“The Revelation of Jesus Christ”

The First Angel’s Message

December 28, 2025 – January 3, 2026

Key Text

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John.” Revelation 1:1

Study Help: The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, 954, 955; The Acts of the Apostles, 568–573, 581–584

Introduction

“The whole Bible is a revelation; for all revelation to men comes through Christ, and all centers in Him. God has spoken unto us by His Son, whose we are by creation and by redemption.” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, 953

Sunday

1 THE ANGEL WITH THE RAINBOW

1.a. Explain the source of the book of Revelation, and its purpose for us today. Revelation 1:1

Note: “Christ came to John exiled on the Isle of Patmos to give him the truth for these last days, to show him that which must shortly come to pass. Jesus Christ is the great trustee of divine revelation. It is through Him that we have a knowledge of what we are to look for in the closing scenes of this earth’s history. God gave this revelation to Christ, and Christ communicated the same to John.” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, 953

1.b. What did John see above the head of the mighty Angel shown in vision between the sixth and seventh trumpets? Revelation 10:1. Why is this significant?

Note: “The mighty angel who instructed John was no less a personage than Jesus Christ.” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, 971

“A rainbow is represented in Heaven round about the throne, also above the head of Christ as a symbol of God’s mercy encompassing the earth. When man by his great wickedness provokes the wrath of God, Christ, man’s intercessor, pleads for him, and points to the rainbow in the cloud, as evidence of God’s great mercy and compassion for erring man; also, the rainbow above the throne and upon His head emblematical of the glory and mercy from God resting there for the benefit of repentant man.” Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 3, 75

Monday

2 THE RAINBOW

2.a. Right after the Flood, what promise did God make to Noah and all his descendants? Genesis 9:11–15. What lesson should we as parents teach our children in connection with the rainbow?

Note: “It was His [God’s] design that as the children of after generations should see the bow in the cloud, and should inquire the reason of this glorious circle that compasseth the earth, that their parents could explain to them the destruction of the old world by a flood, because the people gave themselves up to all manner of wickedness, and that the hands of the Most High had bended the bow, and placed it in the clouds, as a token that He would never bring again a flood of waters on the earth. This symbol in the clouds was to confirm the belief of all, and establish their confidence in God, for it was a token of divine mercy and goodness to man. That although God had been provoked to destroy the earth by the flood, yet His mercy still encompasseth the earth. God says, when He looked upon the bow in the cloud He will remember. He would not have us understand that He would ever forget; but He speaks to man in his own language, that man may better understand Him.” Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 3, 74, 75

“We may rejoice in hope, for the bow of God’s covenant is over us. He never will forget the children of His care. How difficult for the mind of finite man to take in the peculiar love and tenderness of God, and His matchless condescension when He said, ‘I will look upon the bow in the cloud, and remember thee.’ ” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 1, 1091

2.b. What is round about the throne of God? Revelation 4:3

Note: “In the rainbow above the throne is an everlasting testimony that ‘God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish. …’ Whenever the law is presented before the people, let the teacher of truth point to the throne arched with the rainbow of promise, the righteousness of Christ. The glory of the law is Christ; He came to magnify the law, and to make it honorable. Make it appear distinct that mercy and peace have met together in Christ, and righteousness and truth have embraced each other.” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 5, 1133

Tuesday

3 THE HEAVENLY MESSENGER

3.a. How does John describe the appearance of the Son of God? Revelation 1:13–15

Note: “Richly favored was this beloved disciple. He had seen his Master in Gethsemane, His face marked with the blood drops of agony, His ‘visage… marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men.’ Isaiah 52:14. He had seen Him in the hands of the Roman soldiers, clothed with an old purple robe and crowned with thorns. He had seen Him hanging on the cross of Calvary, the object of cruel mockery and abuse. Now John is once more permitted to behold his Lord. But how changed is His appearance! He is no longer a Man of Sorrows, despised and humiliated by men. He is clothed in a garment of heavenly brightness. … His voice is like the music of many waters. His countenance shines as the sun.” The Acts of the Apostles, 582

3.b. Besides the rainbow, what other particulars did John notice in the appearance of the mighty Angel? Revelation 10:1. Why could these visions of Christ bring joy to John—and to us?

Note: “As a personal being, God has revealed Himself in His Son. The outshining of the Father’s glory, ‘and the express image of His person,’ Jesus, as a personal Saviour, came to the world. As a personal Saviour He ascended on high. As a personal Saviour He intercedes in the heavenly courts. Before the throne of God in our behalf ministers ‘One like unto the Son of man.’ Hebrews 1:3; Revelation 1:13.

“Christ, the Light of the world, veiled the dazzling splendor of His divinity and came to live as a man among men, that they might, without being consumed, become acquainted with their Creator. Since sin brought separation between man and his Maker, no man has seen God at any time, except as He is manifested through Christ.” The Ministry of Healing, 418, 419

Wednesday

4 DIRECT INTERVENTIONS

4.a. How did Christ reveal Himself to Saul? Acts 9:3–8

Note: “Filled with fear, and almost blinded by the intensity of the light, the companions of Saul heard a voice, but saw no man. But Saul understood the words that were spoken, and to him was clearly revealed the One who spoke—even the Son of God. In the glorious Being who stood before him he saw the Crucified One. Upon the soul of the stricken Jew the image of the Saviour’s countenance was imprinted forever. The words spoken struck home to his heart with appalling force. Into the darkened chambers of his mind there poured a flood of light, revealing the ignorance and error of his former life and his present need of the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit.” The Acts of the Apostles, 115

4.b. Describe the intervention of Christ in behalf of the three young Hebrews in the fiery furnace. Daniel 3:23–25

Note: “The Lord did not forget His own. As His witnesses were cast into the furnace, the Saviour revealed Himself to them in person, and together they walked in the midst of the fire. In the presence of the Lord of heat and cold, the flames lost their power to consume.” Prophets and Kings, 508, 509

Thursday

5 CHRIST’S INTEREST IN OUR BEHALF

5.a. What can we learn from Christ’s appearance to Abraham and to Joshua? Genesis 18:22–33; Joshua 5:13–15

Note: “Two of the heavenly messengers departed, leaving Abraham alone with Him whom he now knew to be the Son of God.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 139

“To reduce Jericho was seen by Joshua to be the first step in the conquest of Canaan. But first of all, he sought an assurance of divine guidance, and it was granted him. Withdrawing from the encampment to meditate and to pray that the God of Israel would go before His people, he beheld an armed warrior, of lofty stature and commanding presence, ‘with his sword drawn in his hand.’ To Joshua’s challenge, ‘Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?’ the answer was given, ‘As Captain of the host of the Lord am I now come.’ The same command given to Moses in Horeb, ‘Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy,’ revealed the true character of the mysterious stranger. It was Christ, the Exalted One, who stood before the leader of Israel.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 487, 488

5.b. As Christ desires to lead us to heavenly Canaan, what lessons should we learn from the experience of ancient Israel? Acts 7:37, 38; 1 Corinthians 10:1–6, 11

Note: “The ten holy precepts spoken by Christ upon Sinai’s mount were the revelation of the character of God, and made known to the world the fact that He had jurisdiction over the whole human heritage.” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 1, 1105

“Shrouded in the pillar of cloud, the world’s Redeemer held communion with Israel. Let us not say, then, that they had not Christ. When the people thirsted in the wilderness, and gave themselves up to murmuring and complaint, Christ was to them what He is to us—a Saviour full of tender compassion, the Mediator between them and God. After we have done our part to cleanse the soul temple from the defilement of sin, Christ’s blood avails for us, as it did for ancient Israel.” Ibid., Vol. 6, 1061

Friday

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

Why can we trust the book of Revelation?
How does the symbol surrounding Christ’s throne offer us hope?
Why should the appearance of Christ in heaven bring us encouragement?
What examples reveal that Christ has manifested Himself to men?
How can we best summarize God’s plan for each of us today?