John introduces his book as a revelation given to him by Jesus and pronounces a special blessing on those who read, hear, and take to heart "the words of this prophecy" (1:1-3). The book is sent to the seven Asian churches with which John has special ties (vv. 4-5a) and is dedicated to Jesus as coming Saviour (vv. 5b-8).
John now tells his story. While exiled to Patmos, by the Roman emperor Domitian (A.D. 81-96), John was praying one Sunday, when a voice instructed him to write what he was about to see (vv. 9-11). John turned and was given a vision of Jesus in His full glory, so awesome that John fell to the ground, stunned (vv. 12-17). Jesus lifted him up, identified Himself, and told John to write (vv. 18-20).
The believer’s personal application: The gentle, loving, and merciful Jesus is also our glorious God.
TEXTUAL INSIGHT
"The revelation of Jesus" (1:1):
Here Jesus is the one who discloses "what must soon take place"—and in the process reveals something of His own glory.
“Blessing” (1:3):
The "one who reads" and "those who hear" refer to a public reading of the book in church. Because this is "prophecy," in the sense of divine revelation, it merits immediate acceptance as Scripture. Because the revelation comes directly from the risen Jesus, it is of utmost importance.
"The seven churches" (1:4):
All seven were in the Roman province of Asia, now Asia Minor. They are listed in 1:11, and a message directed to each is found in Revelation 2 and 3.
"Firstborn from the dead" (1:5a):
Christ's resurrection is the pledge that we too will be raised. He was not only the first; He is the one who has supreme authority over the vast family of faith destined to follow Him.
“Doxology to Christ” (1:5b-6):
Here is some of the most powerful praise found in the Bible, celebrating Christ's love, the forgiveness won for us by His blood, and the exalted position to which He has raised us.
“John's exile” (1:9):
Tradition agrees that as an old man John was exiled during the reign of Domitian and that he wrote Revelation from Patmos, an island off the coast of Asia Minor. The book was probably written in the mid A.D. 90s.
“The vision of Jesus” (1:12-15):
Each element in the seven-element description of the glorified Christ has symbolic significance. The head and hair reflect Daniel 7:9 and symbolize wisdom and judgment. The eyes of blazing fire reflect Daniel 10:6 and may indicate a penetrating gaze or perhaps the fierceness of the judgment to come. The feet of glowing metal reflect a common Old Testament symbol of God's glory, found in Ezekiel 1:13, 27; 8:2; Daniel 10:6. The voice like rushing waters is a familiar metaphor in Jewish writings for the power of God's voice, repeated in Revelation 14:2 and 19:6.
The doubled-edged sword may reflect Isaiah 11:4, which is again a portrait of final judgment. Anyone who has heard a thundering waterfall can sense why. Overall, John's language serves to express the awesomeness of the glorified Christ's appearance and the unity of this book with Old Testament prophetic books that describe history's end.
"First and the Last" (1:17):
This title used also in Isaiah 44:6 and 48:12 affirms Jesus as Lord of Creation and Master of history.
"The keys of death and Hades" (1:18):
Keys were a symbol of authority. Jesus has full control over every realm.
“The key to interpreting Revelation” (1:19):
Many understand this verse to provide the key to understanding Revelation. "What you have seen" is John's vision of Jesus, found in chapter 1. "What is now" is reflected in the letters Christ dictates, to be sent to the seven Asia Minor churches, found in chapters 2-3. And, "what will take place later" is a vision of history's end, correlated with the Old Testament prophet's vision of that time, found in chapters 4-21.
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