Show notes
The Foundation for Everything That Follows“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place.”— Revelation 1:1, NKJVThe book of Revelation has fascinated, challenged, and sometimes frightened Christians for nearly two thousand years.It contains mysterious symbols, seven churches, seven seals, seven trumpets, beasts, dragons, heavenly judgments, Babylon, Armageddon, the second coming, the millennium, the lake of fire, and finally the New Jerusalem.But before we attempt to understand any of those things, we must answer a much more fundamental question:What is Revelation about?The answer is found in its very first words:“The Revelation of Jesus Christ.”That sentence provides the foundation for the entire book.Revelation is not first and foremost a revelation about beasts.It is not primarily a revelation about political powers.It is not primarily a revelation about catastrophes.It is not even primarily a revelation about the end of the world.It is a revelation of Jesus Christ.Everything else in the book must be understood in relationship to Him.Chapter 1 is so important as it establishes the Christ whom we will encounter throughout the remainder of Revelation.Revelation Means an UnveilingThe word translated “revelation” comes from the Greek apokalypsis, meaning an unveiling, disclosure, or uncovering.Something that was hidden is being made visible.God is pulling back the curtain.He is showing His servants what they need to know.This is important because Revelation is not intended to conceal truth permanently. It is intended to reveal truth.God wants His people to see.Revelation 1:1 says:“which God gave Him to show His servants.”The book is therefore a divine communication.It begins in heaven and comes to humanity.The basic chain is:God → Jesus Christ → His angel → John → God's servantsThe revelation originates with God.God gives it to Christ.Christ communicates it through His angel.The angel communicates it to John.John bears witness to what he has seen and heard.And the message ultimately reaches God's people.This means that Revelation is not John's speculation about the future.John is a prophet receiving a message from heaven to be given to mankind.John—the Apostle Who Knew JesusThe human instrument chosen to receive this revelation is John.Revelation 1:4 begins:“John, to the seven churches which are in Asia…”And Revelation 1:9 identifies him:“I, John, your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ…”John is not a detached academic studying Jesus from a distance.He had walked with Jesus.The Gospel of John repeatedly identifies him through the expression “the disciple whom Jesus loved.”See John 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7; and 21:20.John had sat beside Jesus.He had heard Him teach.He had watched Him heal.He had witnessed His crucifixion.He had seen the empty tomb.He had encountered the resurrected Christ.And now, years later, John is shown another dimension of the same Jesus:the glorified Christ.There is something profoundly beautiful about this.John knew Jesus during His earthly ministry.Now John is shown Jesus in His heavenly glory.The Jesus of Revelation is therefore not a different Jesus.He is the same Jesus John knew.But now John sees Him as He is in His glorified, victorious state.John on PatmosJohn tells us:“I was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.”— Revelation 1:9John was separated from the churches he loved, incarcerated on Patmos, a small island in the Aegean Sea.From a human perspective, his circumstances were restrictive.But God was not restricted.John was separated from his fellow believers, but he was not separated from heaven.In fact, it was on Patmos that heaven opened to him.That gives us an important spiritual lesson:Our physical circumstances do not determine our access to God.John was on Patmos.But heaven came near.A Special BlessingRevelation contains a remarkable promise:“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it.”— Revelation 1:3Notice that the blessing involves three actions:readshearskeepsThe purpose of Revelation is therefore not merely intellectual.God does not say:“Blessed are those who can explain every symbol.”He says:“Blessed… [are those who] keep those things which are written in it.”Understanding matters.But obedience matters more.Revelation is intended to change the way God's people live.It calls us to faithfulness, perseverance, worship, obedience, courage, and readiness for Christ's return.The study of prophecy is therefore not an end in itself.Prophecy is designed to lead us to Jesus.Revelation 1:7 — The Christ Who Is ComingOnly a few verses into the book we encounter one of its great themes:“Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him…”— Revelation 1:7Notice who is coming:He.Jesus.The central figure of Revelation is not an event.It is a Person.Jesus is coming.That gives Revelation its ultimate direction.The book begins with:The revelation of Jesus Christ.And it ends with:“Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”— Revelation 22:20The whole prophetic journey lies between those two realities:Christ revealed.Christ returning.Revelation 1:4–5 gives us a remarkable introduction to Christ:“Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come…”And then:“and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.”Before Revelation introduces its symbols, it introduces its Savior.Who is Jesus?He is the Faithful WitnessJesus reveals God.He is the perfect witness to the character of His Father.The Gospel of John says:“No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son… He has declared Him.”— John 1:18Jesus doesn't merely give us information about God.Jesus reveals what God is like.If we want to understand the character of God while studying Revelation, we must keep looking at Jesus.He Is the Firstborn from the DeadRevelation calls Jesus:“the firstborn from the dead.”The emphasis is upon Christ's victory over death.Jesus died.Jesus entered the grave.Jesus rose again.And because He lives, death does not have the final word.This becomes foundational to the remainder of Revelation.The book will ultimately speak about resurrection, judgment, the second death, the destruction of evil, and the restoration of God's creation.But behind all of these themes stands the risen Christ.The One who conquered death is the One who controls the future.He Is Ruler Over the Kings of the EarthRevelation 1:5 calls Jesus:“the ruler over the kings of the earth.”Think about John's situation.Rome appeared to control the world.Caesars ruled.Governors ruled.Armies ruled.John was a prisoner on Patmos.But heaven says something radically different:Jesus is the true ruler.This theme will become increasingly important as Revelation unfolds.Earthly kingdoms appear powerful.Political systems rise and fall.Empires come and go.But Christ remains sovereign.That is why Revelation ultimately calls humanity to worship—not earthly powers, but God and His Christ.“Who Loved Us”Then comes one of the most beautiful statements in the chapter:“To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.”— Revelation 1:5Before we encounter the judgments of Revelation, we encounter the love of Christ.Before the trumpets.Before the plagues.Before Babylon.Before the beasts.Before the final conflict.We meet the Savior who loves us.The Jesus of Revelation is the Jesus of Calvary.He is not merely the coming King.He is the crucified LaSend us your questions to be featured on the next podcast!Thank you for being part of the AskGod365 podcast community.We value you and appreciate greatly the time you are spending with us today.Please share your comments and questions at AskGod365.comListen. 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