Revelation Chapter One

Revelation 1:1

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:

Revelation strongs(#602) apokalupis - depicts the progressive and immediate unveiling of the otherwise unknown and unknowable God to His church. Jesus brings the message of God because He is in full agreement with it, in as much as He is also God (John 10:30)
(John 12:50). Jesus in His office as mediator between God and men
(1 Timothy 2:5) (Hebrews 8:6) (Hebrews 9:15) (Hebrews 12:24).

servants refer to believers (Romans 6:22) (2 Corinthians 4:5)
(Ephesians 6:6) (Philippians 1:1) (Revelation 22:3)

shortly come to pass it is certain. God keeps His promise not to keep His people in the dark (Amos 3:7).

signified John the writer of Revelation uses this word from the original three times in the Gospel, compare with (John 12:32-33) (John 18:31-32) (John 21:18-19). The word is used to express or indicate by signs. This is a very important aspect to understanding Revelation properly. It is also important to note that the chapters of Revelation form a complex interrelated structure. Sometimes parts of Revelation introduce and complete other parts, mixing and blending ideas without a clear separation between them.

angel messenger sent from Jesus unto...

John most agree to be the "desciple shom Jesus loved" (John 19:26), based upon similarities in content and stylewith the gospel of John.

Revelation 1:2

2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

bare record common style of John's writings (John 19:35) (John 21:24).

Revelation 1:3

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 believers, the natural man will not understand the spiritual message of Revelation (1 Corinthians 2:14).

note: this is the first of seven benedictions in Revelation further putting emphasis on the number 7 (see Numbers in Revelation) (Revelation 1:3) (Revelation 14:13) (Revelation 16:15) (Revelation 19:9)
(Revelation 20:6) (Revelation 22:7) (Revelation 22:14)

readeth see (1 Thessalonians 5:27)

hear see (Mark 4:11-12)

time is at hand Revelation concerns events which take place after Jesus went to the cross, or more significantly, events which result from the fact that He went to the cross. The message is for the New Testament churches, concerning their trials, tribulations, and glory
(Revelation 1:19-20). Ultimately, Revelation gives Glory to Jesus Christ, who is the conqueror and King, the Great Victor. In a way, the whole book of Revelation is a description and an explanation of
(Revelation 17:14). This book truly is a revelation of the Mighty God, Jesus Christ, declaring what He does in His universe, always successful despite all the opposition that comes against Him and His people.

Revelation 1:4

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;

seven represents perfect completeness (see Numbers in Revelation)

seven churches which are in Asia these were literal churches in existance at the time John wrote the Revelation. We cannot limit these messages to be only for those seven churches individually, but rather for we must understand these messages as meant for all churches throughout all time, as we study the rest of the complete message of the Bible (Romans 15:4) (1 Corinthians 10:11) (2 Timothy 3:16).

which is, which is to come refers to Jesus

which is (Romans 8:34)

which was (Colossians 1:17)

which is to come ( Revelation 22:7)

seven spirits the Holy Spirit, the infinite perfect Spirit of God, in whom there is diversity of gifts and operations (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). See also (Revelation 4:5) (Revelation 5:6)

before his throne He is before the throne; for as God made, so He governs all things by His Spirit (Zechariah 4:6).

Revelation 1:5

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,

and from Jesus Christ expression that bares witness to the triune God (John 1:1-2) (Colossians 2:9) (1 John 5:20).

the following are attributes of Jesus:

faithful witness see (Revelation 19:11)

first begotten of the dead see (Ephesians 1:19-2:1) (Hebrews 2:9-10)

prince see (Isaiah 9:6)

washed us the sacrificial Lamb (Revelation 7:14)

blood see (Hebrews 9:22)

Revelation 1:6

6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

kings and priests believers have royal access to the throne by the blood of Christ (1 Peter 2:9) (Hebrews 4:16).

Revelation 1:7

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.

cometh with clouds/every eye shall see him whin Jesus Christ comes, to catch up His believers and judge the world, it will not be a secret event (Matthew 24:30) (Matthew 26:64) (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

pierced him refers to believers as Jesus is our sin offering. He endured the Wrath of God in our stead (Isaiah 53:5) (Romans 8:3)
(2 Corinthians 5:21) (Galatians 3:13) (Zechariah 12:10) (1 Peter 2:24). Actually, it was God who had provided the Sacrifice (Isaiah 53:10-11). Compare with (Genesis Chapter 22). Jehovah-jireh - the Lord will provide.

wail because of him unbelievers, the damned who will be judged (Matthew 13:41-42) (Matthew 13:49-50), and who are judged already
(John 3:18).

Revelation 1:8

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.

which is see verse 4

Alpha and Omega see notes (Revelation 22:13)

the Almighty Jesus see (Isaiah 9:6)

Revelation 1:9

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.

Patmos Appears John was held as a prisoner in the isle called Patmos for the testimony of Jesus Christ. Throughout the history of the world, those who represented the truth of God's word have been persecuted and have experienced tribulation. This will be amplified during the tribulation when Satan rules in the congregations, the visible church
(2 Thessalonians 2:4).

Revelation 1:10

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 see (Romans 8:9)

Lord's day The Day of the Lord often identifies with Christ's second coming which also is judgement day. This phrase could possibly be interpreted John was taken in Spirit to that day of judgement in perspective or the Revelation (Revelation 1:19).

Revelation 1:11

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.

Jesus instructs John to write the Revelation and send it to all the churches of the world.

Revelation 1:12

12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

voice the voice of Jesus

seven golden candlesticks the seven churches, which is all the churches (Revelation 1:20).

Revelation 1:13

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.

Attributes of Christ in His Glory, through to verse 16.

midst Jesus is in the midst of the churches "the seven candlesticks" explained in (Revelation 1:20).

garment down to the foot Jesus is not naked as He was on the cross, as He is no longer exposed to the judgement of God. Jesus has fully paid the sin debt of all those who will come to Him for salvation (Isaiah 20:3-4). Jesus hung naked on the cross, exposing the shame of our sin that He took upon Himself, but now is clothed, as He clothes us in His righteousness (Revelation 19:8). Adam and Eve attempted to cover their nakedness/shame with fig leaves "works", but God provided the sacrifice of "coats of skins". This was in type to point to the Christ, who has clothed us through His sacrificial death (Genesis 3:7) (Genesis 3:21).

golden girdle represents Jesus' righteousness and faithfulness
(Isaiah 11:5).

note: see also (Daniel 7:9-10) (Daniel 10:5-12)

Revelation 1:14

14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

white like wool shows Jesus' Holy Purity (Isaiah 1:18).

white as snow see (Psalms 51:7) (Daniel 7:9-14) (Matthew 28:3)

eyes/flame of fire His eyes see all and He is a righteous Judge. God's word is represented as fire (Jeremiah 5:14) (Jeremiah 23:29).

Revelation 1:15

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 Jesus stood in our place and endured the the wrath of God "Hell experience".

brass identifies with the judgement or the brasen altar (Exodus 27:1-6). Type fulfilled in Christ as He is the believers burnt offering, "once for all". (Hebrews 10:10)

burned in a furnace Jesus' Hell experience on behalf of the believers (Matthew 13:42) (Matthew 13:50).

voice/many waters many watersis defined in (Revelation 17:15) and (Revelation 19:6), as peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. We can conclude that the Gospel call of the voice of Jesus Christ goes out to all people of all nations. His sheep hear His voice in their native tongue (John 10:3-4) (John 10:16) (Ezekiel 1:24).

note: (Psalm 29) completely describes the Voice of the Lord

Revelation 1:16

16 And 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.

right hand seven stars Jesus has all His believers securely protected in His right hand (John 10:28).

stars represents believers (Genesis 22:17) (Daniel 12:3). Also note that believers are created in the image of Christ, "the bright and morning star" (Revelation 22:16) (Romans 8:29).

sharp twoedged sword the word of God (Hebrews 4:12) (Ephesians 6:17) (Isaiah 49:2)

countenance/sun the Glory of the Lord (Matthew 17:2)

sun the sun of righteousness (Malachi 4:2)

Revelation 1:17

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:

The Glory of the Lord causes all to gall as dead before Him
(Ezekiel 1:28) (Ezekiel 3:23) (Ezekiel 43:4) (Ezekiel 44:4). also note (Daniel 8:15-19) (Daniel 10:5-10)

First and the last Jesus, as He identified Himself in verse 11. see also (Isaiah 41:4) (Isaiah 44:6)

note:At this point it is clear that Jesus is Jehovah of the Old Testament.

Revelation 1:18

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.

Christ reveals Himself in His death and resurrection, having conquered hell and death, now in His eternal Glorious state (2 Corinthians 5:16). Jesus conquering hell and death now has the key to free those that believe inHis Gospel of Salvation. Jesus has sovereign dominion to bind ans loose Satan to accomplish His purposes, as we will study in further detail in this study (Revelation Chapter 20).

Revelation 1:19

19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

John is commanded to write revealing God's plan from and to eternity, as only God can do (Isaiah 41:4) (Isaiah 44:6-8) (Isaiah 48:12).

Revelation 1:20

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.

mystery God unlocks the interpretation of the prior vision.

seven stars angels "messengers" of the seven churches.

seven candlesticks the seven churches

As the stars represent believers, this is a message for all believers, to all churches.