God’s Word of Praise and Thanksgiving
Introduction
Revelation 1:1-20: The Revelation to John begins with a statement that it is “the record of the events that Jesus Christ revealed.” The author, named John, is writing from the island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea, about 30 miles west of the province of Asia, a place where the Romans sometimes sent people who criticized the emperor. John is writing at a time when Christians are being persecuted because of their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. He seeks to offer hope and encouragement to Christians during this time of suffering and persecution and urges them to be faithful. He is told to write to the seven churches in Asia Minor, and he describes his vision of the risen Lord.
Scripture Reading
1This book is the record of the events that Jesus Christ revealed. God gave him this revelation in order to show to his servants what must happen very soon. Christ made these things known to his servant John by sending his angel to him, 2and John has told all that he has seen. This is his report concerning the message from God and the truth revealed by Jesus Christ. 3Happy is the one who reads this book, and happy are those who listen to the words of this prophetic message and obey what is written in this book! For the time is near when all these things will happen.
Greetings to the Seven Churches
4 From John to the seven churches in the province of Asia:
Grace and peace be yours from God, who is, who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits in front of his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first to be raised from death and who is also the ruler of the kings of the world.
He loves us, and by his sacrificial death he has freed us from our sins 6 and made us a kingdom of priests to serve his God and Father. To Jesus Christ be the glory and power forever and ever! Amen.
7 Look, he is coming on the clouds! Everyone will see him, including those who pierced him. All peoples on earth will mourn over him. So shall it be!
8 “I am the first and the last,” says the Lord God Almighty, who is, who was, and who is to come.
A Vision of Christ
9I am John, your brother, and as a follower of Jesus I am your partner in patiently enduring the suffering that comes to those who belong to his Kingdom. I was put on the island of Patmos because I had proclaimed God’s word and the truth that Jesus revealed. 10On the Lord’s day the Spirit took control of me, and I heard a loud voice, that sounded like a trumpet, speaking behind me. 11It said, “Write down what you see, and send the book to the churches in these seven cities: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”
12I turned around to see who was talking to me, and I saw seven gold lampstands, 13 and among them there was what looked like a human being, wearing a robe that reached to his feet, and a gold band around his chest. 14 His hair was white as wool, or as snow, and his eyes blazed like fire; 15 his feet shone like brass that has been refined and polished, and his voice sounded like a roaring waterfall. 16He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came out of his mouth. His face was as bright as the midday sun. 17 When I saw him, I fell down at his feet like a dead man. He placed his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the first and the last. 18I am the living one! I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever. I have authority over death and the world of the dead. 19Write, then, the things you see, both the things that are now and the things that will happen afterward. 20Here is the secret meaning of the seven stars that you see in my right hand, and of the seven gold lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Today’s Key Verse: Revelation 1:8
“I am the first and the last,” says the Lord God Almighty, who is, who was, and who is to come.
Reflect
How does John describe his vision of Christ (verses 12-16)? [You may wish to compare this vision with Daniel’s vision described in Daniel 10:5-6.] The number 7 appears frequently throughout the book of Revelation; it is a number that signifies completion and perfection. How many times does it appear in today’s reading? In verse 8, some translations use the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet (Alpha and Omega) when describing the Lord as the “first and the last” or the “beginning and the end” (see also Isaiah 41:4). In what way do these descriptions express God’s sovereignty?
Pray
Lord God Almighty, you are the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the one who is, who was, and who is to come. Glory be to you, O Lord, forever and forever. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
Revelation 4:1-11: John describes a vision of worship in heaven.