Zion Publishing

            John was on the isle of Patmos and received the Revelation of Jesus Christ.  He wrote the things which he saw in a book and sent it to the seven churches in Asia.  In verses 4-6 of chapter one, John addresses the churches, by first acknowledging the eternal existence of God.  Jesus Christ was the first begotten of the dead.  He rose from the grave and ascended to his Father, and is sitting at his right hand. 

            John then acknowledges the work wrought in the believer who has accepted the Lord Jesus into life.  The blood of Christ washes away the sins of every born-again believer, that we may be delivered and set free from the bondage of sin, enabling us to be kings, reigning over sin and evil in this present world.  There is nothing that a king is subject to.  All things are subject to him.  A believer is not subject to any passion, appetite, lust, sin or immorality.  They are subject to him and will not have dominion or authority over them, as long as Christ is in their heart. 

            False religion does not believe that a believer can be a king and reign over sin in this world.  They say that a person cannot live a sin-free life.  The truth of the matter is that they do not want to live above sin.  Christ enables every believer to reign and become kings in this present world.  Jesus Christ is King of kings, and Lord of lords. 

            Romans 6:12 says, “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.”  If a person has to allow sin to reign, then they could not be a king.  If a king has to obey someone else or something else, he is not a true king.  A believer through the power of Jesus Christ reigns over lusts, evil thoughts, unholy appetites, cursing, lying, stealing, anger, malice, wrath and all other unrighteousness. 

            Romans 6:14 says, “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under law, but under grace.”   The word dominion means rule, control or power over.  A Christian has dominion over sin, which means if they do sin, they have sinned by choice and have willfully disobeyed the commandment of God and chosen to do wrong rather than right. 

            The grace of God gives the believer dominion over sin.  A believer is no longer a servant to sin, but are now a conqueror and a king through the power and blood of Jesus Christ; reigning over all sin and every evil passion in this present world.

            Priests were those that made atonement for the people and interceded in the behalf of others.  The priests offered up sacrifices unto God and communed with Him.  The believers are now priests also, for we can “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”  This is why a believer does not have to sin, because they are priests and the believer is able to go to God in prayer and obtain grace or strength to help them in time of temptation or in time of severe trial.

            John spoke of the imminent return of Christ.  Jesus Christ will return once more to judge the world in righteousness.  In verse seven, John said, “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.  Even so, Amen.”  Many teach that Christ will return and rapture his church and every one else will be left behind.  But according to scripture, “every eye shall see him.” 

            In verse 9, John began to give his testimony and purpose for being on the isle of Patmos.  John first stated that he was our brother.  Every true child of God is our brother and sister in the Lord.  Christ did not instituted segregation, division and denominationalism, nor a multiplicity of churches believing thousands of different things.  There is one family, there is one body, there is one faith, and there is one God.  God’s rules are the same for all.  God does not command some of his children to be holy and the others do not have to live holy.  His law applies to all believers. 

            A true Christian suffers tribulation.  II Timothy 3:12 says, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”  Many professed believers today do not suffer persecution because they are not standing for Christ.  John was banished and exiled and the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ which he held not willing to denounce the faith of Christ.  Just as the Roman Catholic church killed many Christians in the Dark Ages, they too would not renounce their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

            John also proclaimed in his testimony that he was in the kingdom of Jesus Christ.  This contradicts present-day teachers that teach a future kingdom of Christ.  Christ’s kingdom is a present reality.  Christ’s kingdom is not an earthly kingdom to be seen with the naked eye, but it is a spiritual kingdom dwelling in the hearts of every believer.  Christ is reigning within the hearts of his people and they submit to his authority in this present world.  If people do not submit to Christ now, what makes them think that they are going to submit to him in a future age?  If Christ came back to earth the religious people would crucify him again. 

            Jesus Christ is the Word and if they hate the Word (Christ) now, they would hate him then.  Remember, you will be persecuted when you stand up for the word of God, and allow the word of God to stand up within you!

            In verse ten, John said, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day.”  Any studious reader of Christian history will know that the day that Jesus Christ rose from the grave was known as the Lord’s Day by the apostles.  Christ rose on Sunday, the first day of the week, and from that time it was known as the Lord’s church, and the disciples of Christ would meet on this day.  John was in the Spirit; meaning, he was walking in the Spirit and listening to the Spirit’s voice, while exiled on the isle of Patmos.  As believers, the Spirit of God will reveal things to us when we walk in the Spirit.  “He will guide us into all truth.”