Highlights of Revelation 1

 

Note-Welcome to our study of highlights of Revelation 1. We, highly, suggest that you pay attention to these highlighted words. As you click on these words, it will give you more material to help you in this study.

Chapter one of Revelation is filled with many wonderful insights. We can spend a month on just chapter 1 and not finish it. In this study, we are going to see the use of symbolism and its analogies. This is a timeless message for the church and its leaders. Let’s begin by looking at Rev 1:12-20—
12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
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.
14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
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.
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:
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.
19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
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.

Six major points

As we study the verses above, we see six major points that stand out in these verses—

• John heard the voice of the Lord and saw seven golden candlesticks. (Rev 1:12) This symbolic meaning is defined as the seven churches. (Rev 1:20) Notice the word candlesticks. The Greek word for candlestick is Luchnia, which means a lamp.
  A lamp had Olive oil running through it with a wick for light. The light is the witness of the Holy Spirit. A true church of the Lord should be a light to the community, family, and nation.
• The Lord Jesus was dwelling in the middle of the Church. (Rev 1:13-15) He was and is observing everything the church does.
• The lamps were made of gold. Gold was a precious commodity even in those times. The church is precious to the Lord Jesus.
• The number seven. Seven is the number of completion. He sees the church complete in him. (In spite of having to bring about correction) The word says that we are complete in him. (Col 2:10)
• His feet of brass. (Rev 1:15) Brass speaks of Judgement. Many have misunderstood the meaning of grace. God’s grace will allow us a season to repent. Failure to do so will result in judgment.
• He had seven stars in his right hand (Rev 1:16) and out of his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword. The stars represent the angels of the church. Angels in the Greek text are defined as messengers. They are not literal angelic beings because they were being corrected. We, all, know that heavenly angelic beings are perfect and sinless. This is speaking of the Pastors of the churches.

Thoughts to ponder.

Where were these churches located? They were located in modern-day Turkey. Turkey had experienced a revival on a great scale that impacted its society, along with persecutions. The Lord Jesus had a prophetic word for them thru the Apostle John. John was in charge of the 7 churches located in Turkey.

Today, ruins remain as a testament to those churches. Turkey went through a series of changes. It is believed that radical Islamic invaders took over the churches, converted them into mosques, and forced Christians to convert to Islam. There are some pockets of churches and believers that still remain to this day. More to come.

Want to further your studies? Click on this link…https://bit.ly/3yMXSBp

Reprint courtesy of the Christian corner community church. 

The First and the Last...

 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. (Rev 1:8)

(Editor’s note–Please click on the highlighted letters and click on the links below. They will help you better understand today’s study. ) In our last study, we saw how you can be blessed by reading the book of Revelation. Today, we will understand why the Lord Jesus used the words Alpha and Omega two times in this chapter. Dear Reader, when you see words repeated in the Bible, please pay attention. God is trying to unravel a revelation to you. Nothing is more exciting than to see the Bible speak directly to you.

The Hebrew Alphabet 

Alpha and Omega are the Greek letters of the alphabet. Alpha is the beginning word and Omega is the end word. Jesus defined himself as the beginning and the end. Think of it this way–If he was to use the English alphabet, he would be saying I am A to Z.

Now at first glance, that doesn’t make sense. As we dig into the word, we are going to find some exciting revelation of this analogy. I, personally, believe that the Apostle John was well versed in Hebrew and Greek. I, also, believe that when the Lord spoke to John, he spoke to him in the Hebrew tongue. Another example is Saul (Paul). Jesus spoke to him in Hebrew.

And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. (Acts 26:14)

Why is this so important to us? Simply because God is going to give us a revelation. A revelation of prophetic events found in the Old testament. When God spoke to the Apostle John in Hebrew about the first and last, he used Aleph and Tav’s letters. The Aleph is the first and the Tav is the last.

Psalms 119–The beginning and the end

Hebrew letters are picture symbols and carry meaning. Some Bibles have Psalms 119 separated by Hebrew letters translated into English. The reason for this was simple. The author wanted to separate the Psalms into rows of eight verses. It was a way for God to use the memory method of association. This is used in improving one’s memory even today.

An example of this is very simple. If I asked you to start a sentence with the word B, what would you have in mind? My sentence would be… Blessed are the merciful. Now, compare this to the Hebrew format. Upon reading Hebrew, you would start from right to left. As you read the first eight verses of Ps 119, it starts with the Hebrew word Aleph.

As you read the rest of Psalms 119, it finishes with the last word of the Hebrew alphabet, Tav. When Jesus appeared to John at the isle of Patmos, he brought forth a powerful revelation. He said…I am the Aleph and Tav. This, in turn, highlighted his whole name in the book of Psalms 119. Why is this so important? Because it highlighted him as the Messiah to come. Notice in Rev 1:8, the following words were added-

• Which is (Indicating the word which stands to this day and will always be.)
• Which was  (He came into his own and they receive him not. He was crucified at the cross).
• Which is to come (Jesus was resurrected and is coming soon!) This and other associations can be found with the letters Aleph and Tav. Please go to my Facebook page the Christian Corner community church 56 for a more detailed explanation of this exciting and prophetic revelation. God bless.

For further clarity, go to https://bit.ly/3hdGAqx

Extra bonus–Can you find the first and the last in Gen 1:1? Click on this link (Hint it is found in the Hebrew letters)..https://bit.ly/3xYT9fy

Reprint courtesy of the Christian corner community church.