REVELATION SURVEY 1 | THE SEVEN LETTERS

1. Survey

a) This section gives a brief survey of each section of Revelation and interpretation based on the best mainstream reference materials available.

2. Introduction (Revelation 1:1-20)

a) John introduces Revelation as a letter to the seven Christian churches of Asia Minor. He states that it is a revelation given to him by Jesus Christ through an angel. One day, John falls into a kind of ecstatic state and experiences the vision he records in Revelation. He hears a voice and turns to see a vision of seven golden lampstands. In the midst of the lampstands is "One like the Son of Man" with white hair, eyes like fire, and a voice like rushing water. A two-edged sword is coming out of his mouth. 

@1. Interpretation: The One like the Son of Man is the risen Christ, in all His heavenly glory and power. The seven gold lampstands are the seven churches of Asia Minor. The seven stars in Christ's right hand are the seven angels of those churches (Revelation 1:20). The sharp, two-edged sword coming from His mouth is the word of God (Isaiah 11:4, 49:2, Hebrews 4:12).

3. The Seven Letters (2:1 - 3:22)

a) The One like a Son of Man dictates seven messages for John to send to the seven churches in Asia Minor. A letter of several paragraphs is addressed to each of the seven churches. Each message praises the church community for its strengths and urges community members to correct their weaknesses.