Revelation 1-3

By David Maas
{CHAPTERS 1 - 3}

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{INTERPRETATION}
  1. Introduction the Revelation - (An introduction to and overview of the book of Revelation) - {PDF Copy}
  2. Fourfold Structure - (The book has four major literary divisions with each marked by John finding himself "in the spirit") - {PDF Copy}
  3. The Unsealed Scroll - (Daniel was commanded to seal the scroll, but John is told NOT to do so since the season is at hand) - {PDF Copy}
  4. Revelation's Recipients - (Revelation is addressed to seven very real churches located in the Roman province of Asia in the first century) - {PDF Copy}
  5. Provided Interpretations - (Revelation communicates symbolically, and it provides the reader with many of the most important interpretations of its images) - {PDF Copy}
  6. Call to Action  - {PDF Copy} - (Through seven beatitudes, Revelation summons believers to faithfulness despite hostility and persecution)
  7. People of the Last Days - {PDF Copy} - (The church is the battlefield where the final war is being waged between the Lamb and the Ancient Serpent, Satan)
  8. Literal and Nonliteral Language - {PDF Copy} - (Revelation informs the reader from the very first verse of the book that it communicates symbolically)
  9. Common Errors Interpreting Revelation - {PDF Copy} - (The relevance of Revelation for today is lost if we ignore its historical context and read it with incorrect presuppositions)
  10. Linear Chronological Sequence? - {PDF Copy} - (Are Revelation’s visions presented in chronological sequence? If so, how do we explain the many parallel descriptions that link them?)

{FIRST VISION}
  1. Prologue to Revelation - {PDF Copy} - (The prologue presents the basic themes of the book and declares that the season of fulfillment has arrived – Revelation 1:1-3)
  2. The Season of Fulfillment - {PDF Copy} - (In Revelation, the period known as the last days began following the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth)
  3. What Things Must Come to Pass - (The purpose of Revelation is to show God’s servants “what things must soon come to pass”) - {PDF Copy}
  4. Greetings from the Throne - (The salutations from the throne to the churches highlight key themes of the book, especially the present reign of Jesus) - {PDF Copy}
  5. The Faithful Witness - (In the salutation to the seven churches, Jesus is identified as the Faithful Witness because of his self-sacrificial death) - {PDF Copy}
  6. The Firstborn of the Dead - (Jesus is the Firstborn of the Dead, a reference to his past resurrection and the basis for the future resurrection of the saints) - {PDF Copy}
  7. His Supremacy - (The faithful witness, Jesus, now reigns supreme over the kings of the earth and even his enemies) - {PDF Copy}
  8. Reigning with Him - {PDF Copy} - (Disciples reign with Jesus as priests that render service in his Tabernacle and mediate his light in the world)
  9. He Who Is - (God is the One who is and who was and who is coming, the Almighty Creator of all things who now sits on the throne at the center of the Cosmos) - {PDF Copy}
  10. Seven Spirits of God - (Greetings are sent to the seven churches of Asia from God, Jesus, and the seven spirits of God that are before the throne) - {PDF Copy}
  11. Tribulation, Kingdom, Endurance - (Exiled on Patmos, John was a “fellow-participant” in the tribulation, kingdom, and endurance that is in Jesus) - [PDF Copy]
  12. The Lordly Day - (On Patmos, John found himself “in the Spirit” and projected to the “Day of the Lord” – Revelation 1:9-10) - {PDF Copy}
  13. The Son of Man - (The first vision presents the image of one “like the Son of Man” who was walking among the seven churches of Asia) - {PDF Copy}

{LETTERS TO THE CHURCH}
  1. Seven Churches - Overview - {PDF Copy} - (The visitation of Jesus to the churches of Asia prepares the reader for the visions that follow the seven letters)
  2. Tree of Life - Ephesus - (The messenger at Ephesus is commended for rejecting false apostles, chastised for leaving his first love, and summoned to return to his first works) - {PDF Copy}
  3. Faithful Until Death - (After persevering through persecution, the ever-faithful church at Smyrna was promised even more “tribulation” but also great rewards) - {PDF Copy}
  4. Hold Fast My Name - Pergamos - (Pergamos receives praise for remaining faithful to his name, but correction for tolerating the teachings of “Balaam”) - {PDF Copy}
  5. Martyrs and Overcomers - {PDF Copy} - (In the book of Revelation, overcoming saints persevere in their testimony of Jesus whatever the cost, even a martyr’s death)
  6. The Inhabitants of the Earth - (The inhabitants of the earth represent the men and women who are omitted from the Book of Life because they submit to the Beast) - {PDF Copy}
  7. Thyatira - (The call to hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches begins to intensify after the warning about the teachings of Jezebel – Revelation 2:18-29) - {PDF Copy}
  8. Food Offered to Idols - (Daniel and his three companions refused to participate in the religious rituals of the Babylonian Empire – Daniel 1:14) - {PDF Copy}
  9. The Nicolaitans - (Deceivers within the seven congregations are encouraging disciples of Jesus to compromise with the idolatrous rites of pagan society) - {PDF Copy}
  10. Sardis - (The church in Sardis received no commendation, only warnings and calls to repent while time remained) - {PDF Copy}
  11. Pillar in the Temple - Philadelphia - (Philadelphia receives no correction since she has remained faithful, and therefore, she will be kept from the hour of trial) - {PDF Copy}
  12. Kept from the Hour - (The hour of trial will come upon the whole habitable earth, but overcoming saints will not experience this final judicial act – Revelation 3:10) - {PDF Copy}
  13. Laodicea - (The church at Laodicea receives no commendation, only corrections, and ominous warnings) - {PDF Copy}
  14. The Beginning of the Creation - (Revelation looks forward to the reign of Jesus in the New Creation, a reality inaugurated by his Death and Resurrection) - {PDF Copy}

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