Coachlight Bible Study – Revelation Chapter One

Coachlight Bible Study – Revelation Chapter 1

The Key To Understanding The Revelation of Jesus Christ

The Book of Revelation was given to John to write the Lord’s message to the seven churches He choose to not only to admonish and encourage in that day to take part in their inheritance to come, but to be typical or representative of all churches (or assemblies – Called out Ones) in the entire age to the Rapture of the church and the Tribulation period.

The message in the Book of Revelation is to be studied and applied by all churches – then and now, and is a book that can and needs to be understood by all sincere Christians. Blessings are given by Christ to those who read and hear the Words of this prophecy

Christ gives the key to understanding the book of Revelation in chapter one.

Revelation 1:1¶ The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

Revelation 1:2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

Revelation 1:3 ¶Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

I. We Are Meant To Understand The Book of Revelation

A. The Book Of Revelation Is A Revealing Book

B. Revelation Is Apokalupsis - "Unveiling" Or "Taking Off The Cover"

C. We Are Meant To Understand The Book Of Revelation

D. It Was Not Written To Be So Symbolic That Only A Few Can Understand It

E. Verse 3 Promises

1. A blessing to those who read the words of the prophecy given by the Lord

2. A blessing to those who hear the words of the prophecy given by the Lord

a. How could anyone be blessed by words they couldn't even understand?

b. Yes it has been said that the book of Revelation is hard to understand

c. It has also been said, "that it is not hard to understand, it is hard to believe"

F. Much Of Revelation Deals With The Future

Major Divisions Of The Book Of Revelation
Things Which Thou Hast Seen	Things Which Are	Things Which Shall Be Hereafter
Chapter 1	Chapters 2-3	Chapters 4-19						Chapter 20	Chapters 21-22
Introduction	Message To The Churches	Tribulation Period – Time of Jacob’s Trouble – 7 Years						1000 Years	Eternity
The Son of Man			Rapture	Judge	Tribulation	Great Tribulation	Second Advent	Millennium	Eternal State

II. The Sequence Of Events In The Future

A. It Starts When John Wrote It - Approximately 100 A.D

B. It Extends On Into Eternity - With A New Heaven And A New Earth

1. Just before the new heaven and new earth - the beginning of eternity

2. There is a final thousand year period on the existing earth - The millennium.

a. A time when Christ will rule the earth

1. With Resurrected Church

2. With Tribulation saints – Jew and Gentile

b. Churches or denominations will not rule the earth

Revelation 20:1¶ And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

Revelation 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

Revelation 20:3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Revelation 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

C. Before This 1000 Year Reign - Earth Is Under The Rule Of Antichrist

1. A Satanically-Controlled Man

2. The Bible calls him the "beast"

3. His world-wide government will last just 42 months

4. Then he will be defeated

Revelation 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

Revelation 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

D. Before That 42 Months Of Antichrist Reign

1. There will be a period of 1260 days of revival by the ‘two witnesses’

2. There will be tremendous prophecies and works of miracles

Revelation 11:3 ¶And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

Revelation 11:4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

Revelation 11:5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

Revelation 11:6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

D. The Beast Is Allowed To Conquer The 2 Witnesses – Sets Up His Empire

Revelation 11:7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

E. These Two Periods – 1260 days & 42 Months

1. Are consecutive

2. Each are 3 ½ years

3. Total 7 years – 7 years just before the Millennium

4. Called the Tribulation Period

a. The 1^st 3 ½ years is in chapters 4-11

b. The last 3 ½ years are covered in chapters 12-19

F. There Is A Scene In Chapter 4-5 That Just Precedes This Tribulation Period

1. This scene has a tremendous assembly of redeemed saints

a. Gathered around the throne

b. Singing praises to the Lamb of God

2. This scene can only take place if Christ has returned

a. He has gathered His people

b. Taken them with Him to heaven

John 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

I Corinthians 15:51¶ Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

I Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

I Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

I Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

Matthew 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Matthew 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

Matthew 24:39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Matthew 24:40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Matthew 24:41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Matthew 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

III. So We Can Study Revelation With Anticipation Without Fear

A. With Chapters 21 And 22 Dealing With Eternity

B. With Chapter 20 Dealing With The Millennium

C. Chapters 4-19 Dealing With The 7 Year "Tribulation" Period

D. Chapter 1 Is The Introduction

E. That Only Leaves Chapters 2-3 – The Church Age

a. Chapters 2 and 3 deal with the time from 100 AD to the rapture of the church

b. It only seems right that these chapters speak to the churches

IV. Greetings To The Seven Churches

Revelation 1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

Revelation 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

A. The Epistle Addressed To The 7 Churches In Asia

1. Not the continent of Asia

2. Not all of Asia Minor

3. Is the western end of Asia Minor

a. Borders on the Aegean Sea

b. Borders on the Mediterranean Sea

c. Area the size of Pennsylvania

   VI. The Almighty

Revelation 1:8 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.

1. "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End"

2. "Who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty"

VII. The Things Which Thou Hast Seen – Son of Man

Revelation 1:9 ¶ I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

Revelation 1:11  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.

Revelation 1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

Revelation 1:13 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 paps with a golden girdle.

Revelation 1:14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

Revelation 1:15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

Revelation 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

Revelation 1:17 And when I saw him, 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 1:18 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 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

Revelation 1:20 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: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

A. John's Circumstances Leading Up To The Vision of the Son of Man

1. Their brother and companion

 a. In tribulation – Tribulation under Roman Emperor Domition

 b. In the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ

2. On the island called Patmos

a. For the Word of God

b. For the testimony of Jesus Christ

3. In the Spirit on the Lord's Day – Day of the Lord

a. Not Sunday as some suppose

b. Many Scripture teach about the Day of the Lord:

Isaiah 2:12; Joel 1:15, 2:1, 3:14; Ezekiel 13:5; Malachi 4:5; Acts 2:20;

II Corinthians 1:14; I Thessalonians 5:2; II Peter 3:10

1. These all teach as the Day of the Lord’s return

2. Some at the beginning – Some at the end of the Tribulation

3. From chapter 5, Revelation describes the events after the Day of the Lord

B. What John Heard Behind Him On The Day Of The Lord

1. A loud voice, as of a trumpet

2. Saying to him...

a. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last

b. What you see, write in a book

c. Send it to the seven churches which are in Asia

C. What He Saw, And His Reaction

1. Turning to see the voice, he saw...

a. Seven golden candlesticks (lampstands) – receptacles for oil lamps

b. In the midst of the seven lampstands, One like the Son of Man

1. Clothed with a robe down to the feet – Gold Breast Band

2. His head and hair white as wool, white as snow

a. Christ as Ancient of Days – Daniel 7:9-22

b. Christ as judge

3. His eyes like a flame of fire

4) His feet like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace

5) His voice as the sound of many waters – rolling water

6) In His right hand, seven stars – Angels of seven churches

7) Out of His mouth, a sharp two-edged sword – Sword of Justice

8) His countenance like the sun shining in its strength

      2. Seeing Him, John fell at His feet as dead

D. The Lord's Words To John

1. Do not be afraid

a. I am the First and the Last

b. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore

c. I have the keys of Hades (underworld) and of Death (Grave)

2. The mystery of the seven stars...and the seven golden candlesticks

a. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches

b. The seven candlesticks are the seven churches

3. Write... The Key To Understanding the Book of Revelation

a. The things which thou hast seen

1. Vision of the Son of Man

2. Revelation 1:10-20

b. The things which are

1. Messages To The Seven Churches

2. Revelation 2:1-3, 22

c. The things which shall be hereafter

1. Literally ‘after these’ (events)

2. After the church Raptured, or after church age

E. The Seven Sevens

1. The Seven Churches – Revelation 2:1-3; 22

2. The Seven Seals – Revelation 6:1-8:5

3. The Seven Trumpets – Revelation 8:7-11:19

4. The Seven Persons – Revelation 12:1-13:8

5. The Seven Vials – Revelation 15:1-16:21

6. The Seven Dooms – Revelation 17:1-20:15

7. The Seven New Things – Revelation 21:1-22:5

a. Revelation is layed out with a series of 7 sevens

b. The 7 sevens are interrupted with intervals as shown on the Layout Chart

The Layout of The Book of Revelation

The Title – Revelation 1:1-3

The Salutation – Revelation 1:4-6

The Eminent Coming – Revelation 1:7

The Almighty – Revelation 1:8

I. The Things Which Thou Hast Seen – Revelation 1:9-20

The Vision of the Son of Man

II. The Things Which Are – Revelation 2:1 – 3:22

The Messages to the Seven Churches

III. The Things Which Shall Be Hereafter – Revelation 4:1 – 22:21

The Door of Heaven – Revelation 4:1

The Throne of Heaven – Revelation 4:2, 5, 6

The Twenty-Four Elders – Revelation 4:4

The Four Beasts – Revelation 4:6-11

The Book With Seven Seals – Revelation 5:1-14

Daniel’s Seventieth Week

1. The Seven Seals

First Seal – A White Horse – Revelation 6:1-2

Second Seal – A Red Horse – Revelation 6:3-4

Third Seal – A Black Horse – Revelation 6:5-6

Forth Seal - A Pale Horse – Revelation 6:7-8

Fifth Seal – Souls of the Martyrs – Revelation 6:9-11

Sixth Seal – Physical Earth Changes – Revelation 6:12-17

Interval Between The Sixth and Seventh Seal

1. Sealing of the 144,000 – Revelation 7:1-8

2. Blood Washed Multitude – Revelation 7:19-17

Seventh Seal – Silence and The Golden Censer – Revelation 8:1-5

2. The Seven Trumpet

First Trumpet – Hail, Fire, Blood – Revelation 6:1-2

Second Trumpet – Burning Mountain – Revelation 8:8-9

Third Trumpet – Wormwood, star – Revelation 8:10-11

Forth Trumpet – Sun, Moon & Stars Smitten – Revelation 8:12

The Angel Announces The Three Woes – Revelation 8:13

Fifth Trumpet – First Woe, Plague of Locusts – Revelation 9:1-12

Sixth Trumpet – Second Woe, Plague of Horsemen – Revelation 9:13-21

Interval Between The Sixth and Seventh Trumpet

1. The Little Book – Revelation 10:1-11

2. The Two Witnesses – Revelation 11:1-14

Seventh Trumpet – Third Woe, Covers the Rest of the Week

Includes 7 Persons, 7 Vials, & 4 Dooms – Revelation 11:15-20:10

The Middle of Daniel’s Seventieth Week

3. The Seven Persons

First Person – Sun-Clothed Woman – Revelation 12:1-2

Second Person – The Dragon – Revelation 12:3-4

Third Person – The Man-Child – Revelation 12:5-6

Forth Person – The Archangel – Revelation 12:7-12

Fifth Person – The Israeli Remnant – Revelation 12:13-17

Sixth Person – The Beast Out of the Sea – Revelation 13:1-10

Seventh Person – The Beast Out of the Earth – Revelation 13:11-18

Interval Between The Seventh Person and Seven Vials

1. The Lamb on Mount Zion – Revelation 14:1-5

2. The Three Angel Messengers – Revelation 14:6-7

3. The Blessed Dead – Revelation 14:12-13

4. The Harvest and Vintage – Revelation 14:14-20

4. The Seven Vials

Prelude – Revelation 15:1

1. The Sea of Glass – Revelation 15:2-4

2. The Tabernacle of Testimony – Rev elation 15:5-8

First Vial – Boils – Revelation 16:1-2

Second Vial – Blood on the Sea – Revelation 16:3

Third Vial – Blood on the Rivers – Revelation 16:4-7

Forth Vial – Great Heat – Revelation 16:8-9

Fifth Vial – Darkness – Revelation 16:10-11

Sixth Vial – Euphrates Dried Up – Revelation 16:12

Interval Between The Sixth and Seventh Vials

Three Unclean Spirits – Revelation 16:13-16

Seventh Vial – Great Hail – Revelation 16:17-21

5. The Seven Dooms

First Doom – Ecclesiastical Babylon – Revelation 17:1-18

Second Doom – Commercial Babylon – Revelation 12:3-4

Interval Between The Second And Third Dooms

1. The Hallelujah Chorus – Revelation 19:1-7

2. The Marriage of the Lamb – Revelation 19:8-10

3. The Battle of Armageddon – Revelation 19:11-21

Third Doom – The Antichrist & False Prophet – Revelation 19:20

Forth Doom – The Antichristian Nations – Revelation 19:21

Interval Between The Forth And Fifth Dooms

1. Satan Bound – Revelation 20:1-3

2. The First Resurrection – Revelation 20:4-5

3. The Millennium – Revelation 20:6

4. Satan Loosed – Revelation 20:7

Fifth Doom – Gog and Magog – Revelation 20:8-9

Sixth Doom – Satan – Revelation 20:10

Seventh Doom – The Wicked Dead – Revelation 20:11-15

6. The Seven New Things

First New Thing – The New Heaven – Revelation 21:1

Second New Thing – The New Earth – Revelation 21:2-8

Third New Thing – The New City – Revelation 21:9-23

Forth New Thing – The New Nations – Revelation 21:24-27

Fifth New Thing – The New River – Revelation 22:1

Sixth New Thing – The New Tree – Revelation 22:2

Seventh New Thing – The New Throne – Revelation 22:3-5

Final Testimony And Warnings – Revelation 22:6-21