1. Revelation 1:1. Does John mean “soon” or “quickly”?

There is a difference, you know, though the Greek can go either way. “Soon” would imply that not much time will pass before Jesus appears in the sky, along with all the other end-time events. Unless we look at things from the standpoint of “one day is as a thousand years”, it is hard to allow “soon” to stand here.

Jesus told His disciples that His coming would be as the lightning and as the eagle or vulture. Both of these illustrations have to do with a quick fulfillment, but not necessarily a “soon” one. When Jesus finally comes, and when the end-time events finally come, all will take place quickly, one after the other. One moment Jesus will not be here, the next He will.

I understand though, that this “soon” coupled with the word “near” (at hand), at the end of verse 3, leads us to believe that the series of events must begin in John’s day. Perhaps the fulfillment of the seven seals (chapter 6) will begin even in the first century. Then a slow unrolling of events throughout history, until we come to the final drama of the end time.

A confusing answer? Indeed, the church has labored with this question of His coming for centuries. Keep searching, let the Scriptures speak for themselves.

2. Revelation 1:4. Who are the seven (S)pirits?

Out of 25 standard Bible translations, only 7 have not capitalized the word “spirits.” That is probably the proportion of teachers through the years who have come on one side or the other. Un-capitalized, the spirits are merely angels. This idea is not without merit, as seven angels will be addressing the seven churches.

Trouble is, angels are not called spirits elsewhere in the book, though the writer of Hebrews, quoting Psalms, does make that pronouncement.

The flow of the text, though, seems to favor Divinity for these Seven Spirits. The book is said to originate from the Eternal One, from the Seven Spirits – or Sevenfold Spirit – and from Jesus. A perfect description of Trinity.

And if Trinity means 3 acting as one, so “seven” Spirits can be viewed as one entity.

In 3:1, Jesus is said to “have” the seven Spirits of God, and to have the seven stars. Those stars are identified earlier as seven angels. Thus, a clue within the Book that these are two separate entities, angels and Spirits.

Beyond that, the human mind is left behind and we are left with a revelation of the Godhead that is unknowable and unreachable.

3. Revelation 1:8, 17; 21:6; 22:13. Who is the Alpha and the Omega?

This is one of those critical studies regarding the Deity of Christ. Look at it carefully.

In 1:8, the “Lord God” is speaking. The Almighty. Jehovah. The Father. He calls Himself the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, first and last.

1:13-18. John now sees one that looks like a son of man, that is, a human being. He holds 7 stars in His hand, the very thing Jesus is said to be doing. He calls Himself then, the first and the last. If the ID is not certain yet, He claims He was dead, but is now alive. This is Jesus.

At the other end of the book (21:1-7), a voice is heard from the Throne. It seems again like the Father (“I will be His God and he will be my Son.”), Jehovah. But He calls Himself Alpha and Omega.

In 22:12-16, One Who is “coming quickly” is the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. He makes it clear in verse 16 that His Name is Jesus.

Get the point? Jesus said it: “I and My Father are One.”

4. Revelation 1:10. Which of the seven days is the “Lord’s” Day?

Let it be clear here: The Bible does not say. We are left to human reasoning, so let me try mine. John was a Jew. All his life the day of the Lord was the seventh day. Would he be calling Sunday the “Lord’s Day”?

Now perhaps the people of God were meeting regularly on the first day by now. And perhaps the idea of celebrating the resurrection and Pentecost perpetually on that day had become the norm in John’s thinking. But I’m not sure. And again I say, the Bible doesn’t tell us.

5. Revelation 1:13ff. Is this the same person that Ezekiel (1:26-28) and Daniel (10:5-6) saw?

John: Robe reaching to the feet. Golden sash across His chest. Head and hair white like wool. Eyes a flame of fire. Feet like burnished bronze. Voice like the sound of many waters. Face like the sun shining in its strength.

Ezekiel: (1:26-28) Something like glowing metal that looked like fire from His loins and upward. Something like fire from loins downward. Radiance around Him, like a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day.

Daniel: (10:5-6) Dressed in linen. Waist clothed with a belt of pure gold. Body like beryl. Face like lightning. Eyes like flaming torches. Arms and feet like polished bronze. Sound of His words like the sound of a tumult.

You decide.

6. Revelation 1:13-18. What clues that this passage is about Jesus Christ?

He is like a son of man, a human.

He holds the seven stars, as stated to the Ephesian church (2:1).

He was dead, but now is alive forevermore.

7. Revelation 2:1 et al. Why are these letters addressed to an angel?

It seems a bit odd. Jesus send a message to an angel, who somehow gets the message to the church. Most commentators get around this difficulty by saying that the “angel”, or “messenger” of the church is none other than the head pastor.

But what of the fact that seven angels are introduced in 1:20, and further described as being in Jesus’ hand in 2:1? Were these “stars” pastors of churches? Why couldn’t they be angels?

Is it true that individuals have “guardian angels”? Not a clear point from Scripture, though there is a hint in at least one place. Then churches can be guarded over by angels, also? These angels, though, are in the hand of Jesus. They do not act independently, but serve the Lord’s wishes for the various congregations.

Possible? Why not? The question then is how that angel communicated the contents of a letter sent from Jesus through John, to the church indicated. Are we simply to be content with the idea that John himself received the revelation, since he does call himself the writer in 1:4? And that the angels addressed are listening in, being sure to catch the tenor of what is being said, so as to ready themselves for any action deemed necessary?

Seems like the truth to me. What say ye?

8. Revelation 2:1. Why were these seven churches singled out?

Fanciful histories have been drawn from the seven churches. The churches have been called church ages, and the creators of these sagas have tried to force certain events and ways of thinking into entire centuries. It has never worked, and doesn’t work still.

I believe these seven churches were chosen because they are typical of churches in every generation. Throughout history, honest pastors and their members have been able to identify themselves in one or more of the seven churches. Hopefully, this has led to repentance in many cases, and it seems that that was what was intended.

9. Revelation 2:6. Who were the Nicolaitans?

Best to say first, we don’t really know. There was a deacon named Nicolas, and some have supposed that he had a following at one point. What his specific teaching was that would bring God’s anger so forcefully, we don’t know.

Irenaeus, who lived not long after the apostles, and was a reliable church father, for the most part, believed the “Nicolas” theory. This is probably as close to the truth as we will get.

Bottom line. Be careful in following polarizing figures in or out of the congregation. Division of the Lord’s church, and introduction into it of new doctrines is a serious matter. Avoid all such.

10. Revelation 2:13. Satan’s Throne? Explain.

There in Pergamum was the “Pergamum Altar”, says formerthings.com, “a massive structure originally built in the second century BC… dedicated to the Greek god Zeus.” Also in this city Caesar Augustus was worshiped as a god. Paganism had settled in in a big way, yet here was the church in the midst of all this, trying to keep a faithful witness to Jesus.

11. Revelation 2:14. Is the doctrine of Balaam still with us?