The Divine Certification of the Prospect
"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."
This Verse Refers to the Trinity, the Three Persons of the Godhead.
The Father is referred to in the words of vs. 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;"
The Son is referred to in the words of Rev. 22:13. "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last."
The Spirit is included in the words "Lord God . . . Almighty" (cf. Isaiah 44:6). "Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God."
The situation of the prophet John. John 1:9-11
"That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." "He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not." "He came unto his own, and his own received him not."
The location of the prophet John. Rev. 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."
His physical location. "In tribulation" (Grk. av thlipsis) Definite article refers to the specific persecution that has come on the Church. Paul long before warned that all must go through tribulation (Acts 14:22). The great tribulation is not in view (Matt. 24:21; Rev. 7:14). In this sense John is a brother and companion of all believers. 22 "Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God"
21 "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be." 14 "And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."
His spiritual location. "In the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ." Reads differently in R.V. and Greek text. In this sense, too, John is nothing more than a companion and brother of those to whom he writes. Greek text - "in kingdom and patience."
His geographical location. "In the isle that is called Patmos." This is the place to which he was banished by the decree of Domitian. Thus we see the church doctrine of sanctification being practiced by a religious society called government. The ones that are "set apart - sanctified" are the Savior and His workers that practice His truth. In this sense he is more than brother and companion - set apart both by human government and Christ. It was due to his apostleship that he was banished - set apart. He was the leader of the people and the spokesman for God. There on the Island, barren as it was, he was not banished from God. He received the greatest revelation ever received.
"Was" (Grk. tycvdµriv - past tense) may indicate that John is not now in the Isle as he writes the book. Probably only refers to the historical event of being on Patmos.
The condition of the prophet John. "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,"
This verse is the prophetic announcement of events to follow. Rev. 4:2 marks the actual entrance upon this experience. Rev. 17:3 and 21:10 mark events in the course of this experience. 2 "And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne." 3 "So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns." 10 "And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,"
Introduction
Here is one of the most perplexing passages of Scripture in the entire book of Revelation, in fact, in the entire Bible. Almost every word in this passage is under dispute among theologians and Bible teachers regardless of theological viewpoint.
The importance of this passage to the unfolding of the message of this book is the thing that makes it the focal point of controversy. Granted any one position and the rest of the book must be brought into conformity with that position. If that position is right, the message unfolds into a revelation. But if that position is wrong, the message remains hidden.
The interpretation of this passage therefore becomes a matter of major concern. In the interpretation of the passage there are just two methods of approach. One is called eisegesis, in which the student reads into the words of the text his own meaning. This is wrong. The other method is called exegesis, in which the student reads out of the words of the text the meaning which the writer put there. This is the right method of approach.
But the difficulty of interpretation is not to be minimized. Sincere men often fall into the wrong method of interpretation. And I hope that the Lord will safeguard this teacher from that error. It seems to me that the most obvious meaning of this passage in its content is the correct meaning. And I hope that I shall be able to support that in your thinking.
The location of the prophet John. Rev. 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."
His physical location. "In tribulation" (Grk. av thlipsis) Definite article refers to the specific persecution that has come on the Church. Paul long before warned that all must go through tribulation (Acts 14:22). The great tribulation is not in view (Matt. 24:21; Rev. 7:14). In this sense John is a brother and companion of all believers. 22 "Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God"
21 "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be." 14 "And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."
His spiritual location. "In the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ." Reads differently in R.V. and Greek text. In this sense, too, John is nothing more than a companion and brother of those to whom he writes. Greek text - "in kingdom and patience."
His geographical location. "In the isle that is called Patmos." This is the place to which he was banished by the decree of Domitian. Thus we see the church doctrine of sanctification being practiced by a religious society called government. The ones that are "set apart - sanctified" are the Savior and His workers that practice His truth. In this sense he is more than brother and companion - set apart both by human government and Christ. It was due to his apostleship that he was banished - set apart. He was the leader of the people and the spokesman for God. There on the Island, barren as it was, he was not banished from God. He received the greatest revelation ever received.
"Was" (Grk. tycvdµriv - past tense) may indicate that John is not now in the Isle as he writes the book. Probably only refers to the historical event of being on Patmos.
The condition of the prophet John. "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,"
This verse is the prophetic announcement of events to follow. Rev. 4:2 marks the actual entrance upon this experience. Rev. 17:3 and 21:10 mark events in the course of this experience. 2 "And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne." 3 "So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns." 10 "And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,"
Introduction
Here is one of the most perplexing passages of Scripture in the entire book of Revelation, in fact, in the entire Bible. Almost every word in this passage is under dispute among theologians and Bible teachers regardless of theological viewpoint.
The importance of this passage to the unfolding of the message of this book is the thing that makes it the focal point of controversy. Granted any one position and the rest of the book must be brought into conformity with that position. If that position is right, the message unfolds into a revelation. But if that position is wrong, the message remains hidden.
The interpretation of this passage therefore becomes a matter of major concern. In the interpretation of the passage there are just two methods of approach. One is called eisegesis, in which the student reads into the words of the text his own meaning. This is wrong. The other method is called exegesis, in which the student reads out of the words of the text the meaning which the writer put there. This is the right method of approach.
But the difficulty of interpretation is not to be minimized. Sincere men often fall into the wrong method of interpretation. And I hope that the Lord will safeguard this teacher from that error. It seems to me that the most obvious meaning of this passage in its content is the correct meaning. And I hope that I shall be able to support that in your thinking.
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