Commentary on the Revelation of Jesus Christ

Richard A David

• Éditeur: Richard A. David
• Année: 2018
• ISBN:
  9780578438900
• Édition: 1
• Sujet: Teologia e religione
• Sous-sujet: Teologia cristiana

There are many common misconceptions about the book of Revelation. First, it is not a chronological account. Biblical prophecy is not necessarily concerned with chronology. In prophesy, the future is always viewed as imminent. The purpose of any revelation from God is to develop the character, mind and spirit of the recipient to conform to the will of God. In the case of this revelation, the purpose is to reveal the character and purposes of God and to develop an attitude of expecting Christ's return.

Chapter 1 A Vision of Christ

 

A Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to Him to declare to His servants things which must shortly come to pass. (Rev 1:1)

 

The first chapter starts with an introduction and a greeting to the seven churches which are in Asia (Asia Minor or modern Turkey). He sends greetings of “grace and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come.”[1:4] The chapter concludes with an ecstatic vision of the glorified Christ.

From the start of the book we see Christ communicating with His people. The first 20 verses are perhaps one of the most concise and thorough explanations of “the gospel” ever recorded. It contains the essence of the message of God's word. What good news! God offers us grace, the power of God to overcome. He makes that offer because Christ has made peace through His blood. [Col. 1:20] He will not war against us if we will not wage war against Him.

This chapter answers the key questions facing all mankind. The word "revelation" means a supernatural revealing of God's truth. The Greek grammar permits two interpretations as to the object of the word in the first sentence. It could mean "the revelation of Jesus Christ.” That is, a supernatural revealing of His nature, His character and His purposes. The language might also mean that this is a revelation of what must soon take place or the consummation of History. We can accept that it is intended to mean both.

The focus of chapter 1 is the person of Christ. It answers the central questions. Who is Jesus? What is Jesus like? What has He done? What will He do? Jesus is God. He is one of the Trinity. Twice He is described as “Him who is, and who was, and who is to come,” (1:4 and 8). There is an obvious emphasis upon His eternal nature and His return. He is the Creator. He says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” (1:8)

 

even from Jesus Christ the faithful Witness, the First-born from the dead and the Ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and made us kings and priests to God and His Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, He comes with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, and those who pierced Him will see Him, and all the kindreds of the earth will wail because of Him. Even so, Amen. I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. I, John, who also am your brother and companion in the affliction, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the island that is called Patmos, for the Word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Rev 1:5-9)

 

Who is Jesus? He “is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.” He is the Firstborn from the dead or the first one resurrected. The term “firstborn” can also mean preeminent or sovereign one like a firstborn son, as it is used in Psalm 89:27. Jesus is completely human. Jesus took for Himself the title “Son of man”, a title from the prophecies of Daniel and Ezekiel, in order to emphasize His humanity. 1Corinthians chapter 15 calls Him the second Adam for the same reason.

He is ruler over the kings of the earth. Not of some, but of all. He is sovereign and in control of all. To Him be glory and dominion forever and ever! Amen. The reference to Christ’s sovereignty is a direct point in response to an emerging trend in John’s day toward emperor worship. Titus used the term “DIVUS” on the coins of the day to refer to his supposed divinity. This Book teaches an important lesson: there can be no compromise between a pagan state and the kingdom of God, represented by the church. The logical outcome of paganism is totalitarianism and the worship of man. In time, all totalitarian, indeed all human kingdoms will be destroyed to make way for the King of Kings.

Romans chapter 13 says, "The powers that be are ordained of God." None rule without His allowing. That does not mean that all ordained powers are necessarily submitted to His lordship. Indeed, history has recorded that most have not been so. Revelation warns us that the kings of earth will oppose Christ and mourn at His coming to judge. Rulers may be evil but He restrains them. He uses them for His purpose. Revelation foresees that the kings of earth will devour the harlot, which represents the false church.

The Pharaoh was an evil ruler, unyielding to the Lord, but God says that He, God hardened Pharaoh’s heart so that the Jews would leave Egypt. God used the King Assyria to execute judgment on disobedient Israel, just as He used the pagan Nebuchadnezzar to bring judgment on Judah. He used the pagan Darius to order the rebuilding of Jerusalem. He used Titus to destroy Jerusalem as Christ prophesied.

What has He done? He is called the “Faithful witness,” recalling that He was faithful to the mission His Father gave Him. The letter begins with the words "grace and peace." Grace is the power of God available to conquer disease, discouragement, death, the devil and sin. His sacrifice bought us peace with God. But, mercy is only the beginning of grace. The power of grace comes with His indwelling presence. He makes His grace available freely. He has washed us from our sins by his blood. [1:5] He has finished the work of salvation. Just as the blood of the lamb at Passover freed Israel from judgment in Egypt, it is the power of the blood of God’s lamb, Jesus that frees us. Because of Christ’s shed blood, God can extend His power to us without violating His justice. He has defeated death. Thus He says, “I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever!” [1:18]

He has secured a kingdom for Himself. He “has made us kings and priests to His God and Father.” [1:6] Those who are submitted to His rule will rule with Him as Adam was supposed to [Mt 19:28]. This verse unites the church and Old Testament Israel in a continuous bond. God says the same thing of Israel in Exodus chapter 19.

We have access to God, like priests in the old covenant. As priests we are to minister to Him. We are not intermediaries between God and man. That idea comes from the spirit of antichrist. There is only one intermediary between God and man, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (1Tim 2:5) He is our high priest and mediator. John sees Him dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest, just like the high priest of ancient Israel.

As priests in His kingdom, we are to minister unto Him. 1Peter 2:5 says that we are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. A priest performs sacrifices and Romans chapter 12 confirms that we are supposed to offer our lives as living sacrifices. The sacrifices that we are called to offer include obedience, prayer, praise and thanksgiving. “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise —the fruit of lips that confess his name.” [Hebrews 13:15] Part of this sacrifice is our testimony of His work of salvation in our lives.

What will Christ do in the future? He will come to judge and rule. He holds “the keys of Hades and of Death.” [1:18] “He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of Him.” [1:7] People will mourn because they will be judged for their evil deeds and for rejecting His offer of mercy. This is one of the major themes of Revelation. But here, Christ is not the object of their grief. No, they are sorry for themselves. Every eye will see Him. All will stand before Him in judgment. He says, “I hold the keys of Hades and death.” His lordship will become inescapably evident to all. Every knee will bow, including those who pierced Him. All have sinned. He will destroy His enemies with a word just like He created by speaking. “And out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword.” The word of God is the only weapon He used in His earthly ministry. It is the only weapon He will use in this book. He speaks and it is done.

 

I, John, who also am your brother and companion in the affliction, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the island that is called Patmos, for the Word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I came to be in the Spirit in the Lord's day and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, saying, I am the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last. Also, What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, and to Smyrna, and to Pergamos, and to Thyatira, and to Sardis, and to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea. (Rev 1:9-11)

 

John identifies himself with his readers as a “companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ,” he makes it clear that tribulation is not just some future event, but an on-going experience for all followers of Christ as he and his companions were experiencing tribulation at the time. He records the first vision with the familiar introduction that he was “in the Spirit.” He confirms that his revelation was no ordinary experience for him, but that he was in a state of spiritual ecstasy, perhaps similar to those other accounts in scripture when it is recorded that the Spirit of the Lord “came upon” someone or they were “full of the Holy Spirit.” He hears the voice of the Lord, clear and loud “as of a trumpet.” He is commanded to record his vision in a book and send it to the seven churches of Asia. Since what he recorded has been determined as scripture to be a message to the entire church through the ages, we can agree that in some sense the seven churches are representative of the entire church. This is not necessarily true in a literal chronological sense but more in an idealistic sense.

(Rev 1:12-16)

And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands. And in the midst of the seven lampstands I saw One like the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the feet, and tied around the breast with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And His eyes were like a flame of fire. And His feet were like burnished brass having been fired in a furnace. And His voice was like the sound of many waters. And He had seven stars in His right hand, and out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword. And His face was like the sun shining in its strength.

 

John has a vision of the glorified Christ. He sees the throne in heaven. He is told to write what he sees, what is and what is coming (1:19). What he sees is a vision of the glorified Christ. What is shown is the state of the church and what is to come is the Kingdom, the consummation of His purposes.

What is Jesus like? He is glorious, “His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow.” (1:14) He shares these attributes with His Father [Dan 7, where He is described as the Ancient of Days]. “His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.” (1:16) He is all-powerful. He is the Almighty. Even His voice reveals His power, “His voice was like the sound of rushing waters.” He is all knowing, nothing is hidden from Him. “His eyes were like blazing fire.” He has the ultimate x-ray vision. He sees right into our hearts through all of the disguises. John falls prostrate in fear at the sight of the glorified Christ. In the midst of our greatest fears, He puts His right hand of power on us and reminds us that He has overcome death, our greatest fear. He walks amidst His church, symbolized by the seven lamp-stands. “In his right hand he held seven stars.” [1:16] “The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lamp-stands are the seven churches.” [1:20] We are in His nail pierced hands. He walks in our midst; He's with us. Any tribulation we experience, as with John, it is experienced in Christ: famines, wars, sickness, torture, rape and abuse is healed in Him. We can overcome, and be more than conquerors, through Christ. He gives us the power. We can be hearers and doers of this word.

He is always present with us by His Spirit. His love is everlasting and unchanging. “Nothing can separate us from love of God.” [Romans 8:39] His love is not conditional. He loves sinners. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” [Romans 5:8] He does not judge sinners because He hates them, but He hates what they do and He hates that they refuse His forgiveness and refuse to repent. He hates that their sin destroys all that is good. He hates that its destructiveness is not confined to the perpetrators, but corrupts all creation. Therefore, because of His overpowering love, He must execute judgment and bring in everlasting justice. In times of trial and persecution we sometimes forget God's abiding love, but it is assured by what Christ did on the cross.

Chapter 2 Letters to the Church

Revelation 2:1-7 Ephesus

To the angel of the church of Ephesus write: He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands, says these things. I know your works and your labor and your patience, and how you cannot bear those who are evil. And you tried those pretending to be apostles, and are not, and have found them liars. And you have borne, and have patience, and for My name's sake you have labored and have not fainted. But I have against you that you left your first love. (Rev 2:1-4)

There is a general pattern observable in all of the letters. First, the Lord gives John a command to write followed by an identification of Jesus as the sender. In each case, Jesus reminds the readers of something about Himself that is particularly significant to the readers and to the specific message that Christ has for them. If there is anything to commend the hearers for, that is expressed first, followed by a critique for what is in need of repair in each church. After an exhortation to repent, He extends a promise for those who overcome evil and choose to obey. He ends each letter with a plea to “hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

The letters are to seven historical churches, but they are representative of the church throughout history. The problems pointed to have occurred throughout church history. The lessons and the warnings are as relevant to our day as they were when they were written. John was personally acquainted with the seven churches. He had served as pastor in Ephesus and as the Bishop in Asia.

The letters are addressed to the angel of each church. The Greek word interpreted angel also means messenger. In this case, the intended recipient is probably the pastor of the church, though the message is for the entire church. The Churches are represented as lamps sy...