THE CHURCHES OF REVELATION BIBLE STUDY | THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST

 

Setting the Stage: Revelation Chapter 1

·   Revelation 1:1 — “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to shew unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John.”

Some Bibles label this book as “The Revelation of John,” but verse 1 makes it clear—this is the revelation of Jesus Christ. It is a message given by God to Jesus, then revealed through His angel to His servant John, to show His servants things which must shortly come to pass.

·   Revelation 1:2 — “Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.” 

In this verse, we see the faithfulness of the apostle John. He “bare record,” meaning he gave a true and accurate account of what he witnessed. He did not add to it or take away from it—he simply recorded the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ exactly as it was revealed to him.

This reminds us of the importance of faithfully handling God’s Word. John serves as an example of obedience and integrity, writing what he saw so that others could hear, understand, and be prepared.

The book of Revelation is not based on human opinion or imagination—it is the revealed Word of God, given through Jesus Christ. Because of this, it carries authority, truth, and purpose for every believer.

Just as John was faithful to record the message, we are called to be faithful to receive it, believe it, and live by it.

The Blessing of Hearing and Obeying God’s Word

·   Revelation 1:3 — “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”

In this verse, we are given a special promise of blessing. It is not just for those who read the Word of God, but also for those who hear it and, most importantly, keep it. This shows that true blessing comes through obedience, not just knowledge.

God’s Word was never meant to be simply read or studied—it is meant to be lived. When we take His Word into our hearts and apply it to our lives, we position ourselves to receive His blessing.

The phrase “for the time is at hand” reminds us of the urgency of this message. We are not to delay, ignore, or put off what God is speaking. His return is near, and we must be ready.

This verse calls us to be more than hearers—it calls us to be doers. 

Christ Revealed to His Church 

·   Revelation 1:4-6 — “John to the seven churches which are inn Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from Him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven spirits which are before His throne; and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. And hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever! Amen.”

Jesus is revealed in His fullness and authority. He is “the One who is, and which was, and which is to come”—eternal, unchanging, and sovereign over all time. He is called the faithful witness, meaning everything He speaks is true and trustworthy. He is the first begotten of the dead, declaring His victory over death through His resurrection, and He is the ruler of the kings of the earth, holding all authority and power.

Through Him, we receive grace and peace—grace for our salvation and peace for our lives. Not only that, but He has made us kings and priests unto God. This speaks of our new identity in Christ. We are no longer separated, but brought near, given access to God, and called to live in purpose and authority as His people.

All glory and dominion belong to Him forever. This passage reminds us of who Jesus is—and because of Him, it reminds us of who we are.

The Promise of His Return & Authority

·   Revelation 1:7-8 — “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all the kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen. I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, saith the Lord, which is, and which wa,s and which is to come, the Almighty.”

Jesus gives a powerful declaration of His return. He says, “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him.” This will not be a hidden event—His coming will be visible to all. Even those who rejected Him will see Him, and many will mourn because they did not receive Him when they had the chance.

This is a sobering reminder of the importance of being ready. There will come a day when every person will stand face to face with Jesus Christ.

In verse 8, Jesus declares His identity: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending… the Almighty.” He is the eternal God—there is none before Him and none after Him. He is sovereign over all time, all creation, and all things.

These verses remind us of two powerful truths: Jesus is coming again, and He is God Almighty. Because of this, we must live ready, watchful, and faithful, knowing that His return is certain. 

Jesus promises to return, and all will see Him. How sobering for those who have not read, heard, and kept His Word.

In the Spirit and in the Mist of Tribulation

·   Revelation 1:9-10 — “I, John, who also am your brother and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet.” 

John introduces himself not as an authority above others, but as a brother and companion in tribulation. John was on the isle of Patmos, a Greek island where, by most biblical historians, he is considered to be in exile as a result of anti-Christian persecution under the Roman emperor Domitian. He shares in the same struggles, suffering, and perseverance required in following Jesus Christ. This reminds us that the Christian life includes both trials and patience as we walk in His kingdom.

John was on the isle of Patmos because of his faithfulness to the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. His suffering was not in vain—it became the very place where God revealed powerful truth to him.

 

Being “in the Spirit” means that John was receiving a vision—something supernatural, beyond the natural realm.

 

When he says he was “in the Spirit on the Lord’s day,” this may not be referring to a specific day of the week, such as Sunday, but rather to the Day of the Lord—an end-time event. In this sense, John was taken in the Spirit into a vision of future events, seeing things that would unfold at the end of time.

So, in many respects, John was carried forward in the Spirit to witness what would happen in the last days, receiving revelation directly from God.

In this moment, he was taken beyond the natural and into a spiritual revelation. Then he heard a great voice behind him, like a trumpet—clear, powerful, and impossible to ignore.

Write and Send the Message

·   Revelation 1:11 — “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.”

Jesus clearly commands John to write down everything he sees and send it to the seven churches in Asia: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. This shows us that the message of Revelation was not meant to be hidden—it was meant to be recorded, shared, and understood by the church.

This reminds us that the entire book of Revelation was written for the church—not just the first three chapters, but the whole message for both the present and future church. These messages apply to believers in every generation.

Jesus again declares Himself as “the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last,” emphasizing His authority and eternal nature. This reminds us that the message John is about to receive comes directly from God Himself.

This verse sets the foundation for everything that follows. What John was about to write would reveal truth, correction, warning, and promise for the church of all ages. 

The Glorious Vision of the Son of Man

·   Revelation 1:12-16 — “And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. 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. 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.”

When John turned to see the voice that spoke to him, he saw seven golden candlesticks, and in the midst of them stood one like the Son of Man—Jesus Christ. This shows that Jesus is in the midst of His churches. He is present, aware, and actively involved with His people.

The description of Jesus is powerful and symbolic. His garment and golden girdle reflect authority and priesthood. His white hair represents purity, wisdom, and eternity. His eyes like a flame of fire show that He sees everything—nothing is hidden from Him. His feet like fine brass speak of judgment and strength. His voice like many waters reveals power and authority.

In His right hand were seven stars, showing His control and care over the churches. Out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, which represents the Word of God—living, powerful, and able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart Hebrews 4:12. It cuts both ways—it speaks to both the sinner and the believer.

His countenance shining like the sun reveals His glory and divine nature. This is a powerful, supernatural picture of the risen Christ—holy, majestic, and full of authority.

This vision reminds us that Jesus is not weak or distant—He is glorious, powerful, and sovereign. He stands in the midst of His church, seeing all, knowing all, and speaking truth with authority. 

The Risen Christ—Victory Over Death

·   Revelation 1:17-18 — “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: I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”

When John saw the glorified Christ, the vision was so overwhelming that he fell at His feet as though dead. This shows the power, holiness, and majesty of Jesus—far beyond anything human strength can withstand.

Yet, in that moment, Jesus responds with compassion. He lays His hand on John and says, “Fear not.” This reminds us that while Christ is powerful and holy, He is also personal and comforting to those who belong to Him.

Jesus then declares who He is: “I am the first and the last.” He is eternal—there is none before Him and none after Him. He says, “I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore.” This is the risen Savior—crucified, buried, and now alive forever.

Finally, He declares that He has the keys of hell and death. This means He has complete authority over death, the grave, and eternity itself. Death is no longer in control—Jesus is.

This passage reminds us that our Savior is alive, victorious, and sovereign. And because He lives, we have hope, authority, and victory in Him. 

The Command to Write and the Revealed Mystery

·   Revelation 1:19-20 — “Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.”

In these verses, Jesus gives John a clear command to write. He is to record three things: what he has already seen, what is currently taking place, and what will happen in the future. This shows that the book of Revelation includes past, present, and future events—all revealed by Christ.

Jesus then explains the mystery John had just witnessed. The seven stars in His right hand represent the *angels, or messengers, of the seven churches (*see personal note). The seven golden candlesticks represent the seven churches themselves.

* Personal Note: The word “angel” comes from the Greek word angelos, meaning “messenger.” In this context, angel most likely refers to the spiritual leader or messenger of each church—the one responsible for receiving Christ’s message and delivering it to the congregation. These leaders were held accountable for the condition of the church and were entrusted with guiding God’s people in truth. 

This reveals something powerful—Jesus holds His church in His hand, and He stands in the midst of it. He is not distant or removed; He is present, aware, and actively involved with His people. 

These verses set the foundation for the messages that follow. What Jesus is about to say to the seven churches comes directly from Him, and it carries both authority and purpose for every generation of believers. 

Read on to discover why Christ wanted to speak to these seven churches and what those messages mean for us today.