Bible History
Picture Study Bible with Maps and Background Information
14. Laodiceans--The city was in the southwest of Phrygia, on the
river Lycus, not far from Colosse, and lying between it and
Philadelphia. It was destroyed by an earthquake,
A.D. 62, and rebuilt by its wealthy citizens
without the help of the state [TACITUS,
Annals, 14.27]. This wealth (arising from the excellence of its
wools) led to a self-satisfied, lukewarm state in spiritual things, as
Re 3:17
describes. See on
Col 4:16,
on the Epistle which is thought to have been written to the Laodicean
Church by Paul. The Church in latter times was apparently flourishing;
for one of the councils at which the canon of Scripture was determined
was held in Laodicea in A.D. 361. Hardly a
Christian is now to be found on or near its site.
the Amen--
(Isa 65:16,
Hebrew, "Bless Himself in the God of Amen . . .
swear by the God of Amen,"
2Co 1:20).
He who not only says, but is, the Truth. The saints used
Amen at the end of prayer, or in assenting to the word of God;
but none, save the Son of God, ever said, "Amen, I say unto you," for
it is the language peculiar to God, who avers by Himself. The
New Testament formula, "Amen. I say unto you," is equivalent to the Old
Testament formula, "as I live, saith Jehovah." In John's Gospel
alone He uses (in the Greek) the double "Amen,"
Joh 1:51; 3:3,
&c.; in English Version," Verily, verily." The title happily
harmonizes with the address. His unchanging faithfulness as "the Amen"
contrasts with Laodicea's wavering of purpose, "neither hot nor cold"
(Re 3:16).
The angel of Laodicea has with some probability been conjectured to be
Archippus, to whom, thirty years previously, Paul had already given a
monition, as needing to be stirred up to diligence in his ministry. So
the Apostolic Constitutions, [8.46], name him as the first
bishop of Laodicea: supposed to be the son of Philemon
(Phm 2).
faithful and true witness--As "the Amen" expresses the
unchangeable truth of His promises; so "the faithful the true witness,"
the truth of His revelations as to the heavenly things which He has
seen and testifies. "Faithful," that is, trustworthy
(2Ti 2:11, 13).
"True" is here (Greek, "alethinos") not
truth-speaking (Greek, "alethes"), but "perfectly
realizing all that is comprehended in the name Witness"
(1Ti 6:13).
Three things are necessary for this: (1) to have seen with His own eyes
what He attests; (2) to be competent to relate it for others; (3) to be
willing truthfully to do so. In Christ all these conditions meet
[TRENCH].
beginning of the creation of God--not he whom God created first,
but as in
Col 1:15-18
(see on
Col 1:15-18),
the Beginner of all creation, its originating instrument. All
creation would not be represented adoring Him, if He were but one of
themselves. His being the Creator is a strong guarantee for His
faithfulness as "the Witness and Amen."
JFB.
The Book of Revelation
Revelation 1:9-11 - I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send [it] unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
Revelation 19:11-16 - And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes [were] as a flame of fire, and on his head [were] many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he [was] clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies [which were] in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on [his] vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Revelation 22:18-20 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Revelation in The New Testament - A Brief Overview
Painting of St. John the Evangelist by Reni - 1620
Introduction to The Book of Revelation
Brief Summary. John describes the seven churches in Asia, he records the visions that he received, and in the prophecy Jesus returns as the kinsman redeemer to claim this world as His inheritance. The final battle unfolds in a 7 year period through a series of seal, trumpet, and bowl judgements, He casts the antichrist and false prophet into the lake of fire and sets up the New Jerusalem, the new heaven and new earth for the redeemed. The book of Revelation is in harmony with the prophecies in the Old Testament especially the ones written by Ezekiel, Daniel and Zechariah.
Summary of The Book of Revelation
Author. John the apostle names himself as the one who wrote down what the Lord said through the angel. The earliest writers in the church like Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Hippolytus, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria and the Muritorian all credit John the apostle as author of the book of Revelation.
Date. John indicates that he was on the Island of Patmos when he received the prophecy (Revelation 1:9). According to tradition John wrote during the reign of the Emperor Domitian which would have been around 95 AD. Tradition also states that John was released the next year and was allowed to return to Ephesus. Domitian was perhaps the cruelest Emperor toward the Christians, demanding that he was to worshipped as deity, or be put to death.
Audience. John said that the prophecy was directed to the seven churches in Asia (Revelation 1:4).
Outline of the Book of Revelation
Description and Fate of False Teachers - 1:1-16
Encouragement to Believers in Christ - 1:17-25
The Name Jesus In Ancient Hebrew Text
"Yeshua" in First Century Hebrew Text. This is how the name "Jesus"
would have been written in ancient Hebrew documents. The four letters or
consonants from right to left are Yod, Shin, Vav, Ayin (Y, SH, OO, A).
Jesus is the Greek name for the Hebrew name Joshua or Y'shua which means
"The LORD or Yahweh is Salvation".
The Book of Revelation Resources
Map of the Roman Empire (14 A.D.) - This map reveals the Roman Empire during the time shortly after the birth of Jesus, in 14 AD at the time of the death of Augustus. The order which prevailed in this extensive empire, the good military roads, and the use of Koine Greek as the general language of culture throughout the area were among the factors which multiplied the rapid spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (Color Map)
Map of Paul's First Missionary Journey (48 A.D.) - This map reveals the areas in Asia Minor where Paul visited in his first missionary journey. Around 48 AD, in the springtime, Paul and his companions Barnabas and Mark were sent on a mission from the church in Antioch. This would be the first of Paul's Missionary Journey's. (Color Map)
Map of Paul's Second Missionary Journey (51 A.D.) - This map reveals the areas in Asia and Greece where Paul visited in his second missionary journey. Paul re-visits a couple cities in Asia, one of which was Lystra where he was stoned and left for dead a few years earlier. He later has a vision that leads him over to Greece and Paul and his companions travel and minister in various cities in Greece (Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens and Corinth. Later Paul returns to Ephesus and finally to Caesarea and Antioch. (Color Map)
Map of Paul's Third Missionary Journey (54 A.D.) - This map reveals the areas in Asia and Greece where Paul visited in his third missionary journey. On Paul's third missionary journey he returned to the cities he had first visited on his first missionary journey. During this time he decided to remain in Ephesus for about 3 years, and this city was the main focus of his activities and an important Christian community (Acts 19). (Color Map)
Map of the New Testament World - This map reveals the "Nations" within the ancient world during the first century A.D., the time of the New Testament. The map includes the areas of Israel, Asia, Greece, and Italy. (Color Map)
Map of New Testament Greece This map reveals the cities within Greece in the ancient world during the first century A.D.,The map includes the principal cities of Greece like: Athens, Corinth, and Thessalonica, and provinces like Macedonia and Achaia. (Color Map)
Map of New Testament Asia - This map shows the cities within
Asia Minor during the first century A.D., the time of the New
Testament. The map includes the principal cities of Asia
including Tarsus, Ephesus, and Colossae, and provinces like
Galatia and Pamphilia. (Color Map)