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
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