Lesson 459 - Junior
Memory Verse
"Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein" (Revelation 1:3).
Notes
Patmos
There is a small island in the Aegean Sea on the coast of Turkey. It is located about sixty miles from the city of Ephesus. It is about ten miles long and six miles wide, treeless and rocky. To this lonely island, John was banished. As a follower of Jesus, John was persecuted, but still he lived. His persecutors, wanting to get him out of the way, sent him to the island of Patmos. We are not told if anyone else lived there among the rocks and caves. But there is no place so lonely or difficult but that Jesus will be with His own.
On the "Lord's day," which the first day of the week has come to be called since the resurrection of Jesus, John was "in the Spirit." He was, no doubt, in a spirit of prayer, worship, and meditation. As he thought about the Lord and His goodness John heard a great Voice telling him to write what he saw.
Making Known
Here it was, on this island, that Jesus made known to John the future things that had been secret. There were many prophecies about the first coming of Jesus. They were fulfilled at His birth, during His life, and at the time of His death and resurrection. These things that were revealed to John were different and probably have a double meaning. No doubt, they do show the periods of church history to the time of final victory. But greater still, they reveal Jesus, the Lamb of God, and the time when He comes as King of kings to reign in victory over all enemies.
Alpha and Omega
The message given to John came from Jesus. Three times He said, "I am Alpha and Omega" (the first and the last letters of the Greek alphabet) [REV:1:11]; [REV:21:6]; [REV:22:13])"the first and the last, the beginning and the ending. Jesus is the Eternal One and lives forever [REV:11:15]).
We have studied in the four Gospels how Jesus gave His life that we might have eternal life [JHN:3:14-16]). We have read that Jesus arose from the dead [MAT:28:6]) and is the "firstfruits" of them that sleep
[1CO:15:20], [1CO:15:23]). Jesus walked and talked with His disciples [LUK:24:15], [LUK:24:23]). He was seen by five hundred at one time [1CO:15:6]). The time came for Jesus to go to Heaven to be with God, His Father. In [ACT:1:9] we read how Jesus ascended in the clouds as He was blessing His people. Then they were told, "This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven" [ACT:1:11]). Now "Christ sitteth on the right hand of God" [COL:3:1]).
In the other Books of the New Testament we read how Jesus' disciples spread the Gospel. Peter preached, "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out" [ACT:3:19]), and at that time five thousand believed on the Lord [ACT:4:4]). Paul wrote to the Ephesians about sanctification. He said, "Christ also loved the church, and gave him self for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word" [EPH:5:25-26]). We have studied how the disciples taught the commandments of Jesus. Those who believed and obeyed received the Holy Ghost [ACT:10:44-46]; [ACT:19:2-6]).
So the teachings of Jesus spread and many were saved. Paul was a missionary and went to other countries to spread the Gospel. Many have received the words of life and have claimed the promises of healing and other blessings. Down through the years, the faithful followers of Jesus have carried out His command: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" [MAT:28:19-20]). Now people have a chance to hear the Gospel and be saved, but there is coming an end time.
Message
"Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him." The message that came to John was what will take place when Jesus comes again -- what the unsaved and unprepared will do, as well as what will be the reward of those who are prepared to meet the Lord.
There is a blessing for those who read and those who hear the words of this Book, with a purpose to keep them. These are words of warning and one must take heed in order to escape the consequences. In [JAM:1:22] we read, "Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only." Let us open our heart, believe the Word, and prepare for whatever lies ahead for us.
Seven Churches
As we study the Book of Revelation, we will notice that the number seven is given many times. No doubt this means more than a number. It seems to convey the meaning of completeness. There were more than seven churches in Asia but these messages could be heart searching for all the churches and the people in the churches.
John saw the churches as golden candlesticks with "one like the Son of man" in their midst. He saw Jesus in priestly robes with power and authority. How different from the lowly Galilean who meekly entered Jerusalem riding upon a borrowed animal [MAT:21:5]) ! How different from the sinless One who gave His "back to the smiters" and his "cheeks to them that plucked off the hair" [ISA:50:6]; [MAT:27:30])! How different from the Lamb of God who answered "never a word" to His accusers [ISA:53:7]; [MAT:27:14]; [LUK:23:9])!
As we study these messages that Jesus revealed to John, let us be thankful that He loved us enough to warn us and to give us an opportunity to prepare for Heaven. Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." He has gone to prepare a mansion for you and is coming back to claim you for His own [JHN:14:1-3]). Jesus promised that whoever will confess Him before men here, He will claim before God the Father in Heaven [MAT:10:32]).
Questions
1. What does the word "revelation" mean?
2. Who revealed to John the things to come?
3. Where was John?
4. Why was he there?
5. Who is "Alpha and Omega"?
6. Why is it necessary to do the Word of God as well as to hear it?
7. Tell how Jesus ascended into Heaven.
8. Where is Jesus now?
9. How do we know that Jesus is coming again?
10. What can we do to prepare for Jesus' coming?