of jesus christ - house of intercessory prayer ministries · 2019-05-24 · 2. jesus is coming...

House of Intercessory Prayer Ministries www.hipm.org

of Jesus Christ

Outline The Author

Persecution of the church

The death of the Apostles

Uniqueness of the book

Certainties of the book

The purpose of studying the book

The island of Patmos

Chapter 1:1-6

Chapter 1:7-20

2 House of Intercessory Prayer Ministries

The Author • Peter, James and John belonged to the inner circle of disciples

• John & James the children of Zebedee and of Salome

• John was the disciple of John the Baptist

• Jesus called John & James “Boanerges”, sons of Thunder

• John stood at the foot of the cross and became the adopted son of Mary as Jesus said “Woman, behold your son! Behold your mother!”

• John left Jerusalem, went to Asia Minor to preach the Gospel and later settled in Ephesus taking care of Mary till her death

• Persecution started in Jerusalem in AD64 under Nero (c. 64-68)

• During this period Peter and Paul were martyred

• This persecution continued up to AD 324 by 10 different persecutors.


Persecution • The Persecution of Nero (64 AD), Domitian (90-96),Trajan (98-

117), Hadrian (117-138), Marcus Aurelius (161-181), Septimus Severus (202-211), Maximus the Thracian (235-251), Decius (249-251), Valerian (257-260), Diocletian / Galerius (303-311)

• AD 95, during the reign of Domitian, John was taken to Rome to stand trial for his faith.

• He put him in boiling oil, from which he miraculously escaped

• Domitian exiled John to Patmos

• When Domitian died in, John was released and allowed to return to Ephesus, where he became bishop

• John died in AD 99 or 100. He was the last of the apostles to die and the only one to have died a natural death**.


How the 13 Apostles died? James - the elder brother of John the Apostle, was beheaded in A.D. 44.

Matthew – served the Lord in Ethiopia where he was slain with an axe-like weapon

Mark – died in Alexandria , Egypt , after being dragged by horses through the streets

Luke – would have been hanged on and olive tree by the idolatrous priests of Greece

John –

Peter – was sought by Nero and was crucified with his head down and his feet up

Philip – who served in Upper Asia was scourged in Phrygia, thrown into prison and later crucified

Matthias - was stoned at Jerusalem and then beheaded.

Andrew – was crucified on an x-shaped cross in Greece

Paul – was really persecuted several times. He was scourged, stoned, and finally, Nero had him beheaded by a sword.

Jude – the brother of James, commonly called Thaddeus, was crucified at Edessa in A.D. 72.

Bartholomew - also known as Nathaniel, was a missionary to Asia was martyred for his preaching in Armenia where he was flayed to death by a whip.

Thomas - was stabbed with a spear in India during one of his missionary trips


Uniqueness of the Book • Different from other NT books

• Different from writings that people can understand

• This makes people to shy away from Or

• Misuse in propagating wild and fanciful theories

• The word "revelation" in the Greek is apokalupsis, which means "an uncovering" or "unveiling."

• It is therefore a book designed to uncover or unveil, not conceal.

• “apocalyptic literature" which was quite popular from 200 B.C. to 200 A.D.

• Use of highly symbolic or figurative language

• Other examples - the book of Ezekiel, Daniel, Mathew 24 6 House of Intercessory Prayer Ministries

Certainties of the Book 1. Life as we know it will come to an end and there is such a thing

as life after death.

2. Jesus is coming again. More than ¼ of the Bible consists of prophecy. In the Old Testament there are over 1,800 references to the return of Christ. Of the 260 chapters in the New Testament, there are more than 300 references to the Lord’s return—one out of every 30 verses. Twenty-three of the 27 New Testament books give prominence to this subject. For every prophecy in Scripture concerning Christ’s first coming, there are eight prophecies about Christ’s second coming.

3. God will judge all people. Unbelievers at the great white throne judgment (Revelation 20:11-15) and believers at the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10).

4. Believers will live forever. Unbelievers will suffer eternal separation from God.

5. Evil will be punished. Every wrong will be made right.

6. There will be a new heaven and a new earth. God will return the world to its original creation.


The Purpose of studying Revelation

• Revelation exalts Jesus Christ.

• Revelation reveals the power and wisdom of God

• Revelation manifests the plan and purposes of God.

• Revelation validates the accuracy of the Bible.

• Revelation promotes holiness.

• Revelation encourages evangelism.

• Revelation comforts believers.

• Revelation protects believers from Satan’s counterfeits.


The Island of Patmos

• The Romans used Patmos as a place for exiles,

• a small barren rocky island Greek island in the Aegean Sea 10 m long, 6m wide, 10m south east of Ephesus.

• One writer on the Book of Revelation explains the exile and he says, it is much like a death penalty, it is preceded by scourging marked by perpetual fetters, insufficient food, sleep on the bare ground in a dark prison, and work under the lashes of military overseers.


Chapter 1: 1 • Revelation of Jesus Christ

– It is the revelation of Jesus Christ, not that of John or of someone else

– Apokalypsis of Jesus Christ (uncovering, unveiling, a disclosure of

truth, instruction, a manifestation of , an appearance of)

• Given by God to Jesus to show His servants – To His bondservants, who is a bondservant?

• Things which must shortly take place – Greek En tachei means quickly, shortly, swiftly, speedily,

soon (not tomorrow but once the event starts, it will be rapid succession of events)

• He sent and signified it by His angel – Jesus presented it by His angel

• To His bond servant 13 House of Intercessory Prayer Ministries

Chapter 1: 2 • It is a pictorial book.

– This is a book that is written in pictures, images and symbols.

• John didn’t read the book in the sky, – He saw the images and pictures of the events that

are going to come.

• This is a book full of signs and symbols, pictures, numbers, and picture colors. – For example the objects such as lamp stand, stars,

sun and the moon, trumpet, dragon, serpent , blood, lamb, fire, flames, beast, throne, lightning, rainbow, sword, seal, bowl, bronze, etc.


Chapter 1: 3 • Blessed is he who reads, hears and obeys • Satan today will not allow us to read this book.

– He knows that there is blessing in studying this book. – He doesn't want us to know the destruction that is going to

come upon him and his army. – He doesn't want us to know that he is going to be bound

and cast into the bottomless pit for 1000 years – He doesn't want us to know that eternally he is going to be

cast into the lake of fire and brimstone. – So this old serpent, according to Revelation 20:2 will do

everything not to allow us to study this book of the Bible.

• We need to study this book with more prayer, more preparation, more concentration and with more vigor.


Chapter 1: 3 • It is a profitable book. 1. Profitable for personal application - to be read 2. Profitable for public assembling - to be heard

– 1 Timothy 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

3. Profitable for practical admonition or warning or rebuke – to be followed – if the book is saying something, better obey. – We repeatedly read “He who has an ear, let him hear what

the Spirit says to the churches“ Ch2:11, 29, 3:6, 13, 22, 13:9

4. Profitable for prophetic anticipation - Rev 22:10 And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.”


Chapter 1: 4 • Paul wrote 7 letters to 7 churches, Roam, Corinth,

Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, Colosse and Thessalonica

• John wrote one letter and send it to seven churches. All seven letters were sent to all seven churches.

• Seven is the prominent number – 7 days in a week, there are 7 colors in the rainbow, 7 notes in

the piano 8th note is the first note of next octave, 7 feasts of Jehovah , 7 sayings of the cross, 7 secrets in the kingdom parables , 7 is the number of completeness. 7 churches are the representative of all the churches.

• These 7 churches form a circle and Jesus stands in the midst of all (V1:13) and take note of what is happening in these seven churches.


Chapter 1: 4 • The message in this case was for the seven churches in

Asia. What was known as Asia then is today a small part of Turkey. All these 7 churches were located within a radius of 75 miles of each other.


Chapter 1: 4 - 6 The book is published by Trinity Publications Father-He was, He is and He who comes, (I am that I am, the everlasting God)

God the Holy spirit - 7 spirits which are before the throne (power and diversity of the Holy Spirit)

7 Characteristics or 7 fold Spirit of the Lord - Isaiah 11:2

The spirit of the Lord, the spirit of Wisdom, the spirit of understanding, the spirit of Counsel, the spirit of Might, the spirit of knowledge and the spirit of the fear of the Lord.

Jesus Christ –the faithful witness, the first born from the dead, the ruler over the kings of the earth.

The book is dedicated to Jesus Christ – who loved us, washed us, and made us kings and priest


Revelation Chapter 1:7-20


The Theme (V7) • The synopsis / summary / abstract / main theme of the

book

– The second coming of Jesus Christ, not the rapture

– The book of Revelation mostly deals with the events after the “rapture”

• Coming - parousia ordinary Greek word for coming,

– it is applied to His second coming, the entry that immediately changes the situation when the entrance is made.

– As soon the teacher enters into the room the room becomes silent.

– The teacher made a parousia and that changes the situation.

– When Christ comes He is coming with the clouds. His appearance is going to change everything.


The Theme (V7) • Every eye will see Him

– To gaze or stare with wide-open eyes at something absolutely horrifying the beholder producing hatred, fear or reverence

– There will be great grief at this event as those who pierced will see Him

–Not only among Jews who rejected Him, this world of agnostics, atheists, infidels and Christ-rejecters will weep as they see Him not as Savor, but as Judge

• Read John 1:11 & Zechariah 12:10-11


Almighty and Everlasting (V8) • The sovereign God rules the world. He is in charge.

• In the entire New Testament God is called “Almighty” only 10 times. Nine of those 10 references are in Revelation.

• God refers to Himself as the Alpha and the Omega, the Almighty and ever-existing God.

• He was there right at the beginning, when nothing existed. He will be there right at the end of time.

• There is nothing that can ever take place anywhere at any time that is going to take God by surprise.

• Our Father not only knows the end from the beginning. Being the Almighty God, He controls everything as well. Therefore we need have no fear whatever concerning the future.


Seven Glorious Truths (V8) Some of the greatest truths that we need to establish during these days, are those concerning our Lord and our relationship with Him:

1. The absolute trustworthiness of our Lord’s promises; 2. His triumph over man’s greatest enemy (death); 3. His total authority over everything in heaven and earth; 4. His everlasting and unchanging love for us; 5. His freeing us from sin’s power; 6. His Father now being our Father too; 7. His coming back to establish His kingdom on earth.

We need to be rooted and grounded in these truths if we are to remain steadfast and unmovable in the times that are going to come.


Bible was written under risk (V9) • The vision was seen by John while He was an exile in the Isle

of Patmos. • It is interesting to see How much of the Bible was written

under risk. – First five books of the Bible the Pentateuch was written by Moses in

the wilderness – David wrote many of his Psalms while he was running away from Saul – Isaiah lived in difficult days and died a martyr's death – Ezekiel wrote in exile – Jeremiah's life was a life of trial and persecution – Peter wrote 2 of his letters just before his martyrdom – Paul was in Antioch, Acts 14:22, strengthening the souls of the

disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”

– Paul lived to see that in his own life. Paul suffered much tribulation and gave his life for the Gospel.

– John who wrote the book of Revelation did not enjoy his life without persecution.


John in Patmos (V9) • Apostle John was exiled on a lonely island by Roman Empire

Domitian in retribution (punishment) for his vibrant testimony of Lord Jesus Christ.

• He was shut out from the world and shown the most extensive revelation of future events.

• He was the disciple whom Jesus loved, the fact that He was loved by Jesus doesn't spare him from going through troubles. – Somewhere between 81 A.D. and 96 AD, the Apostle John was banished

in Patmos by the emperor Domitian for preaching the Gospel at Ephesus. – The Gospel declares that Jesus is Lord and God, but Domitian required to

be called Dominus et Deus "Lord and God.” – Domitian had John thrown into a boiling oil before the Porta Latina at

Rome but John suffered no injury! – The only way that Domitian could get rid of him was exile him to Patmos. – It was here on this island that Apostle John wrote Revelation

(Apokalypsis.) At the Emperor Domitian's death in 97 AD John returned to Ephesus where he lived to a ripe old age.


Work of the Holy Spirit (V10) I was in the spirit-became in spirit, was spiritized, rapt in His power

– Limitation of time and space were set aside in the realm of spirit. – And he moves in two direction . – He moved upward into heaven to see things which he has never seen. – He moved forward in time to view the future he could never live.

Similar instances

– Rev 4:2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.

– Rev 17:3 So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness.

– Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain

– Ezekiel 8:3 and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven, and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem

– Acts 8:39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again


His voice (V10) Lord’s day – we may think Sunday, always referred as first day of the week, Acts 20:7 • Alternate school of though is that it was the day of the Lord. • I was in the spirit and moved forward to the day of the Lord. Loud voice as of a trumpet • Radio signal in the air – need to tune in to receive • We complain God doesn’t speak • We can sit in the church hearing all that the preacher says,

but not listening to the voice of the Spirit. • Someone next to us may receive from the Holy Spirit • It is a loud voice, we are so deaf that even we can’t hear the

blast of a trumpet 28 House of Intercessory Prayer Ministries

Seven Churches(V11) John was told by the Lord to see the vision, write it down and to send it to the sever churches. • 12 times in the book of Rev John was told to write it down.

• The 7 churches of Revelation or the 7 churches of the

Apocalypse are the 7 churches of the Roman province of Asia.

• They were the 7 major earlier Christian centers

• All these 7 sites are in modern day Turkey


Seven Glorious Truths (V8)


Ancient Name Modern Name

Ephesus Ephesus or Efes (Selcuk) is a major tourist destination and main stop for cruise lines due to its extensive archaeological ruins.

Smyrna

Izmir is the 3rd largest city in Turkey, with 2.5 million people. It is known as the " Pearl of the Aegean" and is one of Turkey's most Westernized cities.

Pergamum Bergama is a small modern village overlooked by many tourists.

Thyatira Akhisar The ruins of ancient Thyatira are in a fenced-off area in the center of modern Akhisar.

Sardis Sardis (Salihil) is about 50 miles east of Izmir, and is solely an archaeological site.

Philadelphia

Alasehir is a small town of about 40,000 people with narrow winding streets. Few ruins remain at the site of ancient Philadelphia.

Laodicea Nearby Denizli is an attractive market town with a population of about 200,000. Laodicea is solely an archaeological site.

Seven lamp stands (V12) • 7 Golden lamp stands – 7 Churches (V20)

• Lamp stands represent light for the night

• Jesus said, John9:3-4 I must work the works of Him who sent

Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.

• Today churches are the light of the world


Vision of the Son of Man(V13-17) The vision of John was not about the carpenter's son walked on the shores of Galilee filled with compassion and love, but about the Judge who is going to take vengeance against those who rejected Him.

Vision of the Glorified risen son of man.

In the Bible, there are others who had seen the glorified God.

• Moses saw came down from the mountain with a shining face,

• Job saw Him and repented himself in dust and ashes ,

• Isaiah saw Him and cried out I am unclean,

• Saul saw Him and fell down and claimed Him as savior, now

• John saw Him and fell down as if he was dead (V17).


Vision of the Son of Man(V13-17)

We see two things about the son of man. The Position of Jesus and the Portrait of Jesus

• Position - In the midst of the seven lamp stands stood the Son of Man

• Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

• Centrality of churches and in the midst of His church there seen the son of man.


Vision of the Son of Man(V13-17)

The portrait of Jesus (V13)

Garment down to the feet, long flowing robe.

• Isaiah 6:1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.

• This is the majestic picture of our Lord.

Girded about the chest with a golden band

• Signifies his righteousness. He is a righteous judge.


Vision of the Son of Man(V13-17) The portrait of Jesus (V14)

Head & Hair - white wool as white as snow

• Speaks about His eternity , His duration, Holiness and wisdom of a judge

• Daniel 7:9 I watched till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, Its wheels a burning fire;



His eyes like a flame of fire - John would have closely observed the eyes of Jesus when He was in the world, they were filled with tears of compassion, but now, His eyes are filled with fire.

• His eyes penetrate through the soul and His X-ray vision sees everything we do in our life with His fiery eyes.

• Hebrews 4:13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

• Psalm 11:4 The LORD is in His holy temple, The LORD’s throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.



His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace

• Brass in the Bible always speaks of His judgment.

• Altar in the Jewish tabernacle was made of brass

• Feet of brass speak of the time when Christ shall put all of His enemies and every evil power under His feet

These are the feet that carried the one who preached the Gospel, These are the same feet that carried the cruel cross and climbed on the mount Golgotha

What a contrast it is!

His eyes of tear has become eyes of fire

The feet that walked in Galilee now appears as a feet of Judgment


Vision of the Son of Man(V13-17) The portrait of Jesus (V15) His Voice is like the sound of many waters • Jeremiah 25:30 The LORD will roar from on high, And utter His

voice from His holy habitation; He will roar mightily against His fold.

• Ezekiel 43:2 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east. His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory.

• Psalm 93:4 4 The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, Than the mighty waves of the sea.

• Psalm 29 – The voice of the LORD is over the waters; – The voice of the LORD is powerful; – The voice of the LORD is full of majesty. – The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars, – The voice of the LORD divides the flames of fire. – The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; – The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth,



Right hand - Lordship

• Ephesians 1:20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,

Seven starts - angels or the messengers of the churches, seven preachers to the churches -ministers of Gospel of the seven churches

• Daniel 12:3 Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.

Turn many to righteousness.



Sword of His mouth: from his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, are you able to imagine?

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

– Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

– Rev 2:16 (to the church of Pergamos ) Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

– Rev 19:15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations.

– Rev 19:21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse.



Face or countenance - • Matthew 17:2 and He was transfigured before them. His face

shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.

• Acts 26:13 at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me.

• 2 Peter 1:19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;

• Rev 22:16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”


Vision of the Son of Man(V13-17) The portrait of Jesus (V17) • John has seen him personally, as laid his head on

Jesus • John seen His resurrected body • John has never seen the glorified body • But when he saw Him now, Bible says, He fell at His

feet as dead. The hand of judgment and the hand of comfort touched John and said “Do not be afraid” (V17 & 18) • Three reasons not to be afraid or not to fear

– I am the eternal God – Seen all the generations – I am the resurrected Christ – Took victory over death – I have the keys of Hades and of death – Control over death


Three fold division of the Book (V19) Vision followed by a Mission

Lord gave John the three-fold division of the book:

1. Things which you have seen- What John has already seen (chapter 1) - the vision of a triumphant Lord Jesus

2. Things which are -The situation in John’s time (chapters 2 and 3) - referring to the condition of the seven churches in Asia Minor. The Lord’s messages to these seven churches are a warning and a challenge to all churches of all time and to their “messengers”.

3. Things which will take place - Events future to John’s time (chapters 4 to 22) - the phrase “after these things” that is used here, is used again in chapter 4:1, indicating that the third part of the book begins there.


Three fold division of the Book (V19)


Things which you have seen

Chapter: 1

Things which are

Chapter: 2 -3

Things which will take place after this

Chapter :

4 -22

Summary It is the revelation of Jesus Christ, not of John. Revelation of Jesus Christ is the central message of this book.

The centrality of this Book is the revelation of who is Jesus, who is Christ, • Who is the faithful witness, • The first begotten of the dead, • The price of the Kings of the earth, • The one who loved and washed us from our sins in his own blood, • The one who comes with the clouds, • The one who was pierced for us on the cross, • He is the alpha and Omega, the beginning and ending, the first

and the last, he is the Lord, • He is the almighty Elshadai, • He is the son of man, • He is He that liveth and was dead and is alive for evermore 45 House of Intercessory Prayer Ministries

of jesus christ - house of intercessory prayer ministries · 2019-05-24 · 2. jesus is coming...

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