Search The Scriptures-Revelations

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

It's good to get back to studying the scriptures, starting again with Revelations.

Revelations 1:1-8 Study #1

1) Trace in verse 1-2 the course of the "revelation" from it's source in the mind of God by 4 successive steps to us who read and recieve it. How is it described in it's content, character and value, and what is required in those who read or hear? Cf. Luke 11:28

2) Observe the place given to Jesus Christ in relation to God, and consider each title given to Him in verse 5a. Cf. John 3:11,32,33;18:37; Col 1:18;Rev. 19:11-16. How does John describe His attitude to us, and what He has done for us? Cf. John 13:1; Eph 1:7; 1 Peter 2:9.

3) With 1:7; Cf. Dn.7:13; and Acts 1:9-11. Is the thought of His coming a joy to you? Cf. 6:15-17; 1 Thes. 4:15-18; 5:1-4; 2 Thes. 1:7-10.

Notes:

A) Verse 1. "The revelation of Jesus Christ" ie: communicated by Him; and intended not to mystify but to disclose.

B) Verse 3. "He who reads" ie: the one who reads this book aloud to fellow believers. "The prophesy": a significant claim. Cf. 22:7,10,18,19.

C) Verse 4. "The seven spirits" ie: the Spirit in His sevenfold fullness.

D) Verse 5. "The faithful witness": this includes the thought of maryrdom. Cf. 1 Tim. 6:13. Note the sequence - death, resurection, enthronement.

tbc.

(from the study book: Search the Scriptures, Varcity Press)

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

1) Trace in verse 1-2 the course of the "revelation" from it's source in the mind of God by
4 successive steps to us who read and recieve it. How is it described in it's content,
character and value, and what is required in those who read or hear? Cf. Luke 11:28

Revelation 1:1-2
Prologue
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Luke 11:28
He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."

"The revelation of Jesus Christ" = the revealing of who He is. That's what this book is all about. The author, by revealing Himself, reveals what is, was and is to come. He is the Word of God. From the mind of God, to His angel, to His servant John and to the world. The character is Jesus' character, revealed, as the Word of God. "Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and obey it"

tbc.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Jesus Christ, in the old testiment, is best seen in the tabernacle, as our sacrifice on the altar, the bread of life (seen in the shewbread) the light (in the light from the oil of the Holy Spirit of the lampstand) (the lampstand being the churches) the mercy seat, etc.

We are now the temple of God, having gone from the altar (baptism) into the Holy of Holies (opened at the time of His death), to enjoy the presence of God. (the lion/lamb now on the throne)

By being the dwelling place of God we must also contain within ourselves all that the earthly temple contained. By seeing the revelations of who Jesus is as given by God's gospel in His last book of the bible, I think we may be able to see a small bit of what He's given us in the Person of Jesus.

Christ is coming to recieve what he has purchased. To judge and take possesion of the earth for the Kingdom of God. But always he is gently taking more and more possesion of His bride, represented as the New Jerusalem. The healing of the nations is soon. Come Lord Jesus!

Revelations is also a book detailing events of the church age ( chap 1-3), heaven (chap 4-5), future tribulations(chap 6-19), millinium (chap 20), and future heaven and earth(chap 20-21).

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

The first promise in the book of Revelations

Revelations 1:3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

The conditions placed on the blessing is reading and hearing. Those who keep those things written in it would definately imply to me that there are codes of conduct within based on the character of Jesus and therefore our character in Christ. So understanding would also be part of the hearing. And the understanding is what works to bring His character within. All according to the bringing it to mind of the Holy Spirit. In hearing, they believed, and turned to God, which is repentence, which is a rebirth or renewing , refreshing of the Spirit.

Revelation 22:7
Jesus Is Coming
"Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book."

For the time is near.

Romans 13:11
And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

Revelation 22:10
Then he told me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near.

Revelation 3:11
I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.

tbc

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Grace and peace to the church from the Holy Spirit, from the Father and from the Jesus Christ.

The seven churches weren't the only churches at the time. But they were representative of the church as a whole in it's earthly conduct. Seven is the number of completion and the seven churches are God moving to bring the church to completion. The sevenfold Spirit of God are the Spirit's dealings with the churches and bringing the church to it's full potential in Christ.

Revelation 4:5
From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.

Isaiah 11:2-10
2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of power,
the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD -
3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;
4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
5 Righteousness will be his belt
and faithfulness the sash around his waist.
6 The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling [a] together;
and a little child will lead them.
7 The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
8 The infant will play near the hole of the cobra,
and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest.
9 They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD
as the waters cover the sea.
10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious.

Zechariah 4:2
He asked me, "What do you see?"
I answered, "I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lights on it, with seven channels to the lights.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

2) Observe the place given to Jesus Christ in relation to God, and consider each title given to Him in verse 5a. Cf. John 3:11,32,33;18:37; Col 1:18;Rev. 19:11-16. How does John describe His attitude to us, and what He has done for us? Cf. John 13:1; Eph 1:7; 1 Peter 2:9.

The greetings are from the tri-une God. Father, Son and Spirit.


Christ is the faithful witness of God. The testimony and expression of God.

John 1
The Word Became Flesh
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,[a] who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

1 Timothy 3:16
Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great:
He[a] appeared in a body,
was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory.

Colossians 2:9
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,

Christ is realized and experienced in His Spirit

John 14:16-18
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[a] in you. 18I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

1 Corinthians 15:45
So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being"[a]; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:17
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Romans 8:9
You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

Philippians 1:19
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.

The church is the reproduction of the testimony and expression (in His image) of God in Christ.

Ephesians 1:22-23
And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

1 Corinthians 12:12
The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.

Ephesians 4:4
There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—

From the tri-une God Grace and Peace are imparted to the church.

So the beginning outline for Revelations is God speaking to the church. How cool is that?
tbc tomorrow.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Rev 1:4 John, to the seven churches which 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, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.


In the ark of the covenent within the Holy of Holies was the manna, the budded rod, and the 10 commandments that was covered by the mercy seat. (Jesus full of mercy and grace)

The contents showed Christ's 3-fold office as prophet, priest and king.

The manna was edification from above showing His office as prophet.
The budded rod showed His priestly office.
The 10 commandments showed His rule as King.

In the introduction of Revelations we can see His 3-fold office again as prophet/priest/king.

The Word- the prophet who is the faithful witness of God.
The Lamb- the priest who carried His own blood as the firstdead into the Heavenly Tabernacle.
The King- the Prince over all the kings of the earth.


tbc

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Jesus The Christ is:

The Faithful Witness

Ephesians 6:17
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

John 8:14
Jesus answered, "Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going.

The Firstborn of the Dead

Colossians 1:15
The Supremacy of Christ
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation

1 Corinthians 15:20
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Colossians 1:18
And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

Ephesians 1:20
which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,

The Ruler over the Kings of the Earth

1 Timothy 6:15
which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

Daniel 2:47
The king said to Daniel, "Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery."

John 18:37
"You are a king, then!" said Pilate.
Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."

Revelation 19:11-16
The Rider on the White Horse
I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Revelation 17:14
They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers."

The church is:

The faithful witness

John 3:11
I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.

Revelation 6:9
When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained.

The nextborn of the dead

Revelation 12:11
They overcame him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much
as to shrink from death.

The Kings of the Earth

Revelation 5:10
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth."

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Revelations 1:4-6
John, to the seven churches which 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, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.
To Him who loved us and washed[a] us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Unto Him who loved us and washed us from our own sins.

Romans 8:37
In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Ephesians 1:7
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace

1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Romans 8
Life Through the Spirit
1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus

Still 1/3 more to go on study #1. I'm learning as I'm going too so it's exciting! Thank God for crossreference bibles....

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Rev 1:7-8
Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord,“who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

coming in the clouds

Daniel 7:13
"In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.

Matthew 16:27
For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.

Matthew 24:30
"At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.

every eye will see Him

Zechariah 12:10
Mourning for the One They Pierced
"And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.

John 19:37
and, as another scripture says, "They will look on the one they have pierced."

all glory to Him forever

Romans 11:36
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.

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

Here is probably the strongest reference to Jesus being God. In verse 4 we see it being used as God's title with the Spirit and Christ alongside.

"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, 5 and from Jesus Christ"

But here it's used for Jesus as well as calling Him the Almighty.
He is the beginning and the end. Alpha and Omega.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Notes:
A) Verse 1. "The revelation of Jesus Christ" ie: communicated by Him; and intended not to mystify but to disclose.

The word "revelation" in the Greek is "Apocalupsis", which means to unveil- apo= away from; kalumma=a veil, so taking away the veil. The veil of the temple was ripped from top to bottom making clear the way into the Holy of Holies at the time of Jesus' death.


quote from ~The book of Revelations~ Clarence Larkin~

When jesus was aked just before His death, when these things would come to pass (Mark 13:1-31 He replied in verse 32 "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." But after the ascention He recieved from the Father the information that the disciples asked for, and before the close of the first century, while at least one of those disciples was still living, and thru him to the churches, the information that is "unveiled" in this book of revelations.

The fact that Jesus, as God, didn't know this info, until reaching heaven, I believe is in the fact that until the millenium is over, the Son is still part of the human/divine govt. and none but the Father and Spirit are fully divine until the end of that age into eternity when all will be fully divine. (all will be handed to the Father)

B) Verse 3. "He who reads" ie: the one who reads this book aloud to fellow believers. "The prophesy": a significant claim. Cf. 22:7,10,18,19.

C) Verse 4. "The seven spirits" ie: the Spirit in His sevenfold fullness.

D) Verse 5. "The faithful witness": this includes the thought of maryrdom. Cf. 1 Tim. 6:13. Note the sequence - death, resurection, enthronement.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Notes:
A) Verse 1. "The revelation of Jesus Christ" ie: communicated by Him; and intended not to mystify but to disclose.

B) Verse 3. "He who reads" ie: the one who reads this book aloud to fellow believers. "The prophesy": a significant claim. Cf. 22:7,10,18,19.

Revelation 22:7 "Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book."

Revelation 22:10
Then he told me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near".

Revelation 22:18
"I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book".

Revelation 22:19
"And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book."

The prophesy is what is revealed thru the divine revealation. The emphasis is on hearing the words of the prophesy.
The rewards or punishment are on not adding or subtrating to what is said. Satan tends to subtract more than he adds by giving only 1/2 truths, people tend to philosophise and ramble on making much ado about nothing. But here the Word says to stick to the word.

I beleive our only job is to rightly divide truth from tradition and beleive what the bible says. God has only one book out and if He can keep the ark from the Philistine god w/o being defiled He can, I'm sure, keep His book from being defiled or there would be a lot of people with the plague. When the bible is looked at as a whole not scientifically discected but as a whole picture, nothing is out of context.

C) Verse 4. "The seven spirits" ie: the Spirit in His sevenfold fullness.

D) Verse 5. "The faithful witness": this includes the thought of maryrdom. Cf. 1 Tim. 6:13. Note the sequence - death, resurection, enthronement.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

I just want to try to get thru these last notes today and get onto the next study on Monday.


Notes:
A) Verse 1. "The revelation of Jesus Christ" ie: communicated by Him; and intended not to mystify but to disclose.

B) Verse 3. "He who reads" ie: the one who reads this book aloud to fellow believers. "The prophesy": a significant claim. Cf. 22:7,10,18,19.

compare:

Rev 1:3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

Luke 6:47-49
I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."

C) Verse 4. "The seven spirits" ie: the Spirit in His sevenfold fullness.

I think we covered the 7 fold Spirit



D) Verse 5. "The faithful witness": this includes the thought of maryrdom. Cf. 1 Tim. 6:13. Note the sequence - death, resurection, enthronement.

One more to go

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

D) Verse 5. "The faithful witness": this includes the thought of maryrdom. Cf. 1 Tim. 6:13. Note the sequence - death, resurection, enthronement.

1 Timothy 6:13-16
In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

Again the church's charge to be faithful witnesses of the Word. Guard the trust Paul was saying to Timothy in a manner worthy of Jesus.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Still from the first study
2nd promise in Revelations

Revelation 1:7
Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.

Zechariah 14:5
You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake [a] in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.

All eyes in the immediate vicinity of Jerusalem where He lands.

People in distant parts of the earth will not see Him until later.

Isaiah 2:2-4
2 In the last days
the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established
as chief among the mountains;
it will be raised above the hills,
and all nations will stream to it.
3 Many peoples will come and say,
"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
to the house of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths."
The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
4 He will judge between the nations
and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore.

Isaiah 66:19-21
19 "I will set a sign among them, and I will send some of those who survive to the nations—to Tarshish, to the Libyans [a] and Lydians (famous as archers), to Tubal and Greece, and to the distant islands that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory among the nations. 20 And they will bring all your brothers, from all the nations, to my holy mountain in Jerusalem as an offering to the LORD -on horses, in chariots and wagons, and on mules and camels," says the LORD. "They will bring them, as the Israelites bring their grain offerings, to the temple of the LORD in ceremonially clean vessels. 21 And I will select some of them also to be priests and Levites," says the LORD.

Zechariah 8:23
This is what the LORD Almighty says: "In those days ten men from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, 'Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.' "

These are the descendents of those who pierced Him

Zech 12:10
Mourning for the One They Pierced
10 "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.

The armies of the nations will surround Jerusalem when He comes with His overcomers

Zechariah 14
The LORD Comes and Reigns
1 A day of the LORD is coming when your plunder will be divided among you.
2 I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city.
3 Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights in the day of battle. 4 On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. 5 You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake [a] in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.

Matthew 24:19-31
19How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. 22If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 23At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. 24For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible. 25See, I have told you ahead of time.
26"So if anyone tells you, 'There he is, out in the desert,' do not go out; or, 'Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. 27For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.
29"Immediately after the distress of those days
" 'the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.'[a]
30"At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. 31And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

The day of the Lord on which this is to take place is in the next study.

quote from ~The book of Revelations~ Clarence Larkin~

Both the old and new testiment speak of the "Day of the Lord". Isa 2:12; Joel 1:15, 2:1, 3;14; Ezek 13:15; Mal 4:5; Acts 2:20; 2 Col 1:14; 1 thes 5:2; 2 Pet 3:10.
The term applies to the day of the Lord's return and includes the Tribulation and millinium. The Christian sabbath was never called the Lord's Day until after the book of Revelations was written and got it's name from that source. It was always called in the gospels and epistles "the first day of the week"

I have heard it refered to as the time after the rapture and before the wedding when Jesus will bring His people into one accord by disclosing all discrepencies of scripture and hand out rewards. Maybe the next study will bring more out.

Note that there's no conditions placed on this promise b/c it's not contingient on human co-operation.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Revelations 1:9-20 Study #2

1) What, according to verse 9, is the 2fold experience in which all believers share, and what should characterize their lives? Cf. John 16:33; Acts 14:22; 2 Tim 2:12a.

2) We are not for a moment to suppose that Christ literally looks like this. What John sees is a vision, each feature of which is symbolic of some aspect of our glorified Lord. Write down against each feature here portrayed what trait in our Lord's character it suggests. What is the total impression left on your mind?

3) What does Christ say of Himself? and of His relations to the churches? in verses 17-20.
With verse 17; Cf. Daniel 10:8-11, 15-19; and with the figure of the "lampstands" Cf. Matt 5:14-16.

Notes

A) Verse 17. see also 22:13. Note that Christ applies to Himself words spoken of by God of Himself in verse 8.

B) Verse 18. "The keys of death and Hades"; according to the teaching of the Rabbis these keys are in the hands of God alone.

C) Verse 20. "Mystery": ie: something with a hidden meaning here explained. Cf. 17:7; Matt 13:11.
"The angels of the 7 churches"; sometimes taken to mean the pastors of each church in that day, but more probably denoting a guardian angel. (Cf. Dan 10:21; Matt 18:10)

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

New foundations are being laid in the heavenlies. Not the baby Jesus or Christ on the cross but the Ruler Who is on High with the church seated with Him.

Revelations 1:9-18
The post-incarnate Christ in the glorified body, judging His church (the great High Priest in the Holy of Holies)
v. 19
Time division of the contents of apocalpse
v. 20
Interpretation of the 7 stars and 7 lampstands

Study # 2 Question #1

1) What, according to verse 9, is the 2fold experience in which all believers share, and
what should characterize their lives? Cf. John 16:33; Acts 14:22; 2 Tim 2:12a.

One like a Son of Man
9I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.


John 16:33"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Acts 14:22
strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said.

2 Timothy 2:12a
if we endure,
we will also reign with him.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

1) What, according to verse 9, is the 2fold experience in which all believers share, and
what should characterize their lives? Cf. John 16:33; Acts 14:22; 2 Tim 2:12a.

Suffering endurance in the world during hardships and troubles, with peace in the word of God and in their testimony of Jesus because He has overcome the world. His Word strengthens and encourages us to remain true in the faith because if we endure we will also reign with Him.

2 Tim 2:12 is a promise conditioned on enduring in order to reign with Him.
This is, I believe, reference to placement in eternity not on salvation.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Timothy 2:12
If we endure,
We shall also reign with Him.
If we deny Him,
He also will deny us.

1 Peter 4:13
but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

Romans 8:17
and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

2 Corinthians 1:7
And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.

Note the reference to the extent of suffering in Jesus' sufferings. What were His sufferings? That is on the path to where we're going.

1 Peter 5
Shepherd the Flock
1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:

Acts 1:8
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

The sufferings seem to be in the witness that we give.This may be b/c of the outpouring of the Spirit thru our fragile human bodies.


Matthew 10:33
But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

Mark 8:33
But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

John 16:33"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Jesus has overcome the world so we too may be overcomers.

Suffering remains a part of this fallen world. Even Jesus warned His disciples that they would endure tribulation, but they were to be of good cheer, for He had overcome the world (John 16:33). God does not require that we defend His goodness and omnipotence in light of the existence of evil and pain—the theology of theodicy. Rather it is our attitude and response that are most important to Him. For God wants us to praise and worship Him not only in our triumphs but also in our seeming defeats. Ultimately we throw ourselves on the mercy and grace of a loving God who works all things together for the good of us who love Him (Rom. 8:38).

Hayford, J. W. (1997). Possessing the Promise of God : A study of Joshua and Judges.

Sin leading or not leading to death (5:16, 17): Many suggestions have been made concerning the identity of these sins, but any explanation must come from the epistle itself and the immediate context—a discussion of true faith—in which it stands. In the opening of chapter 5, John clearly showed that believing Jesus is the Christ is the foundation from which love and obedience flow, and our faith is itself the victory which overcomes the world (5:1–5). Being in the Son is equated with eternal life. Those who have truly believed are growing in Christian faith and life (2:5, 12–14). They may occasionally break a command, fail to love, or be blindsided by the enticements of the world, but their belief in Jesus Christ is life and is leading to life (5:10–13). Their sin does not lead to death, but to confession and cleansing (1:7–2:2). Therefore, we do well to pray for them the things that are God’s will—that they might be perfected in God’s life and love.
“All unrighteousness is sin” (5:17). Even though an occasional wandering from righteousness does not lead to spiritual death, it is still heinous and undesirable in the Christian life (3:4–10).
On the other hand, the antichrists have willfully chosen to reject the witness of God concerning Jesus Christ (the Spirit, water, blood, 5:5–10). They have no life from the Son of God (5:11, 12), and their sin (denying Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God) and every sin connected with it (hating the brothers, disregarding the commands, habitual sinning, loving the world) are all works of the devil and darkness which are of death and lead to death. John does not command the believers to abstain from praying for antichrists, but neither does he command it. Their sin is a willful rejection of the witnesses of Jesus’ deity and Sonship.

Live In the Victory Jesu
Hayford, J. W., & Hagan, K. A. (1997). Passing Faith's Tests with Love and Joy : A study of James, 1&2 Peter, 1-3 John, Jude. Spirit-Filled Life Bible Discovery Guides.

Honor Worth Fighting For
In the Middle Ages knights would joust over the issue of honor. During colonial times the duel was with swords or pistols; later, a shoot-out on some dusty Western street would settle the score, but the reasons were the same. To some, even the smallest backward glance was reason to kill, while others killed only as an act of self-defense or to protect their loved ones from danger.
Whether in a courtroom clash, a Western brawl, or a modern-day, drive-by shooting, people still fight to defend their honor, however misguided their motives. The violation of honor can be petty or great, depending on the pride of the individual. Nonetheless, history records many fights, feuds, battles, and wars that hinged on someone’s pride.
As believers in Jesus Christ, such personal judgments should be left behind. That is not to say that we are called to let the world “roll over us.” On the contrary, we are called to overcome the world, not by physical force, but through spiritual warfare.
In spiritual battle we are soldiers who seek to bring honor to our King, Jesus. The charge of every believer is to bring glory to God (Matt. 5:16), and it is this honor—God’s, not ours—that is worth fighting for.
The Bible records many stories about those who fought to defend God’s honor—with physical action as well as spiritual.

Hayford, J. W., & Hayford, M. (1997, c1993). Kingdom warfare : Prayer, spiritual warfare, and the ministry of angels. C1993 by Jack W. Hayford. Spirit-Filled Life Kingdom Dynamics Study Guides.

THE SPIRIT’S MINISTRY TO JESUS (JOHN 16:14, 15)
As the Spirit communicates Jesus to the world and Christ’s guidance to believers, Jesus is glorified. For rather than speaking on His own, the Holy Spirit “will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.”
With this promise Jesus’ Last Supper instruction to the Eleven is over. Christ ends it by stating again, “A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father” (John 16:16).
The disciples then begin to talk among themselves, still questioning what this last remark of Jesus meant (John 16:17, 18). After further dialogue with Jesus, the disciples seemed satisfied and had no more questions.
Jesus knew better. Yet in the future the words Jesus had spoken during this time would comfort and instruct after Jesus had gone. Indeed, the words that Jesus had spoken would help the disciples find peace in Him. As Christ said, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Richards, L., Pegoda, D., & Gross, P. (2001). Every teaching of Jesus in the Bible.