Resource Detail

Revelation Lecture 1

I AM THE LIVING ONE

Revelation 1:1-20

Key Verse 1:17-18

1. Why is it important that this is “the revelation from Jesus Christ” (1)? What role did John play in communicating this revelation (2)? Why are the one who reads aloud and those who hear and obey “blessed” (3)?
2. What does each description of Jesus and his ministry mean (4-6)? Why will “all peoples on earth mourn because of him” when Jesus comes (7)? What does the title “the Alpha and the Omega” reveal about God (8)?
3. What were John’s spiritual and physical conditions when he received the command? (9-11)? Why is it significant that the “son of man” is standing among the lampstands (12-13)? What does each feature of the Son of Man—his clothing, white hair, fiery eyes, bronze feet, powerful voice, seven stars, sharp sword, and shining face—reveal about Jesus (14-16)?
4. What do Jesus’ titles and his words reveal about his identity and authority (17-18)? Why did Jesus command John to write what he had seen, what was happening, and what would take place later (19)? What does the meaning of the seven stars and seven lampstands teach us about Jesus’ relationship with his churches (20)?

Revelation Lecture 2 Aug. 15, 2026

GLORIOUS JESUS AMONG THE SUFFERING CHURCHES

Revelation 1:9-20

Key Verse 1:13

“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.”

Good morning, everyone! It is wonderful to see you again. I was away for almost three weeks on mission trips to Belize and Venezuela. I missed all of you and deeply appreciate all your prayers for me during my mission trips. Traveling on a mission trip is not always comfortable. My flight left New York at two o’clock in the morning and arrived in Venezuela around noon. I had to sleep in my seat on the plane. Because the international airport in Caracas had been damaged by the earthquake and was not operating, I flew into a small airport in Valencia, about three hours from Caracas. The airport was crowded, and I had to wait in a very long line to go through immigration. A Venezuelan leader, Jaime and his family came to pick me up. From the airport, we traveled together to the retreat center. The air conditioning in his car was not working, so we had to keep the windows open. The hot air and exhaust fumes from the other cars were so strong that my throat began to hurt. At the retreat center, there were bugs and mosquitoes. The water can also upset your stomach if your body is not used to it. Thankfully, I used insect repellent, and they provided me with filtered water, so I did not have those problems. When you travel on a mission trip, many things are not as comfortable as they are at home in the United States.

However, my heart was happy during the mission trip because I was able to meet brothers and sisters who were suffering in Venezuela. I listened to their stories and had fellowship with them. One sister cried throughout our conversation. One brother shared with me how he was struggling to serve God’s work by faith in the middle of severe economic difficulties. Another sister wept as she spoke about her broken marriage. Also I was surprised and happy to see the children of our local Venezuelan leaders grown up and actively serving God’s work. I witnessed the Holy Spirit working in the heart of each conference participant. Seeing many new people accept Jesus filled my heart with great joy. I wish you could have joined me on this blessed and joyful mission trip! We are praying to go on another short-term mission trip next year. We do not yet have specific plans about when or where we will go, but I hope many of you can join us!

Today, I would like to share God’s Word with you from Revelation 1:9–20. Please look at verse 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.” John, the author of Revelation, introduces himself as their “brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance.” He was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. Patmos is a small Greek island in the Aegean Sea, near the western coast of present-day Türkiye. John had been exiled there because he preached God’s Word and testified about Jesus. He was suffering because of his faithfulness to God. But John knew that he was not suffering alone. He recognized that many brothers and sisters in the churches were suffering for the same reason. So he called himself their brother and companion—not only in suffering, but also in God’s kingdom and in patient endurance.

Let us think for a moment about the suffering that the followers of Jesus faced at that time. Because they had accepted Jesus as their Savior and Lord, they could not participate in emperor worship, which was common throughout the Roman world. They could not confess, “Caesar is lord,” because they believed that Jesus alone was their Lord. Because of their faith, they faced economic disadvantages, social isolation, and persecution. They were excluded from trade guilds, making it difficult for them to earn a living. By following Jesus, they gave up many opportunities to succeed in the world and enjoy an easy life. And when Roman authorities became hostile toward Christians, they faced even more severe persecution. Still, they did not deny Jesus. They looked forward to the kingdom of God and patiently endured their suffering. By faith, they overcame the hardships of the world.

While John was on the island of Patmos, he was worshiping God on the Lord’s Day. Verse 10 says that he was “in the Spirit.” Then he heard a loud voice behind him, like the sound of a trumpet. The voice said, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.” As we learned previously, these seven churches were real churches in Asia Minor. But the number seven also represents completeness and fullness. Therefore, these seven churches represent the whole church of Jesus Christ throughout the world.

When John heard the voice, he turned around to see who was speaking to him. Then he saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man. What do these seven lampstands represent? Revelation 1:20 tells us clearly, “The seven lampstands are the seven churches.” What does this mean? The church is called to carry the light of Jesus Christ into the world. Through the Word of God and through our good deeds in Christ, the church should shine the light of Christ in this dark world and bring glory to God. This is one of the essential purposes of the church.

Who was among the lampstands—among the seven churches? John saw “someone like a son of man.” This expression also appears in Daniel 7:13: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven.” This Son of Man looks human, yet he possesses heavenly authority. He receives an everlasting kingdom, and all nations worship him. In the Gospels, Jesus frequently called himself “the Son of Man.” Jesus is fully human and fully God. Therefore, when John saw someone like a son of man among the lampstands, he was seeing the risen Jesus Christ.

How is this Jesus described? “He was dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.” His clothing reminds us of the clothing of a high priest. Jesus is our great High Priest, who intercedes for us before God the Father. His clothing also represents his royal authority. “The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow.” His white hair represents his holiness and eternal wisdom. “His eyes were like blazing fire.” Jesus sees everything. Nothing can be hidden from his eyes. He looks deeply into our hearts. “His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace.” This means that Jesus stands with strength and judges the world in righteousness. “His voice was like the sound of rushing waters.” His voice is powerful and majestic. “In his right hand he held seven stars.” Verse 20 tells us that the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches. The churches and their messengers are held securely in Jesus’ powerful right hand. “Coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword.” This sword represents the powerful Word of Jesus. Finally, “His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.” This reveals the divine glory and victory of Jesus Christ.

What happened to John when he saw Jesus in all his glory? He fell at his feet as though dead. When we stand before the holiness and glory of God, we realize that we are sinners who deserve his judgment. Then, we cannot help but fall before him because of our sins. But what did Jesus do? Jesus touched John with his right hand and said, “Do not be afraid.” What a beautiful picture of Jesus’ forgiveness! Then Jesus said, “I am the First and the Last.” Jesus existed before creation, and he will remain forever. Jesus also said, “I am the Living One.” Jesus is alive, and he is the source of life. Moreover, Jesus holds “the keys of death and Hades.” Even the world of the dead is under his authority. Jesus has conquered death, and he alone has the power to open its gates and set us free.

Now, let me ask you: Where was this holy and glorious Jesus? He was “among the lampstands”—among his churches. What is the church? The church is not a building. The church is the community of people who have accepted Jesus as their Savior and Lord. Therefore, when Jesus stood among the lampstands, he was standing among his people. At that time, many believers were suffering because of their faith. Perhaps they wondered, “Where is Jesus? Does he see what we are going through? Has he abandoned us?” John’s vision gave them a clear answer: Jesus was right there among them. The glorious Jesus had not abandoned his suffering people. He was walking among his people. He knew their pain, heard their prayers, and saw every tear they shed. Jesus was among them to comfort them, wipe away their tears, and give them new strength. He was also there to protect, guide, and strengthen his churches. His presence gave them the power to endure it. Because Jesus was among them, suffering could not destroy their faith. Persecution could not silence their witness. Even death could not defeat them. The presence of Jesus was the source of their victory.

The same Jesus is among us today. As we live by faith in this world, we experience many kinds of suffering. Many people in the world live to make a lot of money and become successful. But as believers, worldly success is not our ultimate goal. We want to live as God’s people—with honesty, integrity, and a clear conscience before God. Sometimes this means giving up opportunities that could bring us money or success. It means refusing to compromise our faith, even when compromise would make our lives easier. Because of this, people may misunderstand or reject us. Sometimes they may look down on us as narrow-minded, old-fashioned, or too serious about our faith. Many people freely enjoy sinful pleasures without feeling guilty. But Christians are called to fight against sin. We struggle continually to overcome sinful habits and addictions. We struggle to put aside our sinful desires and obey the will of God. In obedience to Jesus, we struggle to forgive and love those who have hurt us. Forgiving someone who has wounded us deeply is not easy. Yet we do it because Christ first forgave us. We also seek to humble ourselves and serve others. We visit people, listen to their struggles, and pray for them. We give our time and energy even when we are already tired. Sometimes, in order to obey God’s will, we may even have to surrender our personal dreams. When we suffer because of illness or failure, we struggle not to complain against God or turn away from him. Instead, we seek to thank God, trust him, and glorify him—even when we do not understand why he has allowed us to suffer. We live in this world, but our hope is in the kingdom of heaven. We do not live only for what we can see today. We look forward to the everlasting kingdom of God.

When suffering comes because we are faithfully following Jesus, we do not need to fear it. In our suffering, we can meet Jesus more deeply. We can experience his comfort and power. Through suffering, our faith can grow stronger. We learn to depend more on Jesus. We come closer to him and become more like him. Therefore, let us not give up. Let us continue on the path of faith, remembering that Jesus is always among his people.

Venezuela is a country richly blessed with natural resources, including oil, natural gas, gold, iron, aluminum, and so on. In 1950, Venezuela was the fourth-richest country in the world in terms of GDP per capita, and it remained the wealthiest country in Latin America through much of the 1960s and 1970s. Because of this prosperity, Venezuelans became known for their strong national pride. However, over the past thirty years, the Venezuelan people have suffered greatly through economic decline and political and social turmoil. A country once known for its wealth and abundant resources fell into deep poverty. In 2019, the country experienced a devastating power crisis, and some areas went without electricity for nearly a week. Even today, Valencia, Venezuela’s third-largest city, experiences power outages for six hours every day. At one point, the shortage of running water became so severe that people had to go to mountain streams to collect water. A nation with so much natural wealth became a nation filled with hardship, uncertainty, and pain. As many of you have heard in the news, more than six million Venezuelans have left their homeland and scattered throughout the world in search of safety and a better life.

This year has been a year of great suffering for the people of Venezuela. After President Maduro was removed from power, the country entered a period of political uncertainty. Some people were filled with fear, while others began to hope for a better future. But on June 24, two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela. In a moment, much of that hope turned into sorrow and despair. Thousands of people lost their lives, and many more lost their homes. Numerous buildings were damaged or completely destroyed. Because rescue equipment was limited, many people remained trapped beneath the rubble. Even now, the full extent of the loss may not be known. I visited one of the disaster areas, and my heart was broken by what I saw. People told us that many of those who were still missing had never been found. In some places, the rubble was simply being covered over because there were not enough resources to continue searching. We also visited a temporary shelter for displaced families. Many families were living together in tents and sleeping on bunk beds. We could see the painful reality that they had lost their homes and their normal lives. A doctor serving at the shelter received the medical supplies sent by our UBF ministry. I was told that she was so grateful that she began to cry. This showed us how urgently they needed help. They lacked clean drinking water, bedding, medicine, and many other basic necessities. Later, we visited a hospital and delivered additional medical supplies. Our New York UBF church sent $10,000 to support those affected by the earthquake in Venezuela. Thank you very much for your generous donations. I also heard something deeply disturbing: some children had gone missing. There were serious concerns that criminals might take advantage of the chaos to kidnap and traffic vulnerable children. When I heard this, I was shocked and heartbroken. How could anyone take advantage of innocent children in the middle of such a terrible disaster?

In the middle of this desperate situation, the Venezuela Summer Bible Conference brought us great strength and comfort. After passing through so many trials, the hearts of the Venezuelan people had become humble and open to God. More than 130 people attended the conference, including about 30 college students. One messenger testified that the fear caused by the earthquake had left her with no choice but to seek God. She cried out, “No puedo más, Señor”—“Lord, I can’t go on anymore.” She realized that all she could do was hold on to God. In the middle of their suffering, Jesus was present among his people. He had not abandoned them. He came to them with the good news of the gospel, giving them comfort, strength, and hope. And they responded to his gracious call. Seventeen people accepted Jesus as their Savior, and they made a decision to follow him as his disciples. What a beautiful work of the Holy Spirit! In a place filled with sorrow and suffering, Jesus was still present. He was giving new life, raising new disciples, and planting the hope of his kingdom in their hearts.

Brothers and sisters, when we live by faith in this world, we will sometimes suffer because we follow Jesus. We may be misunderstood, rejected, or disadvantaged because we choose truth over compromise and obedience over comfort. We may struggle as we fight against sin, forgive those who have hurt us, serve others, and share the gospel. But when suffering comes, let us remember our glorious, risen Jesus standing and walking among us. He does not abandon his people when they suffer. He sees every tear, knows every struggle, and understands every sacrifice we make for him. Therefore, let us not be afraid of suffering. Let us not give up. Let us not run away from our life of faith. Jesus is among his suffering people! Amen.