Revelation 1-3: A few notes. Love, Jesus.

Contact me and let me know:
(1) how has OBP helped you in your relationship with God?
(2) what you'd like to see in the next season of the podcast
(3) questions about the Bible 

We start the Book of Revelation and set our hearts on its main purpose: revealing Jesus Christ as the risen King who will win the final victory over sin and death. We read Revelation 1 to 3 aloud and let Jesus’ letters to the seven churches search our lives with both warning and hope. 
• inviting listener feedback as we near the end of the first Bible read through 
• how the podcast has helped your relationship with God and sharing testimonies 
• what to expect in Revelation as prophecy and as a revelation of Jesus 
• John’s exile on Patmos and why Revelation is written 
• the blessing of reading prophecy aloud and hearing and obeying it 
• Jesus walking among the lampstands and knowing His churches 
• the repeating pattern in the seven letters: praise, correction, call to repent, promise to conquer 
• personal reflection prompts from Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea 

At outloudbible.com, you can find free resources to help you study the Bible. And while you’re there, send us a message to say hi, or start a conversation about having us at your church or event. 

If Outloud Bible has been a valuable part of your understanding of the Bible, please consider supporting the ministry by visiting outloudbible.com.

Transcript

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This is the Out Loud Bible Project Podcast, and I am Mike. And tell you what, my friend, we are here about to start the Book of Revelation, which is of course the last book of the Bible and the last book

Welcome And Revelation Next

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we have yet to read here on the podcast. I'm excited about the time we're going to spend together here in the book of Revelation and then beyond. When we wrap up this first run through the Bible, we will take some time to celebrate what God has done through this podcast up to this point, and we'll plot a course for how the future looks. And in light of that, I'd really value hearing from you. If you've been listening to the podcast even just for a short while, or you've been with me for all 400 plus episodes over the past

How To Send Feedback

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three and a half years, my goodness, uh, then I would love to hear from you. There are two ways to reach out. One can be through the podcast episode description right on the podcast platform that you're listening to. In the episode description, in this episode, right on the podcast platform that you're listening to, you'll find a link to send me a message. Now, that is just a one-way message. It's great for answering maybe one or more of the questions that I'll be asking you here in just a minute. Uh, I will not be able to respond to you that way, though. So if you just want to give an answer to a question or to give your feedback, that's a great way to do that. Uh, if you're hoping for a response from me, I'm happy to do that, but I can't do that through that message. I would point you to our website, outloudbible.com. You can go to contact us right on the bottom of the page or outloudbible.com slash contact, that works too, and uh and reach out to me that way. That then way we can open up a conversation, sends me an email, I'll email you back, and we can have a conversation that way. So I would love to hear from you about uh a couple things here. First of all, I would love to hear from you one, how has Outloud Bible Project Podcast helped you in your relationship with God? If you're willing, I'd love to be able to share your answer to that question on one of the upcoming episodes as we celebrate kind of the reaching the end of this first cycle through the Bible. I'd love to share your story if you're willing. Uh just let me know how has Outloud Bible Project, how has hearing the Word of God out loud, helped you in your relationship with God? I'd love to hear your testimony of what he's been doing in your life. I'd also love to hear what you'd like to see in the next season of the podcast. If there's something that uh you would like to hear more of or an idea you have of of how to engage with the Bible or something you'd like to hear, please let me know. I'd love to hear your ideas as well. And finally, I'd also like to hear if you have any questions about the Bible. Now we're not like a QA, you know, sort of defending the Bible sort of podcast. That's not exactly what we're here for. But if you have any questions about the Bible in regards to how to understand it, how to study it, any questions that uh maybe through something that we've read that you're still like, hmm, I'm unsure about this, I would love to hear from you, and and we can address those questions and answers as they come and uh address them on upcoming episodes as well. So those are my questions for you. I'd love to hear from you again. One, how has Outloud Bible Project helped you in your relationship with God? Two, what would you like to see in the next season of the podcast? Or or three, you have any questions about the Bible that you like addressed and like to hear some answers and discussion on in an upcoming episode. Just reach out to me through either the episode description of this episode, the link to contact me there. Again, that's just one-sided though, so I won't be able to reply to that. Or you can reach out through the website, outloudbible.com, and contact us through there. I'd love to hear from you. Over the course of the next few episodes here, as we read through Revelation, I'll probably ask a few more times. I'd love to hear from you and hear your feedback as we get ready to start a new phase of the podcast. But for now, we've got the book of Revelation to read. The book of Revelation was written by the Apostle John, and uh it makes a fitting end to our season here where we've been looking at what it

Why Revelation Matters Now

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takes to be a friend of Jesus, and we've been studying John's writings, arguably Jesus' best friend. And the Gospel of John, the first, second, third letters of John, and now this book of Revelation, are all written by John to help us know who Jesus is. His Gospel of John was to show us that he is the Son of God and the Son of Man. His letters, first, second, third, John, show us how to live in light of that now, to be representatives of his love and truth in the world. And now this book of Revelation will reveal, that's what revelation means, revealing, it's the revelation of Jesus Christ, revealing to us who Jesus is on the throne and who he is as the coming king, who will win the final victory over death and sin. I cannot wait for that day to come. John wrote this book as he was toward the end of his life. He was actually exiled. While the other apostles were killed, murdered, martyred for their continuing to share the gospel. The Romans decided, uh, let's just shove John over on the island of Patmos and let him rot for the rest of his days out there, and then he won't be such a nuisance. And well, I'm not so sure how well that worked, because while he was exiled on Patmos, he received a revelation, this vision, a dream from Jesus, uh, which results in now one of the most fascinating, prolific pieces of scripture that we have. So this is the book of Revelation. It's a special book because it's prophecy, much of which has not yet happened yet. So we still look forward to the fulfillment of many of these things that we're going to read. It's also special because it says in verse 3 of the first chapter that blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy aloud. Yeah, that's me. So I am in for a blessing. Thanks, maybe, maybe a little bit selfishly, I'm excited to read this book. But it it it's it clearly says there's a blessing for those who read the word of this prophecy out loud. And not only that, blessed are those who hear it and obey the things written in it, because the time is near. That's you. This is this is living, active word of God stuff. So let's get into it. This uh, we're gonna read the first three chapters here of the book of Revelation. This is a little bit different than the rest of the book. The rest of the book is is much more about casting this uh vision of what the future is going to look like uh when Jesus comes and a glimpse into the inner workings of heaven and the throne. Uh, but the first three chapters are actually letters that Jesus told John to write to some of the existing churches of the day. There were a network of seven churches in what's now modern-day Turkey, Western Turkey. And uh some were big, prominent churches, some were smaller churches that weren't really on the map, so to speak. But Jesus reveals himself as the one who walks among the lampstands. He's referring to the churches. Jesus is the ultimate shepherd, pastor, who walks among the churches and knows the inner workings of each. So as we read these letters that Jesus is sending to the churches, we're going to notice a similar formula for each where Jesus addresses them, where he reveals some aspect of who he is. And then he's going to commend something good that he sees in them, some things that they're doing well. And then he's going to point out some areas where they need improvement. And then he's going to give a final recommendation, a final maybe it's a warning or an encouragement and uh and a blessing that they can expect if they persevere to the end. Now, these churches were real churches, and they were real letters that John would have sent out to these churches, and there were specific issues in their specific context at that time. Now, why does this matter today? Because we in the modern day church, not just even the big C church globally, but also in our individual specific bodies of local churches, can find ourselves relating to at least one of these churches, or a couple different issues as are described in these letters to the churches. We would be wise to follow Jesus' own advice to these churches. And even we personally can take the note that Jesus walks among us, he sees us, he knows what we do, he knows the good things that we're doing in our life and pursuing righteousness, he also knows where we need improvement, some areas where we need to give something up and ask him to make the changes he needs to make in us. With that mindset and goal in mind, let's read Revelation 1 through 3 in the New English Translation. The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must happen very soon. He made it clear by sending his angel to his servant John, who then testified to everything

Revelation 1 Read Aloud

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that he saw concerning the Word of God and the testimony about Jesus Christ. Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy aloud, and blessed are those who hear and obey the things written in it, because the time is near. From John to the seven churches that are in the province of Asia, grace and peace to you from he who is, and who was, and who is still to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from among the dead, the ruler over the kings of the earth, to the one who loves us and has set us free from our sins at the cost of his own blood, and has appointed us as a kingdom, as priests serving his God and Father, to him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. Look, he's returning with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all the tribes on the earth will mourn because of him. This will certainly come to pass. Amen. I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, the one who is, and who was, and who is still to come, the all powerful. I, John, your brother, and the one who shares with you in the persecution, kingdom, and endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony about Jesus. I was in the spirit on the Lord's day when I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. I turned to see whose voice was speaking to me, and when I did so I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the middle of the lampstands was one like a son of man, and he was dressed in a robe extending down to his feet, and he wore a wide golden belt around his chest. His head and hair were as white as wool, even as white as snow, and his eyes were like a fiery flame. His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. He held seven stars in his right hand and a double-edged sword extended out of his mouth. His face shone like the sun shining at full strength, and when I saw him I fell down at his feet as though I were dead, but he placed his right hand on me and said, Don't be afraid. I am the first and the last, and the one who lives. I was dead, but look, now I'm alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and of Hades. Therefore write what you saw, what is, and what will be after these things. The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven gold lampstands is this the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. To the angel at the Church of Ephesus, write the following This is the solemn pronouncement of the one who has a firm grasp on the seven stars in his right hand, the one who

The Seven Church Letters

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walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your works, as well as your labor and your steadfast endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil. You have even put to the test those who refer to themselves as apostles, but are not, and have discovered that they're false. I'm also aware that you have persisted steadfastly, endured much for the sake of my name, and have not grown weary. But I have this against you. You have departed from your first love. Therefore remember from what high state you've fallen and repent. Do the deeds you did at the first. And if not, I'll come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. That is if you do not repent. But you do have this going for you. You hate what the Nicolaitans practice, practices I also hate. The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I'll permit him to eat from the tree of life that's in the paradise of God. To the angel of the church in Smyrna, write the following This is the solemn pronouncement of the one who is the first and the last, the one who was dead but came to life. I know the distress you're suffering, and your poverty, but you're rich. I also know the slander against you by those who call themselves Jews and really are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Don't be afraid of the things you're about to suffer. The devil is about to have some of you thrown into prison so that you may be tested, and you'll experience suffering for ten days. Remain faithful even to the point of death, and I'll give you the crown that is life itself. The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will in no way be harmed by the second death. To the angel of the church in Pergamum, write the following This is the solemn pronouncement of the one who has the sharp double-edged sword. I know where you live, where Satan's throne is. And yet you cling to my name, and you've not denied your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was killed in your city where Satan lives. But I have a few things against you. You have some people there who are following the teaching of Balaam, who instructed Balak to put a stumbling block before the people of Israel so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality. In the same way, there are also some among you who followed the teachings of the Nikolaitans. Therefore repent. If not, I will come against you quickly and make war against those people with the sword of my mouth. The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I'll give him some of the hidden manna, and I'll give him a white stone, and on that stone will be written a new name that no one can understand, except the one who receives it. To the angel of the church in Thyatira, write the following This is the solemn pronouncement of the Son of God, the one who has eyes like a fiery flame, and whose feet are like polished bronze. I know your deeds, your love, faith, service, and steadfast endurance. In fact, your more recent deeds are greater than your earlier ones. But I have this against you. You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and by her teaching deceives my servants to commit sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. I've given her time to repent, but she is not willing to repent of her sexual immorality. Look, I'm throwing her onto a bed of violent illness, and those who commit adultery with her into terrible suffering until they repent of her deeds. Furthermore, I will strike her followers with a deadly disease, and then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts. I will repay each one of you what your deeds deserve. But to the rest of you in Thyatira, all who do not hold to this teaching, who have not learned the so-called deep secrets of Satan to you I say, I do not put any additional burden on you. However, hold on to what you have until I come. And to the one who conquers and who continues in my deeds until the end, I'll give him authority over the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod, and like clay jars he will break them to pieces. Just as I've received the right to rule from my father, and I will give him the morning star. The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the angel of the church in Sardis, write the following This is the solemn pronouncement of the one who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds, that you have a reputation that you're alive, but in reality you're dead. Wake up then and strengthen what remains that was about to die, because I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Therefore remember what you received and heard, and obey it, and repent. If you don't wake up, I'll come like a thief, and you'll never know at what hour I'll come against you. But you have a few individuals in Sardis who have not stained their clothes, and they will walk with me dressed in white because they are worthy. The one who conquers will be dressed like them in white clothing, and I will never erase his name from the book of life, but will declare his name before my father and before his angels. The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the angel in the church in Philadelphia, write the following This is the solemn pronouncement of the Holy One, the true one who holds the keys of David, who opens doors no one can shut, and shuts doors no one can open. I know your deeds. Look, I've put in front of you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, but you have obeyed my word and have not denied my name. Listen, I'm gonna make those people from the synagogue of Satan who say they're Jews, yet are not, but are lying, look, I will make them come and bow down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Because you have kept my admonition to endure steadfastly, I'll also keep you from the hour of testing that's about to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth. I'm coming soon. Hold on to what you have so that no one can take away your crown. The one who conquers, I will make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never depart from it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from my God, and my new name as well. The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the angel of the church in Laodicea, write the following. This is the solemn pronouncement of the Amen, the faithful and the true witness, the originator of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you're neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot, so because you're lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I'm going to vomit you out of my mouth. Because you say, Oh, I'm rich and I've acquired great wealth and need nothing, but don't realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. Take my advice and buy gold from me refined by fire so that you can become rich. Buy from me white clothing that you can be clothed and your shameful nakedness will not be exposed, and by I salve to put on your eyes so you can see. All those I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Listen, I'm standing at the door and knocking. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into his home and share a meal with him, and he with me. I'll grant the one who conquers permission to sit with me on my throne, just as I too conquered and sat with my father on his throne. The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Alright, well, I know we just read seven letters from Jesus to these different churches, and there's a lot of different elements to them. I would encourage you to go back. This is mostly Revelation 2 and 3, these seven letters, and

Personal Warnings And Promises

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I would encourage you to go check out some of the warnings that Jesus pronounces. Like I say, let's not assume that we're the good guys doing all the good things when we read the Bible. Let's start from a place of, hmm, where might Jesus say to me, like he said in these letters, I have this against you. Where where might our actions and our thoughts not line up with him? Do any of Jesus' notes for these churches apply to you personally in your life? Maybe you've lost the first love that you had when you first came to know Jesus. Maybe you've made compromises in some areas or are entertaining other ideas or friends or ideologies that are not in line with Scripture. Maybe you feel self-sufficient that you don't look to God for what you truly need because you think your needs are met and taken care of. Let the one who walks among the seven lampstands walk among your heart as well, and point out areas that do not line up with his heart. Of course, that's not to say that Jesus is just walking around finding fault with you all over the place. Do you hear the care that Jesus employs here in these letters to these churches? Starting off with, in many cases, saying something that he does see and he does commend, and he wants them to keep doing and stay faithful to. And yes, there are some areas in most of these letters here where there needs to be some improvement, needs to be some changes, or else there may be consequences. But then it all ends with a promise of if you are a conqueror in this area through the power of Christ, then you can expect great blessings in the future. I'm not going to prescribe a thinking out loud thought for the day for you today, other than to just go back and read these letters and consider what the one who walks among the seven lampstands might say to you. Thanks for joining me here. We'll see you next time on the Out Loud Bible Project Podcast.