We have been working through a series on the book of Revelation. This book of the Bible can be difficult to understand for a variety of reasons, so we are taking it slow and studying it bit by bit together.

As we continue through the book of Revelation, in Chapter 1, verse 12, we see the risen Jesus through the eyes of John. Jesus shows John Who He is in heaven, John sees Him in all His glory. And He sure looks different!

In verse 12, John writes, “I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, ¹³ and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.”

John describes the risen Jesus as “someone like a son of man”. John had heard Jesus call Himself the Son of Man during His earthly ministry. This is a title that Jesus uses to refer to Himself documented throughout the New Testament.

The title Son of Man means that when Jesus walked the earth and was born of Mary, He was both fully human and fully God. How can this be? John 1:14 explains, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” Jesus existed in heaven with God before the Word (Jesus) became flesh. He chose to become a human. How do we know this? In John chapter 1, verse 1 we read, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning.” The Word is Jesus, He was with God in the beginning and He is God. Jesus chose to become a human to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins, once and for all.

Let’s pray. Father in heaven, thank You for Jesus. Thank You for the wisdom that we have in the Bible. Lord, help us to apply Your Word in our everyday lives. Lord, help us to study Revelation and give us understanding. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

We have been working through a series on the book of Revelation. This book of the Bible can be difficult to understand for a variety of reasons, so we are taking it slow and studying it bit by bit together.

Today, we are continuing with Revelation Chapter 1, verses 10 and 11. John writes, “On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”

These verses pose a number of questions. Who was speaking to John? Why does someone want John to document what he sees? Why are those churches specifically named?

Let’s start with what we know. John tells us that it was the Lord’s Day or the Sabbath. John was in the Spirit or in other words, he was worshipping God. He may have been praying or singing hymns or quietly listening for the Spirit. Even though John was exiled to the island of Patmos for his belief in Jesus, he was continuing to worship the Lord and keep the Sabbath holy. While we do not know exactly how John was worshipping God, we know that God showed up on that island in a big way. Do you expect God to show up when you worship Him?

Why did Jesus tell John to “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”

The church in Ephesus was the closest church to where John was at the time, exiled to the island of Patmos. The church in Ephesus was also John’s home church. Each of these churches are in order of a missionary journey, the way that one would walk if they were out sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. All seven churches are in Asia on the western side.

The Church, (with a capital C), is the global body of believers, and the church, (lower case c), is the local church. While there are churches all over the world, together they all make up the Church or the global body of believers. In the local church, there may be a Pastor or someone who leads that particular church, but Jesus knows every one of his churches, no matter how small or large they are. He knows every heart and mind in every church.

Jesus is Head of the global Church and the local church. He tells John to write the letters and dictates what needs to be in the letters. Within the seven letters, we will read that Jesus describes each church and their different levels of commitment and love for Jesus. Some things are good and some things are not good.

Every church today fits into one of the seven letters that Jesus tells John to write. Part of the lesson in the seven letters is to honestly reflect on your local church and see what kind of letter Jesus might write to your church. In the upcoming weeks, as we study the seven letters, we need to hear what Jesus is saying and ask ourselves the following question. Is your church passionately following Jesus or has your church grown lukewarm or complacent?

Let’s pray. Father in heaven, thank You for Jesus. Thank You for the wisdom that we have in the Bible. Lord, help us to apply Your Word in our everyday lives. Lord, help us to study Revelation and give us understanding. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

We have been working through a series on the book of Revelation. This book of the Bible can be difficult to understand for a variety of reasons, so we are taking it slow and studying it bit by bit together.

Today, we are continuing with Revelation Chapter 1, verse 9.

“I, 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.”

We know from our prior analysis that John is one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. He authored the books of John, 1 John, 2 John, and 3 John. He calls himself our brother as the book of Revelation was written by John for believers. Thus, when this book is read, it is from John the disciple that Jesus loved, our brother in Jesus.

John also calls himself a companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus. At that time in history, there was great persecution of those who proclaimed their belief in Jesus. Many followers of Jesus had been sawed in half, crucified, burned, or thrown in prison. The believers at this time were no strangers to suffering. But, John is also reminding the reader that the kingdom of God is ours in Jesus. While we suffer on earth and endure many trials, we will be with Jesus in heaven, His kingdom. Until that time when we are welcomed into heaven, we must have patient endurance. Jesus provides us love, grace, peace and He also provides us with patience and endurance, (Colossians 1:10-12). 

In this same verse, John also tells us where he is and why. He was exiled to the island of Patmos, a penal colony off the coast in proximity to Ephesus in the Aegean Sea. John was exiled to Patmos because at the time of this writing, about 95 A.D., Emperor Domitian was persecuting believers in Jesus. We know that John was released from Patmos and he lived to write the book of John, after the book of Revelation. Jesus gave John the strength to patiently endure trials, to include the exile. As we continue in Revelation, we will read that while John was exiled, he began to worship the Lord and the Lord showed up. Despite your situation, never stop worshipping the Lord.

Let’s pray. Father in heaven, thank You for Jesus. Thank You for the wisdom that we have in the Bible. Lord, help us to apply Your Word in our everyday lives. Lord, help us to study Revelation and give us understanding. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.