As I wrote in the last Gem it is time to ask is the book / letter John’s Revelation or Jesus’ Revelation, i.e. the Revelation of Jesus Christ? Several of you have asked because in some Bibles it is called John’s Revelation and in others it is referred to as the ‘Revelation of Jesus’ or The Revelation of Jesus Christ’. Let’s pay careful attention to the words we have been given by John himself. Emphasis added by me.
This is a revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants the events that must soon take place. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant John, who faithfully reported everything he saw. This is his report of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near. This letter is from John to the seven churches in the province of Asia. Grace and peace to you from the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come; from the sevenfold Spirit before his throne; . . .
Revelation 1:1-4
You can see clearly from John’s opening words:
This is a revelation from Jesus Christ,
which God gave him to show his servants the events that must soon take place.
He sent an angel to present
this revelation to his servant John,
who faithfully reported everything he saw.
This is his report of the word of God
and the testimony of Jesus Christ. . .
This letter is from John to the seven churches in the province of Asia
Let’s explore this theme of witness and testimony a little more. I find it fascinating that John gives testimony to his role in this document: this report, letter or book.
It is reminiscent of his Gospel. The Gospel writers chose not to have their names feature in the Gospels they wrote, preferring rather for what they wrote to be pseudonymous, so their names would not be prominent in receiving glory. However, notice the theme which is evident both in John’s Gospel and in Revelation, his letter, apocalypse and prophecy.
This disciple is the one who testifies to these events and has recorded them here. And we know that his account of these things is accurate.
John 21.24
Who are the ‘we’, who know that his account is accurate? His fellow disciples of course who shared in that to which they were testifying. It was clearly important for John that his readers know his report or the contents of his Gospel were reliable and a true record. The same feature is seen in Revelation as he tells us in the opening few verses that “he faithfully reported everything he saw”.
Notice also what John records concerning Jesus in the content of his letter:
- from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness [1:5]
- from the One who is holy and true, [3:7]
- from the One who is the Amen,The faithful and true witness [3:14
- O Sovereign Lord, Holy and True [6:10]
- O Lord God, The Almighty. Just and true are your Ways [15:3]
- You are just O Holy One [16:5]
- Oh Lord God Almighty, your judgments are true
- The One whose judgements are true and just [16:7]
- His judgments are true and just. [19:2]
- These are true words that come from God. [19:19]
- Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. [19:11]
- Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true. [21:5]
- The angel said to me, “Everything you have heard and seen is trustworthy and true. [22:6]
- I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this message for the churches. I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. [22:16]
- He who is the faithful witness to all these things [22:20]
Have you got the message? This is all recorded concerning the One who is the faithful and true witness.
Now the question is what is the ‘revelation’ that was given? It is all a revelation related to Jesus Christ. Just look at the list of who Jesus Christ is, taken straight from this revelation recorded by John. This revelation is very clearly a revelation from Jesus Christ, revealing to us very clearly over and over the nature of who He is. It reminds me very much of what John wrote in his Gospel.
But these [things] are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.
John 20:31
Now look at Revelation with the same idea in mind:
From Revelation 1
- Who is and who was and who is to come.
- Who is the faithful witness
- The first to rise from the dead
- The ruler of all the kings in the world
- Who comes with the clouds of heaven
- The Alpha and the Omega,
- The Beginning and End
- The Almighty One
- The One like the Son of Man, standing amid the lampstands . . .
- The First and the Last
- The Living One
- The One who holds the keys of death and the grave
There are a further 54 references to Christ used in the rest of the Revelation
2
- The one who holds the seven stars in his right hand
- The one who walks among the seven gold lamp stands
- He who was dead and became alive
- The one who holds the sharp, two-edged sword
- The Son of God,
- whose eyes are like flaming fire
- whose feet are like glowing bronze
- I am the one who searches minds and hearts
3
- The one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars
- The one who is holy,
- The One who is true,
- The One who has the key of David,
- The One who opens a door that no one can shut,
- The One who shuts a door that no one can open
- The Amen,
- The witness who is faithful and true
- The originator of God’s creation
4
- The One who sits on the throne
- The One looking like jasper and carnelian
- The LORD God Almighty
- The One who was, who is and who is coming
- The One who lives forever and ever
- Our LORD and our God
5
- The Lion from the tribe of Judah,
- The Root of David
- The Lamb standing in the middle of the throne, the four living creatures, and the elders
- The One worthy to take the scroll and open its seals
- The One whose blood purchased people for God from every tribe, language, people, and nation
- The Lamb Who was slaughtered
6
- The Lamb
- The Holy and True Sovereign
7
The Lamb in the centre of the throne
10
The One who created heaven and everything in it
14
- The One like the Son of Man
- The One with the gold victor’s crown on his head
- The One with a sharp sickle in his hand
15
- LORD God Almighty
- The One whose ways are just and true
- The King of the nations
19
- The One whose judgements are true and just
- Faithful and True
- He who administers justice and wages war righteously
- He whose eyes are like a flame of fire.
- On whose head are many royal crowns
- He who has a name nobody knows
- He who is dressed in a robe dipped in blood
- The Word of God
- KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS
21/22
- The Lord Almighty = The Lamb (both on the Throne)
- The Alpha and the Omega
- The First and Last
- The Beginning and the End
- The Root and the Descendent of David
- The Bright Morning Star
That dear friends makes it clear as to what Revelation is all about. The Book of Revelation is revealing Jesus Christ in all of His Glory. We will see the reason for such a Revelation as we continue. But what struck me by reading Revelation over and over was the similarity between both John’s Gospel and Revelation in the care that John took to spell out that he had recorded things accurately. Following which I noticed the same elements in the text in relation to Jesus and the fact that His witness is also faithful and true. You can stake your life on it. In the Gospel John wanted us to know and believe that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God. Here in Revelation, God the Father is giving us a revelation of Jesus.
The best characteristic of a good witness is that the testimony they give is the truth and nothing but the truth. They are called to be faithful and true.
Ian
Every time your faith is put on trial, your character is placed on the witness stand.
A R Bernard
On the cross He did not hide Himself from sight; rather, He made all creation witness to the presence of its Maker.
Athanasius of Alexandria
Now go and be a witness for Him who gave Himself for you this day. Be a Living Bible for someone today.
Ian