Revelation Chapter One

In this commentary on the book of Revelation it is my intent to make comments on the various verses in the shortest possible way so as not to detract from the text but to help explain the text so that anyone who wants to know what the book of Revelation is saying will have that opportunity. Since Revelation is a book of symbols I will give reference points so that you the reader will have enough Scriptural support to decide for yourselves what God is trying to tell you.

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:

Author: God wants to reveal to the world what Satan has tried to hide about Jesus. Daniel 8:12 Satan has tried to suppress truth through all time but God has said He will send this Revelation about Jesus to educate and prepare all mankind.

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

Author: God sent these messages through John the Revelator, by the gift of prophecy – the testimony of Jesus. Revelation 19:10

 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.

 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;

Author: The number seven is a symbol of completeness. Thus the seven Spirits are not seven different spirits, but a symbol of the complete presence and thoroughness of the Holy Spirit of God.

 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. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

Author: Jesus is the faithful witness. Jesus was the Creator and was present at the Creation of the world. He lived out the life of God on Earth and was slain and resurrected from the dead. Thus He is not only the Creator but He is the first begotten from the dead. Not the first as in time but first as in priority. He is the highest manifestation of the resurrection of the dead. He is also the King of King and thus He is the highest of the kings of the Earth. Revelation 19:16. Jesus also says that those things He reveals are the truth for He is the truth. John 14:6. Since Jesus is the truth when He speaks these truths clear the mind and heart of error. Thus Jesus washes the heart and mind from error by His word. Ephesians 5:26

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

Author: Jesus declares that His converted people are His royal (kingly) nation, and His priests. I Peter 2:5-9

 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.

Author: Jesus says that when He comes to gather us every eye shall see Him. He wants us to know this so we will not fall for the deception that only a special few can go into the desert, or some special place to see Him, but all the world will see Him. Matthew 24:23-27. Not only will the living see Him but apparently He will resurrect a special group of people who doubted His position. Matthew 26:63-64; Daniel 12:2. God also promises that those who do not want to see Jesus come will wail in fear at His second coming. Revelation 6:15-17; Luke 23:28-30

 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.

Author: God wants us to know that He is the starting point of all things and He is the ending point of all things. Nothing happens in the universe without His approval.

 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.

Author: John wants us to know that he is one of us. He had experienced tribulation for God and was placed in a penal colony called Patmos for preaching the Word of God, and for being a prophet of God and telling things that were not politically safe to say. None the less he said them knowing that he would be imprisoned for Jesus.

 ¹⁰I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

Author: John says that on the Sabbath day – the Lord’s day (Isaiah 58:13; Mark 2:28) that he was in vision and saw this vision from God.

 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.

Author: God wanted us to know that the things He was going to reveal to John was about the seven churches in Asia. These seven churches would have the experience through which He could reveal the principles of the experience of His global church. Thus the revelations of truth would be a complete revelation of how He wanted to care for His church throughout history.

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

 ¹³And 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.

Author: Jesus wanted us to see Him in the middle of the seven, or complete, ministry for His candlesticks. The candlesticks were His seven churches the global light revealing device that He has planted on this earth. Revelation 1:20; Matthew 5:13-14

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

 ¹⁵And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

Author: See Daniel 10:5-7

 ¹⁶And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

Author: Jesus has the seven stars in His right hand – a sign of power and honor. Out of His mouth went a sharp two edged sword – a testimony of the Word of God. Ephesians 6:17

 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:

Author: The brightness of Jesus was so bright that even a holy man of God had difficulty standing in His presence. See Exodus 34:29-35. When Jesus comes the second time He will be so bright that the wicked will be killed by the brightness of His presence. II Thessalonians 2:8

 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.

Author: Jesus makes the claim that he was dead once, and since He resurrected by His own power He has the keys of death and will resurrect those of His people at His second coming. I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Corinthians 15:51-55

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

 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.

Author: Jesus testifies that the seven stars are the angels or the leaders of the seven churches. Angels are a symbol of leaders in the church. Galatians 4:14. Then John says that the candlesticks are the seven churches or a symbol of the church throughout New Testament times.