REVELATION

THE LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES

JANUARY BIBLE STUDY 2019 • LEADER GUIDE

© 2018 LifeWay Christian Resources

 From the Editor
This January Bible Study 2019 Expository Notes and Leader Helps is intended to
help those who will teach JBS. Included in this guide are:

Teaching Plans—The teaching plans, beginning on page 3, are designed for eight
sessions using the 2019 January Bible Study Personal Study Guide, Revelation
1–3: The Letters to the Seven Churches. The table of contents shows how the
chapters in the Personal Study Guide are distributed among the eight sessions.
The Personal Study Guide (PSG) has been designed as a teaching resource.
Each adult will need his or her own PSG. Each teaching plan suggests ways a
teacher can use the PSG during the session.
A variety of questions and learning activities in the PSG will help readers
understand and apply the Scriptures to their lives. An alternate plan for teaching
this study could consist of short lectures combined with small- or large-group
discussion of the questions and learning activities.

Expository Notes—The expository notes, beginning on page 23, provide

in-depth commentary for a teacher’s use.

Preaching Guide—The preaching guide, beginning on page 75, provides

sermon outlines and ideas for the pastor who wishes to emphasize the theme
of JBS 2019 from the pulpit.

CD-ROM—The CD-ROM included with this book contains everything in this

Leader Guide as well as additional teaching helps such as teaching items,
PowerPoint® backgrounds, clip art, Biblical Illustrator articles, and planning and
promotion ideas.

Do you ever wonder what to do with all this material when January Bible Study
is over? Here are some suggestions: Conduct a weekly Bible study for business
people or stay-at-home mothers. Conduct a weeknight study for apartment
dwellers, mobile home residents, or language or ethnic groups. Or conduct a
weekend retreat for singles, students, or an Adult Sunday School class.
Whatever you do in JBS, we pray that these materials will enhance this study
and that lives will be changed as a result.

© 2018 LifeWay Christian Resources

 Contents
How to Become a Christian: Life by Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Meet the Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Teaching Plans
Session 1: The Majestic Glory of Father and Son . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Session 2: Ephesus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Session 3: Smyrna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Session 4: Pergamum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Session 5: Thyatira . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Session 6: Sardis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Session 7: Philadelphia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Session 8: Laodicea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Expository Notes
Introduction to Revelation 1–3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
The Majestic Glory of Father and Son—Revelation 1:1-20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Ephesus—Revelation 2:1-7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Smyrna—Revelation 2:8-11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Pergamum­—Revelation 2:12-17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Thyatira—Revelation 2:18-29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Sardis—Revelation 3:1-6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Philadelphia—Revelation 3:7-13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Laodicea—Revelation 3:14-22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Map: Asia Minor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Preaching Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

© 2018 LifeWay Christian Resources

 HOW TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN

Life By Design
We live in a broken world. This brokenness is seen in suffer- us to be rescued and restored to a relationship with God
ing, violence, poverty, pain, and death around us. Broken- (John 3:16; Colossians 2:14; and 1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
ness leads us to search for a way to make life work. We don’t have the power to escape this brokenness on
The Bible tells us that God originally planned a world our own. We need to be rescued. We must ask God to for-
that worked perfectly—where everything and everyone give us—turning from sin to trust in Jesus. This is what it
fit together in harmony. God made each of us with a pur- means to repent and believe. Believing, we receive new life
pose—to worship Him and walk with Him (Genesis 1:31 through Jesus. God turns our lives in a new direction (Mark
and Psalm 19:1). 1:15; Ephesians 2:8-9; and Romans 10:9).
Life doesn’t work when we ignore God and His original When God restores our relationship to Him, we begin
design for our lives. We selfishly insist on doing things our to discover meaning and purpose in a broken world. Now
own way. The Bible calls this sin. Sin leads to a place of we can pursue God’s design in all areas of our lives. God’s
brokenness. The consequence of our sin is separation from Spirit empowers us to recover His design and assures us of
God—in this life and for all of eternity (Romans 3:23 and His presence in this life and for all of eternity (Philippians
Romans 6:23). 2:13 and Ephesians 2:10).
We need a remedy—some good news. Because of His Now that you have heard this good news, God wants
love, God did not leave us in our brokenness. Jesus, God you to respond to Him. You can talk to Him using words like
in human flesh, came to us and lived perfectly according to these: My life is broken—I recognize it’s because of my sin.
God’s design. Jesus came to rescue us—to do for us what I believe Christ came to live, die, and was raised from the
we could not do for ourselves. He took our sin and shame to dead—to rescue me from my sin. Forgive me. I turn from
the cross, paying the penalty of our sin by His death. Jesus my selfish ways and put my trust in You. I know that Jesus
was then raised from the dead—to provide the only way for is Lord of all, and I will follow Him.

Meet the Writers

Philip Nation is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Bradenton, Florida. He is wildly in love with his wife, Angie, and is constantly
amazed by their two sons, Andrew and Chris. Dr. Nation is the author of numerous works, including Habits for Our Holiness: How
the Spiritual Disciplines Grow Us Up, Draw Us Together, and Send Us Out.

Donna McKinney leads the Empty Nesters small group Bible study at Salem Baptist Church in Apex, North Carolina. She is Mom
to two young adult daughters, Nana to two grandchildren, and dog-mom to two delinquent dogs. In her spare time, she writes books
and magazine articles on science topics for young people.

© 2018 LifeWay Press®

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storage or retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted in writing by the publisher. Requests for permission should be addressed in writing to:
LifeWay Press, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234.

ISBN: 978-1-4627-9490-4
Item: 005802004

Subject Ares: Bible Studies

Dewey Decimal Classification Number: 228
Subject Heading: N.T. REVELATION-STUDY
Printed in the United States of America

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To review LifeWay’s doctrinal guidelines, please visit www.lifeway.com/doctrinalguideline.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.
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© 2018 LifeWay Christian Resources

TEACHING
PLANS

© 2018 LifeWay Christian Resources

 TEACHING PLAN
Session 1

YOUR NOTES
The Majestic Glory
of Father and Son
Revelation 1:1-20

Before the Session: Summarize the information under the

Introduction in the Personal Study Guide
a. Read the introduction and chapter 1 of (p. 4) to describe the persecution and dan-
the Personal Study Guide (pp. 4-20) and the gers believers faced during the days when
introduction and Expository Notes on Rev- John was writing this book. Project on a
elation 1 in this Leader Guide (pp. 24-31). screen Teaching Item 1: Seven Churches
Map (and direct attention to the map on
b. Write on a large writing surface or Personal Study Guide p. 97). Use A Closer
project onto a screen the words disclosure Look in the Personal Study Guide (pp. 19-
and unveiling (Step 1). Have the words dis- 20) to describe Asia Minor—what is known
played as adults arrive. about its culture and geography during
Bible times. Note John’s location on the
c. From the CD-ROM, prepare to proj- map, in exile on the Isle of Patmos, as he
ect on a screen Teaching Item 1: Seven wrote the words of this book. John was liv-
Churches Map to use in Step 1. For Step 5, ing in a time when the government and the
print and make copies from the CD-ROM of culture were hostile toward believers and
Teaching Item 2: Son of Man. the gospel message.
Encourage learners to complete the Liv-
d. Provide a Personal Study Guide for ing in a Hostile Culture learning activity in
each participant. Make available extra the Personal Study Guide (p. 11). Call for
Bibles and writing instruments. volunteers to share their responses. Read
these sentences from the Expository Notes
Leading the Session: (p. 26) that describe the early recipients of
John’s writing: “Followers of Christ were
1. As learners arrive, call attention to the rejected by government, religious leaders,
displayed words disclosure and unveiling. the community, and often their own fam-
Ask adults to name reasons we might have ily members. Hearing that God had a plan
for keeping something hidden from view. must have been a great comfort to them.”
Then call for a volunteer to read the first Ask: How is it a comfort to us today, hear-
paragraph of the Introduction on page 4 ing that God has a plan? Encourage learn-
of the Personal Study Guide, that begins ers to think about the plan God had for the
with “The very first word of this remark- believers at each of the seven churches, as
able book is apocalupsis.” Note that the we work our way through this study.
purpose of this unveiling was to encour-
age the church and help them understand 2. Write on the board: Close at hand
what lay ahead. Stress that from beginning and A long way off. Invite a volunteer to
to end, the book is about Jesus Christ and read Revelation 1:1-3. Point out that John
His ultimate triumph over all evil. lived and wrote with the expectation that

4  TEACHING PLAN : Session 1

© 2018 LifeWay Christian Resources
the time is near (v. 3) for Jesus to return. can learn from the churches as we think YOUR NOTES
Note that in the way we measure time, Je- about how these biblical truths can be ap-
sus’ return was a long way off from the day plied in our lives and our church today.
John wrote these words because today we Call attention to the verse 4 words, the
are still waiting for His return. Use the in- one who is, who was, and who is to come.
formation in the Expository Notes (p. 28) Ask: What do we learn about God from this
to explain the Greek word kairos used in verse? In what ways do these words ex-
verse 3. Explore what it means to live with press confidence and power? Next direct
expectancy that Christ’s return is near. attention to the words, the seven spirits
Call attention to this text in the Personal before his throne. Call for a volunteer to
Study Guide (p. 12): “The expectation of read the paragraph in the Personal Study
the imminent return of Jesus Christ has Guide (p. 12) that begins “Jesus Christ, the
always dominated the hope of believers. Son of God, is the dominant Person ….”
When the return of Christ is relegated to Invite learners to silently read verses
some distant future, we rob our faith of its 5-8 and name aloud the details they find
vitality and our witness of its urgency. It is describing Jesus in these verses. Ask:
the anticipation of the soon return of Jesus What do we learn about Jesus from these
Christ that creates passion and urgency verses? Supplement the discussion with
within believers.” Ask: As believers, how information from the Expository Notes
should we live, showing our expectation (pp. 28-30). Note that with the mention of
that Jesus is returning soon? As believ- Jesus Christ in verse 5 (God the Father and
ers, how does it impact our attitudes and the Holy Spirit were mentioned in verse 4),
actions when we view Christ’s return as John highlighted the Trinity’s involvement
some far-off event? How should the urgen- in the Revelation. Point out that with the
cy of Christ’s return impact the ways that title Alpha and the Omega, Jesus was de-
we live and serve? After allowing time for claring His eternal nature. In an apocalyp-
responses, stress that when we live with tic book like Revelation, Jesus was helping
the expectation of His return, we will be to shore up our faith and letting us know
much better witnesses in sharing the gos- He is in control.
pel message. Direct attention to We Know How It
Ends! learning activity in the Personal
3. Invite a volunteer to read Revela- Study Guide (p. 13) and lead the group
tion 1:4-8. Refer again to Teaching Item 1: to discuss their responses to it. Ask: How
Seven Churches Map so learners can see does knowing how it ends help us as we
each church’s location in relation to Pat- face struggles and challenges in living for
mos where John was living when he wrote Christ today? Read this sentence from the
these words. Direct attention to verse 4 and Expository Notes (p. 30), “The one who
the words, the seven churches in Asia. Use is going to bring history to a conclusion
the Expository Notes (p. 28) to briefly de- is one we want to trust knows everything
scribe the two viewpoints about the seven from beginning to end.” Declare that we
churches described in chapters 1–3: (1) that can step confidently toward the future
the seven churches represented certain knowing the One who holds the future in
church ages throughout history or, (2) that His hands.
the seven churches were addressed to par-
ticular churches that John knew, but that 4. Transition by asking: What are the
the message was intended for the whole kinds of things we might say when we are
church. Point out that with either view, we introducing ourselves to someone who

Session 1 : TEACHING PLAN  5

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YOUR NOTES doesn’t know us? Encourage learners to you saw something like this? How does
listen for how John introduced himself. reading a description of Jesus like this one
Call for a volunteer to read verses 9-11. encourage us to want to worship Him?
Ask: How did John describe himself in Call attention to verse 17 and note John’s
verse 9? Note that John knew by first-hand initial reaction to this vision—he fell like a
experience the persecution that believers dead man. Also note Jesus’ first words to
were experiencing. Using details in the John here—Don’t be afraid. Point out that
Expository Notes (p. 30), briefly explain don’t be afraid (or similar words: fear not,
what John meant when he wrote that he be not afraid, etc.) appear numerous times
was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day. Stress in the Old and New Testaments. Invite
that John experienced “a kind of spiritual learners to read verse 18 silently. Then ask:
contact with the Holy Spirit that could only What reason did Jesus give for why John
be deemed as supernatural. On the day of did not need to be afraid? How does hav-
worship, John was experiencing some- ing Jesus in our lives help us with the fears
thing utterly different from normal hu- we face today? Read this sentence from
man communications” (Expository Notes, the Expository Notes (p. 31), “Nothing is
p.  30). This helps us better understand all outside of Jesus’ sovereignty.” Ask: How
that follows in the rest of the book. was the fact of Jesus’ sovereignty a source
Note that the seven churches are briefly of comfort for believers at the time Revela-
mentioned in verse 11. Call attention to the tion was written? For believers today?
section titled, “The Letters to the Seven Call attention to verses 19-20, key verses
Churches,” beginning on Personal Study in this chapter. Explain that Write what you
Guide page 15, and encourage learners have seen, what is … refers to what will
to read the information about the church- unfold in chapters 2 and 3. With verse 19,
es before next session’s study. Note that John set the stage for the rest of our study.
understanding the culture, geography, State that some think these three phrases
and challenges surrounding each church in verse 19 refer to dispensations of world
helps us as we study the words Christ pro- history and church history, while others
claimed to each church in chapters 2 and 3. say it was simply John’s way of recording
the divine revelation unfolding before him.
5. Distribute copies of Teaching Item 2: Ask: What have you discovered in Revela-
Son of Man. Encourage learners to silently tion 1 that gives you hope for today?
read Revelation 1:12-20 and find these de- Between now and the next session,
scriptions of the Son of Man, who is Je- encourage learners to reflect on John’s
sus. Record the verse number in the blank vision of the risen Lord as we prepare
beside the description on Teaching Item 2. to examine the seven churches and hear
Then invite a volunteer to read the verses what God is saying to us through the mes-
aloud. Call for two more volunteers to read sages to these churches.
aloud Matthew 17:2 and Daniel 7:13-14.
Explore the similar language used in these
three Scripture passages.
Using the information in the Exposi-
tory Notes (pp. 30-31), lead the group to
talk about the meaning of the descriptions
of Jesus in verses 12-20. Ask: What was
John’s response when he saw this vision
of Jesus? What might your response be if

6  TEACHING PLAN : Session 1

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EXPOSITORY
NOTES

© 2018 LifeWay Christian Resources

 EXPOSITORY NOTES
Introduction

YOUR NOTES
Introduction to
Revelation 1–3

I
magine living among the first generation of Christians in the Roman Empire, facing
difficulties in many sectors of life. The Jewish Christians were considered traitors to
their own ethnicity and to the traditions of their religion. The Roman government was
perpetually offended as Christians declared “Jesus is Lord.” To the governing authori-
ties, it was both a mystery and criminally treasonous to refer to an executed rabbi and
traveling magician as “Lord” when only Caesar was to hold that title. Then, there was
simply everyone else. The majority of people were polytheists (the belief that there are
many gods), and the thought of a one, true God arriving on the earth, living as a man, and
dying for our misdeeds was laughable. None of their gods cared that much about mortals.
It was into this culture flood that Christianity was born and began to thrive. By the time
we come to the final book of the Bible, the apostles had been scattered and most had died.
But they had used the forced relocations as missionary opportunities. Everywhere they
went, they preached the gospel, fulfilled the compassion ethic of Jesus, and planted church-
es. While they ministered, however, our first-century brothers and sisters also suffered.

Living with the End in Mind

Revelation is the one apocalyptic book of the New Testament. Though that sounds a bit
overwhelming to tackle, it is an encouraging book to the church. In giving us this “revela-
tion of Jesus Christ” (1:1), we see in dramatic detail how God worked in the church, can
give us endurance to keep working, and embolden believers to live faithfully until the end.
Grant Osborne noted “that Revelation is composed of three genres: apocalyptic, proph-
ecy, and letter.”1 Even noting these three styles in this book helps us to keep life in per-
spective. John was sending letters of instruction to individual congregations that help all
of us in maintaining faithfulness to Christ. But the living we do in the “here and now” is
never separated from what is going to come in the “by-and-by.” Our present living is given
context through understanding the eternal realities of God’s sovereignty and His eventual
work to close the books on our current history.
It has been a natural tendency for us to study, teach, write, and preach about Revelation
through the lens of what will happen to us in the future. After all, it has the apocalyptic de-
tails of dragons, beasts, streets of clear gold, bowls of wrath, and a portrait of the eternal
home for the saints. So, over the centuries, the church has developed various interpreta-
tions for the prophecies held in the book.
But Osborne again helps bring some context to the overall study of this sometimes-
dizzying book. He wrote, “The value of this identification cannot be overstated—it helps
the reader to realize that the book is not just a casebook for identifying future events but
more a theological workbook addressing the church in the present through the prophecies
of the future.”2 By seeing the letter-writing feature of the book, the church is taught to live
out its present in view of the future. With victory secured in Christ, in the cross, and in the
future time of judgment, believers can press into their current lives with bold faith.

24  EXPOSITORY NOTES : Introduction

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Author, Date, and Place of Writing YOUR NOTES
The authorship of Revelation was assumed to be the apostle John in the early portion of
the church. But beginning in the third century, Dionysius of Alexandria and various other
church leaders throughout church history have questioned the apostle John as the author.
The arguments against his authorship include internal items such as the Greek grammar
and external elements such as the presence of other prominent church leaders who also
carried the name John.
However, the witness of the early church along with other strong arguments for author-
ship by the apostle John, son of Zebedee, are weighty enough for us to rely upon. We can
find a number of ties in vocabulary and syntax with the other books by John within the
New Testament.3 Thomas wrote about the issue: “the fact remains that the case for the
authorship of the Apocalypse by the apostle John rests solidly on the near-unanimous
testimony of the early church and a significant body of internal data that liken it to John’s
other NT books.”4
With this work proceeding with the position that the apostle John was the author, we
turn our attention to the date and place of its writing. In 1:9 we read, “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.” Thus John clearly
identified Patmos, an island in the Aegean Sea, as the place of writing. Not so clearly seen
in the words of this book but determined by context and history is the date, most likely
somewhere around AD 95 during the persecution under the Roman Emperor Domitian.

Persevering in the Faith

One of the great themes of the book and of our study is that of persevering. As John wrote
the book, he did so while suffering as a prisoner in exile. We have a tendency to dramatize
the early church leaders in our mind in a way that does not reflect their reality. John was
elderly and subject to the harsh conditions of a penal colony separated from the mainland.
He was alone and likely had a difficult time fending for himself. It is into such a scenario
that God graced us with the Book of Revelation that encourages us to persevere.
As we give attention to the first three chapters of this lengthy letter, we’ll observe that
perseverance is both a command and a promise. God knows that the work of persever-
ance can never be completed by shear human determination. Not even after our salvation
can we be strong enough to endure by our own willpower, emotional strength, or mental
discipline. Instead, we need God’s very presence and filling in our lives. Thus, the book
begins with a description of the glorified Christ working in the midst of the church. The
perseverance called for can be guaranteed for us because of Jesus’ presence with us. As
God spoke through John to the seven churches in Asia, they were both confronted and
challenged to remain faithful. The call for their repentance was the kindness of God to
remind them of their allegiance to Christ.

1. Grant R. Osborne, “Revelation” in Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker
Academic, 2002), 12.
2. Ibid., 13.
3. Robert L. Thomas gives an excellent and detailed overview of these arguments for the apostle John’s authorship due to
vocabulary, syntax, and concepts in his book Revelation 1-7: An Exegetical Commentary (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers,
1992), 11-17.
4. Ibid., 19.

Introduction : EXPOSITORY NOTES  25

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 EXPOSITORY NOTES
Revelation 1:1-20

YOUR NOTES
The Majestic Glory
of Father and Son
D
ystopian futures and apocalyptic stories have always been popular to write and
tell. It seems there has been a resurgence in this genre over the last few years. Se-
ries of novels, television shows, and movie franchises have been built around vari-
ous forms of the future. Story arcs normally go horribly wrong for humanity and
culture as a whole. Within the last few years, we’ve been inundated with stories of colonies
fighting against one another (like The Hunger Games trilogy) or zombie apocalypses (like
The Walking Dead television show). It is common that our man-made apocalyptic stories
reveal the evil within our hearts and how humanity works to destroy itself. So we write our
stories with a twinge of hope in a band of heroes who will save the day.
The biblical apocalypse we find in the Book of the Revelation is the answer to our fears
and gives a perfect portrait of our hopes. Within so many stories we write, tell, and televise,
there is a hero. It is the character who, by some stroke of luck or by the building of a coali-
tion, defeats evil so the oppressed can be liberated. All of our dreamt-up heroes are mere
shadows of the one, true hero: Jesus Christ. In the first chapter of Revelation, we are given
a mysterious vision of our hero and how He works to bring righteousness to His people.

Prologue (1:1-3)
When we come to this book, it opens unlike others. The very first words set it apart as it
asserts its claim to be the revelation of Jesus Christ. The word revelation can just as easily
be translated as apocalypse. It communicates multiple meanings for us. It is a revealing
of the true nature of Jesus Christ to us. As we study John’s message, we are going to gain
a clearer understanding of the nature of Jesus. The book is not just about the means God
uses to bring about judgment and restoration. It is an unveiling of the nature and character
of God the Son.
The word revelation also gives a sense of finality. An apocalypse brings a revelation not
to be taken lightly as God showed His servants what must soon take place. The early re-
cipients would read a connotation of decisiveness and destruction into what would come
next. This apocalyptic revelation still tells Christians what will happen next. It is a word
to the church that God is active in the world, and that He has a plan. The early believers
needed this message because of the persecution they suffered from so many sectors of
society. The Roman Empire saw the Christians as usurpers who served a lord other than
Caesar. The Jewish leaders saw them as heretics who had abandoned the faith to follow
after a disgraced rabbi. Plus, the general public constantly misunderstood what it meant
to be a Christian. Followers of Christ were rejected by government, religious leaders, the
community, and often their own family members. Hearing that God had a plan must have
been a great comfort to them. It can equally be a great comfort to believers in this era as
we wait for God’s restorative work in the world.
The prologue tells us how John received this astounding word. God delivered an angel
who would communicate with John. It is important to remember that an angel is a mes-
senger of God’s truth. Angels do not invent or originate the truth but are sent to convey
it. The inclusion of this detail regarding an angelic means of delivering truth continues to

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 YOUR NOTES
Modern-day port
of Patmos from the
entrance to the cave
of the Apocalypse.

ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/ BOB

SCHATZ (28/1/11)

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YOUR NOTES provide a boundary marker for us to understand John’s role as well. John was bearing a
witness to what was given to him. He received from the angel what the angel received
from the Lord. John’s authorship for this book is listed in the first verse. It is reminiscent of
how he is described in the Gospel of John. We read there, “This is the disciple who testi-
fies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true” (John
21:24). John was committed to testifying to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus
Christ. John faithfully recorded the words and the evidence of what must soon take place.
In light of receiving this revelation from God through John, a promise was given to those
who both hear it and heed it. Verse 3 promises those who hear and obey will be blessed. A
blessing associated with an apocalypse was a distinguishing mark to this book at the time
it was delivered. It closely relates to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount; specifically the section
we call the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-12. There are two categories of people who will be
blessed according to Revelation 1:3: the reader and the obedient hearer. It was common in
ancient times for an elder or lay leader to publicly read such a letter to the congregation.
Delivering such a message would most definitely be a blessed or happy occasion. Reading
it showed faith and faithfulness to deliver what would prove to be a deep and mysterious
word from God. But the hearer who obeyed would also be blessed. “These two concepts,
hearing and keeping, are combined frequently in both OT and NT. In fact, the Hebrew word
for ‘hear’ also means to ‘obey’; the two concepts are inseparable biblically.” 1
The press for why hearing and heeding the revelation is so important is because of tim-
ing. The reader is told that the time is near. In general, the Greek language used two terms
for the concept of time: either chronos or kairos. Chronos represented the actual passing of
seconds, minutes, hours, and so on. But here, John used kairos, indicating an occasion or a
season. The time that is near is not just a spot on the calendar but a season of time that holds
great significance. Thus, all that will follow is worthy of careful attention and obedience.

Salutation and Doxology (1:4-8)

John made a specific statement that the book was being delivered to the seven churches in
Asia. With this phrase, numerous doctrines regarding the end times have been launched.
The seven churches that received a letter in chapters 2–3 are all historic churches. They ex-
isted in Asia (in the region of modern-day Turkey), and John would have been familiar with
them. However, they were not the only churches at the time, as we have evidence from
the various New Testament epistles. Within our modern eschatology (the doctrine of last
things), there are generally two schools of thought about John’s addressing these seven
churches. One is that the seven churches selected represent certain church ages through-
out history. “For example, Ephesus would represent prophetically the apostolic period
until the Decian persecution (A.D. 250), followed by Smyrna, which represents the church
of martyrdom extending until the time of Constantine (A.D. 316).”2 A second viewpoint is
that seven is not a sacred number indicating future church ages. Rather, these are seven
churches that show a “diversity within a basic unity” and though the “revelation was ad-
dressed in particular to seven churches known to him [John], its message was also for the
whole church in general.”3 Though there are various end-time doctrines, the basis of many
of them stem from how these letters are applied to the immediate context of John or to a
future time. Regardless of your view, it is critical that we move through the letters that will
be delivered with a view of how the biblical truths can be applied to the believers of today.
John highlighted the authorship of the book in a threefold fashion. First, this revela-
tion is from God, and He is described as the one who is, who was, and who is to come.

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The phrase stands as the strong reminder of God’s self-existence and sovereign position YOUR NOTES
over creation. The combination of these phrases adds to the power of this book, giving us
confidence that God knows what will happen in the future state of our world. He was there
at the beginning, we have confidence of His presence with us now, and He will be with us
when the whole of human history comes to a close.
The Revelation was also coming from the seven spirits before his throne. This phrase
has carried various interpretations. It can refer to the fullness of the Holy Spirit’s presence
(as seen in 3:1; 4:5; 5:6). The number seven is often seen as indicating completeness, so
this could be a nuanced statement about the important nature of the Spirit’s role in this
special revelation. The phrase has also been associated with the idea of the angels of the
seven churches from 1:20; often interpreted as the pastors of the seven Asian churches.
One other viewpoint is that the seven spirits are angels accompanying the work of God.
The first of these three viewpoints would seem to carry the most weight in view of the
context of this book, along with the other prophetic literature of the Bible.
The third originator of this revelatory message is from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness,
the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. With this third descrip-
tor, John has given a rounded-out view of the Trinity’s involvement in the Revelation. The
Father is positioned as the eternal One, the Spirit is shown in fullness, and now the Son of
God is included in the authorship. But we should not too quickly move past the concept of
witness within the description. Jesus is the epitome of a faithful witness that all believers
should emulate. Throughout the book as a whole, the reader views the trustworthy work of
the Savior as He brings about the end of all things. In the letters to the seven churches, it is
to His steady sovereignty that believers owe their allegiance. The work that Jesus has done
reveals His kingly disposition toward us as that of love and of desire to liberate us from our
sin debt. In Christ, freedom is available for the person of faith, and it sets our thinking clear
on the calls to faithfulness that will be received in the seven letters.
The recipients of the book are going to receive a set of shocking messages. Some of
the individual churches will receive devastating rebukes, so it is within the nature of God’s
character to give an encouraging word first. They were reminded that Jesus made us a
kingdom, priests to his God and Father. The work of Christ was not to put His people in a
neutral position. Our salvation does not simply wipe out a debt, but it causes us to have
a new identity. Our commitments are transferred from the kingdom of this world to the
kingdom of God. Within our new citizenship, we are now those who speak for God in the
world (giving out the gospel) and speaking to God on behalf of those in need (intercessory
prayer). The priestly role is a sacred trust that God has given to all believers.
Because of His redemptive work, Jesus deserves to be worshiped in the most exces-
sive fashion possible. He has made us into something completely new; from enemies
of God to priests in His kingdom. It is for this and so much more that God deserves the
declaration we find at the end of verse 6. He deserves for us to declare His glory and
dominion forever and ever for His character and His redemptive work. John stated that
Jesus has both set us free from our sins by his blood and he is coming with the clouds
to bring mourning to those who have persecuted Him. The Lord will arrive to reward the
believer and judge the unbeliever.
Then we come to God’s personal declaration that reinforces what was said in verse 4.
God personally stated, “I am the Alpha and the Omega … the one who is, who was, and
who is to come, the Almighty.” This underscores the eternal nature of God. When we come
into contact with an apocalyptic book, we don’t want to think that the author or the main

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YOUR NOTES character is lacking in any way. We want to trust that the one who is going to bring history
to a conclusion also knows everything from beginning to end. We want the assurance that
sovereign control has been executed over it all. By emphasizing this point, receiving the
passages to follow shore up our faith rather than undermine it. Knowing that God is who
He says He is makes the journey of faith and faithfulness much easier.

The Son of Man and the Churches (1:9-20)

John gave a bit of insight into his circumstances while writing the book (v. 9). He was a
member of the church who was personally persecuted by the legal authorities of the Ro-
man Empire and sentenced to live in the penal colony on the island of Patmos. He remind-
ed the readers that he was a partner to them in the affliction, kingdom, and endurance that
are in Jesus. Because he was willing to testify about Jesus, he had suffered. But it was with
faith in God’s sustaining power that John continued to remain steadfast. He had known
the spectrum of experience with Jesus from first-hand relationship to the affliction heaped
upon him. Yet we find John devoted to the Lord in such a measure that he was caught up
in the Spirit and in a spiritual experience that delivered this book to the rest of us in the
church. What comes next in the first chapter is an unveiling of the work of Christ going on
for the believers in the world.
First came the announcement to John through a heavenly voice so pronounced that it
sounded like a trumpet. At the moment of this revelation to John, he was in the Spirit on
the Lord’s day. In this moment, God had brought John into a kind of spiritual contact with
the Holy Spirit that could only be deemed as supernatural. On the day of worship, John
was experiencing something utterly different from normal human communications. His
natural senses could never perceive what his spirit would be exposed to through the work
of the Holy Spirit. The description that he heard a loud voice … like a trumpet is an image
of overwhelming importance. Throughout both this book of the Bible, other books of the
Bible, and in the ancient world, the sound of a trumpet would indicate the announcement
from a governing authority or the approach of a military force. It was a signal to John and
to the recipients of the book that a message was being received that should be obeyed.
God then told John that he would receive a message that was to be given to the seven
churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. As
we progress through this study, each letter will be studied and the city in which the church
resided will receive a bit of an overview as well. Taken as a whole, these cities could have
been traveled to in the order they are presented here. They were “situated on a great cir-
cular road that tied together the most populous, wealthy, and influential part of the Asian
province, the west-central part.”4 The message in its immediate context was addressed to
congregations that needed the calls to faithfulness from Jesus and had potential influence.
John’s reaction to receiving the reverberating message was the same as anyone would
have: he turned to see who gave it. It was of course the Lord who was one like the Son
of Man. The title points to Daniel 7:13-14 where the same title is used and linked to the
“Ancient of Days” who rules everything. Jesus has received an everlasting kingdom. The
imagery of this man is used again in Daniel 10 with numerous connections to the descrip-
tions in Revelation 1.
John found himself looking at a vision of Jesus moving about the scene of seven
golden lampstands. The lampstands represent churches (see Rev. 1:20). In particular, it
likely makes reference to the seven churches about to receive specific communiqués to
them. However, as seven often symbolizes the idea of completion, the verse also can

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indicate that Jesus is moving about the church as a whole. The dress of Jesus is a long YOUR NOTES
robe with a golden sash wrapped around his chest. In His glorified state, we are watching
Him in priestly garb. Perhaps even alluding to the dress of the High Priest as recorded in
Exodus 28:4.
The physical appearance of Jesus shows His glory and power. White hair and eyes of
fire along with feet that appear to be like burnished bronze from a furnace all indicate the
purity or holiness of Jesus. He is most definitely in His glorified state. Even His voice is dis-
tinct from that of a human as it is like the sound of cascading waters and is accompanied
by a sharp double-edged sword coming from his mouth. Similar to the description of the
trumpet-like volume (v. 10), John was describing Jesus’ presence as awe-inspiring, both
to him and to us. His final descriptor is that of the radiance of Jesus’ very face shining like
the sun at midday. In every way possible, from His hair to His feet, the presence of Jesus
is extraordinary. It should propel us into worshiping Him. That was John’s reaction in such
a manner that he fell in an almost dead-like state before the Son of God. The comforting
reaction of Jesus can cause us to love Him even more. The King of glory touched the shoul-
der of the old apostle who was exiled for his faith.
The first personal words of Jesus to John are, Don’t be afraid. It is a moment unlike
any other for John. Throughout the Bible, the call to be strong and not to fear begins early,
with God speaking to Moses in Exodus 14:13. Moses shared that message with Joshua
(Deut. 31:7). We see the message carry through the Old Testament for those who are faith-
ful. Jesus Himself used a similar statement with the apostles in Matthew 14:27 when He
came to their boat by walking on the water. Then, in Revelation 1:17, the Lord delivered
to John this message once again. Jesus could say this because He can truthfully say I
am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades. Nothing is outside of
Jesus’ sovereignty.
Revelation 1 ends with the directive to John to write what you have seen, what is, and
what will take place after this. Some take the three phrases as a matrix for the dispensa-
tions of world history and church history. Others interpret it simply as John’s recording
the divine revelation that was being given to him. In either case, Jesus directs for this
apocalyptic vision to be recorded for the rest of the church so that the churches—both the
specific seven to receive letters and the church universal—would benefit from God’s gra-
cious self-revelation to us.

1. Grant R. Osborne, “Revelation” in Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker
Academic, 2002) 58.
2. Alan Johnson, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 12 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House,
1981) 419.
3. George Eldon Ladd, A Commentary on the Revelation (Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company,
1972) 24.
4. Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 1-7: An Exegetical Commentary (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 1992) 94-95.

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