It’s a little hard to believe that this time four years ago, we were about to experience a worldwide pandemic. Some of the common phrases we heard were “unprecedented”, “unchartered territory”, and “unknown”. What was so frightening to many of us was the fear of the unknown.
Especially in the beginning of it, we would be terrified to hear that someone we knew had tested positive. The news became more terrifying if we had been around that person. If you had it or if someone close to you had it (especially in 2020), you know how frightening it was because of the unknown and the uncertainty of it all.
We probably would have dealt with it in a calmer and less apprehensive manner had an expert or someone with proper credentials guaranteed us that we were going to be okay.
To receive reassurance about the outcome enables us to face challenges and difficulties because we know, in the long run, we’re going to be okay.
When we hear about the book of Revelation, we think of the apocalypse, doomsday, and end of times and it can conjure up the anxiety of facing the unknown or unprecedented. The word “Revelation” actually means “unveiling”. “It gives us our English word ‘apocalypse’, which, unfortunately, is today a synonym for chaos and catastrophe. The original meaning is ‘to uncover, to reveal, to make manifest.’ In this book, the Holy Spirit pulls back the curtain and gives us the privilege of seeing the glorified Christ in heaven and the fulfillment of His sovereign purposes in the world.”[i]
We know from Scripture that there are two dimensions. The physical dimension is where we live; it’s what we see and know. The spiritual dimension is behind the curtain, so to speak. “This is where we encounter powerful spiritual forces, both for good and for evil.”[ii] We understand that Satan is the driving force behind all that is evil while God is the Creator of all things good. We are also intellectually aware that there is always spiritual warfare all around us. We may not be fully conscious of it, but we know that it’s a real thing that is constant.
In 1 John 5:19 NIV we are told, “The whole world is under the control of the evil one.” “Therefore, all the evil that we see and experience in this world- terrorist attacks, the sniper shootings, murder, rape, war, hate, racism, and so one – are all due to the Devil and his angels. But do not despair, the Devil is on a leash and can only wreak so much havoc.”[iii]
There are countless books and commentaries on the book of Revelation. It will come as no surprise that there are many interpretations and theories as to the prophecies and the symbolisms. The study of Warren Wiersbe that we will be following is titled Be Victorious: In Christ You Are an Overcomer”. In other words, we’re going to be okay. The major message of Revelation is “the glorious victory of Jesus Christ over all His enemies.”[iv]
John was chosen to pen this book. He and his brother, James had served alongside Jesus. James was the first apostle martyred. John would be the last. At the time of this writing, John is imprisoned on the Isle of Patmos which is located off the coast of Asia Minor.
Revelation 1:1 NKJV tells us how John received this revelation. “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.”
So from this, we are told that the message came to John from God through Jesus and His angel. The message is about “things which much shortly take place”. We know that God’s timing is different from our timing, but still, that word “shortly” makes it seem as if all of this is long overdue. However, the original Greek word used for “shortly” was “takhos” or “Ta’Xos” which means “speed, swiftness, or velocity”. It’s the origin of our word “tachometer” which is used to measure the speed of an engine or a machine.[v] So the word indicates not that things will happen soon but rather when they do start happening, it will all go quickly or swiftly.
The other thing interesting in these two first verses is the word “signified”. This lets us know that the message is conveyed with a lot of symbolism which we know. According to Warren Wiersbe, there are three reasons why symbolism is plentiful. First, it’s a “spiritual code” understood only by Christians. We have to remember that although the book of Revelation is often used to scare non-believers into becoming believers, this message was sent to churches. It was written for those who were supposedly believers so the symbolism used should have meant something to the readers much like the parables were used. Secondly, symbolism isn’t weakened by time. Even today, thousands of years later, people still associate snakes with evil or deception. Doves are still seen as symbols of peace or hope. And thirdly, symbols stir up our emotions. The example given is John could have written, “A dictator will rule the world,” but instead he described a beast.[vi]
The symbolism is where we can easily get different opinions and theories. Some of the imagery used will be explained to us while others we’ll just have to conjecture or be satisfied with not knowing.
We’ll see in chapters 2 & 3 that 7 churches were to be the recipient of John’s letter. However, verse 3 of chapter 1 opens up the audience to every believer.
Revelation 1:3 NIV “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.”
I found an interesting and very thought-provoking commentary on this verse from Pastor Louis Talbot.
I think it’s important for us to keep that in mind while doing this study. There will be a lot that we don’t understand; there will be a lot that we’ll have opinions on that may be different from others, and that’s okay. The main purpose of this is to read it and take it to heart. God’s Spirit will reveal or enlighten us as He sees fit. “The blessing [will] come, not just by hearing, but even more so by doing.”[vii] This book was not written for Pharisees or Sadducees or trained theologians of any kind. It was written for ordinary believers like you and me.
Revelation 1:4 CSB 4 John: To the seven churches in Asia. Grace and peace to you from the one who is, who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has set us free from our sins by his blood, 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father—to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
The letter to the church begins addressing the seven churches in Asia. We’re going to see the number 7 a great deal throughout this book. The Biblical symbolism of seven is perfection, completion, or fulfillment.
John also identifies his Source of information to the churches. He says it’s from the One who is, who was and is to come which describes God as the Eternal One. Next, he names the seven spirits before His throne which is the Holy Spirit in His fullness. It’s believed that this is a nod to Isaiah 11:2 and relates to the multifaceted nature and roles of the Holy Spirit. These would be:
1. The Spirit of Wisdom
2. The Spirit of the Lord
3. The Spirit of Understanding
4. The Spirit of Counsel
5. The Spirit of Power
6. The Spirit of Knowledge
7. The Spirit of the Fear of the Lord[viii]
Thirdly, Jesus is named as One of the sources and then the book is dedicated to Jesus because He is really the main focus in this book. This is about the revelation of Jesus, the rapture of Jesus, and the return of Jesus.
Revelation 1:7 CSB “Look, he is coming with the clouds,
and every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him.
And all the tribes of the earth
will mourn over him.
So it is to be. Amen.
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the one who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Three major events will occur. The rapture of the church, the tribulation period, and the return of Christ. Several times throughout the Bible, we are told that Jesus will come like a thief in the night when He raptures the church. It is generally thought that non-believers will only witness the absence of believers and not the rapture itself. With that in mind, this is Warren Wiersbe’s interpretation of verse 7 of Revelation 1. “The event described in Revelation 1:7 will be witnessed by the whole world, and especially by a repentant nation of Israel (see Dan. 7:13; Zech. 12:10-12). It will be public, not secret (Matthew 24:30-31), and will climax the tribulation period described in Revelation 6-19.” [ix] Therefore, verse 7 would be referring to the return of Jesus.
There are many schools of thought regarding the order of the three major events (rapture, tribulation, and return of Jesus.) Each theory is based on interpretations of certain scriptures. Warren Wiersbe’s personal belief is that the rapture will occur first, then the tribulation, and then the return of Jesus. I tend to think this is the belief of the majority but only God knows the chronology that will take place.
Beginning in verse 9, we are given specifics about the vision that John is given. First is what John hears.
Revelation 1:9 CSB “I, John, your brother and partner in the affliction, kingdom, and endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard a loud voice behind me like a trumpet 11 saying, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”
What do you think John meant when he said he was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day?
I think it’s fair to assume that John was filled with the Holy Spirit to the point of being enlightened and having a deep understanding of what was occurring. He hears a voice behind him that sounds like a trumpet and we know that this is Jesus speaking. Jesus tells John the specific churches that he is to write.
Now let’s take a look at what John sees.
Revelation 1:12 CSB “12 Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me. When I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was one like the Son of Man, dressed in a robe and with a golden sash wrapped around his chest. 14 The hair of his head was white as wool—white as snow—and his eyes like a fiery flame. 15 His feet were like fine bronze as it is fired in a furnace, and his voice like the sound of cascading waters. 16 He had seven stars in his right hand; a sharp double-edged sword came from his mouth, and his face was shining like the sun at full strength.
John turns to see Jesus dressed in a robe with a golden sash wrapped around his chest. This is what a judge, a king, or someone with authority would wear. The hair that was white as wool symbolizes purity and eternalness. His eyes like a fiery flame indicate he sees everything, enabling Him to judge righteously. His feet being like fine brass (or bronze, in some translations) signify judgment as sin offerings were made on altars made of brass. “The Lord had come to judge the churches, and He would also judge the evil world system.”[x]
His voice was like the sound of cascading waters indicating power and authority that can’t be ignored. In His right hand he holds the seven stars which verse 20 tells us are the angels or messengers of the seven churches. This is thought to be perhaps the pastors of the seven churches. It’s worth noting that all seven are held in the right hand. The right hand or the right hand side is frequently referenced in the Bible as the preferred one. We know that Jesus sits at the right hand of God. In Matthew 25, we’re told that Jesus will separate the sheep to His right and the goats to His left. Ecclesiastes 10:2, “A wise man’s heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish man’s heart directs him toward the left.”
John has a vision of a double-edged sword coming from the mouth of Jesus which we know to be the Word of God. And the face of Jesus was shining like the sun at full strength which is much like the transfiguration that John witnessed alongside James and Peter.
John knows Jesus. He worked alongside Jesus. He ate with Jesus. He prayed with Jesus. They were friends. He had a personal up-close relationship with Jesus. But John is seeing Jesus in a totally new light. So much so that John falls at his feet like a dead man. “A vision of the exalted Christ can only produce awe and fear.” “There is a dangerous absence of awe and worship in our assemblies today.”x
Jesus reassures John. He is the First and the Last and He is the Living One. He tells John to write what he has seen, what is, and what will take place after this.
John has written in Chapter 1 of his vision of Jesus. (What he’s seen. – Revelation 1)
He’s going to send a message to the 7 churches. (What is. 1 Revelation 2-3)
And he’ll write of that which is to come which takes place after the churches. (Revelation 4 – 22; See Rev 4:1)
Revelation is the climax of the Bible. All that begins in Genesis will be completed and fulfilled in keeping with God’s sovereign will. What God starts, He finishes!”x
We’re going to see many threads going back to the Old Testament, in particular. In fact, there are 404 verses in Revelation. Out of those 404, 360 contain references back to the Old Testament. That’s 89% of Revelation!
“When you have assurance for the future, you have stability in the present.” x Revelation is God’s message to His children that we’re going to be okay.
[i] The Wiersbe Study Bible
[ii] Be Victorious by Warren W. Wiersbe
[iii] Be Victorious by Warren W. Wiersbe
[iv] Wiersbe Bible Study Series: Revelation
[v] tachometer | Etymology of tachometer by etymonline
[vi] Be Victorious by Warren W. Wiersbe
[vii] Be Victorious by Warren W. Wiersbe
[viii] 7 Spirits Of God: A Detailed Truth From The Bible (2024) (biblekeeper.com)
[ix] Be Victorious by Warren W. Wiersbe
[x] Be Victorious by Warren W. Wiersbe
Beacons of Light 