Words Of Truth

Studies In Revelation
Chapter One

Revelation 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:”

• Notice the word is “Revelation” in this verse and NOT “Revelations” as is commonly stated. Here, in this context, it is singular.
• The Greek word from which we get the English translation Revelation is ἀποκάλυψις which is defined: “disclosure: - appearing, coming, lighten, manifestation, be revealed, revelation” (Strong’s # 602). Also translated “revelation” in Romans 2:5, Romans 16:25, I Corinthians 14:6, I Corinthians 14:26, Galatians 1:12, Galatians 2:2, Ephesians 1:17, Ephesians 3:3, and I Peter 1:13
• That Greek word is also translated in the KJV as “lighten” (Luke 2:32), “manifestation” (Romans 8:19), “coming” (I Corinthians 1:7), “revelations” (II Corinthians 12:1 and II Corinthians 12:7), “revealed” (II Thessalonians 1:7 and I Peter 4:13), and “appearing” (I Peter 1:7).
• This revelation is a prophecy (Revelation 22:7-10 and Revelation 22:18-19). As such, don’t expect John to give his commentary on what he sees (II Peter 1:20-21).
• When we get to the end of this letter, we will find the words “Surely I come quickly” (Revelation 22:20). This indicates Judgment (Isaiah 13:1-13), but like with the destruction of Jerusalem; it is not the Judgment. Read the language and see that Jesus knew when His judgment would come upon Jerusalem, but not when the final Judgment will come (Matthew 23:37-24:36).
• This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ which God [the Father; cf. Ephesians 4:6] gave unto Jesus (Matthew 11:27, Luke 10:22, John 6:38, John 8:25-29, Acts 10:36, and Hebrews 1:1-2). *Do not take this as Jesus not being deity (Romans 9:1-5).
• Jesus was to show this revelation unto His servants (John 16:1-15 and I Corinthians 2:1-16).
• Then we have a HUGE key to this Revelation. That is: “things which must shortly come to pass” (cf. Revelation 1:3, Revelation 22:6, and Revelation 22:10). The translation of “τάχος” is spot on and is translated similarly throughout the New Testament. Note: “speedily” (Luke 18:8), “quickly” (Acts 12:7, Acts 22:18, and Revelation 2:5), “shortly” (Acts 25:4 and Romans 16:20). Yes, it is the same word in Revelation 22:6 as well.
• Signified (cf. John 12:32-33 and Acts 11:27-30). Don’t read into that too much. It is as simple as to make known (i.e. Acts 25:23-27).
• Signified, or made known, by His angel (Daniel 9:21-23, Luke 24:23, Acts 7:35-38, Acts 27:20-23, and Revelation 22:6-9).
• Notice that the angel revealed what was given from the Father to Jesus to John as a messenger to the churches rather than going directly to the churches himself (Acts 8:26-40 and Acts 10:1-11:17).
• Given to John (Matthew 10:1-4, Mark 5:21-43, Mark 9:1-13, Mark 10:35-45, Luke 5:1-11, Galatians 2:9, Revelation 1:4, Revelation 1:9, and Revelation 21:2).
• The servant of Christ which establishes submission among other things (Matthew 10:24, Romans 6:16-17, I Corinthians 7:23, and Galatians 1:6-12).

• The “who” is John (Revelation 1:1).
• John’s letter is to bare record of the word of God. The Greek word “μαρτυρέω” means: “To be a witness, that is, testify (literally or figuratively): - charge, give [evidence], bear record, have (obtain, of) good (honest) report, be well reported of, testify, give (have) testimony, (be, bear, give, obtain) witness” (Strong’s # 3140).
• Think of how John the Baptist, who is not the John that wrote this letter, came to bear witness of Christ (John 1:6-15 and John 1:29-34; cf. John 5:31-39) and how the people bare record of Lazarus being risen (John 12:17).
• To see and testify (I John 4:14).
• Take note of what John said later in this chapter (Revelation 1:9).
• Remember, John is among the company of men that cannot but speak the things which they had seen and heard (Acts 4:20).

• Consider what “blessed” means: “blessed, happy” (Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon; Strong’s # 3107).
• Blessed are those that hear and keep (Luke 11:27-28).
• Consider how this works (Psalms 1:1-6, Psalms 112:1, Psalms 119:1-6, Psalms 128:1, Proverbs 19:16, Proverbs 29:18, Luke 6:46-49, James 1:21-25, Revelation 22:7, and Revelation 22:14).
• Much of the misunderstandings on this letter would not exist if people would consider the statement at the end of this verse. “THE TIME IS AT HAND” (Revelation 22:10).
• Remember what we read about “shortly come to pass” (Revelation 1:1; 22:6).
• When Jesus said that kingdom was “at hand” (Matthew 4:17 and Matthew 10:7) thousands of years did not pass (Colossians 1:12-13 and Revelation 1:9).
• The fact that John knows, from Jesus, that the things he was writing are about things at hand also tells us that the main message is NOT about the return of Christ, the end of the world, and the Judgment Day. We know this because neither Jesus or John knew what that day would come (Matthew 24:35-44, Mark 13:31-37, I Thessalonians 5:1-3, and II Peter 3:9-14).
• That does not mean John doesn’t reference the return of our Lord. He does so in just a few verses (Revelation 1:7). It just is the fact that the letter John is writing is not primarily about the end as many approach this book to mean.

• The seven churches addressed are Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea (Revelation 1:11).
• At one point the Holy Ghost chose to send Paul to Macedonia over Asia (Acts 16:1-10), but later all Asia heard the word (Acts 19:1-10).
• The work in Asia was not easy (II Corinthians 1:8).
• Later, apostasy abounded (II Timothy 1:15) as we will see in chapters two and three of this letter.
• Consider that the church in Colosse and the church in Hierapolis are not even mentioned in this letter which were in Asia (Colossians 4:13-16). Likewise, Troas is not mentioned either (Acts 20:4-6).
• Grace was extended as was common in other letters (Romans 1:7, I Corinthians 1:3, II Corinthians 1:2, Galatians 1:3, Ephesians 1:2, Philippians 1:2, Colossians 1:2, I Thessalonians 1:1, II Thessalonians 1:2, I Timothy 1:2, II Timothy 1:2, Titus 1:4, Philemon 1:3, and II John 1:3).
• Peace is found in Christ (Colossians 3:15).
• Grace from Him which is, was, and is to come is in reference to the Father, for the next verse (Revelation 1:5) says, “And from Jesus Christ…”
• The Father is, was, and is to come in the sense of being eternal (Revelation 4:8; cf. Deuteronomy 33:27).
• Listen though, don’t make too much of that. The Father and the Son are one (John 10:30) and so there are three in Heaven (I John 5:7). We will be talking about Jesus in similar language going forward (Revelation 1:10-18).
• The seven Spirits (Revelation 3:1). As we go through the vision John has, numbers are going to be presented and we are going to have to be careful with such. They symbolize different things. Such as when John sees a Lamb that had been slain with seven horns and seven eyes which are the seven Spirits God sent forth into the world (Revelation 5:5-6).
• God sent angels, which are spirits (Psalms 104:4), as messengers into the world (Luke 1:5-20 and Acts 8:26). The Holy Spirit was also sent (John 15:26). Remember the changes we see in the New Testament (Hebrews 1:1-2 and John 16:1-13).
• Now, as we proceed we will see that it is the Spirit speaking unto the churches (Revelation 2:7, Revelation 2:11, Revelation 2:17, Revelation 2:29, Revelation 3:6, Revelation 3:13, and Revelation 3:22).
• Consider also Revelation 22:17 when thinking of the Spirit’s work in this revelation.
• One might get hung up on the “before his throne” statement. The word translated “before” [ἐνώπιον] is about being “…in the presence of…” (Strong’s # 1799). Faithful saints can come before the throne (Hebrews 4:14-16 and Hebrews 10:19-22). So, again, don’t get caught up in the terms.

• Jesus is the faithful witness (John 8:14, John 18:37, and Revelation 3:14).
• Consider Jesus as a witness in that Jesus is the only “person” (so to speak) who has seen the Father (John 1:18 and John 6:46; cf. I John 4:12; 4:20).
• Jesus was the first to be resurrected in the manner of which we have hope (Acts 26:23, I Corinthians 15:13-23, Colossians 1:12-18, and I Peter 1:3). That is, to be risen as the resurrection of life (John 5:29).
• He is the not the first to rise from physical death to walk in the flesh on earth again (I Kings 17:17-22, II Kings 4:18-37, II Kings 13:20-21, Matthew 9:18-26, Matthew 10:5-8, Matthew 11:1-5, Matthew 27:52-53, John 11:1-44, etc.).
• Jesus, the prince of the kings of the earth (Acts 3:14-15 and Acts 5:30-31) has clear authority (Matthew 28:18, Ephesians 1:20-23, and Philippians 2:9-11).
• Do not think of His being prince of the kings of the earth in a worldly kingdom sense (John 18:36). His kings are the saints (Revelation 1:6).
• Jesus died in an act of love (John 15:12-13, Ephesians 5:2, and Ephesians 5:25).
• Saints are washed from our sins in His blood (Matthew 26:28, Hebrews 9:11-10:18, Hebrews 13:12, and I Peter 1:18-21).
• While the Father had His role in sending Jesus (I John 4:9-10), remember that Jesus willfully sacrificed Himself (John 10:1-18 and Hebrews 7:25-27).

• “He” in this verse is Jesus and the “us” are those who have been washed by the blood of Christ (Revelation 1:5).
• With Jesus being the prince of the kings of the earth (Revelation 1:5), we are made kings by Him (Revelation 5:10). Like we noted in verse five, this is not in a worldly kingdom sense.
• We are also made priests (I Peter 2:5-9). Again, not in a carnal sense. The sacrifices we offer are spiritual in nature (Romans 12:1 and Hebrews 13:15-16).
• What saints have been made through Christ is to be unto the glory of our Father in Heaven (Matthew 5:14-16 and Philippians 4:20) through Jesus Christ (I Peter 4:11).
• Whether it be Jesus or the faithful saints, all know that dominion forever belongs to the Father even as it shall be in eternity (I Corinthians 15:24-28 and Jude 1:25).

• There have been multiple times in the Scriptures wherein like language has been used in relation to various events (Exodus 19:9, Daniel 7:13-14, Matthew 24:29-34, Mark 14:60-65, and Acts 1:9-11).
• At the end of the world (II Peter 3:1-14), such will occur as John has stated here (I Thessalonians 4:13-18).
• Consider the imagery of wailing (Matthew 13:36-43).
• “Even so” is like saying “yea, yea” (II Corinthians 1:17; cf. Strong’s # 3483).