Chapter One

Condemned and assigned to a future of exile, the aging John was fulfilling his destiny as an apostle (1 Cor. 4:9-13). Afflicted but not crushed, perplexed but not despairing, persecuted but not forsaken, struck down but not destroyed, the disciple whom Jesus loved manifested the life of His master in his own and thus fulfilled his destiny as a Christian (2 Cor. 4:7-12), Through afflictions, hardships and distresses, John possessed all things (2 Cor. 6:4-10).

What a book this IS! It's fundamental purpose was... and is... to give courage to Christians in the face of persecution. They were running a collision course with the wrath of the pagan force that ruled the world.

How could God prepare them for, and help them through, these trials? Would it help to tell them that it wouldn't be all that bad? Would it help to tell them that things would probably be O.K.?

Or would it be better to tell them ahead of time what was going to happen (proving that God knew before hand), telling them that God was in control (proving that there was some reason for their suffering), and telling them that they would be victorious (proving what would be the outcome)? God chose the latter approach.

The theme of the book is contained in Romans 8:28-39.

This is the only book in the Bible that begins with a blessing for those who use it properly (1:3) and closes with a curse for those who abuse it (22:18-19).

Revelation stands out because of its organization. The blessing and curse are an example. In all, there are seven blessings pronounced in the book (1:3, 14:13, 16:15, 19:9, 20:6, 22:7,14).

Twice in the first chapter the urgent nature of the revelation is stressed (1:1,3). Twice in the last chapter the urgent nature of the revelation is stressed (22:7,12).

Why such a well-planned book? Could it be because God's plan was well-organized? A letter that follows a perfect plan will reflect that perfect ion.

Verse one gives the line of communication for the revelation: God-Jesus-angel-John-Christians. The roles of God, Jesus and John are obvious, but the angel is sometimes overlooked. Notice how angels play important roles throughout the revelation. Angels are often the ones actually addressing John. By the end of the book, John is confusing the messenger with the One who is actually sending the message (Revelation 22:8,9).

When were these things going to take place? Verse one says they will take place "shortly." How long is "shortly?" Daniel was told to seal up the things he saw because they pertained to things "many days in the future" (Daniel 8:26). That period of "many days" involved about 400 years. So how long is "shortly?" And why was it so important that the urgency was repeated a total of four times in the first and last chapters? "Shortly" means "shortly."

Verse three repeats that the time is near. It also contains the first of the seven blessings. The blessing is three-fold. One must read, hear (or understand) and heed (or keep, obey) the words of the prophecy.

Notice the words "read" and "written" in this verse. Look at the commands in verses 11 and 19. Did God intend for His people to follow a book? What does John say in other places (John 20:30-31, 21:24-25, 1 John 1:1-4)? What does Peter say (2 Peter 3:14-18)? What does Paul say (1 Corinthians 14:37-38)? Did God intend for us to place any importance in a book?

Many Christians were going to deny Christ during the upcoming persecution. Even so, He remained the "faithful witness" (2 Timothy 2:11-13).

Jesus is the "firstborn of the dead." Was He the first one to ever be resurrected? No, others were raised in both the Old and New Testaments before Jesus. But He was the first one to defeat DEATH. The others died again. "Firstborn" does not always mean "first in order," as we see in Colossians 1:15. It means the "chief, the cause, the reason." According to Adam Clark, the Jews called Jehovah the "firstborn of all the world, or all creation, to signify His having created or produced all things" (Clark p. 1197). Colossians 1:18 speaks of Jesus as the "firstborn of the dead" and explains the idea that is behind this title.

When did Jesus begin His rule? Verse five seems to think it was before this book was written. Verse six seems to think the same thing.

Verse four is valuable in showing how we are saved. How are our sins forgiven? It is through the blood of Christ.

God is the Alpha and Omega, according to verse eight. Jesus is the first and last, according to verse 17. This would certainly indicate divinity on the part of Jesus,

John explains in verse nine why he was on the island of Patmos. This was no letter of comfort from some "ivory tower." John was on the battle line. He was exiled because of the testimony of Jesus. We can't help but feel sorry for those people who are going around saying that the Bible instructs us to be witnesses of Jehovah and not of Christ. It's too bad that their mistaken insistence keeps them from participating in 12:17 & 19:10.

John was in the Spirit (or spirit) on the Lord's day. Things weren't going well for him. He wasn't in the best of circumstances. There wasn't a congregation nearby. But he still set aside time on the Lord's day. How convincing are the excuses that we offer to God when we don't bother to gather with the brethren?

John was doing what he was supposed to be doing on the Lord's day. And look what he enjoyed as a result. What would have happened if he would have been gone fishing when the Lord came to give him this revelation. John liked to fish.

"But I can worship God just as well at the lake as I can at some church building," is a common excuse. John wasn't fishing. Being with the Lord was his only undertaking that day. Worship is not the real thing if it is secondary.

John heard behind him a voice that sounded like a trumpet. Did he hear a voice or a trumpet? The text said he heard a voice. The word "trumpet" is used to paint a picture. This is but the first example in the big body of figurative language that makes up the book of Revelation.

The voice told him to write in a book the things that he saw, and send the book to seven congregations. These were seven real groups of Christians. But the fact that seven of them were chosen indicates that the message extends to the church as a whole.

When he turned to see the voice, what he saw was seven golden candlesticks. Verse 20 says these are the seven churches. In the midst of the candlesticks (churches) was one "like the Son of Man."

He was dressed in a full-length robe and girded with a golden girdle (signifying authority, wealth). His hair was like wool, like snow. The thing that these two have in common is their color: white. White hair means experience and wisdom.

His eyes were like a flame of fire. They could see right through a person.

His feet were like burnished bronze. The image in Daniel was composed of gold, silver, bronze and iron. But what kind of foundation did it have? We are only as strong as our foundation.

His voice was like the sound of many waters. We could go on for hours talking about the power and beauty of rushing water, but this phrase shows the eloquent simplicity of symbolic, figurative prophetic language. So much is expressed with so little.

In His right hand were seven stars, the messengers of the churches. Out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword (John 12:48, Hebrews 4:12), His face had the overwhelming beauty and the power and the purity of the noon sun.

John reacted Just as we would have; he fell down on his face. But the One who stood before him reached out to reassure him. He is the First and the Last. He has battled death and won. He holds the keys of death and Hades. He is here to comfort and not to frighten.

The command is repeated to write what is being revealed.

Verse 20 explains that the stars are the angels of the seven churches. An angel is simply "a messenger," so it is safe to say that the letter was to be transmitted through this (human) means (2 Corinthians 8:23), Since many things in Revelation are given angels, it would also be safe to say that these angels represent the essential natures of the congregations themselves.

Clark, Adam (1967), Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House).

Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), (C) Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission."