Keys to Revelation - Chapter 1 Taken from the HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (C) 1978 by the New York International Bible Society, used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. BIBLE TEXT COMMENTARY REV 1:1 The revelation of Jesus [revelation] - the unveiling or Christ, which God gave him to show uncovering of the truth about his servants what must soon take Jesus Christ. Showing Him is His place. He made it known by sending Splendor and Power. his angel to his servant John, [his angel] - A special Angel was used, possibly Gabriel (Dan 8:16; 9:2; 21-22; LUK 1:26-31). [John] - The Apostle John REV 1:2 who testifies to everything he saw--that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. REV 1:3 Blessed is the one who reads Only Book in the Bible that promises the words of this prophecy, and a Blessing to those who read, hear, blessed are those who hear it and and take to heart what is written. take to heart what is written in it, Truly, if you study this Book you because the time is near. will be blessed (made happy). REV 1:4 John, To the seven churches [seven churches] - Seven actual in the province of Asia: Grace and churches that God chose because they peace to you from him who is, and who were typical of all churches in all was, and who is to come, and from the ages. seven spirits before his throne, [seven spirits] - Term for the Holy Spirit (ISA 11:2-3). REV 1:5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, REV 1:6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father--to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. REV 1:7 Look, he is coming with the John is excited to reveal what he clouds, and every eye will see him, has seen and reflects on the Coming even those who pierced him; and all of Jesus back to earth in Judgment the peoples of the earth will mourn and to set up His Kingdom. because of him. So shall it be! Amen. REV 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the [Alpha..Omega] - First and last Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, letters in Greek alphabet, Jesus and who was, and who is to come, the is everything. He is God, was God, Almighty." and will always be the Almighty God! REV 1:9 I, John, your brother and John was exiled to Patmos, a small companion in the suffering and 6mi x 10mi island, to forced labor, kingdom and patient endurance that for the crime of Preaching the are ours in Jesus, was on the island Gospel and Testifying about the of Patmos because of the word of God Beautiful Lord Jesus Christ. and the testimony of Jesus. REV 1:10 On the Lord's Day I was in [Lord's Day] - Sunday the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, [in the Spirit] - John was carried beyond the normal spiritual state to a supernatural one in which he could receive the Revelation. REV 1:11 which said: "Write on a Jesus is speaking and simply tells scroll what you see and send it to John to write a letter to the seven the seven churches: to Ephesus, churches, telling them everything Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Jesus reveals. These letters Philadelphia and Laodicea." are written to all the Churches and Christians of the Church Age. REV 1:12 I turned around to see the [seven golden lampstands] - these voice that was speaking to me. And are the seven churches (v.20). when I turned I saw seven golden Churches, like Christians are lights lampstands, and some are brighter than others. REV 1:13 and among the lampstands [like a son of man] - looked like a was someone "like a son of man," man but really different. Jesus is dressed in a robe reaching down to dressed like the man of mercy in his feet and with a golden sash Ezekiel 9:2, 11 before the judgment. around his chest. REV 1:14 His head and hair were Christ is given the same description white like wool, as white as snow, ascribed to God as the Ruler and the and his eyes were like blazing fire. Judge in DAN 7:9; 10:5. REV 1:15 His feet were like bronze [bronze glowing] - portrays strength, glowing in a furnace, and his voice stability and judgment. was like the sound of rushing waters. [rushing waters] - like the sound of Niagara Falls (awe-inspiring and powerful). REV 1:16 In his right hand he held [seven stars] - the seven messengers seven stars, and out of his mouth or Pastors of the seven churches came a sharp double-edged sword. His (v.20). face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. [sword] - an instrument of judgment with words, the Word of God, see ISA 11:4. [face] - shines like the sun, most likely His whole body was brilliant. Pictures His Great Purity and Glory. REV 1:17 When I saw him, I fell at [fell..dead] - Proper response of his feet as though dead. Then he fear when in the presence of the placed his right hand on me and said: Holy God (EZE 1:28; DAN 8:17, 10:9) "Do not be afraid. I am the First and But Jesus assures John not to be the Last. afraid, because He is All Powerful and in Love with His redeemed! REV 1:18 I am the Living One; I was [Living One] - Resurrected Christ dead, and behold I am alive for ever who died and overcame death to live and ever! And I hold the keys of eternally. death and Hades. [keys] - Jesus decides when a person will die and who goes into Hell. REV 1:19 "Write, therefore, what you [have seen] - Chapter 1, the Glory have seen, what is now and what will of Christ. take place later. [what is now] - Chapters 2-3, the Church Age. [will take place later] - Chapters 4-22, the Rapture, Tribulation, Millennium, Eternal State. REV 1:20 The mystery of the seven [angels] - Messengers, that is, the stars that you saw in my right hand Pastors of the Churches. and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. Tony Capoccia BIBLE BULLETIN BOARD Box 130 Shreveport, LA 71110 Modem (318) 949-1456 300/1200/2400/9600 Baud