Chris' commentary notes for revelation chapter 1
Notes on Revelation 1:1-8.
Revelation 1. “revelation” means “to reveal”, not to keep hidden.
1:1. Must shortly take place. God’s timeline.
He sent and signified it. Guzik elaborates on “signified” being “sign-ified.”
1. Why does God use so many signs in the Book of Revelation? After all, they have been the main cause of difficulty with the book. Is God playing a game of "guess this mystery?" in Revelation? Not at all. The signs are necessary because John expresses things of heaven, which Paul said he heard with inexpressible words (2 Corinthians 12:4). John describes things he has seen, so he can only use symbolic images to explain them. To us, this book is prophecy. But to John, he simply recorded history unfolding before him, as he saw it. "John had visions from heaven; but he described them in his own language and manner." (Clarke)
2. The signs are also necessary because there is tremendous power in symbolic language. It is one thing to call someone or something "evil" or "bad." But it is far more vivid to describe the image of a woman drunk with the blood of the saints (Revelation 17:6).
3. Though it is filled with signs, the Book of Revelation is accessible to those who have an understanding of the first 65 books of the Bible, and especially an understanding of the first 39 books of the Bible, the Old Testament. The Book of Revelation is rooted in the Old Testament. It contains more than 500 allusions to the Old Testament, and 278 of the 404 verses in Revelation (that is almost 70%) make some reference to the Old Testament (Source 1).
by His angel to His servant John. I used this in talking to someone about the proof that Scripture is written by God and not just man’s words. In 2 Peter 1: 20 it says, “knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” John tells us that the book of Revelation came about by a vision (Rev. 1:1-3), Isaiah the same thing (Isaiah 1:1), Jeremiah (Jer. 1:1-4) and in Romans, Paul shows that his message is from God (Rom. 1:7) by speaking “grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ” So although we don’t know if it was this way for every writer we certainly have examples. Another verse is 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is inspired by God.”
Also one example of how accurate what we have now vs. what was written thousands of years ago can be found in the Dead Sea Scrolls. In 1947 a shepherd boy found jars in a cave that had scrolls in them. When scholars looked at them they realized that one of them was the complete book of Isaiah. I went to a conference a couple years ago and heard two of the scholars who have studied it (Dr. Norman Geisler and Dr. Walter Kaiser) and they said there were about 4 differences between the two and none of them made a difference. It was like how the British spell the word “color” as “colour”, the same meanings just a different way of spelling it. I’ve added a quote from a website: “A comparison of the MT [“Masoretic Text “] to this earlier text revealed the remarkable accuracy with which scribes copied the sacred texts” (Source 2).
Regarding “angel”, in the Greek this is aggelos (G32) meaning “a messenger, envoy, one who is sent, an angel, a messenger from God.” Thayers Greek Lexicon says, “in the Scriptures, both of the Old Test. And of the New, one of that host of heavenly spirits that, according alike to Jewish and Christian opinion, wait upon the monarch of the universe, and are sent by [H]im to earth, now to execute [H]is purposes…” Used each time Joseph and Mary were talked to (in all four Gospels), used for the messengers after the resurrection (in all four Gospels). Also Acts 6:15 has Stephen’s face as if it was that of an “angel”. Used all throughout Acts and the rest of the New Testament (Source 3).
1:3. Keeps those things which are written in it. See notes on Rev. 22:7 titled, "blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book" " for more on how to obey the book of Revelation.
1:4. Him who is. Interesting that this is similar language to Rev. 17:8. Here it is speaking of the Almighty and in 17:8 it is speaking of a demon.
Seven Spirits. (of Holy Spirit), see Is. 11:2. Guzik says, “this speaks to the perfection and completion of the Holy Spirit.” These are “seven aspects of the Holy Spirit”: 1. The LORD, 2. Of wisdom, 3. Understanding, 4. counsel, 5. might, 6. knowledge and 7. Fear of the Lord. He notes, “It isn't that there are seven different spirits of God, rather the Spirit of the LORD has these characteristics, and He has them all in fullness and perfection” (Source 1).
1:6. His God and Father. Also translated: “God and His Father.”
1:7. He is coming with clouds: “When Jesus comes, He will be surrounded by clouds. This will be true literally, because when Jesus left this earth, He was taken up into a cloud, and God said that He would return in the same manner (Acts 1:9-11). It will also be true figuratively, because multitudes believers are called clouds in a figurative manner (Hebrews 12:1). Clouds are commonly associated with God's presence and glory (Exodus 13:21-22, 16:10, 19:9, and 24:15-18), relating to the Old Testament cloud of glory called the Shekinah. Understanding this connection with the glory of God, it is fitting - and wonderful - that the multitude of believers is called a cloud. God's people are His glory. They are His "cloud," His Shekinah” (Source 1).
And every eye will see Him: When Jesus comes, it won't be a "secret" coming. Everyone will know. At His first coming, Jesus was somewhat obscure. During His earthly ministry, He never made front-page news in Rome. But when Jesus comes again, every eye will see Him. The whole world will know (Source 1).
Even they who pierced Him: When Jesus comes, it will be a particularly meaningful revelation for the Jewish people. Of course, it was not the Jews alone who pierced Him. But we know John has in mind the revelation of Jesus to His own people because this is an allusion to Zechariah 12:10. When Jesus reveals Himself to His own people, the Jews, it will not be in anger. By that time, the Jewish nation will have turned to Jesus, trusting in Him as their Messiah (Matthew 23:39, Romans 11:25-26). When they see Jesus, and His pierced hands and feet, it will be a painful reminder of their previous rejection of Him (Source 1).
1:8. “I am the Alpha and Omega. Only God can say this! This represents the first and last letters in the Greek alphabet. (Our “A” and “Z”). The connotation is God is the beginning and the end, the first and the last. I think of the endless combination of words that can be made out of 26 letters in the English language. In the same way, Jesus knows eternity. MacArthur says these combinations can represent any of the unknown forces that could affect His second coming, and that he has known them and conquered them (p. 1992). Also in Rev. 1:11, 21:6, 22:13.
The Almighty. This is Christ speaking, God the Father said He was the Almighty in Gen. 17:1 (and many other places, the word is used 57 times in the Bible). Also in Rev. 4:8, 11:17, 15:13, 16:7, 16:14, 19:15, 21:22.
References:
Source 1: David Guzik, http://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide_Rev/Rev_1.cfm?a=1168001.
Source 2: http://www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=13&article=357
Source 3: http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G32&t=KJV
Revelation 1. “revelation” means “to reveal”, not to keep hidden.
1:1. Must shortly take place. God’s timeline.
He sent and signified it. Guzik elaborates on “signified” being “sign-ified.”
1. Why does God use so many signs in the Book of Revelation? After all, they have been the main cause of difficulty with the book. Is God playing a game of "guess this mystery?" in Revelation? Not at all. The signs are necessary because John expresses things of heaven, which Paul said he heard with inexpressible words (2 Corinthians 12:4). John describes things he has seen, so he can only use symbolic images to explain them. To us, this book is prophecy. But to John, he simply recorded history unfolding before him, as he saw it. "John had visions from heaven; but he described them in his own language and manner." (Clarke)
2. The signs are also necessary because there is tremendous power in symbolic language. It is one thing to call someone or something "evil" or "bad." But it is far more vivid to describe the image of a woman drunk with the blood of the saints (Revelation 17:6).
3. Though it is filled with signs, the Book of Revelation is accessible to those who have an understanding of the first 65 books of the Bible, and especially an understanding of the first 39 books of the Bible, the Old Testament. The Book of Revelation is rooted in the Old Testament. It contains more than 500 allusions to the Old Testament, and 278 of the 404 verses in Revelation (that is almost 70%) make some reference to the Old Testament (Source 1).
by His angel to His servant John. I used this in talking to someone about the proof that Scripture is written by God and not just man’s words. In 2 Peter 1: 20 it says, “knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” John tells us that the book of Revelation came about by a vision (Rev. 1:1-3), Isaiah the same thing (Isaiah 1:1), Jeremiah (Jer. 1:1-4) and in Romans, Paul shows that his message is from God (Rom. 1:7) by speaking “grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ” So although we don’t know if it was this way for every writer we certainly have examples. Another verse is 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is inspired by God.”
Also one example of how accurate what we have now vs. what was written thousands of years ago can be found in the Dead Sea Scrolls. In 1947 a shepherd boy found jars in a cave that had scrolls in them. When scholars looked at them they realized that one of them was the complete book of Isaiah. I went to a conference a couple years ago and heard two of the scholars who have studied it (Dr. Norman Geisler and Dr. Walter Kaiser) and they said there were about 4 differences between the two and none of them made a difference. It was like how the British spell the word “color” as “colour”, the same meanings just a different way of spelling it. I’ve added a quote from a website: “A comparison of the MT [“Masoretic Text “] to this earlier text revealed the remarkable accuracy with which scribes copied the sacred texts” (Source 2).
Regarding “angel”, in the Greek this is aggelos (G32) meaning “a messenger, envoy, one who is sent, an angel, a messenger from God.” Thayers Greek Lexicon says, “in the Scriptures, both of the Old Test. And of the New, one of that host of heavenly spirits that, according alike to Jewish and Christian opinion, wait upon the monarch of the universe, and are sent by [H]im to earth, now to execute [H]is purposes…” Used each time Joseph and Mary were talked to (in all four Gospels), used for the messengers after the resurrection (in all four Gospels). Also Acts 6:15 has Stephen’s face as if it was that of an “angel”. Used all throughout Acts and the rest of the New Testament (Source 3).
1:3. Keeps those things which are written in it. See notes on Rev. 22:7 titled, "blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book" " for more on how to obey the book of Revelation.
1:4. Him who is. Interesting that this is similar language to Rev. 17:8. Here it is speaking of the Almighty and in 17:8 it is speaking of a demon.
Seven Spirits. (of Holy Spirit), see Is. 11:2. Guzik says, “this speaks to the perfection and completion of the Holy Spirit.” These are “seven aspects of the Holy Spirit”: 1. The LORD, 2. Of wisdom, 3. Understanding, 4. counsel, 5. might, 6. knowledge and 7. Fear of the Lord. He notes, “It isn't that there are seven different spirits of God, rather the Spirit of the LORD has these characteristics, and He has them all in fullness and perfection” (Source 1).
1:6. His God and Father. Also translated: “God and His Father.”
1:7. He is coming with clouds: “When Jesus comes, He will be surrounded by clouds. This will be true literally, because when Jesus left this earth, He was taken up into a cloud, and God said that He would return in the same manner (Acts 1:9-11). It will also be true figuratively, because multitudes believers are called clouds in a figurative manner (Hebrews 12:1). Clouds are commonly associated with God's presence and glory (Exodus 13:21-22, 16:10, 19:9, and 24:15-18), relating to the Old Testament cloud of glory called the Shekinah. Understanding this connection with the glory of God, it is fitting - and wonderful - that the multitude of believers is called a cloud. God's people are His glory. They are His "cloud," His Shekinah” (Source 1).
And every eye will see Him: When Jesus comes, it won't be a "secret" coming. Everyone will know. At His first coming, Jesus was somewhat obscure. During His earthly ministry, He never made front-page news in Rome. But when Jesus comes again, every eye will see Him. The whole world will know (Source 1).
Even they who pierced Him: When Jesus comes, it will be a particularly meaningful revelation for the Jewish people. Of course, it was not the Jews alone who pierced Him. But we know John has in mind the revelation of Jesus to His own people because this is an allusion to Zechariah 12:10. When Jesus reveals Himself to His own people, the Jews, it will not be in anger. By that time, the Jewish nation will have turned to Jesus, trusting in Him as their Messiah (Matthew 23:39, Romans 11:25-26). When they see Jesus, and His pierced hands and feet, it will be a painful reminder of their previous rejection of Him (Source 1).
1:8. “I am the Alpha and Omega. Only God can say this! This represents the first and last letters in the Greek alphabet. (Our “A” and “Z”). The connotation is God is the beginning and the end, the first and the last. I think of the endless combination of words that can be made out of 26 letters in the English language. In the same way, Jesus knows eternity. MacArthur says these combinations can represent any of the unknown forces that could affect His second coming, and that he has known them and conquered them (p. 1992). Also in Rev. 1:11, 21:6, 22:13.
The Almighty. This is Christ speaking, God the Father said He was the Almighty in Gen. 17:1 (and many other places, the word is used 57 times in the Bible). Also in Rev. 4:8, 11:17, 15:13, 16:7, 16:14, 19:15, 21:22.
References:
Source 1: David Guzik, http://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide_Rev/Rev_1.cfm?a=1168001.
Source 2: http://www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=13&article=357
Source 3: http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G32&t=KJV
Notes on Revelation 1:9-13.
1:9. Patmos. The island John was imprisoned on by Emperor Domitian (see note on Revelation Introduction, under “Background of the Book”).
1:11. The Church Pattern. Why is Ephesus mentioned first? Is there a reason or any organization behind how the list of Churches is structured? Some have suggested that it is because they are arranged in a roughly circular pattern. Others have thought it was because these were postal districts in the Roman province of Asia. Many believe seven churches were chosen because in the Bible, the number seven often represents completeness, and these letters - and all of the Book of Revelation - are written to the complete church, not only these seven churches. Seiss writes, "The churches of all time are comprehended in seven," and quotes many modern and ancient commentators that agree with this perspective. ‘It is the opinion of very learned writers upon this book, that our Lord, by these seven churches, signifies all the churches of Christ to the end of the world; and by what he saith to them, designs to show what shall be the state of churches in all ages, and what their duty is.’ (Poole)” (Source 1). See the notes before chapter 2 titled, “Revelation 2-3. The Churches” for more info.
1:12. Seven golden lampstands. "The seven churches", according to Rev. 1:20.
Revelation 1:13-16. The figurative description of Jesus.
1:13. Like the Son of Man. Jesus used this term to refer to Himself many times in the NT. Interestingly, He shows Himself to John in His human body (having hair, feet, etc.) but has just referred to Himself as God (Rev. 1:8. “I am the Alpha and Omega” and “Almighty”). He is truly both fully Man and fully God!
Clothed with a garment…about the chest with a golden band. Many of the times this is used in the OT it refers to the High Priest. “The golden sash across His chest completes the picture of Christ serving in His priestly role (cf. Lev. 16:1-4; Heb. 2:17)” (Source 2).
References:
Source 1: David Guzik, http://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide_Rev/Rev_1.cfm?a=1168001.
Source 2: John MacArthur, John MacArthur Study Bible, p. 1993
1:9. Patmos. The island John was imprisoned on by Emperor Domitian (see note on Revelation Introduction, under “Background of the Book”).
1:11. The Church Pattern. Why is Ephesus mentioned first? Is there a reason or any organization behind how the list of Churches is structured? Some have suggested that it is because they are arranged in a roughly circular pattern. Others have thought it was because these were postal districts in the Roman province of Asia. Many believe seven churches were chosen because in the Bible, the number seven often represents completeness, and these letters - and all of the Book of Revelation - are written to the complete church, not only these seven churches. Seiss writes, "The churches of all time are comprehended in seven," and quotes many modern and ancient commentators that agree with this perspective. ‘It is the opinion of very learned writers upon this book, that our Lord, by these seven churches, signifies all the churches of Christ to the end of the world; and by what he saith to them, designs to show what shall be the state of churches in all ages, and what their duty is.’ (Poole)” (Source 1). See the notes before chapter 2 titled, “Revelation 2-3. The Churches” for more info.
1:12. Seven golden lampstands. "The seven churches", according to Rev. 1:20.
Revelation 1:13-16. The figurative description of Jesus.
1:13. Like the Son of Man. Jesus used this term to refer to Himself many times in the NT. Interestingly, He shows Himself to John in His human body (having hair, feet, etc.) but has just referred to Himself as God (Rev. 1:8. “I am the Alpha and Omega” and “Almighty”). He is truly both fully Man and fully God!
Clothed with a garment…about the chest with a golden band. Many of the times this is used in the OT it refers to the High Priest. “The golden sash across His chest completes the picture of Christ serving in His priestly role (cf. Lev. 16:1-4; Heb. 2:17)” (Source 2).
References:
Source 1: David Guzik, http://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide_Rev/Rev_1.cfm?a=1168001.
Source 2: John MacArthur, John MacArthur Study Bible, p. 1993
Notes on Revelation 1:14-20.
1:14. Head and hair were white like wool. The “white” here is “a picture of His holiness” and according to Daniel 7:9 is a glowing white light (like the Shekinah glory) (Source 2).
Eyes like a flame of fire. This references a “penetrating gaze into the depths of His church” (Source 2).
1:15. Feet like fine brass. In the Bible “brass” refers to judgment. MacArthur says this is a “clear reference to divine judgment. Jesus Christ with feet of judgment is moving through His church to exercise His chastening authority upon sin” (Source 2).
Voice as the sound of many waters. His voice is powerful, deep and crashing. This is also referenced in Ezekiel 43:2. Notice it has changed from the trumpet-voice of Rev. 1:10.
1:16. Right hand seven stars. The “right hand” represents power and strength (see note on Rev. 1:17, under “right hand”). The “seven stars” are angels (according to Rev. 1:20). So it is Jesus who controls these seven angels.
Out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword. This is a heavy sword (rhomphaia), used to kill and destroy. Sometimes the New Testament speaks of a smaller, more tactical sword known in the ancient Greek language as the machaira Hebrews 4:12 uses the term for this smaller, more precise sword.
i. The idea of it coming out of His mouth is not that Jesus carries a sword in His teeth. The idea is that this sword is His word. His weapon is the Word of God, and our weapon is Word of God (Ephesians 6:17). ii. Barnes says that John didn't necessarily see a sword coming out of Jesus' mouth. "He heard him speak; he felt the penetrating power of his words; and they were as if a sharp sword proceeded from his mouth." iii. It is a sharp two-edged sword: "There is no handling this weapon without cutting yourself, for it has no back to it, it is all edge. The Word of Christ, somehow or other, is all edge." (Spurgeon, quoted by Source 1).
Like the sun shining in its strength. The brightest thing that John could reference. Absolutely blinding. Isn’t it interesting that we must use created items to describe the Creator, which pale in comparison!
1:17. Fell at His feet as dead. John drops prostrate in Jesus' presence. Remember Moses takes off his sandals and hides his face because "he was afraid to look upon God" (Ex. 3:6). John knew Jesus while He was on earth, He loved Jesus but when John sees Him again in His glory, John is knocked flat on his face.
Right hand. In the Middle East the right hand signifies power. And, according to Bakers, although it is often a metaphor, here the hand of Christ (the touch) is actually physically felt (Source 3).
1:18. And was dead. Only Jesus.
Revelation 1:19. This is the key to following what timeline John is speaking of.
1:19. Have seen. i.e. chapter 1 (up until the revelation to John).
Which are. i.e. chapters 2-3 (current for John, although also prophetic).
Will take place after this. i.e. chapter 4-22 (after John).
References:
Source 1: David Guzik, http://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide_Rev/Rev_1.cfm?a=1168001.
Source 2: John MacArthur, John MacArthur Study Bible, p. 1993
Source 3: Bakers, http://m.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/bakers-evangelical-dictionary/hand-right-hand.html .
1:14. Head and hair were white like wool. The “white” here is “a picture of His holiness” and according to Daniel 7:9 is a glowing white light (like the Shekinah glory) (Source 2).
Eyes like a flame of fire. This references a “penetrating gaze into the depths of His church” (Source 2).
1:15. Feet like fine brass. In the Bible “brass” refers to judgment. MacArthur says this is a “clear reference to divine judgment. Jesus Christ with feet of judgment is moving through His church to exercise His chastening authority upon sin” (Source 2).
Voice as the sound of many waters. His voice is powerful, deep and crashing. This is also referenced in Ezekiel 43:2. Notice it has changed from the trumpet-voice of Rev. 1:10.
1:16. Right hand seven stars. The “right hand” represents power and strength (see note on Rev. 1:17, under “right hand”). The “seven stars” are angels (according to Rev. 1:20). So it is Jesus who controls these seven angels.
Out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword. This is a heavy sword (rhomphaia), used to kill and destroy. Sometimes the New Testament speaks of a smaller, more tactical sword known in the ancient Greek language as the machaira Hebrews 4:12 uses the term for this smaller, more precise sword.
i. The idea of it coming out of His mouth is not that Jesus carries a sword in His teeth. The idea is that this sword is His word. His weapon is the Word of God, and our weapon is Word of God (Ephesians 6:17). ii. Barnes says that John didn't necessarily see a sword coming out of Jesus' mouth. "He heard him speak; he felt the penetrating power of his words; and they were as if a sharp sword proceeded from his mouth." iii. It is a sharp two-edged sword: "There is no handling this weapon without cutting yourself, for it has no back to it, it is all edge. The Word of Christ, somehow or other, is all edge." (Spurgeon, quoted by Source 1).
Like the sun shining in its strength. The brightest thing that John could reference. Absolutely blinding. Isn’t it interesting that we must use created items to describe the Creator, which pale in comparison!
1:17. Fell at His feet as dead. John drops prostrate in Jesus' presence. Remember Moses takes off his sandals and hides his face because "he was afraid to look upon God" (Ex. 3:6). John knew Jesus while He was on earth, He loved Jesus but when John sees Him again in His glory, John is knocked flat on his face.
Right hand. In the Middle East the right hand signifies power. And, according to Bakers, although it is often a metaphor, here the hand of Christ (the touch) is actually physically felt (Source 3).
1:18. And was dead. Only Jesus.
Revelation 1:19. This is the key to following what timeline John is speaking of.
1:19. Have seen. i.e. chapter 1 (up until the revelation to John).
Which are. i.e. chapters 2-3 (current for John, although also prophetic).
Will take place after this. i.e. chapter 4-22 (after John).
References:
Source 1: David Guzik, http://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide_Rev/Rev_1.cfm?a=1168001.
Source 2: John MacArthur, John MacArthur Study Bible, p. 1993
Source 3: Bakers, http://m.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/bakers-evangelical-dictionary/hand-right-hand.html .