The Revelation of the Messiah...ch1
The book of Revelation, is no more than an extension of the book of Daniel. Both books are speaking of entirely the same thing.
The book of Daniel took us from the Babylonian empire, and the destruction of the first Jewish temple, all the way to the events of today, covering over 2400 years of history in 12 chapters, and the book of Revelation picks back up where Daniel left off. The two books are connected in such a way, that one cannot be fully understood without the other. It was only when certain events took place in our recent history, that part the book of Revelation could be understood, and then in turn…unlocked Daniel. A book that was only to be unlocked during the times of the end.
9 And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Daniel 12
The book of Revelation was the key that unlocked the entire prophetical story. So its title is very fitting, it is literally a revelation of the big picture.
The prophetical connection that these two books have, is not the only thing they have in common. They have also shared the same amount of speculation and debate from the scholars all throughout history. For centuries theologians and seminary teachers have been debating with one another on the contents of these great books. Some of the most influential men in Christian history have gone as far as to say the book of Revelation had no place in the bible. Both Martin Luther and John Calvin did not see the relevance of this great book, and neither wrote commentaries describing it. Martin Luther later reversed his position, but John Calvin did not. But no matter, the book is in its rightful place, because it has proved itself to be a key that opens great wisdom.
The best way to see this wisdom is for yourself…so we’ll just go through verse by verse, while trying and stay away from the theories that are taught today, (accept for the occasional jab at the smart people) and just focus on the words of the book. Because the message this great book carries, is something that everyone needs to hear.
Chapter 1...the book of the Revelation of the Messiah.
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, 2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that 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.
Greeting the Seven Churches
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, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.
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.
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.
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.”
As you can see, the start of this book is no more than a simple greeting to those this letter would reach, the seven churches scattered throughout all of Asia minor. But John says something here most people do not realize. Most teachers of today speak of only one Spirit of YHWH, when in fact, as you can see here, there are 7...
1 There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse,
And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.
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. Isaiah 11
As you can see, Isaiah also mentioned 7 Spirits resting on the Messiah. The first one, the Spirit of the LORD is the comforter, the great teacher. This is the one you hear about from the seminary teachers. But there are 6 more definitely worth mentioning…wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and fear of YHWH. And this fear is the beginning of all of this wisdom….
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
…good stuff!
9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of the Messiah, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of the Messiah. 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.”
Oh the things we can see when we read…
Did you see that? Do you see what John said? He I both your brother and companion in the tribulation…
John wrote this over close 1900 years ago and is already saying he is in the tribulation period…go figure. If this is the case, then why is it the teachers of today teach that its not here yet, and the tribulation something that will happen during the end? Huh…I wonder why?
The tribulation period began immediately after the Messiah returned to his rightful place, and the war broke out between Michael and Lucifer…
7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Revelation 12
As you can see, after the war he was cast to the earth, and has been here ever since. This is the tribulation period…and this is what the book of Revelation is all about. Revelation documents everything from the first coming of the Messiah until His return. It is documented for us to see what has happened to His church since He finished His work. Because while the enemy has been here he’s been working, he’s been after something. And that something is you…
17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of the Messiah. Revelation 12
The war is for you, its for your mind. And this is what Revelation documents, it documents this very war all throughout modern history.
John also said something back in verse 10 that explains where he is, and what he was seeing…He said,
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,
He says this so casually, “I was in the Spirit on the Lords day”…this is something we, the people of today do not understand, even though some will swear up and down that they do. John makes it very clear right here that this is another place…literally. It is some place those that were before us knew quite well, to be able to go there at will, as John states right here. But the problem for us, is that we have lost this information, and ability over time. The good news is we have been slowly gaining it back as we continue to search and seek His council.
Here very soon, we too will understand what this means, because this is what He seeks…
23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
This is something we long for, but at this time, do not quite understand.
Back to chapter 1.
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. 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. 19 Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. 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.
John is seeing the Messiah for the first time in His home, and in His resurrected body. There is so much symbolism here its incredible. This passage ties into many verses throughout the entire bible…
He is wearing a robe that is identical to the priestly garments of the Levites…
4 And these are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, an ephod, a robe, a skillfully woven tunic, a turban, and a sash Exodus 28
His eyes like a flame of fire…
22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. John 4
His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace…
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. 1 Corinthians 3
In verse 19, we see the reason for Johns visions…he was to write down the things he would see, and those things would take place in the future. So the Messiah clearly states, the book of Revelation speaks of those things that took place after His work was finished and no more. It is not a book of the past, it is a book of the future.
Exactly like the book of Daniel. The format of what will be discussed is laid out right from the beginning.
The book of Daniel took us from the Babylonian empire, and the destruction of the first Jewish temple, all the way to the events of today, covering over 2400 years of history in 12 chapters, and the book of Revelation picks back up where Daniel left off. The two books are connected in such a way, that one cannot be fully understood without the other. It was only when certain events took place in our recent history, that part the book of Revelation could be understood, and then in turn…unlocked Daniel. A book that was only to be unlocked during the times of the end.
9 And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Daniel 12
The book of Revelation was the key that unlocked the entire prophetical story. So its title is very fitting, it is literally a revelation of the big picture.
The prophetical connection that these two books have, is not the only thing they have in common. They have also shared the same amount of speculation and debate from the scholars all throughout history. For centuries theologians and seminary teachers have been debating with one another on the contents of these great books. Some of the most influential men in Christian history have gone as far as to say the book of Revelation had no place in the bible. Both Martin Luther and John Calvin did not see the relevance of this great book, and neither wrote commentaries describing it. Martin Luther later reversed his position, but John Calvin did not. But no matter, the book is in its rightful place, because it has proved itself to be a key that opens great wisdom.
The best way to see this wisdom is for yourself…so we’ll just go through verse by verse, while trying and stay away from the theories that are taught today, (accept for the occasional jab at the smart people) and just focus on the words of the book. Because the message this great book carries, is something that everyone needs to hear.
Chapter 1...the book of the Revelation of the Messiah.
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, 2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that 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.
Greeting the Seven Churches
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, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.
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.
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.
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.”
As you can see, the start of this book is no more than a simple greeting to those this letter would reach, the seven churches scattered throughout all of Asia minor. But John says something here most people do not realize. Most teachers of today speak of only one Spirit of YHWH, when in fact, as you can see here, there are 7...
1 There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse,
And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.
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. Isaiah 11
As you can see, Isaiah also mentioned 7 Spirits resting on the Messiah. The first one, the Spirit of the LORD is the comforter, the great teacher. This is the one you hear about from the seminary teachers. But there are 6 more definitely worth mentioning…wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and fear of YHWH. And this fear is the beginning of all of this wisdom….
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
…good stuff!
9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of the Messiah, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of the Messiah. 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.”
Oh the things we can see when we read…
Did you see that? Do you see what John said? He I both your brother and companion in the tribulation…
John wrote this over close 1900 years ago and is already saying he is in the tribulation period…go figure. If this is the case, then why is it the teachers of today teach that its not here yet, and the tribulation something that will happen during the end? Huh…I wonder why?
The tribulation period began immediately after the Messiah returned to his rightful place, and the war broke out between Michael and Lucifer…
7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Revelation 12
As you can see, after the war he was cast to the earth, and has been here ever since. This is the tribulation period…and this is what the book of Revelation is all about. Revelation documents everything from the first coming of the Messiah until His return. It is documented for us to see what has happened to His church since He finished His work. Because while the enemy has been here he’s been working, he’s been after something. And that something is you…
17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of the Messiah. Revelation 12
The war is for you, its for your mind. And this is what Revelation documents, it documents this very war all throughout modern history.
John also said something back in verse 10 that explains where he is, and what he was seeing…He said,
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,
He says this so casually, “I was in the Spirit on the Lords day”…this is something we, the people of today do not understand, even though some will swear up and down that they do. John makes it very clear right here that this is another place…literally. It is some place those that were before us knew quite well, to be able to go there at will, as John states right here. But the problem for us, is that we have lost this information, and ability over time. The good news is we have been slowly gaining it back as we continue to search and seek His council.
Here very soon, we too will understand what this means, because this is what He seeks…
23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
This is something we long for, but at this time, do not quite understand.
Back to chapter 1.
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. 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. 19 Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. 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.
John is seeing the Messiah for the first time in His home, and in His resurrected body. There is so much symbolism here its incredible. This passage ties into many verses throughout the entire bible…
He is wearing a robe that is identical to the priestly garments of the Levites…
4 And these are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, an ephod, a robe, a skillfully woven tunic, a turban, and a sash Exodus 28
His eyes like a flame of fire…
22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. John 4
His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace…
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. 1 Corinthians 3
In verse 19, we see the reason for Johns visions…he was to write down the things he would see, and those things would take place in the future. So the Messiah clearly states, the book of Revelation speaks of those things that took place after His work was finished and no more. It is not a book of the past, it is a book of the future.
Exactly like the book of Daniel. The format of what will be discussed is laid out right from the beginning.