Verse 1.
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must happen very soon. He made it clear by sending his angel to his servant John…
It is Jesus the Messiah or Jesus the Anointed One.
The Greek phrase translated into English as “the revelation of Jesus Christ” has two meanings: “the revelation from Jesus Christ” and “the revelation about Jesus Christ. The key word is “apokalypsis” which is “apo” (to lift) and kalypsis (veil or cover). Thus, it could mean “the lifting of the veil” or “uncovering,” thus “the unveiling of Jesus Christ for all to see.” Here is the one Who was always there.
In 1:1 and 22:16, Jesus clearly sent his angel to proclaim the message to John; thus the message is from Christ. On a broader scale, though, the revelation is about Christ.
This is not primarily the lifting of the veil of coming events, but the lifting of the veil revealing Jesus.
Servants and servant are the word “doulos,” which is the normal word for “slave.” It might better be “bondservant,” here – a slave who willingly stays with His master out of love after being given His freedom. The idea is that of becoming a slave of Jesus Christ voluntarily.
“What must happen very soon” doesn’t necessary that it must happen “soon” from the writer’s perspective or from the time the writer writes. Rather, that “once the appointed time comes, it will happen quickly.” Once something starts, it happens quickly.
He “signified it” or “made it clear” or “he indicated it clearly,” or “he made it known by a miracle sign.”
By sending His angel: God used angels to communicate messages to Moses, Abraham, Joshua, the prophets, and the apostles. See Rev. 22: 6, 8, 16.
The Chain of Communication was: 1) God fully and directly to Jesus; 2) Jesus to the Angel; 3) the Angle to John; 4) from John to us, his bondservants.
AMPC. “This is the revelation of Jesus Christ [His unveiling and the unveiling of divine mysteries]. God gave it to Him to disclose and make known to His bond servants certain things which must shortly and speedily come to pass in their entirety. And He sent and communicated it through His angel (messenger) to His bond servant John…
Verse 2.
who then testified to everything that he saw concerning the word of God and the testimony about Jesus Christ.
AMPC. “Who has testified to and vouched for all that he saw in his visions - the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Verse 3.
Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy aloud, and blessed are those who hear and obey the things written in it, because the time is near!
At this time, reading this prophecy would normally mean reading it aloud and not silently to oneself.
To “obey the things” or “keep the things” means “to continue to obey” and by implication to “continue to obey until the end.”
Does “The time” refer to the time when the things prophesied would happen?
There are six other times in Revelation where blessing (hearing and faithfully doing) what the Word says brings blessing: 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22: 7, 14. (Blessed is He who keeps these words. Blessed are they who keep His commandments because they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter through the gates into the City. Blessed is those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. Blessed is He who watches (for the coming of Christ) and keeps his garments clean. Blessed is those who die in the Lord. They shall not suffer anymore death and will go from LIFE to LIFE.
AMPC. “Blessed, happy, and to be envied is the man who reads aloud in the assemblies the word of this prophecy; and blessed, happy, and to be envied are those who hear it read and who keep themselves true to the things which are written in it, heeding them and laying them to heart, for the time for them to be fulfilled is near.
Verse 4.
From John to the seven churches that are in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from “he who is,” and who was, and who is still to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne….
“Asia” in the NT this always refers to the Roman province of Asia, which made up about one-third of modern Asia Minor and was on the western side of it (modern Western Turkey). Asia lay to the west of the region of Phrygia and Galatia. This does not refer to the modern continent of Asia.
There were many churches in Asia Minor. These 7 churches were representative of the Body of Christ (many churches) in Western Turkey. Seven is the number for completeness, wholeness, fullness, and perfection.
The seven-fold Spirit is the Holy Spirit. We can see God as “three-in-one” and the Holy Spirit can be “seven in one.” See Is, 11:2-3; Zech. 4: 1-10; Rev. 3:1, 4:5, 5:6. Also the Book of Revelation can be seen as structured around seven things: seven bowls, seven Spirits, seven lampstands, seven horns, seven seals, seven trumpets, seven thunders.
AMPC. “John to the seven assemblies that are in Asia: May grace, that is, God’s unmerited favor, be granted to you along with spiritual peace (the peace of Christ’s kingdom) from Him Who is and Who was and Who is to come, and from the sevenfold Holy Spirit before His throne…
Verse 5.
and from Jesus Christ—the faithful witness, the firstborn from among the dead, the ruler over the kings of the earth. To the one who loves us and has set us free from our sins at the cost of his own blood….
Could be translated: Jesus Christ—the faithful one, the witness…” The idea of martyrdom and faithfulness are intimately connected.
The Greek term translated witness can mean both “witness” and “martyr.”
John was trying to say that Christ delivered us at the price of his own blood or at the cost of His blood. He washed us, loosed us, and set us free or freed us from sin.
Jesus was a faithful witness to the truth while He was on earth. Jo. 18:37 (Jesus’ testimony to Pilate).
Jesus is the firstborn from the dead, the first one to conquer death.
As Prophet, Jesus only speaks His Father’s words. As High Priest, Jesus is the first born from the dead. As King, Jesus rules all the Kings of the earth.
He constantly loves us.
AMPC. “And from Jesus Christ the faithful and trustworthy Witness, the Firstborn of the dead, that is, the first to be brought back to life, and the Prince or Ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him Who ever loves us and has once for all loosed and freed us from our sins by His own blood…
Verse 6.
and has appointed us as a kingdom, as priests serving his God and Father—to him be the glory and the power for ever and ever! Amen. See AMPC translation below.
The word for “made” can indicate appointment or assignment rather than simply “make” or “do.” See Mark 3:14.
If “kings and priests” is used as the translation, we have both the nature of a king and a priest within us because Christ is in us.
AMPC. “And formed us into a kingdom, a royal race, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the power and the majesty and the dominion throughout the ages and forever and ever. Amen (so be it).
Verse 7.
(Look! He is returning with the clouds,] and every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him, and all the tribes] on the earth will mourn because of him. This will certainly come to pass! Amen.)
See Dan. 7:13. Depending on your eschatological view, this could be an illusion to Dan. “Even those who pierced Him” is an illusion to Zech. 12:10. The people who crucified him are those of every tribe on the earth and they will mourn because he comes as judge. “Even so, Amen” means that “this will certainly come to pass.”
NKJV says “He is coming.” Could be comes or appears. It is the Greek “Erchomai.” This is a present tense reality, not a distant one. Could be translated “He is coming” or “He is in the act of coming can continues to come.”
“With clouds” could be “He will be surrounded with clouds” or “He appears with clouds or between clouds.” These are clouds of glory. The clouds are now plural. See Dan. 7: 13-14; Mt. 26:64: I Thes. 4:17.
All of us have pierced Jesus’s side with our unbelief and sin. When I sin, I pierce Him again.
AMPC. “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 shall gaze upon Him and beat their breasts and mourn and lament over Him. Even so must it be. Amen, so be it.
Verse 8.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God—the one who is, and who was, and who is still to come—the All-Powerful!”
See 21:6 for “alpha and omega.”
God is “the Almighty, All-Powerful, Omnipotent One …. See Rev 4:8; 11:17; 16:7; 21:22; 15:3.
We could say that Jesus is “the first and the last,” the A to Z, The Aleph to the Tav.
“Lord God” here is “Lord of Armies.”
“Alpha and Omega” could be “A to Z” or “Aleph to Tav.” Christ is before all things, and He is the end of all things. He is everything in between the beginning and the ending. Jesus has all knowledge and is the sum of all truth.
AMPC. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, says the Lord God, He Who is and Who was and Who is to come, the Almighty (the Ruler of all).
Verse 9.
“I, John, your brother and the one who shares with you in the persecution, kingdom, and endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony about Jesus.”
This brings out the idea of being a “co-sharer”; John was suffering for his faith at the time he wrote this. Could be translated ““your brother and the one who shares with you in Jesus in His persecution, kingdom, and endurance.”
Persecution above is tribulation. The Greek is “phlipsis.” Phlipsis means “great pressure” or tribulation and every Christian endures it. In fact, all men will suffer in this life. We can suffer as God directs and reap the benefits or we can suffer as man holds to do, in our own strength, and reap only death.
As a fellow companion of the Kingdom of God, John verifies that the Kingdom began with the resurrection of Jesus, and it was expanding and continues to expand today. Is. 9:7. John was on Patmos but in the Kingdom.
AMPC. “I, John, your brother and companion, a sharer and participator with you, in the tribulation and kingdom and patient endurance which are in Jesus Christ, was on the isle called Patmos, banished there on account of my witnessing to the Word of God and the testimony, the proof, the evidence, for Jesus Christ.”
John co-shares or is in co-union with the believers in Jesus Christ.
Patmos is a small, rocky island in the Aegean Sea about 10 miles by 5 miles. It was a Roman penal colony, and it means “my killing” or “my crushing.” But “our killing” took place on the cross. See Gal. 2:20.
Verse 10.
“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day when I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet.”
“Spirit” refers to the Holy Spirit. It could be “I became in union with the Holy Spirit.” Job. 32:8. The Spirit that gave the message must interpret it.
Or “shofar.” The shofar carries a message. I Cor. 14:8. The voice sounding like a trumpet blast points to a fresh and proclamation.
AMPC. “I was in the Spirit [raptured in His power] on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a great voice like the calling of a war trumpet…”
Verse 11.
saying: “Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches—to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”
AMPC. “Saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last. Write promptly what you see (your vision) in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia—to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”
TPT note. Seven is God’s number – the number of perfection. The seven churches make up one perfect and complete church in His eyes. The seven churches speak of completeness or fullness. Just as seven represents that the Holy Spirit is full and complete, so the seven churches represent fullness and completion in Jesus. We are the seven in one bride.
Verse 12.
“I turned to see whose voice was speaking to me, and when I did so, I saw seven golden lampstands.”
AMPC. “Then I turned to see [whose was] the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands.”
Verse 13.
“and in the midst of the lampstands was one like a son of man. He was dressed in a robe extending down to his feet and he wore a wide golden belt around his chest.”
AMPC. “And in the midst of the lampstands [One] like a Son of Man, clothed with a robe which reached to His feet and with a girdle of gold about His breast.”
“The Son of Man.” This phrase is an allusion to Dan 7:13. A girdle of gold about his breast: “a wide golden sash,” but this would not be diagonal, as some modern sashes are, but horizontal. The Greek term can refer to a wide band of cloth or leather worn on the outside of one’s clothing. TPT. This is the ascended Christ appearing as King and High Priest. One priestly duty was to tend the Lampstands – keeping them full of fresh oil. The robe is most likely a priestly robe. Over the heart of the ascended, glorified Christ is a golden sash of Love for His bride.
Verse 14.
“His head and hair were as white as wool, even as white as snow, and his eyes were like a fiery flame.” See Dan. 7: 9-14. TPT. His head or headship speaks of Christ’s authority. White speaks of God’s righteousness, His Wisdom, His Omniscience, His justice, and His leadership. See Dan. 7: 7-9. Considered together, Jesus is likened to the Ancient of Days. Speaking of His eyes, see Dan. 10:6.
Verse 15.
“His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters.”
The precise meaning of the Greek term translated “polished bronze” or “fine brass,” is unknown. The term appears nowhere else in Greek literature. It is metal: “fine brass or bronze.” Perhaps, it refers to particularly valuable or fine bronze. The emphasis seems to also the lustrous quality of the metal.
TPT. “Brass” is a symbol of having passed through judgment. Jesus went through Judgment for my sins and with feet on fire, He now kindles fire wherever He walks. See Ps. 29:3; Ez. 1:24; Ez. 43:2. Rev. 17:15 shows that “waters are emblematic of multitudes of people.”
ASV. burnished brass.
AMP. burnished [white-hot] bronze.
CEB. fine brass that has been purified in a furnace.
GNT. like brass that has been refined and polished
What is an alloy? A metal alloy is a substance that combines more than one metal or mixes a metal with other non-metallic elements.
For example, brass is an alloy of two metals: copper and zinc. Bronze is an alloy of mainly copper with smaller amounts of tin and other metals.
Alloys are an example of “teamwork makes the dream work. Alloys take the best attributes of each contributing element and create a final product that is harder or more durable.
Verse 16.
He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp double-edged sword extended out of his mouth. His face shone like the sun shining at full strength.
The sword coming out of His mouth is a metaphor for the Word of God. Ep. 6:17; He. 4:12. Revelation’s message is like a sword from Jesus’s mouth. For the Sun shining at full strength, see Ps. 84:11; Mt. 17: 1-2; and Jo. 8:12.
Verse 17-18.
“When I saw Him, I fell down at his feet as though I were dead, but He placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid! I am the first and the last, and the one who lives! I was dead, but look, now I am alive—forever and ever—and I hold the keys of death and of Hades!
TPT. Remember that John was the disciple who knew that Jesus loved Him. He had walked with Jesus for three years and had even leaned upon His breast. Yet when he saw Jesus in His glorified state, he feels to the ground as one dead.
In v. 16, Jesus holds the seven stars in his right hand. He now touches John with his right hand. Jesus’s right hand speaks of Power, Authority, and Blessing. See Ps. 16:11; 118: 15-16; Is. 41:10; Col. 3:1.
Concerning “Hades,” it is the place of the dead, Ac 2:27, 31; Ps 16:10; Eccl 9:10. Of Jonah’s fish and in the depths, contrasted with heaven Mt 11:23; Lk 10:15 (Ps.15:10; cf.; Is 14:11, 15). Accessible by gates. See Is 38:10; Ps 16:2. See also Mt 16:18 and Rev 1:18. In the OT, Hades was known as Sheol. It is the place where the unrighteous will reside (Matt 11:23; Luke 16:23; Rev 20:13-14).
Verse 19-20.
Therefore, write what you saw, what is, and what will be after these things. Verse 19 could also be translated: “Therefore write what you have seen, both what things currently are and what is going to happen after these things.”
The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”
Angels could be messengers.
TPT. The things that John had seen included the entire Book of Revelation. “What is” is the present situation. “What comes” is the coming events. All that John saw was for the present and the future.