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.
Before we dig into Chapter 1 further, there is a recurring number throughout the book of Revelation. The number seven starts to show up in verse 4. John writes an introduction to the seven churches of Asia.
“From John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia:
Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.”
There are seven letters written to seven churches. There are seven spirits before the throne of God, which represent the Holy Spirit. We studied these details in a prior post.
The seven churches that Jesus told John to write to are listed in verse 11 of Chapter 1.
“Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”
In a prior post, we studied the seven churches.
As we continue our study next week, John will describe Jesus walking among seven golden lampstands and holding seven stars in His hand. In verse 20 of Chapter 1, Jesus tells John what the seven lampstands represent, “The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”
In future chapters of Revelation, we will see the pain and suffering of the people on earth who refuse to believe that Jesus is the Son of God. This suffering is unleashed by seven seals on seven scrolls (Chapters 5 and 6). There are also seven horns and seven eyes representing the seven spirits of God (Revelation 5:6).
As the period of suffering begins, there are seven angels (Chapters 8, 15, 16, 17 and 21) that are given direction to blow seven trumpets (Chapter 8). The seven trumpets unleash a time on earth full of tremendous suffering unlike anything ever seen before that includes seven plagues (Chapters 15 and 21) and seven bowls of pain (Chapters 15, 16, 17 and 21). There is also a beast that is destroying life and inflicting unimaginable terror. The beast has seven heads representing seven hills and seven kings (Chapters 12, 13 and 17).
The number seven in the Bible means completion. As we will study next week, the seven letters, the seven lampstands, the seven angels of the churches and the seven churches represent every church from the past, present and future, so it is a complete set. The period of suffering that we will study in future chapters brings about the completion of an earth that has evil in it. For those who do not believe in Jesus, there will be no second chances. The time of suffering will be the completion of their opportunity to choose Jesus and have eternal life.
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.
Wounded Butterflies 