Seven Churches

Before turning to Revelation's great assertions of Christ's kingship, Pastor Martin lays out first principles for interpreting the book. Negatively, Revelation is neither a pre-written crystal ball of coded history nor a preview of a seven-year future segment. Positively, it is a lengthy letter sent by an exiled, suffering apostle to seven real first-century churches, and its contents are essentially ethical and practical, imminent and contemporary, conflict-and-conquest oriented, and Christ-centered. He shows that 'throne' occurs 45 times in Revelation compared to 15 in the rest of the New Testament, teaching believers in any age to have a 'throne fixation' on the Lamb in the midst of the throne. He closes with a brief look at Revelation 1:4-5, where the threefold description of Christ as faithful witness, firstborn of the dead, and ruler of the kings of the earth meets suffering saints on the very threshold of the book.

Pastor Martin expounds the opening vision of Revelation 1:9-20, in which the exiled John on Patmos sees the Son of Man in the midst of the seven golden lampstands. After reviewing first principles of interpretation, he walks through the setting, substance, sequel, and significance of the vision. The overwhelmed apostle falls at Christ's feet as one dead, and the Lord's four-fold word of comfort anchors the book: fear not — your fears are groundless, your Redeemer is divine, His redemption is secure, and His dominion is universal, for He holds the keys of death and Hades. This vision of Christ in the midst of the churches, all that He is in person and offices, is the stabilizing comfort of the suffering church and a word of terror to every unconverted heart.