Introduction to the Book of Revelation



The word “Revelation” means “to reveal.” This is not supposed to be a book of mysteries but of- well- Revelation. It has been made more confusing by incorrect scholarship of the Bible.

(The book of Revelation is also known as “The Apocalypse.” The Greek word used in chapter 1 translated “revelation” is “apokalupsis,” which means “unveiling” not “great disaster” as we commonly think.)

Many pull single verses out of Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Daniel, Matthew and others and try to tack them on here. They just don’t fit.

The rule of context is that context rules. In other words, read the scriptures in the context they were written in- biblically and historically. Take into account the theme of the Bible as a whole, the message of each book as stated by the author, the specific chapters being discussed as complete works.

Don’t pull a little here and a little there and try to make sense of it. Remember that all Old Testament passages were written 400 years or more before Christ and His disciples were even born and a whole lot of history happened in that 400 years. The vast majority of Old Testament Prophecy was obviously fulfilled during that inter-testament time.

Many say those of us who interpret this book to have already been mostly fulfilled are "symbolizing" it; making Revelation symbolic instead of literal. The fact is, no one takes the whole thing literally (no one believes there is a lamb with seven eyes, a woman flying around on a seven-headed dragon who will stand on the moon drinking blood, a monster who will rise up out of the ocean and eat a third of the people of earth, etc). The disagreement really is on what is symbolic and what isn’t. Thankfully, John does a pretty good job of explaining the symbols if you really look at it and read what he says.

How do we know the history of the first century? We actually have several documents written by men who lived at the time. The most extensive are the works of Josephus. This man, a non-Christian at the time, was an eyewitness of the events of AD 70 at Jerusalem, being a captive of the Roman army that was surrounding the walls at the time. He also spoke directly with those who were inside the wall during the siege after they were taken as slaves. He wrote his books at the request of Titus Caesar and would have had no reason to invent things or lie. There were still too many people alive who were there and could have called him on it if he had.

(Shortly after his capture he prophesied that General Vespasian would become emperor. When that happened shortly afterward, Vespasian technically released him as prisoner. By that time he had become friends with Vespasian’s son, General Titus, who used him as translator to the Jews. Sometime after writing his history books he did become a Christian.)

This is the Gold Standard for historical documents. There is no more reliable source of information than eyewitnesses.




The first chapter of Revelation is where John records his introduction to the vision. He is ushered to the throne of God.

Chapters two and three are personal letters to physical churches in existence at that time. History tells us the stories of some of these churches later and it lines up with the predictions here. These are NOT ages of time as some say. There is no biblical proof whatsoever for this interpretation and it would be impossible to paint all the Christians of an entire time period with one brush. This was an idea dreamed up in the head of some man hundreds of years later.

The most of the rest of the Book tells about God's judgment and execution of His adulterous wife, Israel. When The Covenant was originally made with Israel, God told them that if they were unfaithful to Him, He would bring a number of punishments on them, including the same punishments He had brought on Egypt at the time of the Exodus. John is telling his readers that these curses are being/are fixing to be fulfilled.

The last few chapters tell of God’s remarriage, of the Christian Era.

There is some disagreement about the time this Book was written. The most common belief is during the reign of Domitian Caesar (AD 95-96). This date is based on what the Apostle John’s student Polycarp wrote which was repeated by his student Irenaeus (AD 130 to AD 202), and then quoted by Eusebius in AD 325 (Eusebius’ quote being the only one we actually, physically have today).

Polycarp’s quote: "We will not, however, incur the risk of pronouncing positively as to the name of Antichrist; for if it were necessary that his name should be distinctly revealed in this present time, it would have been announced by him who beheld the apocalyptic vision. For that was seen no very long time since, but almost in our day, towards the end of Domitian's reign."

The question is, what is “that?” The name of the antiChrist? The vision? John (by Polycarp)? (Pronouns function differently in other languages than they do in English and Polycarp would have written in Greek, while the others mentioned here would have written in Latin.)

Irenaeus interpreted “That” to be that the vision was given during Domitian’s reign, but Irenaeus lived some forty years after Polycarp saw “that” and was known to get other names and dates wrong anyway (He was off on the date of Christ’s crucifixion by a good 10-20 years, for example). Irenaeus did not meet John, did not see the vision, but read the Book and Polycarp’s account, and read about John at a later date.

Nero’s birth name was “Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus.” Apparently, only we moderns actually call him Nero. It is easy to see how, 100 years later, it could be confused with Emperor TITVS FLAVIVS CAESAR DOMITIANVS AVGVSTVS (known as Domitian), especially by someone who obviously wasn’t very good with names and dates anyway.

There is only one time in history that there was only seven churches in Asia Minor- the mid 60’s AD (when John was only around 60 years old).
 
Nero persecuted the churches in AD64, which fits with the persecutions mentioned in Revelation. There is no known persecution, certainly not one on such a large scale, during Domitian’s reign other than the brief mention by Ireneous. And it is historical fact that Nero put John on Patmos. Most just say John was imprisoned there a second time during Domitian’s time, but there is no historical or biblical evidence for that other than Ireneous’ doubtable mention.
 
There are many other reasons to believe John wrote this Book in about AD60-61. We will go into them as we come across them in our study.

It is noted by Kenneth L Gentry in “Revelation Made Easy” that the Gospel of John does not have an Olivet Discourse as the other Gospels do (Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21). It is recorded in these other three Gospels that Jesus said His prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem would happen in the lifetime of those listening to Him. Could, in fact, Revelation simply be John’s Olivet Discourse?

Revelation 1-God Gives John a Message



1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto His servants things which must shortly (quickly, soon, right now) come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John:

2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, as, in fact, the whole Bible is. Christ let John (His disciple, one of the "Sons of Thunder.") know what was fixing to happen as He did to other prophets in times past.

He let Isaiah know what was fixing to happen to Israel as much as a hundred years before hand. He told Daniel about the coming Syrian rule a couple hundred years before it happened. He warns His disciples about AD70 in Matthew 24 (roughly AD29).

Here, He is warning everyone what “must shortly come to pass.” John is recording this and the testimony of Jesus.

This verse is full of words telling us the purpose of this book: revelation, show, signified (communicated, to make known by a sign). This was not to be a mystery novel, hiding things, but a book of information teaching and revealing, though revealing them by signs and symbols. This warning of nearness was included both here before the vision is given and in the last chapter, after the difficult parts of the book. The time signature is NOT part of the vision that needs interpretation. It is very plain what is intended.

Some think John was the only surviving disciple at this time, the rest having been martyred for the Name of Christ. This was the last book of divine Revelation as John states later. No cannon scripture was given after this time.

John was to deliver this Revelation to the Church of God, to all believers. Everyone needs to know these things, not just ministers or scholars.

The subject of this book is “the things that must shortly come to pass.” Not things to come to pass two thousand years in the future. Most of These things are in our past, John’s future. Those who lived in the time of the fulfillment of this scripture understood it perfectly.

Terms for “very soon” are also used in Revelation 2:16, 3:11, and 22:6.

3 Blessed is he that reads, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand (near).

Everyone who studies (reads and understands and applies) the Bible is blessed as the Bible holds great wisdom and tells us the thoughts of God. Those who studied this prophecy shortly after it was written had the blessing of a measure of warning of things that happened soon afterward. We are blessed to see these prophecies and to see them fulfilled in history because it reaffirms our faith in the rest of the Bible.

“…the time is at hand.” These things are fixing to happen right now, in John’s time, the first century. This could not be said any plainer.

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;

John addresses this letter to the seven, physical congregations in Asia at that time. They were physically near him in his exile to Patmos. These are the same churches addressed by name in the next two chapters.

He wishes the good will of God (grace) and peaceful lives on those servants of God reading this. This grace and peace is to come from the eternal God who has always been, is today, and always will be.

Seven is the Biblical number of perfection and completion, so the “seven spirits of God” are the totality of all that is God, who can’t really be defined by numbers.

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,

Christ’s words are always true. He is a faithful witness of what is fixing to be written, because, as God, He has already seen all of history* and He cannot lie. He was also the first to rise in the permanent resurrection. Everyone else who has been raised from the dead, died again at some point.

He is the King of Kings, the ruler of all and He loves us enough to die- and tortuously so- for our sins.

6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

“Hath made” -Present tense; we are currently kings and priests.

Jesus has made us rulers under Him and priests worthy to come before God Himself; not because of our righteousness, but because He washed all our sins away leaving us pure. Through Christ, we have control over ourselves and can command even Satan to leave, in Jesus name, and he must obey.

1 Peter 2:9-“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light:”

This is current (“…are…hath called…”). The Kingdom we are priests and kings in is the Kingdom of God begun at Calvary.

1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, ‘Repent ye: for the Kingdom Of Heaven is at hand.’” Matthew 3:1,2

“17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, ‘Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” Matthew 4:17

“14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 And saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.’” Mark 1:14, 15

If the kingdom did not come at Calvary, Jesus was mistaken or lying.

References throughout the New Testament to The Kingdom are in present tense.

Prophecies in the Old (i.e. Daniel’s Stone from Nebuchadnezzar’s dream) are set in the Roman time, far in their future, but our past.

 

Christ’s purpose in His first coming was to set up His Kingdom. If the Jews prevented that by rejecting and crucifying Christ, causing the kingdom’s postponement for 2000 years (as some claim), than He wasn’t much of a God.

His kingdom was, in fact, spiritual from the start.

God has called all who follow Him to be preachers, not politicians.

(Though to be clear, He does call SOME to be politicians. We need the godly to be in office. But it is very few who receive this call. EVERYONE is called to be a preacher of righteousness, to witness for God.)   

If the kingdom was supposed to be literal/political than there is no room for Calvary. There never would have been salvation.

“4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” Hebrews 10:4

The Cross was God’s plan from the start, not the result of the Jew's rejection.

“1 Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

2 For He (Christ) shall grow up before Him (God) as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground (the virgin birth): He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him.(people didn’t flock to Christ because He was handsome)

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.

4 Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb (silent), so He openeth not His mouth.

8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare His generation? For He was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of My people was He stricken.

9 And He made his grave with the wicked (crucified with thieves), and with the rich in His death (Joseph of Armathia was rich and buried Christ in his own tomb); because He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth.

10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He (The Father) hath put Him (Jesus) to grief: when thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.

11 He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall My righteous servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities.

12 Therefore will I divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong; because He hath poured out His soul unto death: and He was numbered with the transgressors; and He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isaiah 53, more than 500 years before The Cross.


“54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?” Matthew 26:54

“22 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: 

23 That Christ should suffer, and that He should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.” Acts 26:22,23

The common Jews, in fact, wanted to make Christ king and He refused:

“14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, ‘This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.’

15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.” John 6:14, 15

The Kingdom came into force at Calvary and we are reigning with Him right now.

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.

Clouds= nephos= shapeless mass covering the heavens, not nephale which means “clouds.” (“1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,…” Hebrews 12:1, Cloud here means “group.”)

This is the point of the Book of Revelation:

“37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! 38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.” Matthew 23:37-38

“2 And Jesus said unto them, ‘See ye not all these things? Verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down…’

34 ‘Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.’” Matthew 24:2, 34 (See http://bolcf.blogspot.com/2014/07/matthew-24.html for a complete discussion of Matthew 24.)

John just finished telling us that this vision is about things that “must shortly come to pass.” He will soon tell us that he is currently suffering persecution himself. It would be out of context for this verse to apply to a couple of thousand years down the road.

Isaiah 19:1 says “The oracle concerning Egypt. Behold, the Lord is riding on a swift cloud, and is about to come to Egypt: the idols of Egypt will tremble at His presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them.”

This prophecy is speaking of Assyria’s Esarhaddon’s imminent conquest of Egypt in the mid 600’s BC. There is precedence for symbolic use of God “coming in the clouds” meaning judgment is approaching and it fits for this to be referring to AD70 within the context of the other scriptures.

Jesus Himself told the High Priest “I tell you heareafter you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, coming on the clouds of heaven.” Matthew 26:62-64.

Same imagery.

In fact, Christ often spoke of immediate judgment of the Jews of those days (Matthew 21:33-48, 22:7, Luke 19:41-44, Luke 21:20-22, Luke 23:28-31, Matthew 24:30)

Blame for Christ’s crucifixion is placed squarely on the shoulders of the Jews- "they also which pierced Him" (Acts2:23, Acts 5:30, Acts 7:52, Acts 10:39, Acts 13:13-15, 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16 Matt 27:25, John 19:15,) and now they will be judged for it.

“Earth” is from the Greek word that is often translated as “promised land” in the rest of the New Testament. This is referring to the tribes of Israel.

The original Greek word translated “they also” in the King James means “even.” So this would read:

“…every eye shall see Him, [even those] also which pierced Him: and all [tribes] of the [promised land] shall wail because of Him.”

Since those who physically pierced Jesus’ hands with nails and a spear died 2000 years ago, this event had to have happened then.

And wail they did.

Titus destroyed the entire country, burning and killing everything in sight. It is estimated over a million people died in Jerusalem alone with more than 100,000 taken captive just from the one city, and Josephus says there were so many dead bodies in the Sea of Galilee you could walk across it on them. There truly has never in all of history been a tribulation, a destruction of a people to equal this event.

And the Jewish religion was ended at that time. The Temple was destroyed never to be rebuilt (they have tried but earthquakes and unexplained fires always stop the work), the sacrifices were permanently ended, the genealogical records destroyed (so the priesthood can never be reestablished). In all ways, the Mosaic Law can never be followed again. Oh, the moral principles could be and are, and the health laws could be followed, but the "meat" of The Law, the sacrifices and Temple worship, are gone for good.

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.

Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet and Omega was at this time the last, so Jesus is saying, “I am the A to Z.” He created the Universe and He will end it. He is “The Boss.”

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.

John, who was a mortal man and a servant of God, who had suffered many things for God already, had been exiled to the Isle of Patmos because he refused to quit preaching about Christ. He was, in fact, one of Jesus’ disciples, who walked with Him every day for three and a half years.

(Legend says John had already been boiled in oil …and survived! However, the earliest reference we have to the event is from a couple hundred years after John lived, so we don’t really know it happened.)

We know from other historical sources that John was on Patmos in AD64. (We actually have quite a few writings from this time period…as if God wanted several witnesses to the events or something)

Tradition has stated he was exiled there again in AD90. I usually take traditional dating over modern interpretations (trusting those sources closer to the event more than those two thousand years away), but in this case the exile in 90 is based on very shaky evidence. The one in 64 was during the reign of Nero, a known time of great persecution- the greatest ever suffered by the Christian church- and John’s exile at this time is mentioned in several sources. The AD90 exile is based on the writings of Ireaneous in the second century who says his teacher Polycarp (who was a student of John himself) told him John was on Patmos during the reign of Domatian (AD81-96). The problem is that;

1) We have no record of a persecution of the church great enough to put John on Patmos at this time from any other source,

2) We have no other record of John being exiled to Patmos a second time

3) Nero was known by another name very close in sound to Domatian, and

4) Ireaneous made many mistakes in names and dates in his other writings, making him an unreliable source.

This means this Book was most likely written in AD64 instead of the traditional dating of AD90. That is, six years before the destruction of the Temple in AD70.

10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

John was praying on the Sabbath and heard a loud trumpet.

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.”

The trumpet said “I am the A to Z, the Creator and the Finisher. Write down what I am fixing to show you and mail it to your buddies in Asia Minor (modern Turkey).”

The order these churches are listed in here is the order they occur on the postal route in ancient Rome.

12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

The last verse of this chapter tells us these candlesticks are the seven churches. They are “Letting their little light shine.” Gold for their purity and value.

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.

Christ is in the middle of His churches. He is clothed in a garment the length of the priest’s clothes because He is our Priest. The golden girdle is probably representative of the priest’s girdle in Leviticus, only purer.

14 His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire;

This is the same description as the Ancient of days mentioned in Daniel. His gray or white hair was not a sign of old age (though of course God is the oldest being in the universe, being completely ageless), but was a crown of glory and wisdom.

What God sees and what comes from Him can purify or destroy just like 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.

This description sounds like the angel that spoke to Daniel, but here it is obviously Christ. His feet were strong and steadfast, supporting His own interest, subduing His enemies, treading them to powder.

“Many waters” represents the voices of many people. God has made Himself heard through the use of many Christians proclaiming His Word.

16 And He had in His right hand seven stars: and out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and His countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

We are told at the end of this chapter that the seven stars are the pastors of the seven churches in Asia Minor. They are under His direction, protection, and influence.

“The Word of God is swift and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword…” Timothy 3:16. 

God’s words both wound and heal. They condemn the lost and cut away the sin in our lives.

His countenance was too bright and dazzling, because of His purity, for mortal eyes to behold.

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:”

John was overpowered by the greatness of Jesus, even though he had spent three and a half years walking by His side (or maybe because he had). Christ comforted John and picked him up. He told him not to be afraid; that He is the Creator and the Finisher.

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.

Jesus lets John know that He is the One John saw die and saw after His resurrection. He tells him He isn’t going to die again, but live forever and that He controls death and decay and punishment.

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.

A literalist would interpret this to mean Jesus walks around in the Great Throne between candles. However, the words “The Mystery” plainly tells us this is symbolic and the interpretation is given: candlesticks are really churches, stars are really “angels.” Jesus dwells among His people.

“Angel” means “minister” and can mean a human as well as a spirit being. In this case, Christ calls the pastors of the churches “angels.”

Christ gives John the command to write down the things he is fixing to see; the current state of the churches in Asia, and what is fixing to happen in His Kingdom.

*History is like a long mural laid out on a table in front of God. He can see the whole thing at once. We are just tiny pixels within that mural and can only see what is immediately around us.

Revelation 2- Letters to the Churches



1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith He that holdeth the seven stars in His right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

This message is sent from the One who holds those who minister in His protection and control, and who walks among His people, fellowshipping with them. This description of Christ is given to this church to remind them that He is in control and walks with them in order to try to wake them up.

John is recording a message for each of the churches in Asia. He is personally acquainted with them. He likely has visited them all at one time or another. These letters address their current state and are written to the “angel” of the church, or in other words, the “ministering spirit” or head pastor. He starts with Ephesus, a famous church planted by Paul. This is the church that the book of Ephesians is written to. It is believed that John lived here in Ephesus for a while, probably just before his banishment, and maybe afterwards also. Though Timothy was the pastor of this church at some point, it is not believed that he was at this time.

This church was destroyed sometime during the second century.

2 I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for My Name's sake hast labored, and hast not fainted.

God knows, even if no one else does, how much we work, how patient we are, how evil vexes us. These saints had worked hard and despised evil. They had tested some who had presented themselves as ministers and discovered they were not telling the truth about God.

4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

New converts are anxious to find out more about Jesus. They love Him with a passionate love and are heartily grateful for His mercy. These Christians had lost this passion.

5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

“Go back and remember how you were before I saved you. Turn around (repent) and start all over.” Christ told them to find that zeal they had lost or else He would take their church away.

6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

There are two different ideas of who the Nicolaitans were. 

One says the Nicolas who is mentioned in Acts as being appointed a deacon was accused of extreme jealousy because of the beauty of his wife. He is reported to have offered to divorce her and allow her to marry someone else in order to prove he was not jealous. Later church members misinterpret what he said as offering for anyone to have sex with his wife, and the teaching evolved that the prohibitions against ritual prostitution were Old Testament Laws and thus didn't apply to Christians. They began wife swapping and having orgies, claiming them as "Christian Love Feasts." 

The second, less popular view, is that the word "nicolatians" is from the Greek words for "rule over the laity." The condemnation in Revelation is a condemnation of priest-rule (leadership taking advantage) of the church, God preferring a more democratic form of church.

All those who call themselves Christians, are not necessarily so. If you go stand in your garage and say "Vroom vroom" it doesn't make you a truck. We have many today who are teaching horrid blasphemes like both of  these in the name of Jesus. We should hate their deeds just like the Ephesians hated the Nicolaitans.


7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the Tree Of Life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Everyone who overcomes Satan and the temptations of this life will be able to eat of the Tree of Life from the Garden of Eden. They will live forever.

8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

Smyrna is the only city of these still known by its original name. This church no longer exists, however. The entire area is now Muslim.

Polycarp pastored this church at one point.

Christ is the beginning and the end. He was crucified and yet lives. This picture of Him is used to reassure them that He is in control and does know what is going on; that they are in His hand and protection.

9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

God knows how hard they have worked and the persecution they are suffering. He knows they don’t have as much money as those around them (high city taxes due to an earthquake); that they are living in poverty. But He tells them they are rich in Him. Being rich in God is so much more rewarding and satisfying than being rich in worldly goods.

He knows they have had problems with those who are Jews on the outside (biologically) but not on the inside (they haven’t accepted Jesus as their savior). On the inside they belong to the devil. This would include those who were telling Christians they had to keep The Law. This teaching diminishes what Christ did and puts His people right back into the bondage Jesus released them from with His Crucifixion.

"Satan’s church" is any church that focuses more on man’s doctrine than on salvation through Christ. It achieves his purpose of getting our eyes off God and onto anything else. Keeping The Law, saving the environment, righting social justices; these things are the works of man and are blasphemy when they become the focus of the church of Christ.

10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

He tells them not to be afraid; that they are going to suffer great trials. The fact is that we all suffer persecution when we are in God’s will. Here in America, it has been very mild so far. There are today, however, more people being thrown in prison and killed for being Christians all over the world than ever before in history.

God tells them that some- not all- will be thrown into prison for His name. He also comforts them with the knowledge that this tribulation will only be for ten days, a very short time. He says if they hold onto Him and don’t stumble during this, they will be richly rewarded in heaven.

This is one of only two of the churches that He had nothing bad to say about.

11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

The "second death" is the eternal death called Hell- being in the death-throws for all of eternity. Those that stay true to God won’t have to go through this, but will have Eternal Life instead.

12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith He which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

This may have been a city erected on the ruins of old Troy, but we don’t know for sure.

Christ is represented as the one with a sharp sword to remind this church that He will judge. The sword is the word of God which is the standard we will all be judged by. It is sharp enough to deal with the hardest heart and two edged in order to destroy the sinner while cutting the bonds of the saved.

13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast My name, and hast not denied My faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

Again, Christ is aware of all they have been through.

Many believe the governor of this city was especially wicked and a harsh persecutor of the church, especially since it was the center of emperor-worship, as well as sun-worship in Asia Minor. They held fast to God even when one of their own was martyred.

Antipas was the pastor of the church in Pergamos, and was roasted to death on the altar of Zeus for casting out demons to the point of harming pagan worship in the city, and then refusing to offer sacrifices to the emperor.

14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

The doctrine that caused Israel to sin is introduced again; fornication and eating things sacrificed to idols. Some were teaching that God didn’t really mean it when He told us that sex should only be between a married man and woman, much like today when many Christians think premarital sex is OK. This only degrades the participants and the marital union opening the door to greater perversion (i.e. homosexuality, pedophilia, rape, orgies, etc.) It makes sex nothing but a cheap game instead of the wonderful communion that symbolizes our closeness to God. It displeased God that they had allowed these people to remain in the church. Sinners who saw these people being allowed to remain would assume that they were being approved of, making the church hypocrites and bringing blemishes on God Himself. Had they kicked them out, they would have stopped the spread of sin in the church and preserved her pure image, making her a better witness to the world.

15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

This lends to the idea that "Nicolaitans" means "rule over the laity" because the other interpretation of "Nicolaitan" is almost the same as the interpretation of the doctrine of Balaam. 

16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

Repent means turn around. 
“Go a different direction and quit doing that. If you don’t, I will fight against you with the Word.”

17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Those who would overcome this tendency to let sin live in their midst, God will give a white stone (to say he is innocent as opposed to a black stone that says he is guilty. This is how a jury voted in those days, casting the right colored stone for the juror’s opinion,) and a new name (they would be adopted into His family, taking His name and leaving their old name behind. The name of this church had been soiled because of the sinners in their midst. God promises to give them a new one that is pure).

18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath His eyes like unto a flame of fire, and His feet are like fine brass;

Thyatira is a city of the proconsular of Asia, bordering upon Mysia on the north and Lydia on the south; a town of trade, where Lydia, the seller of purple mentioned in Acts, lived.

Christ is pictured here as having eyes that burn like a fire, powerful and piercing; and feet like brass, solid strong and sure.

19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

This church had done a good job of caring for the poor and serving as Jesus told us to. They had strong faith and patience with others. They were growing and their faith and works were getting better and better. They hadn’t lost their first love.

20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

Their problem was that they had been TOO patient. They had someone in their midst who was calling herself a prophetess (putting herself above the ministry of the church) and teaching the people to sin. God does not condemn her because she is a woman prophet. Not at all! He condemns her for being a FALSE prophet, something men are also condemned for. Women prophets were actually common in the early church.

Jezebel in the Old Testament was the greatest killer of the prophets of God and promoter of Baal worship. This woman in Thyatira was evidently doing a great deal of damage to God’s church, encouraging them to engage in idolatry and adultery. The church should have kicked her out.

(Neither woman was likely ever called “Jezebel” since it is Hebrew for “Daughter of a dung Beetle.” The Old Testament Jezebel was likely actually named “Daughter of Baal” which sounds very similar, and the Hebrew Historians used the derogatory name in their writings to express their opinion of her. This “Jezebel” is being called that to identify what this woman is doing with what the Old Testament Jezebel did.)

21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

God had given her the opportunity to turn around and quit sinning, but she wouldn’t.

22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

God says those who sin with this woman will have great tribulation if they don’t repent. (Her sin may not have actually been sexual in nature. God was using the bed and “adultery with her” as a metaphor for disobeying Him, for engaging in Pagan worship).

23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am He which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

Her followers- spiritual children- will be destroyed; probably physically as well as spiritually, condemning them to hell. Everyone will know that God knows our very thoughts and will reward us justly.

24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.

Those who have not joined this woman, Christ won’t punish.

25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.


“Just hang on until I act.”

26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

“I will give great power to those that can hold out in the truth. I will make them rulers.”

27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

Possibly, the leaders of this church became mayors or equivalent rulers of the city, bringing true justice. God will often put his true followers into places of power to bring justice to the world.

28 And I will give him the morning star.

Jesus

29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. “Everyone listen up!”

Revelation 3- More Letters to Churches



1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

Sardis was an ancient city of Lydia on the banks of the mountain Tmolus, Probably the major city of Asia Minor. They are the first city in that part of the world converted by John’s preaching, one of the first to backslide, and one of the first to be destroyed. Most of the cities named here have new cities built on top of them. Sardis is still in ruins.

He doesn’t have anything good to say to start the letter to this church.

God is all knowing and all controlling. He knew these people had a reputation for being Christians, but had already backslidden; they were hypocrites.

2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

They had just a tiny spark left and it was in danger of going out. They were probably going about in perfect Christian behavior, giving to the poor, not breaking the Ten Commandments, and preaching correct doctrine. This was all irrelevant to God because their hearts were not right with Him. Though He cares deeply about our behavior, He cares more about our hearts. Theirs were full of pride and self-righteousness, putting their faith in their own behavior instead of the redeeming blood of Christ. We are all in danger of this if we don’t watch out.

3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

“Remember you are all sinners destined to hell without Me. Repent of your bad attitude. If you don’t I will destroy you.”

4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white: for they are worthy.

5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before his angels.

There were a few who were still saved. God knows those who are His, even if they are surrounded by hypocrites. He will reward them greatly even when they are in the minority.

6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

Philadelphia was on the borders of Mysia and Lydia, and had its name from that brotherly love for which it was known, (philia=love, delph=brother). The name comes from its founder, King Attallus of Pergamum (159BC), who had a great affection and admiration for his brother, not from the character of this church. It is still a town of considerable size, called Allahshehr, "the city of God."

The area is often struck by earthquakes, and so taxes have always been very high to repair the damage. Likely, the Philadelphian church was very poor.

There appears to have been a very large Jewish population in the city at this time.

God is holy and true and is complete control. There is no condemnation to this church. It is honestly trying to match this character of God.

This is the only church where Christ describes Himself with imagery not from the introduction.

8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My word, and hast not denied My name.

God had opened a door of opportunity for them that no human could take away. They are strong Christians living for God in every way possible.

9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan (non-believing Jews), which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

These Philadelphian Christians are Jews who are Jews on the inside through dedication to Christ, not those who have a certain genetic history (Romans 2:28). Since The Cross, those who claim to be something special because of their ancestry are doing Satan’s work of drawing attention away from Jesus.

Christ is promising here to make those in Philadelphia who hold this belief come to the true Christians and acknowledge that they are right. Everyone will know that God loves this church because of what He is fixing to do for them.

10 Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

God allows temptation to come to us to test us and to try us, make us stronger in the using of our spiritual muscles. He promises this church that when He tempts others, He won’t tempt them. It really sounds like they had already proved their faith and developed their strength and so didn’t need the temptations and trials others needed.

If this was written in AD64, as I tend to believe, the temptation “that shall come upon all the world” is probably Nero’s persecution. This city held out against him.

“World” can mean the entire planet, but more often refers to the Roman Empire (the world of the disciples) in the New Testament.

11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

“I will come take care of you very soon so just hold on. Don’t lose what you have in Me.” Christ is fixing to open that door of opportunity and those that stay in His will, will be greatly blessed.

12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from My God: and I will write upon him My new name.

13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

A pillar is the main support in a large building. The building would collapse without it. God was going to make those of this church who held fast, pillars in His Church.

Pillars were decorative as well as functional often being dedicated to important people. These “pillars” would be decorated with the name of God and New Jerusalem. “Servant of God” would be written all over them by their actions and attitude.

(Interestingly, there are pillars from Christian churches built throughout history, some built only shortly after this was written, still standing in this earthquake riddled town. This is extremely rare, and doesn’t appear to have happened in this town to any other building of the time.)

The Old Jerusalem is where the sacrifices took place and where the temple was; the center of the Israelite religion.

The New Jerusalem is where our sacrifices take place and where the temple of God now is; in our hearts. In other words, we are the “New Jerusalem.” We have the name of God and this new method of worship written on us for the world to see. This is the change that occurs in each true believer when they come to God. This change comes down from God Himself.

14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

Laodicea was once a famous city near the river Lycus. It had a vast wall and three marble theaters and was built on seven hills. It was about twenty miles from Colosse and Paul mentions it in his letter to the Colossians. The city is now in complete ruins.

This is the last of the seven churches and is not commended for any good at all, the complete opposite of Philadelphia.

God presents Himself here as the One who is always true and faithful, the Creator and the first in the Church.

15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

Have you ever picked up a cup of a hot drink and found out it had cooled to room temperature? Or went to drink a nice cold soda only to discover all your ice has melted and it is temped? So disappointing and frustrating.

This is how God felt about the church in Ladodecia. If they had been downright cold for Him He could have sent them a revival. If they had been hot, they wouldn’t need one. But they were too warm to receive the Salvation Message and too cold to do any good for the Kingdom. They were walking the fence, not really backsliding nor really living for God.

The hardest people to win for God are those who think they are already saved.

16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Picture your reaction to the temped coke. Blahhhhh!

They probably called their lukewarm-ness “tolerance,” “charity,” “moderation,” and “not being legalistic.” They made God sick.

What they were really doing was tolerating sin in the church and community and not fighting against it in anyway.

17 Because thou sayest, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing;” and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

These people were rich in physical goods. They had no physical needs. They thought this meant that God was pleased with them.

Quite the opposite.

He viewed them as naked (not covered by the Word), poor (in their walk with Him), and blind (to their real condition). They would have been better off physically poor and naked and hungry but rich in God.

18 I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see.

They needed to seek God; to go back and find those things that please Him. God is the only source of riches worth having and is the healer of our souls.

19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

If God didn’t love this church, He wouldn’t have bothered warning them they were in danger. He is calling them to repent; to turn around from their being lukewarm; to become excited for His Word and His standards.

20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.

God is a gentleman and doesn’t barge His way into our lives. He stands at the door waiting to be let in. But He does knock.

And He can be quite persistent.

All we have to do is open the door and let Him in. Then we will have sweet fellowship.

21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.

Jesus was tempted in everything we are tempted in. He conquered sin, and with His help, we can too. When we do, we receive a place on the throne with Him.

22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.