The Book Of Revelation

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< > Chapter Three Things past "The things which thou hast seen." Rev.1v9-20 PATMOS. The island of Patmos where John was imprisoned is off the South West coast of Asia Minor, it is to the West of Miletus and 50 miles South West of Ephesus. Patmos is 10 to 12 miles in length, 6 in breadth, and 28 in circumference; it has two rocky peaks which are joined by a narrow isthmus. The Romans banished criminals and political prisoners to hard labour in the mines on Patmos. The best authorities say that John was exiled on Patmos in the reign of Domitian, and received this glorious revelation during the latter part of Domitian's reign. Domitian was a cruel and ruthless opponent of the Church, he has been called “the second Nero,” because of his vicious persecutions against the Church. After the death of Domitian in A.D. 96, John was released and returned to Ephesus during the reign of Emperor Nerva. John suffered a great deal for his loyalty to Jesus, His hoary head of about 90 years of age, did not move the Romans to mercy, or exemption from working in the mines of Patmos, but God met with His aged servant and gave him the greatest prophetic revelation of all time. The hard labour prison camp on Patmos became holy ground with the presence of our beloved Lord. Exod.3v5. Josh.5v13-15. Leaders in the early Church knew what it was to suffer and die for the truth. John was a co-partner and fellow partaker (“sunkoinonos”), with multitudes of other Christians in the pressure, persecution, and tribulation (“thlipsei”), and in the kingdom (“basileiai”), and patient courageous endurance (“hupomonei”), of Jesus Christ. John Bunyan in Bedford prison, Moses in exile, Ezekiel and Daniel in captivity in Babylon, Paul in chains at Rome, and multitudes of others have proved the faithfulness of their faithful Lord. How often in circumstances like these God has given wonderful revelations of His plans and purposes, and on Patmos Jesus meets with His beloved servant John, and gives him a glorious revelation of Himself and His eternal plans and purposes. Circumstances can never separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom.8v31-39. Christ will come in power and blessing where there is one receptive, loving and longing soul. Though God's dear children may be denied earthly comforts and necessities, they will not be denied the consolations of Heaven. 2Tim.2v9. Acts.23v11. Those who endure persecution and tribulation for Christ's sake, will always enjoy His heavenly consolations. Dan.7v27. Jn.16v33. Acts.14v20-22. 1Cor.4v9-13. 1Thes.1v6. 2v14. 3v3,4. 2Thes.1v4,5. 3v5. Rom.2v7,8. 5v3,4. 8v17,25. 2Tim.2v12. Heb.10v36. 6v11,12,15. 12v22-24,28. Lk.12v32. 2Pet.1v11. Mt.24v13,14. James.5v7-11. 1v12. "I CAME TO BE IN THE SPIRIT ON THE LORD'S DAY." Rev.1v10. “On the Lords day,” “Lord's,” “kuriakos,” means “pertaining to the Lord,” (only here and in 1Cor.11v20., “the Lord's Supper, “kuriakon deipnon”), many think that this could be Sunday. See Acts.20v7. 1Cor.16v1,2. Jn.20v19,26. Rom.14v5. It certainly does not refer, as some have suggested, to the day of judgement on the day of the Lord, “hemera kuriou.” 2Pet.3v10. N.B. VISIONS WHILE IN THE SPIRIT. Many of God's children have experienced visions while, “In the spirit.” Rev.17v3. 21v10. Mt.22v43. Acts.10v10. 2Cor.12v2,4. Our spirit is renewed at the new birth. Jn.3v1-9. Eph.2v1-10. Titus.3v5. Our renewed spirit is the organ of communion with God, and the means whereby He communicates with us, and imparts to us the gifts of the Spirit. John was given a remarkable series of visions while he was, “In the Spirit.” See Jn.4v23,24. 1Cor.2v9-16. 14v15-18. A vision is an accepted New Testament experience. The noun; “horasis,” describes the act of seeing, it is used of visions in Acts.2v17. and Rev.9v17.; the noun “horama,” which means, that which is seen. The verb “horao,” to see, is used of visions in Mt.17v9. Acts.7v31. 9v10,12. 10v3,17,19. 11v5. 12v9. 16v9,10. and 18v9.. The noun “optasia,” which also describes the act of seeing, is from “optano,” to see, is used to speak of visions in Lk.1v22. 24v23. Acts.26v19. and 2Cor.12v1.. Supernatural sight is a reality. During some of the more important visions, God can cause Christians to become oblivious to their surroundings; this is what happened in Acts.10v10. 11v5. and 22v17.; where the Authorised Version states that both Peter and Paul experienced a “trance;” an “ekstasis.” “Ekstasis,” literally means, “a standing out,” and so it means a transportation out of a person's normal condition or state of mind. It is used of people being carried out of themselves with extreme astonishment in Mk.5v42. 16v8. Lk.5v26. and Acts.3v10.. God even spoke to the sorcerer Balaam in a trance. Numb.24v4,16. “Ekstasis,” speaks of an elevated consciousness during which God suspends ordinary perceptions and the awareness of natural surroundings, and the person is only conscious of the vision imparted by God. Paul said that on one occasion, when he was having visions of Heaven, he did not know if he was in or out of the body. 2Cor.12v1-4. This does not mean, of course, that the intellectual powers of Paul were suspended, they were enlightened and carried to the greatest heights of spiritual revelation. This is in direct contrast to the experience of mediums, who completely lose consciousness when they go into a trance. Raphael Gasson, in his book, “The Challenging Counterfeit;” tells us from his own pre-Christian experience as a medium, that he lost consciousness when he went into a trance, and had to be told what had taken place during a seance. The majority of Old Testament prophets received their revelations by vision. Is.1v1. Jer.1v11. Ezek.1v1. Dan.1v17. Amos.1v1. Zech.1v8. etc. The prophets were called “seers,” Hebrew “chozeh,” and “roeh,” because God taught them by visions. 1Sam.9v9,15-20. Vision was the highest form of revelation in both the Old Testament and New Testament; however, visions can vary a great deal in importance in both their method of communication and their content. The vision of John on the island of Patmos reached the very highest height of continuous revelation from God by “ekstasis” visions. JOHN'S VISION OF OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST. Rev.1v9-20. See Heb.6v20. 7v23 to 8v2. CHRIST REVEALED TO JOHN THE AWESOME MAJESTY AND GLORY OF HIS PERSON. The great Old Testament prophets were enabled to carry on against fierce opposition through the strength imparted by visions of God. John was about 90 and was suffering greatly under the severe prison regime and hard labour in the mines of Patmos. Jesus came to comfort, strengthen, and encourage His suffering friend John, through a wonderful vision of Himself. Christian in difficulty, look for the light that surprises, for the Lord who rises with healing in His wings. Jesus still had great need of His aged servant, He desired to give John one of the greatest prophetic revelations of all time, and few are spiritually able to receive revelations of this kind. Old age and confinement does not mean that useful service has finished; look to Jesus, He has great need of you, and so has His Church. Heb.6v10. The gentle welcoming love and gracious disposition of Jesus are exactly the same as when He was on earth, He is greatly moved by our needs, feelings, and infirmities, and all power is given to Him in Heaven and earth to aid us. 2Cor.5v16. Ezek.1v26-28. Dan.7v9-14. 10v5,6. Mt.17v2. 28v18. 2Pet.1v16-18. Phil.2v9-11. Is.9v6. The majesty and glory of Jesus was so great, that even the beloved apostle John was totally overwhelmed by the vision of his risen Lord, and he became greatly afraid. See Hab.3v1-19. Acts.22v9. Heb.12v21. Gen.17v3. 2Sam.6v9. Ez.1v28. This wonderful vision of our glorified Lord corrects any wrong earthly ideas that we may have about Him. He is the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. The majestic King of Heaven is our dearest and closest friend. Blessed be His name! Jesus is abundantly able to help us in our trials and temptations. The importance of Heb.2v17,18. and 4v15. We see from Heb.2v17., that Jesus was in all things (“kata panta”) made like us, in order to become our perfect, merciful, and faithful High Priest. God tells us in Heb.4v15. that Jesus was tempted in all points (“kata panta”) like us, yet without sin. “Tempted,” is “pepeirasmenon” the perfect passive participle of “peirazo” 3985, to test, to make trial of, to tempt, the perfect tense shows that temptation and trial was a permanent part of Christ’s experience. There is no calamity or trial of life which Jesus has not experienced, and where He has not gone before us. Jesus knows all our trials, temptations, and difficulties, and is totally sympathetic with us, and manifests perfect compassionate love towards us. Jesus does not just passively watch us, He actively comes to our aid in time of need. We read in Heb.2v18., “For in that He himself hath suffered being tempted (the aorist passive participle of “peirazo” 3985), He is able to succour them that are tempted (the present passive participle of “peirazo” 3985).” In Heb.2v18., “to succour,” is “boethesai,” the aorist active infinitive of “boetheo,” “to run at a cry or call for help.” Jesus is glorified and exalted, but He “runs to aid us when we cry for help. In Mt.15v25., the Syrophenician woman used “boethei,” the present active imperative of “boetheo,” to ask Jesus to run to her aid. In Heb.2v18., “hath suffered,” is “peponthen,” the perfect active indicative of “pascho” 3958, the perfect shows that suffering and temptation was a permanent part of the experience of Jesus. The soul anguish and suffering of Jesus was at times utterly devastating and extreme. We read in Heb.5v7., that Jesus wept “with strong crying and tears,” “meta krauges ischuras kai dakruon.” “With loud cries and tears,” RSV. “With vehement cries and tears,” NKJ. Christ’s mental and spiritual agony and anguish was so great, and so physically destructive, that it seems an angel had to strengthen Jesus, in order to preserve His life. In Lk.22v43,44., “agony” “agonia,” means, anguish, conflict; “strengthening” “enischuo,” only occurs here and Acts.9v19. God’s Word tells us in Heb.2v18., that Jesus is “absolutely able” (“dunamai”), to aid us in our temptations, and trials, not just because of His almighty power, but also because of His human experience of our trials. Jesus fully partook of our humanity, and personally experienced multitudes of really horrendous trials of life because of it. Jn.1v14. Rom.8v3. Phil.2v7. Heb.2v9. We can totally rely on the compassionate sympathising humanity of Jesus, as well as His omnipotent Deity. We read in Heb.2v17., “Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” “It behoved him,” is “opheilen,” the imperfect active of “opheilo,” 3784, to owe money; a debt to be paid, a duty, an obligation. Mt.18v28. Lk.17v10. Rom13v8. Before the foundation of the world Jesus dedicated Himself to be the Lamb of God to take away our sins, He paid this debt of love on the Cross at Calvary. In Heb.4v15,16., God promises to dispense mercy and grace in time of need from His throne of grace. “In time of need,” is “eis eukairon boetheian,” help given because of the heartfelt cry of the person in distress, for “boetheia” means to run at the cry, ( as in Heb.2v18.) we cry “for well timed (“eukairon,”) help,” or “for help in the nick of time.” Christ’s humanity was complete and real. John states, in 1John.4v3., “every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God.” “In the flesh,” “en sarki eleluthora,” is included by Hodges and Farstad, Aleph, the vast majority of Greek texts,” the Syrian Peshitta and Harklean, the Armenian, Theodoret etc., (a few manuscripts including B and A omit it). Those who deny our Lord’s humanity are “not of God.” Never forget that Jesus has suffered infinitely more than we can ever do, the worst of all our griefs and sorrows can never reach the awful soul destroying depths that He endured for us. “His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow." "hos erion leukon hos chion." “Erion,” wool, only occurs in Rev.1v14., and as scarlet wool in Heb.9v19.; and “chion,” snow, only here, and of the angel's clothes in Mt.28v3.. In Dan.7v9., the Ancient of Days is described as having garments “as white as snow,” and hair “like pure wool,” this declares far more than the honour, wisdom, and dignity that was ascribed to the wise experience of an hoary head in the Scriptures. Lev.19v32. Prov.16v31. It is speaking of a manifestation of the effulgent glory of the being of God. It is the shining forth of the uncreated light and glory that was manifested in the “holy Mount,” when Jesus was transfigured, and His face shone as the sun, and His garments became shining, exceeding white as the snow, as white as the light. 2Pet.1v16-18. We read in Mt.17v2., that our Lord's garments were “white as the light,” “leuka hos to phos;” and Mk.9v3. reads, “glistering, exceeding white,” “stilbonta leuka lian;” and Luke.9v29. reads, “white and dazzling,” “leukos exastrapton.” Jesus was, “crowned with glory and honour, for the sufferings of death.” God the Father let Jesus experience His former glory in Heaven, to strengthen Him to “taste death to the full for every man.” Heb.2v9. “Taste,” “geusetai,” the aorist mid. subj. of “geuomai,” means that Jesus did not have a sip, but experienced and drank to the full, the bitter cup of death and the darkness and isolation of confinement in the Abyss for our redemption. Mt12v12v40. Rom.10v7. Eph.4v7-11. Heb.5v7. “His eyes were as a flame of fire." "opthalmoi autou hos phlox puros." This description is again applied to Christ in Rev.2v18. and 19v12.. In Dan.7v9., the throne of God is said to be, “like the fiery flame;” and the eyes of the mighty angel in Dan.10v6., are described “as lamps of fire.” “Thy kind, but searching glance can scan, the very wounds that shame would hide.” Rev.2v23. “His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace." The word for “fine brass,” is “chalkolibanoi,” it only occurs here and in Rev.2v18., some think it speaks of the metal referred to as “amber,” “chashmal,” (Greek “elecktron”), in Ezekiel's vision of God in Ezek.1v4,27. 8v2., Strong. 2830. It was a bright metal compound of gold and silver, and possibly copper, the whole picture is one of burning and shining glory and purity. “A great voice, as of a trumpet, --- as the sound of many waters." Rev.1v10,15. The Lord's voice is majestic and mighty in its authority; but it can also manifest the indescribable beauty, concerned love, and giving goodness of His being; and speak with a voice of gentle encouraging stillness, as He did to Elijah at Horeb, which is equally as awesome as His voice of authority and command. Ps.29. Ez.43v2. 1v24. 1Thes.4v16. 1King.19v12. “Out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword." This is literally “a sword two-mouthed sharp,” “romphaia distomos oxeia.” The sword here is not the “machaira,” spoken of in Heb.4v12., it is the “romphaia,” the long and heavy broad sword which the Thracians and other nations were armed with, some say the word speaks of a Thracian javelin. The word only occurs here in Rev.1v16. 2v12,16. 6v8. 19v15,21. and in Lk.2v35., of the terrible inner pain that Mary felt when Jesus became “a sign which was spoken against,” and was “despised and rejected,” persecuted and crucified. The sword of our Lord's mouth is a fearsome weapon that will be manifested at His second coming with devastating effect on the wicked. Rev.19v15,21. Zech.14v12. The sword of the Lord makes demons fear and fly, and He has said that through His Name we can exercise His authority. JESUS REVEALED TO JOHN HIS CARE OF HIS CHURCHES. “He had in his right hand seven stars.” As we follow our Lord, we are safely kept in the hand of the Father and the Son, and no one can pluck us out of their hands. Jn.10v27-29. Jesus gives us the gift of eternal life. See also Jn.6v27,40,47.. “Give,” is the present active indicative of “didomi,” “to give.” Eternal life is a present reality, not just a future hope. There has been a great deal of controversy over whether the eternal security of Christians is conditional or unconditional. Is the will of God irresistible regarding salvation, or can a believer frustrate the will of God and become an apostate from the faith? The Scriptures teach that believing in Jesus does not take away our free will, and that it is possible for Christians to apostatise and lose their salvation. However, the Scriptures also emphasise the eternal security of those who cling to and follow their Lord. Jn.10v27-29. CHRIST HAS COME TO PURIFY HIS CHURCHES. Jesus has come to make us shine with a clear pure light. We can only derive true spiritual life from Jesus, this is why the churches are looked upon as a lamp, and not a candlestick, which has the energy to burn within itself; a lamp needs a constant supply of oil to keep it burning. We can only shine as we derive our life from our Lord. Ex.25v31-40. Zech.4v1-14. Mt.5v14,15. 25v1-13. Jn.1v16,17. 6v53-58,63. Rom.3v24. 5v2,17,20,21. 2Cor.12v9. Phil.2v15,16. Our Lord's eyes, which are like a flame of fire, see all, His ears hear every thought and word. Nor is he just passive, the sword of His mouth encourages and commends, rebukes and judges. Jesus has not come into His Church as an idle bystander, He has come as Lord as well as our best friend, and we all need to obey His instructions to us through the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures. Ps.2v11,12. God is not a sugar daddy, for even though His love, tenderness and gentleness are wonderful, His judgements upon serious sin can be very severe. Is.11v4. Acts.5v1-11. Rev.2v5,16,22,23. Heb.3v6. 4v12. 12v25-29. Rev.19v15. We need to tremble at the Word of our Lord. Is.66v1,2. This vision shows us that Jesus will never fail us in life's great trials. This vision of our glorious Lord was intended to bring us to a fitting state of mind to hear Christ's words to us, and a realisation of His continual care for His sheep. 1Pet.5v7. Jesus will never fail us, He is the Good Shepherd who died for His sheep, and here we see Him in His watchful visitation of His churches and His continual intercession for them. Jesus has not gone to Heaven to enjoy Himself, He has gone there to work hard on our behalf. It is His love for us that makes Him so desirous of having us pure. Christ's care and love for His people are wonderful. Eph.5v25-27. 3v16-21. In Jn.13v1., “eis telos” is better translated, “to the uttermost,” as in 1Thes.2v16.. This vision of Jesus, which fills the Church with joy and delight, causes the wicked to express bitter hatred, anger and blasphemy. Antichrist and his followers even try to destroy Jesus when He returns. Rev.16v9,11,21. 19v19. Ps.2v1-3. The wicked will even blaspheme God to His face at the last judgement, and gnash their teeth in bitter anger and hatred against Him. Mt.8v12. 13v42,50. 22v13. 24v51. 25v30. Lk.13v28. JESUS IS THE GREAT "FIRST AND LAST" One of the most striking titles of Jesus is the title “First and Last,” for in Is.41v4. 44v6-8. and 48v12., God claims that He alone can be called “the First and the Last,” yet this title is directly claimed by Christ in Rev.1v17. 2v8. and 22v12-16. The title “The First and The Last,” is used by God to emphasise that He is the great Creator who foreknows and declares the future; when Jesus claims this title, He declares to all that He is the Creator God who unveiled future events to John and His Church. Indeed, Christ declares that He is not only “the First and the Last,” but that He is “the Alpha and the Omega,” and “the Beginning and the Ending.” These exclusive titles of absolute deity are used by the Father in Rev.1v8. and 21v5,6., when He proclaims Himself as “the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” Since all these exclusive titles of Deity are applied to Christ; the irrefutable conclusion is that Jesus possesses absolute deity. Textual note. In Rev.1v11., the “I am the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last,” is omitted by Aleph, A, C, the Critical Texts, Hodges and Farstad, and is only in part of the Andreas Me texts. However, Rev.1v17. 2v8. and 22v12-16., say Jesus is “The First and the Last,” the conclusion cannot be denied, Jesus has Jehovah deity. JESUS OUR LORD HAS THE KEYS OF LIFE AND DEATH. We have already seen our Lord's deity revealed in His title, “the Firstborn from the dead.” Here our Lord reveals that the destinies of all of the dead are in His hands, and that He has the keys of death and Hades. Jesus stated that John's life and death were in His hands, not in the hands of Emperor Domitian. Jesus was shortly to bring Domitian's life to an end, and He was going to imprison this evil Emperor in Hades, and He was going to release John, and give him almost ten more years of valuable ministry to the Church. Jesus has the keys of death and Hades, our lives, deaths, and ministries are in His hands. N.B. IN REV.1V18., "HELL," SHOULD BE TRANSLATED "HADES," THE ABODE OF THE DEAD. “Hades” occurs 10 times in the New Testament Mt.11v23. 16v18. Lk.10v15. 16v23. Acts.2v27,31. Rev.1v18. 6v8. 20v13,14. The Hebrew equivalent of “Hades” is “Sheol,” which occurs 65 times in the Old Testament, it too has been wrongly translated in places as Hell, e.g. Ps.66v10., and in other places as “the grave,” e.g. Gen.37v35.. “Sheol” should be translated as “the place of the dead,” or simply as “Sheol” in every place where it occurs in the Old Testament. The word “Sheol” never means grave, “Qeber” is the Hebrew word that is used to describe the burying place, grave, or sepulchre, into which the dead are laid. Compare the use of the words in the following Scriptures, the grave and “sheol” are seen in vivid contrast. In each case the first Scripture uses “Qeber” and the second one “sheol.” Gen.50v5. with Gen.37v35., 1Kings.13v30,31. with Ps.30v3., Is.22v16. with 38v10., 2Chron.16v14. with Ps.49v15., Is.53v9. with Ps.16v10. Acts.2v17,31. “Sheol,” and “Hades,” both speak of the same place, the temporary abode of the dead, from which everyone who is in there, will come out for the Great White Throne Judgement, at the end of the Millennium. Rev.20v11-15. Jesus said that Hades has two parts between which there is a great impassable gulf, and before His death all went to one side or the other. Lk.16v26. The good side was not in God's presence, but in Abraham's bosom, and even though the Old Testament saints who were there had the comfort of their faith in God, none of them wanted to die and go to this place of darkness, and so they lived their lives in fear of death. Is.38v1-3. Heb.2v15. Job.10v20-22. 19v25-27. This outlook was completely changed by the death of Jesus, for He said that, unlike the Old Testament believer, those who believed in Him would not lose their spirit at death and go to Hades, but would go into the presence of God in Paradise in Heaven. Jn.8v35. 11v24-26. 2Cor.5v1,6-8. 12v2-4. Rev.2v7. 21v10 with 22v2. Phil.1v21,22. Heb.12v22-24. Ez.28v13. Many believe that the Old Testament saints were among “the multitude of captives,” that Jesus led out of Hades. Eph.4v8. 1Pet.3v18-20. 4v6. We should translate Lk.23v43., “Verily, to thee I say today; with me thou shalt be in Paradise.” The thief asked Jesus to remember him when He came into His kingdom, Jesus told him that he did not have to wait until the kingdom came for that answer, his faith had saved him THAT DAY, and he was going to enjoy Paradise with his Lord. Paradise is in Heaven. Rev.2v7. 2Cor.12v1-4. Jesus did not go to Paradise that day, He went to the sinners side of Hades for our redemption, and suffered its pains. Acts.2v23-32. 1Pet.2v14. 2Cor.5v21. Mt.12v40. Heb.5v7. Is.53v10. This victory over death and Hades was our Lord's greatest victory of faith and love. Blessed be His lovely Name! We must not confuse Hades with “Gehenna,” also known as “the lake of fire,” into which the wicked go after the Great White Throne Judgement. Mt.25v41,46. “Gehenna” occurs 12 times in the New Testament. Mt.5v22,29,30. 10v28. 18v9. 23v15,33. Mk.9v43,45,47. Lk.12v5. James.3v6. Fire is often associated with the judgement and doom of the wicked. Mt.7v19. 13v40,42,50. 18v8,9. 25v41. Mk.9v44,46,48. Lk.16v24. Jn.15v6. 2Thes.1v8. Heb.10v27. Jude.v7. Rev.14v10. 19v20. 20v10,14,15. 21v8. Characters and will are permanently set by the passage of time, and by our acceptance or rejection of the truth. A fixation of purpose towards righteousness or evil is inevitable for everyone. This is why Paul said, “work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” We must set our wills in the paths of righteousness, not in the ways of the wicked. Jer.13v23. Rom.2v1-11. 9v22-27. 2Tim.3v13-17. 2Pet.2v1-22. Rev.2v21. 9v20,21. 16v9,11,21. 21v8. 22v11. Jesus has the keys of Hades, and at present only the unsaved go to Hades to await judgement. The first people to be put in Gehenna are Antichrist and his followers, at our Lord's return. Satan is not in charge of Hades and Gehenna, they are God's prisons, which Satan and his demons are terrified of being cast into. See Appendix One. A brief study on the issues of death and eternal judgement. < >
The Disastrous Effects Of The Doctrine Of Original Sin \| By His Stripes We Are Healed \| The Book Of Revelation \| The Second Coming Of Christ \| The Baptism And Gifts Of The Holy Spirit \| The Comforter Is Come

Chapter Three

Things past

"The things which thou hast seen." Rev.1v9-20

PATMOS.
The island of Patmos where John was imprisoned is off the South West coast of Asia Minor, it is to the West of Miletus and 50 miles South West of Ephesus. Patmos is 10 to 12 miles in length, 6 in breadth, and 28 in circumference; it has two rocky peaks which are joined by a narrow isthmus. The Romans banished criminals and political prisoners to hard labour in the mines on Patmos. The best authorities say that John was exiled on Patmos in the reign of Domitian, and received this glorious revelation during the latter part of Domitian's reign. Domitian was a cruel and ruthless opponent of the Church, he has been called “the second Nero,” because of his vicious persecutions against the Church. After the death of Domitian in A.D. 96, John was released and returned to Ephesus during the reign of Emperor Nerva. John suffered a great deal for his loyalty to Jesus, His hoary head of about 90 years of age, did not move the Romans to mercy, or exemption from working in the mines of Patmos, but God met with His aged servant and gave him the greatest prophetic revelation of all time. The hard labour prison camp on Patmos became holy ground with the presence of our beloved Lord. Exod.3v5. Josh.5v13-15.

Leaders in the early Church knew what it was to suffer and die for the truth. John was a co-partner and fellow partaker (“sunkoinonos”), with multitudes of other Christians in the pressure, persecution, and tribulation (“thlipsei”), and in the kingdom (“basileiai”), and patient courageous endurance (“hupomonei”), of Jesus Christ. John Bunyan in Bedford prison, Moses in exile, Ezekiel and Daniel in captivity in Babylon, Paul in chains at Rome, and multitudes of others have proved the faithfulness of their faithful Lord. How often in circumstances like these God has given wonderful revelations of His plans and purposes, and on Patmos Jesus meets with His beloved servant John, and gives him a glorious revelation of Himself and His eternal plans and purposes. Circumstances can never separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom.8v31-39. Christ will come in power and blessing where there is one receptive, loving and longing soul. Though God's dear children may be denied earthly comforts and necessities, they will not be denied the consolations of Heaven. 2Tim.2v9. Acts.23v11. Those who endure persecution and tribulation for Christ's sake, will always enjoy His heavenly consolations. Dan.7v27. Jn.16v33. Acts.14v20-22. 1Cor.4v9-13. 1Thes.1v6. 2v14. 3v3,4. 2Thes.1v4,5. 3v5. Rom.2v7,8. 5v3,4. 8v17,25. 2Tim.2v12. Heb.10v36. 6v11,12,15. 12v22-24,28. Lk.12v32. 2Pet.1v11. Mt.24v13,14. James.5v7-11. 1v12.

"I CAME TO BE IN THE SPIRIT ON THE LORD'S DAY." Rev.1v10.
“On the Lords day,” “Lord's,” “kuriakos,” means “pertaining to the Lord,” (only here and in 1Cor.11v20., “the Lord's Supper, “kuriakon deipnon”), many think that this could be Sunday. See Acts.20v7. 1Cor.16v1,2. Jn.20v19,26. Rom.14v5. It certainly does not refer, as some have suggested, to the day of judgement on the day of the Lord, “hemera kuriou.” 2Pet.3v10.

N.B. VISIONS WHILE IN THE SPIRIT.
Many of God's children have experienced visions while, “In the spirit.” Rev.17v3. 21v10. Mt.22v43. Acts.10v10. 2Cor.12v2,4. Our spirit is renewed at the new birth. Jn.3v1-9. Eph.2v1-10. Titus.3v5. Our renewed spirit is the organ of communion with God, and the means whereby He communicates with us, and imparts to us the gifts of the Spirit. John was given a remarkable series of visions while he was, “In the Spirit.” See Jn.4v23,24. 1Cor.2v9-16. 14v15-18. A vision is an accepted New Testament experience. The noun; “horasis,” describes the act of seeing, it is used of visions in Acts.2v17. and Rev.9v17.; the noun “horama,” which means, that which is seen. The verb “horao,” to see, is used of visions in Mt.17v9. Acts.7v31. 9v10,12. 10v3,17,19. 11v5. 12v9. 16v9,10. and 18v9.. The noun “optasia,” which also describes the act of seeing, is from “optano,” to see, is used to speak of visions in Lk.1v22. 24v23. Acts.26v19. and 2Cor.12v1.. Supernatural sight is a reality.

During some of the more important visions, God can cause Christians to become oblivious to their surroundings; this is what happened in Acts.10v10. 11v5. and 22v17.; where the Authorised Version states that both Peter and Paul experienced a “trance;” an “ekstasis.” “Ekstasis,” literally means, “a standing out,” and so it means a transportation out of a person's normal condition or state of mind. It is used of people being carried out of themselves with extreme astonishment in Mk.5v42. 16v8. Lk.5v26. and Acts.3v10.. God even spoke to the sorcerer Balaam in a trance. Numb.24v4,16. “Ekstasis,” speaks of an elevated consciousness during which God suspends ordinary perceptions and the awareness of natural surroundings, and the person is only conscious of the vision imparted by God. Paul said that on one occasion, when he was having visions of Heaven, he did not know if he was in or out of the body. 2Cor.12v1-4. This does not mean, of course, that the intellectual powers of Paul were suspended, they were enlightened and carried to the greatest heights of spiritual revelation. This is in direct contrast to the experience of mediums, who completely lose consciousness when they go into a trance. Raphael Gasson, in his book, “The Challenging Counterfeit;” tells us from his own pre-Christian experience as a medium, that he lost consciousness when he went into a trance, and had to be told what had taken place during a seance.

The majority of Old Testament prophets received their revelations by vision. Is.1v1. Jer.1v11. Ezek.1v1. Dan.1v17. Amos.1v1. Zech.1v8. etc. The prophets were called “seers,” Hebrew “chozeh,” and “roeh,” because God taught them by visions. 1Sam.9v9,15-20. Vision was the highest form of revelation in both the Old Testament and New Testament; however, visions can vary a great deal in importance in both their method of communication and their content. The vision of John on the island of Patmos reached the very highest height of continuous revelation from God by “ekstasis” visions.

JOHN'S VISION OF OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST. Rev.1v9-20. See Heb.6v20. 7v23 to 8v2.

CHRIST REVEALED TO JOHN THE AWESOME MAJESTY AND GLORY OF HIS PERSON.
The great Old Testament prophets were enabled to carry on against fierce opposition through the strength imparted by visions of God. John was about 90 and was suffering greatly under the severe prison regime and hard labour in the mines of Patmos. Jesus came to comfort, strengthen, and encourage His suffering friend John, through a wonderful vision of Himself. Christian in difficulty, look for the light that surprises, for the Lord who rises with healing in His wings. Jesus still had great need of His aged servant, He desired to give John one of the greatest prophetic revelations of all time, and few are spiritually able to receive revelations of this kind. Old age and confinement does not mean that useful service has finished; look to Jesus, He has great need of you, and so has His Church. Heb.6v10. The gentle welcoming love and gracious disposition of Jesus are exactly the same as when He was on earth, He is greatly moved by our needs, feelings, and infirmities, and all power is given to Him in Heaven and earth to aid us. 2Cor.5v16. Ezek.1v26-28. Dan.7v9-14. 10v5,6. Mt.17v2. 28v18. 2Pet.1v16-18. Phil.2v9-11. Is.9v6. The majesty and glory of Jesus was so great, that even the beloved apostle John was totally overwhelmed by the vision of his risen Lord, and he became greatly afraid. See Hab.3v1-19. Acts.22v9. Heb.12v21. Gen.17v3. 2Sam.6v9. Ez.1v28. This wonderful vision of our glorified Lord corrects any wrong earthly ideas that we may have about Him. He is the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. The majestic King of Heaven is our dearest and closest friend. Blessed be His name!

Jesus is abundantly able to help us in our trials and temptations. The importance of Heb.2v17,18. and 4v15.
We see from Heb.2v17., that Jesus was in all things (“kata panta”) made like us, in order to become our perfect, merciful, and faithful High Priest. God tells us in Heb.4v15. that Jesus was tempted in all points (“kata panta”) like us, yet without sin. “Tempted,” is “pepeirasmenon” the perfect passive participle of “peirazo” 3985, to test, to make trial of, to tempt, the perfect tense shows that temptation and trial was a permanent part of Christ’s experience. There is no calamity or trial of life which Jesus has not experienced, and where He has not gone before us. Jesus knows all our trials, temptations, and difficulties, and is totally sympathetic with us, and manifests perfect compassionate love towards us. Jesus does not just passively watch us, He actively comes to our aid in time of need. We read in Heb.2v18., “For in that He himself hath suffered being tempted (the aorist passive participle of “peirazo” 3985), He is able to succour them that are tempted (the present passive participle of “peirazo” 3985).” In Heb.2v18., “to succour,” is “boethesai,” the aorist active infinitive of “boetheo,” “to run at a cry or call for help.” Jesus is glorified and exalted, but He “runs to aid us when we cry for help. In Mt.15v25., the Syrophenician woman used “boethei,” the present active imperative of “boetheo,” to ask Jesus to run to her aid.

In Heb.2v18., “hath suffered,” is “peponthen,” the perfect active indicative of “pascho” 3958, the perfect shows that suffering and temptation was a permanent part of the experience of Jesus. The soul anguish and suffering of Jesus was at times utterly devastating and extreme. We read in Heb.5v7., that Jesus wept “with strong crying and tears,” “meta krauges ischuras kai dakruon.” “With loud cries and tears,” RSV. “With vehement cries and tears,” NKJ. Christ’s mental and spiritual agony and anguish was so great, and so physically destructive, that it seems an angel had to strengthen Jesus, in order to preserve His life. In Lk.22v43,44., “agony” “agonia,” means, anguish, conflict; “strengthening” “enischuo,” only occurs here and Acts.9v19.

God’s Word tells us in Heb.2v18., that Jesus is “absolutely able” (“dunamai”), to aid us in our temptations, and trials, not just because of His almighty power, but also because of His human experience of our trials. Jesus fully partook of our humanity, and personally experienced multitudes of really horrendous trials of life because of it. Jn.1v14. Rom.8v3. Phil.2v7. Heb.2v9. We can totally rely on the compassionate sympathising humanity of Jesus, as well as His omnipotent Deity. We read in Heb.2v17., “Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” “It behoved him,” is “opheilen,” the imperfect active of “opheilo,” 3784, to owe money; a debt to be paid, a duty, an obligation. Mt.18v28. Lk.17v10. Rom13v8. Before the foundation of the world Jesus dedicated Himself to be the Lamb of God to take away our sins, He paid this debt of love on the Cross at Calvary. In Heb.4v15,16., God promises to dispense mercy and grace in time of need from His throne of grace. “In time of need,” is “eis eukairon boetheian,” help given because of the heartfelt cry of the person in distress, for “boetheia” means to run at the cry, ( as in Heb.2v18.) we cry “for well timed (“eukairon,”) help,” or “for help in the nick of time.”

Christ’s humanity was complete and real. John states, in 1John.4v3., “every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God.” “In the flesh,” “en sarki eleluthora,” is included by Hodges and Farstad, Aleph, the vast majority of Greek texts,” the Syrian Peshitta and Harklean, the Armenian, Theodoret etc., (a few manuscripts including B and A omit it). Those who deny our Lord’s humanity are “not of God.” Never forget that Jesus has suffered infinitely more than we can ever do, the worst of all our griefs and sorrows can never reach the awful soul destroying depths that He endured for us.

“His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow." "hos erion leukon hos chion."
“Erion,” wool, only occurs in Rev.1v14., and as scarlet wool in Heb.9v19.; and “chion,” snow, only here, and of the angel's clothes in Mt.28v3.. In Dan.7v9., the Ancient of Days is described as having garments “as white as snow,” and hair “like pure wool,” this declares far more than the honour, wisdom, and dignity that was ascribed to the wise experience of an hoary head in the Scriptures. Lev.19v32. Prov.16v31. It is speaking of a manifestation of the effulgent glory of the being of God. It is the shining forth of the uncreated light and glory that was manifested in the “holy Mount,” when Jesus was transfigured, and His face shone as the sun, and His garments became shining, exceeding white as the snow, as white as the light. 2Pet.1v16-18. We read in Mt.17v2., that our Lord's garments were “white as the light,” “leuka hos to phos;” and Mk.9v3. reads, “glistering, exceeding white,” “stilbonta leuka lian;” and Luke.9v29. reads, “white and dazzling,” “leukos exastrapton.” Jesus was, “crowned with glory and honour, for the sufferings of death.” God the Father let Jesus experience His former glory in Heaven, to strengthen Him to “taste death to the full for every man.” Heb.2v9. “Taste,” “geusetai,” the aorist mid. subj. of “geuomai,” means that Jesus did not have a sip, but experienced and drank to the full, the bitter cup of death and the darkness and isolation of confinement in the Abyss for our redemption. Mt12v12v40. Rom.10v7. Eph.4v7-11. Heb.5v7.

“His eyes were as a flame of fire." "opthalmoi autou hos phlox puros."
This description is again applied to Christ in Rev.2v18. and 19v12.. In Dan.7v9., the throne of God is said to be, “like the fiery flame;” and the eyes of the mighty angel in Dan.10v6., are described “as lamps of fire.” “Thy kind, but searching glance can scan, the very wounds that shame would hide.” Rev.2v23.

“His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace."
The word for “fine brass,” is “chalkolibanoi,” it only occurs here and in Rev.2v18., some think it speaks of the metal referred to as “amber,” “chashmal,” (Greek “elecktron”), in Ezekiel's vision of God in Ezek.1v4,27. 8v2., Strong. 2830. It was a bright metal compound of gold and silver, and possibly copper, the whole picture is one of burning and shining glory and purity.

“A great voice, as of a trumpet, --- as the sound of many waters." Rev.1v10,15.
The Lord's voice is majestic and mighty in its authority; but it can also manifest the indescribable beauty, concerned love, and giving goodness of His being; and speak with a voice of gentle encouraging stillness, as He did to Elijah at Horeb, which is equally as awesome as His voice of authority and command. Ps.29. Ez.43v2. 1v24. 1Thes.4v16. 1King.19v12.

“Out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword."
This is literally “a sword two-mouthed sharp,” “romphaia distomos oxeia.” The sword here is not the “machaira,” spoken of in Heb.4v12., it is the “romphaia,” the long and heavy broad sword which the Thracians and other nations were armed with, some say the word speaks of a Thracian javelin. The word only occurs here in Rev.1v16. 2v12,16. 6v8. 19v15,21. and in Lk.2v35., of the terrible inner pain that Mary felt when Jesus became “a sign which was spoken against,” and was “despised and rejected,” persecuted and crucified. The sword of our Lord's mouth is a fearsome weapon that will be manifested at His second coming with devastating effect on the wicked. Rev.19v15,21. Zech.14v12. The sword of the Lord makes demons fear and fly, and He has said that through His Name we can exercise His authority.

JESUS REVEALED TO JOHN HIS CARE OF HIS CHURCHES. “He had in his right hand seven stars.”
As we follow our Lord, we are safely kept in the hand of the Father and the Son, and no one can pluck us out of their hands. Jn.10v27-29. Jesus gives us the gift of eternal life. See also Jn.6v27,40,47.. “Give,” is the present active indicative of “didomi,” “to give.” Eternal life is a present reality, not just a future hope. There has been a great deal of controversy over whether the eternal security of Christians is conditional or unconditional. Is the will of God irresistible regarding salvation, or can a believer frustrate the will of God and become an apostate from the faith? The Scriptures teach that believing in Jesus does not take away our free will, and that it is possible for Christians to apostatise and lose their salvation. However, the Scriptures also emphasise the eternal security of those who cling to and follow their Lord. Jn.10v27-29.

CHRIST HAS COME TO PURIFY HIS CHURCHES.
Jesus has come to make us shine with a clear pure light.
We can only derive true spiritual life from Jesus, this is why the churches are looked upon as a lamp, and not a candlestick, which has the energy to burn within itself; a lamp needs a constant supply of oil to keep it burning. We can only shine as we derive our life from our Lord. Ex.25v31-40. Zech.4v1-14. Mt.5v14,15. 25v1-13. Jn.1v16,17. 6v53-58,63. Rom.3v24. 5v2,17,20,21. 2Cor.12v9. Phil.2v15,16. Our Lord's eyes, which are like a flame of fire, see all, His ears hear every thought and word. Nor is he just passive, the sword of His mouth encourages and commends, rebukes and judges. Jesus has not come into His Church as an idle bystander, He has come as Lord as well as our best friend, and we all need to obey His instructions to us through the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures. Ps.2v11,12. God is not a sugar daddy, for even though His love, tenderness and gentleness are wonderful, His judgements upon serious sin can be very severe. Is.11v4. Acts.5v1-11. Rev.2v5,16,22,23. Heb.3v6. 4v12. 12v25-29. Rev.19v15. We need to tremble at the Word of our Lord. Is.66v1,2.

This vision shows us that Jesus will never fail us in life's great trials.
This vision of our glorious Lord was intended to bring us to a fitting state of mind to hear Christ's words to us, and a realisation of His continual care for His sheep. 1Pet.5v7. Jesus will never fail us, He is the Good Shepherd who died for His sheep, and here we see Him in His watchful visitation of His churches and His continual intercession for them. Jesus has not gone to Heaven to enjoy Himself, He has gone there to work hard on our behalf. It is His love for us that makes Him so desirous of having us pure. Christ's care and love for His people are wonderful. Eph.5v25-27. 3v16-21. In Jn.13v1., “eis telos” is better translated, “to the uttermost,” as in 1Thes.2v16.. This vision of Jesus, which fills the Church with joy and delight, causes the wicked to express bitter hatred, anger and blasphemy. Antichrist and his followers even try to destroy Jesus when He returns. Rev.16v9,11,21. 19v19. Ps.2v1-3. The wicked will even blaspheme God to His face at the last judgement, and gnash their teeth in bitter anger and hatred against Him. Mt.8v12. 13v42,50. 22v13. 24v51. 25v30. Lk.13v28.

JESUS IS THE GREAT "FIRST AND LAST"
One of the most striking titles of Jesus is the title “First and Last,” for in Is.41v4. 44v6-8. and 48v12., God claims that He alone can be called “the First and the Last,” yet this title is directly claimed by Christ in Rev.1v17. 2v8. and 22v12-16. The title “The First and The Last,” is used by God to emphasise that He is the great Creator who foreknows and declares the future; when Jesus claims this title, He declares to all that He is the Creator God who unveiled future events to John and His Church. Indeed, Christ declares that He is not only “the First and the Last,” but that He is “the Alpha and the Omega,” and “the Beginning and the Ending.” These exclusive titles of absolute deity are used by the Father in Rev.1v8. and 21v5,6., when He proclaims Himself as “the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” Since all these exclusive titles of Deity are applied to Christ; the irrefutable conclusion is that Jesus possesses absolute deity.

Textual note. In Rev.1v11., the “I am the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last,” is omitted by Aleph, A, C, the Critical Texts, Hodges and Farstad, and is only in part of the Andreas Me texts. However, Rev.1v17. 2v8. and 22v12-16., say Jesus is “The First and the Last,” the conclusion cannot be denied, Jesus has Jehovah deity.

JESUS OUR LORD HAS THE KEYS OF LIFE AND DEATH.
We have already seen our Lord's deity revealed in His title, “the Firstborn from the dead.” Here our Lord reveals that the destinies of all of the dead are in His hands, and that He has the keys of death and Hades. Jesus stated that John's life and death were in His hands, not in the hands of Emperor Domitian. Jesus was shortly to bring Domitian's life to an end, and He was going to imprison this evil Emperor in Hades, and He was going to release John, and give him almost ten more years of valuable ministry to the Church. Jesus has the keys of death and Hades, our lives, deaths, and ministries are in His hands.

N.B. IN REV.1V18., "HELL," SHOULD BE TRANSLATED "HADES," THE ABODE OF THE DEAD.
“Hades” occurs 10 times in the New Testament Mt.11v23. 16v18. Lk.10v15. 16v23. Acts.2v27,31. Rev.1v18. 6v8. 20v13,14. The Hebrew equivalent of “Hades” is “Sheol,” which occurs 65 times in the Old Testament, it too has been wrongly translated in places as Hell, e.g. Ps.66v10., and in other places as “the grave,” e.g. Gen.37v35.. “Sheol” should be translated as “the place of the dead,” or simply as “Sheol” in every place where it occurs in the Old Testament. The word “Sheol” never means grave, “Qeber” is the Hebrew word that is used to describe the burying place, grave, or sepulchre, into which the dead are laid. Compare the use of the words in the following Scriptures, the grave and “sheol” are seen in vivid contrast. In each case the first Scripture uses “Qeber” and the second one “sheol.” Gen.50v5. with Gen.37v35., 1Kings.13v30,31. with Ps.30v3., Is.22v16. with 38v10., 2Chron.16v14. with Ps.49v15., Is.53v9. with Ps.16v10. Acts.2v17,31.

“Sheol,” and “Hades,” both speak of the same place, the temporary abode of the dead, from which everyone who is in there, will come out for the Great White Throne Judgement, at the end of the Millennium. Rev.20v11-15. Jesus said that Hades has two parts between which there is a great impassable gulf, and before His death all went to one side or the other. Lk.16v26. The good side was not in God's presence, but in Abraham's bosom, and even though the Old Testament saints who were there had the comfort of their faith in God, none of them wanted to die and go to this place of darkness, and so they lived their lives in fear of death. Is.38v1-3. Heb.2v15. Job.10v20-22. 19v25-27. This outlook was completely changed by the death of Jesus, for He said that, unlike the Old Testament believer, those who believed in Him would not lose their spirit at death and go to Hades, but would go into the presence of God in Paradise in Heaven. Jn.8v35. 11v24-26. 2Cor.5v1,6-8. 12v2-4. Rev.2v7. 21v10 with 22v2. Phil.1v21,22. Heb.12v22-24. Ez.28v13.

Many believe that the Old Testament saints were among “the multitude of captives,” that Jesus led out of Hades. Eph.4v8. 1Pet.3v18-20. 4v6. We should translate Lk.23v43., “Verily, to thee I say today; with me thou shalt be in Paradise.” The thief asked Jesus to remember him when He came into His kingdom, Jesus told him that he did not have to wait until the kingdom came for that answer, his faith had saved him THAT DAY, and he was going to enjoy Paradise with his Lord. Paradise is in Heaven. Rev.2v7. 2Cor.12v1-4. Jesus did not go to Paradise that day, He went to the sinners side of Hades for our redemption, and suffered its pains. Acts.2v23-32. 1Pet.2v14. 2Cor.5v21. Mt.12v40. Heb.5v7. Is.53v10. This victory over death and Hades was our Lord's greatest victory of faith and love. Blessed be His lovely Name!

We must not confuse Hades with “Gehenna,” also known as “the lake of fire,” into which the wicked go after the Great White Throne Judgement. Mt.25v41,46. “Gehenna” occurs 12 times in the New Testament. Mt.5v22,29,30. 10v28. 18v9. 23v15,33. Mk.9v43,45,47. Lk.12v5. James.3v6. Fire is often associated with the judgement and doom of the wicked. Mt.7v19. 13v40,42,50. 18v8,9. 25v41. Mk.9v44,46,48. Lk.16v24. Jn.15v6. 2Thes.1v8. Heb.10v27. Jude.v7. Rev.14v10. 19v20. 20v10,14,15. 21v8. Characters and will are permanently set by the passage of time, and by our acceptance or rejection of the truth. A fixation of purpose towards righteousness or evil is inevitable for everyone. This is why Paul said, “work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” We must set our wills in the paths of righteousness, not in the ways of the wicked. Jer.13v23. Rom.2v1-11. 9v22-27. 2Tim.3v13-17. 2Pet.2v1-22. Rev.2v21. 9v20,21. 16v9,11,21. 21v8. 22v11. Jesus has the keys of Hades, and at present only the unsaved go to Hades to await judgement. The first people to be put in Gehenna are Antichrist and his followers, at our Lord's return. Satan is not in charge of Hades and Gehenna, they are God's prisons, which Satan and his demons are terrified of being cast into. See Appendix One. A brief study on the issues of death and eternal judgement.

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