Draft Note Lesson 459 – The Revelation of Jesus

Reading Text: Revelation 1:1-20

SMV: "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also
which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him"
(Revelation 1:7).

JMV: "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and
keep those things which are written therein" (Revelation 1:3).

1. Objective:
At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to glimpse into the revelation of
Jesus to His church through John and appreciate its encouragement towards making
prompt preparations for Christ’s second coming..

2. Opener:
Teacher’s discretion

3. Keywords:
Banished, Apocalypse, Salutation, Candlesticks, Trumpet.

4. Background:
This lesson is an introduction into the book of Revelation which will be our focus
study for the coming weeks. John, the beloved Apostle, was the writer of Revelation,
which is thought to have been written about 96 AD. He was an old man when he was
banished to the Isle of Patmos for the word of God and testimony of Jesus Christ.
The other Apostles had all suffered martyrdom before this time and possibly John
was the only person left who had personally seen and heard Jesus speak while here
on earth.

Patmos is a small island in the Aegean Sea on the coast of Turkey. It is located
about sixty miles from the city of Ephesus. It is about ten miles long and six miles
wide, treeless, rocky and lonely. The Island was used as a place for banished
convicts.

Chapter one is an introduction of Jesus Christ and things that will happen in the end
time preceding Christ coming. Jesus made known to John the future things that had
been secret. There were many prophecies about the first coming of Jesus. They
were fulfilled at His birth, during His life, and at the time of His death and
resurrection.

Discussion Points/Life Application:

1. John the Beloved and The Announcement He Received
2. The Message to the Churches
3. The Appearance and Testimony of Jesus

5.1. Read Revelation 1:1-3,9-10. (a) What does Revelation mean in the context
of this book? (b) What lessons do we learn from John and from the special
announcements he received at Patmos?
(a) Revelation?
 Revelation means something revealed or made known. Apocalypse means
something revealed.
 It is a revelation which God gave unto Christ. God gave it to Christ, and Christ
assigned an angel to communicate it to the churches. John was the apostle
chosen for this service.
 This book, the Revelation, begins and ends with a prediction of the second
coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
 As the book of Genesis gives the creation story and the first promise of the
world’s Saviour, so the book of Revelation, at the close of the Bible, announces
the end of the present order and sets forth the glory and majesty of Christ in His
Second Coming.
 The theme of the Book is the grand triumph of the Kingdom of God.
 Jesus Christ is the central figure of revelation and the vision is to encourage and
prepare the church for the coming of Christ.
(b). Lessons from John and the announcements.
 John was a faithful eye witness of Christ.
 He was faithful to God amidst sufferings and the Lord rewarded him accordingly.
 Revelation 1:2 – He was a man of integrity and of immense pedigree and God
will rely on him to reveal sublime truths to the world. We need to have integrity to
be used of God.
 Persecutions by Rome became to John the door of sublimes communion with
Heaven.
 Many times the wrath of the wicked brings the saints into a closer relationship
with God - Psalm 76:10.
 Revelation 1:9 - He described himself as a brother and companion to these
churches in tribulations. Children of God should choose companion among the
saints.
 John honoured the Lord’s Day and received special revelations from God. He
was in the spirit on the Lord’s Day being spoken to by God the Son, attended to
by the blessed Holy Trinity.
 The Lord's Day is the day Christians meet to commemorate the Lord's
resurrection, a day hallowed forever by the most momentous event of all history.
 Christians keep the first day of the week, the day on which Christ arose, in
celebration of Redemption.
 We need to be in the spirit on Lord’s Day to be used of God.
 God gave to Jesus a revelation of the things shortly to come to pass shown to
John by an angel – II Thessalonians 1:7
 John bare record of all things that he saw
 We are exhorted to read and keep these words, for the time is at hand -
Revelation 1:3.
 Much of the Book of Revelation is written in symbols and types, yet some of the
most precious promises in the Bible are given in this Book.

5.2. Read Revelation 1:4-8,11. Discuss what John saw (message to the
churches) in this text?
 The salutation (Revelation 1:4-6)

doxology: ‐ "To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever." Grace and peace
 What a grand salutation! He passes from an affectionate greeting to a jubilant

from Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own Blood.
 He saw a representation of the church under the emblem of seven golden
candlesticks. The Seven churches are symbolic of the true church of God.
 The candlesticks are the light bearers. Jesus is the light
 The church holds the true Light, and each born again Christian lets his light shine
through his testimony and the life he lives.
 The lamp stands were of gold, a most precious metal. A congregation of saints is
the most precious thing in the world. It is the pure gold of the earth.
 The number seven is given many times in Revelations, seven is meant to convey
completeness.
 “One like the Son of man” in their midst - Christ walks among his churches… So
we should mind our speech, our attitude.
 An encouragement that Jesus is with the church …Lo I am with you always -
Matthew 28:20
 In Revelation 1:7, John speaks as if he saw that day: "Behold, he cometh, as
sure as if you beheld him with your eyes.
o He will come publicly. Every eye shall see him, the eye of his people,
the eye of his enemies, every eye, yours and mine.
o We should set ourselves to meditate frequently upon the second
coming of Christ, and keep it in the eye of our faith and expectation.
o To some it will be a glorious sight, others will cry for the rocks and the
mountains to hide them.
o Getting and keeping saved are the preconditions for meeting Jesus in
peace at His second coming

5.3. Read Revelation 1:11-20. Discuss the experience of John concerning the
appearance of the Son of man, Christ’s testimony about Himself, and it’s
relevance for Christians today?
 He saw a representation of the Lord Jesus Christ in the midst of the golden
candlesticks clothed with a garment down to the foot, a princely and priestly robe,
denoting righteousness and honour.
 John worshipped Him in truth and in spirit. To worship God in Spirit and in truth,
we should be saved, and seek to be sanctified and baptised with the Holy Ghost
and fire.
 His head and hairs were white like wool or snow. He was the Ancient of days –
Daniel 7:9; his hoary head was no sign of decay, but was indeed a crown of glory
- Proverbs 16:31
 His feet were like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace. It is upon these
feet of holiness that the Lord walks among the churches, and will tread down all
abominations
 His voice was as the sound of many waters. He can and will make himself heard
to those who are afar off as well as to those who are near. His voice will wake the
dead.
 Out of His mouth went a sharp, two edged sword. The Bible tells us: “The word of
God is quick, and powerful - Hebrews 4:12; Isaiah 34:5
 He had in his right hand seven stars, that is, the ministers of the seven churches,
who are under his direction, have all their light and influence from him, and are
secured and preserved by him.
 His countenance was as the sun shining, its strength too bright and dazzling for
mortal eyes to behold.
 The churches are lamps, the ministers are stars; but Christ is the sun.
 Jesus appearance awesome and the scene John saw depicted purity and
perfection.
 John was overwhelmed at the vision and fell at Christ’s feet as dead. Jesus laid
His right hand upon him and said, “Fear not.” What comforting words!
The Testimony of Jesus
 About His divine nature
o He is Alpha and Omega
o The first and the last, the beginning and the ending.
o Jesus is the Eternal One and lives forever - Revelation 11:17
 About his former sufferings:
o I was dead; the very same that his disciples saw upon the cross dying
for the sins of men.
 He is the resurrection and life:
o "I live, and am alive for evermore, have conquered death and opened
the grave, and am partaker of an endless life.’’
 About His office and authority:
o I have the keys of hell and of death, a sovereign dominion in and over
the invisible world, opening and none can shut, shutting so that none
can open, opening the gates of death when he pleases and the gates
of the eternal world, of happiness or misery, as the Judge of all, from
whose sentence there lies no appeal.

6.0. Wrap Up/Conclusion:

As we have learnt these messages that Jesus revealed to John, let us be thankful
that He loved us enough to warn us and to give us an opportunity to prepare for
Heaven. Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also
in me." He has gone to prepare a mansion for you and is coming back to claim you
for His own (John 14:1-3). Jesus promised that whoever will confess Him before men
here, He will claim before God the Father in Heaven (Matthew 10:32).