Highlighted Text:  Revelation 1:4-8

Ancient Lens: What can we learn from the historical context?

In the understanding of, and preaching on, any section of the Revelation of John, it is critical to know that the author is writing to real people, in real cities, in a real region of the ancient world, during a specific period of time.  This is about history in the making, past, present and future.  With about 2000 years having elapsed since it was first written it easy to understand the confusion, questions, and controversies which have arisen over this remarkable document.

Obviously, this is a letter sent from one individual to several first century churches in western Asia Minor, but also meant to be shared throughout all churches.  It is a pastoral letter, sent by a well-respected leader in the early church, to bring comfort and encouragement to congregations beginning to experience broad and unrelenting persecution by the Roman rulers.

Probably composed in the late first century, (c 95 AD), it is a response to the growing cult of emperor worship which demanded full allegiance to the Emperor Domitian. 

It is a letter with a prologue (v. 1-3), which indicates this is much more that a casual disclosures, prophecies, testimonies, unveilings.  All of which is generally unknown to us today.  Hence, the confusion and controversies.  But our passage today begins to clear the air by being specific in it’s author, it’s greeting, and it’s destination.  V. 4 John wrote the letter, which he had received from an angel sent by God, regarding the testimony of Jesus Christ.  (The question of which John, whether the apostle or the elder is left for another discussion.). V. 4 The greeting is the usual salutation found in the New Testament, “Grace and peace to you from God”. 

The destination is the seven churches of Asia Minor (currently, southwest Turkey), enumerated in verse 11. N. T. Wright says, “Revelation—the idea, and this book—are based on the ancient Jewish belief that God’s sphere of being and operation (heaven) and our sphere (earth) are not after all separated by a great gulf.” God’s existence and work permeates our existence and lives in the real world of time and space.

Ἰησοῦς Lens: How do we point to Jesus?

This letter, from start to finish, is about Jesus Christ.  It is his Revelation/Apocalypse concerning his place in Jewish history, his place in world history, his place at the end of history.  V. 4 The greeting comes first from God the Father, the great “I am” (or more accurately “I will be whom

I will be”, or, more colloquially, “you can’t put me in a box.”, Ex.3:14).  It then flows from Christ himself, who is identified in three unmistakable.  First, he is the “faithful witness”, or, as J. B. Phillips paraphrases Col. 1:15, “Jesus is the visible expression of the invisible God,” and Heb. 1:3 states “…he is the exact representation of his (God’s) being.”  Secondly, Christ is “the first born of the dead”; he suffered execution but is alive; he has conquered death.  Thirdly, he is “the ruler of the kings of the earth”; he is the supreme authority over all nations and peoples. 

At this point John cannot stop himself from extolling the excellence of Jesus Christ, so he bursts out with a doxology of praise, V. 6, drawing his readers into the presence of the redeemer, himself.  We, the Church, are a divine kingdom, and a cohort of priests, created to serve our Lord.  V.7 This same Jesus will return through the clouds, visible to everyone, but painful to all, because of our guilt, especially his executioners.  Finally, V. 8. The Lord God speaks, “The Alpha and the Omega”, the first and last reality, the ultimate creator and completion of all things.

Christ, himself lays claim to this same title in Rev. 22:13.  N. T. Wright captures the meaning of these verses when he states, “…far and away the most important {point is} everything that is to come flows from the central figure, Jesus himself, and ultimately from God the father…”

Modern Lens: How does this touch my heart, life, emotions, thoughts and relationships today?

I feel compelled to repeat myself, because, I think, there has been no time since Revelation was written that the Church has been so alienated from the world and its systems of governance, as it is today.  As I stated in my PW article on Luke 15:1-3, 11-32, the forth Sunday of Lent, “We live in a fractured world.  Not just divided in-two, but split into many different pieces, with very little hope of reconciliation between any of them. 

Around the world people are divided between right vs. left, capitalists vs. socialists, dictator vs. democracies, religious vs. secular-humanists, science vs. faith.”  In the West, the Church has been forced to the sidelines of influence and effectiveness.  Secularism has, is, and will continue to rail against, rule against, and revolt against the influence, principles, and ethics of Christianity. 

In the East, Middle East, and Southern Hemispheres, which are the fastest expanding areas of church growth,  the persecution, imprisonment, and killing of Christians is continuing at a rapid pace.  The reality, which the apostle Paul addressed in Eph. 6:12, “the forces of evil”, are clearly engaged in war against the Church.

The message of Revelation, as a whole, and specifically this introduction to the seven churches, which claims the absolute Lordship of Jesus over all history, must be preached with enthusiasm, conviction, and joy.  The seven churches in Asia Minor are about to hear from their Lord, that, despite their sins and weaknesses, he will enable them to overcome.  Our churches today need to hear and grasp and trust the same message.

Ideas and themes to be explored

• How does this “letter” differ from those of Paul or Peter?
• Explore the trifold identity of Jesus as “faithful witness”, “first born of the dead”, and ruler of the kings of the earth.”
• Expand on the reality of the church, all believers, being a “kingdom” and “priests”.
• Compare the identity of God found in Exodus 3:14 given to Moses, and that of Rev. 1:8. Are the circumstances comparable?

Contemporary angle to preaching

• In the light of much division, lack of influence, and increasing persecution, explore how the Church can best fulfill its role as God’s kingdom people, and as priests prepared to serve Him.

• Develop ways in which the Church can engage the powers-that-be to further healthy conversation and decision-making for the purposes of a strong, wise society.

Bud Thoreen was raised in Southern California and has a BA from Wheaton College and an Mdiv. from Fuller Seminary.  He spent nearly 10 years as an Area Director for Young Life.   Retired after 37 years as a remodeling contractor, he now works for FaithQuest Missions, engaging believers in what God is doing around the world.   He spent 40+ years as an elder, teacher, part-time preacher at Irvine Presbyterian Church. You can contact Bud at [email protected]