The Visitation at Patmos

John begins his extraordinary book in the customary manner of greeting the seven churches which will receive these letters. He also gives honor and praise to their common Lord. Finally, he introduces himself briefly (for they know him well). Then, he drops the hammer: Jesus visited Him! There he was on the Isle of Patmos filling the empty days of exile with worship, when totally out of the blue the very One he was worshipping appeared right in front of him. This wasn’t quite the same gentle Teacher he had walked beside over sixty years earlier in distant Galilee. This was the awe-inspiring, fear-invoking Lord of the Universe—and He said He had messages for His Church. We have been unpacking those messages ever since.

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Revelation 1:17-18

All scripture citations are from the English Standard Version (ESV) unless otherwise noted.

Summary of this Section

The commentary in these sections contain insights based on the text of scripture, not fabricated through speculation.[i] Speculation is trying to “see” more than we are being shown. What we see by Biblical revelation is real enough, but a fuller view will only come as these still distant components draw nearer. Speculation can readily become a pathway for deception.

Of the many bizarre things and intriguing persons introduced to us in this opening Prologue to the Book of Revelation, one that could easily be overlooked is simply the number seven. But nothing is simple in these pages! There are seven churches, seven candle stands, seven stars, seven angels and “seven spirits who are before his throne” (quoted above). All these will need careful explaining, and fortunately some explanations will be given within the text itself. For other interpretations we will have to look elsewhere. That’s where the work begins. That work, in turn, can lead to the thrill of discovery, but also to the danger of mis-direction. It’s best with this book to take careful steps, rather than great leaps of faith. Many fall off this mountain when racing to get too quick a glimpse or too far-sighted a view of the future.

The flurry of sevens should draw our attention to several things. First, nothing is left to chance. It cannot be an accident that there are so many sevens right at the beginning of the Revelation. Seven is the number of completion and rest—God rested on the seventh day after His six-day work week of creation. Hence, things that seem strange or attention getting—like so many sevens—may likely also carry a symbolic meaning. This doesn’t mean that we will be able to figure everything out, but it puts us on notice that prophecy is the language of imagery and metaphor.

Sometimes the biblical text will tell us when it is being symbolic. Sometimes it won’t. In that aspect it is also dreamlike. Prophecy often gets mentioned in direct connection with dreams which are also a means through which it is frequently received. Dreams are notoriously difficult to decipher. They don’t follow proper timelines. Geography also can easily lose its customary boundaries. Take care. Pray much. And listen well. One thing is certain: We need His revelations to understand Revelation. Fortunately, Jesus already gave us a major “key” to interpretation. It is to listen with a heart to obey what we hear. To the one who “keeps” his words (by obeying them), Jesus reveals even more of Himself and that necessarily includes His truths.

Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest [reveal] myself to him.” John 14:21

Pre-Figured in Scripture

Many elements of the Book of Revelation have already “appeared” in the Biblical prophetic narrative in the past, somewhat like a dress rehearsal for the final drama. These foreshadows are called “types” because they precede their ultimate expression (the “antitype”).[ii] As shadows of the future reality, however, they cast a revealing light of their own.

1. The Jerusalem Council Letter

The first record we have of any letter to any church is one that earns three favorable mentions in the Book of Acts—the Jerusalem’s Council’s letter concerning a decision they made. That should alert us to its importance. The Great Commission is only given twice.[iii] The Great Commandments, as great as they are, are given only three times. The contents of this letter are repeated verbatim three times![iv] Even Paul’s letter to the Galatians seems to refer to the incident that provoked the writing of this letter.[v] How important are letters in the New Testament? Extremely. The wonderful thing about this letter is that it was written entirely as an encouragement to lessen the yoke of the Jewish Law from the shoulders of the new Gentile believers. As such it was received with gladness.[vi]

Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, with the following letter: “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. Acts 15:22-23

One difference between this letter and the letters to the seven churches is that the Jerusalem Council was sending out an encyclical—a letter for wide or general distribution. It was intended to be read by all Gentile churches everywhere, because it addressed the issue of what they should obey from God’s Law in order to be members in good standing in the eyes of the Jewish Christian believers who led the young Church. The letters to the seven churches, on the other hand, carry specifics which apply only to those churches. Or do they? The other difference between the Jerusalem’s Council’s letter and those of Jesus is the reprimands and warnings He gave. We would be wise to “listen in” on the conversation and glean insights for ourselves from others that Jesus had to correct. God willing, this will help us avoid their disastrous mis-steps—and spare us from the consequences.

2. The Apostolic Letters

We may not typically think of it this way, but two thirds of the New Testament began life as letters to churches—not as books of scripture. Personal letters in our day are rare. They were back then too. The difference is that we have so many other effective ways of communicating to people at a distance. Nevertheless, any missionary can tell you how precious words from home are when set on paper and received by (infrequent) mail. You know that a lot of thought went into them—unlike most cell phone texts. You know that the person who sent it really cares about you—otherwise, why take the trouble? Best of all, you can pull the letter out and go over it again and again.

The letters of scripture work the same way. We pull them out and go over them endlessly, because the One who sent them really, really loves us. And we relive that love as we reread the letters. Even so, sometimes even perfect love must send words of correction. Paul hated to include that part of the message, but he loved too deeply to gloss over things. He knew that if they weren’t addressed, they would bring more lasting harm than the passing pain of being brought to attention. Peter and James followed suit. It is completely in line with this apostolic “tradition” that Jesus will later write His own letters to the seven churches through John on Patmos. Here is how Paul put it.

For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down. 2 Corinthians 13:10

Revealed by Scripture

The Bible exposes the secret plans and deceptive operations of the dark kingdom, even as it unveils the glorious realities of what our God is doing. The truths of scripture are, therefore, our rock-solid building blocks for interpreting the times we are entering. Nevertheless, for biblical information to become true revelation both prayer and the Holy Spirit are needed.

This introduction to the letters for the seven churches also includes an opening explanation for what this book is intended to be and how John came to receive its messages. It also introduces us to the ultimate Revealer: Jesus. You won’t want to miss that part. It’s a showstopper!

1. John’s Introduction and Blessing

1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Revelation 1:1-2

As John begins writing his book, the first thought that he wants to convey is that everything which follows will be “the revelation of Jesus Christ.” This is a phase with at least two meanings since the absence of the preposition “of” in the text opens a door to a double entendre. This book will be a revealing of Jesus Christ—unveiling to us hidden things about His purpose and destiny yet to be fulfilled. It will also be a revelation from Jesus to His Church—manifesting to us hidden things about our own future destiny and purpose in the plan of God. In all honesty, the latter sense probably drives most of us into studying this book, though the former meaning may be the one primarily intended. Happily, we don’t have to choose between either interpretation, but can readily embrace both.

The order of transmission is fascinating, because we must back up the revelation to God the Father who initiated it. Before these words and visions could be given to us, they had to first be revealed to Jesus. Recall that while on earth, Jesus disclosed that the timing of His Return was unknown to Him.[vii] Other things may have been hidden from His sight as well while He walked among us. Now—while His beloved disciple still drew breath—He received further revelation. It is this new understanding of the Father’s secret plan that Jesus wants to make known to us. Accordingly, He transmits what He’s been shown to “his angel” who will be passing it on to John. But the chain of divine delivery will not end there. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, John will pass it on to all of us through the book he soon writes.

John will now be a faithful “witness” on our behalf concerning three things. He will convey accurately to us “the Word of God” which he heard spoken about these events. Those words include “the testimony of Jesus Christ” which (as we have seen) indicates both truths about Jesus as well as truths testified to by Jesus Himself. Here John uses the divine title, Christ (“Messiah”), so that there could be no doubt in anyone’s mind that this is the same Jesus whom John knew in the flesh who is in truth the earth’s Savior and Lord. This is after all the same John who in his letter warned us all to “test the spirits” since many antichrists and false prophets have “gone out into the world.”[viii] We will certainly hear more about them in the chapters to come! Finally, John will hold nothing back but will convey every detail, “even to all that he saw.”

This “angel” deserves special attention. It is widely believed that the person Jesus sent to John with the Revelation was a celestial being, an angel in the ordinary sense we understand the term. The term angel, however, is a job description. It means messenger. Naturally, we think immediately of the heavenly host, but there are other glorious beings in heaven than those spirits who have always lived in the unseen realm. The redeemed are also there. This is a reality that even John had to receive correction about—and wanted us to remember it as well. John tells us twice that “the messenger” reprimanded him (once) for bowing towards him, declaring himself to be “a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets.”[ix] Would a holy angel consider himself a “fellow servant”? The Word declares them to be our servants for the sake of the gospel.[x] They also know that we have been placed below them only “for a little while,” but our destined position is higher.[xi] Is it possible, then, that this unnamed messenger is one of the redeemed? Not only that, but might he have been a former (“fellow”) prophet while living on the earth?

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. Revelation 1:3

What an encouragement this passage is! Just by reading these words aloud a blessing is guaranteed to come. That’s good because (as we know) understanding the words of this book is a much more difficult task. Even so, for those who press in not only to hear, but to “keep what is written,” a further blessing is pronounced. Keeping God’s word requires understanding it in order to obey it. Towards that end, both the messenger and John will provide insights and explanations as we go along. The full weight of interpretation, of course, depends upon us—upon our willingness to give it the effort as well as our openness “to hear” what the Spirit is saying as opposed to what we might prefer.

These pronounced blessings are punctuated with a sense of urgency “for the time is near.” So, begins the first of several ironic announcements that we’ll receive which reveal the wide difference between our Lord’s sense of “soon” and ours. No doubt, every generation of believers that took these words to heart was somehow prepared by them for what they would undergo in their lifetime. Nevertheless, those generations did not see the prophesied Day draw “near.” We will. How much more, therefore, should we press in for the blessing of “keeping” these words? What is revealed here will go a long way towards keeping us faithful in our steps and full of faith in our hearts as we enter the days that are coming.

2. John’s Greeting to the Seven Churches

4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5a and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. Revelation 1:4-5a

In this opening portion of the book, John now addresses “the seven churches that are in Asia.” Asia identifies the Roman province which occupied the area now held by the modern nation of Turkey. The seven churches are not the only churches in Asia, but they are the ones singled out by Jesus for individual attention. Whatever else may follow, the Lord wants His churches to receive grace and peace “from Him.” That’s good to know because if we’ve read ahead, we also know that strong words of rebuke and correction will follow. Nevertheless, the foundation for all of God’s dealings with us is grace, leading to peace—full restoration of fellowship between God and us.

This greeting isn’t being sent from Jesus alone, but also from the “seven spirits who are before his throne.” These are seven celestial beings who are the angels associated with the seven churches as we’ll learn later. For now, their unexplained inclusion alerts us to the ongoing reality that much of this revelation will need revealing! Jesus, however, hardly needs an introduction, though He gets one and a fine one it is. He is the “faithful witness” whom John seeks to mirror as he bears his own witness of Jesus. Jesus is also “the firstborn of the dead” who raised John (and us) to new life from the living death of sin. He will also raise us beyond death into heavenly life when that time comes—a necessary ability which we’ll need Him to exercise in the context of the millions of deaths about to be prophesied. Perhaps this manner of greeting is, therefore, meant as an encouraging reminder that although the kings of the earth will be arrayed against Him in the end, Jesus is unquestionably the “ruler of kings of the earth.”

5b To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Revelation 1:5b-6

Don’t you love John’s heart? He is only a few steps into the Revelation, but he stops to interrupt his own prologue with praise. This glorious Person who “loves us and has freed us” deserves to be glorified with thanksgiving at every mention of His saving deeds. At unspeakable cost to Himself, Jesus saved us “by His blood” for only His death could free us from what our sins required. But He didn’t stop there. By His grace He “made us”—the corrupt ones who worshipped the god of this world—a kingdom of holy priests who now serve the true and living God. Such a gracious and magnificent Being deserves to be glorified as He reigns “forever and ever.” Amen!

Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. Revelation 1:7

Let’s cut to the chase. Jesus is not content to reign only from heaven. He is determined to also reign on earth! That’s what this Book of Revelation—His revelation—reveals. He is “coming with the clouds” to invade earth, not as the usurper Satan did by stealth in the Garden. No, earth’s rightful sovereign is returning in such a way that “every eye will see him.” This will be a welcomed sight for the faithful who “love to see His appearing” whether it is by the Daystar rising in our hearts, or before our yearning eyes when the great Day dawns.[xii]

Sadly, His Return will bring deep sorrow to those whose desires took them in a different direction. Foremost among this mournful group will be the as yet unconverted Jews. “Those who pierced Him” speaks of the sword’s piercing long ago at the cross, but also hints of their heart-piercing rejection of Him as their Messiah for the past two thousand years. These “lost” tribes of Israel will themselves be pierced by the appalling realization of how great their apostacy has been. Other lost ones, who will “wail on account of Him,” will include “all tribes of the earth.” How they will wish it to be other than it is on that Day. “Even so,” it is what it is.

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." Revelation 1:8

We began with John’s description of this coming King. Now, Jesus steps into the prophesy with a personally delivered declaration: “I am the Alpha and the Omega.” He is the beginning and the end of this story and of all stories. He is the Creator who set everything in motion, though an enemy derailed the original plan. Even so, He is the Redeemer who will bring everything into alignment with His eternal purposes. He not only “is” the great I AM of Exodus fame; He is the One who “was” as He died our death and the One who “is to come” upon His Return. He not only knows the end from the beginning, but He declares it to us with absolute assurance in the prophecies to come. Such a masterful Person can only be described as “the Almighty.” Get ready earth. Take cover lords of the earth. You are about to meet more than your match!

3. John’s Vision of the Son of Man

I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. Revelation 1:9

With his description of the Main Character completed, John takes a moment to introduce himself. Hardly a bit player in this drama, John doesn’t seek to upstage us. He’s one of us—our “brother and partner” in this great enterprise of faith. Well, that’s not quite what he said, though it is a part of what he means. This letter is exclusively being written to fellow believers, not to outsiders. This is not for evangelism, though some have tried to use it that way. No, the gospel is for evangelism. John’s already written one of those.

This Revelation is for preparing the saints to be saints—to stay holy and steadfast when the going gets tough. And tough it’s going to be. According to this we are those who will partner with him “in the tribulation” to come. That’s not what we want to hear even though he assures us that through this we will share with him in the “kingdom”—our Lord’s ultimate reign. Nevertheless, we know (as he reminds us) that for us to see that kingdom come, we will need all the “patient endurance” that is in Jesus. Fortunately for us, all that is in Jesus can also become ours through faith. We’ll need it.

John isn’t speaking of tribulation as an armchair theologian. He knows first-hand what it means to go through tribulation, being currently exiled on the prison island of Patmos. The essence of tribulation is persecution “on account of the world of God and the testimony of Jesus.” The dark powers of the world do not want the truth to come to light for anyone or by anyone. John’s tribulation is a foreshadow in his time of the darkness which will come when world-wide persecution of Christians and Jews covers the earth. We will need the same “patient endurance” he did.

10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 saying, "Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea." Revelation 1:10-11

Despite being in exile far removed from those he loved, there is still One he loves more than any other. Rather than giving way to depression, John moved into worship and found himself “in the Spirit” one undated Sunday ("the Lord's day"). It was then, that he first heard the celestial summons. How could he have missed it? This wasn’t the whisper to “come up higher” we may hear in our quiet times. This was “a loud voice” that broke through his worship with a resounding blast “like a trumpet.” Did it startle him? He didn’t see it coming—the sudden, unexpected address came from “behind.” No doubt he spun around.  Such a summons can’t be played with as we see emphasized by the language of command. John is to “write” what he sees and “send” it, presumably without delay to all seven of the churches mentioned. John’s willing obedience is foreknown and fully expected.

12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. Revelation 1:12-13

Who is it who issues such a demand? John says he “turned to see the voice.” This may indicate that at this moment he wasn’t yet sure that he would see the visible appearance of the one speaking to him. Perhaps, he had encounters like this in the past. Most scholars and church tradition agree that this exile happened near the end of Emperor Domitian’s reign—96 AD. That would put John somewhere in his eighties, if indeed he was recruited by Jesus as a young man over 66 years earlier. Such a long and storied career would have given the prophet countless opportunities for angelic and divine visitations. Such things are not uncommon in the Biblical accounts or even today in many lives.

What he sees first are seven “golden lampstands” which symbolize the seven churches. Then, he discerns a living presence “in the midst of the lampstands.” He looks “like a son of man” which we may take as a code name for Jesus, but that isn’t what John says. He knows exactly what Jesus looks like. Even after all the years, even without any intervening visitations, how could he ever lose the indelible impression that Face? As with so many other things in this Revelation, that which is initially unclear will come better into view through passages that follow. At this point all that John knows is that this person doesn’t appear to be angelic, but human—like a son of man. Even so, he is robed in heavenly attire wearing “a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.” Still, it could be anyone. But with a voice such as John first heard, this is clearly someone of otherworldly stature.

14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. Revelation 1:14-15

Reading ahead, we know who this is—it’s Jesus. No surprise for us. John, however, follows the clues just as we will when such a moment comes to us. His eyes travel from what we could call the universal clothing of heaven, to personal features that now seem more angelic than human. Moving from the outside in and from top to bottom, John sees hair “like white wool” as pure as snow (or as that of an unblemished lamb?). Next, he describes eyes “like a flame of fire” which speaks of holiness, combined with the intensity of a blazing passion.

This incredible person has feet that convey an impression of stupendous strength. “Like burnished bronze” tells us that in addition to being powerful, they shine with a heavenly brilliance. That they have been “refined in a furnace” give us an important clue to the identity of this person who appears both human and divine. He walked through a refiner’s fire and passed the test. Earth alone is the domain for testing the metal of one’s character. Such an ordeal would give authority and depth to anyone’s voice. His is “like the roar of many waters”—commanding, all-engulfing, over-whelming. These signs show us that his was not an ordinary human test.

In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. Revelation 1:16

John gazes (in wonder? or dread?) as he sees that this glorious being holds “seven stars” in his right hand alone. No time to process any of this, his eyes—transfixed by the heavenly vision—must move on. Astoundingly, a sharp, two-edged sword thrusts forth “from his mouth.” The Word of God is a sword that cuts two ways: It condemns to judgement those who reject eternal truth and liberates those who receive it. By this we see at last that this person is no “mere” angelic messenger, but the Source of Wisdom—the eternal Word which John had earlier written about in the Prologue to his gospel.[xiii] Perhaps, it is as this recognition is dawning in the beloved disciple’s mind, that the Person before him is transfigured: The image that had earlier seemed like a son of man, now has a “face like the sun shining in full strength.” Where have we seen that before? John saw it with his own eyes on the Mount of Transfiguration.[xiv] The identification is complete.

17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Revelation 1:17-18

Can we imagine the shaft of uncreated light which now pierced John’s vision? In an instant, his memory is alive to what he along with Peter and James saw on the holy mountain in Galilee so many decades earlier. In the same instant, he is seeing the wondrous sight in front of him in real time. Here is the glorious God-Man in full, otherworldly display. Is it any wonder that he “fell at his feet as though dead”? We would too, though it does seem strange that one of the last times we “saw” John, he was leaning his head in perfect peace upon the breast of the very One he cannot gaze upon now. This is not to imply that John ever became complacent, but lest we get too familiar with the “friendly” side of Jesus, we would do well to remember that this is the One who makes the pillars of heaven quake. One look upon His unveiled countenance… Well, let’s thank God that He knows how much we can bear and that the Blood—His own Blood—covers us.

It is exactly this that Jesus recalls to John’s memory. He lays “his right hand” on John, a gesture that draws upon the frequent mention in scripture of God’s right hand of salvation.[xv] Immediately, Jesus reminds John of what He has done for Him (and for us). It is as if He is saying, “John, take courage. It’s Me, Jesus. Remember? I’m the One who ‘died’ (you were there) and ‘behold’ (look at Me now) ‘I am alive forevermore.’ So, fear not!” Though He died, He remains “the living one.” Indeed, the writer of Hebrews tells us that Jesus gained His priesthood by “the power of an indestructible life.”[xvi] Further, Peter declared to the crowds at Pentecost that it was “impossible” for Jesus to “be held” by death.[xvii] To top it off, Jesus announces to John that He holds “the keys of Death and Hades.” This is the God we are going to need going forward! Whatever these prophecies will say about our future, no matter how bleak it may appear, Jesus holds the keys. He is in us; He is with us; and if we are in Him, our future is secure.

4. John’s Commission to Write this Book

19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. 20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. Revelation 1:19-20

Finally, comes the commission: “Write, therefore.” Based on what he now sees in Jesus, based on what will be shown to him, John is to write about “those things that are.” There is much in Revelation about the times John lives in. There is also a great deal—in fact far more—about “those things that are to take place after this.” Unquestionably, Revelation is a revelation of the future, both for the world (which will be judged) and for believers (who will be liberated). Even the parts that were addressed to the past—the present time of John’s day—will have seed lessons in them that will be important for us to harvest in our day.

Almost as an afterthought, Jesus decides to clear up some mysteries. The seven stars are “the angels of the seven churches.” The seven golden lampstands represent “the seven churches” to whom the letters will be addressed. Why Jesus likes being so mysterious must be part of what it means to be the greatest Enigma ever. We need to get used to this. Only parts of the End Times puzzle will be revealed to us as we go along. We see dimly.[xviii] Even if we are diligent at assembling the parts, we should expect that many pieces of revelation will be withheld until the right time. That is something which cannot be forced. It may be our “glory” to search a matter out, but it is Jesus’ prerogative to conceal it.

It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. Proverbs 25:2

Next Piece of the Puzzle

Letter 1: Ephesus The Ephesian believers were like many of us. They had a sharp eye out for anything that smacked of deception or false doctrine. Jesus assured them that was good, nevertheless… That’s where the comparison gets scary. Despite their watchfulness against wrong thinking, their hearts had grown cold. Which matters more to the Lord: great head knowledge or a heart on fire with passion for Him? When we put it that way the answer is obvious, and the choice is clear. But real life is a murky business, where the cares of this world can easily overtake the good seed—without us ever noticing a thief of hearts came in to steal ours.

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Endnotes

[i] Cambridge Dictionary defines speculation as “the act of guessing possible answers to a question without having enough information to be certain.” It derives from the Latin word “speculari” which means “to look at, view, observe” and originally indicated “close observation and intelligent contemplation.” By the late 1500s it gained the disparaging sense it carries today of “mere conjecture.” See etymonline.com.

[ii] Adam is the type; Jesus, the “second Adam” is the antitype: Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. Romans 5:14

[iii] See Matthew 28:16-20 and Mark 16:14-16.

[iv] Acts 15:20, Acts 15:29 and Acts 21:25.

[v] Read Chapter 2 carefully. Though there is scholarly debate around it, this seems to be describing exactly the kind of problem that the Jerusalem Council letter sought to resolve.

[vi] So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. Acts 15:30-31

[vii] “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Mark 13:32

[viii] Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. 1 John 4:1-3

[ix] Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Revelation 19:10; and: I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” Revelation 22:8-9

[x] Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? Hebrews 1:14

[xi] It has been testified somewhere, “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor. Hebrews 2:6-7

[xii] Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8

[xiii] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

[xiv] And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. Matthew 17:2

[xv] That your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by your right hand and answer us! Psalm 60:5

[xvi] Who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. Hebrews 7:16

[xvii] God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. Acts 2:24

[xviii] For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12