Revelation 1
Revelation Chapter 1
1 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,
The Revelation of Jesus Christ – what/how He is going to accomplish the future events/things that going to happen?
Jesus comes to Judge the world/pore out God's Wrath - Rev 6-19.
Luke 4:16-21 - 16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: 18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." 20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
Is 61:1,2 - 1 "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn
Joe 1:15 - Alas for the day! For the day of the Lord is at hand; It shall come as destruction from the Almighty.
Rom 1:18 - 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith." 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness
Matt 24:21,22 - 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened.
Jesus comes as King to Rule and Reign - Rev 20, 21, 22.
Thus, the book is an unveiling of the character and program of God thorough Jesus Christ.
Who Revealed? and To Whom it is revealed? How it is revealed?
God -> Jesus Christ -> Angel -> John (-> 7 Churches in Asia Minor - Rev1:4,11, -> All Believers Rev 2 & 3)
Signified – means the thing or concept denoted by a sign/symbols.
It is a book of signs:: the angel sign-ified this message to John. It is a book that communicates in signs for clear understanding.
Most signs/symbols are explained with in this book itself. Read strong>Rev 1:20.
Vision - Rev 1:12
When it start? How long it Happens?
Soon/Shortly/quickly take place.
Time is near - Rev 1:3,
Anytime soon. No one knows the hour of its start.
Since it is a unified content once it starts it will happen continuously without any gap.
KJV- things which must shortly come to pass.
Rev 22:6 - KJV - And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
It is for short period.
Matt 24:22 - 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened.
It is should be limited to 7 years as in Rev 11, 12, 13th chapter and as per Daniel 9
Dan 9:27 - 24 "Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy. 25 "Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times. 26 "And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate."
2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.
John knew it was the Holy Scripture because he calls it the word of God, as an Old Testament prophet would say. He also calls it the testimony of Jesus Christ.
John - bore witness, bare record(KJV), bare witness(NASB)
to the word of God, and
to the testimony of Jesus Christ,
to all things that he saw.
NIV - who testifies to everything he saw--that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
NLT - John faithfully reported the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ – everything he saw
3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
Blessing for all who read, listen and keep/follow the words of this prophecy.
Anyone can read and any group of people can listen. This principal applies to rest of the Bible. It is open to all.
No one restricted to read/listen.
Keep those things
James 1:22-25 - 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
Mat 21:28-32 - 28 "But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, 'Son, go, work today in my vineyard.' 29 He answered and said, 'I will not,' but afterward he regretted it and went. 30 Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, 'I go, sir,' but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said to Him, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.
This is the first of seven beatitudes of Revelation
List all Blessings in the Book of Revelation:
Revelation 1:3 - Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
Revelation 14:13 - Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' " "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them."
Revelation 16:15 - "Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame."
Revelation 19:9 - Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' " And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God."
Revelation 20:6 - Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
Revelation 22:7 - "Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."
Revelation 22:14 - Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.
Time is near – anytime soon it will happen.
Rev 1:2, 22:6,10
We are in End Times.
No one Knows the hour except the Father.
Mark 13:32, Matt 24:36 - 32 "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near--at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. 36 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.
Joe 1:15 - Alas for the day! For the day of the Lord is at hand; It shall come as destruction from the Almighty.
Mark 10:40, Matt 20:23 - 20 Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. 21 And He said to her, "What do you wish?" She said to Him, "Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom." 22 But Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They said to Him, "We are able." 23 So He said to them, "You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father." 24 And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave-- 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
4 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 5a and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.
To 7 Churches in Asia/Asia Minor/Province of Asia.
All Churches or Church Age.
Read in Introduction and Rev 1:11, 12, Rev 2 & 3
Grace and Peace to you from
God the Father - Him who is and who was and who is to come,
Rev 1:4, 8, 4:8, 11:17, 16:5
This speaks to the eternal nature of God.
It has the idea of a timeless Being, and is connected with the name Yahweh/Jehovah found in the Old Testament
Jehovah = "the existing One", the proper name of the one true God
Gen 2:4 - This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord (KJV - LORD) God made the earth and the heavens,
Gen 22:14 - And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide (KJV - Jehovahjireh); as it is said to this day, "In the Mount of The Lord it shall be provided."
Exodus 6:3 - I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name Lord (KJV - JEHOVAH) I was not known to them.
In Greek this seems very lengthy title/name to our God the Father. This is the expanded version of the OT name Yahweh/Jehovah.
As Lord over eternity, He rules the past, the present, and the future.
The description Him who is and who was and who is to come applies to God the Son and God the Holy Spirit as much as it does to God the Father.
In fact, the title Yahweh describes the Triune God, the One God in Three Persons.
Here this title goes to God the Father because John specifically mentions God the Son and God the Holy Spirit in the following words of this verse.
I AM WHO I AM - He is God of Past, Present and Future.
Gen 12:1 - 1 Now the Lord had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
Gen 15:7 - Then He said to him, "I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it."
Gen 17:1 - When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.
Gen 26:24 - 19 Also Isaac's servants dug in the valley, and found a well of running water there. 20 But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac's herdsmen, saying, "The water is ours." So he called the name of the well Esek, because they quarreled with him. 21 Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over that one also. So he called its name Sitnah. 22 And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he called its name Rehoboth, because he said, "For now the Lord has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land." 23 Then he went up from there to Beersheba. 24 And the Lord appeared to him the same night and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for My servant Abraham's sake." 25 So he built an altar there and called on the name of the Lord, and he pitched his tent there; and there Isaac's servants dug a well.
Ex 3:6 - 2 And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. 3 Then Moses said, "I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn." 4 So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." 5 Then He said, "Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground." 6 Moreover He said, "I am the God of your father--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.
Ex 3:14 - 13 Then Moses said to God, "Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they say to me, 'What is His name?' what shall I say to them?" 14 And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.' " 15 Moreover God said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: 'The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.'
Also read the passage with similar titles I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last: Rev 1:8, 11, 17, 21:6, 22:13(, 20)
Holy Spirit (Seven Spirits – perfection/completion/fullness of the Spirit or seven fold of Spirits or seven eyes watching over all the earth)
1 Cor 12:11 - But one and the same Spirit works all these things, strong>distributing to each one individually as He wills.
Is 11:2 - The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
Seven Spirits only referred in this book.
Rev 3:1 - "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, 'These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.
Rev 4:5 - And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
Rev 5:6 - And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
Spirit Says to the each of 7 Churches (All Churches):
Rev 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22; - He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Spirit Says to the Great Tribulation believers (remnant). Here not to the Churches:
Rev 14:13 - Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' " "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them."
Spirit Says to all:
Rev 22:17 - And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
Son Jesus Christ
The faithful witness
This speaks to Jesus’ utter reliability and faithfulness to His Father and to His people, even unto death. The ancient Greek word translated witness is also the word for a martyr.
Rev 2:13 - 12 "And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, 'These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: 13 I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells
Rev 3:14 - "And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, 'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:
Rev 11:3 - And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth."
Rev 17:6 - I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.
He came to reveal the nature of the father.
John 1:1,14 - 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men......13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 14:7-11 - 7 "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him." 8 Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us." 9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.
The firstborn from dead
None above Him or Greater than Him.
Rom 8:29 - 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
He is pre-eminent among all those who are or will be resurrected.
Col 1:18 - And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
1 Cor 15:20-25 - 20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming. 24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.
Ruler over the kings of the earth. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Rev 17:14, 19:16
1 Tim 6:15 - 13 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing, 15 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate (Ruler - NIV), the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.
Triune God - Tri unity of God - Trinity - God in three Person i.e. Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Matt 28:19 - 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
Deut 6:4 - "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!
KLV - Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD
This word One in Hebrew is 'echad. This also means compound unity.
5b To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
To Jesus every glory and power goes forever and ever. Amen.
He Loved us – (NIV Loves Us)
Past tense refers to His first love towards us. He initiated the love.
1 John 4:20 - 19 We love Him because He first loved us.
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Also past tense looks back to the cross. It is finished work of Christ. So every believer should be secure in God’s love, not based on their present circumstances, but based on the ultimate demonstration of love at the cross. This is worth praising Jesus about!
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Rom 5:8 - But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Paul & John also uses past tense
Rom 8:37 - Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
Eph 2:4 - But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
Eph 5:2 - And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
2 The 2:16 – Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace,
1 John 4:10,11 - 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1 John 4:19 - We love Him because He first loved us.
He Washed (freed/loosed in some old manuscript) us from our sins by Jesus blood
Rom 5:9 - Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
1 Cor 6:11 - And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
Joh 8:36 - Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
Rom 6:7,11 - 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. … 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
To stay clean continuously God given provision for us to confess our sin:
1 Joh 1:9 - If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Jam 5:16 - Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
He made us Kings and priests to God and Father
1 Peter 2:9,10 - 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
In the Old Testament, it was forbidden to combine the offices of king and priest. King Uzziah of Judah is an example of a man who tried to combine the two offices, and paid the penalty for it
2 Chronicles 26:(3-)16-23 - 16 But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God by entering the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17 So Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him were eighty priests of the Lord--valiant men. 18 And they withstood King Uzziah, and said to him, "It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed! You shall have no honor from the Lord God." 19 Then Uzziah became furious; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense. And while he was angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead, before the priests in the house of the Lord, beside the incense altar. 20 And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and there, on his forehead, he was leprous; so they thrust him out of that place. Indeed he also hurried to get out, because the Lord had struck him. 21 King Uzziah was a leper until the day of his death. He dwelt in an isolated house, because he was a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the Lord. Then Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of the land. 22 Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, from first to last, the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz wrote. 23 So Uzziah rested with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of burial which belonged to the kings, for they said, "He is a leper." Then Jotham his son reigned in his place.
But under the New Covenant, we can be like Jesus in the sense that He is both King and High Priest.
Luke 1:31-33 - 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."
Heb 4:14 - 14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Mat 16:18-19 - 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
It also refers our future service in heaven (Rev 7:15) & in earth during Millennium region of Jesus Christ
7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.
Coming with clouds – 2nd coming of our Lord Jesus
Acts 1:9-11 - 9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."
Mat 24:30 - Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Dan 7:13,14 - 13 "I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. 14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.
Mat 26:64 - Jesus said to him, "It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven." 65 Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, "He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy!
This is Second Coming as described in Rev 19:11-16
This is not meeting the Lord in the air as in Rapture
1 Thes 4:17 - 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up (raptus in latin and Rapture in English) together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
1 Cor 15:51-53 - 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-- 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
(Jon Courson) Clouds are significant throughout Scripture because they represent the visible presence of God.…
When the law was first given, a cloud covered the mountain (Exodus 19:16).
When the law was given a second time, a cloud again appeared (Exodus 34:5).
Upon its completion, a cloud covered the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34).
Whenever the Israelites were to break camp on their journey to the Promised Land, a cloud led the way (Numbers 9:17).
When the temple was dedicated, a cloud filled the holy of holies (1 Kings 8:10).
It will also be true figuratively, because multitudes believers are called clouds in a figurative manner
Heb 12:1 - Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Jude 14-16 - 14 Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, 15 to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him." 16 These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage.
Clouds are commonly associated with God’s presence and glory (Exodus 13:21-22, 16:10, 19:9, and 24:15-18), relating to the Old Testament cloud of glory called the Shekinah.
All will see even they who pierced (Israelites/Jews) Jesus.
Jesus already told the same to High Priest before crucifixion.
Mat 26:64 - 64 Jesus said to him, "It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven." 65 Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, "He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy!
When Jesus reveals Himself to His own people, the Jews, it will not be in anger. By that time, the Jewish nation will have turned to Jesus, trusting in Him as their Messiah
Mat 23:39 - for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!' "
Rom 11:25-26 - 25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
Rev 7:4 - And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:
Rev 14:1-3 - 1 Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 3 They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.
When they see Jesus, and His pierced hands and feet, it will be a painful reminder of their previous rejection of Him. It will fulfill the scene
Zec12:10 - "And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn
All in earth who see will mourn because of Jesus.
Mat 24:27,30 - 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. … 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Rev 6:15-17 - 15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, 16 and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"
When this happens all believers will come with him and not mourn like other non believers (may be mourn like Israel as in Zec 12:10) but All Believers say... following Two fold Amen.
Two Fold Amen.
Even so – Let it be so (meaning or equivalent of the Hebrew Amen in Greek)
Amen – Hebrew Amen - which we follow in all languages.
8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come
Who is saying this?
The Lord in the New Testament refers to Jesus.
Rev 22:13-16 - 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last." 14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. 16 "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star."
the Alpha and the Omega
Rev 1:8 - "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
Rev 1:11 - saying, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last," and, "What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea."
Rev 21:6 - And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.
Rev 22:13-16 - 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last."
This title is owned by Jesus only referred in this book.
Alpha was the first letter of the ancient Greek alphabet, and Omega was the last letter. He says, “I am ‘the A and the Z,’.
the "the Alpha and the Omega" means the Beginning and the End
the Beginning and the End
Rev 1:8, 21:6, 22:13
This title is owned by Jesus only referred in this book.
Jesus is before all things and will remain beyond all things. He is not bound to time.
If Jesus both the Beginning and the End, then He also has authority over everything in-between.
This means that Jesus does have a plan for history, and
He directs the path of human events toward His designed fulfillment.
Our lives are not given over to blind fate, to random meaninglessness, or to endless cycles with no resolution.
Instead, Jesus Christ who is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End directs all of human history and even our individual lives.
who is and who was and who is to come
Rev 1:4, 8, 4:8, 11:17, 16:5
This title is owned by Jesus (1:8, 11:17,16:5) and God the Father (1:4, 4:8) but only referred in this book.
Read Rev 1:4 comments.
This shows the eternal nature and His unchanging presence. Jesus has this eternal nature just as much as God the Father does.
Micah 5:2 - "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting."
Heb 13:8 - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Which one of these attributes referred to our God the father in Old Testament?
The above 3 reference points to OT title to our God the father "the First and the Last" (especially Read Rev 1:11 & 22:13)
Rev 1:11, 17, 2:8, 22:13
This title is owned by Jesus and God the Father. In OT this is referred in many places but in NT it is only referred in this book.
The title the First and the Last is also irrefutable proof that Jesus is Yahweh, the Lord:
Is 41:4 - Who has performed and done it, Calling the generations from the beginning? 'I, the Lord, am the first; And with the last I am He.'
Is 43:4 - "You are My witnesses," says the Lord, "And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me.
Is 44:6-8 - 6 "Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: 'I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God. 7 And who can proclaim as I do? Then let him declare it and set it in order for Me, Since I appointed the ancient people. And the things that are coming and shall come, Let them show these to them. 8 Do not fear, nor be afraid; Have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.' "
Is 48:12-13 - 12 "Listen to Me, O Jacob, And Israel, My called: I am He, I am the First, I am also the Last. 13 Indeed My hand has laid the foundation of the earth, And My right hand has stretched out the heavens; When I call to them, They stand up together.
Ps 90:1-2 - 1 A Prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. 2 Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.
Why the above titles are very important?
These titles to Jesus proves that He is God not a prophet or angel or equivalent to created being. Because these title only belongs to our God the Father.
The Almighty (Greek - pantokrater - which literally means “the one who has his hand on everything.”) - God’s sovereignty - All Powerful – Infinite in Power – Omnipotent.
It speaks of the great sovereign control of Jesus over everything - past, present, and future.
Gen 17:1 - When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.
Gen 35:11 - Also God said to him: "I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body.
Ex 6:3 - I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name Lord I was not known to them.
Job 37:23 – As for the Almighty, we cannot find Him; He is excellent in power, In judgment and abundant justice; He does not oppress.
Job 40:20 - "Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? He who rebukes God, let him answer it."
Is 9:6 - For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Is 13:6 - Wail, for the day of the Lord is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty.
Eze 1:24 - When they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of many waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a tumult like the noise of an army; and when they stood still, they let down their wings.
Eze 10:5 - And the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard even in the outer court, like the voice of Almighty God when He speaks.
Joe 1:15 - Alas for the day! For the day of the Lord is at hand; It shall come as destruction from the Almighty.
Almighty appears 10 times in New Testament in Rev 19:6 it is translated as Omnipotent. Except 2 Cor 6:18 all other references are in Revelation (Rev 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7, 14; 19:6, 15; 21:22)
OT reference from 2 Sam 7:14 in 2 Cor 6:18 - "I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty."
Rev 1:8 - "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
Rev 4:8 - The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!"
Rev 11:17 - 15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" 16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: "We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.
Rev 15:3 - They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: "Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!
Rev 16:7 - And I heard another from the altar saying, "Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments."
Rev 16:14 - For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty
Rev 19:6 - And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!
Rev 19:15 - Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Rev 21:22 - But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
Personal Application:
Jesus is our Almighty God.
Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is unchanging God.
Jesus is before all things and will remain beyond all things. He is not bound to time.
Jesus Christ is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the first and the last directs all of human history and even our individual lives. So he is our Lord. Allow Jesus to Lord over us.
Rom 10:9-10 - 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ
NIV - I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus,
NLT - I am John, your brother. In Jesus we are partners in suffering and in the Kingdom and in patient endurance
How John is related to us?
John is related to us in (because of ) Jesus Christ
he is brother and
companion (partner) in
tribulation (suffering ) and
kingdom and
patience
was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
About Island of Patmos:
This is roughly horseshoe-shaped rock-quarry island about 6 miles wide and 10 miles long, approximately 25 miles off the coast of Asia Minor due west of Miletus.
Patmos provided an ideal place of confinement for political prisoners.
The island was rich in marble, and most of the prisoners were forced laborers in marble quarries. (A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone.)
Why John is in Island of Patmos?
for the word of God and
for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Acts 1:8 - But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
John was on Patmos mostly because he was arrested and imprisoned in persecution from the Romans for the sake of word of God and for the sake of being a testimony of Jesus Christ
The ancient Christian historian Eusebius says John was imprisoned at Patmos under the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian. (Church History, III.18, 20 - from the Nicean and Post Nicean Fathers Series 2, Volume 1, pages 1480149)
“According to Victorinus, John, though aged, was forced to labor in the mines located at Patmos. Early sources also indicated that about a.d. 96, at Domitian’s death, John was allowed to return to Ephesus when the Emperor Nerva was in power.” (Walvoord)
What did John hear?
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last," and, "What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea."
I was In the Spirit:
Rev 1:10, 4:2, 17:3,21:10
John was in the Spirit: He received unique revelation from the Holy Spirit. This may be a unique spiritual experience for John, like out of body experience of Paul
2 Cor 12:2-4 - 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago--whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows--such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man--whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows-- 4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
on The Lord’s Day:
This is the only place this phrase "The Lord’s Day" is referred. At the same time we have "the day of the Lord" phrase in many places. This "the day of the Lord" looks/means same as "The Lord’s Day".
What is the day of the Lord means?
Let us go over this "the day of the Lord" phrase in detail...
This is the day/period appointed by the Lord to pour out his vengeance/wrath towards ungodly and rebellious people in the world just before he comes back to the world. This is not chastening of God because God chasten His children/believers as in Heb 12:7.
The day of the Lord is also called Great Tribulation, The Wrath of God, The wrath of the Lamb, The Hour of Trial that come upon the whole world.
Isa 2:12 - For the day of the Lord of hosts Shall come upon everything proud and lofty, Upon everything lifted up-- And it shall be brought low--
Isa 13:6 - Wail, for the day of the Lord is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty.
Isa 13:9 - Behold, the day of the Lord comes, Cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger, To lay the land desolate; And He will destroy its sinners from it.
Isa 34:8 - For it is the day of the Lord's vengeance, The year of recompense for the cause of Zion.
Eze 30:3 - For the day is near, Even the day of the Lord is near; It will be a day of clouds, the time of the Gentiles.
Joe 1:15 - Alas for the day! For the day of the Lord is at hand; It shall come as destruction from the Almighty.
Joel 2:(1-)11 - The LORD gives voice before His army, For His camp is very great; For strong is the One who executes His word. For the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; Who can endure it?
Ob 1:15 - "For the day of the Lord upon all the nations is near; As you have done, it shall be done to you; Your reprisal shall return upon your own head.
Zep 1:7 - Be silent in the presence of the Lord God; For the day of the Lord is at hand, For the Lord has prepared a sacrifice; He has invited His guests.
Zep 2:3 - Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, Who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden In the day of the Lord's anger.
Mal 4:5 - Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
Matt 24:21 - For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
John 3:36 - He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
Acts 2:20 - The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.
Rom 1:18 - For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
1 Cor 5:5 - deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
2 Cor 1:14 - (as also you have understood us in part), that we are your boast as you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Eph 5:6 - Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
Col 3:6 - 5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
1 Thes 5:2 - For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
2 Thes 2:1-2 - 1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.
2 Pet 3:10 - But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
Rev 3:10 - Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
Rev 6:12-17 - 12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. 13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. 15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, 16 and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"
Rev 14:10 - he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.
Rev 14:19 - So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
Rev 15:1 - Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.
Rev 15:7 - Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever.
Rev 16:1 - Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, "Go and pour out the bowls* of the wrath of God on the earth."
Rev 16:19 - Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath.
Rev 19:15 - Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Is "the day of the Lord" has already come?, Is John was on the "the day of the Lord"? or Is "the Lord's day" and "the day of the Lord" are same?
No! Following are the reasons that proves the Lord's day is not the day of the Lord.
The difference between these to phrases are not only the change in order but there is "the" in front of day in "the day of the Lord" phrase. This makes the day as unique day/period. In the phrase "the Lord's day" there is no "the" in front of the dy. So this day here is not specific/unique/particular day as in the phrase "the day of the Lord".
The day of the Lord long last only for short period and specific number of days.
This period is the worst period/time in world history.
Since it is a unified content once it starts it will happen continuously without any gap.
KJV- things which must shortly come to pass.
Rev 22:6 - KJV - And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
Matt 24:22 - 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened.
It is should be limited to 7 years as in Rev 11, 12, 13th chapter and as per Daniel 9
Dan 9:27 - 24 "Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy. 25 "Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times. 26 "And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate."
Dan 12:7, 10-13 - 7 Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished....
10 Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand. 11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. 12 Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days. 13 But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days."
It is difficult to be certain. We could say that at the end of the 1,260 days Jesus returns. At the end of the 1,290 days, Jesus’ government is officially installed. At the end of the 1,335 days the nations are judged (Matthew 25:31-46).
This three and one-half year period (here described as a time, times, and half a time) is well known in other passages of Biblical prophecy.
Daniel 7:25 describes it as the period that saints are given into Antichrist’s hands
Daniel 9:27 describes it as the period between the breaking of Antichrist’s covenant with Israel, the erection of the abomination of desolation, and the establishment of Jesus’ kingdom
Daniel 12:7 describes it as the duration of "the time of trouble" for Israel
Revelation 11:2 describes it as the period that the holy city will be tread underfoot by Gentiles
Revelation 11:3 describes it as the period of ministry for the two witnesses
Revelation 12:6 and 14 describes it as the period that Israel (perhaps only its remnant) is preserved by God in the wilderness
Revelation 13:5 describes it as the duration of Antichrist’s authority to rule, persecute and blaspheme
Rev 11:3 - And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth."
Rev 12:6 - Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
Rev 13:5 - 5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. 6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.
Israel should be formed as a nation before "the day of the Lord".
Matt 24:32-35 - 32 "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near--at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
Is 66:8 - Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, She gave birth to her children.
Is 66:18-24 - 18 "For I know their works and their thoughts. It shall be that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come and see My glory. 19 I will set a sign among them; and those among them who escape I will send to the nations: to Tarshish and Pul and Lud, who draw the bow, and Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands afar off who have not heard My fame nor seen My glory. And they shall declare My glory among the Gentiles. 20 Then they shall bring all your brethren for an offering to the Lord out of all nations, on horses and in chariots and in litters, on mules and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem," says the Lord, "as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord. 21 And I will also take some of them for priests and Levites," says the Lord. 22 "For as the new heavens and the new earth Which I will make shall remain before Me," says the Lord, "So shall your descendants and your name remain. 23 And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me," says the Lord. 24 "And they shall go forth and look Upon the corpses of the men Who have transgressed against Me. For their worm does not die, And their fire is not quenched. They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh."
Israel reborn on 1948 May 14th.
Ps 102:16-18 - 16 For the Lord shall build up Zion; He shall appear in His glory. 17 He shall regard the prayer of the destitute, And shall not despise their prayer. 18 This will be written for the generation to come, That a people yet to be created may praise the Lord.
The day of the Lord begins with rapture of the believers/church to meet the Lord in the air. Or once the rapture of the believers/church happens then the day of the Lord begins.
Matt 24:36-44 - 36 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Rom 5:8,9 - 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
1 Thes 1:10 - and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
1 Thes 4:17 - 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up (raptus in latin and Rapture in English) together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
1 Thes 5:2 - For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
1 Thes 5:2 - For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 Thes 2:1-2 - 1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.
The Antichrist will start ruling this world.
Anti in Greek means against and also means instead of. He is against Jesus and also instead of Jesus he replaces himself a the Christ/Messiah.
There should be false representation of our triune God. They portray in such a way that Satan as God the Father and The Antichrist as Son of God (Jesus) and False Prophet as Holy Spirit.
Dan 7
Dan 9:27 - Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate."
2 Thes 2:1-12 - 1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Two Programs at work.
God's program of Salvation.
Satan's program of Sin.
V3 - When rapture happens to the believers/church then it is natural that falling away/rebelliousness/apostasy of God will take place with those left out or remnant people in the earth.
V6 - What is restraining - in neutral gender.
V7 - He who now restrains - in masculine gender.
He now restrains the work/program of Satan
Just as there was a "fullness of the time" for the coming of Christ (Gal 4:4) God's program come, so there is a "fullness of the time" for the appearance of the Antichrist; and nothing will be off schedule. Once that time comes Jesus will taken away the person who restrains the work/program of Satan. Then the program of Satan will be start.
Who is this person who restrains the work of Satan?
This is not God the Father or Jesus because they are the one taking Him away. So only person left out in our triune God is Holy Spirit. Therefore Holy Spirit's restraining work/ministry will be taken away or stopped by God so that Antichrist will come into picture and start his program.
This is one more reason falling away/rebelliousness happens in V3.
1 John 2:18 - Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.
1 John 4:2,3 - 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
Rev 6 - 19 chapters covers this in detail.
At the end our Lord God Almighty Jesus Christ will come with the clouds of saints/believers (who ruptured/martyred already):
Consume The Antichrist, The False Prophet and all who with him to fight with the Lord and
Rule and then bring peace by ruling and reign this world for 1000 years.
Final Judgment to non believers who were dead already and not lived and fought against our Lord Jesus by join hands with The Antichrist during His 2nd coming.
Rule and then bring peace by ruling and reign this world.
2 Thes 2:8 - And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.
2 Pet 3:10 - But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
Rev 19:11-21, Rev 20 - 22.
Therefore the Lord's day is is not the Day of the Lord. Then, What is The Lord’s Day means?
The day that belongs to the Lord.
This must be the Lord’s resurrected day i.e. 1st day (Sunday) of the week.
Because we have similar phrase the Lord's Supper (breaking bread together) in 1 Cor 11:20 and it also defines that phrase "the Lord's Supper" in details. This is what early Christians do as in Acts 20:7 when they gather every first day of the week to worship the Lord.
1 Cor 11:20 - When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's Supper.
Mar 16:9 - Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons.
Acts 20:7 - Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.
1 Cor 16:1-3 - 1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: 2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. 3 And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem
As explained in detail John was on the Lord's day is 1st day of the week ie Sunday (may be gathered together with other believers or alone) filled with the Spirit and worshiping the Lord.
Therefore John was not in "the Day of the Lord" which is yet to come in future which is well described in detail in Revelation chapters 6 through 22nd.
and I (John) heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,
Who’s voice is this? Who is Alpha and the Omega the First and the Last? What it means?
Read notes for Rev 1:8 - This is voice belongs to Jesus.
Voice Sounds Like Trumpet
Read notes in Rev 1:15 – His voice as sound of many waters.
What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.
What you see, write in a book
Rev 1:19 - Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this
and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.
All Churches in the history, now and future or Church Age.
Read in Introduction and Rev 1:11, Rev 2 & 3
Seven Churches in Asia in present day Turkey. See the map in Introduction.
1 Cor 16:19 - The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
Paul also wrote epistle to seven churches in that region. They are Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians.
Col 4:16 - Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.
What did John See?
12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands 13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; 16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw
John saw a vision of the glorified Christ.
John sees 3 things seven Lamp stands, the Son of Man, seven Starts and seven description about the Son of Man.
seven golden lampstands
Rev 1:20 makes it clear that we must not interpret this vision literally for it is made up of symbols. The seven lampstands represent the seven churches that would receive this book.
Each local church is the bearer of God's light in this dark world.
Read notes in Rev 1:20
and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man
Rev 1:20 & Rev 22:16 makes it clear that the Son of Man is Jesus. (Read notes in Rev 1:20)
First reference in OT is Dan 7:13 and in NT is Matt 8:20 - Here Jesus himself calls as the Son of Man.
Dan 7:9-14 - 9 "I watched till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, Its wheels a burning fire; 10 A fiery stream issued And came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, And the books were opened. 11 "I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn was speaking; I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. 13 "I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. 14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.
Matthew 8:20 - 19 Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go." 20 And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."
clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.
Christ garments are those of a Judge, King. One with honor and authority.
Like God the Father - "the Ancient of Days" as described in Dan 7:9
Is 6:1 - In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple
Rev 19:13 - He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
Re 19:16 - And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow,
The white hair symbolizes His Eternality (Being without beginning or end; existing outside of time. Synonyms of infinite) and Wisdom.
Pro 16:31 - Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly life.
Pro 20:29 - The glory of the young is their strength; the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old.
Like God the Father - "the Ancient of Days" as described in Dan 7:9
and His eyes like a flame of fire;
Rev 19:12 - His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself
His eyes see all that enables Him to judge righteously.
Jesus chooses this description of Himself from the presentation to emphasize the idea that His eyes look with a penetrating judgment.
Jesus is watching over us very closely as in
Job 34:21 - "For God carefully watches the way people live; he sees everything they do.
Zec 4:10 - For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the Lord, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth."
2 Chro 16:9 - For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars."
Zec 3:9 - For behold, the stone That I have laid before Joshua: Upon the stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave its inscription,' Says the Lord of hosts, 'And I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
Rev 5:6 - And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and
Jesus chose this description of Himself to emphasize His purity, because brass is pure, and highly refined in the fire. It also emphasizes His steadfastness, because brass was the strongest known metal in the ancient world, and feet like fine brass would be strong and unmovable.
Brass represent judgment:
The brazen altar was the place where the fire consumed the sin offering. The Lord had come to judge/discipline/chasen the churches first and He would also judge the evil world system.
Read the Lords day section notes in Rev 1:10.
1 Peter 4:17 - For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?
Exodus 27:1-8 - 1 "You shall make an altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits wide--the altar shall be square--and its height shall be three cubits. 2 You shall make its horns on its four corners; its horns shall be of one piece with it. And you shall overlay it with bronze. 3 Also you shall make its pans to receive its ashes, and its shovels and its basins and its forks and its firepans; you shall make all its utensils of bronze. 4 You shall make a grate for it, a network of bronze; and on the network you shall make four bronze rings at its four corners. 5 You shall put it under the rim of the altar beneath, that the network may be midway up the altar. 6 And you shall make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with bronze. 7 The poles shall be put in the rings, and the poles shall be on the two sides of the altar to bear it. 8 You shall make it hollow with boards; as it was shown you on the mountain, so shall they make it.
God gives us the tabernacle as a picture of salvation. These are also called "types and shadows."
The furniture was arranged in the pattern of a cross. The Brazen altar was at the foot of the cross.
Brass represents judgment. Jesus took the judgment that we deserved.
The white fine linen walls represent God's righteousness and holiness. Only in Christ are we righteous and holy.
KJV - Numbers 21:4-9 - 4 And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. 5 And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. 6 And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. 7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. 9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
John 3:14-18 - 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
His voice as the sound of many waters;
Eze 1:24 - When they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of many waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a tumult like the noise of an army; and when they stood still, they let down their wings.
Eze 43:2 - And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east. His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory.
Rev 14:2 - And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps.
May be like the sound of Niagara Falls!
His voice also described as a Trumpet sound in Rev 1:10, 4:1.
1 Thes 4:16-18 - 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Rev 1:10 - I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,
Rev 4:1 - After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this."
May be Jesus is speaking in many languages at the same time so that every tribe and tongue will here in their own languages with a blast like Trumpet.
He had in His right hand seven stars,
Rev 1:20 makes it clear that we must not interpret this vision literally for it is made up of symbols. The seven star represent the angel/messenger of the Church.
Read in Rev 1:20
out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and
He speaks with power and authority and must be heard. The sword from His mouth certainly represents the living word of God. (Heb 4:12: Eph 6:17). He fights His enemies by using His word (Rev 2:16; 19:19-21).
Heb 4:12 - For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Eph 6:17 - And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
Rev 2:16 - Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
Rev 19:19-21 - 19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.
His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
The Lord's shining countenance reminds us of His transfiguration (Matt 17:2) and also the prophecy of Malachi 4:2 ("the sun of righteousness (shall) arise"). The sun is a familiar image of God in the Old Testament (Ps 84:11) reminding us not only of blessing, but of judgment. The sun can burn as well as bless!
Matt 17:2 - 1 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. 7 But Jesus came and touched them and said, "Arise, and do not be afraid." 8 When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. 9 Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, "Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead."
Malachi 4:2 - 1 "For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up," Says the Lord of hosts, "That will leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves. 3 You shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet On the day that I do this," Says the Lord of hosts.
Psalms 84:10 - 8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; Give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah 9 O God, behold our shield, And look upon the face of Your anointed. 10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness. 11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly. 12 O Lord of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in You!
Is 24:23 - Then the moon will be disgraced And the sun ashamed; For the Lord of hosts will reign On Mount Zion and in Jerusalem And before His elders, gloriously.
Is 60:19-21 - 19 "The sun shall no longer be your light by day, Nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you; But the Lord will be to you an everlasting light, And your God your glory. 20 Your sun shall no longer go down, Nor shall your moon withdraw itself; For the Lord will be your everlasting light, And the days of your mourning shall be ended. 21 Also your people shall all be righteous; They shall inherit the land forever, The branch of My planting, The work of My hands, That I may be glorified.
Rev 21:23-25 - 23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. 24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. 25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there).
Rev 22:5 - There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.
This vision of Christ was totally different in appearance from the savior that John knew "in the flesh" when He was ministering on earth. He was not the "gentle Jewish carpenter" that sentimentalists like to sing about. He is the risen, glorified, exalted Son of God, the Priest-King who has the authority to judge all men, beginning with His own people (1 Peter 4:17)
1 Peter 4:17 - For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?
What did John do after hearing and seeing Glorified Jesus?
17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead.
And this is the apostle who leaned on Jesus 'breast/bosom'
John 13:23 - Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.
A vision of the exalted Christ can only produce awe and fear
We need this attitude (reverential fear) to respect today when so many believers speak and act with undue familiarity toward God.
John's response illustrates what Paul wrote in 2 Cor 5:16. After seeing glorified Jesus John no longer "nestled" next to Lord's heart/breast/bosom, relating to Him as he had done before but fell at His feet like Daniel in Dan 7:10.
2 Cor 5:16 - 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.
NLT - 15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live to please themselves. Instead, they will live to please Christ, who died and was raised for them. 16 So we have stopped evaluating others by what the world thinks about them. Once I mistakenly thought of Christ that way, as though he were merely a human being. How differently I think about him now!
Eze 1:28 - Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. So when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One speaking.
Dan 8:15-18 - 15 Then it happened, when I, Daniel, had seen the vision and was seeking the meaning, that suddenly there stood before me one having the appearance of a man. 16 And I heard a man's voice between the banks of the Ulai, who called, and said, "Gabriel, make this man understand the vision." 17 So he came near where I stood, and when he came I was afraid and fell on my face; but he said to me, "Understand, son of man, that the vision refers to the time of the end." 18 Now, as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but he touched me, and stood me upright.
Dan 10:7-12, 16,18 - 7 And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision; but a great terror fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. 8 Therefore I was left alone when I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me; for my vigor was turned to frailty in me, and I retained no strength. 9 Yet I heard the sound of his words; and while I heard the sound of his words I was in a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground. 10 Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. 11 And he said to me, "O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you." While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling. 12 Then he said to me, "Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.......16 And suddenly, one having the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke, saying to him who stood before me, "My lord, because of the vision my sorrows have overwhelmed me, and I have retained no strength. 17 For how can this servant of my lord talk with you, my lord? As for me, no strength remains in me now, nor is any breath left in me." 18 Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me.
But He laid His right hand on me,
saying to me, "Do not be afraid;
The Lord revived John by touching him (note Dan 8:18; 10:10, 16, 18) .
"Fear not! is a greater encouragement for any child of God. We need not fear life because He is "The Living One" we need not fear death, because He died and is alive, having conquered death.
At the very beginning of this book, Jesus presented Himself to His people in majestic glory.
What the church needs today is new awareness of Christ and His glory.
We need to see Him "high and lifted up" (Isa 6:1) There is dangerous absence of awe and worship in assemblies today. We are boasting about standing on our own feet instead of breaking and falling at His feet.
For years, Evan Roberts prayed. " Bend me! Bend me! " and God answered, the great Welsh Revival resulted.
Is 6:1 - In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.
I am the First and the Last.
Read notes in Rev 1:8.
I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen.
Jesus is the one who lives, and was dead, and is alive forevermore. He has the credentials of resurrection, and lives to never die again.
The victory that Jesus won over sin and death was a permanent victory. He didn’t rise from the dead just to die again.
And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
What is Hades? Is Hades and Hell are same?
In Greek it is transliterated as Hades (86).
Hades is a temporary holding place with pain until they go to hell after final judgment.
In KJV Hades are translated as Hell.
Luke 16:23 - And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Rev 6:8 - So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.
Rev 20:13 - The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.
Rev 20:14 - Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
The meaning for the Hell (Gk: eenna - 1067) is
Hell is the place of the future punishment call "Gehenna" or "Gehenna of fire". This was originally the valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem, where the filth and dead animals of the city were cast out and burned; a fit symbol of the wicked and their future destruction.
Matt 5:22 - Show Context But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire.
Matt 5:29 - Show Context If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
Matt 5:30 - Show Context And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
Matt 10:28 - Show Context And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Final everlasting destiny for the unbelieving souls/spirits after the final judgment.
This is also described as gnashing of teeth, lake of fire, second death, hell fire
Mat 13:42 - and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Mat 25:46 - And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
Rev 2:11 - He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death." '
Rev 20:14 - Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
In Revelation there is bottom less pit (Gk: abyss) means prison for evil spirits.
Luke 8:31 - And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss.
Romans 10:7 - or, " 'Who will descend into the abyss?' " (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).
Rev 9:1,2 - 1 Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. 2 And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit.
Rev 9:11 - And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.
Rev 11:7 - Show Context When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.
Rev 17:8 - Show Context The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
Rev 20:1 - Show Context Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
Rev 20:3 - Show Context and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.
What are all the keys Bible talks about?
Keys of Hades and of Death- (this verse),
Rev 1:18 - I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
Keys to the Bottomless pit (abyss),
Rev 9:1 - Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit.
Rev 20:1 - Show Context Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
Keys of the Kingdom of heaven.
Mat 16:19 - And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
Key of the house of David
Is 22:20-23 - 20 'Then it shall be in that day, That I will call My servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah; 21 I will clothe him with your robe And strengthen him with your belt; I will commit your responsibility into his hand. He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem And to the house of Judah. 22 The key of the house of David I will lay on his shoulder; So he shall open, and no one shall shut; And he shall shut, and no one shall open. 23 I will fasten him as a peg in a secure place, And he will become a glorious throne to his father's house.
Rev 3:7 - "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, 'These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens":
And we need not fear eternity because Jesus holds the keys of Hades (holding place for non-believers souls) and of Death (of physical body). The One with the keys is the One who has authority.
Some imagine that the devil is somehow the “lord of Hell.”
Some imagine that the devil has authority or power to determine life or death.
Clearly, they are wrong, for only Jesus holds the keys of Hades and of Death.
We have to trust that Jesus never lets the devil borrow the keys.
Matt 10:28 - And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Devine Outline:
19 Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this
Write the things: This second command to write gives us a structure to understand the Book of Revelation. John is command to write regarding the past, present, and future (from John’s perspective).
The things which you have seen: This means that Jesus wanted John to write the things he had seen so far that Jesus revealed Himself to John – Rev 1.
Rev 1:11 - ... What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia....
The things which are: This means that Jesus wanted John to write about the things of his present day, the things regarding the seven churches which are in Asia – Rev 2 & 3.
The things which will take place after this: This means that Jesus wanted John to write about the things that would happen after the things regarding the seven churches, the things of the last days – Rev 4 – 22.
Vision Symbols Explained:
20 The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.
Angel/Messenger of the Church
This idea is based on a literal understanding of the ancient Greek word translated angel, aggelos (32). That word literally means a messenger, one who is sent, an angel, a messenger from God
In NT it is translated as angel – 179 times and messenger 7 times.
Is this really Angel? The reason for this question is due to these following verses:
1Tim 2:5 - For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
Heb 8:6 - But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.
Heb 9:15 - And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
Heb 12:24 - to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.
Certainly these Angels must be Pastors because Pastors are “messengers” to churches.
This Greek word in Luke 7:24 where translated 7 times as messengers, so it most probably the pastors, of the churches.
Luke 7:24 - After John's messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind?
(Mat11:10, Mar1:2), Luke 7:27 - This is the one about whom it is written: "'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.'
Luke 9:52 - And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him;
2 Cor 12:7 - To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me
James 2:25 – (KJV) Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
God holds His servants and places them where He wants them to "shine" for Him. In Daniel 12:3 wise soul winners are compared to shining stars.
1 Co 12:28 - And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
Eph 4:11-12 – 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
Adam Clarke believed the angel of each church was its pastor. “Angel of the Church here answers exactly to that officer of the synagogue among the Jews called . . . the messenger of the Church, whose business it was to read, pray, and teach in the synagogue.” (Clarke)
Or these angels may not literal beings at all, but that they just represent the “prevailing spirit” of each church.
1 Cor 2:10-14 - 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Or this might be “guardian angels” over each congregation.
Rev 1:2 – Angel sign-ified this book to John
Zech 1:7-17 - 7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet: 8 I saw by night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse, and it stood among the myrtle trees in the hollow; and behind him were horses: red, sorrel, and white. 9 Then I said, "My lord, what are these?" So the angel who talked with me said to me, "I will show you what they are." 10 And the man who stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, "These are the ones whom the Lord has sent to walk to and fro throughout the earth." 11 So they answered the Angel of the Lord, who stood among the myrtle trees, and said, "We have walked to and fro throughout the earth, and behold, all the earth is resting quietly." 12 Then the Angel of the Lord answered and said, "O Lord of hosts, how long will You not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which You were angry these seventy years?" 13 And the Lord answered the angel who talked to me, with good and comforting words. 14 So the angel who spoke with me said to me, "Proclaim, saying, 'Thus says the Lord of hosts: "I am zealous for Jerusalem And for Zion with great zeal
There are strengths and weaknesses to any of these interpretations, but we do know that in some way, these angels/messengers are representatives of each congregation.
Why would each church have its own angel? Why does Jesus hold these angels in His hand?
It is more important to notice where the angels are: the right hand of Jesus. This is a place of safety and strength. Even the “problem churches” that will be described in the next chapters are in the right hand of Jesus.
What is Church?
1 Tim 3:14-15 - 14 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; 15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
Matt 18:19-20 - 19 Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."
1 Cor 3:9 - For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building.
1 Cor 6:19 - Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
Rom 16:3-5 - 3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ.
1 Cor 16:19 - The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
Col 4:15 - Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his house.
Acts 20:7 - Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.
1 Cor 16:1-3 - 1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: 2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. 3 And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem
Jesus and Church(Body of Believers) Relations/Communications:
Who Builds the Church? - Jesus Christ build His Church on Him.
Matt 16:18 - And I also say to you that you are Peter (GK: Petros 4074 rock/stone – Peter was referred by this Greek word), and on this rock (GK: petra 4073 - projecting rock, a rock, a large stone ie not Peter but Jesus) I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
1 Cor 10:4 - And 2532 did 4095 0 all 3956 drink 4095 the same 846 spiritual 4152 drink 4188: for 1063 they drank 4095 of 1537 that spiritual 4152 Rock 4073 that followed them 190 : and 1161 that Rock 4073 was 2258 Christ 5547.
1 Pet 2:8 - And 2532 a stone 3037 of stumbling 4348, and 2532 a rock 4073 of offence 4625, [even to them] which 3739 stumble 4350 at the word 3056, being disobedient 544 : whereunto 1519 3739 also 2532 they were appointed 5087 .
1 Cor 3:9-13 - 9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is
Eph 2:18-22 - 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. 19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Who is the head of the Church? - Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church:
Eph 1:22,23 - 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Col 1:18 - And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
Eph 4:15-16 - 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ-- 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Eph 5:23-27 - 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
Who leads/direct the Church? Jesus Leads His Church according His Ways.
Acts 13:1-5 - 1 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant.
Who Oversees/administer the Church? - Jesus oversees the Church by appointing the leaders and commanded them to teach and disciple the new believer’s in Christ.
1 Co 12:28 - And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
Matt 28:19,20 - 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
Eph 4:11-16 – 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ-- 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Acts 14:23,24 - 23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. 24 And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them.
Ac 20:28 - Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
Who Trains the disciples? - Jesus Trains the disciples.
Luke 10:1-11 -1 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. 2 Then He said to them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. 4 Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road. 5 But whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this house.' 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. 9 And heal the sick there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.' 10 But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, 11 'The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.'
Ac 15:22 - Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barnabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.
1 Co 4:17 - For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.
Who draws/markets people to the Church? - Jesus Draws people to His Church
Ac 2:47 - praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Jesus Loves and establishes relationships with His Church and expects us to maintain that relationship forever:
Eph 5:23-27 – 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31 "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
John 17:20-23 - 20 "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
John 15:5 - I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.