The Revelation of Jesus Christ: Standing in the Valley of Decision

By David Hall and Denise Hall

Not found on any map, the Valley of Decision is a place of indecision—a quagmire of noncommitment, stalling forward motion. It’s the anxious middle place, whose occupants include the multitudes who are still not sure what exactly to do with Jesus Christ. Polarized by life and the ways of the world, they stand here unconvinced, at the end of times, when wickedness is great and the harvest is ripe. Yet perhaps knowing more about what tomorrow brings would help those still undecided make the clear choice to freely stand with God.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ—Standing in the Valley of Decision explores the book of Revelation as the source of God’s true prophecy for what our future holds. Authors David and Denise Hall offer verse-by-verse commentaries on Christ’s revelation, omitting nothing and using the Bible to interpret itself with scriptural citations supporting every point. Believers are invited to take notes and engage in active Bible study as they learn how end-time prophecies are being fulfilled today.

In what time is left, the choice is clear, personal, and simple: freely stand with God and have your sins washed away and your ransom paid, or face the eternal consequence of separation. Choose now and soon, because the time of His return draws near. The time to study Revelation is now, and The Revelation of Jesus Christ—Standing in the Valley of Decision will help all those seeking truth in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Oct 24, 2018
• ISBN: 9781973637042

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Copyright © 2018 David and Denise Hall.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

ISBN: 978-1-9736-3703-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-3702-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-3704-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018909766

WestBow Press rev. date: 9/25/2018

Contents

Introduction and Study Guide Instructions

Chapter 1: Jesus Revealed

Chapter 2: Churches 1–4: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, and Thyatira

Chapter 3: Churches 5–7: Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea

Chapter 4: The Throne Room of God

Chapter 5: The Lamb Receives the Scroll

Chapter 6: Seals 1–6

Chapter 7: The 144,000 and the Remnant of Israel

Chapter 8: The Seventh Seal: Trumpet Judgments 1–4

Chapter 9: The Fifth and Sixth Trumpets: Woes 1 and 2

Chapter 10: The Mighty Angel with the Little Book

Chapter 11: The Temple, the Two Witnesses, the Remnant of Israel, and the Seventh Trumpet Judgment / Third Woe

Chapter 12: The Woman, Child, and Dragon, and the Muslim Role in Prophecy

Chapter 13: The Beast and His False Prophet

Chapter 14: Babylon Has Fallen

Chapter 15: Prelude to the Seven Vial Judgments

Chapter 16: The Seven Vial Judgments

Chapter 17: The Beast, the False Prophet, and Babylon the Great

Chapter 18: Babylon the Great Destroyed

Chapter 19: The Marriage Ceremony—Jesus Returns

Chapter 20:  he Millennial Kingdom, Satan Defeated, and the Great White Throne Judgment

Chapter 21: Heaven on Earth

Chapter 22: The Kingdom of God—Spread the Good News!

Appendix A: Chapter Fill-in-the-Blanks Key

Appendix B: Commentaries

Sources

Introduction and Study Guide Instructions

Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, get you down for the press is full, the vats overflow for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the Valley of Decision, for the day of the Lord is near in the Valley of Decision (Joel 3:13–14).

Not found on any map, the Valley of Decision is seen as a place of indecision, a quagmire of noncommitment stalling forward motion. It’s the anxious middle place, whose occupants include the multitudes who are still not sure what exactly to do with Jesus Christ. Polarized by life and the ways of the world, they stand here unconvinced, at the end of times, when wickedness is great and the harvest is ripe. In what time is left, the choice is clear, personal, and simple: freely stand with Him, sins washed away, ransom paid, or face the eternal consequence of separation. Choose now and soon, because the time of His return draws near.

Perhaps knowing more about what tomorrow brings would help those still undecided. Solid information to help people make up their minds is valuable, to say the least, but only if it’s accurate and reliable. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to discover a source that revealed all the major changes the world will someday face, including the fate of humanity? People want to know, and for this reason, every generation throughout history has been fascinated with future predictions, partly out of fear, but also out of hopeful anticipation for something far better.

We already know that in the face of all that is good, a rapidly accelerating evil and moral decline has permeated all corners of society. Signs of social and spiritual disintegration abound. Cornerstone institutions of family and church and other vanguards of morality have been whittled away in the name of tolerance, political correctness, corrupted doctrine, and new age paganism. Fallen humankind seems enslaved more than ever by the ugly mesmerizing power of the notorious and ageless seven deadly sins. Every day, more are lost to wrath, greed, apathy, pride, lust, envy, and gluttony, which separate human beings from the light of Jesus Christ. In places stripped of God, human devaluation, violence, and hate fills the vacuum. Anesthetized to the moral and spiritual carnage, the average reasonable person stands anxiously in his or her own Valley of Decision, blind to the inconceivable horror and terror just around the corner.

What if the source foretold the fall of numerous nations, good and bad, even the United States and all other superpowers? What if this amazing information also foretold a future global geopolitical upheaval giving rise to a one world government and a hybrid theology replacing all major world religions? What if the source even went so far as to explain why radicalized Islamic terrorism exists today and made clear the role it plays in the end? As intriguing and disturbing as all this sounds, what if the source also told us, especially those in the Valley, of the great victory awaiting all who follow Jesus Christ? Wouldn’t this information be good to know? Why wouldn’t it? might be the better question.

So, what is this all-seeing source of future information? Without surprise, it is God! Our Father has not left humankind without a source of answers that reveals in detail what the future holds. In the pages that follow, you will discover not only the horrendous consequence of obstinate rebellion toward God but also the great hope and victory for believers found within the book of Revelation: the final, all-encompassing prophecy within God’s written Word. For those seeking truth, this concluding book of the Bible is the ultimate authority that unlocks the future for those with eyes to see and ears to hear.

Knowledge is power. With it, we can prepare our lives and the choices we make so we can be counted on the right side of God and history when judgment finally comes. Without doubt, the world will soon be harshly judged by He who created it. His judgment, though righteous and just, will contain His full wrath, because the transgression to His creation has been overwhelming and great. Indeed, something huge is on the horizon.

Rapidly deteriorating world conditions make this knowledge of future judgment by divine providence more critical than ever, especially for those still in the Valley of Decision. Whereas not every headline today is prophetic, some clearly point to events graphically foretold in the book of Revelation. Most assuredly, world conditions will become far more serious than most realize. Nothing in recorded history will even remotely compare to the great unstoppable that is coming our way. The Revelation of Jesus Christ confirms this will happen.

Authored by the apostle John at the end of the first century, Revelation is God’s preview of the last days, culminating in Jesus’s second coming and His millennial kingdom. Revelation also explains the removal of all corruption at the great white throne judgment and finally God’s heaven on earth, where believers, each awarded a crown of life, will live and reign forever with Him as always intended.

The stage is set, and the curtain is rising. God wants us, his children, to know, to be warned, and to escape the worst fate imaginable while there is still time (Luke 21:36). Join us now for a comprehensive study, written not to entertain but to help educate those honestly seeking Truth in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19).

Study Guide Instructions

This verse-by-verse study of Revelation was created and formatted to facilitate discussion concerning end-time prophecy. As a by-product, we hope it will generate a genuine desire to dive deeper into the infallible Word of God. As the concluding book of the Bible, Revelation fuses the Old Testament and the New Testament together as one continuous epic journey from beginning to end. Revelation is much too important to leave it forgotten high on a shelf attracting dust and nothing else. Revelation discloses the full image of Jesus not seen as clearly elsewhere in the New Testament. It holds the key to unlocking critical biblical truths containing God’s ultimate picture-perfect plan for all humankind.

Eager as we are to start, let us first review some simple rules (yes, there are rules) and features relevant to this study that we hope will enhance the learning experience.

Wide margins – This study provides wide margins for personal note-taking.

Prayer – Open and close every chapter with prayer. Do not underestimate or discount the power of prayer. Seeking Jesus and the nature of God is pointless in the absence of the Holy Spirit. Prayer is the essential uplink that makes divine downloads possible.

Chapter Read – After opening with prayer, read through the entire chapter directly from the Bible, preferably the King James Version.

Verse-by-Verse Study – After reading the chapter, flip to the first page of the study of the chapter you’re on. Review the opening comments, and then examine the first verse (or verses, if combined). Take notice of all italicized segments of the passage. (Note that all italics have been added to the Bible quotations.) After thoroughly examining the verse, move on to the bulleted information below corresponding to each italicized segment. Make sure you get the connection between the italicized segment in the verse and the bulleted information. Every verse in Revelation has been included. When you are finished, go to the next verse, using the same method for every verse in all chapters through the end of the book.

Interpretation – If a literal interpretation works, use it. When it doesn’t, chances are that the portion of the passage is symbolic. When this occurs, do not make up meanings based on your own understanding or bias. Instead, use the Bible to consistently interpret the Bible. Throughout the study, you will find approximately fifteen hundred scriptural references in parenthesis following key points. Use these to verify how the same term or subject matter is consistently applied elsewhere in the Bible. Please note that all scriptural references in bold are meant to be looked up.

Commentaries – Throughout the study you will find references to short separate essays we call commentaries. These focus on extremely important topics designed to expand our discussion of specific foundational truths found within the core of Revelation. To minimize interruption, all commentaries appear in appendix B. Please read them.

Fill-in-the-Blanks – Fill-in-the-blanks are provided to help facilitators draw their students’ attention to certain points and principles. The key to the fill-in-the-blanks for each chapter is located in appendix A.

Food for Thought – Occasionally you will encounter questions and scenarios referenced as Food for Thought. These are meant to promote life application, retrospection, and discussion.

Chapter Summary – Each chapter concludes with a summary providing an overview of the material for a condensed perspective of the chapter and its key points. The purpose of these summaries is to aid comprehension and retention by providing the information in a generalized narrative format. They are not a substitute for the actual verses written by John.

CHAPTER 1

Jesus Revealed

Prayer

Chapter Read

Welcome, fellow students! As a reminder to the leader, if you are reading this as a group, you may want to flip to the fill-in-the-blank key located in appendix A for referencing any material that is covered. Chapter commentaries appear in appendix B.

Now, if you thought the choice you made to open this study guide was yours alone, take a moment and consider this: God wants our hearts truly transformed, and at this very moment, God is likely tugging on your heart as you read. Might you have found this study not by coincidence but by His gracious invitation to follow Him while there is still time? We think the latter most likely. Let’s begin.

Think of chapter 1 as a benediction and preface to all chapters that follow. It introduces key players and truths, and it sets the tone for the journey that comes. Opening with prayer is critical, because through God’s Holy Spirit, all spiritual truth and wisdom flows (Prov. 1:7).

* * *

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to Him, to show to His servant’s things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John. (v. 1)

• The Greek word for revelation, apokalupsis, means an uncovering or unveiling, a disclosure. The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary defines revelation as A term expressive of the fact that God has made known to men truths and realities that men could not discover for themselves.

Revealed is Jesus Christ (Yeshua) for who He truly is: the great trustee of divine revelation. The revelation of Jesus Christ is prophetic, for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (Rev. 19:10). When Jesus and His disciples ministered throughout Israel, John knew Him as the _______ ___ _______, the ultimate man of peace, full of love, patience, and forgiveness. This Jesus was still the same glorified Jesus whom John knew at the resurrection and ascension; we will see later in this chapter how John’s view of Jesus during the revealing was so powerfully validated that it caused him to collapse as if dead, utterly overwhelmed by the miracle before him (Rev. 1:17).

• God gave Jesus all authority and judgment over the world. With it came all rights, privileges, and honors of deity. The worthiness of Jesus is undisputed. Contrary to the world’s view of what a god looks like, God became flesh in the form of Jesus. As a man, God bore humility, pain, and suffering like everyone else. Taking on the sins of the world forevermore, Jesus was the ultimate example of selfless humility. His nature was not to embrace those things expected of a god but to be willing to give them up for a period in order to successfully bring salvation to all people (Phil. 2:5–11).

• The word signified means to make known by signs or words. Signified by His angel illustrates God’s ____________. God gave revelation to Christ, who gave it to an angel to give it to the churches through John. Christians should be keenly interested in knowing anything bearing the signature of Almighty God.

The Greek word for angel, anggelo, means a ____ from God. Throughout scripture, angels are often God’s divine messengers. The term also sometimes relates to earthly messengers, that is, spiritual leaders chosen by God (Rev. 2:1, 8, 12, 18, 3:1, 7, 14).

* * *

Who bore record of the Word of God and of the testimony of Jesus Christ and all things that he saw. (v. 2)

• John, the last surviving disciple, walked with Jesus, witnessed His ministry, and bore record to it.

* * *

Blessed is he who reads and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein; for the time is at hand. (v. 3)

• The Greek word for blessed, makarizo, means fortunate or happy. God promises grace, peace, holiness, and comfort to everyone who earnestly studies and adheres to the writings in the book of Revelation. It is a blessing to enjoy the oracles of God. It is not sufficient to just read or hear them. They must be kept in our hearts, minds, and practices if we are to receive their apostolic blessings. When John wrote Revelation, Christians were being horribly persecuted by Rome for refusing to worship the emperor. John’s message of happiness for all who study this book was written to give believers of yesterday and today hope for a better future.

• Drawing closer is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and ______________ ______ (Rev. 3:11, 22:7, 20). Though no individual knows the day or hour, Jesus made it clear that He is coming soon (Rev. 3:11, 22:7, 12, 20).

* * *

John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be to you, and peace from which is and which is to come, and from the seven Spirits which are before His throne. (v. 4)

• The number seven throughout the Bible relates to everything God. It is His _______________ _____________. It is the only number we know He blessed (Gen. 2:2–3; Exod. 31:15, 34:21; Lev. 4–6, 8:11, 33; Josh. 6:4; Matt. 15:34, 37; Rev. 1:4, 12, 8:2, 10:3, 12:3, 15:1, 17:1).

• John wrote to the original seven Christian churches, which are symbolic today for the whole ______ ___ _________. Asia in this context is not a reference to the entire continent of Asia, but rather to the part controlled in ancient times by the Roman Empire. Rome labeled this part of the ancient world as the province of Asia, which was the land in and around Turkey today. We will study these churches in detail in chapters 2 and 3.

• Which is and is to come is a reference to the first and second coming of Jesus Christ (Heb. 13:8).

• The seven spirits are the foundation of the sevenfold ministry of God the Father manifested through the Holy Spirit. The emphasis should not be on number but on the infinite, perfect manner of God—the power that moves the seven churches that are representative of the body of Christ. The spirits are the Spirit of the Lord Himself as __________, ______________, _______________, ______________, _____________, __________________, and ______________ or _________ of the Lord (Isa. 11:2–3). The seven spirits also represent the seven eyes of the Lord—a picture of the Holy Spirit symbolized by a very special lamp with seven candles, the Hebrew menorah (Zech. 4:1–6). The menorah spiritually represents Israel’s mission to bring God’s light unto the nations (Isa. 42:6; Matt. 5:14–16). As an Old Testament symbol, the menorah’s center lamp represents the Spirit of the Lord. As a New Testament symbol, this is Jesus Christ. The other six characteristics of our Lord’s sevenfold ministry flank the center, three on each side.

* * *

And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. To Him that loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood. (v. 5)

• First begotten is a reference to the tradition of ____________ ___________. Jesus as God’s preeminent firstborn, as His first fruits, and as His first reborn from the dead on His own power and still alive, is the Godhead heir over all creation (Ps. 89:27; Col. 1:15).

The Greek word for begotten, prototokos, means the father of, or the one who procreates the rest (1 Cor. 15:20; Eph. 2:4–7). Jesus died on the cross and rose again three days later. He was first to be resurrected. If not for His resurrection, humanity would have remained dead to sin forever. His blood was the sacrifice that atoned all sin. As first begotten of the dead, He rose first so we could follow (John 10:10).

• The Greek word for prince, archo, means first in rank or power; chief ruler or magistrate. Jesus is the undisputed ruler over all kings of the earth (1 Tim. 6:15–16). As the divine prince, the Godhead of Jesus Christ will reign as the one true king (Ps. 10:16; Jer. 10:10) during His millennial kingdom (Matt. 25:31–34) after all kings of the earth have passed.

• Displaying amazing love, He washed us from the stains of our sins by His own blood (Rom. 5:8).

Food for Thought: What does this tell you about the kind of relationship Jesus wants with you?

* * *

And has made us kings and priests unto God and His Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever, Amen. (v. 6)

• One of the biggest privileges and responsibilities Christians have, once reborn, is that they are a _____________ __________________ destined to be a ___________ ________________, who by faith are positioned in Christ and will reign with Him upon His return (Exod. 19:6; Deut. 7:6–8; Isa. 61:6; Dan. 7:22; Rom. 8:16–18; 1 Cor. 6:1–4; 1 Pet. 2:9).

Food for Thought: Do your current day-to-day actions, decisions, and lifestyle match God’s role for you as a kingly priest who will one day judge and rule?

• The word amen is of Hebrew origin. Per the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, the word means trustworthy, faithful, or surely. Amen used at the end of a prayer or hymn means so be it. It is commonly used as an expression of hearty agreement with God.

* * *

Behold, He comes with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him; and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen. (v. 7)

• As prophesied, the Son of man will return on the clouds of heaven (Dan. 7:13–14; Matt. 24:30; Rev. 14:14). When Jesus ascended from the ___________ ___ _____________ located on the high ridge overlooking Jerusalem on its east side, He was lifted up in a glorious cloud. Two angels appeared and told the disciples who witnessed the event that He would return in the same manner (Acts 1:9–12). Old Testament scripture clarifies that He will return to the same point: The Mount of Olives (Zech. 14:4).

• At the end of the age, every eye around the world will see Jesus return, as promised, in all His glory. In that moment, all will know Jesus Christ is Lord (Matt. 24:26–27, 30).

Food for Thought: What questions or mysteries do you suppose will be instantly resolved when the moment comes?

• The act of piercing Him is a reference to the Crucifixion when spikes were hammered into the hands and feet of Jesus, and later when the Roman soldier pierced His chest with a spear to make sure He was physically dead.

In a sense, those doing the piercing included Jews and Gentiles alike who rejected Jesus as the Messiah then as well as today (Matt. 27:22–23; John 19:15–16). In the Old Testament, the ___________ ___ __________and the inhabitants of Jerusalem are also identified as the ones who pierced Him (Zech. 12:10).

• The Greek word for kindreds, foolay, means race or clan. The verse literally says that all races of people around the world who renounce Christ will shed genuine tears of remorse on the day Christ returns (Matt. 24:30; Rev. 6:15–17). Their cries will result from their inconsolable grief arising from the fact that they got it wrong and because their chance for repentance may have passed. But how could people, especially those raised and trained in Old Testament prophecy, get things so wrong?

(See appendix B, commentary 1: Why God’s Children Rejected Christ.)

* * *

I am Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, says the Lord, which is and which was and which is to come, the Almighty. (v. 8)

• As the first and last letters of the _____________ _________, alpha and omega is a symbolic reference linking Jesus to the entire alphabet of every language conceived, in other words, to the basis for all words, including the Word of God. Jesus also encompasses all time and knowledge. He is the beginning and the end.

• The Greek word for almighty, pantokrator, means all-ruling, omnipotent, absolute, and universally sovereign. As a term widely associated with God, almighty is accurately used by John to describe Jesus Christ, underscoring Him as Deity, God incarnate.

* * *

I, John, who also am your brother and companion in tribulation and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the island that is called Patmos for the Word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. (v. 9)

• Scholars generally agree that John wrote Revelation while in prison during a time of great turbulence, persecution, and sorrow in Israel and for the early Christian church. During this tumultuous period in history, Israel as a Jewish nation literally disintegrated.

• During John’s time, the small, isolated, Roman-controlled island of Patmos was a hard-labor penal colony to which criminals and political/religious troublemakers were banished.

Probably perceived by Romans as a religious rebel and zealot, John was sentenced to live in a cave on this small hilly island in the Aegean Sea during the reign of Roman emperor Caesar Augustus Domitian. John and all Christians at the time posed a special problem for Rome because they refused to worship the emperor. Their belief in one God made it impossible for them to do so.

Why John was exiled and not executed as many early Christians were during the period is not immediately clear. One of two traditions handed down through time declares that John was taken before Emperor Domitian in Rome and thrown into a vat of boiling oil. The other explanation claims that the emperor ordered John poisoned. In both accounts, John miraculously survived unharmed. Not wanting news of the miracle to go public, the emperor, it is said, sentenced him to hard labor on Patmos, where he was not expected to live long because of his advanced age.

Demonstrating God’s sovereign control, John, while serving his sentence in his nineties, still managed to deliver the book of Revelation to the seven churches after serving only eighteen months of his sentence. This happened because Emperor Domitian was assassinated and replaced by Emperor Marcus Cocceius Nerva (AD 96–98) who, during his short two-year reign, released all those imprisoned by Domitian not guilty of serious crimes.

Besides the Bible, is there any other credible source validating what John experienced on Patmos? Confirmed by Eusebius of Caesarea (AD 263–339), an early Christian church father and diligent investigator of the canon, John, while restricted on Patmos, received a vision that laid out the Second Coming of Christ and the future history of the world. Guided by the Holy Spirit, John drew from his records of God’s written Word, the direct testimony of Jesus, and all his experiences as an apostle to correctly interpret and pen the vision set before him.

* * *

I was in the spirit on the Lord’s Day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet. (v. 10)

• The Greek word for spirit, pneuma, means a current of air or a breeze or, as used in this context, one’s spirit, the soul, the most vital principle of one’s inner being with all mental and sensory capacities intact.

God’s abode in heaven is a spirit realm, for God is spirit (John 4:24). Nothing corruptible, such as flesh, may enter. John was neither dreaming nor transported in the flesh. In the flesh, John would not have been able to stand before God and survive (Exod. 33:20–23). To enter heaven, gaze upon God, and interact with everything in the throne room, John had to first miraculously separate from his body. Only his spirit could enter. When his journey was complete, he needed to return to his physical body to share his vision with the seven churches as commanded by Jesus.

• The Lord’s Day and the Day of the Lord are two separate things. The Lord’s Day is a reference to Sunday, the Christian Sabbath. The Day of the Lord, also known as the Wrath of the Lamb, is a reference to the day at the end of the age when Jesus triumphantly returns, eliminates the enemies of God, and begins his millennial kingdom. We will study the Day of the Lord more in chapters 8 and 19.

Historically, Sunday is the day of the week associated with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus’s choice to reveal on a Sunday His message about His second coming makes sense.

Food for Thought: By referencing the Lord’s Day, is John saying that the entire revelation given to him by Christ was done so in one day?

• The voice of God and our Lord being likened to a trumpet is found elsewhere in scripture (Exod. 19:16, 19; Heb. 12:19). Keep this in mind when we get to our discussion on the trumpet judgments in chapter 8.

(See appendix B, commentary 2: The Lord’s Day, the Day of the Lord, and the Sabbath.)

* * *

Saying, I Am Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, and, what you see, write in a book and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. (v. 11)

• Jesus instructed John to record his vision so that all believers within the body of Christ from one generation to the next will accurately know what is to come.

Food for Thought: Imagine you are John in prison on Patmos. You receive the vision, but because of advanced age, you’re expected to die there—and soon. What might be your initial thought if in the same situation?

* * *

And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And being turned I saw seven golden candlesticks, and in the midst of the seven candlesticks One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the foot and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. (vv. 12–13)

• We know that the candlesticks represent the _________ _______________ that in John’s day represented the body of Christ (Rev. 1:20). That they are made of gold speaks to their purity and value (Isa. 13:12). That they are seen as candlesticks depicts their purpose of bringing the light of Christ into a dark room (Matt. 5:15).

Food for Thought: What is the relevance of Jesus standing in the middle of the candlesticks (Col. 1:18–19)?

• Used eighty-one times in scripture, Son of man is the title Christ used most often for Himself during His ministry. It means to be born from _______ through _______. Jesus is both _____ _____ ________and Son of man. This uniquely qualifies Him as both God and human as a leader of humankind to God (Dan. 7:13–14; Matt. 8:20; John 14:6).

Food for Thought: Earlier we said our connection with Jesus is best approached as a personal, loving relationship. With this in mind, why do you suppose Jesus preferred the title Son of man?

• The Greek word for paps, mastos, means breast, or in this case, chest area. The Greek word for girdle, zone, means belt. Jesus’s long garment comes with a golden belt worn across the chest, covering His heart. A belt of refined gold across His chest beautifully punctuates the purity, character, and heart of Jesus.

* * *

His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were as a flame of fire. (v. 14)

• The Greek word for white, leukos, means white light, not white as a color, but a blazing, glowing white light (Matt. 17:2; John 8:12), seen earlier by John during the transfiguration of Jesus (Matt. 17:1–8).

This amazing light is sometimes referred to as the ____________ glory, a Hebrew term not found in scripture, but it is a word used by Jews and Christians to express the visible presence of our Lord’s brilliant righteousness. In scripture, our Lord’s countenance is often described in terms of brilliant light (Pss. 4:6, 44:3, 89:15; Matt. 28:3; John 8:12).

• Wool refers to Jesus as the sacrificial Lamb of God.

• John describes the eyes of Jesus as a flame of fire (Dan. 10:6; Heb. 4:13). The description is repeated in Revelation 19:12.

Food for Thought: How might this aspect of Jesus impact your relationship with Him?

* * *

And His feet were like fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters. (v. 15)

• In the Old Testament, the altar for burnt offerings, including its feet, was covered with brass (Exod. 38:1–7). Unlike gold, which is made valuable through the refining application of intense heat, brass contains a lot of impurities, which in this case is representative of sin. When the altar was in full use, sin was being stripped away by fire.

Food for Thought: Christ walked among sin, treading all iniquities into powder. Explain how His feet, appearing as fired brass, make sense in light of His character and purpose (Dan. 10:6; John 13:4–10).

• Our Lord’s voice, described earlier as the voice of a trumpet (Rev. 1:10), will also resonate like the sonic vibrations of many waters. Elsewhere in scripture, the sound of many waters is used to describe the unified voices of everyone rejoicing in heaven before Jesus (Rev. 14:2, 17:15) during the great wedding ceremony.

* * *

And He had in His right hand seven stars: And out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: And His countenance was as the sun shining in His strength. (v. 16)

• In scripture, the right hand often indicates righteous strength and power (Exod. 15:6; Ps. 17:7) connected to honor (1 Kings 2:19; Ps. 45:9), given in friendship (Gal. 2:9), and sworn by (Isa. 62:8).

• The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches (Rev. 1:20). In both the original Greek and ancient Hebrew, the word angel refers to a messenger or