Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God11

The Book of

RevelationThe Book of

RevelationChapter 1

Session 5

10 January 2009

Chapter 1Session 5

10 January 2009

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God22

Review

• Chapter 1– The Introduction (vs. 1-3)– The Salutation and Occasion (vs. 4-10)– “The Revelation of Jesus Christ”

• Is it “Jesus being revealed”?– Is He the object?

• Is it “Jesus giving a revelation”?– Is He the source?

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God33

Review

• The Seven Spirits of • He has made us kings and priest (Chaps 4 & 5)

• Several allusions to Old Testament scriptures

• Five personal references of John• The Patmos exile

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God44

Review

• Does “the Lord’s Day” = Sunday?• Should Christians judge one another?

Ready…

Set…

GO!!

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God55

“…in the spirit…”

• Occurs Four Times:– The “Lord’s day”

(at Patmos) 1:10

– To the throne in heaven 4:2

– Carried away in the wilderness 17:3

– Carried to a mountain 21:10

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God66

“…in the spirit…”

• The Ruach HaKodesh is the means by which reveals truth to His prophets (1 Peter 1:20-21)

• That which is revealed is both unknown and unknowable by man apart from God (Galatians 1:12-2:2)

• This is always a sovereign action initiated by • Prophecy was often revealed in visionary form,

and often when the prophet was outside of the land of Israel (Ezekiel 8:3; 11:24; 37:1; Daniel 8:2; 2 Corinthians 12:2)

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God7

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.

Revelation 1:11

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God88

Outline of Chapter 1

1-3 Introduction4-11 Salutation & Occasion12-18 Vision of the Risen Christ19 Outline of the Book20 Prep for Chapters 2 & 3

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God99

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

And in the midst of the seven lampstands one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. Revelation 1:12,13

Revelation 1:20the seven churches

Across the chest with a

golden breastplate

This is a Description of the Risen Messiah!

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God10

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

And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. Revelation 1:14,15

And the Description Continues!

Simile

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God11

And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.

Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.

Numbers 21:6,7

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God12

And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.

And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

Numbers 21:8-9

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God13

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:14-15

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God14

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.John 3:14-16

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God15

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Genesis 3:15

shoof, to crush!

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God16

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. Revelation 1:16

The right side is the side of

favor

Perhaps representative of the old and the new law

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God17

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God18

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Ephesians 6:17

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God19

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. Revelation 1:16

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God20

Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. Matthew 16:28 – 17:2

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God21

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.

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:

Revelation 1:16,17

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God2222

Fear of

• The unavoidable response of those who saw His glory• We are too cavalier today toward the Maker of the

universe• We won’t even touch a light bulb without gloves, yet

treat Him as our on-call genie• We have no notion of His holiness, even daring to think

that worship is to be to our liking• A lack of fear of God is a characteristic of His enemies• “fear” is one of His titles• It is not a cowering fear, but a healthy, reverent fear

one would have of a human father of perfect discipline and unconditional love, if one existed

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God23

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.

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:

Revelation 1:16,17

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God24

Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.

Isaiah 41:4

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God25

Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. Isaiah 44:6

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God26

Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.

Isaiah 48:12

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God27

And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoe-dged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

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:

Revelation 1:16,17

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God28

And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

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:

Revelation 1:16,17

Revelation 1:11

Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book…

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God29

And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

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:

Revelation 1:16,17

Revelation 1:11

Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book…

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

Revelation 2:8

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God3030

And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

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:

Revelation 1:16,17

Revelation 1:11

Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book…

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

Revelation 2:8

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

Revelation 22:13

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God3131

And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

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:

Revelation 1:16,17

Revelation 1:11

Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book…

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

Revelation 2:8

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

Revelation 22:13

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God3232

“First and the Last”• Isaiah 41:4• Isaiah 44:6• Isaiah 48:12• Revelation 1:11• Revelation 1:17-18• Revelation 2:8• Revelation 22:13

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God3333

“First and the Last”1. Isaiah 41:42. Isaiah 44:63. Isaiah 48:124. Revelation 1:115. Revelation 1:17-186. Revelation 2:87. Revelation 22:13

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God3434

1. Isaiah 41:42. Isaiah 44:63. Isaiah 48:124. Revelation 1:115. Revelation 1:17-186. Revelation 2:87. Revelation 22:13

“First and the Last”

“was dead and am alive”

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God35

1) Hair & head Dan 7:9

2) Eyes: Heb 1:13; 4:13

Flame of fire 1 Cor 3:13; Mal 3:2

3) Feet: symbol of walkBrass judgment cf. Brazen serpent: Num 21

4) Voice: many waters Ez 1:24; 43:2

Dan 10:6

Vision in Chapter 1Seven Features

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God36

5) Right Hand: 7 stars, lampstands: in the midst;

yet in His hand6) Mouth: two-edged sword:

Heb 4:12; Eph 6:17; Isa 49:2

Judges unbeliever John 12:48

Earth smitten Isa 11:4

Antichrist consumed 2 Thess 2:8

7) Countenance: Sun Matt 17

Vision in Chapter 1Seven Features

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God3737

Outline of Chapter 1

1-3 Introduction4-11 Salutation & Occasion12-18 Vision of the Risen Christ19 Outline of the Book20 Prep for Chapters 2 & 3

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God3838

Write the things which thou hast seen,

and the things which are,

and the things which shall be hereafter; Revelation 1:19

The Vision of Christ, Chapter 1

Which follows after the Churches Chapters 4-22

The Seven Churches Chapters 2,3

The Divine OutlineRevelation 1:19

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God3939

Outline of Chapter 1

1-3 Introduction4-11 Salutation & Occasion12-18 Vision of the Risen Christ19 Outline of the Book20 Prep for Chapters 2 & 3

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God40

The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches:

And the seven lampstands which thou sawest are the seven churches. Revelation 1:20

The Keys are Self-contained

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God41

The Seven Churches“The Things which are”

• The seven churches bear the light, but are not the source of the light• The seven churches are intended to send us back to the seven-

branched candlestick, or candelabrum, the six arms of which with the central shaft make up the mystical seven, each with it own lamp

• Called the Menora today

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God42

The Seven Churches“The Things which are”

• Why these seven?He that hath an ear let him hear what the

Spirit says to the churches.”• Four Levels of Application:

4) Prophetic (outline/profile 2,000 years of church history)

3) Homiletic (Personal)2) Admonitory to all churches1) Local (they were real churches with real problems)

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God4343

Prophetic Profile?

Ephesus

Smyrna

Pergamos

Thyatira

Sardis

Philadelphia

Laodicea

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God4444

Seven Design ElementsIn Each of the Letters to Seven Churches

1. Name of the Church2. Title that Messiah uses of Himself3. Commendation4. Concern5. Exhortation6. Promise to the Overcomer7. Close: “He that hath an ear, let him hear

what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God4545

1. Name

2. Title

3. Commendation…

4. Concerns…

5. Exhortation…

Ephe

sus

Smyr

na

Perg

amos

Thya

tira

Sard

is

Phila

delp

hia

Laod

icea

“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches”

6. Promise to the Overcomer…

The Churches’ Report Cards:

7.

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God4646

• Read the entire Book• Examine carefully Chapters 2 & 3

– Outline Chapter 2:1-7 – Summarize the Ephesians’ Report Card

• Read Acts 20:16-38, and the Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians

For the Next Session

Mastering the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God4747

?