John’s Greetings to the Seven Churches

Revelation 1:1-20

The Last Word: "Alpha & Omega"

https://youtu.be/x6M91rfdtfU?list=PLf6qIWBkF13YWDie7uK8VivixjHaURxKp

Reminder: Pray to God to set your heart right as you engage His word. The text you are about to study was not written to you but is written for you. So, before applying we must ask the following questions:

What did it mean to the original reader or original audience?

READ THE SCRIPTURE (Multiple times & translations and notice the words that standout)

Biblegateway (NIV) (My choice of all-round site. It is a great app, better on computers or on a cellphone)

StepBible (ESV) (Great on phone or computer with good resources.)

Summarize the main story: Describe the events of the scriptural story in your own words.

Review and retell the story.

Hashtags:

#Revelation

Topical Bible

Kevin's Teaching Blog About Revelation

Themes

Prophecy and Vision

Christ's Majesty

The Seven Churches

The Eternal Kingdom

Supernatural Encounters

Topics

The Vision of Jesus Christ

The Seven Spirits and Seven Churches

The Son of Man

The Fear of Divine Encounters

The Sovereignty of Christ

Potential Sermon Titles: ??

Intro Questions to get us thinking:

What vivid dream (or nightmare!) from childhood do you still recall?
What type of book or movie do you like best: Adventure? Science fiction? Fantasy? Historical documentary? Biography? Why? How well do you handle horror films with lots of special effects? Why?
What bizarre dream can you still recall, and why?
What religious pictures or statues adorn the walls of your house (or mind)?

ESV Text with Highlights

#God =
#People = John the Apostle, Jesus Christ (referred to as the Son of Man), God, The Seven Churches
#Time =
#Place = The island of Patmos, The Seven Churches of Asia: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea
#Obedient faith =
#Sin =
#Key Idea =

Revelation 1 ESV

Prologue

1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, ²who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. ³Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

Greeting to the Seven Churches

⁴John to the seven churches that 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, ⁵and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood ⁶and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. ⁷Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

⁸“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Vision of the Son of Man

⁹I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. ¹⁰I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet ¹¹saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”

¹²Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, ¹³and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. ¹⁴The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, ¹⁵his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. ¹⁶In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

¹⁷When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, ¹⁸and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. ¹⁹Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. ²⁰As for the mystery of the seven stars that 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 are the seven churches.

OBSERVATIONS (Reflect on the topic and build the concept the writer is trying to communicate to the original audience)

ebible (NLT) (Best for having Bible sections divided by "pericope" or sections by thought)

Bible Project (NLT) (Helpful videos and instructions for the bigger picture)

Thematic Bible (Books and Chapters Structure)

Bible Hub = Outline, Themes, Topics, People, Locations, and Questions

Prologue 1-3
Greetings to the Seven Churches 4-8
Vision of the Son of Man 9-20

(REVELATION 1)

The resurrected Christ appears to the apostle John and tells him to “write down what you see, and send it to the seven churches.” John presents his outline for the book: “The things that are now happening and the things that will happen later.”

I. The Servant of God (1:1–10): The apostle John receives an extended heavenly message.

A. The source of this message (1:1–2)

1. From the Father to the Son (1:1a)

2. From the Son to an angel (1:1b)

3. From the angel to John the apostle (1:1c–2)

B. The promise in this message (1:3): A special blessing is promised.

1. To those who read and obey its contents (1:3a)

2. To those who hear and obey its contents (1:3b)

C. The recipients of this message (1:4a): It is written to the seven churches in Asia.

D. The greetings in this message (1:4b–5a)

1. From the Father (1:4b)

2. From the sevenfold spirit (1:4c)

3. From the Son (1:5a)

E. The theme of this message (1:5b–8): Jesus Christ is its grand and glorious theme.

1. Who he is (1:5b–5e, 8)

a. God’s faithful witness (1:5b)

b. The firstborn from the dead (1:5c)

c. Ruler of the kings of this earth (1:5d)

d. The Alpha and Omega (1:8a)

e. The Eternal One (1:8b)

2. What he has done (1:5e–6)

a. Shed his blood to redeem us (1:5e)

b. Made us a kingdom of priests (1:6)

3. What he will do (1:7): He will come again in the clouds.

a. Revealing himself to the Jews (1:7a)

b. Revealing himself to the Gentiles (1:7b)

F. The place of this message (1:9): John was on the Isle of Patmos.

G. The time of this message (1:10a): It was on the Lord’s Day.

H. The sound of this message (1:10b): “A voice like a trumpet blast.”

II. The Son of God (1:11–20)

A. The appearance by Jesus (1:11–16)

1. His command (1:11): Again John is instructed to send the message to the seven churches in Asia.

2. His countenance (1:12–16)

a. He appears standing among seven gold lampstands (1:12–13a).

b. He is wearing a long robe with a golden band across the chest (1:13b).

c. His hair is white like snow (1:14a).

d. His eyes are like blazing fire (1:14b).

e. His feet are as burnished bronze (1:15a).

f. His voice thunders like mighty ocean waves (1:15b).

g. His right hand holds seven stars (1:16a).

h. Out of his mouth comes a double-edged sword (1:16b).

i. His face shines as the noonday sun (1:16c).

B. The reassurance by Jesus (1:17–20)

1. Comforting (1:17–18): He reassures the fear-stricken John.

a. “I was dead but am alive forever and ever” (1:17–18a).

b. “I hold the keys of death and the grave” (1:18b).

2. Clarification (1:19–20): He explains what the lampstands and stars represent.

a. The seven lampstands are the seven churches (1:20b).

b. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches (1:19–20a).

STUDY RESOURCES (This takes some work and here are more resources than you can go through completely)

StudyLight (LEB) (Great site with commentaries by Burton Coffman)

NETBible (New English Translation) (Great for original text information)

BibleHub (HCSB) (Good on computer or app/phone with lots of well-organized information.)

BlueLetter (KJV) (A variety of resources and good on Phones / better on Computers)

Literal Word (NASB) (Works well on a smartphone or computer + for searching for words like a printed concordance)

Biblia.com (NCV) (Great on a computer especially if you have a logos account)

KnowingJesus (Phone / Computer and great for comparing translations)

https://www.openbible.info

God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
What are some things to look out for in this book? Where do the various scenes open and close? What are your first impressions of each changing scene?
Who are the principle characters -- both historical and metaphorical? What are the key issues? The common refrains? What unusual symbols grab you?
These believers are suffering from severe political, religious, physical, and economic oppression because of their faith (see Proverbs 2:8-10, 12-13; 6:9-11; 11:7-10; 12:17-13:10; 17:3-6). What aspect of the gospel would be especially important to them?
If the book of Revelation were dropped from the Bible, what would be missing from the story of God's redemptive work in history?
Why was John on Patmos? What do you know about his assignment there?
What's significant about his spiritual condition and the day when he received this vision?
What do the images in verses Proverbs 1:12-18 suggest about Christ?
What is the meaning of the seven stars? The seven lampstands? What does it mean for a church to be a light?
Close your eyes and have someone read verses 12-18 slowly, several times if necessary. Meditate on it. What do you see? Feel?

Link to More Questions

APPLICATION (God wants us all to arrive at action, life-changing faith)

Heartlight (Great for practical application of scripture)

The Message (MSG) (An easy-to-read paraphrase that helps some with application)

Precept Austin Devotionals

Scripture Graphics

https://www.openbible.info

What pressures would make you feel like giving up on Jesus? What truths about God keep you going at those times?
To some, Jesus is a baby in the manger, or an innocent victim of crucifixion. To John, Jesus is the reigning King. How could this view of Jesus affect your day-to-day dealings with sin? With discouragement? With opposition? With apathy?
To get the most out of Revelation, what will you put into it? How will you apply yourself to the group disciplines (of study, prayer, shared leadership, outreach, confidentiality, accountability, etc.)?
Using the analogy of a lighting fixture to describe the spiritual condition of your church, what kind fits your situation (a chandelier, a nightlight, etc.)? In what condition is it?
Are you right now "on Patmos" (suffering) or "in the Spirit" (reigning)? Why? Can both happen at once?
I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
What transformative move needs to be made?
You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.

Take Away Challenges

What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in this passage? How will you apply it to your life this week?
Whom do you know who needs to hear this?
What is God bringing to your attention in this discussion? What beliefs, thoughts, or actions need to be addressed or changed?