Revelation Chapter One
Saturday, October 15, 2022
Special Studies - Revelation Chapter 1
Dear FATHER, Please Bless our Study of THY WORD! In JESUS' NAME, Amen!
(Revelation 1:1) G602 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
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Note:
G602
ἀποκάλυψις
apokalupsis
ap-ok-al'-oop-sis
From G601; disclosure: - appearing, coming, lighten, manifestation, be revealed, revelation.
G601
ἀποκαλύπτω
apokaluptō
ap-ok-al-oop'-to
From G575 and G2572; to take off the cover, that is, disclose: - reveal.
The word “Revelation” means “to reveal” and comes from the Greek word “Apocalypse”, which means “to take off the cover”, which means “to disclose”.
We know it as the book of Revelation, but the actual title is "The Revelation Of JESUS CHRIST".
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(Revelation 1:2) Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
(Revelation 1:3) Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
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John is witnessing to this knowledge given by JESUS. That is what bare record means. It's like what they do in court. They witness and keep records.
"they that hear the words of this prophecy": hear means to hear with understanding.
So, who can understand? Those who have ears to hear understand. JESUS says this often in this Book.
And therefore, who is this book written to? It is written to those with eyes to see and ears to hear, also known as HIS election.
(Luke 8:10) And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
The Bible is written to everyone, but the mysteries are written for HIS election to understand.
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(Revelation 1:4) John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
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At John's time there were seven churches in Asia laid out in a circular pattern. Those churches were types of the churches at the end of the age as they are laid out all over the world.
The churches that we are about to go into are these churches and we are at the end of the age, so everything spoken in this Book applies to us.
The names of the churches do not matter. It's what these churches teach that matter. Seven means spiritual completeness, so the descriptions of these seven churches will layout the description of the whole church or churches at the end time, and by these descriptions you can identify all churches or combinations of churches.
There are Seven Spirits before HIS THRONE.
First, regarding JESUS:
"which is" = HE is here now (John is taken to THE LORD'S DAY).
"which was" = HE was in the first age.
"which is to come" = HE will be in the next age, which is the Eternity.
There are Seven Spirits before HIS THRONE, but what is a spirit?
Read the following:
"Can you tell the difference between your soul and your spirit?"
We could just state what a spirit is in one sentence, and we could get it just by reading if we analyze it and think about it. But people have the habit of reading something one time and forgetting about it. And that is the same as going in one ear and out the other. That's just how we are, but when we have to look it up and think it over and solve it by picturing an example, it becomes stronger in our understanding and in our memory. That is why teachers give homework. It's so we will have to think and not just listen. This results in ears to hear, which means “understanding”. And as far as the election goes, we won’t feel too lazy to look it up because we are drawn to the TRUTH. We have a love for the TRUTH, and we will invest their talents.
Gyongyi, a fellow election asked recently that if people have the wrong (bad) spirit, does that come from the devil? In many cases it does, but sometimes it is just plain selfishness or a tendency to draw to bad things. But I guess those bad things are of the bad guy. Funny, huh...
The point is, that often people blame things on the devil, but in many cases it's just their own bad decisions or selfishness. The bottom line is that a spirit is a personality. We are what we are, and it's just like that block of rubber; what we form it into is what it will be.
That is why we are here as humans (the flesh being a veil), for a chance to change our spirit.
And many of those bad spirits are bad because that is what they were in the previous age. Study the Post called: "GOD Hates That Baby! Why?".
Here are the seven Spirits of GOD that are before HIS THRONE:
(Revelation 5:11) And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
(Revelation 5:12) Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
Let's think about this for a second: We just studied in that Post on what a spirit is, and we can see that a spirit is a personality. So, if someone asks: What's HE like? We would say: Well, HE has Power, AND HE is Rich beyond measure, AND HIS Wisdom is so high that it cannot be known, AND HE has Strength; there is none Stronger, AND HE has Honor, no one could be more Honorable!, AND LOOK at the GLORY that surrounds HIM! HE IS BLESSED above ALL!
Look at the verse: see those "AND'S" between each one of HIS characteristics that describe HIS Personality, HIS makeup of WHO HE IS? Those "AND'S" are Polysyndeton's!
It's very proper to say that the "AND's" in Revelation 5:12 emphasize that there is far more present than can be fully captured with simple words. This is one of the beautiful aspects of a polysyndeton—it draws attention to the richness and depth of what is being described.
The repeated "AND's" signal that each characteristic—power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing—is not just an isolated quality but part of a grand, infinite, and interconnected whole. It's as though the language is stretched to its limits to convey the boundless worthiness and glory of the Lamb.
By emphasizing each attribute with "AND," the verse suggests that even these seven descriptors are only a glimpse into the infinite majesty of Christ. It implies there is an abundance of divine qualities that exceed human comprehension, reinforcing the SPIRITUAL TRUTH that God's nature cannot be fully contained or expressed in human language.
When the devil tried to take GOD'S THRONE, GOD created four living creatures (beast is a bad translation). Those four living creatures guard HIS THRONE now. They don't have free will and they don't have any choice but to love GOD. They are full of eyes.
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(Isaiah 14:12) How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
(Isaiah 14:13) For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
(Isaiah 14:14) I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
(Isaiah 14:15) Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
GOD calls HIS children stars. The devil tried to be our GOD! The mount of the congregation, in the sides of the North is GOD'S THRONE! THAT, is where GOD sits! But the devil's execution in the lake of FIRE will make him never exist again. This is also what awaits those who do not make it back to GOD!
(Ezekiel 28:18) Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.
(Ezekiel 28:19) All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.
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Michael, the archangel, along with the devil used to guard GOD'S THRONE. That is the symbology we see with the two angels with their wings covering GOD'S THRONE, also called The Mercy Seat, but when the devil fell do to his pride, that is when GOD created the four living creatures to guard HIS THRONE now. There is meaning in the description of these four living creatures.
Full of eyes means "All Knowing".
The Bible calls them "four beasts", but I think it was supposed to say "four living creatures".
(Revelation 4:6) And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts G2226 full of eyes before and behind.
G2226
ζῶον
zōon
dzo'-on
Neuter of a derivative of G2198; a live thing, that is, an animal: - beast.
A closer look at the seven Spirits:
GOD is: ALL POWERFUL, ALL RICHES, ALL WISDOM, ALL STRENGTH, ALL HONOUR, ALL GLORY, ALL BLESSING.
That is GOD’S SPIRIT, THE HOLY SPIRIT.
All souls belong to GOD. Remember, people (souls) have spirits. And angels have spirits. And GOD has A SPIRIT. Your spirit is what you act like. It's what you make yourself into.
When someone is drunk, do they act like themselves?
Or do they act differently?
They would have a different spirit when they drink.
If you look for alcohol in the supermarket, it is usually in the isle called "spirits".
If a person hangs out with trouble makers and that person's personality changes and they go around making problems for people, what is it that they are voluntarily changing because they decided to put their time around bad people?
Their spirit (personality) changes as they become more like what they expose themselves to. Their spirit gets ever more dark as their direction is away from GOD and directed more in the direction of that place which is called "the pit". It matters what we allow ourselves to become, and so, it matters what we expose ourselves to.
One thing I know is that a drunk is not being himself. A person is what they are everyday; what they do on average. Alcohol changes their spirit while they are under the influence. But again, we are what we are, so it is wise to build good character.
If you listen to sad music all the time, you change who you are. You may not notice it, but those around you can see it. It's like a fish being brought to a slow boil. One minute everything seems okay, but then suddenly, it's too late!
If you hang out with robbers, most of the time you will become a robber. If you hang out with people who cuss all the time, you will likely begin to cuss. What you take in can feed your spirit. You really are what you eat! There are those that are strong spirited in a good way that can change a whole group, but they are far and few between these days.
So, when evil is in the air. It means evil is spreading. People are becoming evil because of what they are taking in and absorbing. And it is often caused by the devil, or the devil's kids. But we have to be realistic, we had to come to this flesh age through woman for a reason, and that reason is because of so many people with bad spirits. We are born into this flesh age with the same spirit that we had back then. This age is for the purpose of giving GOD'S children a chance to change and make it back to HIM. GOD will not allow evil in HIS Kingdom. So, if you are one of those evil children that were wise to do evil, but to do good you have no knowledge, then change now while you still can. And if you are not evil, then stay unspotted by the world.
(Jeremiah 4:19) My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.
(Jeremiah 4:20) Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled: suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtains in a moment.
(Jeremiah 4:21) How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet?
(Jeremiah 4:22) For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
At this point is when GOD destroyed the world, the entire age. This time, however HE will only destroy the evil. Don't be one of those children that HE destroys.
(James 1:27) Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
The devil has evil spirit helpers that go around and mess up families. But it is my opinion that those people that get messed up join willingly at one point or another. It's like "follow the crowd" or one partner, which is supposed to be a help mate puts a physical or mental load on the family. When GOD says to love your neighbor as yourself, what do you think HE means regarding your wife or husband?
And the deeper a person goes, the harder to get out.
What does the following verse mean?
(Ephesians 2:2) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, G109 the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
What does "prince of the power of the air" mean?
What does "air" mean?
G109
ἀήρ
aēr
ah-ayr'
From ἄημι aēmi (to breathe unconsciously, that is, respire; by analogy to blow); “air” (as naturally circumambient): - air. Compare G5594.
That is the definition for what GOD breathed into man. It's the spirit.
So, the devil is the prince of the power of the spirit.
If you have a mob outside a store and they are about to riot. What do they all have in common?
They all have the same spirit.
What is your inspiration?
What drives you?
Your spirit is your inspiration. It’s what drives you.
Yes, that is what was breathed into flesh. It’s all of the intellect that makes up you.
The flesh is an animal.
And that spirit of evil is likely from the devil. Although, I’m not so sure that every person needs satan’s help to be that way. Some of them do quite well on their own.
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(Revelation 1:5) And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
(Revelation 1:6) And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
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Who are kings and priests in the Millennium? The election.
And so, who is this book written to? The election.
It's not like we don't know! I mean, those written into the book of Life from the foundation of the world are GOD'S seven thousand, the election. And look at what everyone else will be doing:
(Revelation 13:8) And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
It's a good thing that so many will come out of worshiping the devil when Zerubbabel finishes building The End Time Temple Of THE LORD!
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This following verses are about JESUS’ return. WHO does JESUS say that HE is?
(Revelation 1:7) Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
(Revelation 1:8) I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
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HE says that HE is ALMIGHTY GOD, the beginning and the end.
And as verse 1:7 above describes HIS return. HIS return is at the seventh trump, which begins THE LORD’S DAY (the Millennium).
How can those that pierced HIM see HIM and every eye see HIM?
The answer is because we are all switched into our spirit bodies at the last trump (which is the seventh trump, which is also known as The Trump Of GOD) as these bodies are described in 1 Corinthians chapter fifteen. Those that pierced HIM and every eye will see HIM because we are already in our spirit bodies and in that dimension when we see HIM return.
(1 Corinthians 15:51) Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
(1 Corinthians 15:52) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
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(Revelation 1:9) I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
(Revelation 1:10) I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
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John is on the island called Patmos. Why is he on that Island? The answer is because he is in prison. The prison on that Island.
So, why is he in prison? He was in prison for the WORD Of GOD. So, John was in prison for teaching THE WORD, for teaching of JESUS.
And the Voice (which is JESUS Voice) is as the sound of a Trumpet. As in the Seventh Trumpet!
And when was John in the Spirit? On THE LORD’S DAY, correct? And when is THE LORD’S DAY? It’s when the Seventh Trump sounds and the Millennium (THE LORD’S DAY) begins.
(2 Peter 3:8) But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
(2 Peter 3:9) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
(2 Peter 3:10) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
How long is the Millennium (THE LORD’S DAY)? It’s one thousand years.
John is on the Island of Patmos in the approximate year of 95 A.D., and he is taken forward in time to The DAY That JESUS Returns. Everything John does from this point on will be with reference to what is happening on the day that JESUS returns, and just before the day JESUS returns, and just after the day that JESUS returns. At the end of the book of Revelation, John is returned to his own time.
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(Revelation 1:11) Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
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First we see that it is JESUS, HE is Alpha and Omega, which means the Beginning and the End, HE is the First and the Last. And HE names the churches. But what book does HE tell John to write in?
We call it The Book Of Revelation, but the more accurate name is The Revelation Of JESUS CHRIST. That is the Book that JESUS is telling John to write.
The Title is in the first verse:
(Revelation 1:1) The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
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(Revelation 1:12) And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
(Revelation 1:13) And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
(Revelation 1:14) His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
(Revelation 1:15) And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
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The description of JESUS indicates Purity, Righteousness, and other attributes of WHO HE is. Those Seven Spirits are HIS! HIS SPIRIT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT and consists of those Seven Spirits!
What does it mean: "and His Voice as the sound of many waters"?
When people hear the election speak, it is THE HOLY SPIRIT Speaking through the election and anyone who hears it will hear it in their own language as written in Acts 2 and the book of Joel.
And here is what waters are:
(Revelation 17:15) And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
THE HOLY SPIRIT'S VOICE IS JESUS' VOICE, THE VOICE OF ALMIGHTY GOD!
When we are delivered up for a testimony against satan during the hour of temptation as written in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21, HE will speak through us, and not even the gainsayers will be able to resist what HE says.
And as it says in Revelation 12:11, we will overcome satan by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of our testimony; and we don’t love our life in this world. We will wait upon the TRUE CHRIST.
(Revelation 12:11) And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
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(Revelation 1:16) And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
(Revelation 1:17) And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
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(Hebrews 4:12) For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The WORD of GOD (The Bible) is The Two Edged Sword.
It is also called, THE TRUTH.
And is what comes out of JESUS Mouth, The Two-Edged Sword!
HE laid HIS Right Hand on John. Our right hand is symbolic of our work.
And HE strengthens us with HIS Righteous Right Hand.
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(Revelation 1:18) I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
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HE is alive forever more, but HE was dead. They crucified HIM.
And HE holds the keys to get us out of hell, to keep us from dying for eternity.
That Key is THE WORD. Know the TRUTH and you won't worship satan.
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Now, John is at THE LORD'S DAY, correct?
(Revelation 1:19) Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
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John is going to write the things that are happening just before THE LORD'S DAY, The things during, and the things after THE LORD'S DAY. John is going to write The Revelation Of JESUS CHRIST!
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Here is the meaning of the stars and candlesticks:
(Revelation 1:20) The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
Read The Story Of LIFE for information on the The Two Witnesses, which includes two of these churches.
This concludes chapter one of the 22 chapters of the book of Revelation. Next, in Chapter Two, we will begin our Study of the seven churches of Revelation.
Dear FATHER, Thank THEE for Blessing our Study of THY WORD! In JESUS' NAME, Amen!
