John Landt

001a. Method

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• The Luther says that if you study a particular book in depth (whether by yourself or with others), each book is a door that you can open to look at the whole Bible.
• We study the Greek & Hebrew that it becomes our Bible.
• It’s to learn about the book of Revelation from the Greek text.
• Translations aren’t bad, it just translates what the translator thinks is saying about the Bible, like a commentary.
• It’s better to learn from the original Greek/Hebrew.
• Example of why the original Greek/Hebrew is better than the translation:
• Parable of the tax collector and the pharisee who went to the temple to pray.
• The pharisee was proud of himself, while the tax collector was considered to be in the same class as prostitutes.
• The tax collector bowed and cried out “Oh Lord”.
• Every translation says, “Be merciful to me.”, but that is not what the Greek says.
• In Greek, it says, “Cover my sins with the blood that has been shed.”
• If they wanted to use the word “merciful”, it should have been more in depth: be merciful to me because of the blood that has been shed for my sins.
• If you’re studying a book of the Bible by yourself, start with the English version, then shift to the Greek. Refer to English if you need to refer to a word/verse.
• The goal: let the Greek text take over the English version. Do the same with Hebrew. Eventually, allow them to be your devotional and professional Bible.
• When you write a sermon, study the Greek/Hebrew text. Keep on growing.
• Schedule your time: as a pastor, spend the whole morning studying the Bible (5 days a week). Don’t let anyone interfere, unless it’s an emergency.
• Most pastors don’t study the Bible enough (not just for sermons/devotions).
• Important thing to remember: when you become a pastor, you’re not the administrator/CEO of the congregation. You’re meant to study the Bible, and encourage the congregation to look to Jesus, dedicate their lives to Him, etc.
• As a pastor, you have to take the congregation as it is. Nowadays, they’re expecting pastors to be like CEOs. Remember, pastors are to shepherd, help to share God’s Word.
• Synods are going down because pastors, presidents, and district presidents haven’t had the time to study the Bible.
• Why study a book?
• Most of the authors’ Greek is different from one another. Thus, to get to know the language of that particular author is to understand the book better.
• To get its message. Each book has its wonderful message.
• Example: Hebrews is the only book in the whole New Testament that shows Christ as the High Priest.

Introduction to the course in Revelation:

[14:00]
• Methodology: cover the whole book in Greek only. No English translation.
• For assignments, instead of looking at English translations/commentary, refer to the guiding questions. It’ll help point out what you should be getting from the text. If you have time, consult my commentary (this comes last).
• Assignment: Keep a separate notebook to write an essay on the Christology of Revelation or the Missiology of Revelation. When you begin to translate from the Greek, if that chapter says anything about Christ or Mission, take notes.
• Two (2) weeks before the course ends, write an essay (5-6 pages). Typewritten, double spaced, no footnotes, no bibliography.
• Only mention what you think Revelation says about Christ or the mission of the church.
• Do the best you possibly can, and ask God to be with you with His Holy Spirit to inspire and encourage you.
• By taking this course, it doesn’t only help you academically know something, but it will also help you grow closer to Jesus Christ and our faith.

Syllabus of this course:

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• Description of this course
• Purpose/Objective
• Study the content of the apocalypse
• Understand the particular language, message and the picture of the reign of Jesus Christ in which it presents.
• Helps to have objective knowledge of the Greek text, theological meaning of the message of the apocalypse, and the confessional theology of the Lutheran church.
• Book to purchase: Revelation. Louis A. Brighton Commentary.

Book of Revelation: 003c. Chapter 1 Part 1

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[00:48]
• Revelation 1:1-8
• The revelatory unveiling of Jesus Christ.
• The purpose of this chapter:
• To show us the inspiring and encouraging story of the unveiling of Christ in all His glory since His death and resurrection.
• The early church fathers going back to Irenaeus in 170/200, took the first word [ancient Hebrew word of apocalypse], and used it as the title for the whole book.
• His slaves: Us.
• Throughout Revelation, Christ always called John and all His people as “slaves”.
• The title that Paul likes to use to refer to himself when he talked to other people: Jesus’ slave. – He would also call himself “apostle”.
• Romans 1:1
• In the English translation of the New Testament, they never translate the word “Doulos” as “slave”; they use the word “servant” instead.
• However, servant in Greek is a totally different word.
• This is because “slavery” has a long dark history in the world (racism).
• Slaves don’t own anything, their masters own everything about them – every moment of their lives, every action they do.
• The masters could kill his slave if he’s dissatisfied with them (it’s legal according to their law).
• Back then, no one would call themselves a slave of anyone, not even God.
• However, Paul called himself a slave of Jesus Christ – He cares for us, and died for us.
• This means that Jesus Christ owns everything Paul had, every thought, every action, every breath.
• If He tells Paul to go, Paul will go.
• If He tells Paul to die, Paul will die.
[5:05]
• Whenever a Christian is referred to in Revelation, John in particular, is always called a slave.
• If we’re not a slave to Jesus Christ, who are we a slave to? Sin? Pride? Money?
• When God does something visibly to show his people (e.g., fire on Mount Sinai) – it’s an oath.
• In the Old Testament, the Greek translators translated the Hebrew word “Oath” to a [Greek word for “oath”].
• John is the only one that used the same word [Greek word for “oath”] to refer to the miracles that Jesus did.
• God visualized these things quickly, sent His angels, and showed His slave, John.
• John was a witness to the Word of God, and the things He saw about Jesus.
• At that time, there were two (2) classical Greek words that were referred to the word “see”:
• [Greek word (1) for “see”]: To see something with your eyes, but as soon as it enters your mind, you forget it.
• [Greek word (2) for “see”]: To see something with your eyes, you put it in your mind, and you don’t forget it.
• Here, John used the word [Greek word (2) for “see”] – whatever he saw, it impressed his mind. He couldn’t forget it.
• The emphasis is on “The things he saw”.
• The Lord Christ made these things known to him by [Greek word for “oath”] (visually).
• John, who was the witness to the Word of God and to Christ on the things he saw.
[9:30]
• Verse 3
• Blessed is the one who reads (present participle) aloud, and anyone who hears (present participle) the words.
• This prophetic message of revelation came from God, through Jesus Christ, through His angels, to John, and then to you and me.
• The purpose of this message is to prepare us for the end times:
• Verse 1: These things are to come about quickly, for the time is near.
• (Another verse he didn’t specify): These things have been written, for the time is near.
• Remember: John received this message through vision.
[13:05]
• Verse 4.
• Translation:
• John to some churches in Asia, grace and peace from the One who is, the One who was, and the One who is coming, and from the 7 spirits before his throne,
• Verse 5
• Translation:
• and also from Jesus Christ. The witness, the faithful, the first born of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.
• It’s the only writing in the whole Bible that has such a trinitarian imprimatur.
• Back then, they called the Western part of Turkey, Asia Minor.
• A known characteristic of John – he’ll misuse grammar to make a point.
• The point he’s trying to make:
• [A Greek phrase where John intentionally misused the wrong grammar to make a point] = God the Father.
• God the Father is the One who is, who was, and who’s coming.
• 7 spirits = Holy Spirit.
[16:10]
• Isaiah 11:1-3
• The Messiah is a branch that is to be filled by the seven-fold Spirit of God.
• Zachariah 4:1-11
• 7 lamps that he sees, and the 7 eyes of the Lord represent the Spirit of the Lord.
• The number 7 in the Old Testament always refers to God.
• It refers to God the Father, through the Messiah, through the seven-fold presence of the Holy Spirit to be with His people.
• Why seven-fold? It refers to being totally complete.
• That’s why He is always pictured as a seven-fold Spirit:
• 7 lamps (in the tabernacle).
• 7 eyes.
• The number 7 came from the 7 days of creation.
• The number 7 symbolizes God the creator, which consists of:
• The number 3 symbolizes the Trinity.
• The number 4 symbolizes all that God created (in the Old Testament).
• 3 + 4 = 7 (God, in all creation)
• 7 became His holy number, specifically to represent the seven-fold presence of the Holy Spirit, by which God is with His people.
• The seven-fold (whole) presence of the Holy Spirit is with each one of us, not just partially, but wholly.
[19:00]
• Why did John use the wrong grammar?
• He was pointing out that the One who’s coming is the first amongst equals.
• Who sent His son to this earth to become our Savior? God the Father.
• Who has always been the Lord Christ in exhumation? The Holy Spirit.
• Jesus promised to send us the Holy Spirit after His ascent.
• He always is, always was, and always coming.
• He’s been forever, and so has the Holy Spirit and Jesus.
• However, John kept his noun as anonymous, so just referring to the Heavenly Father, to show us that He’s the first among equals.
• In Matthew, Jesus was baptized by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
• But here, John referred to the Father as the Holy Spirit and Jesus.
• Why is there a reverse (Holy Spirit to Son, and Son to Holy Spirit)?
• Because John is emphasizing the Gospel in a different way – the only way we can receive the Spirit, is through Jesus, our Savior. (vs. 1:4)
• The only way we can worship our Heavenly Father is through Jesus.
• It’s only through Jesus, we can receive the Holy Spirit, and honor the Heavenly Father.