> [!title|noicon] **Revelation 1** <br><br><font size=4>[[Jude 1|< Jude]]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Revelation 2|Rev 2 >]]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[\[Other passage\]](Bible%20Books%20Navigation.md)</font> ^top <br> ###### &#x1F538;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: ^1 > In this opening verse, God tells us twice that there is a line of communication that He has worked out to bring us truth. The line begins with God, goes through the Lord Jesus Christ, and reaches down to His servants, those of us who have trusted in Christ and are ready to accept everything that He has for us. > > Before we look at this line of communication, let us first see what it is revealing. The first phrase reads, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ." It is telling us right at the outset that the message that is to be revealed is all about the Lord Jesus Christ. > > In its development of the Gospel, the good news of God's salvation plan for mankind, the Bible begins with the fact that God has created us, that we are responsible for our standing before Him, and that we have to answer to Him for all our actions on this earth. God has also decreed that the wages of sin is death, and the death that God has in view is eternal damnation. That decree has put man in an absolutely hopeless situation because, since Adam's fall, all men have become sinners. > > Wonderfully, God has provided a way of escape through the Lord Jesus Christ. He died for the sins of those who would believe on Him. This is the Good News. The whole Bible, therefore, focuses on the Lord Jesus Christ. > > **Unto Jesus.** To whom has God given this revelation of Jesus Christ? The Lord Jesus Christ. But why has God given the revelation to Jesus, who Himself is the eternal God? Because Christ came to this earth as the suffering servant; He came completely obedient to God. In fact, the Bible says He even learned obedience through suffering ([Heb 5:8](Hebrews%205.md#^8)). > > Christ Himself made a remarkable statement recorded in [John 12:49](John%2012.md#^49). It underscores the absolute submission of Christ to the Father. > > For those He had chosen to save, God had worked out His whole salvation plan before time began so that, in principle, Christ was the Lamb that was slain from before the foundations of the earth. Yet, there had to come a point in time when Christ emptied Himself of His glory to become a human being. And it was in this God-man role that Jesus was given by God the revelation which He is to give to us. > > Jesus, who is the Word, came to personify that Word when He became flesh ([Jn 1:1](John%201.md#^12), [14](John%201.md#^14)). See also [Hebrews 1:1](Hebrews%201.md#^1) - [2](Hebrews%201.md#^2). The Bible thus declares that the Gospel is what the triune God gave unto Jesus Christ to show unto us. This is the chain of communication for the proclamation of the Good News. > > **Things to come.** Further in verse 1 we read, "things which must shortly come to pass." By itself, this statement suggests that Revelation has to do only with future things. But in verse 19, God tells us that the book also covers "the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter." Taken together, the two verses indicate that while Revelation deals with the past, present and future, its focal point is on things to come. > > Remember, the Book of Revelation was written in the first century, some 1,900 years ago. It was going to discuss things which were then in front of the Apostle John. The book thus covers substantially the entire New Testament period, with special focus, however, on the end of time, that is, the final tribulation period, Judgment Day, and the new heaven and the new earth. > > Verse 1 continues, "and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John." Who is this angel that God is going to use to communicate to John? The Lord Jesus Christ. You see, the Greek word translated "angel" here is the same word that is sometimes translated "messenge" in the Bible. Both are equally correct. And in this passage, I think "messenger" is more appropriate. > > **Chief messenger.** In [Malachi 3:1](Malachi%203.md#^1), for example, the Lord Jesus Christ is called a messenger. The first half of that verse talks about John the Baptist who is to come as a messenger. But the second half clearly refers to Christ: "and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in." Yes, Christ is the messenger who brings us the magnificent covenant of salvation. > > That Jesus is indeed the one who is bringing a message to John can be more clearly seen from [Revelation 1:10](Revelation%201.md#^10) - [11](Revelation%201.md#^11). Christ, of course, is Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. > > We thus find that the second clause of [Revelation 1:1](Revelation%201.md#^1) sets forth the same line of communication spoken of in the first. This whole verse emphasizes that the revelation of God moves from Him through the Lord to us, His servants. > > Before we leave verse 1, let's look briefly at two more words. First, the word "signified" in "He sent and signified" indicates that the message was to be sent through signs, visions and parables. God is saying, in other words, that He will be teaching dramatic truth in parabolic language. > > Secondly, the "John" to whom the message was given is evidently the Apostle John, since there is no other John in the Bible whom it might have reference to. John the Baptist had already been beheaded. The Apostle John was a very humble and modest person. When he wrote the Gospel of John, he never used his own name; he simply spoke of himself as the apostle that Jesus loved. Here, too, he did not specifically identify himself. <br> ###### &#x1F538;2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. ^2 > John was uniquely qualified to bear record of the Word of God, which is the Lord Himself. The Apostle was present with the Lord during His three-and-a-half years of ministry on earth, so he was among the few who heard in person the gospel preached by Christ Himself. He was also present when Jesus was tried, crucified, and buried. And after Jesus had risen, he was present when the Lord ascended back into heaven. > > Verse 2 continues, "…and of the testimony of Jesus Christ." Remember in verse 1 we read that God gave unto Christ the things which must shortly come to pass, and Christ in turn gave these to His servants? So the Apostle John not only bears record of Christ and the things that he has learned directly from the Lord, he is also bearing record of those things that Christ is about to declare to him in the Book of Revelation, those things which Christ will be showing him through visions. <br> ###### &#x1F538;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. ^3 > The first principle to be derived from this verse is that in order to be blessed we must read the Word. We can read it ourselves, or it can be read to us by others. There is no limit to how much time we can spend on reading the Word, or how much blessing we can derive therefrom. > > Secondly, we must hear the Word. Why is it that some people can read or hear the Word and do not become saved? Because they are not hearing the Word in a spiritual sense; they hear only in a physical sense. Unless God has opened their spiritual ears, the Gospel message just doesn’t register in their consciousness to evoke a response. To be blessed, they need to hear the Word in their heart. > > Finally, we must keep the Word. Many people can answer difficult doctrinal questions and know all the details of the historical events recorded in the Bible. Yet, in their personal lives, they are not obedient to the Word of God. These people are not blessed because blessing comes only when we have become saved. And we have become saved only when Christ has softened our heart so that there is an earnest desire to be obedient to the Word of God. > > Verse 3 ends with: "for the time is at hand." When John the Baptist began to preach, he said, "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand." Later, Jesus started His earthly ministry by proclaiming that the kingdom of heaven was at hand. What did they mean by those statements? > > Well, the kingdom of God is made up of all believers. Because Christ had come to head up His kingdom, the time had also come for that kingdom to expand with people from all over the world becoming saved. So, God is emphasizing that Today is the time for salvation, the time to enter that kingdom. If we are not saved now, we will not be saved in eternity. > > Incidentally, the word "prophecy" in this verse, refers to all the revelation of God, the whole Word of God. Why? Because we are told to keep the things written therein. <br> ###### &#x1F538;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; ^4 > This verse begins by telling us to whom the Book of Revelation was addressed. Every statement in the Bible has an immediate person or group of people to whom it is directed. In the New Testament, it might be a letter to a church or an individual. In the Old Testament, it might be a discourse to ancient Israel or such nations as Egypt or Babylon, or it might be a statement to Abraham or Moses. Likewise, the Book of Revelation was written – in the first instance – to the seven churches that then existed in Asia. > > We must remember, however, that while God chose to write the Bible in this fashion, the message nevertheless is to every human being. That’s why blessed are those who read, hear and keep God’s Word. > > Why was this particular message addressed to these seven churches? It’s because they represent the whole New Testament Church. The number seven in the Bible, if it has any spiritual significance, represents perfection. And the perfection of God’s plan for the churches is that there would be people coming into the body of Christ all through time – particularly after Pentecost. And Asia, being outside of Israel, represents the "uttermost parts" of the earth. > > **Grace.** In the next phrase, we see what God desires for those who are going to be included in His church: "Grace be unto you, and peace". > > Simply stated, grace means unmerited favor. But the word "grace" really embodies the whole message of salvation; it represents God’s entire salvation program. To paint the picture in the proper setting, we have to realize that the human race was created to love, obey and glorify God. Made in the image of God, man was the zenith of God’s beautiful creation at the beginning of time. Yet mankind rebelled against God and went their own way. > > God’s first command to man was, "But of the tree of knowledge, of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." The death that God had in view was eternal damnation. Since Adam’s fall, therefore, God’s justice demands that the rebellious human race should be swept into eternal damnation. > > But God then offers man salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. But man is so perverse that in spite of the Gospel, nobody seeks after God ([Ro 3:11](Romans%203.md#^11)). Even when God comes to us with the possibility of reconciliation, not one of us wants to be right with Him ([Ro 3:10](Romans%203.md#^10)). Still, God in His grace decided to save some of these sinners. But to save them and still keep His perfect justice, it was necessary for God to take on a human nature and bear the punishment for the sins of those He has come to save, so that they will never be threatened with eternal damnation. > > More than that, He opens our spiritual eyes and ears so that we see our sins and begin to cry out to God for mercy; He gives us a new heart and a resurrected soul so that there is an intense desire to live for Him, and He promises that we will someday receive a resurrected spiritual body so that we will be completely without sin. > > Yes, grace encompasses all of that and a lot more. > > **Peace.** The word "peace" speaks of the same salvation plan, but from a different vantage point. Whereas grace paints the whole picture of our rebellion and our undeserving condition, peace presents us (before we were saved) as those who are at war with God, those who are slaves of Satan. In His salvation plan, God, the Prince of Peace, comes with the peace treaty so that we might be at peace with God. Grace and peace, then, is what God desires for all the churches. > > Where does this grace and peace come from? "From him which is, and which was, and which is to come." This interesting set of words is speaking about the Lord Jesus Christ. We know this because [verse 8](Revelation%201.md#^8) identifies the person with that description as the Alpha and Omega. > > Then in [Revelation 1:11](Revelation%201.md#^11), [12](Revelation%201.md#^12) and [13](Revelation%201.md#^13), the Alpha and Omega is identified as the Lord Jesus Christ. In that passage, John hears a voice saying, "I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last", and when he turns to see who is speaking, he sees "in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man". Christ, of course, is the Son of man. > > But why is Christ called "which is, and which was, and which is to come"? The term "which was" reminds us of [John 1:1](John%201.md#^1) where we read, "and the Word was God." It declares that Jesus is from eternity past. The term "which is" means that He is the ever present one. And "which is to come" tells us that He will come on the clouds of glory one day to wrap up the whole salvation program. He is from eternity past, He is present with us, and He is to come back for us. > > In verse 18, we find another reason why God uses this particular language for Jesus: "I am he that liveth [which is], and was dead [which was]; and, behold, I am alive for evermore [which is to come]." The parallelism here is not precisely exact; but the fact that Christ died on the cross can at least be a minor implication of this verse. > > **Seven Spirits.** The closing phrase of verse 4 reads: "and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne." Who are these seven Spirits? And what throne is this? > > The [seven spirits of God in Revelation 5:6](Revelation%205.md#^6) are that which God sent forth into all the earth. Relating to the sending forth of the Gospel into all the world, they typify God the Holy Spirit in His divine perfection. > > What about the throne? See [Ephesians 1:19](Ephesians%201.md#^19), [20](Ephesians%201.md#^20), [21](Ephesians%201.md#^21), [22](Ephesians%201.md#^22), [23](Ephesians%201.md#^23). You see, the Lord is seated on the throne of His glory. He reigns because He has overcome death. He has endured hell for our sins and He has been raised from the dead. He is reigning over everything, not only in this present age during which God is saving His elect and building His church, but also in the eternity that is to come. <br> ###### &#x1F538;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, ^5 > (This note applies to Rev 1:5a. For Rev 1:5b see the note under Rev 1:6.) > > Why are we told again that grace and peace are from Jesus Christ, since verse 4 has already said so? In the last verse, Jesus was presented as the God who is from everlasting to everlasting. Here, He is presented as our Savior. > > The name “Jesus" means Savior ([Mt 1:21](Matthew%201.md#^21)). And the name “Christ" is the Greek equivalent to the Hebrew word “Messiah". It stands for the one who was to come as the Anointed One, the king who would rule. > > The next few phrases call attention to the Lord’s three-fold office – as prophet, priest and king: > > **The Prophet.** To start with, Jesus is described as “the faithful witness". A witness is one who can testify from personal knowledge to something that has taken place. Because Jesus came to earth in visible form and was crucified, buried and resurrected in a visible way, He Himself has become the perfect testimony that the promised salvation program from God is true and trustworthy. > > If you ever wonder whether the Bible is really the Word of God, you should find most reassuring the fact that the Lord came to earth as a human less than 2,000 years ago, exactly as the Scriptures had prophesied. That historical event confirms that the Bible is absolutely trustworthy. Thus, Jesus is the faithful witness of the grace of God. > > **The Priest.** As “the first begotten of the dead", the Lord is seen here in His role as the priest. We know from Hebrews 4 that Christ is the “great high priest" who “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin". And from Hebrews 7 we learn that He is the perfect priest because “He continues ever, has an unchangeable priesthood" and “He ever lives to make intercession" for God’s people. > > You see, the priests of the Old Testament made animal sacrifices to atone for man’s sin. But Christ came to offer up Himself as the Lamb of God, allowing Himself to be crucified on the Cross. And because He rose again afterwards, He is the first begotten of the dead. > > A lot of people stumble on this matter of Jesus being the first begotten, or the firstborn, because these terms seem to imply that He has a beginning. To better understand these terms, see [Colossians 1:15](Colossians%201.md#^15), [16](Colossians%201.md#^16), [17](Colossians%201.md#^17) and [18](Colossians%201.md#^18). This emphasizes that Christ is not a created being in any sense; He is before all things. Yes, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but His conception in the womb of Mary merely marks the beginning of His incarnation as a human. And because all things were created by Him and for Him, God considers Him the firstborn of every creature; the One entitled to inherit all things from God. > > Moreover, just as He was “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" ([Rev 13:8](Revelation%2013.md#^8)), He was, in principle, resurrected from the dead before time began. And thus, He is the first begotten of the dead. And His death and resurrection qualified Him to be the head of the church. > > **The King.** Verse 5 or Revelation 1 continues, “and the prince of the kings of the earth." Immediately, we think of Christ being the King of kings, the Lord of lords. He is the prince of Kings because He raises up kings and puts down kings. > > But there is another, more important meaning to that phrase. Who are the kings of this earth that God is particularly interested in? The people who have been saved ([Rev 1:6](Revelation%201.md#^6), [5:10](Revelation%205.md#^10)). A passage that describes believers as kings is [Isaiah 52:15](Isaiah%2052.md#^15), in a chapter that talks about the sending forth of the Gospel into the world. To “sprinkle many nations" means to wash away the sins of people from many nations; and “the kings shall shut their mouths at him" indicates that those who have become saved by that cleansing would no longer be in rebellion against Him. We know the kings here refer to believers because the second half of that verse is quoted in [Romans 15:21](Romans%2015.md#^21), where the Apostle Paul is speaking about his being called to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles. > > So, we are “kings of the earth" from the moment we are saved, and Christ is our prince, our ruler. We are not political kings, of course. We rule in the sense that we have authority over Satan. We can present the Gospel to the unsaved, who are in bondage to Satan, and set free those whom God plans to save. We can also rule over our own body so that we do not go deeper and deeper into sin. > > For part b of Rev 1:5, see commentary under Rev 1:6. <br> ###### &#x1F538;6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him _be_ glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. ^6 > (This note applies to Rev 1:5b and 1:6.) > > This passage teaches that all praise and glory go to Him and His Father, who loved us while we were sinners and, in His love, washed away our sins with His own shed blood. Indeed, had Christ not done that, we would surely die eternally since there was none other that could save us ([Isa 63:4](Isaiah%2063.md#^4) - [5](Isaiah%2063.md#^5)). > > **Priests.** Verse 6 then tells us that we have been made "kings and priests" unto God and His Father. We have learnt earlier of our having been made kings, now God says we are priests, too. Among the things priests in the Old Testament did was to make intercession for the Israelites, to ask for God’s forgiveness and blessing for those who came before Him with their sins. While Christ is the Great High Priest, we believers are priests also because we intercede before God on behalf of those who are unsaved. We pray for them and witness to them. This is a dominant role that God gives to every believer. > > Remember, we are saved not for our own sake, but for the glory of God ([Eze 36:32](Ezekiel%2036.md#^32), [Eph 1:5](Ephesians%201.md#^5) - [6](Ephesians%201.md#^6)). We have been made kings and priests strictly to glorify God, to serve God, to proclaim the Gospel, to intercede for the unsaved, to help build the church and to complete the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. > > **Mystery.** In verse 6 we see the interesting phrase "God and his Father". The Lord Jesus, of course, addresses God the Father as Father. But here it speaks of God and His Father; this then is one of many verses in the Bible clearly indicating that Jesus is God. Some people reading this conclude that there are two Gods – God the Father and God the Son. Others, including the Holy Spirit, say there are three Gods. But the Bible teaches that while there are three persons, there is only one God. > > How can there be three persons in the Godhead and yet there is just one God? This is a mystery our finite minds can never understand. So, we simply accept it by faith, knowing that the Bible is true and trustworthy. One thing we know from this verse is that Jesus Christ is eternal God. > > Verse 6 ends, "to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." The mystery stays with us. Note that the pronoun him is singular although it refers to "God and His Father". There are two persons mentioned in this verse, yet there is just one God. Be that as it may, to Him indeed be all glory and dominion. The phrase "for ever and ever" emphasizes that there is an eternity, and the word "amen" means "So be it; this is the absolute truth." <br> ###### &#x1F538;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. ^7 > Note the interesting way God develops this. In verse 5, He talks about our salvation through Christ; in verse 6, our evangelizing the world to God's glory; and here in verse 7, His coming with the clouds. Meaning: Once God has completed His salvation program through Christ, the Lord Jesus will return to judge the world. > > We see this very clearly in [Revelation 14:14](Revelation%2014.md#^14) - [15](Revelation%2014.md#^15). Here, we see Jesus coming with the clouds of glory to harvest the earth. What will He do with the harvest? Answer: [Revelation 14:19](Revelation%2014.md#^19). Casting into the great winepress of God's wrath is a figure of speech to indicate eternal damnation on Judgment Day. Woe unto the unsaved when He comes. > > The phrase "every eye shall see him" means that no one will escape the coming of the Lord. No matter where a person is, he will see Christ returning in the clouds of glory. Again, it's impossible for our finite minds to comprehend this, but we know that with God, all things are possible. > > But what about the dead? Since the earth began, billions of people have already died and are in their graves. Will they see Him, too? Yes, they will ([Jn 5:28](John%205.md#^28) - [29](John%205.md#^29)). > > The saved. As verse 7 continues, God divides the people of the earth into two groups: the saved and the unsaved. The first group, described as "they… which pierced him" comprises all believers. Now, it's true that the Pharisees and the high priests were the ones who plotted His death, and the Roman soldiers were the ones who nailed Him to the cross and pierced His side. But this verse is talking about those who have been saved. > > Why do I say that? We read in [Zechariah 13:1](Zechariah%2013.md#^1), "In that day [describing all that which has been said in the preceding chapter], there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness." > > The only day when a fountain was opened to cleanse us from sin was when Christ went to the cross. The "fountain" was the fountain of His blood. Thus, both "the house of David" and "the inhabitants of Jerusalem", whose sin and uncleanness are to be washed by that fountain, symbolize believers. From this, we know for certain that what has been said in chapter 12 is a prophecy of the wonderful salvation that will come. > > With that in mind, let's back up to [Zecharian 12:10](Zechariah%2012.md#^10). Again, the Spirit of grace has been poured out only upon those who have become saved. In this verse then, God clearly identifies us believers as the ones who pierced Christ. It is because of the sins of believers only that He went to the cross. > > There are some who teach that Christ died for everyone. That cannot be. If Jesus paid for the sins of everybody so that even unbelievers have been washed of their sins, why then must they still stand for judgment and be plunged into eternal death? That would make a mockery of God's justice. No, Christ was pierced on our behalf only. And when Christ comes on the last day, we who pierced Him will look upon Him. > > **The unsaved.** "And all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him." Here, God is saying that all the other peoples of the earth, those who remain unsaved, will wail because of Him. We read a similar statement in [Matthew 24:30](Matthew%2024.md#^30), which also speaks about the second coming of Christ. > > The reason why Christ's return will make the unsaved wail and mourn is explained in [Revelation 6:12](Revelation%206.md#^12), [13](Revelation%206.md#^13) and [14](Revelation%206.md#^14). This describes that the universe is falling apart, it is the end of time: [Rev 6:15](Revelation%206.md#^15), [16](Revelation%206.md#^16) and [17](Revelation%206.md#^17). > > Judgment Day. Here is the culmination for the unsaved. When Christ returns, it will be the day of God's wrath. He comes in judgment. Those who are unsaved will stand guilty before Him. At that time, no one will be able to face Him and stand under His wrath. The peoples of the earth will wail, they will mourn, they will cry ([Mt 24:30](Matthew%2024.md#^30)). > > The last words of verse 7, "Even so, amen" mean this is indeed so. It is a way of underscoring the statement that Judgment Day is coming. <br> ###### &#x1F538;8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending[&#x2020](Isaiah%2041.md#^4)[&#x2021](Isaiah%2044.md#^6), saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. ^8 > In this verse, Christ is speaking to us directly, identifying Himself as "Alpha and Omega" and explaining that the name means "the beginning and the ending". As alpha is the beginning of the Greek alphabet and omega is the last letter of that alphabet, Christ is using this phrase to underscore that He is Preeminence in everything. We have already discussed the meaning of the statement "which is, and which was, and which is to come" in [verse 4](Revelation%201.md#^4). > > **Almighty.** The last word in this verse, "Almighty", requires some explanation. This name for God is used nearly fifty times in the Old Testament. For example, in [Exodus 6:3](Exodus%206.md#^3), God told Moses that He had made Himself known to the early patriarchs as God *Almighty*, but not as Jehovah. > > By way of contrast, in the entire New Testament, there is only one verse outside of the Book of Revelation where the word Almighty is found in reference to God, in [2 Corinthians 6:18](2%20Corinthians%206.md#^18). > > Why this difference between the two Testaments? You see, "God Almighty" is a name emphasizing the fact that He is the creator of the universe, the one who is infinite in His might, while "Jehovah" is the name by which God declares to us that He is the Savior. Thus, in the Exodus Chapter 6 example above, He is telling the nation of Israel through Moses that they are now about to experience His salvation as Jehovah God. > > The New Testament, of course, focuses on the Lord Jesus Christ mainly as our Savior. Hence, God uses the names "Jesus" and "Christ" repeatedly to spotlight the saving work, or the Jehovah work, of the Lord Jesus Christ. <br> ###### &#x1F538;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. ^9 > Here, the conversation moves from Jesus back to John. In Hebrew, the word "John" means "favored by Jehovah". In that sense, the Apostle John is a picture of every one of us who has become a child of God; we have received the grace of God. This truth is reiterated by the phrase "who also am your brother". Spiritually we, who have become saved, are brothers to one another regardless of the color of our skin or the denomination we belong to. > > John goes on to say that we are "companion in tribulation". That’s something we don’t like to hear. No one wants to go through trials and tribulation. But we will experience tribulation if we, like the apostle John, really serve as faithful stewards of the gospel. The world, which doesn’t want to hear the Word of God, will scorn us, laugh at us, or even persecute us. Satan will throw "fiery darts" at us. Hence, many Christians have been martyred; others have been much persecuted. > > We are companions in tribulation also because it grieves our hearts to know that so many in this world are destined for eternal death. We especially mourn for those loved ones who remain unsaved. > > **Fellow citizens.** We are also companions "in the kingdom…of Jesus Christ". From [John 3:3](John%203.md#^3), [5](John%203.md#^5) we see that we must be born again, to be born of water and the spirit, that is, we must be born of God, to see or enter into the kingdom of God. > > How does one become born of God? [John 1:12](John%201.md#^12) - [13](John%201.md#^13) -- We become born again when we receive the grace of God and acknowledge Christ as our Lord and Savior. Then, we enter the kingdom of God and become companions in the kingdom with other believers. > > **Patience of Jesus Christ.** But why are we companions in the "patience of Jesus Christ"? The Greek word for "patience" literally means "to stay under". We, along with other believers, are to stay under, or to endure, whatever God has for us. It would be ideal if, as soon as we are saved, God calls us home to heaven. But God has work for us to do on earth, and we are to endure and be patient as we carry out our tasks. > > More importantly, we are also to participate in the endurance of Jesus Christ. In [Colossians 1:24](Colossians%201.md#^24), the apostle Paul is saying in effect that when Christ came to bring the Gospel, He suffered and endured. Paul, considering it a privilege to complete Christ’s sufferings, rejoices that he has been assigned the task of continuing that work. That should be our attitude as well. > > God is not asking us to endure the sufferings on our own, though. To sustain us, He has promised not to test us beyond what we are able to bear, but will provide a way of escape ([1 Cor 10:13](1%20Corinthians%2010.md#^13)). And He tells us not to be anxious about anything. When we make our requests known to Him by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, His peace will keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus ([Php 4:6](Philippians%204.md#^6) - [7](Philippians%204.md#^7)). Remembering such promises when we go through trials and tribulations indeed brings us much comfort. > > **John’s suffering.** As this verse continues, John talks about his own suffering. He has been exiled on the isle of Patmos, from which there was no possibility of escape. An aged man at this point, he no doubt suffered greatly. But John endured, declaring that he did so "for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ". > > There are two meanings to this phrase: (1) the apostle is being punished for having been faithful in presenting the Word of God and in testifying about the Lord Jesus Christ; and (2) God has put him there because He will use him as the human instrument to finish the Bible. He is to receive visions and write them down in what we call the Book of Revelation. > > We can find much blessing in this information. It underscores the fact that everything that happens in our life is under the control of God. When John was exiled, his friends most likely felt sorry for him. They probably said, "How terrible it is that our aged brother has to go through the rigor of being sent to a concentration camp." But in reality, God had a larger purpose for the apostle, giving him the privilege of recording the divine messages that close off the Holy Canon. > > As a child of God, therefore, we can know that all things do work out together for good for those who are the called according to His purpose (Ro 8:28). God has a purpose for every trial in our life and we simply wait patiently upon the Lord, knowing that God is sovereign, and wondering what blessings will come from it. <br> ###### &#x1F538;10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, ^10 > Today we call Sunday the Lord’s Day because Christ rose on Sunday and the Holy Spirit was poured out on Sunday. In the beginning, in fact, God said "Let there be light" on the first day of the week to anticipate His salvation program. So, it’s altogether fitting and proper that we worship on the first day of the week and call it the Lord’s Day. > > The Bible doesn’t call Sunday the Lord’s Day, though; it simply calls it the first day of the week. So, this verse is not saying that John received this revelation of Christ on a Sunday. Actually, the statement should read this way: I was in the Spirit in the Lord’s Day, or I was in the Spirit in the day of the Lord. The original Greek word means "in" not "on". > > From [1 Thessalonians 5:2](1%20Thessalonians%205.md#^2), [Philippians 1:6](Philippians%201.md#^6), [2 Thessalonians 2:2](2%20Thessalonians%202.md#^2) and [2 Peter 3:12](2%20Peter%203.md#^12), we can readily see that whenever God uses such terms as "the day of the Lord", "the day of Christ", or "the day of God", He invariably refers to Judgment Day, when Christ returns on the clouds of glory and reveals Himself as King of kings and Lord of lords. > > The Apostle John is thus telling us that he, having been deeply moved by the Holy Spirit, is writing that which relates primarily to Judgment Day. Indeed, the Book of Revelation, while it does refer to the beginning of time, the Cross and other developments, mainly focuses on events leading to, and culminating on, the day when the Lord Jesus Christ comes back to gather the elect and to judge the world. > > **The trumpet.** John tells us that he heard "behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet". This verse, coupled with the next, where Jesus identifies Himself as the speaker, reveals that the trumpet is none other than the voice of God Himself. So, when the Bible talks about the sound of a trumpet, we know that it has the Lord Himself in view. With that in mind, let’s look at a few familiar verses: > > [Mt 24:31](Matthew%2024.md#^31) -- since "the sound of the trumpet" is God’s voice, this verse is thus talking about the same event as [John 5:28](John%205.md#^28) - [29](John%205.md#^29). > > [1 Thess 4:16](1%20Thessalonians%204.md#^16) -- as the English words "angel" and "messenger" come from the same Greek word, the proper translation here would be "the arch-messenger". The word "arch" means chief, and the Lord Jesus Christ, of course, is the Chief Messenger of God. Thus, His voice is identified with the trump or trumpet of God. > > [**1 Cor 15:52**](1%20Corinthians%2015.md#^52). You see, the sound of a trumpet is not a literal trumpet blowing; it is the voice of God "shouting" on Judgment Day. So, when the Bible talks about the trumpet sounding, it is talking about the Lord calling the dead to rise on the last day so as to bring judgment on the unsaved and complete the salvation of all those who shall have become saved. > > The apostle John says that the voice of God is behind him. At this point, he is a picture of an unsaved person. When we are unsaved, we do not look at the Lord Jesus, but away from Him. We try to get as far away from Him as possible. But when God calls us, we turn from our sins and turn to see the Lord Jesus Christ. (We’ll read in verse 12 that John turns and sees Him.) <br> ###### &#x1F538;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. ^11 > We’ve already seen that "Alpha and Omega" and "the first and the last" both underscore that God is preeminent in all things. He is before all things and goes on to everlasting. And now, this infinite God commands John to write what he sees in a book. What book is John to write in? The only book that God has been writing for over 1,500 years – the Bible. And John is going to be its very last contributor. > > Did you ever stop and think how amazing it is that God, the Creator and Sustainer of this intricate and complex universe, would bother to record in black and white His will for us? The word "Bible" is not pretentious in itself; it simply means book. But it is a book that has no peer. It is not written by human authors ([2 Pe 1:21](2%20Peter%201.md#^21)). It is a book that brings us truth if we read it with a view to being obedient to what we find there. > > But instead of trusting what it says, man has been misusing, mistreating, misquoting, misinterpreting and mis-translating the Holy Bible. So rebellious against God is man that no matter how plain the Bible is, he concludes that what God declares cannot be. > > Thank God that He has graciously saved us and enabled us to know that the Bible is the Word of God, the only source of truth. May we always treat it with reverence. > > **Seven churches.** The apostle John is to send the written word to seven named churches. Those churches are all located in Asia Minor, an area that today is Turkey. Outside of national Israel, Asia Minor was then on the very forefront of the world itself. The letter is not being written to the church in Jerusalem because when John received the Revelation, Jerusalem had already been destroyed by the Roman armies. > > Why seven churches? Seven is the number the Bible generally uses to represent perfection. God used it to set the number of days in a week. And we saw in [verse 4](Revelation%201.md#^4) that the Holy Spirit was called the seven Spirits. These seven churches are a picture of the whole New Testament church as it exists throughout time. So, the admonitions given in this book are for all of us. > > Incidentally, the seven specific churches that are spoken of no longer exist. All of the dire warnings that we’ll read in Revelation Chapters 2 and 3 came to pass. At that time, these were churches from which the Gospel was going forth. But because of their disobedience, God has since removed them all. <br> ###### &#x1F538;12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; ^12 > The seven golden candlesticks here are the seven churches represented in heaven ([Rev 1:20](Revelation%201.md#^20)). This figure of a candlestick comes from the Old Testament. In [Exodus 25:31](Exodus%2025.md#^31), [37](Exodus%2025.md#^37) and [27:20](Exodus%2027.md#^20) God speaks about the candlestick of the tabernacle. > > **Light of the World.** The candlestick that was to burn always represented the church. Ultimately, Christ is the light of the world, the light of salvation. But being the body of Christ, the church, as it brings the Gospel, is also the light that will never go out. > > The same allegory is found in [Zechariah 4:2](Zechariah%204.md#^2) - [3](Zechariah%204.md#^3). The number two in the Bible frequently signifies the church (God sent the first missionaries out two by two). And in [Romans 11](Romans%2011.md#^24), God typifies the church by an olive tree into which we are grafted. Here we have two olive trees furnishing the oil for the lamps. It provides the light for the candles. Of course, that oil ultimately is the anointing of the Holy Spirit Himself, who works through the church. > > This figure of the olive trees and the candlesticks, as well as the number two, is picked up in [Revelation 11:4](Revelation%2011.md#^4), where it talks about the two witnesses of God. God is saying that these two witnesses represent the church as it brings the Gospel to the world. <br> ###### &#x1F538;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. ^13 > We see here the intimate relationship existing between Christ and His church. He walks amidst the seven candlesticks. So if the church that you belong to is reasonably true to the Word of God, Christ walks in your presence. > > The verse says "like unto the Son of man" and not the "Son of God" because Jesus is eternal God who had to become the Son of man in order to be our Savior and the head of the church. > > **Garment.** We are told here that God is clothed with a garment. [Psalm 104:1](Psalm%20104.md#^1) - [2](Psalm%20104.md#^2) tells us something about what that garment is. The Lord Jesus is clothed with honor and majesty. Because He has become our Savior, He is worthy of all honor and respect and adulation. Jesus is also the light of the world. He is the very essence of truth, that which can bring us to salvation. We believers are light-bearers, but the light that we bring is the very light that is God Himself. > > The Son of man is clothed down to the foot. It means that there is no naked spot on God. The Bible uses the state of nakedness as a picture of sins being exposed before God. After Adam and Eve had rebelled against God, they suddenly discovered that they were physically naked and were ashamed. Though they tried to cover themselves with a few fig leaves, they couldn’t stand before God; they had to hide themselves. Their physical nakedness is a picture of their spiritual nakedness. > > Similarly, when the Lord Jesus was on the cross, He was naked. It was a dramatic picture of His standing spiritually naked before God, laden with all of our sins. But now at Judgment Day, Christ is clothed with a garment down to His foot. Having resurrected and ascended back to heaven, He is now clothed with honor and majesty. > > **Girdle.** As we go on in verse 13, we read that He was "girt about the paps with a golden girdle." It signifies that we derive spiritual nourishment from God. The Bible sometimes speaks about the Gospel as milk. Milk comes from "paps", which is an old English word for nipples. This can be seen in [Luke 23:28](Luke%2023.md#^28) - [29](Luke%2023.md#^29), where Jesus spoke to the women that were running after Him. > > What does the golden girdle represent? First, see [Isaiah 11:5](Isaiah%2011.md#^5). Jesus is infinitely righteous. He is the one who answered all of the demands of the law on our behalf. And He is supremely faithful. Because of His faithfulness, we are saved. And in this verse righteousness and faithfulness are spoken of as His girdle. > > Secondly, in [Exodus 28:8](Exodus%2028.md#^8) God describes the girdle the priest was to wear. You see, the golden girdle is a part of a garment that was worn by the high priest. So, Christ’s being girt about with a golden girdle is a picture of His being our eternal High Priest. <br> ###### &#x1F538;14 His head and _his_ hairs _were_ white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes _were_ as a flame of fire; ^14 > In the Bible, "white" and "white as snow" signify that which is absolutely pure. The snow white head and hairs here, therefore, picture the holiness of Christ. Wool comes from a sheep, and "white like wool" directs our attention to the fact that Christ, as our sin bearer, is the Lamb that was slain. > > The phrase "white as snow" and the word "wool" also appear in [Isaiah 1:18](Isaiah%201.md#^18). By His grace, believers are purified by the perfect cleansing power of the blood of Christ. > > So far, all the phrases in this verse have focused on Jesus being the Savior. But now, we see a change. We read in the next phrase, "and his eyes were as a flame of fire." Fire in the Bible has to do with Judgment; it is a picture of eternal damnation. Describing His eyes as a flame of fire, this verse means that on Judgment Day God sees everything of those being judged – every evil deed, every evil word and every evil thought. When the unsaved stand before the Judgment throne, nothing in their lives will escape the Lord. <br> ###### &#x1F538;15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. ^15 > First, this verse emphasizes that Christ Himself has endured the wrath of God for our sins; He has been the burnt offering. His feet have been burned in a furnace, the furnace of God’s wrath. > > But this verse also states that Christ will return as the Judge. Those very same feet, now shining like fine brass, will stand upon this earth with the unsaved under them. Unbelievers will all suffer the same punishment as Jesus suffered on behalf of the believers. God’s justice must be satisfied. > > The phrase "his voice as the sound of many waters" is a bit difficult to understand. In this verse, "many waters" is used to describe the voice of the Lord, but in [Revelation 17:1](Revelation%2017.md#^1), [15](Revelation%2017.md#^15) it seems to represent quite the opposite. The waters there represent all the unsaved people of the world. They are sat upon, or ruled by, the great harlot, who is ultimately of Satan himself. > > But how can the voice of God be like the sound of all the unsaved? To get a better understanding, we need to look at other Scriptures. In [Ezekiel 43:2](Ezekiel%2043.md#^2), a chapter that prophesied of Christ’s coming, we see the phrase "many waters." Here again, the phrase "many waters" is related to the voice of God. > > The clue. The seeming contradiction is resolved by [Psalm 18:16](Psalm%2018.md#^16) - [17](Psalm%2018.md#^17). In this context, the term "many waters" is clearly identified with salvation from hell and damnation. The Psalmist was saved from it. Like the flood of Noah’s day, many waters represents God’s judgment. > > When the Bible says that Christ’s voice is like the sound of many waters in [Revelation 1:15](Revelation%201.md#^15) and [Ezekiel 43:2](Ezekiel%2043.md#^2), therefore, it means that His voice is coming with judgment to condemn people to eternal death. And Revelation Chapter 17 is stressing the fact that the unsaved upon whom the great harlot sits – the unbelievers over whom Satan rules – are in many waters because they are subject to eternal damnation. > > We thus begin to see the two-fold purpose of Christ’s coming on the last day: as the Savior, He will complete the salvation of the saved; and as the Judge, He will condemn the unsaved to eternal death. This matches exactly what we read in [John 5:28](John%205.md#^28) - [29](John%205.md#^29). <br> ###### &#x1F538;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. ^16 > [Revelation 1:20](Revelation%201.md#^20) tells us more about the seven stars. Does this mean that every church has a particular angel like Gabriel that is identified with it? Is God holding that angel in His right hand as He comes on the last day? > > No, that does not identify with anything else in the Bible at all. But remember we’ve learned earlier that the Greek word for "angel" can also be translated "messenger"? The latter is more appropriate for this verse. You see, Christ has set up the church to be God’s messenger that brings the Gospel into the world. That is why it speaks here of the churches as messengers. > > **Right hand.** Next, we wonder why are the seven stars, the seven messengers of the church, in God’s right hand. "Right hand" in the Bible signifies the will of God. A church or a congregation is in the will of God as it serves as His messenger by His authority. > > Remember [Ephesians 1:20](Ephesians%201.md#^20), [2:6](Ephesians%202.md#^6) state that after Christ was raised from the dead, He sat down at the right hand of God? And that we believers have been raised with Christ and are seated in the heavenlies with Him? So, we are also at the right hand of God. We reign and rule with Christ under the will of God. > > Here in verse 16, therefore, God is saying that when Christ returns, all those who have been in churches that have been faithful to Him will rule and judge with Him. This is in line with [1 Thessalonians 4:14](1%20Thessalonians%204.md#^14), which says that Christ will come back with believers. It also harmonizes with [1 Corinthians 6:2](1%20Corinthians%206.md#^2) - [3](1%20Corinthians%206.md#^3), which states that we will judge angels and men. > > You see, although the physical bodies of believers that have died are in the tombs, their spirits have gone to be with Christ. They will come back with Him on the clouds of glory on the last day. Hence, when Jesus returns, He has in His right hand seven stars. > > **Two-edged sword.** Then the next phrase says, "out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword." A sharp sword in the first place signifies God’s judgment ([Rev 19:15](Revelation%2019.md#^15)). > > To get a picture of this two-edged sword, though, we have to go to [Hebrews 4:12](Hebrews%204.md#^12). There, God equates the Word of God with a sharp, two-edged sword. This is why Christ is portrayed as having a sword coming out of His mouth. The Word of God comes out of the mouth of Jesus, and penetrates into the very essence of our being. That the sword has two edges emphasizes that it cuts both ways. It cuts to salvation, but it also cuts to damnation. > > **The sun.** We also read that "his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength." The Bible frequently uses the sun to picture the holiness and glory of God. It is a picture that we can understand because the sun is very much a part of our lives. The sunlight dominates our whole universe. > > In [Malachi 4:2](Malachi%204.md#^2), the sun brings healing. It is a benevolent friend when the sunlight is just right. It causes plants to grow and the earth to be warmed. So, God is picturing the Lord here as the one from whom we believers are to receive blessings. > > But for the unsaved, He will come as the sun in all of its strength to scorch and to burn. As they stand to face Christ shining as the scorching sun, they will be found guilty and plunged into eternal death. <br> ###### &#x1F538;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: ^17 > What does this mean? Any time we stand in the holy presence of God, we stand condemned. Hence, John’s falling at His feet as dead is a picture of the whole humankind under the wrath of God. Unless saved, we are subject to eternal damnation. > > But John is not left there. "And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last." Here, we have the wonder of salvation painted for us. If we are saved, we have nothing to fear. <br> ###### &#x1F538;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. ^18 > The fact that He who was dead and is alive for evermore means that the Lord Jesus Christ has successfully paid the penalty for our sins. You see, Jesus’ resurrection was a stupendous evidence that Christ had been victorious. He had endured everything that God poured out on Him and His resurrection means that He had fully satisfied the demands of the law. > > Notice it says, "Behold, I am alive for evermore." What joyous words are those! The sting of death has been removed, the victory of the grave is all gone. God is effectively saying because I am alive for evermore, you too shall be alive forever. > > This particular dramatic statement is concluded in the middle of verse 18 with the word "Amen", meaning truly, verily, it is so, this is truth, you can depend on it. God assures us that He is absolutely trustworthy. > > **The keys.** Then, in the closing phrase of verse 18, we read, "and have the keys of hell and of death." Before we were saved, we were consigned to eternal death. But Christ has the keys of hell and death. We who have been saved are no longer subject to eternal damnation because Christ opens the door for us to escape that punishment. We are liberated from the second death. In [Matthew 16:18](Matthew%2016.md#^18), Jesus says, "I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail." He has the authority and the power to open those gates of hell. > > Christ also has the keys to the first, physical death. We’re going to die physically, but that’s not the end for those of us who have been saved. We will be resurrected in a glorified spiritual body. All the vestiges of our former life will be gone. We will have a perfect body in which we will live eternally with the Lord Jesus Christ. > > But Christ has the key to lock up Satan as well, as seen in [Revelation 20:1](Revelation%2020.md#^1), [2](Revelation%2020.md#^2) and [3](Revelation%2020.md#^3). This angel is the messenger, Christ Himself, and the bottomless pit is hell. <br> ###### &#x1F538;19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; ^19 > Here we have a grand statement of the things we are going to read about in the Book of Revelation. Notice the parallelism that exists in this statement to that of [verse 8](Revelation%201.md#^8). There Jesus describes Himself this way: "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." By the parallelism, God is identifying the Gospel with Himself. Christ is from the past, He is the ever-present one, and He is forever in the future. And so the Gospel, also, is in the past, it is in the present and it is in the future. > > What has John seen? He has seen the grace of God in his own life. He has seen the action of the Gospel in his day as he has lived with the Lord Jesus Christ. John has seen the fulfillment of all the Old Testament prophecies in the person of the Lord Jesus. We can therefore expect the Book of Revelation to make reference to the Gospel as it has worked out in the course of the history of mankind. We are going to find references to Christ’s coming as the Messiah. > > **New universe.** But it also says, write "the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter." Remember, the context in which the Apostle John is standing is Judgment Day, as if that were in the present. So we are going to see lots of statements in Revelation that deal with Judgment Day and the events that immediately surround it. > > Of course, what comes after Judgment Day are the destruction of this universe by fire and the creation of the new heaven and earth where righteousness dwells. Christ will dwell in this new universe forever with the believers. That is the future which the Lord is telling John to write down. > > As we go deeper in the Book of Revelation, therefore, we can expect to see God’s whole plan of salvation. We are going to be reminded afresh of what God has done in the past, the antecedents of Judgment Day. We are also going to learn a lot about Judgment Day itself. And we are also going to look at what happens after Judgment Day on into eternity. <br> ###### &#x1F538;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. ^20 > We’ve learned from earlier verses that the Lord Jesus walks amidst the candlesticks and has seven stars in His right hand, and that the seven stars are the messengers of the seven churches. Why does He call them stars? One reason -- Christ Himself is called a star ([Rev 22:16](Revelation%2022.md#^16)). He is called a star because He is the light of the world. The stars bring light in a world of darkness. (Christ is also called the sun, as we saw in [verse 16](Revelation%201.md#^16), where the countenance of Christ was as the sun shining in His strength.) > > Believers are called stars in the Bible, also. We find this in [Daniel 12:3](Daniel%2012.md#^3). We are called stars because we send forth the light of the Gospel as God turns many to righteousness. Our light is really a reflected light, to be sure, because it comes from the Lord Jesus. > > **The church.** Going back to verse 20, we see that the seven stars are the messengers of the seven churches. The church is that which shines the Gospel into the world. God the Holy Spirit works through it to evangelize the world. The seven churches represent every congregation faithful to the Word of God that will exist throughout the New Testament period. Seven is the number of perfection and represents the whole body of believers that will come into being throughout the New Testament period. > > The last phrase of verse 20 reads, "and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches." > > Remember we saw in our study earlier in this chapter that the church is said to be a candlestick because they are the light of the world? God has entrusted the light of the Gospel to us so that we might send it out into the world.