Revelation Overview

We come to the final book of the Bible, Revelation. It is attributed to John which is commonly believed to be the same author as John’s gospel. Like the Johannine epistles this book does share similar language with John’s gospel and so it may have been written by the apostle John or by someone from the same tradition.

Some argue it was written in the late 60s CE while other argue for mid-90s CE.

Revelation 1-3 - The message to the seven churches

Revelation 4-5 - The throne of God

Revelation 6-16 - Three sets of seven divine judgements

• Revelation 6-8 - Seven seals
• Revelation 8-11 - Seven trumpets
• Revelation 12-14 - The signs/symbols
• Revelation 15-16 - Seven bowls

Revelation 17-19 - The fall of Babylon

Revelation 19-20 - The final battle

Revelation 21-22 - The new creation

Over the years there have been many ways of reading Revelation. For example, many assume that it is talking about a future period in the run up to the day of judgement. The problem with this is then it sort of means nothing to anyone who isn’t in that final period.

So then others started pointing out that actually, the author is just pointing out and writing about things in their lifetime. All the imagery is just references to thing going on at the time. The problem with that is it means nothing to anyone who lived after it was written.

So then more people decided to bring together the two. Yes, the author is talking about events that were happening at the time, but those events foreshadowed things that will happen at the end of time. But then what does this book mean to those who lives in 1,000s CE?

Instead, Revelation could be seen as a picture of what life on earth is like in every generation. There will always be wars and empires and evil. The point of Revelation is to pull back the curtain so you can see the spiritual battle that is happening behind the physical events each generation sees in their lifetime.

The question Revelation is trying to lay out is which side are you going to pick? The side of light and life? Or the side of darkness and death?

Revelation 1-3

The letter starts with an introduction. The letter is a revelation, quite literally an uncovering or revealing. It was given to John by God via an angel and it is to the seven churches that are in Asia.

John gives a blessing from the eternal God, from seven spirits, and from Jesus, the firstborn of the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. This Jesus cleansed believers of their sins through his blood and made them a kingdom and priests (see Exodus 19:6). John sees Jesus coming on the clouds, which is a reference to Daniel 7:13.

And so John starts the letter itself. He was on the island of Patmos, and a voice like a trumpet told him to start writing. He then sees seven golden lampstands, which is drawing on Zechariah 4:1-10. There it is one lampstand with seven lamps and these lamps are both God’s eyes and angels that roam around, to show God’s omniscience. He sees all things.

Then he sees one like a son of Man, which is a reference to Daniel 7:13. In Daniel 7, a human sits next God, ‘the ancient of days’ and is given authority over the earth. Here, John takes the language and imagery of both the human and God and merges them together into one being. This human and God are now the same.

John is afraid but this human/God being, Jesus, tells John to not be afraid but write what he sees. They explain that the lampstands he sees are seven churches, and the seven stars that they are holding are the seven angels that watch over those churches.

This then leads to seven messages, one for each church. They are writing to specific issues facing those churches, but also serve as models for all churches.

The first is Ephesus. The Ephesians are a faithful people. They endure in the face of persecution and are keen to test and rid themselves of any who are false. But their problem is that they have abandoned the love they had at first. Many have assumed that this means they have started to fall away from the faith, but we’ve just read how they have been faithful and endured.

It seems more likely that the love they used to have was love for those outside the church. They used to share the gospel with others, but in enduring against persecution they’ve become insular. If they do not repent and change, Jesus will remove from them their lampstand. If they refuse to be a light to a dark world, then they are rejecting their purpose as a church.

Then comes an encouragement. To everyone who perseveres in this, they will eat of the tree of life in paradise. That’s what we’re looking forward to. A new Eden.

Second is Smyrna. This church is made of believers who are poor, struggling, and persecuted. God wants to encourage them that they are rich in him. He sees their persecution and it will continue, but if they are faithful, then they will have eternal life.

The reference to the synagogue of Satan has led some to anti-Semitism assuming that Judaism is demonic. That’s not what is being said here. There are people who say they are Jews and are not. True Jews would not persecute Christians in this way, just because they believed something different.

Next up is Pergamum, who are described as “living where Satan’s throne is” (Revelation 2:13). Pergamum was a centre of imperial cult worship in Asia Minor. Because of this, they have faced much persecution and some of them have been killed. But despite the believers in Pergamum have held to the faith.

The problem with some of these believers is they’ve allowed themselves to be corrupted by wrong living, just like Balaam corrupted the Israelites (see Numbers 31:16). They need to repent, otherwise Jesus will wage war on them himself. But those who are faithful will receive hidden manna and a white stone.

White stones were a vote of innocence in court, as opposed to black stones that were guilty. Those that persevere will be declared innocent and given Jesus’ name.

Then there is Thyatira. In a similar way, they have let a false teacher corrupt their people with sexual practices and engaging in temple worship with food sacrifices. This false teacher is described as Jezebel which is a reference to Queen Jezebel, who encouraged promiscuity and worship of other gods (see 2 Kings 9:22).

She was given the opportunity to repent and has not so she will be disciplined, along with those who indulge her. Those who have been faithful are to keep on what they are doing. They are doing well. Those who persevere will rule with Jesus.

Fifth is Sardis. They claim to follow Jesus, but they are dead in their faith. Their words declare him, but their actions are worthless. They need to wake up and be active again in the things they have been called to. Those who persevere will be purified and given eternal life.

Sixth is Philadelphia. Here, Jesus is described as the one who has ‘the key of David’ (Revelation 3:7). This is a reference to Isaiah 22:22, where Eliakim is given authority over the throne. Now Jesus is the one with the authority, and drawing back on Revelation 1:18, we see that this authority is over death itself.

Jesus has given the church in Philadelphia unfiltered access to himself. He will cause their enemies to bow before them. He will protect them from persecution, all because of their faithfulness. For those who persevere, they will receive the name of God. To carry the name of God is to carry his authority (see Exodus 23:20-21, Numbers 6:27).

Finally, we have Laodicea. They have become lukewarm, content with and confident in their own wealth. They do not realise their desperate need for Jesus, though they’ve not rejected him either.

Jesus warns them that they are spiritually poor, blind, and naked. All they need to do is come to him and he will give them spiritual wealth, sight, and clothing. They don’t need to do anything other than accept what he’s there to offer. He’s standing at the door. All they need to do is knock at it. Those who persevere will sit in authority with Jesus on his throne.

Each of these churches is facing different things. Some are being persecuted, some have become sluggish or reserved, and others are actively engaging in immoral behaviour.

The point of these messages is to draw back the curtain and see the spiritual reality behind this. Those that are being persecuted are being persecuted by a spiritual enemy, but Jesus will sustain them. Those that have got sluggish or pulled back need to step up. This battle needs them and can’t afford to have them not at their best.

And those who are engaging in immoral behaviour are flirting with the enemy. If they are not careful, they will be swept up with that enemy when it is defeated.

The message to Christians today is that spiritual reality. Their actions matter. How they live matters even if they can’t see it in the natural. So wake up, step up, and get right.

Psalm 38

This psalm is attributed to king David, and falls into the category of lament psalm, specifically a psalm or repentance. Their psalmist’s sin has brought them grief, and they now bring this grief before God.

Psalm 38:1 - A prayer for mercy

Psalm 38:2-10 - My sin is like a sickness that keeps me from God

Psalm 38:11-14 - My relationship with those around me is broken

Psalm 38:15-20 - Now I wait for God and repent of my sin

Psalm 38:21-22 - A prayer for mercy

The psalm opens with a request for mercy from God. For the psalmist, it feels like God is punishing them. The weight of their sin has become too much to bear.

The psalmist describes their sin like a sickness. This could easily be interpreted that God sends sickness to those who sin, but that would be a dangerous way to view God. 

Instead, this psalmist is merely using sickness as a metaphor for their sin. It has spread through their body, corrupted everything, and made them feel awful.

The psalmist shares how their sin brings them to grief each day. Their desire is for God, and yet he seems so far away right now.

In a similar way, the sin has caused brokenness in the psalmist’s relationships. Those who were once close to them, their friends and family, now avoid them. There are also unsavoury characters that seek them harm and maybe resent the psalmist’s attempt to get right with God.

The psalmist describes themself as like a deaf and mute man. In response to the abuse they get, all they can do is try to ignore them. They can’t defend themself.

But through all this, the psalmist now waits upon God. They are willing to repent of their sin and give themselves over to God’s hand. They would much rather fall into God’s hands than into the hands of their enemies, who seek evil even though the psalmist is seeking good.

And so the psalm ends how it began, with a request for mercy. In this psalm, we see how devastating sin can be to our lives, and the need to confess it before God and repent of our wrong.