The Revelation of Jesus Christ Decoded

By Roland Nelson

The Revelation of Jesus Christ Decoded follows the NKJV of the book of Revelation to capture the natural, metaphorical, and spiritual interpretations of scripture. The book is designed not only for those of Christian faith but also for anyone who wishes to understand what Christian doctrine is really about without the religiosity that some denominations might adhere to. At the same time, it provides spiritual insights on the fuller meaning of some scriptural verses, such that all readers will come away with a refreshing new insight and understanding.

The book is broken down into three distinct areas: foundational doctrine; prophetic (scroll), declaration (trumpets), and judgment (bowls) affirmations; and end-times prophecy. In all areas, the interpretation has been validated by other scripture and references to create an accurate and reasonable illustration that readers will comprehend as concepts are presented.

The author’s hope is that you enjoy this book and come away with a better appreciation of the last book of the Bible and what God has done for you.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 10, 2024
• ISBN: 9798892430678

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The Revelation of Jesus Christ Decoded

Roland Nelson

ISBN 979-8-89243-066-1 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-89243-067-8 (digital)

Copyright © 2024 by Roland Nelson

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

To all those who bring the true message of Christ to people. The journey is difficult and often without thanks, but it is needed nonetheless. Thank you.

Acknowledgements

Who Comes before the King?

Introduction

Revelation 1

Introduction and Benediction

Greeting the Seven Churches

Vision of the Son of Man

Study Questions and Notes

Revelation 2

The Loveless Church

The Persecuted Church

The Compromising Church

The Corrupt Church

Study Questions and Notes

Revelation 3

The Dead Church

The Faithful Church

The Lukewarm Church

Study Questions and Notes

Revelation 4

The Throne Room of Heaven

Study Questions and Notes

Revelation 5

The Lamb Takes the Scroll

Worthy Is the Lamb

Study Questions and Notes

Revelation 6

First Seal: The Conqueror

Second Seal: Conflict on Earth

Third Seal: Scarcity on Earth

Fourth Seal: Widespread Death on Earth

Fifth Seal: The Cry of the Martyrs

Sixth Seal: Cosmic Disturbances

Study Questions and Notes

Revelation 7

The Sealed of Israel

A Multitude from the Great Tribulation

Study Questions and Notes

Revelation 8

Seventh Seal: Prelude to the Seven Trumpets

First Trumpet: Vegetation Struck

Second Trumpet: The Seas Struck

Third Trumpet: The Waters Struck

Fourth Trumpet: The Heavens Struck

Study Questions and Notes

Revelation 9

Fifth Trumpet: The Locusts from the Bottomless Pit

Sixth Trumpet: The Angels from the Euphrates

Study Questions and Notes

Revelation 10

The Mighty Angel with the Little Book

John Eats the Little Book

Study Questions and Notes

Revelation 11

The Two Witnesses

The Witnesses Killed

The Witnesses Resurrected

Seventh Trumpet: The Kingdom Proclaimed

Study Questions and Notes

Revelation 12

The Woman, the Child, and the Dragon

Satan Thrown Out of Heaven

The Woman Persecuted

Study Questions and Notes

Revelation 13

The Beast from the Sea

The Beast from the Earth

Study Questions and Notes

Revelation 14

The Lamb and the 144,000

The Proclamations of Three Angels

Reaping the Earth's Harvest

Reaping the Grapes of Wrath

Study Questions and Notes

Revelation 15

Prelude to the Bowl Judgments

The Song of Moses—Exodus 15:1–18

The Song of Moses—Deuteronomy 32:1–43

Study Questions and Notes

Revelation 16

The Seven Bowls

First Bowl: Loathsome Sores

Second Bowl: The Sea Turns to Blood

Third Bowl: The Waters Turn to Blood

Fourth Bowl: Men Are Scorched

Fifth Bowl: Darkness and Pain

Sixth Bowl: Euphrates Dried Up

Seventh Bowl: The Earth Utterly Shaken

Study Questions and Notes

Revelation 17

The Scarlet Woman and the Scarlet Beast

The Meaning of the Woman and the Beast

Study Questions and Notes

Revelation 18

The Fall of Babylon the Great

The World Mourns Babylon's Fall

Finality of Babylon's Fall

Study Questions and Notes

Revelation 19

Heaven Exults over Babylon

Christ on a White Horse

The Beast and His Armies Defeated

Study Questions and Notes

Revelation 20

Satan Bound for 1,000 Years

The Saints Reign with Christ for 1,000 Years

The Defeat of Satan

The Great White Throne Judgment

Study Questions and Notes

Revelation 21

All Things Made New

The New Jerusalem

The Glory of the New Jerusalem

Study Questions and Notes

Revelation 22

The River of Life

The Time Is Near

Jesus Testifies to the Churches

A Warning

I Am Coming Quickly

Study Questions and Notes

Bibliography

Concordances and Commentaries

Bible Translations Used

Other References

The Author and His Personal Testimony

About the Author

To all those who bring the true message of Christ to people. The journey is difficult and often without thanks, but it is needed nonetheless. Thank you.

Acknowledgements

First and foremost, I thank God for the journey He took me on while writing this manuscript. He is an awesome God. He patiently walked me through the interpretation of Revelation and supporting scripture. I often received revelation light and direction for the work that I was about to do, whether it was for that day or the next few days. I made notes almost every night and then transcribed them during the day, as I followed Revelation scripture. He always answered my questions and was timely in His response. He also gave me information that only He would know. Wow! Thank you, Lord.

I thank my incredible wife, Maureen Nelson, for being patient and encouraging with my work. She often had to listen to new insights that I discovered along this journey, different than traditional thinking. I know after some time, that might become tedious.

I also thank my friends, some of whom had great ideas for the book, such as putting study questions and notes at the end of each chapter for readers. The comments and ideas helped frame the manuscript to provide clarity for readers and their spiritual growth. They also encouraged me as I slowly made my way through this book. It took me almost two years to complete and, therefore, encouragement was welcomed. This wonderful circle of friends include: Nelson Wolf, Tim Seivewright, Bryan Fitz, Richard McLaughlin, Keith Pearcy, and our Bible study group. I would also like to thank David Jaques who had a list of questions, all of which were addressed in the manuscript to make it thorough and sound. Thank you, everyone.

I would also like to thank and acknowledge all those pastors who I regularly watch, listen to, or read their ministry sermons and work. Of course, this includes my own pastor, Dean Forster from Champion City Church (Edmonton, AB). Although some interpretations vary slightly from others, they are amazing men of God who have the Lord in their hearts to teach truth about Jesus and the gospels.

Finally, I would like to thank my publisher, Christian Faith Publishing, and their family of editors and staff. A special thanks for Linda Hewlett, Senior Literary Agent, and Brian Greenawalt, Publication Specialist, for their time and patience. They have been instrumental in bringing this book to publication and have provided support in all facets of media genre to promote it. Thank you.

Who Comes before the King?

Who, then, is allowed to ascend the mountain of Yahweh?

And who has the privilege of entering into God's Holy Place?

Those who are clean—whose works and ways are pure,

whose hearts are true and sealed by the truth,

those who never deceive, whose words are sure.

They will receive Yahweh's blessing and

righteousness given by the Savior-God.

They will stand before God,

for they seek the pleasure of God's face, the God of Jacob.

—Psalm 24:3–6 (TPT)

Introduction

The book of Revelation of Jesus Christ was given to John while he was exiled on the island of Patmos. Throughout all the scriptures, whether they were Old or New Testament, the God-breathed Word was given to us in the form of allegories, metaphors, and parables to typify what is to come, to give examples of behaviors that we can learn from, and to discover and show the amazing love of God. Even the names of the people and places used in the Word are not by chance and must be considered in demystifying, decoding, and understanding the Word that was written. No book is more complex and allegorical than the book of Revelation, from which we must learn.

This interpretation of the Revelation of Jesus Christ is based on previous meanings and from prayer to receive revelation light with corroboration used from the entirety of the scriptures, concordances, commentaries, synonyms of Greek and Hebrew words, and the meanings of names used in the book. Other analyses of this book have suggested that the book is apocalyptic and carries with it a warning to people of the wrath of God, who will take a step back while Satan, the prince of this world, and people destroy themselves.

Their apocalyptic interpretation shows the ancient wrath of God coming forth in a precursor to a utopian and eternal life. The children of God are saved from this by ascension to the heavens in a tribulation rapture. But does this interpretation of the Revelation of Jesus Christ hold true, along with its fullness of what is being said, considering all aspects of the book, natural and spiritual, including names and other scripture?

In reading the many interpretations of Revelation, many issues arose in my own mind that I questioned because they did not fit the continued display of God's love, mercy, and grace as shown to me in my life and throughout the scriptures, especially in the New Testament.

Psalm 107:41–43 (NLT) says the following:

But he rescues the poor from trouble and increases their families like flocks of sheep. The godly will see these things and be glad, while the wicked are struck silent [as they would not understand]. Those who are wise will take all this to heart; they will see in our history the faithful love of the Lord.

This book examines the known allegorical examples and names used in the Bible to describe the Revelation of Jesus Christ's fuller meaning, naturally and spiritually, to see whether the love of God comes shining through once again in this final example of the Word of God, or is it the fearful message that many have ascribed this book to convey? I pray and hope that you journey with me to consider the Revelation of Jesus Christ as the fifth gospel, and His journey and testimony to bring us closer to God, the Father.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ is a book of symbols, and the understanding of those symbols is essential to understanding the book. I have found that Revelation, although initially cryptic but now unfolded, was written not just for believers who desire to take the next step to know the Lord Jesus as a confidant and friend and be consumed by His glory but for unbelievers as well so that they can come to know and understand God and His love, mercy, and grace.

It is the most spiritual book you will ever read and must be eaten¹ if it is to be understood. It unveils Christ and instructs us on how to be in complete union with Him as we journey to know Him better. It is also a discovery of ourselves where humility and revelation meet and where our hearts and minds are illuminated with the truth of God. It is not about the end of times, death, and destruction, although elements of this aspect are present; it is about life and coming into a new era of living. The Revelation of Jesus Christ is more than a manual of things to come but is an essential ingredient in our journey to understand and know our Lord Jesus, God's Son and returning King.

Moreover, its complexity is like a three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle. Pieces taken from different eras of time mixed with symbolism mixed with the spiritual versus the natural and allegories are all intertwined to reveal elements of truth building upon one another to reveal Jesus, the Messiah, similar to the Old Testament.

Hebrews 1:1–2 (AMP) corroborates this:

God, having spoken to the fathers long ago in the voices and writings of the prophets in many separate revelations, each of which set forth a portion of the truth, and in many ways, has in these last days spoken with finality to us…Jesus, whom He appointed heir and lawful owner of all things.

As this verse describes, the Bible is a matrix of prophetic and allegorical writings that describe Jesus, His fullness, and why He came. Jesus created everything and is the image of God the Father, and because of His love for us, He sacrificed Himself to cleanse us of our sins and took His seat at the right hand of the Father. Hebrews 9:12 tells us that through His sacrifice, He obtained and secured eternal redemption, or salvation, for all who personally believe in Him as Savior. But does His love come through in His final book of the Bible to lead us into His spiritual fullness?

Through the complexity of this book, which is exacerbated further by not being chronological, it is difficult to examine His love for us and whether it is or is not lost. In my discernment of the book, I have done my best to explain all the issues that are said in the order in which they were said and to reference chronology as it occurs.

My goal is expressed in 2 Corinthians 1:12–13: Not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you. For we are not writing any other things to you than what you read or understand. Now I trust you will understand, even to the end.

In 1 Corinthians 1:19 and Isaiah 29:14, it says, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 1 Corinthians 2 speaks of His hidden truth to be only revealed to us through God's Holy Spirit and only to those He chooses; others may make assumptions and interpretations that may appear wise but are foolish to Him.

2 Peter 1:20–21 says, Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. I pray that the information that I have provided here has been discerned properly and given through faith in the Lord and supported by scripture. You decide.

The theme of this interpretation is to lead believers into a fuller understanding of the Word of God (Bible) through this testimony of Jesus and to help them grow in spiritual maturity and understanding of the will of God in their lives. It is also designed to assist those unbelievers to have a fuller understanding of what Christianity is really about and not the ritualistic views of some denominations. No other religion or god has sacrificed and done so much for their people than Jesus and our triune God.

And finally, does the Book of Revelation, cast as the end-of-days prophetic book, show that the love of God for us, through His Son Jesus, is so great that He wants to lead us to come to Him in a personal relationship so that we may eventually live with Him for all eternity?

I sincerely hope that you enjoy this interpretation of the Revelation of Jesus Christ and that it helps you in your growth toward spiritual maturity or, at the very least, toward understanding Jesus and what He represents to us. 1 Peter 1:13 says, Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 1

Introduction and Benediction

¹The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place.

The word revelation is interpreted from the Greek word apokalypsis, which combines the words apo, to lift, with kalupto, veil or hide, and therefore could be translated into the lifting of the veil. This is not necessarily lifting the veil of coming events but the unveiling of Jesus.

Similarly, the word servant is from the Greek work doulos, which means bond servant or someone willing to remain after being given his freedom.

And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,

²who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.

³Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

Verse 2 expressly states that this book is the testimony of Jesus Christ. Verse 3 contains the first of seven blessings found in Revelation. The first blessing is for those who read and hear or understand the spiritual meaning of the words that are written in this book. The seven blessings found in Revelation are found in verses 1:3, 14:13, 16:15, 19:9, 20:5–6, 22:7, and 22:14. The number 7 is the foundation of God's Word in the Bible and means completeness, fullness, wholeness, and perfection.

Greeting the Seven Churches

⁴John, to the seven churches which are in Asia.

The seven churches mean the body of Christ that is complete or whole. Although there is a specific reference to the churches being in Asia, they are actually meant for us as His church and to emphasize that the issues are the names of the churches located in Asia of that time.

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,

⁵and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.

Isaiah 11:2–5 describes the seven Spirits thus:

The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord [or reverence]. His delight is in the fear of the Lord, and He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, nor decide by the hearing of His ears; but with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, and faithfulness the belt of His waist.

Righteousness and faithfulness are the core virtues of the seven Spirits' work. The book of Revelation is structured around the number 7.

Jesus is the faithful witness to us. He sacrificed Himself to be faithful not only to His Father but to us as well to bring us back to the original plan of God, to be and walk with Him. His humility to be like men and obedient to His death was all done in an effort to be able to return men to Him.

Philippians 2:7–9 explains:

But made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name.

Similarly, Colossians 1:20 says, And by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. This verse says that not just men were to be reconciled to God for Jesus's death but all things.

In Genesis 1:27–28, God created man in His own image and directed them to [be] fruitful and multiply, fill and subdue the earth, and have dominion over every living thing. A relationship developed between God, Adam, and Eve, as described in Genesis 3:8, where Jesus walked in the garden of Eden to converse with them. That relationship and the benefits from it were lost due to their disrespect and disobedience to God when they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, directly against God's instructions; they could eat from any tree in the garden except this tree, or they would die (Genesis 2:17).

Consequently, Adam and Eve died spiritually, no longer having God's presence in the garden to fill them, and abdicated their right of dominion over the earth and inadvertently gave that right to Satan, who deceitfully caused them to eat from the tree.

Jesus's death was to restore everything, including the garden (world) and especially His relationship with us and our relationship with God the Father. However, 2 Corinthians 4:4 (NLT) says, Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

The good news in this context is Jesus and the salvation that He purchased by dying for our sins, going to Hades to retrieve the keys of dominion and death over the earth, and returning to earth and then heaven in glorious victory. He is the firstborn from the dead.

Jesus is the ruler of the kings of the earth. Psalm 89:27 says, I will make Him My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. Jesus is not and will not be accepted as ruler of the kings of the earth until He returns. Even up until Revelation 19:19, the kings of the earth gather together to make war against Him; however, in Revelation 21:24, the kings finally see the light, receive understanding, and come to worship and honor Him.

To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, ⁶and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus willingly went to the cross to shed His blood as a sacrifice for us, to wash our sins with His blood. Hebrews 7:27 says, Who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the peoples, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. Similarly, 1 Timothy 2:5–6 says, For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all.

We, as believers in Jesus, have the nature of a king and a priest embedded in us through Christ. He made us into this holy order and to be in union with Him. Revelation 5:10 says, And have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.

⁷Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.

Daniel 7:13–14 says the following:

I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One, like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days [the heavenly Father], and they brought Him [Jesus] near before Him [the Father]. Then to Him [Jesus] was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.

For He is coming with clouds is referenced in Hebrews 12:1, Matthews 26:64, and 1 Thessalonians 4:17 in similar scriptural passages. Every eye will see Him speaks to two complementary but very different opinions; the first is that with modern technology, it will be quite possible for every eye to witness the phenomenon of Jesus returning with clouds, as cameras can broadcast these images around the world. However, this is a spiritual book, and it may also mean that people will observe or feel Jesus returning through their eyes or hearts as revivals take place around the world. It is very possible that both of these ideas are viable and may complement each other when Jesus returns.

The second part of verse 7 is interesting in that it says, "Even they who pierced Him." It is we who have pierced His side with the spear of unbelief and sin until we repent and proclaim belief in Jesus as the Son of God to receive forgiveness.

There is also a deeper level of discernment in this verse; when Jesus was pierced between his ribs, both water and blood flowed (John 19:34–35), which speaks of birth. God had birthed Eve from one of Adam's ribs (Genesis 2:21–22) while Christ birthed His bride, or church (Psalm 22:25), from the spear that left his ribs, followed by His resurrection. He wants His church to become just like Him, righteous and holy (1 Corinthians 12:12). Living water (the Holy Spirit) was poured out to heal, save, and give eternal life to all who believe in Jesus, His church (John 7:38–39).

And all the tribes of earth will mourn because of Him speaks of mourning because people will finally come to the realization that Jesus is, in fact, the Son of God, and they failed to follow Him, instead maintaining their worldly ideology. Although many will come to realize this sooner than others, Revelation 20 speaks of the time when Jesus returns, and everyone will make that realization.

⁸I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

Jesus is declaring that He is the beginning and the end in the realms of time, knowledge, creation, and faithfulness. He is all that is in between. He is truth; He is the Almighty God.

Vision of the Son of Man

⁹I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

All believers experience persecution, great pressure, or tribulation (2 Thessalonians 1:4 and 2 Timothy 3:12). The kingdom of God began on earth after Christ was raised from the dead, according to Isaiah 9:7.

Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

The patience of Jesus Christ is His partnership with you in Him, as He is in you (1 Corinthians 1:30, Galatians 2:20, 1 John 5:20, Romans 5:5, and 2 Timothy 1:14).

Patmos is a small island off the coast of Turkey and was believed to be a Roman penal colony. Patmos means my crushing or my killing. John's killing and our killing took place on the cross. Galatians 2:20 says, I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.

John was living and preaching around Ephesus when he was apprehended and sent to Rome. The emperor, Domitian, ordered that John be put to death in a cauldron of boiling oil. By a miracle, he escaped without injury. Domitian then banished him to the island of Patmos, where he wrote the book of Revelation. Nerva, the successor of Domitian, recorded that John was the only apostle who escaped a violent death. The testimony of Jesus Christ is the book of Revelation (Revelation 1:2).

¹⁰I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,

¹¹saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, and, What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.

John was praying and, in a trance, saw a vision to gain understanding from the Holy Spirit. Job 32:8 says, But there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding. This scripture is not talking about the spirit of man but of the Holy Spirit in man. When one is reborn spiritually because of his belief in Jesus Christ, just as John was, he gains the Holy Spirit as well, who helps guide the children of God.

John heard a loud voice behind him, as of a trumpet. The loud voice behind him speaks of Old Testament scriptures, prophecies, and examples of what God has already done for us. We are to use these messages as proclamations and examples of what we are seeing and experiencing today. The voice is as of a trumpet, indicating that these past messages are being shouted out to us for us to learn from.

The seven churches in Asia that were named by Jesus were located in cities in Turkey that John and Paul had birthed. There were many other churches that were birthed and had issues, but these specific churches were named for a reason, which is discussed at the end of chapter 3.

¹²Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me.

John was in the spirit. It was not his physical turning but his spiritual or inward turning that occurred. The same Greek word is used for converted in Acts 3:19: Repent therefore and be converted [or turned], that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. Turning in this context is an act of humility. Similarly, John did not see the voice that talked with him but received a vision and words within it.

And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands,

¹³and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.

The seven golden lampstands represent the seven churches (Revelation 1:20). The lampstands, or menorahs, are made of refined gold, just as Christ has purified and made holy his church. The lampstand is a symbol of the burning presence of Christ. The Son of Man is Jesus appearing as King and High Priest. Jewish priestly duties included tending the lampstands and filling them with fresh oil; in this type and shadow of past events, Jesus fills the church, or believers, with His Holy Spirit.

The words golden band, or sash, used here is the Greek word mastos and is used most often as a woman's heart or love. It represents the compassionate love Jesus has for His bride, the church. Daniel 10:5 says, I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! Daniel witnessed a similar event in his vision as well. Uphaz is another name for Ophir, the city where Solomon collected regular shipments of gold and other goods.

¹⁴His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;

¹⁵His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters.

His head speaks of His authority while white as snow speaks of His righteousness. White also signifies wisdom, omniscience, justice, purity, and leadership. In Daniel 7:9, he describes a similar scene of his vision, but the person with the white hair was the Ancient of Days, or God the Father. However, in Daniel 10:6, his description of Jesus is almost identical to that of John's—His eyes like a flame of fire, His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace—equating Jesus with His Father in description. Revelation 2:18 and 19:12 reiterate this description of Jesus.

His eyes like a flame of fire are able to penetrate or burn their way into our minds, hearts, and bodies to know our thoughts and intentions. Hebrews 4:12 corroborates this: Piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace is a biblical symbol of passing through judgment, which in this case is for our sins. His feet are hot or on fire and symbolize fires of the heart being kindled for Him and by Him wherever He walks. His voice as the sound of many waters speaks of the sounds of many spirits, or angels. In Ezekiel 1:24, waters are clear references to angels and their wings; in Revelation 19:4–10, the context of waters is a reference to people. It is not a single voice but a reverberation of voices of angels or people coming into Jesus's likeness of righteousness and holiness.

¹⁶He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.

Jesus holds the seven stars in His right hand, the place of honor next to Him. The seven stars are the messengers of the Word in the churches—pastors, priests, or ministers (Revelation 1:20). The New King James Version (NKJV) translates the Greek word messengers to angels, whereas Malachi 2:7 translates the same word to priest: For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, and people should seek the law from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. Heavenly angels would have no need for letters as a form of communication, nor would they be reprimanded as later indicated.

The sword is a metaphor for the truth, as in to cut to the truth. This description works in conjunction with His eyes like a flame of fire (verse 14). Through Jesus knowing all things, including our thoughts and intents, He is able to properly correct and guide us to deeper understanding of Him and His Word and to have a more abundant life.

The sword is not just truth; it is also the Word of God or Jesus. John 1:1–4 and 10–14 describe Jesus as the Word. John 14:6 says, Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.' The sword is sharp, double-edged, and used as a tool to defeat His enemies, the devil, and the mountains in His way. The edges are the proclamation of God's Word, or speaking to the enemy, and all forms of prayer, including in the spirit, acknowledgment and confession, adoration and praise, supplication and petition, forgiveness and intercession, and deliverance and thanksgiving. By using all these types of prayer, you are inviting Jesus into your battles.

His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength can be seen from scriptures as early as Psalm 84:11, where it says, For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. Jesus's countenance miracle can also be found in the New Testament when Jesus took three of His disciples up a mountain with Him in Matthew 17:2 and Mark 9:2–3: He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.

¹⁷And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.

¹⁸I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen.

In verse 16, Jesus holds the seven stars in his right hand and now lays his right hand on John. Jesus's right hand does not only provide honor to those at His right hand, but it also speaks of His authority and blessing.

Psalm 16:11 talks about believers being at Jesus's right hand and reaping the benefits of His love: You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 118:15–16 describes God holding His believers in His right hand, surrounding believers with His presence (tents of the righteous) and raising them high for courageous, valiant, and exalted things: The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly. The right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly.

Similarly, Isaiah 41:10 says, Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. As we go through tribulation and mature in our belief in Christ, we, too, have the right hand of God resting upon us.

Jesus not only reassured John by laying His right hand on him but also comforted him by telling him that He was the first and the last; Jesus told John that He was omnipresent (all-present or present everywhere at the same time), omniscient (having all knowledge and understanding), and omnipotent (all-powerful). Essentially, Jesus was saying to John—and us—that we should give up control of our lives and have complete faith in Him, as He is all-powerful and all-knowing and knows our past, present, and future.

David, having complete faith in God, says in 2 Samuel 15:26, Let Him do to me as seems good to Him. David then went up the mountain to worship God (verse 32) and, some say, write Psalm 40:3: He has put a new song in my mouth—Praise to our God. Many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord. At the same time, Jesus was telling John—and us—that He would never leave us.

Hebrews 13:5, Deuteronomy 31:6 and 31:8, and Joshua 1:5 all say that God will never leave you nor forsake you. When things are at their worst, you must have faith in Jesus and let Him take the battle for you. Joshua 5:13–14 gives this very example when Joshua talks with Jesus, who describes Himself as the Commander of the army of the Lord. When asked by Joshua whose side He is on, Jesus answers, No. He is on no one's side, but He is willing to step up and take the battle Himself on behalf of Joshua. This He will do for us as well in our own tribulations. Joshua then fell and worshipped Him, as we should fall and worship Him as well—always but especially in our times of need so He can take the battle for us.

And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.

Psalm 68:20 says, Our God is the God of salvation; and to God the Lord belong escapes from death. Even in the Old Testament, it says that those who belong to God escape death. Now it is through the grace of Jesus that death is escaped and the gift of eternal life is received.

There are thirty-two references to receiving eternal life through Jesus in the New Testament, which can all be encapsulated in John 3:15: That whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 5:18–19 describes what caused death and why the keys of Hades and of death had to be retrieved.

Therefore, as through one man's [Adam's] offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's [Jesus's] righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man's [Adam's] disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's [Jesus's] obedience many will be made righteous.

Jesus, the Son of God, was the only one capable of retrieving the keys of Hades and of death so that He could save us. In most cases, He saved our spiritual selves (those who passed but believed in Him); but in some cases, He will also save our natural selves (believers) when He returns.

¹⁹Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.

²⁰The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.

As explained earlier, the New King James Version (NKJV) translates the word messenger in Greek to angels, whereas Malachi 2:7 translates the same word to priests: For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, and people should seek the law from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. Heavenly angels would have no need for letters as a form of communication, nor would they be reprimanded as later indicated.

The seven golden lampstands were discussed earlier in this chapter as well. To reiterate, the seven golden lampstands represent the seven churches. The lampstands, or menorahs, are made of refined gold, just as Christ has purified and made holy his church. The lampstand is a symbol of the burning presence of Christ. The Son of Man is Jesus appearing as King and High Priest. Jewish priestly duties included tending the lampstands and filling them with fresh oil; in this type and shadow of things past, Jesus fills the church, or believers, with His Holy Spirit.

Study Questions and Notes

What is the first blessing, and to whom does it apply?

Who are the seven Spirits?

Who had dominion over the earth? What caused it to change? Who has it now?

Who are they who pierced Jesus? What were the effects of that piercing?

What do the lampstands, or menorahs, represent? What are the priests' and Jesus's responsibilities with respect to them?

What do the stars represent? Why are they in Jesus's right hand?

What is the greater meaning of the first and the last? Why should we be comforted by that knowing the problems that we go through?

Who has the keys for Hades and death? What must we do to overcome these?

Revelation 2

The Loveless Church

¹To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands.

²I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil.

The angel of the church of Ephesus is the priest, pastor, or leader directing the church of Ephesus. As explained in chapter 1, the New King James Version (NKJV) translates the word messenger in Greek to angels, whereas Malachi 2:7 translates the same word to priests: For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, and people should seek the law from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.

Daniel 12:3 describes priests as wise and says, Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever. They carry the power and authority of Jesus; He loves His churches and leaders and therefore holds them in His right hand. Angel is the word used in the NKJV in verses 8, 12, and 18 instead of priests in this chapter.

Ephesus means desirable or darling. This word was used when a Greek bridegroom would address the girl he wanted to marry. Every church and believer is desirable to Jesus because He wants us to be His bride.

The seven stars are the leaders of the seven churches, whereas the seven golden lampstands are the churches themselves or the people within the church. Jesus praises the church and their followers for the work that they have done and for their patience and understanding while remaining aware of those who are evil. Psalm 1:6 says, For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;

³and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary.

He also praises them for testing those who claim to walk the path of Jesus and have not veered from or have become weary from their diligence of checking false apostles and prophets and deceitful workers. 1 John 4:1 says, Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 Corinthians 11:13 adds, For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.

⁴Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. ⁵Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.

The Greek word for first is Protos, which means foremost, first, or best. This is referring to the love we have that is first place in our hearts above everything else. We love God because He loved us first, a deep and eternal love (1 John 4:19). It is expressed by our passion and devotion to Christ and seen in our relationship with others. When we were first saved and came to Christ, our love and passion for Him was burning, or fiery, coming from the depths of our heart, an energy that made us alive in Him. This verse is referring to this very type of love, which all too often wanes over time.

Jesus is reminding the church of the love they initially had when they first came to Him. To work for the kingdom, be intolerant of sin, persevere and endure trials, and examine ministries critically are all well and good; but to do it without the deep and genuine love for Jesus weakens our witnessing for the Lord. 1 Corinthians 13:1 says, Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. Jesus is emphasizing that working for or in the church is important to do with love for Him, as most people initially do, and not out of duty, as some people fall into.

He asks that we repent and return to our initial love to work for Him. The Greek word for repent is metanoia and means to take another mind. Every believer must turn from their errors and take the mind of Christ. Sometimes, it is difficult for people to recognize sincerity versus deceit. The warning given to church leaders, of removal of their lampstand, is a warning that what is preached must be done in love for Jesus, or their church may be taken away from them.

Matthew 21:41 says, He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease His vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to Him the fruits in their seasons. Emphasis on the teachings of the church must be made in love with Jesus always in mind. The fruits in their seasons are not natural fruit but are the spiritual fruits of believers gained from spreading the Word of God properly.

⁶But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

The Greek meaning of the word Nicolaitans is to conquer or rule over people through the performing of rituals. It is derived from the Greek word nikolaos, a compound word made from nikos and laos. Nikos is the Greek word that means to conquer or to subdue while laos is the Greek word for the people. Jesus hated rituals and often disputed with the Pharisees over man-made rules; He wanted people to be moved by their conscience, proper justice, and mercy rather than the law.

In Matthew 23:23, Jesus says, Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Similarly, the Nicolaitans wanted to instill within the newly formed Way, or Christianity, a set of rules and doctrine that mixed paganism, the occult, Jewish tradition, and Christianity. This sentiment is still seen in some churches today to express to others that they are tolerant. The Bible is the Word of God and is not subject to change for the convenience of others.

⁷He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.

Verse 7 shows that the messages to the seven churches are for everyone today, not just for a specific church or church in history. To him who overcomes adversity through the persecution and trials that we will face while keeping the faith in Him will be rewarded. There is a double meaning to this line. The reward is to eat from the tree of life in paradise, or heaven, in our eternal life; the tree of life is also Christ, or the Word, within us who gives us faith to overcome and to receive His glory, the fruit of the tree.

In Genesis 3:22, the Lord God said, Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever. God knew that the evil of disobedience to Him would lead to the sinful man living forever in heaven if he ate from the tree of life, which would make heaven like earth. His plan was to have a faithful and obedient man to live alongside Him, and therefore, He has to refine each of us to reach maturity in faith and love for Him, as He has for us.

The Song of Solomon 4:9 and 4:12–14 (NLT) show the love that Jesus has for us.

You have captured my heart, my treasure, my bride. You are my private garden, my treasure, my bride, a secluded spring, a hidden fountain. Your thighs shelter a paradise of pomegranates with rare spices—henna with nard, nard and saffron, fragrant calamus and cinnamon, with all the trees of frankincense, myrrh, and aloes, and every other lovely spice.

Pomegranates is a word the root of which means exalted; the temple pillars and robe of the high priest were adorned with pomegranates. Henna comes from a root word for ransom price or redemption; Jesus sees the fruit of mercy in His maturing bride. Nard, or spikenard, means light. Jesus sees His bride walking in the light just as He is. Saffron is a crocus, a very costly and fragrant flower used for perfume; Jesus sees us as His intoxicating, fragrant bride that affects others around us.

Calamus is another fragrant marsh plant, also known as sweet flag; it, too, has a root meaning purchased or redeemed. Cinnamon is another fragrance that represents holiness to the Lord; it was used in the sacred anointing of priests and as an ingredient of incense used in the temple. All the plants of frankincense, myrrh, and aloes also represent incense used in the temple, burned on the golden altar in the holy of holies. To just describe Jesus's love for us as just love is incomplete in its connotation and needs to be more fully described, as I have attempted to do with this scripture and paragraph.

The New Testament goes further to describe God's love and purpose from several passages of scripture. God is love (1 John 4:8) and describes His love in 1 Corinthians 13:4–6: Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up [or arrogant]; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil [or keeps no record of being wronged]; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth.

To put God's