The Lamb who had been slain is the sovereign ruler: Revelation chapters 1 to 6

 Key Verses 5:6, 12-13.

 Hi, everyone. How are you? I really thank God for hearing our prayers! There were many good events this year. We have prayed for Shawn’s marriage. We introduced Shawn to have a connection with Easter Pang and had their first meeting last Friday. I pray that God may guide them! I was so stressed about repairing Joshua’s stolen car. But it will finally be repaired at a reasonable price through a local repair shop. When I brought it to the dealership the first time, the cost for repairing was ridiculous, more than $3800. I didn’t want to spend that much money on a stolen car. As I prayed for it, I rented a truck from the Pharmacy technician Deborah introduced me to, and rented a dolly from U-Haul, and brought it near the local dealership. They called me and said the cost would be around $850 to repair the main part of the key set because they found a used part. Joshua and Surim finally bought an excellent new car. I deeply realized that God hears our practical prayer topics again. I give thanks to God for all and for hearing our prayers! I also believe God will richly bless the coming International Conference as we have prayed. May God revive all attendees to connect with you as well as with each other!

We studied the book of Revelation up to chapter 7 a little bit but couldn’t finish it. So we returned to studying the book of Revelation. Now, I want to briefly review the previous chapters that we have learned, and then we will start studying the first part of chapter 7.

Firstly, let’s review the outline of the book of Revelation. Apostle John was banished to the island of Patmos. God showed the revelation to him, stating the things that must soon take place. (Look at the screen I posted!) We can largely classify it into three main parts.

Outline of the Book of the Revelation (1:19)!

Part One: “Things Which You Have Seen” (1:1-1:20)

 Part Two: “Things Which Are” – 7 Churches (2:1-3:22)

Part three: ”The Things Which Will Take Place after These Things”- (4:1-22:21)

Part One: “Things Which You Have Seen”- 1:1-1:20

A. Prologue-1:1-8

B. The Vision of the Glorified Christ (1:9-18)

C. The Apostle’s Commission to write (1:19-20)

Part Two: “Things Which Are” – 7 Churches -2:1-3:22

A.          The Letter to the Church at Ephesus (2:1-7)

B.           The Letter to the Church at Smyrna (2:8-11)

C.           The Letter to the church at Pergamum (2:12-17)

D.          The Letter to the church at Thyatira (2:18-29)

E.           The Letter to the Church at Sardis (3:1-6)

F.           The Letter to the Church at Philadelphia (3:7-13)

G.          The Letter to the Church at Laodicea (3:14-22)

Part three- The Things Which Will Take Place after These Things (4:1-22:21)

       A.  The Lamb and the Seven Seals of God’s Scroll (4:1-8:1)

       B.  The Seven Trumpets (8:2-11:19)

       C. The War with the Dragon (12:1-14:20)

       D. The Seven Bowls of Wrath (15:1-16:21)

       E. The Fall of Babylon the Whore( (Prostitutes) (17:1-19:21)

       F. The Victory of Jerusalem the Bride (20:1-22:21)

Part one-Things which they have seen. (1:1-20)

Chapter 1:3 mentions why this book is so important: "Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near." It is not like fiction but the truth, which has come, and is taking place, and will take place. Those who read it can prepare how we should live in. Apostle John saw the true nature of Jesus.

Apostle John saw the true features of Jesus in heaven and described it in 1:13-20. "In the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand, he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, 'Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. As for the mystery of the seven stars that 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 are the seven churches."

Part One - Seven Churches:

The seven churches truly existed in Asia Minor. If you go to the Tucky area, you can still see traces of the seven churches. What is important to study is that each of us is involved in at least one characteristic of the seven churches. So, we can examine the state of our spiritual condition as well as that of our church. There is no perfect church nor Christian. All are broken and need to be sanctified to grow in Christ as the seven churches did. We have studied the seven churches. Let’s briefly review them and examine ourselves too!

Firstly, the Ephesus church (2:1-7), which endured hardship and worked hard for God but had forsaken its first love. Even though the Ephesus church worked hard for God, it lost its first love. So, Christ warned that the church should repent. Otherwise, He would remove its lampstand from its place. Do you still keep the first love, or has your love and passion for Christ grown cold?

Secondly, the Smyrna church (2:8-11), which encountered incredible tribulation, suffering, and poverty. Some were thrown into prison. But Jesus told them they may be tested for ten days of tribulation, but to be faithful unto death. He promised to give them the crown of life. He even assured them that those who conquer will not be hurt by the second death. Do you compromise in the face of temptation, hardship, tribulation, suffering, or poverty? It will not last forever but be a testing time. Be faithful even unto death! Jesus will prepare a great reward, maybe in this world and certainly in heaven.

Thirdly, the Pergamum church (2:12-17), which was located near Satan’s throne. The good thing is that they didn’t deny their faith even in the moment of martyrdom. However, some of them held onto Balaam’s teaching, which led Israel into prostitution with Moabite women through intermarriage. They engaged in fornication and idolatrous feasts as described in Numbers 22-25. A plague attacked Israel due to their sins of fornication and idol worship, and 23,000 died. The Pergamum church ate food sacrificed to idols and practiced sexual immorality. Idol worship always follows sexual immorality. They also held the teaching of the Nicolaitans, which means one who conquers the people and leads them into immorality and wickedness like Balaam. They abandoned themselves to the pleasure of indulgence. Jesus warned them to repent; otherwise, He would come to them soon and war against them with the sword of His mouth. To the one who conquers, Jesus says He will give some of the hidden manna and a white stone with a new name written on it. Jesus will give eternal victory and celebration in heaven.

Fourthly, the Thyatira church (2:18-28), which tolerated Jezebel’s teaching well, as stated in 2:19. “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. However, they tolerated a woman, Jezebel, who called herself a prophetess and was teaching and seducing church leaders to practice sexual immorality, which is so alluring. Jesus warned them to repent. Jesus tells the one who conquers and keeps His work until the end that He will give them authority over the nations and they will rule them with a rod of iron. He will also give them the morning star, which means Christ himself.

Fifthly, the Sardis church (3:1-6), which had a reputation and many congregants and a big, luxurious building. A praising worship team led it with beautiful songs that made it look alive, but Jesus’ view was that it was dead. Jesus rebuked them in 3:2-3. "Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you." But there were a few living Christians who had not soiled their garments. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. Jesus promises the one who is not spoiled but walks with Him, “the one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels” in 3:5-6. How miserable and horrible it is if our name is blotted out of the book of life, no matter how abundant or luxurious our life is on this earth! So many people live without this recognition, but it is the most important thing for our life. It is our salvation and walking with God daily.

Sixthly, the Philadelphia church (3:7-13), which was insignificant and small and had little power but kept Jesus’ word, as stated in 3:8. "You have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name." How much does Jesus want to bless them? Look at verse 3:9. "Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you… I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God." How amazing is the promise Jesus gives to the Philadelphia church, which kept the word of God and patient endurance. Jesus doesn’t see the size of the church population or even good fellowship,

 but whether the church is alive toward the words of God or not, whether they really practice the words of God and follow them or not. In other words, whether the church teaches the word of God in the right way, no matter if it is small or has little power.

Seventhly, the church of Laodicea (3:14-22), which is the worst church among the seven churches. This church is worse than the Sardis church. 3:15a tells us, “I know your works.” They must work for God. They might diligently serve charity or have good fellowship or even do outreach. Jesus points out the matter of the church in 3:15b-16. “You are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” Their spiritual zeal was dead. If the spiritual zeal is dead, we become ritualistic, hypocritical, and habitual attendees of Sunday worship. They might materially be rich or have a high social position, so they think they are rich and have prospered by God’s blessing. They might think, "I don’t need anything because I have everything I need." Jesus’ view is different in 3:17. "For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked." Jesus’ view of the Laodicea church is almost a dead church. Jesus admonishes them like a dead church to refine by fire, clothe themselves with white garments, wash their eyes with the salve of the blood of Jesus to be able to see with the right perspectives, and encourages them to repent in 3:19. "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent." 3:20 is Jesus’ powerful invitation for anyone. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” Jesus admonishes everyone to hear His voice and to open the door of one’s heart. If one does, He will come into them and eat with them and be with them. He will grant them to sit with Him on His throne. He still has earnest hope, desire, and compassionate heart for even the worst church and the worst sinners to hear His voice and repent of one’s wrong ways to come to Him. Christ commended two churches, Smyrna and Philadelphia, without rebuking them. However, Christ rebuked the other five churches with some commendation. Christ never gave up His hope upon the seven churches but encouraged the five rebuking churches with the common word, repentance. If we acknowledge our wrong directions and repent of our sins, He will forgive our sins and restore us. God is the hope of God, no matter if our circumstances are utterly hopeless or not. He is able to make us as a new creation when we come to Him.

Part Two - Worship in Heaven (Chapters 4 and 5):

From chapters 4 to 22:21, it starts from verse 1; "After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven… I will show you what must take place after this!" It describes the things that must take place in the future. We also studied the worship in heaven in chapters 4-5. Right worship is the central matter since man fell due to sin. The first story of Abel and Cain is about worship, which shows acceptable or unacceptable worship after sin came into this world. Chapters 4-5 are examples of worship in heaven. The main focus is the throne. Apostle John saw God’s throne in chapter 4, described as covered with precious jewels of all kinds, a rainbow, light, thunder, and fire. The throne is mentioned nine times in Revelation 4, indicating the sovereignty of Almighty God with its symbolism and significance. Around the throne, twenty-four elders clothed in white garments and four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind worshiped God. We can see four different kinds of living creatures around God’s throne: one like a lion, another like an ox, another like the face of a man, and the last like an eagle. Each of them has six wings and is full of eyes all around them. They worship God day and night, saying, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” (4:8). The twenty-four elders fall down before Him who is seated on the throne and worship Him forever and ever, saying, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will, they existed and were created” (4:11).

In chapter 5, it describes the scroll and the Lamb who is Jesus. When God opened Apostle John’s eyes into heaven, he saw that the universe is not man-centered but God-centered. Jesus sits on the throne and controls all. His throne is the center of all things that surround it. The primary picture in the book of Revelation is Jesus’s throne. The central lesson of Jesus’ throne teaches us His sovereignty. It represents His royalty, authority, glory, honor, and control over the universe. Here, a scroll indicates the document written of God’s revelation. The scroll contains God’s plan of sweet salvation and terrible judgment. The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, can open the scroll and its seven seals, as described in 5:5. If you read verse 6, the Lamb who had been slain stands at the center of the throne. He has seven horns and seven eyes. “Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders, with seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Verse 5:8-9 describes the scene of worshipping the Lamb:

"And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, 'Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.'"

What can we learn from the Lamb, Jesus, sitting on the throne of heaven?

"The destinies of every atom on the earth, as well as the mighty galaxies of the cosmos, are all under Jesus’ sovereignty. When we observe this world, people may think that a powerful few control it. However, the reality is that Jesus controls the entire world. He is sitting on the throne as the sovereign ruler.

When we see the changeable and unpredictable world, it's easy for us to become upset and frustrated. However, when we know about Jesus’ throne in heaven, we don’t need to be upset or frustrated in any situation. He rules over this world according to God’s sovereign plan and purpose. The ultimate focus of His goal is salvation and eternity.

Chapters 6-8 represent the opening of the seven seals of the scroll, which describe judgment. Firstly, a white horse comes out when the voice of thunder says 'come!' We studied it as false peace and fake savior. He tries to conquer the world, but he cannot. People will think there is peace without Christ. They will believe it's a time of peace, prosperity, and safety. However, it is fake.

The second horse is bright red, and it signifies people slaying one another. The red horse was granted the authority to take peace from the earth so that people should slay one another; war breaks out here and there like worldwide war. Men are going to slay one another.

The third horse is the black horse, symbolizing famine due to the great famine. The great famine follows after the effects of worldwide war.

The fourth pale horse comes, symbolizing death. They were given the authority to kill a fourth of the earth with the sword and with famine, with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.  You know how many people have been killed by the tiny virus Covid-19 in this highly developed medical era since it started a few years ago. More than 1.2 million have died. Biological and chemical weapons can wipe out millions of people. One quart of nerve gas can kill a million people.

When he opens the fifth seal, the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for their witness cried out, 'O sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?' (6:10).

When he opened the sixth seal, there was a great earthquake, the sun became black, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth like a fig tree sheds its winter fruit. Everyone, including kings, generals, the rich, the poor, and slaves, will see it and encounter this wrath.  Nobody is free from the wrath of the Lamb at that time. Only those who are cleansed by Jesus’ blood can escape God’s wrath.

I briefly reviewed what we have studied in the book of Revelation from chapters 1 to 6.

In conclusion, we belong to at least one type of the seven churches. No one is perfect, and we need to grow more like Christ every day. Repenting our sins and returning to Jesus if we find ourselves in sin is the best way. Jesus, the Lamb, sits on the throne of heaven. He reigns over the entire world according to God’s plan and salvation purpose. Our current situation is not everything, but God’s judgment is coming. Those who are cleansed by Jesus’ blood and prepared it daily are truly wise. Only the blood of Jesus can help us to escape the wrath of God."