IN THE SPIRIT ON THE LORD'S DAY

Revelation 1

DIMENSION ONE: WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Answer these questions by reading Revelation 1

1. To whom did God give the revelation? (1:1a)

2. Why was the revelation given? (1:1a)

3. How did God make known this revelation given to Jesus Christ? (1:1b)

4. How is John described? (1:2)

5. What must those who are blessed do with John's account? (1:3)

6. Who is John's message for? (1:4a, 11)

7. Who is described as the one "who is, and who was, and who is to come"? (1:4b, 8)

8. Who else is the message from? (1:4b-5a)

9. How is Christ described? (1:5a)

10. How does John describe himself and his audience? (1:5b-6)

11. What does John say about Jesus Christ being seen again by the world? (1:7)

12. Who is speaking in 1:8?

13. How does John describe himself with reference to the members of the seven churches? (1:9)

14. Why was John on Patmos? (1:9)

15. As John describes his experience of being in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, what is he told to do? (1:11)

16. What are the first things John sees in his vision? (1:12-13)

17. What are the symbolic items of Christ's description? (1:13-16)

18. What is John's response to this dazzling vision of Christ? (1:17)

19. What two events in the life of Jesus are referred to by Christ in his first speech to John? (1:18b)

20. As a result of these events, what does Christ possess? (1:18c)

21. What does Christ command John to do? (1:19)

22. What does Christ tell John about the seven golden lampstands (1:12-13) and the seven stars (1:16) ? (1:20)

DIMENSION TWO: WHAT DOES THE BIBLE MEAN?

* Revelation 1:1-3. The New Revised Standard Version titles this book "The Revelation to John." The New King James Version calls it "The Revelation of Jesus Christ." The New International Version simply labels it "Revelation." The opening sentence, however, makes it clear that the revelation given by God is to and of Jesus Christ. The writer of this book, named John, is then given a share of the revelation by Jesus Christ. Is the writer just being humble? Probably not. As you read Revelation carefully, you will discover the central, key position that the exalted Christ plays in the book. Jesus Christ alone is high and lifted up as the One worthy to open the seven seals (5:6-14). Jesus Christ, the One who is "Faithful and True," conquers by the sharp sword of his mouth (19:11-16).

Yet the Christ of John's extraordinary vision is the same as the Jesus of the Gospels. From the beginning, John speaks about "the revelation from Jesus Christ" (1:1) and "the testimony of Jesus" (1:2, 9). While this phrase may seem odd, the words and acts of Jesus described in the Gospels could very well be summarized as "the testimony of Jesus." In the Gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, we follow eagerly the narrative of Jesus' life. Jesus heals, confronts, teaches, has fellowship with saint and sinner alike, debates, encourages, rebukes, and weeps. He prays, sleeps, and eats. We find the testimony of Jesus in all that he does and says. This testimony is brought to full measure when Jesus endures an unjust and cruel death and is vindicated by God in resurrection from the dead. His whole life and death are "the testimony of Jesus."

What might it mean for us to "take to heart" (1:3) this testimony, as John claims he has done? The answer is explicitly given in John's Gospel. There, in his great prayer on behalf of his people, Jesus says to God, "For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me" (John 17:8).

To take to heart the testimony of Jesus means to dwell on the words of Jesus Christ as conveyed to us through the biblical tradition. However, we cannot merely read these words. Christians must seek to find the meaning of the testimony of Jesus for their lives in every place and in all times. This explains the emphasis, at the very outset of Revelation (1:3), on reading, hearing, and taking to heart the words of Jesus. Likely the function of prophecy in the time of John of Patmos was primarily that of making the words of Jesus fresh and powerful in the present moment. John is doing just that in his visionary report. The revelation belongs to Jesus, not to John. But the prophet is responsible for bringing the revelation to life for the churches.

John describes the revelation given to Jesus Christ as testimony. This word will be used many ways throughout the book. To give testimony is the same as to bear witness (1:5a). A witness is one who gives testimony. The Greek word for martyr is taken from the same family of words. To die for Jesus is to give testimony to Jesus. Jesus died, was raised, and then became the exalted testimony of God. John is saying here that his testimony is based on Jesus Christ's death and resurrection.

Why does John emphasize the death and resurrection of Jesus (repeated in 1:17-18)? In these two events we see most clearly the divine intention of the Christ event. In the death of Jesus we see the full extent of God's love for humankind. In the Resurrection we see the goal of redemption: the restoration of creation as God intended it to be and the renewal of life for the universe. The powers of evil will, throughout Revelation, seek to limit and control the salvation won by Jesus Christ in his death and resurrection.

Here, at the very beginning of this drama, the principle is established that, in the end, the love of God will triumph in the victory of Jesus Christ. As we will see, for John, the greatest good a Christian can achieve is to "hold to the testimony of Jesus" (19:10). We get just a hint of what this idea means here. John believes Jesus Christ is alive and continually sharing his message with his servants. To those who listen carefully, Christ still bears witness through his messengers.

* Revelation 1:4-7. The Book of Revelation starts out very much like other books in the New Testament called epistles or letters. John makes it clear that his message is meant to help local churches. Later, he will name these churches (1:11), and each will get a mini-letter. John begins, in verses 4-5 with a salute ("to the seven churches in the province of Asia"); a greeting ("Grace and peace to you"); and a tribute to Jesus Christ as the source of his message. John does not present himself as a "substitute Christ." Rather, John is the one to whom Christ has entrusted a vision of the...