Before we begin our examination of chapter one, we should notice some important parallels between this chapter and chapters four and five.
| Revelation 1 | Revelation 4/5 |
|---|---|
| 1:10 - John was in the Spirit | 4:2 - John was in the Spirit |
| 1:10 - Heard a great voice as of a trumpet | 4:1 - The first voice as of a trumpet. |
| 1:12 - Seven golden candlesticks | 4:5 - Seven lamps of fire |
| 1:4 - From the seven Spirits which are before His throne | 4:5 - Before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God |
| 1:6 - Hath made us kings and priests unto God | 4:4 - Hast made us to our God, kings and priests |
| 1:12-17 - Description of Christ | 4:2-3 - Description of God |
| 1:19 - Write the things which...shall be hereafter | 4:1 - I will show thee things which must be hereafter |
| 1:20 - An introduction to the seven churches | 5:1-5 - An introduction to the seven seals |
When looking at these parallels, it is easily seen that chapter one like chapter four is an introduction. In chapter one we have the introduction to the vision and prophecy of the seven churches, and a description of Christ. In chapter four we have the introduction to the throne of God the Father most glorious in his own person, and with his glory outshining all other things. Chapter four is an opening to chapter five and the vision and prophecy of the seven seals. In chapter five the description changes once again to that of Christ, but this time as the Lamb, so, on this basis we can see that chapter one is an introduction to the seven churches and chapter four/five is an introduction to a new vision dealing with the seven seals.
Now let's begin our examination of chapter one.
Revelation 1:1 "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:"
God gives the message to Jesus and Jesus gives it to His angel (possibly the angel Gabriel, as in the book of Daniel) who gives it to the apostle John, and John takes this message and gives it to the seven churches.
Revelation = Reveal.
Angel = Messenger. The word "angel" comes from the Greek word "angelos" which means "messenger".
Revelation 1:2 "Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw."
The name Jesus, or names for Jesus, or pronouns referring to Him, are found 140 times in the first three chapters of Revelation, so this is indeed the revelation of Jesus.
Revelation 1:3 "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand."
Blessed is he that reads it's clear that God has placed a special blessing on the people that read the book of Revelation, who hear and keep the things written in it. The word "read" does not mean a casual reading, but to search...
Revelation is for us to understand, its the meat of the word. Blessed is he that reads and hears we must listen to what it has to say. Hear/Listen = Knowledge.
God's word must be the most precious thing to us - the pearl of great price.
Revelation 1:4 "John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;"
While these seven churches existed in Asia in the days of John, we will also see they are used symbolically within this book, and represents the time period of the Christian church until the return of Christ. Thus there are three applications that can be made. The first is the literal letter to the literal church, the second is the application showing the time period of the Christian church until the return of Christ, and lastly certain aspects we find in these messages apply to the condition of our own individual Christian experience. This will become clearer as we go through the messages, as we will be mainly looking at the symbolic and personal aspects.
The number seven in the Bible indicates completeness (e.g. the days of creation week), thus we are looking at God's complete church from the time of the Apostles till the end of time. Another example is that the Son of man was standing in the midst of the seven candlesticks/churches (verse 13). If taken literally, Christ is only amidst seven of His churches and leaves the rest to fend for themselves, as there were more than just seven in this area; Colosse, Troas, and Miletus were some. A more appropriate way of looking at it is that Christ is in the midst of His Church all through its history until the end of time. Thus showing the symbolic aspect.
Also, most of the events brought to view in the book of Revelation happened far beyond the lifetime of these churches, thus showing that you cannot limit this to just them alone.
Peace - Only Jesus can give us peace...
Grace and Peace - These two words appear commonly in the salutations of the early Christian epistles, and together apparently constituted a characteristic form of greeting in the Apostolic church. See Galatians 1:3, Ephesians 1:2, Philippians 1:2, Colossians 1:2 etc.
Seven Spirits of God - These seven spirits are referred to as seven lamps of fire, (Revelation 4:5) and seven eyes of the Lamb (Revelation 5:6). The association of the seven spirits here with the Father and with His Son are their attributes, their character as we see in Isaiah. The designation of the number seven also reveals the fullness and perfection of His gifts and operations by which he works through man.
In Isaiah 11:1-2 we find seven attributes of the spirit listed:
Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him.
Spirit of wisdom.
And understanding.
Spirit of counsel.
And might.
Spirit of knowledge.
And of the fear of the LORD.
Revelation 1:5 "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood."
First begotten of the dead - Jesus is also called the first begotten of the dead.
Thus Christ was the Lamb slain from before the foundation of the earth.
It was by virtue of this fact that Moses and others could be raised from the dead before Christ had even died.
Jesus loves us and has sacrificed so much to wash us from our sins in His own blood...
And we are to come to Him just as we are.
Revelation 1:6 "And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."
This is the essence of Christianity being is not the result of doing but doing is the result of being. God says you are my child therefore you should act like it. God reaches out and makes us His child, we are kings and princes of God.
Ancient Israel was to be a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.
They were to teach the other nations around them the truth and to offer up sacrifices. They failed miserably and were rejected as God's chosen nation.
Peter picks up the verse in Exodus and applies it to the Christian Church, or spiritual Israel.
Therefore those that have surrendered all to Christ and are washed in His blood become kings and priests. If we overcome Christ will grant us to sit upon His throne and rule with Him throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity.
We to are to offer up sacrifices, but they are spiritual sacrifices.
These being anything from prayer, thanksgiving and the most important, the sacrifice of self.
Because every Christian is a priest, he may approach God on his own behalf, without the mediation of another human being, and on behalf of others. For Christ is the only mediator between God and man, and thus these sacrifices are acceptable to God by/through Jesus Christ our great high priest.
Also then, as priests, we are to "go and teach all nations".
Revelation 1:7 "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen."
Here is the promise of His soon coming and every eye will see Him.
Behold he cometh with clouds - Clearly a description of Christ coming in the clouds of glory the second time.
The clouds are a reference to Christ's form of transport as seen in Daniel.
Christ's form of transport is none other than the angels.
Therefore, the angels are represented by the clouds. This fits with His second coming as He comes with all His angels.
In the distance they look like a cloud because of their glory.
Every eye shall see him - When Christ returns it will not be a secret event, but every person shall see Him coming.
Also Christ is to come in the same manner as He left, visible to the eye.
Also:
And:
They also which pierced him - Those who were part of the murder of Christ will be resurrected to witness his return. Zechariah says:
Those who condemned Him will also see Him come.
All kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him - Those who during their lives did not seek the Lord, who did not prepare to meet Jesus at His return, will wail when they realize that they have consumed their opportunity upon the things of this life, and worse than wasted their time. The things which were so important to them only moments before become the object of their hatred as they realize that they are lost. They wail because they are lost and they know that it was their own choosing. Christ has freely offered salvation, but they have rejected it.
Revelation 1:8 "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."
He is the beginning and the end.
Alpha and Omega - The first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. It is a phrase that is the same in meaning as the first and the last.
Which is, was, and is to come - Previously we have seen that this applies to the Father and His eternal immortal aspect. But now we need to take it in context of the preceding verses and the One mentioned in them. Doing this we see that this is a reference to Jesus. So we can see that Jesus and the Father share certain names, as they have the same divine character.
Revelation 1:9 "I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ."
I John your brother and companion in tribulation - John is now revealing the place and circumstances of this revelation. He associates himself with the universal brotherhood of the Church and also reminds them that he shares in the tribulation that each of them faces because of their faith in Jesus Christ. We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of heaven.
In the kingdom...of Jesus Christ - We are counselled to come before the throne of grace.
If you have a throne you have a kingdom, thus it would be the kingdom of grace. John recognized that each person who had committed their soul to Jesus Christ was a part of the kingdom of grace which was established by the gift of Jesus on Calvary. However, this also looked forward to the coming of the kingdom of glory at the Second Coming when the eternal kingdom would be set up.
And Patience - John reminded the believers that tribulation and temptation bring patience and hope in the Christian experience.
The Island of Patmos is only mentioned in the book of Revelation. It was a barren rocky place and it was there at around the age of ninety that John was banished for about eighteen months. Prior to this somewhere between 81 AD and 96 AD, the apostle John was banished to Patmos by the emperor Domitian for preaching the gospel at Ephesus. His gospel declared that Jesus is Lord and God, but Domitian required to be called Dominus et Deus "Lord and God". Something had to give!! So to shut him up, Domitian had John thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil before the Porta Latina at Rome, but John suffered no injury! The only way that Domitian could get rid of him was the same way he got rid of his wife - exile.
Was in the island of Patmos - A small island in the Aegean Sea about 50 miles southwest of Ephesus. It measures about 10 miles north to south and about 6 miles from east to west at its widest point. This is a rocky and barren island, supposed by contemporaries of John to be a penal colony. (Pliny's Natural History written about AD 77)
For the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ - Thus we see that John's only "crime" had been his faithfulness to the scriptures and the testimony of Jesus Christ himself. Domitian, the Roman Emperor, had exiled John to Patmos after failing to remove him by boiling him in oil, thinking that he had disposed of the preacher of righteousness. People today remember the name of John, but how many remember the name of the emperor who banished him to Patmos? This gives a good fulfilment of Proverbs 10:7...
Jesus reminded His disciples, when upon earth, that the servant is not greater than his lord, and if they persecuted Him, they will also persecute them.
We are told that all who choose to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
Revelation 1:10 "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet..."
In the Spirit on the Lord's day - There is often a dispute about which day this is, but in Mark it tells us:
Here it says Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath and John was a disciple of Jesus, and John here in Revelation was in the Spirit on the Lords Day. In Exodus it tells us:
John was communicating with God and keeping the Sabbath day Holy the Lord's Day.
John loved Him so he was keeping His commandments.
Unlike any other day in history, God rested from all His work upon the seventh day, blessed it, and sanctified it.
Jesus asks us to remember His commandments.
In the time of Isaiah the Sabbath was called by God, My holy day.
Voice as a trumpet - The description of the voice of God often associated with the communicating or speaking of God to man.
Revelation 1:11 "Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea."
Alpha and Omega, first and the last - This is a reference to the Godhead once again, to the fact that it is the beginning of all things and the end of all things. In this context it is Jesus who is speaking, not the Father (see verse 12-15) ,thus all the attributes of Deity are equally attributable to Him.
What thou seest write in a book - John was encouraged to write down the visions in order that others might read them also. Thus this message in the Revelation is not John's ideas or opinions but the words of God as shown to him in vision.
The Seven churches - The sequence here given is the way a messenger from Patmos would take a message to the seven cities in geographical order. However, the context reveals that the seven Churches are the first in a long series of sevens found throughout the book of Revelation. This includes the Seven lamps of fire (4:5) seven Spirits (v4) seven candlesticks (v12) seven stars (v16) a book with seven seals (5:1) seven horns and seven eyes of the Lamb (5:6) seven angels with seven trumpets (8:2) seven thunders (10:4) a dragon with seven heads and seven crowns (12:3) a beast with seven heads (13:1) seven angels having seven vials containing the seven last plagues (15:1, 7) a beast with seven heads, which are stated to be seven mountains and seven kings. (17:3, 9-10). Thus this repeated use of the number seven with so many different symbols implies that it too is to be understood in some sort of symbolic sense.
Throughout the scriptures the number seven when used symbolically is generally understood to indicate completeness and perfection. When applied to the seven Churches then, this number implies that the literal and local descriptions of seven of the Churches of Asia fulfil conditions that will be found in the Church of God from that time until the end, as can be seen by the parallel prophecies outlined in further chapters.
Revelation 1:12 "And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;"
Voice - John turned to see who was speaking to him, who it was that was the Alpha and Omega, who was the first and the last, who was asking him to write down what he was to see.
Seven golden candlesticks - According to verse 20 the seven candlesticks represent the seven churches, to whom the revelation is addressed. Seven candlesticks were found in the first apartment, the holy place, of the sanctuary/temple in Israel. The fact that Jesus uses sanctuary imagery reminds us that Jesus is interceding in the heavenly sanctuary at this time. Thus John sees Christ in the first apartment, the holy place, of the heavenly sanctuary, of which the earthly sanctuary was a copy.
After Jesus ascended to heaven to begin his high priestly ministry he entered into the holy place, or first apartment, delineated by the presence of the candlesticks. This description also gives us the time frame for this prophecy that John is about to write down. Throughout the book of Revelation John uses sanctuary terminology that gives us insight into the time frame described. Thus the period here outlined begins at the time of Christ, as he begins His ministry in the holy place of the heavenly sanctuary and continues until His second coming. Thus the starting date for this prophecy is 31 AD when Christ ascended into the holy place of the sanctuary in heaven. (See Daniel 7).
Revelation 1:13 "And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle."
In the midst - The son of man, which is Jesus Christ, is seen in the midst of the candlesticks, that is the seven churches.
He is with us always, not in some distant place, but among his people.
When the glorified Christ manifested Himself to John in celestial splendour, He still appeared to him in the likeness of a human being. Christ took on humanity for all eternity to come. What a comfort to know that our ascended, glorified Lord is still our brother in humanity, yet at the same time also our God!
Down to the foot - A long garment is a symbol of dignity.
Paps - That is, the breast.
Revelation 1:14 "His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;"
White hair - Here it is not attributed to age and loss of power but as Proverbs says it represents His power and glory.
Eyes of Jesus - In His eyes are found mercy, love, kindness, compassion, but also His eyes can read our heart, our innermost thoughts.
Revelation 1:15 "And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters."
Feet of Jesus Brass. The most enduring brass the Romans had was called Corinthian brass, which was made up of copper, gold and silver and was considered of more value than gold.
Do we take good tidings to others?
Voice of God Like thunder and many waters, but also majestic and mellow, sweet and kind. God has the ability to speak and to touch your heart and mine.
Revelation 1:16 "And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength."
Seven stars in His hand According to verse 20 the seven stars represent the "angels" or "messengers" of the seven churches, and the messengers are the leaders or ministers of the churches. The word "angelos" in Greek simply means messenger, whether human or divine.
Faithful teachers of the gospel are represented as stars that shine forever.
And false teachers are called wandering stars.
Thus Christ has the leaders of His Church in His hand of strength, so long as they remain faithful to Him.
Sharp two-edged sword - This is a reference to the sword of the Spirit, which is a symbol of the Word of God.
It is this same sword with which He smites the nations. Just as the Word of God has two parts, the old and new testaments, likewise the sword has two edges. If we fall on this two-edged sword we are cut to the heart. Anyone who has been converted has felt the cutting of this two-edged sword. That's what Christ does for us. Since the two-edged sword proceeds from the mouth of Christ, this tells us that the Word of God, the Bible, is Christ's own words - He is the One who inspired it all to be written. At His second coming Jesus will again be seen with a sword coming out of his mouth, and so it is up to us to decide which sword we desire to cut us to pieces. The sword now will convert us, and cut away our self and sin, but at His second coming it will cut us into pieces, as probation will have already closed. Which will it be for us? Countenance as the sun - The glorified Jesus shone as the sun when it shines in its strength, for He is the Sun of Righteousness. The sun is here used to show the extreme brightness of Christ's glory, His righteousness. Peter, James, and John, when at the mount of transfiguration, saw Christ's face shine like the sun. Saul expressed the same words when seeing Christ on the road to Damascus. At His second coming we will see the Lord with the glory He shared with the Father from eternity past. Right hand - This is usually a description of power and authority. Revelation 1:17 "And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:" Fell as dead - As was Daniel's reaction in the Old Testament, so was John's in the New Testament. At the presence of Christ, all strength left the human who was so privileged to behold the glorified Lord. But Jesus laid His right hand of strength upon John to strengthen him, and encourages him not to be afraid, for He is the beginning of all things and the ending of all things, as found in Isaiah 44 - it is Christ our redeemer. Revelation 1:18 "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death." He that liveth, was dead, alive forever - This is a clear description of Jesus who lived on earth, who died for the sins of mankind and then rose to live forever more. Death has no more dominion over Him. Have the keys of hell and death - Satan claimed to have the power or dominion of death. But Christ took part in the same flesh and blood as we and, by His death, broke that dominion, thus being able to hold the key/power/authority over hell, which is the grave and death, this enables Him to raise us from the dead. The wages of sin is death. Christ never sinned. Therefore, death has no dominion over Him. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. Which is hell / the grave. Jesus is telling John this because through the book of Revelation we see a lot of persecution of God's people. Thus Jesus is telling them not to be afraid to seal their faith with their blood, for He has the keys to unlock death and the grave and can raise them to immortality when He comes the second time. Revelation 1:19 "Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;" Write the things seen, which are and which shall be - Here is a direct command to write both his past experiences with Christ, what he is currently seeing and what will be in the future, which he is about to see in the time he spends with the Saviour. Revelation 1:20 "The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches." As we saw already, these were messages for the seven churches. Angels = Messengers 7 = Completeness / perfection