Memory verse: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8

Revelation was written by John, one of Jesus disciples. He was banished by the Roman Emperor Domitian to the rocky island of Patmos. As a prisoner on the lonely island, He is given the Revelation of Christ. This was about 96 A.D. Jesus sent these messages to the beloved John while in vision. The book of Revelation we will find like Daniel needs keys to unlock the treasures. There are symbols, we also need to understand Daniel (that is why we studied Daniel first), we also need to understand the sanctuary, and we have learned there is a sanctuary, in heaven. It was shown to Moses as a pattern for The earthly sanctuary.

1. Revelation 1:1, 2 “The _______ of ________ ________, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his __________ unto his _________ ______: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.” The angel from heaven came to John and revealed the history of God’s churches. Remember Daniel revealed the history of nations to the end of time. Now Revelation is on the history of the church of God. He is also shown the deliverance of God’s people at the end. But Christ followers were to endure fiery trials, perilous conflicts they must be tried and tested and come off victorious.

2. Revelation 1:3 “________ is he that ________, and they that ________ the ________ of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”

Like the Sermon on the Mount, the Revelation breathes the benediction of heaven. Note: these

Revelation 1:3             “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear.”

Revelation 14:13         “Blessed are the dead which die in The Lord.”

Revelation 16:15         “Blessed is He that watcheth, and keepeth His garments”

Revelation 19:9           “Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the lamb.”

Revelation 20:6           “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection.”

Revelation 22:7           “Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.”

Revelation 22:14          “Blessed are they that do His commandments.

3. Revelation 1:4, 5 “John to the _______ ________ which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the _______ _______ which are before his throne; 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. Unto him that loved us, and ________ _____ from our sins in ______ own ____________,” We will be studying more on these seven churches in verse 11.

Verse 5 “And from _____ _________, who is the faithful witness, and the _________ _________ of the ________, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,” Christ was the first fruit, represented the great spiritual harvest to be gathered for the kingdom of God. His own, resurrection was a pledge of the resurrection of all the righteous dead. Read (1 Thessalonians 4:14)

4. Revelation 1:6 “And hath made us _____ and _______ unto ______ and his ________; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. ________.” Amen means you agree with what is being said. If we are obedient to all His commandments, we will reign as kings and priest unto God, during the thousand years. This is between the first and second resurrection. The judgment of the wicked takes place, during the thousand years they reign as kings and priest.

5. Revelation 1:7 “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and ________ ________ shall see him, and they also which ________ _______: and all kindreds of the earth shall __________ because of him. Even so, Amen.” All that pierced Jesus will be resurrected to see Him come. Read Mark 14:62. This was at His trail. Also read Matthew 27:25. All that had a part in Christ death will be raised to see Him come. They will wail, for they know that they are not ready to see Him. Johyn19:37.

6. Revelation 1:8 “I am _______ and __________, the ________ and the __________, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” Christ Jesus is the alpha and the omega. He is the Genesis of the old testament and the omega of the Revelation, in The New Testament. They both meet together in Christ. The Bible is full of precious truths; it contains the knowledge of the alpha and the omega. The precious Bible is the garden of God, His promises are the lilies and the roses, and the pinks. We are together the flowers and leave alone the thorns and the thistles.

7. Revelation 1:9 “I John, who also am your brother, and _________ in __________, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the _______ of _______, and for the _______ of ________ ________.” In the end of this world, we to will be put through much if we serve God and stand for His Word and testimony. (Revelation 14:12) “John was cast into a caldron of boiling oil; but the Lord preserved the life of His faithful servant, even as He preserved the three Hebrews in the fiery furnace. As the words were spoken, Thus perish all who believe in that deceiver, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, John declared, My Master patiently submitted to all that Satan and his angels could devise to humiliate and torture Him. He gave His life to save the world. I am honored in being permitted to suffer for His sake. I am a weak, sinful man. Christ was holy, harmless, undefiled. He did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth. These words had their influence, and John was removed from the caldron by the very men who had cast him in.” Acts of The Apostles 570

8. Revelation 1:10 “I was in the Spirit on the ________ _________, and heard behind me a great ________, as of a trumpet,” “Though imprisoned because of his faithfulness to Jesus Christ, John still worshiped his Lord on His holy day. God does have a special day, as this verse clearly shows. Some interpreters believe the term “Lord’s day” refers to Sunday, and while many decades later some Christians did begin to refer to Sunday in this manner, the only day recognized by the earliest Christians, including John, as belonging to the Lord was the seventh-day Sabbath—the day we now call Saturday.”

“At creation the Godhead, including Jesus Christ, set aside the seventh day of the week as a special day for men to worship them. Jesus said of Himself, “The Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.” He Himself kept the Sabbath, as did His apostles, including Paul and John. The Sabbath is one of the means He uses to minister His life to men

(Genesis 2:1-3;

Exodus 20:8-11;

Isaiah 58:13;

Mark 2:27;

Luke 4:16;

Acts 17:2).”

These times a special issue “The Amazing Prophecies of Daniel and Revelation” Page 30

9. Revelation 1:11 “Saying, _____ _______ Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, _________ in a book, and send it unto the _______ _________ which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.” Christ is The “I AM” Speaking to John. Here is a list of the seven churches of Asia.

“I AM” is a noun. It is the name for God. (Exodus 3:14, 6) Read (Revelation 1:18). In chapter 2 and 3 we will learn a lot about these seven churches, the time in history referred to by each and what they represented. “Seven” appears fifty times – Four times in The book of Revelation. The number “Seven” is a very significant number. There are:

10. Revelation 1:12 “And I turned to see the _________ that spake with me. And being turned, I saw ________ golden _____________;” We know from our study of Daniel that when Christ went to heaven after his resurrection, He went into the heavenly sanctuary. We know where He is walking in verse 12. He is in the Holy place for that is where the seven branched candlestick is, with it’s seven lamps. They are on the south side in The Holy Place.

11. We learned from our study of Daniel 10:5, 6 That both of these texts refers to a description of Christ. Revelation 1:13 – 16. “And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a __________ down to the ________, and girt about the ________ with a ________ _________. His head and his ________ were _______ like ________, as white as snow; and his _______ were as a _____ of _________; And his __________ like unto fine _________, as if they burned in a furnace; and his _________ as the sound of many __________. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his __________ went a _________ two-edged ____________: and his _________ was as the _________ shineth in his strength.”

12. Revelation 1:17 “And when I saw him, I fell at his _________ as _________. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:” We Also studied in Daniel what happened when some one is in vision. We know from the text that John was in vision when he saw this.

13. Revelation 1:18, 19 “_____ _________ he that _________, and was ________; and, behold, I am ________ for _______, Amen; and have the keys of ________ and of _________. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be here after;” I AM (Christ) is still speaking we know it is Christ for He was alive and dead and resurrected, to live forevermore. There are text in The Bible that call hell the grave. Christ has the keys to unlock the grave and call forth the sleeping saints.

“Jesus comforts our sorrow for the dead with a message of infinite hope: "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction." Hosea 13:14. "I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, . . . and have the keys of hell and of death." Revelation 1:18. "The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17.” Prophets and Kings 240 John was instructed to write the things shown him in vision. Things which would be, in our day, and to the close of time. (Read Revelation 20:13).

14. Revelation 1:20 “The mystery of the _______ _________ which thou sawest in my right hand, and the _______ golden ______________. The seven stars are the angels of the _______ ___________: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.”

Seven Churches – “Since His ascension, Christ the great Head of the church, has carried forward His work in the world by chosen ambassadors, through whom He speaks to the children of men, and ministers to their needs. The position of those who have been called of God to labor in word and doctrine for the upbuilding of His church, is one of grave responsibility. In Christ's stead they are to beseech men and women to be reconciled to God; and they can fulfil their mission only as they receive wisdom and power from above.” Gospel Workers 13

Seven stars - “Here the ministers of righteousness are symbolized by the seven stars, which the First and the Last has under his special care and protection. The Lord Jesus Christ is acquainted with the number of the stars. He calls them by their names, binds the sweet influence of Pleiades, and looses the bands of Orion. The ministers of the gospel of Christ are greater blessings to the church than are the stars to our world. All are in God's hand. He directs their motions. He disposes of them in their different orbs in their positions. He fills them with light and influence. He supports them, else they would soon be falling stars. They are instruments in his hands, and all the good they do is done by his hand and by his Spirit's power.” Review and Herald May 31, 1887

The seven candlesticks are the seven churches. - “Christ is spoken of as walking in the midst of the golden candlesticks. Thus is symbolized His relation to the churches. He is in constant communication with His people. He knows their true state. He observes their order, their piety, their devotion. Although He is high priest and mediator in the sanctuary above, yet He is represented as walking up and down in the midst of His churches on the earth. With untiring wakefulness and unremitting vigilance, He watches to see whether the light of any of His sentinels is burning dim or going out. If the candlesticks were left to mere human care, the flickering flame would languish and die; but He is the true watchman in the Lord's house, the true warden of the temple courts. His continued care and sustaining grace are the source of life and light.” Acts of The Apostles 586