Seven churches

THE SEVEN CHURCHES
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The Greek word translated “revelation” here is apocalypse which means
“unveiling” or “uncovering”. A new portrait of Jesus is being unveiled before man.
It is the same word that is used in 2 Thessalonians 1:7b-8
Gospel presents Jesus as the “the Lamb of God”, the “meek and lowly” one who
was appointed for sacrifice for the sins of the world; the one who went quietly to
the cross like a sheep to the slaughter. But here in Revelation Christ is shown to
be a different person. He is the “Lion of the tribe of Judah”, the judge of the living
and the dead.
Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him. This refers to the events of the
second coming which according to Matthew 24:36 ...”But of that day and hour
knoweth no one, not even the angels of heaven, neither the Son, but the Father
only.”. But after the resurrection Jesus told them Acts 1:7 He said to them: “It is
not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.
John says that the Revelation came from the Father to the Son who in turn has
given it to his servants
Rev 1:1 ..... what must soon take place. The purpose was to show what must soon
take place. It is prediction of the coming event. The evident meaning is that the vision
concerns the period starting from the end of Apostolic age. This is the Church age. It is in
this context the first three chapters finds its importance.
Rev 1:1 -2 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants
what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant
John, who testifies to everything he saw--that is, the word of God and the
testimony of Jesus Christ.
Having certified the vision on apostolic authority John goes on the give a blessing
emphasizing the need for hearing this prophecy. In those days only a few copies of the
scriptures and letters were available for the churches and these were read aloud to the
congregation. John simply exhorts them to study this because the matter is urgent.
Rev 1:3 Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are
those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.