1The 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: 2who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. 3Blessed 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.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ. The name “Jesus” means “the LORD is salvation.” “Christ” is His title; it means “Anointed One” – God’s anointed Prophet, Priest, and King. “Jesus Christ” is the human name that the Son of God received when He was sent to earth to make a way for our salvation.
God did not give Jesus the Revelation because Jesus did not already know these things. While He was here, Jesus said, “All things that the Father hath are mine” (John 16:15). God gave Jesus this revelation because He is the go-between. He is the Son of God and He is a Man. This revelation that God gave Jesus to give to us is about what must “shortly come to pass.” John said that “the time is at hand.” The first word, “shortly,” means “all of a sudden.” Most of the things in the book of Revelation will happen within a seven-year period. Once they start, they will happen quickly. “At hand” means “near.” But the book of Revelation was written almost 2000 years ago. How is that “near”?
For hundreds of years before Christ was born prophets told about His coming. 2000 years ago He came. He finished the work of dying for our sins, and He rose from the dead. Right now Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God the Father until the moment comes for Him to return as King. The time is “near” because history has already crossed the line. Jesus’ death to make a way for the forgiveness of sins is done.
This book has signs in it. Jesus “signified” His message. In Greek (the language the New Testament was written in) “signified” means “put into signs.” Jesus put this message into the form of signs. That’s why some of the language in Revelation seems mysterious.
This message went from God the Father to Jesus to Jesus’ angelic messenger to John to us. This book is the testimony of Jesus Christ; it is His statement of what the Father wants us to know. John said that anyone who hears and keeps the word of this prophecy is blessed. Just hearing won’t get the blessing; God requires a “yes” answer from our hearts.
4John 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; 5and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.
At the time John wrote the Revelation, “Asia” was the name of a Roman province. All seven of the churches addressed were in the Aegean region of modern Turkey. Their locations were also near the island of Patmos, where John was when he received the revelation. In the Scriptures, seven is used as the number of completeness, probably because God completed His work of making the heavens and earth and rested in seven days. These seven churches are representative of the other churches in John’s day, and the letters to these seven churches contain lessons from the ascended Christ to all churches throughout the world and throughout history.
John expresses a desire for grace and peace for the seven churches. In naming the source of grace and peace, John says, “from…and from…and from….” Three sources of grace and peace are named. According to the structure of the sentence, the three are equal sources. The first is “Him which is, and which was, and which is to come.” That is God the Father. The second source of grace and peace is described as “the seven Spirits which are before his throne.” This description matches the prophet Isaiah’s seven-fold description of God the Holy Spirit: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD (Isaiah 11:2). These seven spirits of God (being the one Holy Spirit) are called the eyes of the Lamb (5:6). They “are sent forth into all the earth.” The third source of grace and peace is Jesus Christ, God the Son. John names the Father, the Holy Spirit, and the Son as equal sources of grace and peace.
John also gives three descriptions of Jesus Christ. He is (1) “the faithful witness,” (2) “the first begotten of the dead,” and (3) “the prince of the kings of the earth”. The first description speaks of Christ’s becoming a man to give us God’s truth. The second speaks of Him as the One who died for our sins and rose from the dead on the third day. The third description speaks of His coming back to reign as King on the earth.
Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
It was with love for us that Christ washed us from our sins in His own blood. Why blood? God explained this in Leviticus 17:11: For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. Paul wrote, For the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Jesus’ lifeblood was required in order for Him to bear our death.
Christ has made us a kingdom, priests to God and His Father. Every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is a priest. Every believer can intercede in prayer for others, and every believer can offer spiritual sacrifices to God: By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (Hebrews 13:15-16).
In the verses above, John said of Jesus Christ, “to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.” But God said, I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another (Isaiah 42:8). Jesus Christ is not “another.” He is the unique and eternal Son of God, one with the Father.
7Behold, 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.
Two Old Testament passages are referred to in this verse:
I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven…. (Daniel 7:13).
…and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn…. And the land shall mourn, every family apart (Zechariah 12:10,12).
The phrase “kindreds of the earth” could be translated “tribes of the land.” In the context of Zechariah 12:10-12, from which the quote came, that seems to be the meaning. At Messiah’s second coming, Israel will mourn when they see the Lord Himself, whom they pierced at the cross. But every person, Jew or non-Jew, was cause of Christ’s death. He died to wash us “from our sins in His own blood.”
8I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
This seems to be the voice of the Father because the words “which is, and which was, and which is to come” are the same as those found in verse 4. The Father seems to “sign His Name” to what John said about the Lord Jesus in verses 5-7.
In verse 6, John said, “to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever.” The Greek word for “dominion” that John used is “kratos.” It means “might.” In verse 8, the Father identifies Himself as “the Almighty” (“Pantokrator.”) Might is the rightful property of Jesus, and the Father has all might. There is no contradiction because Jesus is One with the Father (see John 10:30).
9I 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.
John humbly identifies himself as a brother to the believers in the churches to which he writes. John speaks of being a sharer in tribulation. It is likely that he had been banished to the island of Patmos by the Roman government because of his ministry for the Gospel. John speaks of the “patience of Jesus Christ.” Jesus used similar words in 3:10 when speaking to the church at Philadelphia : “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” Christ endured more difficulty and suffering than any other person. To be a believer in Christ in John’s day or in ours means enduring rejection from others who don’t know Him.
10I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 11saying, 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.
“The Lord’s day” likely refers to Sunday. The word translated “Lord’s” is a Greek adjective which is found in only one other place in the New Testament. It is used in I Corinthians 11:20 with reference to the Lord’s supper. It may be helpful to remember Daniel’s words. Daniel said that while he was praying, Gabriel touched him “about the time of the evening oblation” (Daniel 9:21). Daniel had been in Babylon in captivity for many years. The temple in Jerusalem had been burned by the Babylonians (II Kings 25:8-10). There had been no evening sacrifice in all the years since the temple was destroyed. Yet Daniel was still clocking his days by remembering God’s commanded daily offerings. Similarly, John was in banishment on the isle of Patmos. He was cut off from the meetings of the local churches. Yet, even under those circumstances he was still remembering that on the first day of the week Christ rose from the dead. John himself had seen the empty tomb. John was aware that it was on “the Lord’s day” that he was hearing the voice and seeing the ascended Christ.
The seven churches were located in what is today the Aegean region of Turkey. They were near the island of Patmos. It may be that John had ministered in these churches before he was banished.
John will again hear the same trumpet-like voice of the Lord Jesus in 4:1.
12And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
As the Lord Jesus will tell us in verse 20, the seven golden candlesticks represent the seven churches. John turned to see the voice that spoke with him, but when he turned he first saw the candlesticks. It’s still like that. God’s design is that the churches be visible witnesses to Christ. Seven is the Biblical number of completeness. If each church gives its light, a fulness of light is possible even in a dark world.
13And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man,
Jesus is in the midst of the churches. As we will see in chapters 2 and 3, there were problems in some of the churches. But Jesus did not leave them or form a new organization in their place. Jesus is still in the midst of the churches.
John describes Jesus as “one like unto the Son of Man.” “The Son of Man” is a title of the Messiah. It is found in Daniel 7:13-14:
I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
It is important that Jesus be the Son of Man because He became the sacrifice for the sins of the descendants of Adam. Also, He will receive the dominion over the earth, which Adam lost.
When Jesus was on trial, He referred to Himself as the Son of Man:
And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. (Matthew 26:63-65)
The Jewish High Priest understood that the title Son of Man was the title of the Messiah.
In John 5:25-27, Jesus refers to Himself using both titles, Son of God and Son of Man:
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
The eternal Son of God became the Messiah, the Son of Man. He is now still the Son of Man and the Son of God.
clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
John saw the glorified Lord Jesus Christ. He wore “a garment down to the foot.” His body was covered. As Paul said, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more (II Corinthians 5:16). We don’t focus on what Jesus looked like in his earthly body.
Jesus was “girt about the paps with a golden girdle.” This golden sash around the breasts of Jesus may picture the breastplate of judgment worn by the High Priest (Exodus 28:15, 29-30). Like the High Priest of Israel, Jesus carries the names and welfare of His people upon His heart. If the sash around His breasts pictures the breastplate of judgment, the garment down to His foot may picture the robe of the High Priest. Jesus as our High Priest walks in the midst of the candlesticks. It was the duty of Aaron the High Priest to tend the lamps of the candlestick in the tabernacle (Exodus 30:7-8; Leviticus 24:1-4). Jesus continually tends the lamps of the churches so that the church may give light in the world.
14His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
Jesus’ “head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow.” There is a strong emphasis in these words on Christ’s purity. He is holy, like the Father. A similar description is used of God the Father in Daniel 7:9: I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool. The eyes of Jesus were “as a flame of fire,” ready to consume all impurity.
15And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
John described the feet of Jesus as “like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace.” Brass or bronze is a metal formed by fire as an alloy of copper and zinc or tin. It is a symbol of judgment in the Scriptures.
Jesus’ voice was “as the sound of many waters.” It was like the voice that Ezekiel heard: And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory (Ezekiel 43:2).
16And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
In the right hand of Jesus were seven stars. The seven stars are identified in verse 20 as the angels of the seven churches. Out of the mouth of Jesus “went a sharp twoedged sword.” This sword was not in Jesus’ mouth. It went out of His mouth; it is His Word. Hebrews 4:12 says the same thing: For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The face of Jesus was “as the sun shineth in his strength.” When Peter, James, and John saw Jesus’ glory at His transfiguration, this description was the same: And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light (Matthew 17:1-2).
17And 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:
Even the disciple John, who had sat next to this same Jesus at the Last Supper and had seen His glory on the mountain was overwhelmed to the point of collapse. Jesus laid His right hand on John and said, “Fear not.” That same right hand held the seven stars. He is able to hold the stars securely AND comfort the heart of every fearful believer. He is not too occupied with other things to place His own right hand on us. Neither should we who are His spiritual body be too occupied with “bigger things” to care for the needs of those around us.
Notice Isaiah 44:6 : Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. Wherever we see “LORD” capitalized in the Old Testament, we are reading the name of God, sometimes pronounced as “Yahweh” or “Jehovah.” Jehovah said that He is the first and the last and that there is no other God. Jesus said “I am the first and the last.” Jesus is Jehovah. There is no One who preceded Him. He will have no successor. He is from everlasting to everlasting, eternal God the Son.
18I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Jesus is Jehovah. A body was prepared for God the Son (Hebrews 10:5-7). Thus, He was able to die as the sacrifice for the sins of all people. He will never die again. He has the keys of the place of the dead (the word for “hell” used here is not the lake of fire; it is the place of the dead until their day of judgment). Jesus is the firstborn of the dead (verse 5). Every person will be raised from the death of this life, either to eternal life or to eternal judgment. Jesus has the keys. That’s why Paul was able to say for all believers in Jesus Christ, O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? (I Corinthians 15:55).
19Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
This verse gives us the plan and layout of the book of Revelation. John will write three things in this book: (1) the things which he has seen, (2) the things which are, and (3) the things which would take place after these things.
Chapter 1 contains the things that John had seen; he saw a vision of Christ. Chapters 2 and 3 contain the things which were current in John’s day; we are still in that time, the time of the churches. The remainder of the book contains the things which will be after these things, the things which are still in the future.
20The 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.
The seven stars in the right hand of Jesus represent the angels of the seven churches. This is puzzling because in chapters 2 and 3 John will be told to write messages to these angels. The word “angel” means “messenger.” It is sometimes used in the New Testament of human messengers or envoys (for example, in Matthew 11:10; Luke 7:24; 9:52; James 2:25). So, some have thought that the angels of the seven churches were human messengers who took John’s writing to the seven churches. In that case they could be the readers spoken of in verse 3. On the other hand, every other occurrence of “angel” in the book of Revelation refers to an angelic being, not to a human messenger. Also, in this chapter of Revelation, these messengers are called “stars” (verses 16,20). Angelic beings are also referred to as “stars” in Revelation 8:10-11; 9:1; and 12:4. The angels of the seven churches may have been angelic beings responsible for service to the seven churches. By addressing the messages to the angels, the Lord Jesus made clear to the churches that the ministering angels were there to implement His directives concerning the churches. These “stars” were in Christ’s right hand. They were ever ready for service and would do His bidding.
As we noted concerning verse 12, John saw seven candlesticks. Jesus told John that the candlesticks represent the seven churches he is to write to. Every local church is meant to be a lightbearer. Imagine flying in a plane at night over the face of the earth. Every local body of believers, small or large, should be a visible light in the darkness.
Note: All Scriptures are quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.