"REVELATION 2:18-22" l BTU - The Book of Revelation l Chuck Smith l Utah VidDevo l VidDevoChurch

REVELATION 2:18-22

Thyatira

"And unto  the angel  of the  church  in Thyatira write;  These  things  saith  the Son
of  God,  who  hath  his  eyes  like  unto  a  flame  of  fire,  and  his  feet  are  like  fine
brass."  

"Brass"  always  symbolizes  judgment  in  the  Scriptures.  "I  know  thy
works,  and  love,  and  service,  and  faith,  and  thy  patience,  and  thy works;  and
the last to be more than the first" (Revelation 2:18-19).


This church  had a  lot of things going  for  it. Thyatira was one of the most active
c h u r c h e s   a r o u n d .   W o r k s ,   l o v e ,   s e r v i c e ,   f a i t h ,   p a t i e n c e ;   tremendous
characteristics - yet, the Lord said,

I have a  few things against  thee,  because  you allow  that woman Jezebel, which
calls  herself  a  prophetess,  to  teach  and  to  seduce  my  servants  to  commit
fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols (Revelation 2:20).

That  Jezebel  system  is  the  introduction  of  idolatry  into  the  church  and  spiritual
fornication. These  things also  took place  with  the nation  Israel and,  thus,  Israel
was rejected by God.

I gave her space to repent of her  fornication and she repented not. Behold, I will
cast  her  into  a  bed,  and  them  that  commit  adultery  with  her  into  great
tribulation, except they repent of their deeds (Revelation 2:21-22).

Is the church going to go through the Great Tribulation?  I must, answer, "Yes, a
part of  the  church  will be  going  through  the  Great Tribulation."  

The  part  of  the church  that  does  go  through  is  the  church  of Thyatira,  the  woman  Jezebel  who failed to repent of her spiritual adultery and spiritual fornication. 

Those who  want  to make  a  case  of  the  church  going  through  the  Tribulation  -
this is the  case  that  they can make. The unrepentant  church  of Thyatira will go
into the Great Tribulation.

When  God,  in  the  Ten  Commandments,  specifically  forbid  their  making  any
images or likenesses of things in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the
water beneath, why do they adorn their churches with  images of Jesus, Mary, or
the saints?

"REVELATION 2:12-17 " l BTU - The Book of Revelation l Chuck Smith l Utah VidDevo l VidDevoChurch

REVELATION 2:12-17

Pergamos

"And to the angel  of the church  in Pergamos write,  These  things  saith he which hath  the  sharp  sword  with  two  edges,  'I  know  thy  works  and  where  thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat [throne]  is.'" 

The city of Pergamos was a city filled with sensuous worship of pagan deities.

"And  thou  holdest  fast  my  name,  and  hast  not  denied  my  faith"  (Revelation 2:12-13). A faithful  remnant  in  this city of  pagan worship  is holding  fast to  the name  of  Jesus  Christ. 

 "Even  in  those  days  wherein  Antipas  was  my  faithful

martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth" (Revelation 2:13).

Jesus knows the works of the church of Pergamos - holding fast to His name in a pagan world, not denying the faith even at the martyrdom  of Antipas, one of its members.

"But I  have  a  few  things  against  thee,  because  you  have  there  those  that hold the doctrine  of  Balaam,  who  taught  Balak  to  cast  a  stumblingblock  before  the children of  Israel,  to  eat  things  sacrificed unto  idols, and  to  commit  fornication"

(Revelation 2:14).

The worship of these pagan deities was usually marked by the most abominable practices. The pagan temples had priestesses who were actually prostitutes, and the revenue  for most of the pagan temples was gained through prostitution. 

Part of their religious rites involved sexual orgies with these priestesses. In  that  area  of  Asia  the  Gnostics  said  that  everything  material  was  evil.  Their belief  was  that  God  had  nothing  to  do  with  the  material  world.  Therefore,  it

didn't matter what you did to your body. They taught  that you could do anything you  wanted,  because  God  wasn't  concerned  with  your  evil  body.  

He  was  only concerned with your spirit.  Thus, the Gnostics allowed all kinds of lasciviousness. Peter warned against this in his epistle (I Peter 4:1-3).

In Pergamos some were saying, "We can do whatever we want! We're Christians and we're covered by grace. 

The body doesn't count, anyhow." Even though they were  now  professing  Christians,  they  advocated  worshipping  in  these  pagan rites.  

This  was  the  doctrine  of  Balaam  -  the  worship  of  idols  and  committing fornication.

"Also  you  have  those  who  hold  the  doctrine  of   the  Nicolaitanes"  -   the establishment of a priesthood. Jesus  said,  "Which  thing I hate." 

The Lord's word to  them  was,  "Repent;  or  else  I  will  come  unto  thee  quickly,  and  will  fight against them with the sword of my mouth" (Revelation 2:15-16).

He that hath an ear, let him hear what  the Spirit saith unto the churches; to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and  in  the  stone a  new  name.

 The "hidden manna"  is that  life in Jesus Christ. He said, "I am  the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger" (John 6:35).

The "white stone" was actually  the stone of acceptance or approval and was used in  voting.  A  white  stone  signified  a  "yes"  vote  and  a  black  stone  a  "no"  vote.

Some  clubs  have  adopted  a  similar  practice  today.  White  or  black  balls  are dropped  into  a ballot  box whenever  an  applicant  is  considered  for membership, and he is rejected, or black-balled,"  if someone drops in a black ball.

Jesus said that He will give us a white stone - "Accepted."  I've been accepted by God in Christ. 

The white stone has "a new name written, which no man knoweth
saving he that receiveth it" (Revelation 2:17).

Two evils had begun  to  creep  into  the  church  -  the  introduction of  idolatry  and the  introduction  of  a  priesthood.  

The  church  of  Pergamos  historically  is  the development  of  the  church-state  system  under  Constantine  in  316  A.D. 

 It  was the beginning of the Roman Catholic Church.

" REVELATION 2:10-11 " l BTU - The Book of Revelation l Chuck Smith l Utah VidDevo l VidDevoChurch

REVELATION 2:10-11

To  the  church  of Smyrna  He  said,  "Fear  none  of  those  things  which  thou  shalt suffer  behold,  the  devil  shall  cast  some  of  you  into  prison"  (Revelation  2:10).

The  Lord  recognizes  that  Satan  is  behind  all  the  persecution  and  tribulation  of the  church.  Jesus  said  to  His  disciples,  "In  the  world  ye  shall  have  tribulation" (John  16:33).  

The  devil  works  through  people  even  as  God  works  through
people.  We  need  to  realize  that  Satan  is  behind  the inspiration  and  works  of many people.

"The devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days." 

The "ten days" could refer to the ten great periods of tribulation under the Roman government.  "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" (Revelation 2:10).

Jesus has nothing bad to say about the church of Smyrna. No call to repentance. Smyrna  is  the  church  that  will  be  purified  by  persecution,  

They'll  be  martyred and experience great tribulation. Tribulation never hurt the church. It always had a purifying effect. 

Jesus is encouraging  them to be faithful unto death and He will
give them a crown of life. There is the crown of life. 

There's also a crown of righteousness. Paul said, There  is  laid up  for me  a  crown of  righteousness,  which  the Lord,  the righteous
Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing (II Timothy 4:8).

He  that  hath  an  ear,  let  him  hear  what  the  Spirit  saith unto  the  churches;  He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death (Revelation 2:11).

The  second  death  is  explained  to  us  in  Revelation  20,  when  all  the  world (excluding  Christians)  stands  before  the  Great White  Throne  Judgment  of  God.

Death and hell will give up the  dead. Whosoever's name  is not  found written  in the Lamb's Book of Life shall be cast into Gehenna, the second death.

Those who overcome shall not be hurt of the second  death. "Blessed and holy is he,"  the  Scripture  said,  "who  hath  part  in  the  first  resurrection:  on  such  the second death hath no power" (Revelation 20:6).

When  Jesus  comes  again  to  reign  upon  the  earth and  establishes His  kingdom, Satan shall be bound for one thousand years and placed in the abyss.

 During this period  Jesus  will  reign  upon  the  earth  in  righteousness.  The  church  will  be reigning with Him as kings and priests. 

At the end of the thousand years, Satan will  be  loosed  for  a  short  season  and  will  go  throughout  the  world  again  to deceive  the  nations.  He'll  gather  a  great  army  to  try  to  destroy  Christ  and  to drive Him out of Jerusalem.

At times Christians come to me and say, "At the end of the thousand years, what if I'm deceived  by Satan?"  I  answer, "Impossible!"  "Blessed  and  holy  is he  that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power." 

You'll be in your new body, and  there's no way you'll  come into conspiracy with Satan at that time.

This  short  season  will  be  a  trial  for  those  who have  never  had  a  trial  as  far  as their Christian walk  is concerned. Those who have been forced to live righteously during  the  kingdom  age  will  be  given  an  opportunity  to  do  otherwise.  

The surprising thing is that so many will take it!

" REVELATION 2:8-9 " l BTU - The Book of Revelation l Chuck Smith l Utah VidDevo l VidDevoChurch

REVELATION 2:8-9

Smyrna

Historically,  Smyrna  is  the  church  that  followed  Ephesus.  It  continued  for  the next  couple  of  centuries  (second  to  fourth  centuries)  and  went  through  such tremendous persecution  from  the Roman government. It is thought that perhaps as many as six million Christians were martyred  for their faith during the Roman
government's attempt to wipe out Christianity.

"Unto the angel of the church in Smyrna" (Revelation 2:8).

If the "angel" refers to the local bishop of the  church, the bishop of Smyrna was Polycarp, a disciple of John, martyred in his 90's. The government planned to kill this aged man by burning him at the stake. 

As the fagots were gathered around him,  the executioner  said,  "I hate to see an old man die. Just  recant Christ and we'll set you free. Then you can live your last days in peace."

Polycarp  said,  "For  over  eighty  years  I  have  served my  Lord  and  Savior,  Jesus Christ. Not once has He denied me. I shall not deny Him."

The executioner said, "The fire will be hot." Polycarp said, "Not nearly as hot as the fire you'll experience!" The executioner  lit  the fagot.  At  first  the  flames  leaped up  around  Polycarp  but
didn't  touch his  body. Seeing  this,  the  executioner  took a  spear  and thrust  him through. The blood that poured out extinguished  the fire.

 The Christians took his body and gave him a Christian burial.

It  is  significant,  in  a  church  whose  members  should  suffer  persecution  and tribulation and have many martyred, that even  the bishop of the church was put to death. The early leader was not above  the people he ministered to; he shared in the trials and sufferings with his flock.

Unto  the  angel  of  the  church  in Smyrna  write;  These  things  saith  the  first  and the last, which was dead, and is alive (Revelation 2:8).

Because  they  were  to  be  martyred,  Jesus  is  reminding  these  Christians  of  His triumph over death. "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live" (John 11:25). Jesus said, "Because I live, ye shall  live  also"  (John  14:19). 

By  reminding  them  of His  triumph  over  death, He's giving  them  courage and  strength  for  the hour when  they would be  facing death.

To  the  church  at  Smyrna  John  was  told  to  write:  "I  know  thy  works,  and tribulation, and poverty, (but  thou art rich)" (Revelation  2:9). 

This  is  in contrastto the church of Laodicea that said, "We are rich," but Jesus said, "You're poor." The estimate of ourselves is one thing, but His estimate of us is far different. 

The estimate of the church of Smyrna of  themselves was that of poverty. Jesus said, "Thou  art  rich."  "Hath  not  God  chosen  the  poor  of  this  world  rich  in  faith?" (James 2:5).

"I know  the  blasphemy  of  them which  say  they  are Jews,  and  are not,  but are the synagogue  of Satan" (Revelation 2:9). 

Most of the persecution  that  came  in the early  church  was  instigated and  inspired  by  the Jews. Wherever  Paul  went, the Jews followed him and stirred up agitation in each city against him.

The  term  "Jew"  refers  to  one  who  practices  Judaism.  It  isn't  a nationality.  You can actually  proselyte  and  become  a  Jew,  that  is,  a  worshiper  of  God  through Judaism. 

Some Jews were  claiming  to be worshipers  of God  but  they were  not. They  had  their  synagogues,  but  Jesus  said  of   them  that  they  were  the synagogues of Satan.

The  Jews  said  to  Jesus,  "We  are  of  our  father  Abraham.  Who  your  father  is nobody knows."  Jesus said, "If your father were Abraham,  then you would have believed in me, for Abraham testified of me." Jesus said, "You are of your father
the devil, and you do his works" (John 8:31-47).

" REVELATION 2:6-7 " l BTU - The Book of Revelation l Chuck Smith l Utah VidDevo l VidDevoChurch

REVELATION 2:6-7

"But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate" (Revelation 2:6).

"Nicolaitanes" comes from two Greek words: nikao and laos meaning "establishing a priesthood over a laity." 

The church of Ephesus hated that establishment of a spiritual hierarchy. 

Jesus said, "Which I also hate."

Why? Because, in our minds, it suddenly puts some men closer to God than others. God doesn't want anyone to feel far from Him. He wants every man to feel close to Him. 

God doesn't want you to feel that you have to go through someone to get to Him. He wants you to come directly to Him in His Son Jesus Christ. 

Jesus has opened the door to God for every man alike, and He doesn't want anyone to stand in your way of coming to Him.

To each church Jesus said, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give..."

To each church there is a blessing to the overcomers. 

It is interesting to note, and I do bear witness, that in every church, even the most apostate, there are the individual overcomers who truly know Jesus Christ.

To the church of Ephesus He promised, "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God" (Revelation 2:7).

In the Garden of Eden God had given to man the fruit of the trees for his meat.

Two specific trees were mentioned. There was the tree of knowledge of good and evil which man was forbidden to eat, and the tree of life which, if a man ate of it, he would live forever.

Adam and Eve had their choice of the trees. It would seem to me that they would have chosen immediately to eat of the tree of life. Why would they choose the tree of knowledge of good and evil over the tree of life? 

Why would they eat of its fruit before the fruit of the tree of life?

 The knowledge of good and evil, however, was more important to them than life.

In reality, man has the same choice today. You can't blame Adam for all your evils or troubles or ills, because God has given you the choice of the tree of life, if you'll just partake of it. 

The cross of Jesus Christ is life to those who believe and trust in Him. You have the opportunity to partake of that life in Christ.

A lot of people have intellectual hang-ups. They have made their intellect their god. Because they cannot fully understand or comprehend the meaning of the incarnation and its purpose - the substitutionary death of Christ - they do not partake of the tree of life, though the opportunity is there for them.

When Adam ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, God banished him from the Garden. The cherubim stood above the Garden with a flaming sword to protect it lest man would return, eat of the tree of life, and live forever in his sins

(Genesis 2:9,16-17; Genesis 3:24).

That cherubim was not stationed there as a judgment of God but as a representative of the mercy of God. God in His mercy didn't want man to go on forever in this corrupt, sinful body. For man's sake, He put the cherubim there to keep stupid man from the garden lest he would eat of the tree of life and go on living forever in a body corrupted by sin.

Too many times people see God as a God of judgment and wrath when, in reality, He's a God of love and mercy. But they misinterpret the mercy of God for judgment. 

God was protecting man from himself by placing the cherubim at the entrance to the Garden to keep man from reentering.

The tree of life is in the midst of the Paradise of God, wherever that may be. He that overcomes will have the opportunity to eat of that tree. 

We'll partake of the tree of life!

Historically, Ephesus is the early church, the apostolic church that existed up until the time of the death of John (c. 99 A.D.). Even at the time of John's writing, the fire of love had begun to wane a bit in the early church. 

When they first started out they were fervent. They went everywhere preaching the Gospel.

The love of Christ was driving them throughout the world. 

Now, they were already becoming a bit established, leaving the first love.

"REVELATION 2:4-5 " l BTU - The Book of Revelation l Chuck Smith l Utah VidDevo l VidDevoChurch

REVELATION 2:4-5

Return to Your First Love

Yet, the Lord said, "Nevertheless I have this against thee, because thou hast left

thy first love" (Revelation 2:4).

Ephesus was a church that was still going through the motions but they had left the emotions. They were no longer motivated by the love of Jesus Christ. 

They were now being motivated by pressure, habit, form, or ritual.What a sad day when your ministry turns into a job! Paul said, "For the love of Christ constraineth us" (II Corinthians 5:14). 

It was the love that drove Paul onward.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal... And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor... and I have not love, it profiteth me nothing (I Corinthians 13:1-3).

I can have a lot of things going for me. I can be the hardest and most diligent worker in a church. I can give myself tirelessly to the spreading of the Gospel.

But if I have not love, if I have left my first love, it profits me nothing. Jesus said that, though you have all this going for you, you have left your first love.

"Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works" (Revelation 2:5).

Many people say, "Oh, you've lost your first love." You don't lose it, you leave it.

If you lose something, you never know where to pick it up again. 

You don't know where to find it. If you leave something, you know where to pick it up again.

Jesus tells us how to pick it up again.

The three R's: "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen." Remember that love that you once had? "Repent." Then Repeat. 

"Do the first works." 

Come back to that first work of love.

 It is first above everything else. Do your first works over again, those works motivated and prompted by love.

To most of the churches Jesus said, "Repent." There is the necessity of repentance in most churches. 

There were only two to whom He didn't have to say "Repent."Repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. (Revelation 2:5).

Unless there was a repentance, a return to that first love, Jesus would remove the candlestick from its place. 

Where was its place?

In the presence of Christ, for He walked in the midst of the candlesticks. 

Jesus is saying, "I will not stay around a loveless church." This is a very solemn consideration.

Unfortunately, as we look at the church today - so filled with factions, fighting, and divisions - in many cases the candlestick has been removed from its place.

You go to church but you don't feel the presence and the power of Jesus Christ.

Instead, you feel the factions and all the pressures and strain. Jesus said, "I won't stay around a loveless church."

"REVELATION 2:1-3 " l BTU - The Book of Revelation l Chuck Smith l Utah VidDevo l VidDevoChurch

2. Four Messages

REVELATION 2:1-3

Ephesus

"Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks" (Revelation 2:1).

There are certain similarities in all the messages to the seven churches. Each message begins with a description of Christ given by Himself and then includes a description of Christ taken from the vision in Revelation 1.

"From Him who is holding the seven stars and walking in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks": a message from Jesus as He walks in the midst of His church, holding the angels of the churches.

To each of the churches Jesus declares His knowledge concerning them. "I know thy works" (Revelation 2:2).

Many times we think that we're hiding things from God. No way! He knows our works. More than that, He knows the motivation behind our works. Some of the works will be burned - those done for vainglory (to be seen of men), about which Jesus said, "You have your reward" (Matthew 6:2, 5). 

Every man, one day, will be judged according to his works - what manner or sort they are (Revelation 2:23, 20:13).

Jesus continues to the church of Ephesus, "I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how you cannot bear them which are evil: you have tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and have found them liars" (Revelation 2:2).

In the early church there were itinerant ministers who went from church to church. There were two companies: those who were apostles (they claimed apostleship and the authority of apostleship), and those who went around as prophets ministering to the local bodies.

In time these traveling ministers became a problem in the church because of false prophets. These deceivers would come into a church and really rip things up. 

To guard against this, a manual was written to warn the church against the false prophets and how to spot them. If one came along and prophesied, "Thus saith the Lord, 'Prepare a big turkey dinner'!" - he was not to eat of it.

 If he ate of it, he was a false prophet.

 If he declared to you by the Spirit that you were to give him gifts, he was a false prophet. He was to stay for two days. If he stayed

any longer and tried to sponge off you, he was a false prophet. 

This advice was intended to keep these itinerants on the move and to prevent them from profiting from the churches.

In Ephesus the Christians exercised discernment on those who came in and claimed to be apostles but were not. "You found them to be liars." 

The Lord commended them for their discernment. He commended them for their holiness. They would not bear those which were

evil. He commended them for their work, their labor, and their patience. "And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast labored, and not fainted" (Revelation 2:3).

Ephesus was a working church according to Christ's description. In labor they did not faint. They had patience and discernment. They had all of these things going for them.

"REVELATION 1:19-20 " l BTU - The Book of Revelation l Chuck Smith l Utah VidDevo l VidDevoChurch

REVELATION 1:19-20

The Key To The Book

The key to the book of Revelation is found here. The Lord said unto John, "Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter" (Revelation 1:19). 

The word hereafter in the Greek is "meta tauta" which means "after these things."

This command actually divides the book of Revelation into three sections. (1) The things which John saw, the vision of Christ in Revelation chapter one. (2) The things which are, which deals with the messages to the seven churches in Asia in Revelation chapters two and three. (3) The things which shall be meta tauta, "after these things," chapters four through twenty-two. 

John sees the events of the future, the things that transpire after the church has finished its mission on the earth and has been removed.

It is significant that the fourth chapter of Revelation begins with this same phrase, meta tauta, "after these things." 

After what things? After the things of the church are completed. "I saw a door open in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as of a trumpet saying unto me, Come up hither, and I will show you things which must be after these things [meta tauta]" (Revelation 4:1).

Beginning with Revelation 4:1, we are dealing with things that are future - things which have not yet taken place but shall take place after the church's testimony is finished upon the earth.

 If you follow this key, you'll find the divisions in the book of Revelation easy to understand. (1) The things which John saw. (2) The things which are. (3) The things which will be after these things.

Jesus explains to John the vision that he has seen. "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" (Revelation 1:20).

The word angels actually means "messengers." They generally refer to divine messengers, supernatural beings created by God. But the word literally is "Messenger." 

The "seven stars" are the messengers of the seven churches. They could refer to the ministers of those particular churches.

"And the seven candlesticks which you saw are the seven churches" (Revelation 1:20). The "seven churches" symbolically speak of completeness. 

I believe that in these messages we have a picture of the complete church history.

There is a three-fold application of these messages. First, they were written to the seven churches and dealt with problems within the church at that very time (local application). 

Second, I believe that there is an historic application in these messages, giving us the seven periods of church history. 

Third, I believe that even today this message is applicable because you can find these same conditions in different churches today.

In many places these messages will apply directly to us.

"REVELATION 1:17-18" l BTU - The Book of Revelation l Chuck Smith l Utah VidDevo l VidDevoChurch

REVELATION 1:17-18

When John saw Him, he said, "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"
(Revelation 1:17).

John is really overwhelmed by the whole vision. Daniel, who also received some
pretty venerable visions, was always falling on his face. He said, "And I Daniel
fainted, and was sick certain days... I was astonished at the vision" (Daniel
8:27). He was actually sick as a result of some of these experiences of passing
through spiritual dimensions and receiving these spiritual revelations. Paul the
apostle received so much spiritual revelation that it actually resulted in a thorn in
his flesh (II Corinthians 12:7).

Here is John falling on his face. On various occasions throughout the book John
is falling down on his face. It would no doubt be a very powerful sensation to go
through these kinds of experiences.

Jesus then laid His right hand on him and said,
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
(Revelation 2:17-18).

Jesus triumphed over hell. He triumphed over death. He rose triumphant. He
said, "I have the keys of hell and death," by which He was speaking of releasing
the prisoners. In Luke's gospel, Jesus described hell as being in two
compartments divided by a gulf. On one side they were being comforted, the
other tormented.

Isaiah prophesied concerning Jesus Christ:

"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to
preach good tidings unto the meek... to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the
opening of the prison to them that are bound" (Isaiah 61:1).

Referring to those that had died, those that were captive in hell, in the grave,
Jesus said, "I have the keys of hell and of death." He opened up Hades and
released those souls that were in prison.

Paul said that He who has ascended is the same one who first descended into the
lower parts of the earth. When He ascended He led the captives from their
captivity (Ephesians 4:8-9). Peter said that Jesus went and preached to those
souls that were in prison (I Peter 3:19). Jesus opened up hell and delivered
Abraham and the others who by faith were believing and waiting for the coming
Messiah.

"REVELATION 1:10B-16 " l BTU - The Book of Revelation l Chuck Smith l Utah VidDevo l VidDevoChurch

REVELATION 1:10B-16

John continues the vision: I "heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 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. And I turned to see the voice

that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks"  (Revelation 1:10b-12).

The "seven golden candlesticks" takes us back to the tabernacle in the wilderness (Exodus 25:31-39). 

A part of its furnishings was a golden menorah, a candelabrum with three branches protruding from each side of the main stem. These seven sticks had little cups which served as candleholders. This furnished the light in the sanctuary.

These seven golden candlesticks represented what the nation Israel was to be to the world. It was to be God's light to the world. The seven golden candlesticks, when applied to the church, show God's intention for the church in the world. The church is to be God's light in the world. 

Jesus said, "Ye are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14).

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 breasts with a golden girdle (Revelation 1:13).

Jesus is walking in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks and is described as the Son of man. Jesus made reference to Himself as the Son of man as well as the Son of God. 

The Son of man was a prophetic reference to Daniel's prophecy concerning the second coming of Jesus Christ the King, and was one of the titles

of the Messiah (Daniel 7:13-14).

John then describes a little bit of His clothing:

Clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the breasts 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 (Revelation 1:23-16).

His face was just brilliant, like looking into the sun, and He was walking in the midst of the candlesticks.

Jesus said, "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst" (Matthew 18:20). Here John sees Jesus in the midst of His churches. 

Jesus is in the midst of His church as we gather together in His name.

He is present with us. He has promised to bestow upon us His love, His grace, His kindness, His mercy, His Word. Jesus is here to minister to you and to your needs. He is still in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks - His church through the ages.

John saw Him holding the seven stars in His right hand. The seven stars are the seven angels of these churches (cf. Revelation 1:20). 

The word angel translated in Greek means "messenger," which is usually the pastor. What joy and comfort to the pastor to realize that Jesus holds him.

This is the only description of Jesus Christ in the New Testament. 

We have one description of Him in the Old Testament in Daniel (Daniel 7:9-10). 

Revelation 1:13-16 is not a description of a suffering Savior but of our exalted Lord in His
glory in heaven. John sees Him in His glory and describes Him in that glory.

Jesus said in His prayer in John 17, "Father, I would that they that you have given me, might see me in my glory that I had with thee before the world was" (John 17:5, 24). 

He asked for that glory to be returned, and then He asked that we might see Him in that glory.

Here John sees Jesus and what He'll look like when we see Him. His face is shining like the sun at noontime. His head and His hair are like wool, white as snow. His eyes are like flames of fire and His feet like fine brass heated to the point of incandescence. 

His words sound like a great waterfall. Out of His mouth is a sharp two-edged sword. "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword" (Hebrews 4:12).

"REVELATION 1:10a" l BTU - The Book of Revelation l Chuck Smith l Utah VidDevo l VidDevoChurch

REVELATION 1:10A

"I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day" (Revelation 1:10a).

This can have two possible meanings. First, it can mean that the revelation came to John on a
Sunday. It seems that early in the church Sunday was referred to as the Lord's
day, being the eighth day and the first day of the week. Sunday was the day in
which Jesus rose from the dead. It was a day when the church was accustomed
to gathering together. Paul told the Corinthians to bring their offerings when
they gathered together on the first day of the week so there would be no
collections when he came (I Corinthians 16:1-2). In Acts the Christians gathered
together on the first day of the week to break bread (Acts 20:7).

Early in church history Sunday was called the Lord's day. It was not a change
that was brought about by Constantine, which the Seventh-day Adventists would
have you believe. In fact, Tertullian, who wrote almost two centuries before
Constantine, said that Sunday should be the only day on which the church would
have communion, because Jesus rose on the first day of the week. Of course
that was his logic and not necessarily true, but it shows that the first day of the
week was set apart early in church history as a time for the worship of Christ.
John may have been saying that he was in the Spirit or in a spiritual trance on
Sunday.

A Time Chamber
With equal authority from the Greek, Revelation 1:10a could be translated, "I
was in the Spirit unto the day of the Lord" rather than "on the Lord's day." This
would mean that the Lord put John into a time chamber, so to speak, and
transferred him to the end of the age. There John saw all the battles and
judgments that are described in the Revelation. The Lord took him out in time to
the day of the Lord, and John recorded these events as though he were actually
there.

When Jesus took His disciples unto the Mount of Transfiguration, He took them
into a kind of time chamber. Prior to this, He had said, "Some of you here are
not going to taste of death, until you see the Son of man coming in his
kingdom." Six days later He took Peter, James, and John up to the top of the
high mountain. There He was transfigured before them. His raiment was white as
the light and His face did shine like the sun. There appeared unto them Moses
and Elijah talking to Jesus about things of the kingdom (Matthew 16:28 - 17:4).
What happened? The disciples were taken to a time zone which is yet future to
us. They saw the Lord's future glory. He was talking with Moses and Elijah about
the kingdom age.

John, possibly, was also taken in a time chamber by the Lord. It would be very
easy for God, who is eternal, to put John into that eternal dimension for a
moment and take him out to the end of the age where he could see all these
things that are going to happen.

God has already seen the things that are transpiring on the earth today. He has
omniscience. He knows all things. God knows exactly what the next move will
be, how it'll take place, where it's going to transpire. Your life is like a rerun as
far as God is concerned.

And so, it was very likely that John saw the future coming of Jesus Christ. I
personally believe

"REVELATION 1:8-9" l BTU - The Book of Revelation l Chuck Smith l Utah VidDevo l VidDevoChurch

REVELATION 1:8-9

"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty" (Revelation 1:8).

In describing His eternal nature, God declares that He is the Alpha and Omega. That is the Greek for A and Z - the first and the last letters of the Greek alphabet. 

God is the totality. He is the beginning and the ending. It all started with God and it all ends with God. He is, He was, He is to come. He is eternal.

In Revelation 21:6 Jesus says the same thing. 

From this we conclude that Jesus also is eternal - co-eternal with the Father, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending.

John describes the circumstances by which the vision first came to him. "I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation" (Revelation 1:9). 

The beautiful humility of John. He is not coming on as a great leader demanding submission to his authority. He calls himself a brother."

God never intended a spiritual hierarchy to be established within the church. We're all part of one body. That is so glorious! God has no favorites or specials.

"God is no respecter of persons" (Acts 10:34), which means that God is as interested in you as He is in Billy Graham and as He was in Dwight Moody, Charles Finney, John Wesley, John Knox or Martin Luther. 

God didn't love them any more than He loves you. God didn't listen to them any more readily than He

will listen to you. John said, "I'm a brother and a companion." 

Pray to God that men within the ministry today will have the same attitude as a brother and a companion. 

As Paul said, "We are laborers together with God" (I Corinthians 39). We're all one in this body of Christ. We all share together. We're all just people. When the crowd was going to worship Paul, he tore his clothes and said "Hey, I'm just a

man like the rest of you! I'm no god!" (Acts 14:14-15).

We're all equal in the eyes of the Lord. God considers us as individuals and loves us as individuals. He is no respecter of persons. You can't buy God. You can't influence God. 

You can't con God. He is the same to everybody. You can't bully or pressure Him. Looking at Him, what can you do for Him? People are always trying to peddle influence in the world. You can't peddle any influence with God. He treats us all alike and loves us all the same.

"John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ" (Revelation 1:9). 

The patience of Jesus Christ is the waiting for Jesus Christ to return.

James wrote, "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious [perfect] fruit of the earth"

(James 5:7). P

eter encouraged us to have patience in waiting for the Lord (II Peter 38-15). 

Paul also encouraged us to have patience - waiting for the coming of the Lord (I Thessalonians 1:10, et al).

John "was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the Word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ" (Revelation 1:9).

Persecutions - The first major persecution under the Roman Empire took place as the result of Nero's reign. 

Thousands of Christians were crucified and executed. During Nero's persecution Paul and Peter were both killed.

Then under the reign of Domitian (81-96 A.D.) the second persecution took place. 

About forty thousand more Christians were put to death for their faith. 

It was during this time that John was exiled to the Island of Patmos. 

There, John received these visions from the Lord.

John, the overseer of the church in Ephesus, was exiled to the Island of Patmos because of the Word of God and his testimony of Jesus Christ. According to Eusebius, the church historian, John was boiled in oil. 

This, though, had no adverse effect on him, and he was sent to the small, craggy, rocky Island of

Patmos off the coast of Asia Minor, about thirty-two miles from Ephesus in the Aegean Sea.

John was exiled to the Island of Patmos because God had a special message to give him. 

God had to get him in a quiet place, away from the disturbances and pressures of the church in Ephesus. 

Whether or not he was still on the Island of Patmos when he actually wrote the letter is uncertain. 

After his exile on Patmos (c. 96 A.D.), John returned to Ephesus where he eventually died. 

It is possible that when he came back to Ephesus John wrote this book of Revelation, the last

of the New Testament canon of Scriptures.

"REVELATION 1:6-7" l BTU - The Book of Revelation l Chuck Smith l Utah VidDevo l VidDevoChurch

REVELATION 1:6-7

"And hath made us kings and priests unto God" (Revelation 1:6). 

Or, more
literally, "hath made us a kingdom of priests unto God."

A priest of the Old Testament had a two-fold ministry. 

First of all, he represented the people before God. While doing this, he wore a breastplate with twelve stones representing the twelve tribes of Israel. 

His second function was to represent God to the people. 

He was the go-between for the people and God.

Jesus is our great high priest who has come down to the earth and represented God to us and has now entered into heaven for us. 

There He is representing us before the Father (Hebrews 4:14).

In the kingdom age we will be a kingdom of priests, going before Christ for the people and representing Christ to the people. "To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen" (Revelation 1:6).

Jesus Christ will be coming back to the earth very soon to establish the Kingdom of God. The age of man is almost over. The world is being destroyed by man.
And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened (Matthew 24:22).

We're living in those days that are now being shortened. God is doing a quick work in these days. We're coming to the end of the age and Jesus will soon be returning.

When He returns we'll be returning with Him. "Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints" (Jude 14). 

"When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory" (Colossians 3:4). 

He will be coming in clouds with great glory to establish the Kingdom of God, and we will be
reigning with Him for one thousand years upon the earth. 

The Bible speaks of a yearly convocation when we shall gather in Jerusalem to bring the offerings and
the glories of the nations unto Him (Zechariah 14:16). 

The Scripture doesn't specify the nature of our reign or what it will be like, but it's going to be great! "Behold, he cometh with clouds" (Revelation 1:7). 

There are many places where the coming of Jesus Christ is mentioned as coming in clouds. "And they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory" (Matthew 24:30). 

Daniel prophesied, "One like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days" (Daniel 7:13).

When Jesus was with His disciples on the Mount of Olives, He ascended into
heaven and a cloud received Him. The angels (the two men in white apparel)
said,
Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven (Acts 1:1).

"Behold, he cometh with clouds." This could be the clouds of saints, the great cloud of witnesses, with which Jesus shall return. "And every eye shall see him" (Revelation 1:7).

When God comes again, it's not going to be a secret coming. It won't be in some secret chamber and revealed only to a specified, elect few.

 The whole world is going to know when He returns.

"And every eye shall see him." 

This surely refutes the theory that the coming of
Jesus Christ was a secret event in 1848, 1878,1917,1918, or one of the many
dates that people have given for His coming. 

When you confront them, quoting "Every eye shall see him," they say that Jesus came in a secret chamber, and only the real initiated knew that He came. 

But Jesus said, "If they shall say unto
you... Behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not" (Matthew 24:26).

"Every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him," that is, the Jewish people (Revelation 1:7).

Zechariah also prophesied this coming again of Jesus Christ. He said the Jews will say unto Him, What are these wounds in your hands?" (Zechariah 13:6).

Zechariah said, "And they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him" (Zechariah 12:10).

The Jews will weep over the fact that they failed to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. They will actually bewail and mourn the spiritual blindness that had gripped their nation in the time of Christ and is gripping their nation even now.

"They also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him" (Revelation 1:7). 

Zechariah describes the bewailing as a woman travailing for her only son who had died (Zechariah 12:10). 

The Jews will weep and cry over their national blindness.