Life Walk Bible Lesson 21 — The Revelation of Jesus Christ
Exodus 3:14 — I AM that I AM
Matthew 11:29 — I am Meek and Lowly of Heart
Matthew 22:32 — I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
Mark 14:61-63 — (You are “the Christ, the Son of the Blessed”) Jesus answered, I Am
Luke 5:32 — I am (Called to bring sinners to repentance)
Luke 13:32 — I am perfected
John 5:43 — I am come in My Father’s Name
John 6:35 — I am the Bread of Life
John 6:38 — I am come down from heaven
John 6:51 — I am the Living Bread which came down from heaven
John 7:28-29 — I am from Him (God) and He sent Me
John 7:33 — I am with you
John 8:12 — I am the Light of the World
John 8:16 — I am not alone
John 8:18 — I am He that bears witness of Myself, and the Father that sent Me bears witness of Me.
John 8:23 — I am from above; I am not of this world
John 8:28 — I am (the Son of God)
John 8:58 — Before Abraham was born, I am
John 9:5 — When I am in the world, I am the Light of the World
John 10:7, 9 — I am the Door of the Sheep
John 10:11, 14 — I am the Good Shepherd
John 10:25 — I know the Father; I lay down My life for the sheep
John 11:25 — I am the Resurrection, and the Life
John 12:46 — I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believes on Me may not abide in the darkness.
John 13:13 — Ye call me Teacher, and, Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
John 14:6 — I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life
John 14:10, 11, 20 — I am in the Father
John 15:5 — I am the True Vine
John 16:28 — I came out from the Father, and Am come into the world; again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
John 17:10 — I am glorified in them
John 17:11 — I am no more in the world
John 17:14, 16 — I am not of the world
John 19:21 — (write that He said,) “I am King of the Jews”
Acts 7:34 — I am come down to deliver them
Acts 9:5 — I am Jesus Whom you persecute
Acts 18:9-11 — I am with thee
Scripture Readings:
John 15-17
Revelation 1-3
John 16:13-15
13 Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He shall guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak from Himself; but what things soever He shall hear, these shall He speak: and He shall declare unto you the things that are to come.
14 He shall glorify Me: for He shall take of Mine, and shall declare it unto you.
15 All things whatsoever the Father hath are mine: therefore I said, that He taketh of mine, and shall declare it unto you.”
John 14:21 “He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him.”
John 14:23 “Jesus answered and said unto him, ‘If a man love me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”
John 14:26-27
26 “ But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, Whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Revelation 1:1-2
1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show unto His servants, even the things which must shortly come to pass: and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John
2 who bare witness of the Word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, even of all things he saw.”
Revelation 1:8, 11, 17 — I am the First and the Last
Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, saith the Lord, Who is and Who was and Who is to come, the Almighty.”
Revelation 1:18 “I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of death and Hades
Revelation 2:17
17 “And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as one dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying, ‘Fear not; I am the First and the Last, 18 and the Living One; and I was dead and behold, I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.”
John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye may have peace. In the world ye have tribulation: be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
Encouragement For Overcomers
Revelation 2:1 “…These things saith He that holdeth the seven stars in His right hand, He that walkest in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks”
[Cross Reference: Numbers 8:1-4]
Revelation 2:7b “…To him that overcometh, to him will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.
Revelation 2:8 “…These things saith the First and the Last, Who was dead, and lives again”
Revelation 2:11b “…He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.”
Revelation 2:12 “ …These things saith He that hath the sharp two-edged sword”
Revelation 2:17b “…To him that overcometh, to him will I give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knoweth but he that receives it.
Revelation 2:18 “…These things saith the Son of God, Who hath His eye like a flame of fire, and His feet are like unto burnished brass”
Revelation 2:23 “…I am He that searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto each one of you according to your works.”
Revelation 2:26-28
26 “And he that overcometh, and he that keepeth My works unto the end, to him will I give authority over the nations;
27 and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to shivers; as I also have received of My Father: and I will give him the morning star.”
Revelation 3:1 “…These things saith He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars:”
Revelation 3:5 “He that overcometh shall thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels.
Revelation 3:7 “…These things saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth and none shall shut, and that shutteth and none openeth”
Revelation 3:9-12
9 “Behold I give of the synagogue of Satan, of them that say they are Jews, and they are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
10 Because thou didst keep the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of trial, that hour which is to come upon the whole world, to try them that dwell upon earth.
11 I come quickly: hold fast the which thou hast, that no one take your crown.
12 He that overcometh, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out thence no more: and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the City of My God, the New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from My God, and mine Own new name.”
Revelation 3:14 “…These things saith the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the Creation of God:”
Revelation 3:19-21
19 “As many as I love, I reprove and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear My voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.
21 He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with Me in my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with My Father in His throne.”
Revelation 21:6 “And he said unto me, ‘They are come to pass. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.”
Revelation 22:16 “I Jesus have sent Mine angel to testify unto you these things for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright, the Morning Star.
Scripture Reading: Matthew 25:31-46
Matthew 25:34 “Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, ‘Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
Revelation 22:20 “He Who testifieth these things saith, ‘Yea: I come quickly.’ Amen: come, Lord Jesus.”
It was all Already Written
When Jesus walked with the disciples on the road to Emmaus, He expounded from the Scriptures all that had been said about Him from the Beginning. We have learned in each of these Bible Lessons, so far, that God kept a record of events in more than one place so that they would be preserved for us.
We have discovered some ancient manuscripts which agree, and some which have no other witness to what is recorded.
Every believer in Jesus Christ as King of kings, Lord of lord, and our Savior, has come to accept the Bible Canons, which were handed down to them, from the early Church Fathers as authentic and verified, as the Word of God, and so then, inerrant.
I have introduced many other documents and ancient writings, preserved for us sometimes through great persecution and hardship, translated and re-translated into many languages over many centuries, for us to consider as we study the Scriptures. Some have given extra details not contained in the Bible which enhance our studies. Some have introduced new things to us.
I have, however, always invited the Bible Student to accept that which is truth, found in Scripture first, and on the basis of two or three witnesses in other documents, then there is the possibility of uncanonized information being authentic.
In this Lesson, I share a little more from the Ethiopian Kebra Nagast, and some fragments from the Dead Sea Scrolls, which give insight to the beliefs of some people a few centuries ago.
On the Road to Emmaus
Luke 24:26-27
26 “Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?’ Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.”
Here are some excerpts from The Kebra Nagast: an Ethiopian Historical Account of events.
THE GLORY OF KINGS
“IN PRAISING GOD THE FATHER, THE SUSTAINER OF THE UNIVERSE, AND HIS SON JESUS CHRIST, THROUGH WHOM EVERYTHING CAME INTO BEING, AND WITHOUT WHOM NOTHING CAME INTO BEING, AND THE HOLY TRIUNE SPIRIT, THE PARACLETE, WHO GOETH FORTH FROM THE FATHER, AND DERIVETH FROM THE SON, WE BELIEVE IN AND ADORE THE TRINITY, ONE GOD, THE FATHER, AND THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.”
1. CONCERNING THE GLORY OF KINGS
“The interpretation and explanation of the Three Hundred and Eighteen Orthodox [Fathers] concerning splendour, and greatness, and dignity, and how God gave them to the children of Adam, and especially concerning the greatness and splendour of Zion, the Tabernacle (tâbôt) of the Law of God, of which He Himself is the Maker and Fashioner, in the fortress of His holiness before all created things, [both] angels and men. For the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit with good fellowship and right good will and cordial agreement together made the Heavenly Zion to be the place of habitation of their Glory.
“And then the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit said, "Let Us make man in Our similitude and likeness," 1 and with ready agreement and good will They were all of this opinion. And the Son said, "I will put on the body of Adam," and the Holy Spirit said, "I will dwell in the heart[s] of the Prophets and the Righteous"; and this common agreement and covenant was [fulfilled] in Zion, the City of their Glory.
“And David said, "Remember Thine agreement which Thou didst make of old for salvation, the rod of Thine inheritance, in Mount Zion wherein Thou dost dwell." 1
“And He made Adam in His own image and likeness, so that He might remove Satan because of his pride, together with his host, and might establish Adam—His own plant—together with the righteous, His children, for His praises.
“For the plan of God was decided upon and decreed in that He said, "I will become man, and I will be in everything which I have created, I will abide in flesh." And in the days that came after, by His good pleasure there was born in the flesh of the Second Zion the second Adam, Who was our Saviour Christ. This is our glory and our faith, our hope and our life, the Second Zion.”
From the Beginning
In the very first words of the Bible, it states, “In the beginning God [Elohim] created the heavens and the earth.” [Genesis 1:1]
[Tanakh] Genesis 1:1-3
“When God began to create heaven and earth — the earth being unformed and void, with darkness over the surface of the deep and a wind from God sweeping over the water — God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light.”
In the Book of Isaiah, in Chapter 61, from which Jesus quotes in His first public sermon, there was One Who would come to bring good news to the poor, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners, and to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God” — Who was Titled, “Immanuel”, meaning, “God With Us” — to comfort all who mourn, to grant those in Zion the oil of gladness instead of mourning, a mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. [Isaiah 61:1-3]
From the Bible
Hebrews 5:5-7 Jesus, our High Priest, in the Order of Melchizedek [Hebrews 5-6]
From the Dead Sea Scrolls
This Document number 11Q13, among the Dead Sea Scrolls, entitled “The Heavenly Prince Melchizedek” was written in the mid first Century BCE (B.C.), and was first published by A.S. van der Woude in 1965.
From its introduction to the fragment, it states: “The heavenly deliverer is Melchizedek. Identical with the archangel Michael, he is the head of the ‘sons of Heaven’ or ‘gods of Justice’ and is referred to as elohim and el."
Fragments 1-4
“II... And concerning that which He said, In [this] year of Jubilee [each of you shall return to his property (Lev. xxv, 13); and likewise, And this is the manner of release:] every creditor shall release that which he has lent [to his neighbour. He shall not exact it of his neighbour and his brother], for God’s release [has been proclaimed] (Deuteronomy xv, 2). [And it will be proclaimed at] the end of days concerning the captives as [He said, To proclaim liberty to the captives (Isa. lxi, 1). Its interpretation is that He] will assign them to the Sons of Heaven and to the inheritance of Melchizedek; f[or He will cast] their [lot] amid the portions of Melchizedek, who will return them there and will proclaim to them liberty, forgiving them [the wrong-doings] of all their iniquities.
“And this thing will [occur] in the first week of the Jubilee that follows the nine Jubilees. And the Day of Atonement is the end of the] tenth [Jubilee, when all the Sons of [Light] and the men of the lot of Melchizedek will be atoned for. [And] a statute concerns them [to provide them with their rewards. For this is the moment of the Year of Grace for Melchizedek. [And h]e will, by his strength, judge the holy ones of God, executing judgement as it is written concerning him in the Songs of David, who said, ELOHIM has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgement (Psalms lxxxii, 1).
“And it was concerning him that he said, (Let the assembly of the peoples) return to the height above them; EL (god) will judge the peoples (Psalms vii 7-8). As for that which he s[aid, How long will you] judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah (Psalms lxxxii, 2), its interpretation concerns Belial and the spirits of his lot [who] rebelled by turning away from the precepts of God to ... And Melchizedek will avenge the vengeance of the judgements of God... and he will drag [them from the hand of] Belial and from the hand of all the spirits of] his [lot].
“And all the ‘gods [of Justice’] will come to his aid [to] attend to the destruction] of Belial. And the height is ... all the sons of God... this ... This is the day of [Peace/Salvation] concerning which [God] spoke [through Isaiah the prophet, who said, [How] beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who proclaims peace, who brings good news, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion: Your ELOHIM [reigns] (Isa. lii, 7).
“Its interpretation; the mountains are the prophets... and the messenger is the Anointed one of the spirit, concerning whom Daniel] said, [Until an anointed one, a prince (Dan. ix, 25)] ... [And he who brings] good [news] , who proclaims [salvation]: it is concerning him that it is written... [To comfort all who mourn, to grant to those who mourn in Zion] (Isa. lxi, 2-3). To comfort [those who mourn: its interpretation], to make them understand all the ages of [time] ... In truth ... will turn away from Belial... by the judgement[s] of God, as it is written concerning him, [who says to Zion] ; your ELOHIM reigns. Zion is ..., those who uphold the Covenant, who turn from walking [in] the way of the people. And your ELOHIM is [Melchizedek, who will save them from] the hand of Belial.
As for that which He said, Then you shall send abroad the trump[et in] all the land (Lev. xxv, 9) ...
According to The Ascension of Isaiah, which is a prophecy of the coming Messiah, and the account of his own martyrdom, Belial was the name attributed, during that time-period, to Satan.
NOTES:
1. For more information on our Heavenly High Priest, Jesus, in the Order of Melchizedek, refer once again to Life Walk Bible Lesson 23, A Priest in the Kingdom of God.
2. I believe it is important to remember that in heaven there are an innumerable number of angels, as recorded in Scripture. Dionysius, in his Celestial and Ecclesiastical Hierarchy, considers that there are nine ranks, or choirs of angels, which the Apostle Paul confirms in his writings. 1Enoch states that there are at least 7 heavens, each filled with an innumerable number of angels. But on this all documents agree, that there are 7 Archangels mentioned, and these 7 spirit beings stand before God and minister to Him, and to mankind. The 3rd Book of Enoch, The Hebrew Book of Enoch, written by Rabbi Ishmael ben Elisha, about his heavenly vision, and encounter with Enoch, gives the names and functions of the Angelic Beings in each heaven, their leaders, and their duties. In just about every generation, someone had an encounter with the angelic realm, and recorded it as best as they knew how. If the angels weren’t named, it was only recorded as “the angel of the Lord.” In each case, whether the angel is named, or only described by their manifested features, it is not so easy to guess anymore when one recognizes that there are an innumerable number of un-named angels. So, when someone believed Melchizedek to be the same as the Archangel Michael, or the same as Christ, because they are trying to find who fits where in their history, it is understandable. Paul was right: we know in part. And so, with that, I have introduces the information from the Dead Sea Scrolls in this Bible Lesson.
From the Kebra Nagast
Concerning the Prophecy of Christ — The Kebra Nagast, Chapter 66
Concerning the Coming of Christ — The Kebra Nagast, Chapter 106
Already Written
Matthew 1:23
“Behold, the Virgin shall be with Child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which translated means, ‘God with us.’”
Luke 18:31
“Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, ‘Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished.’”
Luke 24:44
“Now He said to them, ‘These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
Matthew 26:56
“But all this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures of the prophets.’…”
Everything in Scripture has been written for our benefit: for our instruction, correction, and encouragement, so that we may come to know God, and His way of doing things, and so that we may please Him because we have faith in Him, having read His word and believed Him.
The Great Commission
Matthew 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’”
