吳紹偉牧師 10102021
神 啟示錄1：4-8 10102021
I. 三一神 啟示錄1：4-8
啟示錄1：4約翰寫信給在亞西亞的七個教會。願恩惠平安，從那位今在、昔在、以後永在的神，從他寶座前的七靈，5又從那信實的見證人、死人中首先復生的、地上眾君王的統治者耶穌基督臨到你們。他愛我們，用自己的血把我們從我們的罪中釋放出來，6又使我們成為國度，作他父神的祭司。願榮耀權能都歸給他，直到永永遠遠。阿們。7看哪，他駕著雲降臨，每一個人都要看見他，連那些刺過他的人也要看見他，地上的萬族都要因他捶胸。這是必定的，阿們。8主神說：“我是阿拉法，我是俄梅格；我是今在、昔在、以後永在，全能的神。”
啟示錄不僅是講到關於未來將要發生的事情，更重要的是講到有關於神的。它是關於神在未來將要做的是些什麼事情。這兩者有什麼分別？如果它只是關於預言的事情，重點將會放在事件上或者我們自己身上。但它是關於神將來所要做的事情，那麼重點就應該是放在神身上。神是誰，祂將要做什麼，這才是約翰寫這本書給他那個時代的七個教會和我們最主要的目的。否則，約翰不會透過告訴我們神是誰來開始這本書。
當約翰開始寫這本書時，他說是神自己向他揭示所有這些預言的，現在他正描述神的身份給我們。他寫給我們的書信來自神，告訴我們神是永恆的，沒有開始也沒有結束。神是三一的神，即是父神、子和聖靈。
在第4節和第8節中，約翰告訴我們，神是“今在、旨在和以後永在的。神是過去、現在和未來，不像其他所有受造之物，它們都有一個起點。神是萬物的創造者。同樣在第8節，約翰說神是阿拉法和俄梅格--希臘文字開始和最後一個字母，這意味著在神之前沒有開始，在祂之後沒有結束，祂是永恆的。神是全能的，祂掌管一切。一切都是由祂來安排。
約翰還在第5節告訴我們聖靈，祂從聖靈送來祝福。神寶座前的七靈就是聖靈。有些人認為聖靈有七個靈，而不僅僅是一位靈。聖經中的七也可能意味著完美和完整。
約翰描述了耶穌是基督，彌賽亞，意思是受膏者。在舊約中，只有先知、祭司和君王可以被膏立。耶穌是擁有這三個身份的人。祂是先知——信實的見證人，祂是大祭司——死人中首先復生的。大祭司是為人的罪獻祭，而且耶穌是神的羔羊，為我們的罪成為祭物，但祂從死裡復活。耶穌是死人中首先的那一個，因為祂為我們的罪死了，然後祂復活過來，而且是永遠活著的。聖經告訴我們，有些人曾經死了又活過來，但這些人最後都要再死，只有耶穌復活後再沒有死去而且是永遠活著。所有相信的人都會死去，但當我們再次復活時都像耶穌一樣是永遠活著的。耶穌是萬王之王——地上眾君王的統治者。
由於耶穌為我們所做的一切，我們所有的罪都得到了赦免，我們是潔淨的，更重要的是，我們將作為君王和祭司永遠與祂同在。約翰還告訴我們，耶穌會再來實現祂對我們所有的應許。祂的再來，對信祂的人來說是一件喜樂的事情，但對不信祂的人來說，則是審判。正如我上週所說，啟示錄是獨一無二的，沒有其他本書是這樣的。沒有其他本書是這樣開始的，來自聖父、聖靈和聖子的問候。
II. 人子 啟示錄1：9-16
啟示錄1：9我約翰，就是你們的弟兄，在耶穌裡跟你們一同分享患難、國度和忍耐的，為了神的道和耶穌的見證，曾經在那名叫拔摩的海島上。10有一個主日，我在靈裡，聽見在我後邊有一個大聲音，好像號筒的響聲，11說：“你所看見的，要寫在書上，也要寄給以弗所、士每拿、別迦摩、推雅推拉、撒狄、非拉鐵非、老底嘉七個教會。”12我轉過身來要看看那跟我說話的聲音是誰發的；一轉過來，就看見七個金燈臺。13燈臺中間有一位好像人子的，身上穿著直垂到腳的長衣，胸間束著金帶。14他的頭和頭髮像白羊毛、像雪一樣潔白，他的眼睛好像火燄，15他的兩腳好像在爐中精煉過的發光的銅，他的聲音好像眾水的聲音。16他的右手拿著七星，有一把兩刃的利劍從他口中吐出來；他的臉發光好像正午的烈日。
當時的信徒受到極大的迫害，苦難是他們生活的一部分。約翰理解那些苦難，他被送到拔摩島的勞改營，成為一名大理石礦的苦力。主日是我們的禮拜日，神給以色列人的十誡之一就是守安息日為聖日，不允許任何的工作，甚至不能生火做飯。在安息日是從周五日落到週六日落，當安息日結束時他們會敬拜神並慶祝。耶穌死而復活後，早期教會的信徒，無論是猶太人還是非猶太人，都在主日、禮拜日早上開始敬拜以慶祝耶穌的復活。但現在我們主日敬拜神時常忘記了主的重要性，我們沒有看到耶穌的復活如何影響誡命和敬拜。
正是在主日，約翰在敬拜神的時候聽到了神的呼召，聖靈降臨在他身上，讓他寫一封書信給小亞細亞的七個教會，這些教會的地點即是今天的土耳其的地區。這封給七個教會的書信是有很多不同的解釋。第一個是歷史性的——約翰寫信給他們，並且只適用於當時的那些教會。第二個是歷史的和屬靈的——不僅是對早期的信徒，也是對不同時代的所有信徒。第三個是時代性——七個教會代表教會歷史上的七個時期。以弗所的教會是公元33-100年間的使徒教會。士每拿的教會是公元100-312年間堅定不移的教會。別迦摩的教會是公元312-606年間的國家教堂。推雅推拉教會是公元606-1517年間拜偶像的教會。撒狄的教會是公元1517-1750年間已死的教會。非拉鐵非的教會是公元1750年-被提的福音派教會。老底嘉的教會是公元1900年-大災難時期的不冷不熱的教會。
當我們在第2章和第3章談到七個教會時，我們將會再深入研究這些教會。最重要的是約翰看到了耶穌以及他怎樣描述耶穌的方式。約翰聽到聲音，轉過身來，看向他說話的人。他是看到一個異象，看到了七個金燈台，猶太人稱之為燭台。它是聖殿裡唯一的光，祭司們需要在白天和晚上都要點亮著這個燈。在第20節，我們知道七個燈台就是約翰要寫信給的七個教會。約翰看到了一個像人子的人，這就是但以理書 7:13 中提到的屬天彌賽亞的稱號。
這些是約翰描述耶穌是誰的方式。
在第13節，身上穿著直垂到腳的長衣，胸間束著金帶。耶穌就像舊約中的大祭司。
出埃及記28：4這些就是他們要做的衣服：胸牌、以弗得、長外袍、雜色內袍、禮冠、腰帶。他們要為你哥哥亞倫和他的眾子做聖衣，使他們作事奉我的祭司。
第14節，他的頭和頭髮像白羊毛、像雪一樣潔白，他的眼睛好像火燄。 對於約翰來說，在但以理的異象中賦予“萬古常存者”的統治者和審判官的相同職能與耶穌有關。
但以理書7：9我一直在觀看，看見有些寶座安放好了，萬古常存者就坐上去；他的衣服潔白如雪，他的頭髮純淨像羊毛。他的寶座是火燄，寶座的輪子是烈火。
在第15節，他的兩腳好像在爐中精煉過的發光的銅，他的聲音好像眾水的聲音。 耶穌的權威。 在以西結書1:13, 27 中發現了類似的發光金屬圖形；又見但以理書10:6。 在以西結書和但以理書裡，像金屬一樣閃亮的火光是與神榮耀出現時有關的象徵之一。 “他的聲音好像眾水的聲音”類似於以西結書（1:24；43:2）的方式描述了神的榮耀和威嚴。
以西結書1：13至於四個活物的形狀，樣子像燒著的火炭，又像火把。火在四活物中間到處閃耀。這火很明亮，有閃電從火中發出。
但以理書10：6他的身像碧玉，面貌像閃電的樣子，眼睛像火把，手臂和腿像擦亮的銅那麼閃耀，說話的聲音像群眾喊叫的聲音。
在第16 節，他的右手拿著七星，有一把兩刃的利劍從他口中吐出來；他的臉發光好像正午的烈日。 右手是掌權和安全的地方，其中托著的“七顆星”耶穌象徵著小亞細亞七教會的七位天使。 雙刃劍是祂的話——聖經，它是一種武器。 耶穌的臉像太陽一樣發光，我們可以看到祂的榮耀，就像彼得、約翰和雅各看到耶穌的改變形像時一樣。
馬太福音17：1過了六天，耶穌帶著彼得、雅各和雅各的弟弟約翰，領他們悄悄地上了高山。2耶穌在他們面前改變了形象，臉好像太陽一樣照耀，衣服潔白像光。
III. 約翰的反應 啟示錄1：17-20
啟示錄1：17我看見了他，就仆倒在他腳前，像死了一樣。他用右手按著我，說：“不要怕！我是首先的，我是末後的，18又是永活的；我曾經死過，看哪，現在又活著，直活到永永遠遠，並且拿著死亡和陰間的鑰匙。19所以，你要把所看見的，現在的，和今後將要發生的事都寫下來。20你所看見在我右手中的七星和七個金燈臺的奧祕就是這樣：七星是七個教會的使者，七燈臺是七個教會。”
約翰是那跟隨耶穌三年多的眾使徒中的一位。他告訴我們耶穌愛他，他可能是耶穌最喜歡的使徒，他見證過耶穌行許多不同的神蹟，見證過變像回復祂之前榮耀的神的形像，更見證了祂的死和復活。但這次約翰再次見到耶穌時，完全不是這樣。約翰告訴我們，當他看到耶穌時，他的反應就像一個死人一樣。這一次看到的耶穌與約翰以往看過的耶穌都不一樣。他從前所認識的神是耶穌道成了人的形像，但這一次他遇到的耶穌是神的形像。約翰在啟示錄19章告訴我們，這就是祂再來時我們看到的耶穌。
耶穌安慰約翰，告訴他不要害怕，並提醒約翰祂是誰，並要求約翰把這些事寫給七個教會，也寫給我們。許多人認為七教會的七位天使是教會的牧師。使者這個詞可以解釋為天使就是指天上的天使或者可以解釋為人的使者即是教會牧師。
約翰清楚地告訴我們，七個燈臺就是七個教會。燈臺是聖殿裡唯一的光。耶穌說祂是世界上的真光。
I. The Triune God Revelation 1:4-8
Revelation 1:4 John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from himwho is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father--to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. 7 Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen. 8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."
The book of Revelation is not just about what is going to happen in the future--it is about God. It is about what God is going to do in the future. Is there any difference? If it is just about prophecies, the focus will be on the events and ourselves. But if it is about God, the focus should be on God. Who God is and what He is going to do are the reasons that John wrote this book to the seven churches in his time and for us also. Otherwise, John would not start the book by telling us who God is.
In verses 4 and 8, John told us that God is “who is, and who was and who is to come". God is in the past, present, and future, not like all other creatures that were created. They all have a point of beginning. God is the creator of all things. Also in verse 8, John tells that God is the Alpha and the Omega, which means there is no beginning before God and no end after Him. He is eternal. God is Almighty, which means the One who has His hand on everything. Everything is under His control.
John also tells us about the Holy Spirit in verse 5. He sent blessing from the Holy Spirit. The seven spirits before God’s throne is the Holy Spirit. Some have suggested the Holy Spirit has seven spirits, not just One Spirit. Seven in the Bible could also mean perfect and complete.
John described who Jesus is--the Christ, the Messiah which means the anointed One. In the Old Testament only prophets, priests, and kings could be anointed. Jesus is all of these in one person. He is the Prophet—faithful witness, He is the High Priest-- the firstborn from the dead. The high priests made a sacrifice for people's sins. Instead, Jesus was the Lamb of God who was sacrificed on behalf of our sins, but He raised us from the dead. Jesus is the firstborn of the dead because He died for our sins and after that, He rose and lives forever. The Bible tells us of people had died and come back to life, but all these died again. Only Jesus never died again. All those who believed will die, but we will be like Jesus when we are raised again and live forever. Jesus is the King of kings—the ruler of the kings of the earth.
Because of what Jesus has done for us, all of our sins are forgiven, we are clean, and more than that we will be with Him forever as kings and priests. John also tells us that Jesus will come again to fulfill all the promises that He promised us. His return will be a joyful time for those who believed in Him, but it will be a judgment for those who don’t believe in Him. As I had said last week, the Book of Revelation is unique. There are no other books like this. No other book starts like this with a greeting from the Father, and Holy Spirit and the Son.
II. The Son of man Revelation 1:9-16
Revelation 1:9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11 which said: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea." 12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man," dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
The believers at that time were under great persecution. Suffering was part of their lives. John understood their suffering--he was sent to a labor camp at the island of Patmos, as a miner of marble stone. On the Lord’s Day which is Sunday for us, one of the Ten Commandments that God had given to the Israelites was to keep the Sabbath holy. No work was allowed, not even making fire to cook. At the end of the Sabbath, which was from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday, they would worship God and celebrate. After the death and resurrection of Jesus, the early church believers, both Jews and non-Jews started to worship on the Lord’s Day, Sunday morning, to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. This is what we forgot when we come to worship God on Sunday. We don’t see how the resurrection of Jesus has impacted the Commandments and worship.
It was on the Lord’s Day that John heard the call of God. While he was worshipping God, the Holy Spirit came upon him and told him to write a letter to the seven churches in Asia Minor, today's Turkey. There are many ways to interpret this letter to these seven churches. The first one is historical—John wrote to them and the letter only applied to those churches at that time. The second one is historical and spiritual—not only did it apply to the early believers but also to all the believers at different times. The third one is dispensational—the seven churches represented seven periods of time in church history. The church in Ephesus is the Apostolic church from AD33-100. The church in Smyrna is the steadfast church from AD 100-312. The church in Pergamos is the state church from AD 312-606. The church in Thyatira is the idolatrous church from AD 606-1517. The church in Sardis is the dead church from AD 1517-1750. The church in Philadelphia is the evangelistic church from AD 1750-Rapture. And the church in Laodicea is the lukewarm church from AD 1900-Tribulation.
We will look into these when we get to the seven churches in chapters 2 and chapter 3. The most important thing is that John saw Jesus and the ways that he described Jesus. When John heard the voice, he turned and looked to see who was speaking to him. He had a vision and saw the seven golden lampstands, which the Jews called a Menorah. It was the only light in the temple and the priests needed to keep it burning day and night. In verse 20 we know that the seven lampstands are the seven churches that John was going to write the letter to. John saw someone like a son of man, which was the title referring to the heavenly Messiah in Daniel 7:13.
These are the ways that John described who Jesus is.
In verse 13 he was dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. Jesus is like the High Priest in the Old Testament.
Exodus 28:4 These are the garments they are to make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so they may serve me as priests.
In verse 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. For John, the same functions of ruler and judge ascribed to the "Ancient of Days" in Daniel's vision relate to Jesus.
Daniel 7:9 "As I looked, "thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.
In verse 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters indicating His authority. A similar figure of glowing metal is found in Ezekiel 1:13, 27; 8:2; Daniel 10:6. In both Ezekiel and Daniel, the brightness of shining metal-like fire is one of the symbols connected with the appearance of the glory of God. "His voice was like the sound of rushing waters" describes the glory and majesty of God in a way similar to that in Ezekiel (1:24; 43:2).
Ezekiel 1:13 The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it.
Daniel 10: 6 His body was like topaz, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.
In verse 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. The right hand is the place of power and safety, and the "seven stars" Jesus held in it are identified with the seven angels of the seven churches in Asia Minor. The double-edged sword is His word—the Bible, which is a weapon. Jesus’ face shines like the sun. We can see His glory just like Peter, John and James saw Jesus' transfiguration.
Matthew 17:1 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.
III. John reaction Revelation 1:17-20
Revelation 1:17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. 19 "Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. 20 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
John was one of the apostles that followed Jesus for more than three years. He told us that Jesus loved him. He could be the favorite apostle and he witnessed Jesus performing miracles and transforming into His glorious heavenly body. He even witnessed His death, and resurrection. But nothing was like this time when John saw Jesus again. John tells us that his response was like a dead man when he saw Jesus. This time was different than all the other times that John encountered Jesus. The Jesus that he knew was God who became man, but this time the Jesus that he encountered is God. John tells us that in Revelation chapter 19, this is the Jesus that we will see when He returns.
Jesus comforted John and told him not to be afraid, and reminded John who He was, and asked John to write this to the seven churches and also to us. Many people believe the seven angels of the seven churches were the pastors of the churches. The word angels could mean messengers, which could mean heavenly angels or human messengers.
John tells us clearly that the seven lampstands are the seven churches. The lampstands were the only light in the temple. Jesus said He is the true light of the world.
John 9:5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
Now Jesus is in heaven and this world still needs light. Otherwise, people cannot see the truth. When we believe in Jesus, we become His light in this world.
Matthew 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
When do we need the light most, in the day time or at night? When it is dark, we need the light most. As the lampstands of God, we need to shine before the world, so that people can see God.
