Revelation 1:1-7

(Rev 1:1 KJV)
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 word “Revelation” carries with it the meaning of “disclosure or manifestation.” This means that the book of Revelation is meant to be disclosed and not hidden. God did not include it in the holy canon for it to remain a closed book. The book of Revelation of Jesus Christ has been given to the servants of God, that is, all the redeemed may know what will shortly come to pass. The word “shortly” carries with it the meaning of “speedily or quickly.” The book of Revelation covers the time of the first coming of Christ to the second coming of Christ. According to the time of Earth, it seems like a long time has gone by but when we look at eternity, two thousand years is a mere second in time. The things which are to quickly come to pass has been given to John by an angel of the Lord. As we go through the book of Revelation, we will see that the central theme is the Lord Jesus Christ and not Israel or Satan. This is why it is called the “Revelation of Jesus Christ.” It is a revealing of Christ presently in Heaven and His dealings with the church on earth as it faces persecution throughout the entire period between the two advents.  It is also interesting to see that God used the word "signified" in this verse.  The word "signified" carries with it the meaning of "to give a sign, implied, or suggested."  This means that Revelation is going to contain much that is not literal and God is making that very plain at the outset of the book of Revelation.  There is much symbolism in the book of Revelation and one must be very careful not to apply a literal meaning to a symbol because it will cause much confusion and create scenarios which do not exist and we see those heresies in any dispensational prophecy book.

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

John was the one who bore record of the Word of God by being present with the Lord Jesus Christ in many different situations. In fact John is the only one who records the heavenly and earthly witness of the Lord Jesus Christ.

(1 John 5:7-8 KJV) For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. {8} And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

Don’t look for these verses in your modern version because Satan does not want you to know of the Earthly and Heavenly testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ. The words “bare record” carry with it the meaning of “testifying” as one who testifies in court. The word roots back to the word “martyr” which is the root word meaning of “testimony.”

John had also bore record of the baptism of Jesus Christ, when Christ raised Lazarus from the tomb, and when the soldier had pierced the Lord Jesus Christ and found him to be dead already and did not need to have his legs broken to speed up death.

(John 1:32-34 KJV) And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. {33} And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. {34} And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

(John 12:17 KJV) The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.

(John 19:34-36 KJV) But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. {35} And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. {36} For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.

(Rev 1:3 KJV)
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 a prophecy and a blessing is promised to those who read this book and hear the words of this prophecy. Now the word “hear” does not mean only to audibly hear the words but it is the Greek word “akouw” (akouoo) which carries with it the meaning of “hearing with understanding.” How can one gain a blessing if they hear what is being spoken but they do not understand. This is why God had given this book to His servants, the believers, because being indwelled with the Holy Spirit, they will be able to understand this book. Then those who hear and understand these words will “keep” those things written. The word “keep” carries with it the meaning of “watch carefully, pay attention to, or observe.” Then we are told why we are to observe those sayings because the time is at hand. It is interesting to note that this is a book of prophecy yet we are told that the time is at hand.

In Daniel’s prophecy, he was told to shut the prophecy for the time of the end. (Dan 12:4 KJV) But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. Here in the book of Revelation, we are told that the time is at hand. The words “at hand” carry with it the meaning of “near or close to.” Let us jump ahead for a moment to the end of the book of Revelation. (Rev 22:10 KJV) And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. We read in both Revelation 1:3 and 22:10, the beginning and the end of this book, that the time is at hand or very near. This is why it is important for us to understand the book of Revelation which will prepare us for the times of tribulation we as the church and Christian individuals will face. The word “time” in this verse carries with it the meaning of “a fixed time” which means that the Lord has already fixed the times for the things which are to happen. What has happened is that the Lord has fixed these times and now through the Book of Revelation, He is now revealing them to us.

(Rev 1:4 KJV)
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;

John, along with the letter of Revelation, sends greetings to the seven churches. Now it must be understood that there were many more churches in that area and scattered throughout the Roman Empire. These seven churches were chosen because they were principle cities but the admonishment and encouragement which comes to the seven churches in Chapters 2 and 3, are representative of all the churches. Grace and peace is a combination of two greetings. Grace was to the Gentile believers and peace was to the Jewish believers since they would understand the greeting of “shalom.”

This Grace and Peace comes to them from Him which is, that means the one true and eternal God who is presently reigning on His throne. Which was, who is from eternity past and which is to come, which means that at the appointed time, He will send the Lord Jesus Christ who would return to earth to bring home His Elect, destroy Satan, and create the New Heavens and the New Earth. We also read that the greeting comes from the seven Spirits which are before throne of the Lord Jesus Christ. Seven is the number of completeness and this number seven will represent the completeness of the Holy Spirit being given to all the churches being represented by the seven churches of Asia.  Seven may also be considered the number of divine perfection or completeness.

(Rev 1:5 KJV)
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,

This Grace and peace comes through the Lord Jesus Christ who was the faithful witness. It was Christ who came to earth and fulfilled His Father’s will in dying for the Elect. The word “witness” means “martyr” in its ultimate sense. Christ was faithful in going to the cross. (Phil 2:8 KJV) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. His obedience was so strong that it would not allow Him to do anything else but what the Father’s will was. Then He is called “the first begotten of the dead.” This means that Christ was the first to rise from the dead to never die again. Those He raised from the dead while on Earth had to die again. The words “first begotten” carries with it the meaning of “firstborn.” (Col 1:18 KJV) And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. The word used in Colossians 1:18 is the same one used in Revelation 1:5. Christ is also called the “prince of the kings of the earth.” This goes back to a promise made to Abraham, and Sarah.

(Gen 17:6 KJV) And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.

(Gen 17:15-16 KJV) And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. {16} And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.

Not only is Christ the king of all the believers on earth, He also rules over the political kings of the world too. (Dan 2:21 KJV) And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: Christ will always be the prince of the Kings, who are the true believers. Then we are told that Christ loved us and washed us from our sins by His own blood. (Heb 1:3 KJV) Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Christ being God was the only suitable one who would be able to die effectively for His Elect. A righteous man would still have sin but Christ was sinless and the pure, perfect Lamb.

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

Christ had made the believers Kings and Priests unto God. (1 Pet 2:9 KJV) But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Notice we are a royal priesthood. This royalty stems from God imputing His royalty on us as being the redeemed in Christ. As Kings we will have some type of rule in the new Heaven or in the new Earth. What we will be ruling over is not yet clear but will be someday when we are in glory. The promise is that if we suffer with Christ here, then we will reign with Him for eternity. (2 Tim 2:12 KJV) If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: Then we have an eternal statement that Christ will have all the glory and dominion for eternity. (Dan 7:14 KJV) And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

(Rev 1:7 KJV)
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.

In the first part of this verse we are given another view of the second coming of Christ. Daniel was given this picture in his night vision. (Dan 7:13 KJV) I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. When the Lord Jesus Christ returns, He is going to return on the clouds of glory. This may have allusion to the Shekinah glory cloud which followed the Israelites in the desert wanderings. Some even believe that when the Lord returns, He will be returning with clouds of believers. Revelation 19 shows us that when the Lord returns that the army of believers will be following Him. We are assured in this verse that when He does return, that the entire world is going to see it. Since the world is round and there are 24 time zones, this second coming is going to be a miracle so everyone in the world is going to behold it.

It is also told us that those who pierced Him would see Him, along with all the kindreds of the earth shall wail. The word “kindreds” carries with it the meaning of “peoples or nations.” The second part of this verse has language similar to Zechariah 12:10 which speaks about the nation mourning for Christ. (Zec 12:10 KJV) And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. However, in the Revelation passage, all the nations of the earth are wailing because of Him. The reason they are wailing is because the day of Judgment has arrived and Him who the unbelievers have scorned realize that they must now stand for Judgment. When Christ opens the sixth seal in Revelation 6:12, the people of the earth are looking for the rocks to hide them but that will be to no avail. This is why the world is wailing or lamenting, because they know the end has come.