Jesus, The Revelation of God
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
Revelation 1:8
Chapter 1 makes it clear as to why this book is titled The Revelation of Jesus Christ. Though much of this amazing book of prophecy foretells what will happen during the coming seven-year tribulation, it ultimately reveals to us the centrality of Jesus Christ in human history.
In chapters 1-3, we see Christ as the One who is to be at the center of His church. Chapters 4-19 reveal the horrible yet just destruction that will fall on a Christ-rejecting world. This revelation concludes with a description of the eternal glory that awaits those who have been saved through Christ as well as the unending damnation that awaits those who saw Christ as unworthy and unnecessary as God's just solution for their sin and rebellion against God.
John's description of Christ's revealed glory here in chapter 1 makes it perfectly clear how spiritually blind we can be. John sees Jesus as One who first comes with the unequalled grace and peace He alone can offer each of us. He is alone faithful to perfection in all He has promised and in all He has declared Himself to be. He is a witness of what is true as One who in Him is the essence of Truth.
He is the "firstborn," a Jewish term for the supreme pre-eminent One. He is before all things because He literally made everything that has ever been created (John 1:1).
He is the firstborn as well as the first to be bodily resurrected from the dead and to ascend to heaven. His rule is ultimately over all other rulers or powers in heaven and on Earth. He is a ruler who so loved His rebellious subjects that He willingly died to pay and remove the penalty of judgment that hangs over us all.
He is the "firstborn," a Jewish term for the supreme pre-eminent One. He is before all things because He literally made everything that has ever been created (John 1:1).
He is the firstborn as well as the first to be bodily resurrected from the dead and to ascend to heaven. His rule is ultimately over all other rulers or powers in heaven and on Earth. He is a ruler who so loved His rebellious subjects that He willingly died to pay and remove the penalty of judgment that hangs over us all.
He so loves us that by grace He shares His rule with His bride the church as His princes and princesses. This rule He will establish on the Earth at His second coming. Only God can be and do such things. Only God can be the "Alpha" and "Omega" who alone dwells in eternity before time, space, or matter existed.
This is the One who has come to this Earth with the sword of His Word. This is the One who came out of eternity to die for those He made in His image. This is the One who offers us all power over the grave because He holds in His hand the keys to death and life.
Those who remove themselves from Christ's eternal grace and glory can only blame themselves for what awaits them. All whose allegiance is given to the prince of darkness will be forced to face what Christ has so passionately sought to save us from.~Introduction and Benediction
And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,
2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.
3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. Greeting the Seven Churches
4 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia:Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,
5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,
6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.
8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." Vision of the Son of Man
9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,
11 saying, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last," and, "What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea."
12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands,
13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.
14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;
15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters;
16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.
18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
19 Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.
20 The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.
Revelation 1:1-20
v. 1 Revelation – apokalupsis (Gk.) a disclosure of truth, a manifestation, unveiling or appearance. This word in context shows this book to be revealing or unveiling of things to come, given to Jesus by God to be given to His servants.
Servants – doulos (Gk.) one devoted to the service of another
Shortly – tachos (Gk.) meaning shortly, swiftly, or quickly. John is either telling us that the events recorded in this book will come to pass soon or that once the things recorded in this book begin, they will take place quickly in rapid procession.
He Sent and Signified it by His Angel – We see here a divine "passing of the baton" as this revelation is given from God the Father to Jesus the Son to His angel to John and finally to us, His servants.
Signified – semaino (Gk.) means to make known, or to give a sign. The way Jesus made this revelation known to John was through His angel. God sending a message through an angel is one of the many ways God communicated to His servants throughout the scriptures (Num. 20:16; 1 Kings 19:5; Matt. 2:13; Acts 7:30, 8:26).
To His Servant John – The Apostle John. It is worthy to note that the Apostle John was not exalted by this revelation, but rather humbled and still referred to himself as a servant.
v. 2 Bore Witness – martureo (Gk.) to testify, give [evidence], bear record. John is writing to testify of the things he saw and heard in relationship to this revelation.
the Word of God – This particular wording is equivalent to an Old Testament prophet saying, "Hear now the Word of the Lord" (Is. 1:10, Jer. 2:4, Eze. 36:1).
Testimony of Jesus Christ – A testimony is an eyewitness report offering evidence and authenticity to the recorded story. The reputation of the one giving testimony determines the reliability of the statement. When the testimony is coming from Jesus Christ, the report is reliable.
v. 3 Blessed – makarios (Gk.) fortunate, well off, happy
Prophecy – propheteia (Gk.) a speech from divine inspiration declaring the purposes of God, whether by reproving and admonishing the wicked, or comforting the afflicted, or revealing things hidden; esp. by foretelling future events
Keep – tereo (Gk.) which means to hold fast or to attend to carefully.
the Time is Near – The period of time that this book speaks of is not far off (2 Peter 3:8).
Near – eggus (Gk.) soon to pass
v. 4 John – John the apostle was the writer of the book of John, son of Zebedee and Salome, and brother of James the elder. He is that disciple who is spoken of in John as especially dear to Jesus (John 13:23; 20:2; 21:7, 20). John begins this letter by identifying himself. Considering the excessive visions and events contained in this book, it would need to come from someone with the credibility of the Apostle John in order to be confidently received in the churches. In addition to this, when a writer is willing to disclose his name in a letter he makes himself accountable to his readers. And he makes himself available to be tested, questioned, or challenged.
Seven Churches – John addresses this letter to the seven major churches scattered throughout Asia Minor in obedience to Jesus command in verse 11.
Asia – This Asia is not the Asian continent of today. John was writing to a group of churches scattered within a Roman Province identified in what we know today as Turkey. These were seven actual, historical churches that existed in the past. This letter would naturally be read, copied, and circulated among these churches in Asia Minor for doctrine and edification.
Grace to You and Peace – Grace is God's undeserved favor. Peace is the state of being in harmony with God. In most epistles, grace and peace are said to come from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. In the full context of this verse, this greeting gives a much more elaborate explanation of the origin of grace and peace. There is a clear connection with not only the deity of Christ, but also the doctrine of the Trinity.
Him Who is and Who Was and Who is to Come – The first person grace and peace comes from is God the Father (Is. 41:4; Rev. 4:8). This identifies the head of the Godhead. The use of three tenses here is a picture of an eternal God. He is God in the present. He was God in the past. And He shall always be God in the future.
Seven Spirits who are Before His Throne – The second personage or personages that grace and peace come from are the seven Spirits. Only in the book of Revelation is this particular phrase, "the seven Spirits" used. There is great debate over who these seven Spirits are before the throne of God. The "seven Spirits" is most likely a way of describing the Holy Spirit of God. According to verses 4 and 5 we know that grace and peace are from three sources: God the Father (v. 4), the "seven Spirits" (v. 4), and Jesus Christ (v. 5). Sending this blessing would seem to be an unlikely partnership if the seven Spirits were any other being(s) besides God Himself. Grace and peace do not come from angels, but from the triune God. Seven is often a number used in Scripture to show completeness and fullness (Rev. 5:6).
v. 5 And from Jesus Christ – The third personage who sends grace and peace to us is Jesus Christ. In this verse John goes on to give us four pictures of who Jesus Christ is and what He has done:
Faithful Witness – There have been many good men and women of God over the years who could be considered faithful witnesses. But even the best of them could only witness of God's character in a very limited degree. Jesus Christ is the faithful witness. He is the only One who can fully express the Father to us (Matt. 11:27; John 1:14, 18; Col. 1:15).
The Firstborn from the Dead – Others have been raised from the dead only to die again (John 12:1, 10). But this phrase identifies Jesus Christ as the firstborn from the dead never to die again. This phrase also implies that there will be more to follow in the likeness of the resurrection of Christ. "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren" (Rom. 8:29).
Firstborn – prototokos (Gk.) meaning, the "preeminent." In Jewish thought, the firstborn is the one who inherits all the wealth, power, and authority of his father. This word firstborn is emphasizing a position of prominence not a chronological date of birth. Compare how this same Greek word is used in the following verses: Colossians 1:15, 18 and Hebrews 1:6.
the Ruler Over the Kings of the Earth – The King James Bible translates this "Prince of the kings of the earth." The Greek word from which we translate prince or ruler is archon: a ruler, commander, chief, and leader. It may not be seen at the moment, but by the time the events recorded in the book of Revelation are accomplished, Jesus Christ will be clearly established as the King of kings and Lord of lords (1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 17:14, 19:16).
Him Who Loved Us – The word loved here in its Greek grammatical setting is not necessarily past tense. Many modern translations translate this, "Him who loves us." This also could be accurately worded "is loving us." (John 15:13, Rom. 5:8).
washed us from our sins in His own blood – According to the scriptures the only way to be washed from sin is through blood sacrifice (1 Peter 1:18, 19; Heb. 9:14, 22; 1 John 1:7). Jesus loved us while we were yet sinners therefore He washed us (Rom 5:8).
v. 6 made Us Kings and Priests – Those who find salvation through the shed blood of Jesus Christ are transformed from sinners to saints. They become children of God and partakers of the promise to rule and reign with Christ. This promise begins the moment one becomes a child of God, but will be expressly made manifest in the millennial reign of Christ (1 Cor. 6:2-3).
king – one who rules over others
priest – One who lawfully handles the holy things of God, and is one who stands on behalf of man before God. So one who is both a king and a priest would be one who is acting in the authority given him by God, to rule over others, in order to bring them to God, for the glory of God. There is some variation in Greek translations here that brings into question whether a believer is actually made into a "king," i.e. some Greek manuscripts read, "and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father." Nevertheless, God has made incredible promises to His obedient children in both the Old and New Testaments (Ex. 19:6; Is. 61:6; 1 Peter 2:5, 9).
Glory and Dominion Forever and Ever – Although faithful believers shall be kings and priests who rule and reign with Jesus Christ, the ultimate glory and dominion belongs only to Him forever and always.
Glory – doxa (Gk.) dignity, honor, praise, worship; holding the praise worthy estimation of magnificence, excellence, preeminence and grace (John 1:14; 2:11; 11:4, 40; 17:5, 24)
Dominion – kratos (Gk.) great power, force, authority, strength, and dominance to rule
Amen – amen (Gk.) so it is; so be it; may it be fulfilled. John says amen to all the above proclamations, declaring his hearty agreement.
v. 7 Behold – dou (Gk.) look, see, consider
Coming With Clouds – This is not mere metaphorical language. Jesus promised repeatedly in the Gospels that He would literally return in the clouds (Matt 26:64; Mark 13:26, 14:62; Luke 21:27, Acts 1:11). The angel also told the disciples at Jesus' ascension that He would return in the literal clouds.
Every Eye Will See Him – When Jesus returns in the clouds at His Second Coming, it will not be a secret event. It will be a dramatic event seen by all people around the planet (Matt. 24:26, 27).
They Who Pierced Him – This refers to the Jewish people. This is a phrase that would be recognized as a Messianic promise by the Jews. For it is stated in Zechariah 12:10 (NKJV), "then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn." And again another Messianic prophecy speaking of Jesus and His relationship to His own people the Jews: "And one will say to him, 'What are these wounds between your arms?' Then he will answer, 'Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends'" (Zech. 13:6).
all the Tribes of the Earth will Mourn – Those who have refused to submit to the rule and reign of Christ will have much reason to mourn at His return. This statement applies to both Jew and Gentile. Jesus Himself made this statement in Matthew 24:30: "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."
v. 8 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End – The first letter in the Greek alphabet is Alpha. And the last letter is Omega. Therefore, this is equivalent to saying, "I am the first and the last." Some have wondered whether these words here are the words God the Father as this phrase has unquestionably been ascribed to Him (Is. 41:4, 44:6, 48:12). But this title is also clearly claimed by Jesus in Revelation 2:8 and 22:12-13. Jesus is the beginning and the end of everything. He existed before anything was created (John 1:1-3). And He will always be the same in eternity future (Heb. 13:8). Because this Old Testament language was used to describe only Yahweh God, we see the deity of Christ clearly proclaimed in this book.
"Who Is and Who Was and Who Is to Come" – Again, as in verse 4, the eternal quality of God is expressed. This term can only be attributed to the eternal God.
Almighty – pantokrator (Gk.) absolute and universal sovereign; Almighty, Omnipotent. This is a word describing unlimited power. This same Greek word is translated "omnipotent" in 19:6. This word is used in application to both the Father and the Son (Is. 9:6; 2 Cor. 6:18; Rev. 1:8, 4:8, 11:17, 15:3, 16:7, 16:14, 19:6, 19:15, 21:22).
v. 9 Brother – adelphos (Gk.) having the same national ancestor, belonging to the same people, or countryman. As was always John's way, he focuses on the brotherhood of all believers and the relationship of love in the family of God.
Companion – sugkoinonos (Gk.) participant with others in anything, joint partner. A companion is one who walks alongside you as a friend, sharing equally with you the experiences of life.
in tribulation – It is important to note that this apostle whom Jesus loved (John 13:23) was not exempt from suffering. Being loved by God does not guarantee an easy life. As a matter of fact, the scriptures tell us that those whom the Lord loves He chastens (Heb 12:6). These trials were not likely chastening, but simply the result of suffering for his faith. Trials and tribulations are sometimes the only way God can reproduce the deep character of Christ in us (Rom. 5:3). Tribulation also comes from persecution of the wicked. The scriptures have much to say about tribulation and the Christian (Rom. 8:35; 2 Cor. 1:4, 7:4; 1 Thess. 1:6). The followers of Christ are clearly promised tribulation in this world (1Thess. 3:4; Matt. 24:9; John 16:33).
in the kingdom – Christians around the world and throughout all times, are all a part of one kingdom. Regardless of our culture, class, sex, age, or IQ, we are all companions in the Kingdom of God.
in patience of Jesus Christ – All those who belong to Jesus share in the patience of waiting for His return to set all things right. This is the blessed hope of every believer (Titus 2:13).
Patmos – The island of Patmos in John's day was a notorious prison island much harsher than our modern Alcatraz. Because the island was rich in marble, it was used as a slave labor camp for the prisoners. It was 10 miles long, six miles wide, and 37 miles from the mainland where the seven churches John was writing to were located in Asia Minor. Because of its location and setting it needed no walls to contain its prisoners.
For the Word of God – Church history says John was banished to Patmos by the emperor Domitian (81 AD to 96 AD) as punishment for preaching the Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
v. 10 in the Spirit – Because of what follows, this term obviously means much more than merely "living according to the Spirit" (Gal. 5:16). John was evidently transported into a spiritual realm where he could see into the future and see things un-seeable by an eye of flesh (compare with Rev. 4:2, 21:10).
On the Lord's Day – This is the only place in all of scripture where this exact phrase is used. John is describing being transported to the apocalyptic "Day of the Lord" (1 Thess. 5:2, 2 Pet. 3:10).
Loud Voice, as of a Trumpet – John did not hear a trumpet, but rather a loud voice "as" a trumpet. Throughout the Old Testament the trumpet was the standard instrument used to get the attention of God's people. Even though this sound behind John, there was no way he would allow himself to miss seeing the source of this voice. This is the voice of Jesus Christ. This is also the same wording used to describe the voice of God heard by Moses at the mountain of God in Exodus 19:16-19 (1 Thess. 4:16).
v. 11 Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last – Here we find strong evidence for the deity of Jesus Christ. This is the same language used by Jehovah God as He identifies Himself in Isaiah 41:4, 44:6, and 48:12, and Jesus Christ clearly identifies Himself with this same title in Revelation 1:17-18.
Write in a Book – In the book of Revelation, 11 times John is commanded to write. And once he is told not to write what He sees (10:4). What is clear is that there were things God wanted accurately recorded and passed along to the churches.
the Seven Churches – We know that there were many more than seven churches in Asia. Jesus chose churches strategically located in one giant circle encompassing Asia Minor. This circle is said to be the standard postal route of John's day. These particular churches might also have been chosen because they give a broad overview of the strength's, weaknesses, sins, trials, downfalls and victories of all Christians everywhere and of every time.
Ephesus – a naval city of Asia Minor, capital of Ionia and under the Romans, of proconsul Asia, situated on the Icarian Sea between Smyrna and Miletus; Ephesus means "permitted"
Smyrna – an Ionian city of Asia Minor, on the Aegean Sea, 40 miles north of Ephesus; Smyrna means "myrrh"
Pergamos – A city of Mysia Minor, in Asia Minor, the seat of the dynasties of Attalus and Eumenes, famous for its temple of Aesculapius and the invention and manufacture of parchment. The river Selinus flowed through it and the Cetius ran past it. It was the birthplace of the physician Galen, had a great royal library and a prominent Christian church. Pergamos means "height or elevation."
Thyatira – a colony of Macedonia Greeks, situated between Sardis and Pergamos on the river Lycus; its inhabitants earned their living by traffic and the art of dyeing in purple; Thyatira means "odor of affliction"
Sardis – a luxurious city in Asia Minor, the capital of Lydia; Sardis means "red ones"
Philadelphia – a city of Lydia in Asia Minor, situated near the eastern base of Mount Tmolus, founded and named by the Pergamene king, Attalus II Philadelphus. After the death of Attalus III Philometor, 133 BC, it came by his will under the jurisdiction of the Romans. Philadelphia means "brotherly love."
Laodicea – A city of Phrygia, situated on the river Lycus not far from Colosse. It was destroyed by an earthquake in 66 AD and rebuilt by Marcus Aurelius. It was the seat of the Christian church. Laodicea means "justice of the people."
v. 12 Seven Golden Lampstands – Unlike the seven-branched menorah used in the Tabernacle and Temple, the Hebrew menorah was all one piece. What John sees here is clearly seven separate lampstands. Each lampstand represents one of the seven churches (1:20). This vision speaks of the special relationship Jesus has with each church. Just as the High Priest in the Old Covenant was responsible to inspect and trim the golden lampstand in the tabernacle and later in the Temple, so Jesus, our High Priest, is seen inspecting and tending the lampstands that represent the seven churches. The lampstands are great symbols of the churches because they can give no light of themselves. The lampstands merely hold up the lamps to make the light more visible. And so it is with Christ's church.
v. 13 the Son of Man – Jesus identified Himself as the Son of Man more than 80 times in the Gospels. This title is not merely referring to a son of humanity, but a divine being according to Daniel 7:13-14. The One like the Son of Man described in the book of Daniel relates to the eternal King of kings and Lord of lords (Dan. 10:5-6).
Garment Down to the Feet – One who wears a garment down to the feet is not dressed for work but rather for formal dress. A long flowing robe speaks of greatness.
Girded About the Chest with a Golden Band – The description here resembles
