The Seven Cities : The Author

Pt. Dave Kenney

Revelation 1 : 1-8

¹The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, ²who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. ³Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

⁴John,
To the seven churches in the province of Asia:

Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, ⁵and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, ⁶and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
⁷Look, he is coming with the clouds,
and every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him;
and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.

⁸"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

This is a real letter written by the Apostle John, probably around 90-95 AD (60 years after Christ)

It was written to the seven real cities and addresses real issues in those seven churches. These churches were facing persecution and difficult times.

It was also intended to be God's Word and shared with the entire church throughout history.

Our meaning come from th meaning of the words that JOhn wrote, to his audience, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

There is a clear prophetic element to the book. It is not always clear which parts are addressing contemporary issues and which are foretelling future issues.

We will understand visions as symbolic, not historic, literal or 21st Century events that John could not understand.
Gernica [Pablo Picaso] 3,5 tall, +7 wide -> symbolic not representation

1. Uncovering
¹The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, ²who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Rev 1:1-2

The uncovering - God has uncovered something for us, because we need to know it.

• Given by God - The Message
• Belongs to Jesus - the only God's agent
• Sent by an angel - to John
• For all of us (His servant)

2. the Message : Blessing - we're been promised to be blessed by reading the book.
³Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

• read aloud- until modern time, only then people read in silence. Not just reading, but take it to heart. why? because those time are tough.
• Listen to it

3. God - we will get a beautiful picture of who God is

Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, ⁵and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

• God the Father

"Him who is, and who was, and who is to come" - eternity. God doesn't stuck in time.
"I am the Alpha and the Omega" - God will always be around, in any circumstance.
"the Almighty" - God is never surprised. He is always in control.

• Jesus the Son

"the faithful witness" - if you seen Me, you have seen the Father.
"the firstborn from the dead"
"the ruler of the kings of the earth"
"Him who loves us"
"Him who...freed us from our sins by His blood" - what did u really give up to follow Jesus?
"made us to be a kingdom and priests" - we're all priests (mediate someone between him/her and God), all believer.
"He is coming with the clouds" - (symbol) He is coming in Majesty
"Every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him"

• The Spirit

"the seven Spirits before His throne" - those days numbers has meaning. Seven means perfection. A symbol of perfection.