Understanding that the book of Revelation is about Jesus Christ

1. GOD’S SIGNS IN THE
BOOK OF
REVELATION.
Semester
October – December,
2017
Learning to Prophesy

2. LEARNING TO PROPHESY
Marco Lafebre,
Leader

3. THE REVELATION
OF JESUS CHRIST
Part I

4. WHAT WE WILL DISCUSS TONIGHT:
• Introduction:
• Blessing of the book. (Rev. 1 to 2)
• Doxology, the authority of Jesus, our blessing
• Revelation of Christ:
• The seven Spirits, representation.
• First Vision. The vision of Christ.
• Message to the Seven Churches (Rev. 2-3)

5. SCRIPTURES TAKEN
FROM NEW KING
JAMES VERSION.

6. THE REVELATION OF WHO JESUS IS
• The book is the revelation of Jesus Christ pointing: who and what Jesus is.
• He is the Faithful Witness
• He is the firstborn from the dead
• He is the Ruler of kings
• And Because He loved us
• He made us to be a kings and priests
• He has glory and dominion forever
• He is coming with clouds

7. THE REVELATION FROM CHRIST
• God gave this message to Jesus Christ, and it came from Jesus Christ as its
true author.
• These are the steps:
• God to Christ,
• Christ to the angel,
• The angel to John,
• John (a prophet inspired by the Holy Spirit) to the churches.
• The revelation come to us.
• John writes the book, as an eyewitness of the vision that he saw, this book
is Divinely inspired by The Holy Spirit,

8. THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST
IN THE FUTURE.
• The revelation of Jesus in the sky at his second coming.
• There is a day in the future that the revelation of Jesus Christ will surpass all
descriptions as we will see Him coming in majesty with his mighty angels.
• Revelation 1:7 (NKJV)
• 7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will
see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes
of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.

9. REVELATION 1:4
•DOXOLOGY”
•“Grace to you and peace from Him who is
and who was and who is to come,”

10. A CONFIRMATION FROM THE LORD
• These declarations are followed by a confirmation from the Lord himself:
• Revelation 1:8 (NKJV)
• 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning
and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and
who is to come, the Almighty.”

11. HIM WHO IS
REV 1:4, 8
I AM.
ALWAYS
EXISTING
• WHAT A POWERFUL STATEMENT.
• It gives us the confidence that indeed He is alive
in our present time.
• He is the FIRST BORN FROM THE DEAD.
• Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
• He loves you and is with you.
• And want to use you as His priest to serve His
glorious church.

12. WHO WAS
THE ALPHA,
THE
BEGINNING
• Who created the world, who was always with
God,
• Who was incarnated and died for our sins.
• Him who loved us and washed[a] us from our
sins in His own blood,
• What happened more than 2000 years ago is
not just something that happened in the past, it
is the foundation for living today a Christian life.

13. AND WHO
IS TO COME
THE OMEGA
THE END
• This declaration makes Jesus Real.
• You can rest knowing that Jesus will come again
in the clouds.
• We shall be victorious.
• Even if we died we will be raised again, so we
will see the glory of our Lord
• What you believe about the future is your
motivation for living today.

14. MEANING OF THIS DOXOLOGY
• The words of this doxology will remind us this
• JESUS IS and you have God’s favour to be a royal priest
under His rule.
• You are forgiven by God because JESUS WAS and died
for your sins.
• You are not forsaken because JESUS IS TO COME and
you will see and share His Glory.

15. FIRST VISION
A VISION OF CHRIST
• Revelation 1:8-20
• A vision of the risen Christ,
glorified, who is living in heaven.
• But can still be in the midst of his
people, He is walking among the
lampstands which are an image of his
churches.
• How his vision began?
The vision started when John decided
to participate, he first “listened” to the
voice then turned around and he
saw…
• SEVEN GOLDEN LAMPSTANDS,
the first objects that John sees in his
vision represent the seven churches
that he is writing to

16. THE SON OF MAN
(REV 1:12-20) ( DANIEL 7:9-14)
• Jesus appeared to John as one like “The son of Man.”
• He appeared to Daniel as “The Ancient of Days.”
• Comparing the two persons of these visions we see that
• “The son of Man.” has the glorified presence of “The
Ancient of Days.”
• The vision confirms that Jesus Christ is not only a man whose
blood was shed and died, was resurrected and lifted up, but that
He is also truly God and lives for ever and ever, and is worthy to
be worshipped as indeed He is God.

17. IN THE MIDST OF THE SEVEN LAMPSTANDS
REVELATION 1:13
• Revelation 1:13 (NKJV)
• 13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of
Man…
• Jesus presented himself as The Good Shepherd of the sheep
• Just as when the Good Shepherd was protecting his sheep
So now He is protecting His churches

18. MEANING OF THE VISION
• Clothing. Represents that He is fully clothed in righteousness. It
represents the power of his righteousness.
• Because of His righteousness he was able to be the only and
perfect sacrifice for our sins.
• Golden Band. Girdled around his chest speaks about the breast
plate of righteousness.
• Ephesians 6:14 (NKJV)
• 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the
breastplate of righteousness,

19. HIS HEAD AND HAIR
• 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow,
• It refers to the purity and light of god in whom there is no
darkness.
• 1 John 1:5 (NKJV) Fellowship with Him and One Another
• 5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you,
that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
• Daniel 7:9 (NKJV) Vision of the Ancient of Days
• 9 “I watched till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Days was
seated; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like
pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, Its wheels a burning fire;

20. HIS EYES
• 14 … and His eyes like a flame of fire;
• Fire in here represents judgement.
• His fiery eyes represent His wisdom, understanding and
knowledge, there is nothing that is hidden to Him.
• Hebrews 4:13 (NKJV)
• 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and
open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

21. HIS FEET
• 15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace,
• Again, the purified brass in the furnace fire points to the holiness
of Jesus Christ.
• Isaiah 52:7 (NKJV)
• 7 How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news,
Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things,
Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

22. HIS VOICE
• 15 …,and His voice as the sound of many waters;
• Roaring as a powerful waterfall, His voice can be heard everywhere,
no man or beast can hide and not hear the Voice of Him.
• A voice of a loud thunder, as the voice of a great multitude. (Rev 14:2;
19:6)
• John 6:63 (NKJV)
• 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words
that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
• The dead will hear the voice of the Son of God (John 5:25)
• All who are in the graves will hear his voice (John 5:28)

23. HIS RIGHT HAND
• 16 He had in His right hand seven stars,
• Right hand Speaks about the fact that Jesus has been exalted to
the right hand of God
• Acts 2:3 (NKJV) 33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God,
• Hebrews 8:1 (NKJV) 8 Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We
have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the
Majesty in the heavens,
• Seven stars representing the angels of the seven churches.
• Each local church is closely connected to God in heaven, it
doesn’t matter its location.

24. TWO EDGE SWORD
• 15 … out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword,
• Representing the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
• Ephesians 6:17 (NKJV)
• 17 …, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
• Described in the full armour of God, is mentioned as the last one, and is the only
weapon of attack.
• Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV)
• 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged
sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow,
and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

25. HIS FACE
• 16 … and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
• His shining face represents the glory and light of Jesus. He is the
bright and morning star
• John 1:4 (NKJV) 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
• Revelation 22:16 (NKJV) 16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these
things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and
Morning Star.”

26. THE SEVEN
CHURCHES
OF ASIA IN
REVELATION

27. THE MESSAGES TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES
• Ephesus, Revelation 2:1-7
• Smyrna, Revelation 2:8-11
• Pergamum, Revelation 2:12-17
• Thyatira, Revelation 3:1-6
• Sardis, Revelation 3:1-6
• Philadelphia, Revelation 3:7-13
• Laodicea, Revelation 3:14-22

28. CHURCH OF EPHESUS
REVELATION 2:1-7
THE LOVELESS CHURCH
2 “TO THE ANGEL OF THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS WRITE,
Commendation:
Rejects evil,
perseveres, has
patience.
01
Criticism:
Love for Christ no
longer fervent..
02
Instruction:
Remember and
repent. Do the works
you did at first.
03
Promise:
The tree of life
04

29. CHURCH OF SMYRNA
REV 2: 8-11
THE PERSECUTED CHURCH
8 “AND TO THE ANGEL OF THE CHURCH IN SMYRNA WRITE,
Commendation:
Gracefully bear
suffering.
01
Criticism:
None.
02
Instruction:
Be faithful until
death.
03
Promise:
The crown of
life.
04

30. CHURCH OF PERGAMOS
REV 2: 12-17
THE COMPROMISING CHURCH
12 “AND TO THE ANGEL OF THE CHURCH IN PERGAMOS WRITE,
Commendation:
Keeps the faith of
Christ
01
Criticism:
Tolerate immorality,
idolatry, and
heresies.
02
Instruction:
Repent.
03
Promise:
Hidden manna and
a stone with a new
name.
04

31. CHURCH OF THYATIRA
REV 2: 18-29
THE CORRUPT CHURCH
18 “AND TO THE ANGEL OF THE CHURCH IN THYATIRA WRITE,
Commendation:
Love, service, faith,
patience is greater
than at first.
01
Criticism:
Tolerate cult of
idolatry and
immorality.
02
Instruction:
Judgement coming,
keep the faith.
03
Promise:
Rule over nations and
receive morning star.
04

32. CHURCH OF SARDIS
REV 3:1-6
THE DEAD CHURCH
18 “AND TO THE ANGEL OF THE CHURCH IN SARDIS WRITE,
Commendation:
Some have kept the
faith.
01
Criticism: A
dead church
02
Instruction:
Repent, strengthen
what remains.
03
Promise:
Faithful honored and
clothed in white.
04

33. CHURCH OF PHILADELPHIA
REVELATION 3:7-13
THE FAITHFUL CHURCH
18 “AND TO THE ANGEL OF THE CHURCH IN PHILADELPHIA WRITE,
Commendation:
Perseveres in the faith.
01
Criticism:
None.
02
Instruction:
Keep the faith.
03
Promise: A
place in God’s
presence, a new name,
and the New
Jerusalem.
04

34. CHURCH OF LAODICEA
REVELATION: 3: 14-22
THE LUKEWARM CHURCH
18 “AND TO THE ANGEL OF THE CHURCH IN LAODICEA WRITE,
Commendation:
None.
01
Criticism:
Indifferent.
02
Instruction:
Be zealous and
repent.
03
Promise:
Share Christ’s
throne
04

35. SEVEN SPIRITS
• In his introduction to the book of Revelation, after giving
a blessing of grace and peace from "him who is, was,
and is to come", John says that the blessing is also
from "the seven spirits who are before his
throne" (Revelation 1:4)

36. SEVEN SPIRITS
•First vision:
•The glorified Christ addresses the seven churches.
•Jesus Christ is described as "He who has the seven
spirits of God and the seven stars“(Revelation 3:1).

37. WHAT THE SEVEN SPIRITS REPRESENT
• There are seven Spirits to match the seven churches addressed
by the Revelation.
• Each Spirit is a representation of the Holy Spirit's personal work
ministering to each of the seven churches, using prophets to
deliver to them the gospel of Jesus.
• By representing the Holy Spirit and his work as seven spirits, the
visions reassure us that God has a personal relationship with
each congregation of Christ, and each congregation has its own
independent responsibility in that relationship.

38. THE ORIGIN OF THE CHURCHES
• Each church had its origin in the gospel.
• This was true from the establishment of the first church of Christ in Jerusalem on
the day of Pentecost, (Acts 2:1-5).
• The origin of any congregation of Christ should be the work of the Holy Spirit not
the work of men.
• Any congregation, in order to be true, must be true to the Spirit of
that congregation.
• This means that the congregation builds itself upon the testimony of Jesus, his
gospel. A church built on anything else is allowing a false spirit into its midst.

39. THE COMMISSION TO THE CHURCHES
• Each church was commissioned to spread the gospel further than their physical
limits.
• This is the great commission Jesus gave to his disciples (Mark 16:15-16).
• Each congregation must ensure that it is not a weak point in the body of Christ,
• Each congregation needs to honor the commission that has received from our
Lord to spread the revelation of Christ.

40. THE FAITHFULNESS OF THE CHURCHES
• Each church needed to remain faithful to the gospel.
• In the first vision, in chapters 2 and 3, Jesus rebukes most of the seven churches
for being unfaithful to the gospel.
• One of the purposes of Revelation is to strengthen the churches.
• The life of every congregation, and of each of its members, depends upon
faithfulness. The faithfulness of God to us, and our faithfulness to him.
• He said, "Be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life" (Revelation
2:10).
• As we said, the seven spirits represent the Holy Spirit in each church of Christ. The
first responsibility of any church is this: "He who has an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit says to the churches" (Revelation 2:29).

41. • Thank you for your participation.
• For next week please read Revelation chapters 4 to 6