1 Just as 1 Samuel is the history of the transition from theocracy to monarchy in Israel, perhaps Revelation is the parallel and prophetic story of the transition from monarchy to theocracy (under Christ) in the world, the story of the Return of the King, if you will. So, I took another look at outlining Revelation with the idea in mind that Revelation completes the circle of history with the true King (Christ) returned to the throne, not only of His people, but of the whole world. Here is the first draft of the resulting outline of the book of Revelation (in light of the sequence of world history furthered in the account of 1 Samuel): I. The Revelation of the King and the Restoration of the Kingdom (Rev. 1:1-22:5) A. The Revelation of the King to His Subjects (Rev. 1:1-3:22) Specifically this revelation is made to the apostle John and the seven Churches of Asia Minor, but ultimately this revelation is given to everyone who by faith in Christ enters the kingdom of heaven and participates in its advance through faith in Christ and obedience to His word. Faithful obedience is the calling put forth in 1 Samuel, the calling to which Saul so powerfully failed and even David struggled with. It is a calling that must be enabled by Christ and empowered within us by the Holy Spirit to the praise and glory of God. 1. To the apostle John (the things that you have seen) (Rev. 1:1-20) a. Prologue to the Revelation (Rev. 1:1-3) (1) The interest here is in the Person who will be introduced, namely, Jesus the King (2) Note that the source of the revelation is God Almighty, the final and ultimate king/Creator (a) The fact that God gave the revelation to Jesus as a message to pass along to Christ’s servants i) adds authenticity and authority to the revelation, ii) as well as credibility, integrity, iii) and an inherent reason to PAY ATTENTION! a) Reconsider the encounter of Saul and the Amalekites in 1 Samuel 15 b) 1 Samuel 15:22b (ESV) Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. c) Listening means hearing and responding appropriately (faith and obedience) (b) The fact that it is given to show to his “bondservants” suggests that those who receive this revelation are not peers with Christ but are in a “vertical” relationship with him where he is their master. (3) EXERCISE: Make a list of all the words, phrases and concepts in Revelation 1:1-20 that indicate “kingdom” or “royal” theme. (a) 1:1 bondservants (b) 1:4 throne (c) 1:5 Christ (d) 1:5 ruler of kings on earth (e) 1:6 made us a kingdom 2 (f) 1:6 glory and dominion (“forever” points to an eternal kingdom) (g) 1:7 tribes of earth (h) 1:9 the kingdom (i) 1:12-16 The entire description of Jesus (j) 1:18 keys of Death and Hades (k) 1:20 right hand b. Greeting from the Messenger on Behalf of the King (Rev. 1:4-7) (1) The messenger is John (2) The audience (the bondservants of Jesus) is the seven churches of Asia (a) These may be the churches John has spent his life ministering among (b) They may be the focus because the church in Rome is in turmoil and Jerusalem has already fallen so that the church there has been scattered. i) Tribulation/persecution ii) John’s exile to Patmos (1:9) (c) QUESTION: If you were a member of the church in Jerusalem or Rome and suddenly found yourself embroiled in persecution and being scattered throughout the known world, what would you think about the certainty of Christ’s kingdom that you’ve been praying about year after year (“thy kingdom come”)? (d) The intent may be to assure the remaining Christians in the more stable regions of the empire that God’s plan to build His kingdom has not been abandoned but will proceed according to this plan. (3) The content of the greeting is Jesus Christ, the King (a) The Trinity is Present in the Greeting, the Process, and the Outcome of the Kingdom i) God a) from whom grace and peace come 1) we have access through Christ 2) God is disposed to grant grace and mercy through Christ, but the sources of grace and mercy is the Father b) who was and is and is to come 1) eternality (not temporary) 2) God endures regardless of any believer’s current circumstance 3) Isaiah 40:8 (ESV) 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. ii) Holy Spirit: seven spirits before the throne (Not a new concept) a) QUESTION: How are we to understand the reference to the “seven spirits that are before the throne”? b) References in Revelation 3 1) Revelation 1:4 (ESV) 4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, - “and” and “who” represent another person in a list - the article “the” is plural 2) Revelation 3:1 (ESV) 1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. - the word “know” is often found in relation to the work of the Holy Spirit - it is often the Spirit who is the “source” of God’s knowing the events of the world 3) Revelation 4:5 (ESV) 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, 4) Revelation 5:6 (ESV) 6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. - you get a picture here not of the impersonal universe of Buddhism, nor the indifferent Allah of Islam, nor the mythical chaos of Hinduism, but a single, personal, present, engaged God. c) References in Other Scripture 1) 2 Chronicles 16:9 (ESV) 9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars.” 2) Proverbs 15:3 (ESV) 3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. 3) Proverbs 22:12 (ESV) 12 The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the traitor. 4) Psalm 34:15 (ESV) 15 The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. 5) Zechariah 4:1-10 (ESV) 1 And the angel who talked with me came again and woke me, like a man who is awakened out of his sleep. 2 And he said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps 4 that are on the top of it. 3 And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” 4 And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” 5 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. 7 Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’” 8 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. 10 For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. “These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which range through the whole earth.” d) QUESTION: In Scripture, which member of the Trinity is the one who accomplishes the work of God in the world? 1) The Holy Spirit 2) This leads many interpreters (and for now I agree) to conclude that “the seven spirits” are the Holy Spirit (seven-fold Spirit) 3) I appreciate this inclusion because it reveals that God is “all in” in relation to the overthrow of the kingdom of darkness and the establishment of Christ’s kingdom of eternal light and life. iii) Jesus a) Notes 1) Third member of the Trinity present in this revelation 2) God is “all in” regarding this message to the churches b) Descriptors 1) Christ - anointed one - term used of kings and priests 2) Faithful Witness - to the Person and plan of God 3) Firstborn of the dead - first raised from the dead to die no more - Conquered death - only the king of heaven can win that battle! 4) Ruler of the kings of the earth 5 5) Loves us - an amazing concept given His power and authority 6) Freed us from our sins by his blood - most kings seek deliverance and power through the shedding of the blood of their subjects 7) Made us a kingdom - under His authority with His identity 8) Made us priests - this is all about relationship with Him 9) Coming again c.