Revelation 1:1-20
Q.1. From where did John’s revelation come? When will it come to pass? To whom was the prophecy written? What blessing was promised? – (Rev.1:1-4 c.f. 22:16)
John stated that his vision was in fact – the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bondservants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John (Rev.1:1). In terms of eternity, the events – must soon take place (Rev.1:1). This accords with the rest of the teaching of Jesus and the apostles, that we should always be ready (Mt.24:42-51; Mk.13:33-37; Lk.13:35-40; 21:34-36). The prophecy was written – to show to His bondservants, the things which must soon take place … for the churches (Rev.1:1 & 22:16). The hearing and heeding of the prophecies of Revelation come with a promise – Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near (Rev.1:3).
Q.2. From whom did the message come? What was revealed about Jesus? What role has He given to the redeemed? What impact will Christ’s return have? – (Rev.1:4-8)
Jesus declared – 22 For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, 23 so that all will honour the Son even as they honour the Father. He who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father who sent Him … 27 and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man (Rev.5:22-23, 27). This book, spelling out the judgment on Planet Earth, came – 4 … from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood (Rev.1:4-5). Jesus was described as the faithful witness and firstborn of the dead, Who has released us from our sins by His blood. He is also the ruler and King of all kings. Through Christ we have been made – … a kingdom, priests to His God and Father (Rev.1:6). John foreshadowed the impact of Christ’s return – Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him (Rev.1:7). This especially will apply to penitent Israel at the Second Coming of Christ (Zech.12:10-13:1).
Q.3. What did John reveal about himself and his circumstances? When and how did his vision come? What was he instructed to do? – (Rev.1:9-11)
The aged apostle John was writing from exile on the island of Patmos. This was his punishment for preaching the Word of God and sharing the testimony of Jesus (Rev.1:9). John called the day of his vision the ‘Lord’s Day’, which is generally accepted as the day of resurrection, the new Sabbath day for Christians (Rev.1:10 c.f. 1 Cor.16:2). John was alerted to the revelation by an unavoidably – … loud voice like the sound of a trumpet (Rev.1:10). He was commanded to – “Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.” (Rev.1:11).
Q.4. How unique was John’s vision? How did the Lord describe Himself? What keys did He give to help us interpret the revelation? – (Rev.1:12-20)
John was not the only one to record a vision of Christ. Not surprisingly, there are certain similarities with the visions of Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel – 13 and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. 14 His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. 15 His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. 16 In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength (Rev.1:13-16 c.f. Is.6:1-4; Ezk.1:22-28; Dan.7:9-14). John was informed – 17 … I am the first and the last, 18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades (Rev.1:17-18). Thus it was the revelation of Jesus Christ (Rev.1:5). John was given a helpful outline of what will be unfolded in the revelation – … write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things (Rev.1:19). John was given a vision of (i) the present Church Age – the things which are (Rev.1:19). (ii) the Great Tribulation – the things which will take place after these things (Rev.1:19 c.f. Rev. chapters 6-19; Dan.12:1; Mt.24:21). Also (iii) The thousand-year Reign of Christ (Rev.20:1-10). Also (iv) The final conquest followed by the new heaven and earth (Rev. chapters 20:11-22:21). Not only was John given the outline of Revelation, but also some explanations of the symbolism – As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches (Rev.1:20). When information is not to be taken literally it will usually be identified with the word ‘like’ used 26 times (c.f. Rev.2:18; 4:3-4,7; 9:7,10,19; 13:2,4,11 etc).