Amos 7-9 / Revelation 3:7-22 / Psalm 131 / Proverbs 29:23
Some Christians get a little bogged down when reading the book of Revelation. There are many reasons this happens. One of them is that no one is quite sure what events recorded in this book have already happened and what is in the future. Then there are the differences on whether the Church is taken from the earth before, during, or after the great tribulation this book speaks of. We are not going to talk about any of the controversial topics today.
Instead, I want to speak about the intent of the book of Revelation, what John is revealing. Then I want to reveal someone to you. This is a continuation of an entry I wrote a couple of days ago.
Revelation 1:1-2 in the Berean Study Bible(BSB) says this, “This is the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon come to pass. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John, who testifies to everything he saw. This is the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
If we read these two verses properly, John wrote this book based on the revelation Jesus Christ Himself gave to John and asked John to write it down. First and foremost, the book of Revelation is intended to reveal to us Jesus Christ. With that in mind, I was interested to find part of that revelation is hidden in each address to the seven churches. Here is the list of what I found that describes Jesus Christ.
Among the messages to the seven churches, we see this phrase: “From the One who…” Once I was aware that the One is referring to Jesus Christ, I was excited to learn more about Him. I was also excited to confirm that based on the description, several Old Testament prophets had seen Jesus in visions. Of course, John also saw Jesus Christ as he prepared to write this book.
The messages to the churches are found in Revelation chapters two and three. I have included other scripture references in parenthesis for additional confirmation that these statements refer to Jesus Christ.
Regarding Ephesus: This is the message from the One who holds the seven stars in His right hand. The One who walks among the seven gold lampstands.(Revelation 1:20)
Regarding Smyrna: This is the message from the One who is the First and the Last (Revelation 22:13), who was dead but is now alive. (Luke 24)
Regarding Pergamum: This is the message from the One with the sharp two-edged sword. (Revelation 19:15)
Regarding Thyatira: This is the message from the Son of God, whose eyes are like flames of fire, whose feet are like polished bronze. (Daniel 10:6)
Regarding Sardis: This is the message from the One who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars. (Isaiah 11:2, Revelation 1:20)
Regarding Philadelphia: This is the message from the One who is holy and true, (Hebrews 7:26, John 14:6) the One who has the key of David. (Isaiah 22:22) What He opens, no one can close; and what He closes, no one can open.
Regarding Laodicea: This is the message from the One who is the Amen (2 Corinthians 1:20) – the faithful and true witness, (Revelation 1:5) the beginning of God’s new creation. (Colossians 1:15-18)
I encourage you to read through the additional verses I’ve cited because with what we’ve read from Revelation and what you’ll read in the extra reading, you will know much more about the power, authority, and beauty of Jesus Christ. I believe one could study nothing except the One who was and is and is to come for an entire year and still scratch only the surface!
