Revelation Chapter 1

Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified [it] by his angel unto his servant John:

The first thing we notice, is that it is the Revelation, not Revelations. Who gave this Revelation to Jesus, God gave it to him. The Greek word for Revelation is apokalupsis which literally means "unveiling" or "taking off the cover". The book of Revelation is the unveiling of Jesus Christ. The book unveils his relationship to the church, to judgment and to the things to come in the future. The purpose of the Revelation is to reveal to his servants things that must soon take place.

The book was written by the apostle John, who at the time was imprisoned on the island of Patmos, in the Aegean Sea. John was praying and he began to see visions given to him by the Lord Jesus through an Angel. You might say he received an Angel-gram. These visions were signs and symbols of things that were to happen in the future. This takes place about 95 A.D., can you imagine being propelled 2,000 years into the future and then having to give a report. How would you describe things you have never seen or heard of before?

Rev 1:2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

Signed, sealed and delivered. John certified that the things he saw and heard, were from Jesus Christ himself.

Rev 1:3 Blessed [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.

The book of Revelation is the only book that I know that can make this kind of bold statement. You actually receive a blessing from reading and listening to the words of Revelation. Well it makes sense, just think, your reading the actual words of Jesus Christ. You are learning what the future holds for each of us. Knowing the future in advance has all kinds of benefits. If you knew how things were going to turn out in your future, you would probably have changed a lot of things that you did. The book of Revelation gives us this opportunity, like any good text book, all the answers are in the back. The key to unlocking your future is written in the words of Jesus, through his servant John. Now, if that's not a blessing, I don't know what is!

Rev 1:4 John 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;

The first part of the book deals with seven churches. Now, there was more than seven churches, but these churches were specifically chosen because they represent the history of the church. The church of that day, the church as it went through different periods and the church as it was to come. Basically, these seven churches, represent the history of the church, from beginning to end.

The seven Spirits, which are before the throne of God, are the seven-fold powers of the Holy Spirit. We find this in the book of Isaiah, "And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;" Isaiah 11:2 The Holy Spirit ministers to us with wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge and fear of the Lord.

Seven is God's number for completeness: seven days in a week, seven colors in a rainbow, seven notes in the music scale, etc.

Rev 1:5 And 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,

John confirms the authorship of the book of Revelation. From Jesus Christ, what better person to attest to the authenticity of this book than Jesus himself. "First begotten", refers to Jesus being first in importance or prominence, not first in time to be raised from the dead. He is to be the most important person in our lives, he is our King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Only Jesus, loved us enough to die for us, that through his blood, our sins have been washed away, once and forever, if we believe in him.

Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Believer's will reign with Christ in the Kingdom age to come.

Rev 1:7 Behold, 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.

What an awesome sight, just imagine looking up to the clouds and seeing the return of Jesus Christ. Every, all, will see him, no one will miss this event, even those who pierced him, shall take part in this event. The whole earth will mourn, when they realize what humanity did to Jesus. I believe that he will still bare the scars that he suffered on the cross, so that we would be reminded throughout eternity.

Rev 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Jesus is the first and the last, he was there in the beginning during creation, and he will be there in the end, at the second coming. He always was, always is and always will be.

Rev 1:9 I 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.

John was imprisoned on the island of Patmos, a modern day version of Alcatraz. He was imprisoned for preaching and teaching the Word of God. He was sharing the testimony of Jesus Christ. The way this world is today, many of us could end up the same way. Just mention the name of Jesus and see what kind of looks you get. The word, God, is just to vague, but you mention Jesus, and almost everyone, knows who you are talking about. Next time someone sneezes, try saying Jesus bless you instead of God bless you. See what kind of reaction you get.

Rev 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

John was more than just tuned into the Holy Spirit, this was a special anointing. He was picked as a deliverer of a special message from the almighty Lord himself. I believe, as of a trumpet, means the voice was loud and clear.

Rev 1:11 Saying, 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.

John is commanded to write down what he sees and send it to the seven specific churches that the Lord had instructed. As mentioned earlier, there was a lot more than seven churches, but these churches represented the history of the church as well as the life of the believer, and much more as we will learn.

Rev 1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
Rev 1:13 And 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.
Rev 1:14 His head and [his] hairs [were] white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes [were] as a flame of fire;
Rev 1:15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

Seven golden candlesticks, one for each of the seven churches. Who is the 'light of the world', Jesus! What is the purpose of the church, to be a light in this world of darkness. What is the source of light for the church to shine, the teaching of the word of Jesus Christ. How bright does your church shine? So, who is in the midst of the seven churches, Jesus.

Here we have the only known description of Jesus in the New Testament. Jesus in all his glory is described. Clothed with a robe fit for a king, clear down to his feet showing, righteousness and honor. A golden breastplate or girdle across his chest with names of his people engraved, ready to fulfill his role as redeemer. His hair as white as snow, pure and tried as the, 'Ancient of Days'. His flaming, penetrating eyes that pierce even the hardest of hearts. His feet sturdy and strong and voice commanding, full of knowledge and wisdom.

Rev 1:16 And 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.

His right hand, the hand of righteousness, held seven stars. The seven stars represent the leaders, or leadership, of the seven churches. This could even mean the angels that God uses to watch over and is assigned to each church, Revelation 1:20.  The Word of the Lord is a two-edged sword, it can wound and heal at the same time. His strength is so pure and bright that we can't look upon him with our earthly eyes.

Rev 1:17 And 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:
Rev 1:18 I [am] he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Rev 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

John collapsed at the feet of Jesus, being in the presence of the mostly holy, full of glory and power, no mortal man could stay on his feet. But Jesus being full of grace, picks him up, saying do not fear, it's I, Jesus. The same Jesus that lived and then died upon that cross, only to be raised for evermore. Do not fear, for I am the only one that has the keys of hell and death. Don't worry, just write down the things that I am going to show you.

Rev 1:20 The 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.

Jesus reveals to us the mystery of the seven stars and the seven golden candle sticks. The stars represent the seven angels of the seven churches: and the seven golden candlesticks are the seven churches. No guessing, just the facts, Jesus wants us to know what he has in store for us and the church. He wants us to be informed.