Bible in one year 3/26/2022 Revelation chapter 1-3
By
Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce
Christian
Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry &
Counseling
Introduction to the
revelation to John
Author: John Date: 90s
Authorship
-
according to the book itself the author’s name was John (1:4,9,22:8) a prophet
(22:9) Traditionally this John has been identified as John the apostle, the son
of Zebedee. That the style of the Revelation is different from that of the
gospel and the three epistle of John does not prove that the Revelation was
written by a different John. The nature of apocalyptic prisoner could easily
account for the differences in style.
Date
-- Clearly the Revelation was written in a
period when Christians were threatened by Rome, undoubtedly by pressure to make
them recant their faith and accept the cult of emperor worship. Some maintain
that the book was written during Nero’s persecution of Christians after the
burning of Rome in A.D.64. However, the more probable date is during the harsh
reign of that warped personality Domitian (A.D.81-96). This later date for the
book was held by the church Father Irenaeus and other early Christian writers,
and it agrees better with the picture of complacency and defection of the
churches in chapters 2 and 3. This dating is widely accepted by modern
scholars.
Interpretation – There are four principal
viewpoints concerning the interpretation of this book: 1) the preterist, which
views the prophecies of the book as having been fulfilled in the early history
of the church. 2) the historical, which understands the book as portraying a
panorama of the history of the church from the days of John to the end of
time;3) the idealist, which considers the book a pictorial unfolding of great
principles in constant conflict, without reference to actual events; and 4) the
futurist, which views most of the book (chap.4-22) as prophecy yet to be
fulfilled. The futurist is the viewpoint taken in these notes, based on the
principle of interpreting the text plainly.
The book is a revelation, or
apocalypse (1:1), and as such is expected to be understood. Much of it is
frighteningly clear. Some symbols are explained (1:20;17:1,15), others are not.
IT is always important to notice carefully the words “like”, “as” and “as it
were” (6:1;9:7), for these words indicate a comparison, not an identification.
Contents –this is the revelation of
Jesus Christ, and He is the center of the entire book (1:1). In His risen glory
(chapter1) He directs His churches on earth (Chaps.2-3). He is the slain and
risen Lamb to whom all worship is directed (chaps.4-5).The judgments of the
coming seven year period of tribulation on this earth are the display of the
wrath of the Lamb chaps.6-19; 6:16-17), and the return of Christ to this earth
is described in 19:11-21. The millennial reign of Christ is described in
chapter 20, and the new heavens and new earth in chapters 21 and 22. The
outline of the book is indicated in 1:19. The things that John had seen include
the vision of the risen Christ in chapter 1 “what is now” is described in the
letters to the seven churches of Asia Minor in chapters 2 and 3. “What will
take place later” are the prophecies of Chapters 4-22.
This
book is a book of prophecy, not prophecy merely in words but in visions
revealed to the seer. In the eyes of God, all the tings prophesied in this book
have already taken place. Thus, all were shown to the seer, vision after
vision. Therefore, most of the verbs used in this book are in the past tense.
The whole Bible reveals Christ; the book of Revelation especially, as the
conclusion, completion, and consummation of the whole Bile, is “the revelation
of Jesus Christ.” Although this book also reveals many other things, the focus
of its revelation is Christ, such as the vision of Christ as the High Priest in
the midst of the churches, caring for them in love yet with a judging attitude
(vv.13-16), the vision of Him as the Lion-Lamb in the midst of God’s throne and
of the four living creatures and in the midst of the twenty –four elders of the
universe, opening the seven seals of God’s universal administration(5:1-6:1),
and the vision of Him as “another strong Angel” coming down out of heaven to
take possession of the earth (10:1-8;18:1), etc., were never unveiled as they
are in this book.
Chapter 1 the revelation of
Christ and the testimony of Jesus
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:
2 Who bare record of
the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that
he saw.
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.
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;
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,
6 And hath made us
kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for
ever and ever. Amen.
7 Behold, he cometh
with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and
all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
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.
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.
10 I was in the Spirit
on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
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.
12 And I turned to see
the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden
candlesticks;
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.
14 His head and his
hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of
fire;
15 And his feet like
unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of
many waters.
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.
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:
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.
19 Write the things
which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be
hereafter;
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.
『耶穌基督的啟示，就是神賜給祂，叫祂將必要快發生的事指示祂的眾奴僕；祂就藉著祂的使者傳達，用表號指示祂的奴僕約翰。』啟一1
『約翰便將神的話，和耶穌基督的見證，凡自己所看見的，都見證出來。』啟一2
『念這豫言的話，和那些聽見又遵守其中所記載的，都是有福的，因為時候近了。』啟一3
『約翰寫信給在亞西亞的七個召會：願恩典與平安，從那今是昔是以後永是的，從祂寶座前的七靈，』啟一4
『並從那忠信的見證人、死人中的首生者、為地上君王元首的耶穌基督，歸與你們。祂愛我們，用自己的血，把我們從我們的罪中釋放了；』啟一5
『又使我們成為國度，作祂神與父的祭司；願榮耀權能歸與祂，直到永永遠遠。阿們。』啟一6
『看哪，祂駕雲降臨，眾目要看見祂，連刺祂的人也要看見祂；地上的眾支派都要因祂捶胸哀哭。是的，阿們。』啟一7
『主神說，我是阿拉法，我是俄梅嘎，是今是昔是以後永是的全能者。』啟一8
『我約翰，就是你們的弟兄，和你們在耶穌的患難、國度、忍耐裏一同有分的，為神的話和耶穌的見證，曾在那名叫拔摩的海島上。』啟一9
『當主日我在靈裏，聽見在我後面有大聲音如吹號說，』啟一10
『你所看見的，當寫在書上，寄給那七個召會：給以弗所、給士每拿、給別迦摩、給推雅推喇、給撒狄、給非拉鐵非、給老底嘉。』啟一11
『我轉過身來，要看是誰發聲與我說話；既轉過來，就看見七個金燈臺；』啟一12
『燈臺中間，有一位好像人子，身穿長袍，直垂到腳，胸間束著金帶。』啟一13
『祂的頭與髮皆白，如白羊毛、如雪，眼目如同火焰，』啟一14
『腳好像在爐中煅煉過明亮的銅，聲音如同眾水的聲音。』啟一15
『祂右手中拿著七星，從祂口中出來一把兩刃的利劍，面貌如同烈日中天發光。』啟一16
『我一看見，就仆倒在祂腳前，像死了一樣。祂用右手按著我說，不要懼怕；我是首先的，我是末後的，』啟一17
『又是那活著的；我曾死過，看哪，現在又活了，直活到永永遠遠，並且拿著死亡和陰間的鑰匙。』啟一18
『所以你要把所看見的事，和現在的事，以及這些事以後將要發生的事，都寫出來。』啟一19
『論到你所看見在我右手中的七星，和七個金燈臺的奧祕，那七星就是七個召會的使者，七燈臺就是七個召會。』啟一20
1 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;
2 I know thy works, and thy labour,
and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou
hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them
liars:
3 And hast borne, and hast patience,
and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
4 Nevertheless I have somewhat
against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
5 Remember therefore from whence
thou art fallen, and 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.
6 But this thou hast, that thou
hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.
7 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 tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
8 And unto the angel of the church
in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and
is alive;
9 I know thy works, and tribulation,
and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say
they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
10 Fear none of those things which
thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that
ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto
death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
11 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.
12 And to the angel of the church in
Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two
edges;
13 I know thy works, and where thou
dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast
not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr,
who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
14 But I have a few things against
thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught
Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things
sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
15 So hast thou also them that hold
the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.
16 Repent; or else I will come unto
thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
17 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 written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
18 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;
19 I know thy works, and charity,
and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be
more than the first.
20 Notwithstanding I have a few
things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth
herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication,
and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
21 And I gave her space to repent of
her fornication; and she repented not.
22 Behold, I will cast her into a
bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they
repent of their deeds.
23 And I will kill her children with
death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins
and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
24 But unto you I say, and unto the
rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known
the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
25 But that which ye have already
hold fast till I come.
26 And he that overcometh, and
keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
27 And he shall rule them with a rod
of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I
received of my Father.
28 And I will give him the morning
star.
29 He that hath an ear, let him hear
what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
『你要寫信給在以弗所的召會的使者，說，那右手中握著七星，在七個金燈臺中間行走的，這樣說，』啟二1
『我知道你的行為、勞碌、忍耐，也知道你不能容忍惡人；你也曾試驗那自稱是使徒卻不是使徒的，看出他們是假的；』啟二2
『你也有忍耐，曾為我的名忍受一切，並不乏倦。』啟二3
『然而有一件事我要責備你，就是你離棄了起初的愛。』啟二4
『所以要回想你是從那裏墜落的，並要悔改，行起初所行的。不然，我就要臨到你那裏；你若不悔改，我就把你的燈臺從原處挪去。』啟二5
『然而你有這件事，就是你恨惡尼哥拉黨的行為，這也是我所恨惡的。』啟二6
『那靈向眾召會所說的話，凡有耳的，就應當聽。得勝的，我必將神樂園中生命樹的果子賜給他喫。』啟二7
『你要寫信給在士每拿的召會的使者，說，那首先的、末後的、死過又活的，這樣說，』啟二8
『我知道你的患難和貧窮，其實你是富足的，也知道那自稱是猶太人，卻不是猶太人，乃是撒但會堂的人，所說毀謗的話。』啟二9
『你將要受的苦你不用怕。看哪，魔鬼將要把你們中間幾個人下在監裏，叫你們受試煉；你們必受患難十日。你務要至死忠信，我就賜給你那生命的冠冕。』啟二10
『那靈向眾召會所說的話，凡有耳的，就應當聽。得勝的，絕不會受第二次死的害。』啟二11
『你要寫信給在別迦摩的召會的使者，說，那有兩刃利劍的，這樣說，』啟二12
『我知道你的居所，就是有撒但座位之處。你持守著我的名，甚至當我忠信的見證人安提帕在你們中間，撒但所住之處被殺的那些日子，你也沒有否認對我的信仰。』啟二13
『然而有幾件事我要責備你，因為在你那裏，有人持守巴蘭的教訓；這巴蘭曾教導巴勒，將絆腳石放在以色列子孫面前，叫他們喫祭偶像之物，並且行淫亂。』啟二14
『你那裏也有人照樣持守尼哥拉黨的教訓。』啟二15
『所以你要悔改；不然，我就快臨到你那裏，用我口中的劍攻擊他們。』啟二16
『那靈向眾召會所說的話，凡有耳的，就應當聽。得勝的，我必將那隱藏的嗎哪賜給他，並賜他一塊白石，上面寫著新名，除了那領受的以外，沒有人認識。』啟二17
『你要寫信給在推雅推喇的召會的使者，說，那眼目如火焰，腳像明亮之銅的神之子，這樣說，』啟二18
『我知道你的行為、愛、信、服事、忍耐，也知道你末後所行的，比起初的更多。』啟二19
『然而有一件事我要責備你，就是你容讓那自稱是女申言者的婦人耶洗別教導我的奴僕，引誘他們行淫亂，並喫祭偶像之物。』啟二20
『我曾給她時間，讓她悔改，她卻不肯悔改她的淫行。』啟二21
『看哪，我要叫她臥病在床，那些與她行淫的人，若不為她所行的悔改，我也要叫他們受大患難。』啟二22
『我又要用死亡擊殺她的兒女，叫眾召會都知道，我是那察看人肺腑心腸的；我且要照你們的行為報應你們各人。』啟二23
『至於你們推雅推喇其餘的人，就是一切不持有那教訓，不明白他們所謂撒但深奧之事的人，我告訴你們，我不將別的重擔放在你們身上。』啟二24
『但你們已經有的，總要持守，直等到我來。』啟二25
『得勝的，又守住我的工作到底的，我要賜給他權柄制伏列國；』啟二26
『他必用鐵杖轄管他們，將他們如同窯戶的瓦器打得粉碎，像我從我父領受的權柄一樣；』啟二27
『我又要把晨星賜給他。』啟二28
『那靈向眾召會所說的話，凡有耳的，就應當聽。』啟二29
Chapter 3 the message to Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea
1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
2 Be watchful, and strengthen the
things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works
perfect before God.
3 Remember therefore how thou hast
received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not
watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will
come upon thee.
4 Thou hast a few names even in
Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in
white: for they are worthy.
5 He that overcometh, the same shall
be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book
of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
6 He that hath an ear, let him hear
what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
7 And to the angel of the church in
Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he
that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth,
and no man openeth;
8 I know thy works: behold, I have
set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength,
and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
9 Behold, I will make them of the
synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I
will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have
loved thee.
10 Because thou hast kept the word
of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall
come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that
fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. v
12 Him that overcometh will I make a
pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write
upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new
Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon
him my new name.
13 He that hath an ear, let him hear
what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
14 And unto the angel of the church
of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true
witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art
neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art
lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich,
and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou
art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold
tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou
mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and
anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and
chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and
knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and
will sup with him, and he with me.
21 To him that overcometh will I
grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down
with my Father in his throne.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear
what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
『你要寫信給在撒狄的召會的使者，說，那有神的七靈和七星的，這樣說，我知道你的行為，按名你是活的，其實是死的。』啟三1
『你要儆醒，堅固那剩下將要衰微的；因我沒有見到你的行為，在我神面前有一樣是完成的。』啟三2
『所以要回想你是怎樣領受，怎樣聽見的，又要遵守，並要悔改。若不儆醒，我必臨到你那裏如同賊一樣。我幾時臨到，你也絕不能知道。』啟三3
『然而在撒狄，你還有幾名是未曾玷污自己衣服的，他們要穿白衣與我同行，因為他們是配得過的。』啟三4
『得勝的，必這樣穿白衣；我也絕不從生命冊上塗抹他的名，並且要在我父面前，和我父的眾使者面前，承認他的名。』啟三5
『那靈向眾召會所說的話，凡有耳的，就應當聽。』啟三6
『你要寫信給在非拉鐵非的召會的使者，說，那聖別的、真實的，拿著大衛的鑰匙，開了就沒有人能關，關了就沒有人能開的，這樣說，』啟三7
『我知道你的行為；看哪，我在你面前給你一個敞開的門，是無人能關的；因為你稍微有一點能力，也曾遵守我的話，沒有否認我的名。』啟三8
『看哪，那撒但會堂的，自稱是猶太人，其實不是猶太人，乃是說謊的；看哪，我要使他們來在你腳前下拜，並使他們知道，我已經愛你了。』啟三9
『你既遵守我忍耐的話，我也必保守你免去那將要臨到普天下，試煉一切住在地上之人試煉的時候。』啟三10
『我必快來，你要持守你所有的，免得有人奪去你的冠冕。』啟三11
『得勝的，我要叫他在我神殿中作柱子，他也絕不再從那裏出去；我又要將我神的名，和我神城的名，（這城就是由天上從我神那裏降下來的新耶路撒冷，）並我的新名，都寫在他上面。』啟三12
『那靈向眾召會所說的話，凡有耳的，就應當聽。』啟三13
『你要寫信給在老底嘉的召會的使者，說，那阿們，那忠信真實的見證人，那神創造之物的元始，這樣說，』啟三14
『我知道你的行為，你也不冷也不熱；我巴不得你或冷或熱。』啟三15
『你既如溫水，也不熱也不冷，我就要從我口中把你吐出去。』啟三16
『因為你說，我是富足，已經發了財，一樣都不缺；卻不知道你是那困苦、可憐、貧窮、瞎眼、赤身的。』啟三17
『我勸你向我買火煉的金子，叫你富足；又買白衣穿上，叫你赤身的羞恥不露出來；又買眼藥擦你的眼睛，使你能看見。』啟三18
『凡我所愛的，我就責備管教；所以你要發熱心，也要悔改。』啟三19
『看哪，我站在門外叩門；若有聽見我聲音就開門的，我要進到他那裏，我與他，他與我要一同坐席。』啟三20
『得勝的，我要賜他在我寶座上與我同坐，就如我得了勝，在我父的寶座上與祂同坐一樣。』啟三21
『那靈向眾召會所說的話，凡有耳的，就應當聽。』啟三22
Bibliography,
King James, The Holy Bible,
Cleveland, OH: The world publishing company
Lee, Witness. The
New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.
Ryrie, Charles C. The
Ryrie study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986
Roberts, Oral. “Holy Bible” (KJV) Tulsa, OK:
Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association, Inc, 1981
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