Revelation Friday Night Bible Study 07FEB25 (1:10-11)

 

John’s Told to Write 

 

“On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: ‘Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea’ ” (Revelation 1:10-11). 

 

It was important for John to write down the prophecies given to him with a loud voice like a trumpet so that the church could have a record of them. Just think, this voice was not like a whisper, but it was loud, which signifies the importance and urgency of the message to be given to the church. The Bible says: “And the LORD answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it” (Habakkuk 2:2). These prophecies were warnings so that the church would be prepared and know what they would have to endure for the sake of the gospel and to give them hope for the future. The Bible says: “For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). Centuries later, we are still reading the books of the Bible that the prophets of old, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote for our spiritual learning, understanding, and inspiration for today’s times.  

 

What is the Lord’s Day?  

 

John said that he was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day. The Jews had the tradition of keeping the Sabbath by worshiping in the synagogue. Some religions believe that the Lord’s Day that John was referring to was the seventh day of the week on which the Jewish Sabbath was observed; others believe that due to the apostles having received the Holy Spirit on the first day of the week, Sunday would be more plausible. The Bible says: “On the Sabbath, we (Paul and companions) went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. (Acts 16:13). This particular text tells us that the apostles still honored the seventh day of the week as the Sabbath and God’s holy day. It also seems that because John was a Jew, he would have observed the Sabbath on the seventh day of the week since Jesus did not change it but honored it Himself, being the very fulfillment of the Law. The Bible says: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17). Man was unable to keep the Law perfectly, so Jesus came and perfectly fulfilled what man could not. It is also important to remember that the fourth commandment supports the seventh day of the week as the Lord’s day. The Bible says: “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy… For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy” (Exodus 20:8-11 please read in its entirety). On this day, the Lord said to remember, for He rested, blessed, and made it holy because this is the day He set apart for Himself, thus being the Lord’s day.

 Therefore, it appears that the day John was referencing in which he was in the Spirit, more probable than not, was Saturday. Nevertheless, this is debatable amongst theologians, but the most critical point to be made is that John was in the Spirit and was told to write down what he had seen and heard. Now, what did it mean for John to be in the Spirit?

 

ohn was in the Spirit…

 

So, the Word tells us that John was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day. Let’s dive into the Word to learn more about being in the Spirit. The Apostle Luke gave his readers certain details regarding Jesus’ days after His resurrection and a few instructions He wanted the disciples to follow. The Bible says:  On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.  For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:4). The Great Commission the Lord had given to the disciples would take more than what they would be capable of doing within themselves. They needed to be baptized and filled with the anointing of the Holy Spirit to bear witness of Jesus throughout the whole world and to perform signs and wonders. Therefore, Jesus had them wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit to fill them on the Day of Pentecost. So, let’s take a moment to discuss what it takes to be in the Spirit.

 

a.     One must be open to the Spirit.

For one to be in the Spirit, one must be open to receiving the Spirit as an act of humility and not grieve the Holy Spirit away by sinful and rebellious living. The Bible says: “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30). The enemy would have us to be at a compromised state because he knows that just as oil and water do not mix, the Spirit is at odds with the flesh and vice versa. However, when we are open to the Spirit of God, this pleases the Lord, and He can best use us for His glory.

 

b.     One must be baptized and filled with the Spirit.

The disciples had a great task ahead of them, and the Lord needed them to go into all the world to preach the gospel (Matthew 28:19-20). Yet, prior to this, Jesus told them that they would receive the Holy Spirit, which would enable them to fulfill their God-given mandate to honor the Kingdom of God. The Bible says:  “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2:1-4). One thing to take notice of is disciples’ ability to speak to everyone in their native language without having gone to one class. This gift was important so there would not be any limitations or hindrances to the Gospel being spread throughout the world.

 

TO BE CONTINUED...NEXT WEEK!