Godhead have had on the churches?
• 3. How does time come into this passage?

C. Comment:

See initially, the book is from God about Jesus, conveyed to angels then to John (v.1,2), that promises blessing to all who read it aloud (v.3). To start, we have a greeting to the seven churches in Asia Minor from the Lord in the form of a blessing of grace and peace (v.4a).  Grace refers to God’s resources, His provision for us by His Spirit, and peace is what ensues as we receive those resources!  Peace is also conveyed by a reminder of who it is who sends it. Thus it is important to observe the descriptions of God.

First of all there is God the Father, (v.4b), described here as ‘him who is, and who was, and who is to come’ the One who once said to Moses, “I AM”, God who is, who always has been and always will be.  A sense of eternity puts present history into perspective.  Following a mention of the perfect (seven = perfect or complete, but see also Isa 11:2 for His sevenfold ministry) Spirit, (v.4c), comes the reminder of who Jesus is (v.5,6), the one who has come to witness to the truth and to God’s love, the one who rose from the dead, and who is now seated at His Father’s right hand ruling, the one who is in control, the one who died for us, to free us from sin, guilt and shame.

With Jesus for us who can be against us!  Not only that, there is a clear plan and purpose of God being worked out which will involve Jesus’ triumphant return (v.7). Yes, all of these things should bring a deep sense of peace as we allow the truth to settle in our hearts. God’s concluding description of Himself (v.8) simply emphasises again His eternal supremacy, the Beginning and the End (first and last letters of the Greek alphabet), the Eternal Almighty One.

D. Application?

• 1. Father, Son and Holy Spirit are working together for our good.
• 2. Be at peace for God is working out His sovereign purposes.

Study 2: Rev 1:9-16

⁹ I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. ¹⁰ On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, ¹¹ which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”

¹² I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, ¹³ and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. ¹⁴ The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. ¹⁵ His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. ¹⁶ In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

A. Find out:

• 1. How does John describe himself? v.9a
• John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus
• 2. Where was he and why? v.9b
• on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
• 3. On which day did what happen? v.10
• On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,
• 4. What was John told to do? v.11
• “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”
• 5. What did he next see? v.12,13a
•  I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man,
• 6. What 6 descriptions are given of this figure? v.13b-16
• dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. ¹⁴ The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. ¹⁵ His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters…. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
• 7. What was he holding? v.16
• In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword.

B. Think:

• 1. What is the context for the receiving of this book?
• 2. What, do you think each of the descriptions of the ‘figure’ convey?
• 3. What, do you thing, what he is doing conveys?

C. Comment:

John’s description of himself is fascinating (v.9). Our brother, like us, a Christian believer. Also one who shares with millions of others in the opposition, often persecution, that many of the children of God suffer. His revelation comes on what seems to be Sunday (v.10), and comes with an incredibly loud voice in proclamation. He is given his commission: write what is shown to you and send it to the seven churches of Asia Minor, (v.11), the contents of which form chapters 2 and 3.

When he turns towards the voice, he sees seven golden lampstands (v.12), and in their midst, a figure (v.13a). We have to wait to the end of the chapter for the identification of both the lampstands and the seven stars.  But for now the emphasis is on the figure, dressed as a priest (v.13b).

His white hair (v.14a) denotes age and wisdom. Eyes like blazing fire denote all seeing, penetrating and holy vision (v.14b). Feet of burnished bronze denotes a life that has been tried and tested and found true. (v.15a). A voice like the sound of rushing water denotes power (v.15b). Holding seven stars denotes authority (v.16a). A sword coming out of his mouth denotes the power and authority of his words (v.16b). His shining face denotes his holiness (v.16c).

Thus, to summarize, we are presented with a vision of one who comes in the form of a priest (priests draw people to God) but no ordinary priest, but one who stands out with what can only be described as unique descriptions, that we must conclude, describe the Son of God.

D. Application?

• 1. How is the picture of the Son different from that found in the Gospels?
• 2. What effect do you think that should have on us?

Study 3: Rev 1:17-20

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. ¹⁸ I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

¹⁹ “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. ²⁰ The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

A. Find out:

• 1. How did John respond when he saw Jesus? v.17a
• When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead.
• 2. What did Jesus do? v.17b
• Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid.
• 3. How did Jesus describe himself? v.17c,18
• I am the First and the Last. ¹⁸ I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! 
• 4. What did he say he held? v.18c
• And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
• 5. What 3 things did he tell John to do? v.19
• “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. 
• 6. Who are the stars and the lampstands? v.20
• The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

B. Think:

• 1. Why do you think John fell as though dead?
• 2. How do these descriptions clearly indicate this person is Jesus?
• 3. What position does he hold?

C. Comment:

When John saw this being he was overcome and fell lifeless at his feet (v.17a).  Such was the awesome presence of  Him!  He then touched John, apparently to restore him, and encouraged him with one of the Bible’s 366 “fear not”s.  (v.17b). He described himself as one who exists in eternity (first and last), who is living, but was dead, and who, because he was resurrected, now lives for ever.  (v.17b,18). Without a doubt this is the risen and reigning Lord Jesus. Because of what he has done and who he is, he also has the authority to say who enters death, who enters Hades (hell) and when.  He is the supreme overseer over life and death.  He has earned that right.

Jesus comes to reassure and the way He does it is by revealing the wonder of who He is Himself. Before he commissions John he reassures and strengthens him. Then he goes on to instruct John to record a) what he has seen, (v.19), b) what is happening (Revelation 2 & 3) and then c) what he will be shown will happen later on (Revelation 4 onwards). In conclusion he reveals Himself as the one who speaks as Lord over the church (v.20), and what follows in the next two chapters is His word to these churches.

D. Application?

• 1. “Familiar Jesus” or the awesome risen Son of God?
• 2. Jesus who is “friend & saviour” or also the holy Lord of the church?