The New Heaven and the New Earth of Johns prophetic Revelation in chapter 21 point us a fresh understanding of heaven, a fresh persepctive on the Christian life and a new and glorious appreciation of the source of the voice the Christian experiences day by day from the word of God and His Spirit. Systematic Bible teaching from the book of Revelation. Dr J Stewart Gillespie
Revelation chapter 20 contains the concluding chapter to the story of the world. It is the Bible's 'restaurant at the end of the universe.' In Revelation 20 we have the victory which concludes the battle of the Christian life, a victory over the world, the flesh and the Devil. We have also the conclusion to Satan's defeat. His place is in the bottomless pit and subsequently the lake of fire forever. Satan's ambition is to take as many souls with him to hell as possible, to make as many as he can share in his destiny in eternal judgment. Dr J Stewart Gillespie graceinchrist.org
Although set in a future time of judgment and tribulation, chapter 15 of Revelation contains truths and insights too good to be left till the future. This is a chapter which shows us afresh of God's power to turn victims into victors and which demonstrates God's sovereign power over the wickedness of men. Men may plot and persecute to have God's people put out of this world but an exit from this world quickly becomes an entrance into the Glory of heaven under teh hand of a sovereign God!
We glimpse the Glory of the Divine character in chapter 15. Judgment emerges from an unexpected source here! Out of the sanctuary and the Divine Glory and presence the vials of God's wrath are carried and consecrated by angel's hands! Divine wrath and justice is displayed before the world as the awful and awsome consequence of Divine holiness.
Great songs are born of deep experience. Some of the richest treasures of human expression arise from our deepest emotions of love, both fulfilled and frustrated. From lessons learned in deep anguish arise the expressions of heart uniquely tuned in the life and experience of every believer. To heaven these 144 000 bring a song so unique that only their life and their experience is able to give expression to it.
Dr J Stewart Gillespie at Faskally House Families Week 2022 - Tell me There's a Heaven.
It has taken 4000 years for the Spirit of God to introduce us to heaven. Heaven is a place of many surprises, but perhaps the greatest of all surprises is that there are so few surprises! Heaven has a door; a door we know of well from John's gospel. Heaven opens with a voice familiar; that of Jesus Christ. Heaven is the throne room of God. Upon the throne of heaven we see one like a Jasper and Sardine stone; one who is the Son of God's right hand and the Son of His mother's sorrow. The throne is surrounded by a rainbow of covenant keeping glory; echoing the one who is life and light.
Here is heaven.
Here is the God of heaven.
This is the God we know.
This is Jesus Christ.
The first of 6 studies in the book of Revelation presented at Faskally House, families week in 2022, by Dr J Stewart Gillespie.
From the lands of the Mediterranean Sea there will arise a Beast, the AntiChrist, the Man of Sin. Echoing features of empires past he will move quickly like the armies and empire of Alexander the Great, as pictured in the Leopard. His geographical domain is likely to be that of the Medo-Persian Empire of centuries ago, standing bear like, with his feet gripping the lands of Turkey, Iran and Iraq. This is Satan's one world dictator, a man with universal political (Revelation 13:2) and spiritual authority (Revelation 13:8) over the worlds. It is interesting to speculate how such a universal dictatorship could arise. The world of Revelation chapter 13, whilst echoed by events in the past century is very unlike the political landscape we see today. This is a world decimated by judgment, wars, disease and famine. between the judgments of the fourth scroll and 6th trumpet, one half of the world's population has been destroyed. Food production has been decimated by poisoned seas and rivers, nuclear explosions have polluted and destroyed productive agriculture and lands. This is a post-apocalyptic landscape, the leadership of which has been grasped, probably out of necessity to restore law and order and distribute evenly what resources there are. Here is Satan's finest hour, achieving his goal from the garden of Eden. This is his takeover of God's creation. Satan's Kingdom has come! Whilst this may be Satan's greatest moment, it is undoubtedly earth's most awful moment. A message preached as part of our series of systematic bible studies in the book of Revelation. Dr J Stewart Gillespie graceinchrist.org
It was no coincidence that as Moses descended Mount Sinai with the two tables of law written by the finger of God, that Satan had made a pre-emptive strike and that waiting there for Moses was a pre-constructed golden calf!
It was no coincidence that placed next to the throne of Egypt were two Satanically inspired magicians; Jannes and Jambres, ready to sway the mind of Pharaoh as the voice of God echoed throughout the land in plague and pestilence.
It was no coincidence that Tobiah and Sanballat were on hand to discourage and to attempt to destroy the walls of Jerusalem as Nehemiah fulfilled his commission to rebuild for God!
Here too in Revelation chapter 12 we perceive exactly the same process at work. As the time approaches for Israel to bring forth Messiah; "when the fullness of the time was come..." in Revelation 12:2; God was ready. At that moment so too was Satan ready; ready with an attempt at annihilation, with the slaughter of the innocents, ready with persecution, temptation in the wilderness, rejection from the synagogue, isolation from society, false accusations, and ultimate execution at Calvary!
If we share the life of that same Saviour we too can anticipate to share the unwanted attention of Satan! Be ready! Be prepared, but not only for attack, but ultimately for victory through Christ!
Part of a series of messages preached from the book of Revelation by Dr J Stewart Gillespie at the Bridgend Gospel Hall, New Cumnock .
(this recording was prematurely stopped due to a technical error)
A surgical incision into the closing section of Revelation chapter 11, reveals an unexpected heart beating at it's centre! After 7 seals and 6 trumpets and a third woe pending, this section gravitates around a nucleus of worship (Rev 11:17). This may seem to some a surprising conclusion to death, disease, catastrophe, global conflict and demonic attack upon the earth! Yet we ought not to be surprised at all. It was:
Revelation chapter 11 verses 14 to 19 give us five good reasons to worship and everything going well with the world and our lives is not one of them! We can rejoice that God is in control of:
His word is settled forever in heaven. Despite what we may perceive as the chaos and catastrophe of the past we cannot on that basis predict the plans of God!
It is John who assures us in Revelation chapter 21 vs 4 that there will be no tears in heaven and yet it is his very description of heaven that opens with the intensity of his own tears (Revelation 4:4). This is indeed a strange and sorrowful introduction to the tearless place. We may be unsurprised that the description of disaster, famine, plaque and pestilence of the subsequent chapters are preceded by tears. What is about to unfold in the 7 seals, the 7 trumpets, and the 7 vials amounts to global catastrophe and world wide destruction. The 4 riders of the apocalypse are followed by the veiling of the sun and the blood moon. The 7 trumpets announce the destruction of 1/3 of the land, 1/3 of the sea. 1/3 of the rivers as well as the solar, lunar and stellar disasters. The bottomless pit is opened and the demonic plaque of locusts are released upon the earth followed by 200 million horseman reeking destruction on the earth. Boils and sores are followed by seas and rivers of blood as the satanically inspired Kingdom of the beast comes crashing down along with the global economic and religious systems. Yet it is not because of any of this John weeps! Even more astounding than the weeping of John in heaven is his reason for weeping. John weeps that these seal may not be loosed and the book may not be opened!
Whatever this book contains the glory of the book is infinitely greater than the grief which it causes! This is a book which demands the redemptive rights of the lamb to open. This is not title deeds of the universe which in reality do not exist. The earth is and always has been the Lord's and the fullness thereof. He did not purchase, neither did He lose the earth. The earth is His by rights. The Creator needs no work of redemption to judge a fallen world; that is His Divine prerogative! Neither does this book contain the story of future events, not the book of revelation in part nor in whole. The story of Revelation chapter 6 to 19 are the product of the seals and not the scroll.
The identity of this book, is perhaps heaven's best kept secret and can only be that of the Lamb's Book of Life of Revelation chapters 20 and 21. It is only this book which requires redemptive rights to handle. It is only the Book of Life who's eternal Glory eclipses the grief of the loosed seals. It would be an unopened book of life which truly would be worth the tears of John for if the Lamb's book were never to be opened the fate of all would be that of eternal loss and damnation. This is indeed why John wept, he wept for you! The opening of this book determines the eternal destiny of all those whose names are contained within it's pages. Once this book is opened John will in chapters 20 and 21 present to us the presence and reality of the opened book of life of the Lamb. Let us value greatly the cost and consequence of our salvation.
Listen below or watch online to the full bible teaching message preached on Revelation chapter 5.
Yours by Grace in Christ
Dr J Stewart Gillespie
Upon the fulcrum of Revelation chapter 5 the whole of John's great prophetic book turns. John has introduced us to heaven in Revelation chapter 4 and to the God of heaven. In chapter 4 we learn WHAT God is; He is the covenant making and covenant keeping God of the rainbow encircled throne. All of His rule is founded on the principle of faithfulness and of God's unbreakable promises. He is the God of the crystal sea, impeccably Holy, absolutely pure. We glimpse WHO God is in the Jasper and the Sardine stone. The stones of the breastplate of Israel's high priest contain the names of Benjamin; the Son of His Father's right hand and Reuben: behold a Son. The God of eternity seated upon the throne of glory is the Son. This is the Jesus of the bible! Write above chapter 4 of Revelation:
"Our Father which art in heaven..."
Here is God in His dwelling. Here is God seated upon His throne!
From chapter 6 to 19 of Revelation John will describe in detail not so much WHO God is or WHAT God is like but WHAT God will do. Chapter after awful chapter, catastrophe follows disaster and yet these calamities are anything short of natural or accidental. These earth shattering events are deliberate, ordered, designed and ordained; each one triggered by a definitive act of the Lamb and His angels. These events can in fact be traced back to the opening of the seven seals of Revelation chapter 5.
And so after:
The 4 riders of the Apocalypse; harbingers of war, famine, death and disease you can write:
"Thy will be done on earth..."
After the veiling of the sun and the blood red moon you can write:
"Thy will be done on earth..."
After the destruction of 1/3 of the land, 1/3 of the sea, 1/3 of the rivers; you can write:
"Thy will be done on earth..."
As the solar system moves and the stars fall; you can write:
"Thy will be done on earth..."
As the bottomless pit is opened and as Apollyon leads the demonic locusts on their merciless mission; you can write:
"Thy will be done on earth..."
As 200 million horsemen emerge to destroy 1/3 of mankind, you can write:
"Thy will be done on earth..."
As Armageddon rages, the beast and Antichrist arise and the global financial and religious systems fall; you can write:
"Thy will be done on earth..."
With so much in these chapters as to who God is, what God is like and what God will do; what indeed is the purpose of Revelation chapter 5, and more particularly a scroll or book unsealed, one seal at a time unleashing global destruction? This pattern teaches me that:
All of these subsequent judgments; wars and destructions are the essential forerunner to the opening of the book. It is in other words the opening of this book which heralds in Gods eternal Kingdom and New Jerusalem that necessitates the opening of this book. You can't have the open book without the preceding catastrophe!
You can't have success in life without the sacrifice!
You can't climb a mountain sitting on your sofa with your slippers on!
You can't have the donuts without the calories!
You can't have a world of sin, rebellion, and separation from God without first the purging of fire, the fulfilment of the ultimate and eternal consequences of sin, the judgment of Satan and rebellion. To be separate from the God of life, light and love necessitates the experience of death, darkness and despair!
The tragedy of Revelation has meaning and purpose as does all tragedy and turmoil under the hand of a sovereign God.
To open the book that leads to Glory means to lose the seals which each demand judgment!
Graceinchrist.org where bible teaching never sleeps.
The Book with 7 seals:
Book within a book
Scroll within the seals
Meaning within the Mystery
Book within a book:
Revelation chapter 5 presents us with a book
It is a book on the hand of God
It is a book in the hand of the lamb
This is an interesting and strange phenomenon
Here we are reading God’s book – the Bible, in God’s book the Bible we read of a book in the hand of God!
That is rather strange!
Herein is a book within a book!
That of course is not completely unique in the Bible, the Bible does contain a number of references to ‘external’ books:
The Book of the prophet Shemaiah
The Book of Jehu the Son of Hanani
The Book of Gad the Seer
The Book of Nathan the Seer
The Book of the acts of Solomon
The Book of the Wars of the Lord
The Book of Jasher
The Books of the Kings of Babylon (Ezra 4:15)
The Books of the Chronicles of Media and Persia (Esther 6:1; 10:2)
Often of course a book or piece of literature will cross reference other works to give validity to it’s own thesis or ideas; as if the author is saying; ‘here you can go away and check the facts for yourself.’
Intriguingly of course of all of those external books referenced by the Bible, none are still in existence. If you were to place your inter library loan request it would be returned as ‘volume unavailable’.
The Bible has no real need of external validation in any shape nor form! The Bible is the absolute source of validation itself.
It is interesting too, to reflect upon the unique character of the Bible we hold in our hands. That whilst all of these other books have been lost, some that perhaps we might think ought to have been preserved; the histories and chronicles of the Kings of Persia and Babylon, the histories and records of the greatest empires in the world, this book the Bible has bee preserved. Down through the centuries and generations, men and women have been persuaded of the unique value and content of this book and through fire and flame have preserved the Bible at great personal cost.
In the archives of Yad Vashem are scrolls from the synagogues of Eastern Europe, texts of the Torah, preserved through the holocaust, scrolls stained with blood and burned by fire.
Even for those who perhaps do not have faith in the Christ of the Bible, they must surely acknowledge the uniqueness of His book.
Within the pages of this unique book; the bible, there is hidden another book; a book within a book, almost like the Russian dolls of old, a doll within a doll.
We open the safe of the Bible, a book of phenomenal interest in and of itself and within it we find a locked safety deposit box!
Perhaps we ay suspect that this book within a book will contain something of even greater and deeper interest? Some hidden mystery? Some deeper secret?
In fact the hidden character of this book of Revelation chapter 5 is even deeper than that. The bible as we know it, is a title taken from the Greek ‘ta biblia’ which literally means the ‘books’ or the ‘scrolls’ plural.
In our hands we not only have God’s book, but within that book we have 66 of God’s books; ‘ta biblia.’
The book on the hand of God in Revelation chapter 5 is thus:
A book within
A book within
A book
That makes it of course a very interesting book indeed!
It is perhaps also worth noting that what is translated as a ‘book’ in Revelation chapter 5 verse 1 is in reality a ‘scroll’ – a rolled up parchment or papyrus.
The ancient word for book was of course ‘biblos’ which was the same as the word for a scroll. The word came from the Lebanese port of ‘biblos’ through which the exportation of papyrus came.
The Book here in Revelation chapter 5, sealed with the 7 Seals would have been in the historical context and from the description given, in reality a scroll. That would be significant to notice for later.
This is not only a book with a book but it is also:
A Scroll within 7 seals:
What may that indicate?
Many over the years have been very caught up on what the contents of this book may be but perhaps an even better or more fundamental question lies in the very existence or description of this scroll with 7 seals.
Why should the unfolding of the subsequent chapters of Revelation be dependent upon the loosing of the seals of this scroll?
Why are chapters 6 to 19 dependent directly and indirectly on these scrolls being broken?
Chapter 5 is positioned strategically within the book of Revelation
It would be easy to miss the significance of the transition between from chapter 4 to chapter 6.
In chapter 1 John has a vision of the Lord Jesus
In chapters 2 to 3 – We are presented with practical and prophetic and personally ministry on teh 7 churches.
Chapter 4 brings us into heaven and a glimpse of:
Where God is
Who God is – the Son of God – Reuben and Benjamin
What God is like – sovereign, covenant making and covenant keeping, a God of absolute holiness
In chapters 6 to 19 we see what God will do.
Why bother then with chapter 5 and the book with 7 seals.
Why break these seals?
Why make everything else in the book of Revelation dependant upon the breaking of these seals? It is the breaking of these seals one by one that triggers:
The 4 riders of the apocalypse
The judgment upon the son, moon and stars
The sounding of the 7 trumpets
The destruction of 1/3 grass, sea, rivers and stars
The release of the locusts from the pit
The 200 million horseman of the apocalypse
The rise of antichrist
The pouring out of the 7 vials on man, sea, rivers, sun, moon and stars.
The battle of Armageddon
The fall of Babylon
All of these catastrophic events are dependant upon the opening of the 7 seals!
Had we no chapter 5 we would see:
Who God is (chapter 4)
What God does (chapter 6 to 19)
But we would have no idea as to Why God did it!
It is chapter 5 that teaches us that all of the events of chapters 6 to 19 are not simply reactive, ie their ultimate cause and purpose does not lie with man, these chapters are not solely focused on the subject of man’s sin and judgement, there is a bigger picture and a grander theme and goal.
The cause of these global and universal events lies here in chapter 5. All of these subsequent chapters unfold, as a consequence of the breaking of the seals. These seals are broken that the scroll might be read. All subsequent events have this as their cause – the reading of the scroll.
It is this scroll with its ultimate glory that demands the grief oo chapters 6 to 19, it is this scroll ultimately of salvation that requires the suffering of subsequent chapters.
This is perhaps too a truth I can apply to my own life and experience. That the grief and the suffering are in the hands of the Lord the unwrapping of Divine blessing!
These chapters are not solely the means of judgment
These chapters are in fact the path to glory.
Christ with a security and guarantee which comes from Him. Christ promised that we are safe and secure, in His hand and in His Father’s hands (John 10:28-31). Our salvation is signed, sealed and delivered. For our security we have the Word of Christ, we have His Word for it, ‘heaven and earth shall pass away but my Word shall not pass away.’ In these chapters we will see that Destiny is so secure, that in order to open and declare it, this world must indeed pass away and having passed away His eternal Word and purposes remain immutable.
Here is a scroll passed from the hand of God to the lamb (5:1)
This scroll in ‘On the right hand of Him that sat on the throne’(5:1), offered out for the lamb to take from His hand.
From Revelation chapter 5 onwards, the story of this scroll reads like a mystery novel, like a cliff hanger film, or a children’s book that constantly teases the reader with, ‘but what’s in the scroll.’
The story of Revelation from chapter 5 to chapter 19 is essentially the story of the unsealing of this scroll. The breaking of the 7 seals occupies chapters 5 to 6, the 7th seal includes the sounding of the 7 trumpets which is the subject of chapters 8 to 10, the 7th trumpet announces the transfer of the kingdoms of this world to Christ (chp 11) which results in the outpouring of the 7 vials, occupying chps 15 to 16 with the consequent fall of Babylon in chapters 17 to 18.
The bulk of the book of Revelation pertains to the opening of this scroll.
The question then remains – what does this scroll contain?
What is in it?
Title deeds of the world
The future plans and purposes of God for the world
The subsequent events of Revelation
The book of Daniel chapter 12
The lamb’s book of life
hat is in it?
Title deeds of the world
Seems like a reasonable suggestion
Whatever is in the hands of God must be important after all, that seems pretty important.
By the time all of the seals are open the world is now ready for Christ to receive His Kingdom (11:15); so it may seem reasonable that these are the title deeds to the inheritance that Christ is about to receive.
We also know that title deeds in Jeremiah were recorded on a scroll and sealed.
We know historically that title deeds recorded on a scroll were sealed and witnessed and the names of the witnesses were written on the scroll, which may well relate to Rev 5:1.
But:
There is no clear statement in Revelation that these are title deeds.
Certainly title deeds could be written on a scroll as they were in Jeremiah, but go along to any Roman museum such as the one outside Hexham and you will find that party invitations were written on them too!
The identification of this scroll as a title deed seems greatly dependant on extra biblical knowledge and the serendipity of archaeology, a means of interpreting scripture with which I would take issue. Is not the child of God indwelt by the Spirit of God able to interpret the Word of God? John 14:6; 1 John 2:27.
Why is it that in order to open the scroll one must be found who is ‘worthy’? Surely if this is the title deeds for the world then the only qualification to open the scroll is that of Deity?
‘The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.’(Psalm 24:1)
Why are redemptive rights needed take the book (5:8-9); do the deeds for the earth need to be redeemed? Do they need bought back? Were they lost? Were they not always Gods? Who can steal the deeds of the whole earth from God?
The future plans and purposes of God for the world
Certainly a reasonable suggestion and more or less the same as (3)
The problem here of course is that it is the opening of the seals, blowing of the trumpets from the 7th seal and the pouring out of the vials which actually occupy the bulk of the book of revelation, no specific reference is made to the contents of the book referencing a plan as such.
It seems a good suggestion but lacking substantial evidence.
The subsequent events of the book of Revelation
See above
The book referenced in Daniel chapter 12 verse 4?
I would consider this to be the book of Daniel itself, corresponding not to the book of Revelation chapter 5 but to the book of Revelation itself, cf. Rev 22:10.
The lamb’s book of life
Let me make another suggestion, unusual amongst the commentators, although not unknown.
By the time the seals are opened, trumpets have sounded and the vials have been poured out we reach the closing chapters of Revelation, in fact the repercussions of those events take us to the threshold of chapter 20. The book appears to have been forgotten about if the previous interpretations are correct. No further mention of any of the contents of that scroll despite the fact that the unsealing of the scroll had global and universal repercussions throughout the book of Revelation. All of that pre amble and expectation, then according to the views that this is the deeds of the earth or the future plans for the earth, this all seems to evaporate in the most massive anticlimax of the entire book of Revelation, if not the bible.
Details are added and developed regarding this book through the book of Revelation:
Rev 13:8 : ‘And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.’
Rev 17:8 : “whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.’’
These 2 verses appear to be transitional, stepping stones from the ‘book’ taken by the lamb freshly slain in Revelation chapter 5 to the ‘book of life’of Revelation 20:12, 15.
This would explain the need for one worthy to open the book in Revelation chapter 5 and that the qualifications of redemption. This is the Book of Life, only possible because of the work of redemption.
As these seals are opened and the book of Revelation unfolds this qualification of Rev 5:9 is critical in the opening of the scroll. The unfolding purpose of God in Revelation is not primarily that of judgment upon a lost world but rather this book concludes with a new heaven and a new earth and a redeemed people. The emerald rainbow of Revelation 4 sets the scene for the subsequent chapters. Grace informs government, the elect are sealed, preserved and saved (Rev 7, 13, 14) and ultimately brought to the Kingdom (Rev 20) and to eternity (Rev 21-22).
Dr J Stewart Gillespie shares a study in Revelation chapter 4 - What is Heaven Like? In this chapter we gain a glimpse beyond earth into heaven. God has waited for thousands of years through the writing and inspiration of the Bible before He reveals to us what heaven is like! By the time we get to Revelation chapter 4 we find that the most surprising feature of heaven is that it is not that surprising after all. There is a door into heaven, a door we have heard of before in John chapter 10 There is a voice we hear in heaven, the same voice we heard upon earth in Revelation chapter 1. There is a throne in heaven, the same throne we have known of over many years, as we prayed, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." We glimpse the one seated upon the throne in the Jasper and the Sardine stone and perceive that here is the Son of God. We discern the absolute holiness of God in the crystal sea. Only Jesus is able to fit us for such a place. Only the precious blood of God's sin is able to cleanse us from all iniquity. This message is given in English and translated into Telugu.
Dr J Stewart Gillespie
graceinchrist.org
The mystery of the Trinity in Revelation chapter 1:
Note reference to the Trinity in verses 4 and 5 of Revelation chapter 1:
This is a thoroughly Trinitarian section
These opportunities are empowered by the 7 fold spirit of God (v4), able to meet the need of Gods people.
V5 “and from Jesus Christ.”
We note in these 2 verses reference to the doctrine often referred to as the ‘Trinity.’
Not a Biblical term admittedly but a soundly Biblical teaching and truth and pattern.
God is 1 essential being with a 3 fold personality.
Compare Human nature – not 3 persons but 3 aspects of the 1 individual:
Not 1+1+1 but 1X1X1
The truth of the Trinity is taught throughout scripture and especially in the NT:
All 3 Persons involved with:
Performed by Jesus – John 2:11
In the name of His Father – John 10:25
By the power of the Holy Spirit – Matt12:28; Acts 10:38
God – Psalm 16:5-10
Lord Jesus – John 10:17-18
Spirit of God – Rom 1:4
God the Father – Rom 6:4
Spirit of God – 2 Thess 2:13; John 3:6 – the one who performs / is the executor of the work of saving a soul.
Lord Jesus – John 10:28 – whose work provides that salvation
God the Father – 1 John 4:14 – with whom the plan of salvation originates
Spirit of God – John 14:17
Lord Jesus – John 14:18
God the Father – John 14:23
In the name of Jesus – John 14:13,14; 16:23
To the Father – Luke 11:2; Matt 6:9
By the Spirit of God – Rom 8:26
Father – John 15:1-2
Son – John 15:1,4-5
Spirit of God – Gal 5:22
Father – 2 Co 1:3
Son – 2 Co 1:5; 1 John 2:1
Spirit – John 14:16-17
Jesus – John 10:28
Father – John 10:29-30
Spirit of God – Ephesians 1:13
Is this a NT doctrine only?
Consider Deuteronomy 6:4 :
Elohyenu – plural title for God
Echad – the Hebrew word for a composite unity compare the use of the same word in Genesis 1:5; 2:24; where it is also used for composite unity.
Yahid – by way of contrast, not used here in Deuteronomy is a word for singular unity – used in Gen 22:2
Taken from a bible teaching series of studies in the book of Revelation.
Yours by Grace in Christ
Dr J Stewart Gillespie
Revelation chapter 1 verses 4 to 5 - God Sovereign Eternal All Sufficient Triune:
We have seen so far in our series of bible studies in the book of Revelation:
Significance of the author – John
For John the book of Revelation is the 5th and final of John’s New Testament books. This interestingly is comparable to Moses who is the human author of the first 5 of the Old Testament books of the Bible. The closest parallels between these two authors exists between Moses first book; that of Genesis and John's final book that of Revelation.
Consider the parallels in particular between Genesis and Revelation:
| Genesis | Revelation |
| Creation | New Creation |
| Satan comes in as the serpent | Satan the serpent and dragon removed |
| Sin and the fall | Redemption and eternal salvation |
| Sin, sorrow and suffering begin | Sin, sorrow and suffering ended |
| Tree of life guarded | Tree off life freely available |
| Plagues of Egypt | Plagues on whole world |
| Mark of Cain | Mark of the beast |
| Sun and moon created to give light | Sun and moon no longer needed for light |
| Babel its origins | Babylon its fulfilment |
| Manna for the Israelites | Manna for Pergamos |
Subject of the book of Revelation is Jesus Christ
Consider the following as suggested outlines of the book of Revelation:
Structure of the Book
Cf 1:19
Or we can divide the book of Revelation according to the locations in which the parts of the revelation were given:
Consider the Setting in which this great book of Revelation was given to John. John was imprisoned on the prison fortress of Patmos. A penal colony and possibly also a quarry, to which prisoners were put for forced hard labour. John’s circumstances are greatly constrained, movements restricted, imprisoned and held on an island; possibly even set to work in a limestone quarry. These are not circumstances of his choosing by any manner of means! Yet this island of Patmos was also conveniently situated just across the water from the port of Ephesus and this close to the 7 churches of Asia, addressed in the opening chapters of the book of Revelation. Whilst it may well be true that of all the places we might choose to be Patmos would not be one of them! It is also true that our disappointments can be Gods appointments! If life gives you lemons! John could either live according to circumstances he would like to be in and proceed to hit his head against a brick wall or he could live according to the circumstances that he was actually in!
This is not just about making the best of a bad situation of course but rather making the most of a God given situation and opportunity! If we understand that God is in control, as we can certainly see here in Revelation then that injects purpose and infuses meaning into every part of human life and experience! If we understand that truth from anywhere in the scriptures that God is in control, it is surely from the book of Revelation!
The 7 churches are in a geographical loop and sequence; interconnected by the Roman roads and each a postal town in the old Roman administration. Ironically the the infrastructure of hostile Rome provided for free movement and facilitated the distribution of the Gospel! John grasps the opportunity that presents itself to him and ministers within the new sphere of service given to him by the sovereign hand of God!
John discerns the hand of God in his circumstances and goes through the door that has been opened to him rather than trying to navigate around about the door.
John is placed here in Patmos by GPS:
So far as God is concerned John's imprisonment in Patmos is:
This may not follow our plan or the normal pattern of life either; let’s not get irritated nor frustrated by Gods sovereignty.
Note that John is thought to be around 90 years of age here! His greatest contribution to the scriptures and to the church and God’s people waited till he was 90 years of age!
Normally we may be used with the secular pattern for life, a progression through:
Christian life and service doesn’t necessarily comply with that pattern! Moses was aged 80 before God started to use him properly. Esther was present in the palace for one single crises in the 4000 year history of the nation of Israel.
Are we willing to be so used?
Are we only willing to be who and what we wish to be, where and when we want to be?
Like Naaman the leper (2 Kings 5:12) “are not Abana and Pharpar rivers of Damascus better than all the waters of Israel?” Are we only willing to do what we want to do or are we willing to be obedient and humble ourselves to do what God instructs us to do? Are we willing to confess with Christ; "not my will but thine be done"?
This ministry from John is no mere rhetoric or platitudes but is backed up by: God “which is, which was, which is to come.” This is the New Testament parallel to JeHoVaH. In the Old Testament Hebrew title for God, often translated as Jehovah or Yahweh or simply as The LORD, the consonants from the Hebrew word, are derived from the 3 parts of the Hebrew verb ‘to be’; signifying in one title:
We note that the order of tenses is different here between the Hebrew title and the New Testament order here in Revelation chapter 1!
This present order of tenses in Revelation chapter 1:
Consider also the presentation of a similar pattern in the life of the Lord Jesus in verse 5:
Consider also the repetition of this theme in verse 8 and verse 18.
The pattern seems to be consistent.
As if we see God from the present extending back to the past and forward into the future; like an eternal light house casting His light into the whole of human history. It is not so much that God has a past and a present but rather it is that God is eternally present throughout history, providing a structure, order, plan and narrative to the whole of history. He is eternally present throughout history and over history; as Alpha and Omega (1:8) the originator and terminator of time and history; as the eternal “I AM” ever in the present! Recall the significance of “I AM the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob” quoted by the Lord to establish the reality of life after death to the Sadducees in Mark chp 12:
“And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.” (Mark 12:26-27)
For this to establish the continued existence of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob there is an inherent assumption in this statement; that God Himself does not change! This statement presumes that the relationship of God to time is different from our relationship to time. For me to state that I am the friend of….. does not provide for them the assurance of their perpetual existence! Yet this statement regarding Abraham, Isaac and Jacob does! For God; what is, will always be because God does not simply have a past / present and future tense but He is the eternal being present in and over past, present and future.
The continued existence beyond death of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is established because they are connected by the perpetual “I AM” to an unchanging God, an eternal being, not simply a person subject to and passing through time. They are "fastened to the Rock which cannot move, Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour's love."
“For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” (Malachi 3:6)
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17)
The God whom Abraham met is exactly the same God we meet today! He has not changed, He cannot change!
The eternal character of God orders and ordains not only events today but in the past and present and future.
This gives a coherence, order, plan and structure to all of time.
This brings all of history to an ordered conclusion and destiny!
We note in these 2 verses; verses 4 and 5 of Revelation chapter 1 there is reference to the doctrine often referred to as the ‘Trinity.’ Not a Biblical term admittedly but a soundly Biblical teaching, truth and pattern.
verse 4 : "from Him which is and was which was and which is to come" - God the Father
verse 4: "the seven Spirits" - God the Spirit
verse 5: "and from Jesus Christ" - God the Son
God is 1 essential being with a 3 fold personality.
Cf. Human nature :
Not 3 persons but 3 aspects of the 1 individual.
Not 1+1+1 but 1X1X1
The truth of the Trinity is taught throughout scripture and especially in the NT:
God the Son – John 1:1,14
God the Father – John 6:27
God the Holy Spirit – Acts 5:34
All 3 Persons of the Trinity involved with:
Performed by Jesus – John 2:11
In the name of His Father – John 10:25
By the power of the Holy Spirit – Matt12:28; Acts 10:38
God – Psalm 16:5-10
Lord Jesus – John 10:17-18
Spirit of God – Rom 1:4
God the Father – Rom 6:4
Spirit of God – 2 Thess 2:13; John 3:6 – the one who performs / is the executor of the work of saving a soul.
Lord Jesus – John 10:28 – whose work provides that salvation
God the Father – 1 John 4:14 – with whom the plan of salvation originates
Spirit of God – John 14:17
Lord Jesus – John 14:18
God the Father – John 14:23
In the name of Jesus – John 14:13,14; 16:23
To the Father – Luke 11:2; Matt 6:9
By the Spirit of God – Rom 8:26
Father – John 15:1-2
Son – John 15:1,4-5
Spirit of God – Gal 5:22
Father – 2 Co 1:3
Son – 2 Co 1:5; 1 John 2:1
Spirit – John 14:16-17
Jesus – John 10:28
Father – John 10:29-30
Spirit of God – Ephesians 1:13
Testimony in the heavens (1 John 5:7)
Inspiration of Scripture
Is this doctrine of the Trinity a New Testament doctrine only?
Consider Deuteronomy 6:4 :
Elohyenu – is a plural title for God
Echad – is the Hebrew word for a composite unity compare the use of the same word in Genesis 1:5; 2:24
Yahid – by way of contrast is the word for a singular unity – used in Genesis 22:2 : "your only Isaac"
A sermon preached from our bible teaching series on the book of Revelation
Yours by Grace in Christ
Dr J Stewart Gillespie
