◄ Revelation 1:1 ►
This is the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon come to pass. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John,
Study Bible
This is the revelation of Jesus Christ,

The term "revelation" comes from the Greek word "apokalypsis," meaning an unveiling or disclosure. This book reveals the divine mysteries concerning the end times and the ultimate victory of Christ. It is not merely a revelation about Jesus Christ but also from Him, as He is both the subject and the source. This aligns with the broader biblical narrative where Jesus is central to God's redemptive plan (John 1:1-14, Colossians 1:15-20).

Gal 1:12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it;…
1Co 1:7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift…
1Pe 1:10-12 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who foretold…

which God gave Him

This phrase emphasizes the divine origin of the revelation. God the Father is the source, and He gives it to Jesus Christ, highlighting the unity and distinct roles within the Trinity. This reflects the biblical theme of divine authority and the transmission of God's will through Jesus (John 5:19-23).

Jhn 3:35 The Father loves the Son and has placed all things…
Jhn 17:2 For You granted Him authority over all people,…
Mat 11:27 All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father.…

to show His servants

The term "servants" refers to believers, those who are committed to following Christ. This revelation is intended for the church, providing guidance, encouragement, and warning. The concept of servanthood is a recurring theme in Scripture, where believers are called to serve God and others (Romans 1:1, Philippians 1:1).

Dan 2:28 But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries,…
Amo 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan…
Jhn 15:15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant…

what must soon come to pass.

This phrase indicates the imminence of the events described, though "soon" can be understood in the context of God's eternal timeline. The prophetic nature of Revelation is consistent with other biblical prophecies that often have both immediate and future fulfillments (Daniel 2:28-29, Matthew 24:34).

Mat 24:6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars,…
Mrk 13:7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed.…
Luk 21:9 “When you hear of wars and rebellions, do not be alarmed.”…

He made it known by sending His angel

Angels are frequently used as messengers in Scripture, serving as intermediaries between God and humans (Daniel 9:21-23, Luke 1:26-38). The use of an angel underscores the importance and divine authority of the message being conveyed.

Dan 8:16 And I heard the voice of a man calling from between…
Luk 1:19 “I am Gabriel,” replied the angel. “I stand in the presence…”…
Luk 1:26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel…

to His servant John,

John, the apostle and author of the Gospel of John and the Epistles, is traditionally understood to be the recipient of this revelation. His role as a servant and witness to Christ's ministry provides him with the authority to convey this message to the early church. John's exile on the island of Patmos (Revelation 1:9) is a testament to his faithfulness amidst persecution, reflecting the broader theme of suffering and perseverance found throughout Revelation.

Jhn 20:21 Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me,”…
Jhn 21:24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things.…
1Jn 1:1-3 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard,…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus Christ
Central figure of the revelation, the Son of God, who is revealing the future to His followers.

2. God
The Father, who gives the revelation to Jesus Christ, indicating divine authority and origin.

3. Servants
Refers to the believers, the followers of Christ, who are intended recipients of the revelation.

4. Angel
A messenger sent by Jesus to communicate the revelation to John.

5. John
The apostle and servant of Christ, who receives the revelation and records it for the church.
Teaching Points
Divine Revelation
Understand that the book of Revelation is a divine message from God, given through Jesus Christ, emphasizing its authority and importance.

Role of Jesus
Recognize Jesus as the mediator of God's revelation, highlighting His unique position in the Godhead and His relationship with the church.

Purpose of Prophecy
The revelation is meant to prepare and encourage believers by revealing what must soon take place, fostering hope and perseverance.

Angel as Messenger
Acknowledge the role of angels as God's messengers, serving as a bridge between the divine and human realms.

Faithful Servanthood
Emulate John's example of faithful servanthood, being open and obedient to God's revelations in our lives.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding the divine origin of Revelation impact your view of its authority and relevance today?

2. In what ways does the role of Jesus as the mediator of this revelation influence your relationship with Him?

3. How can the knowledge of future events, as revealed in Revelation, provide comfort and encouragement in your current circumstances?

4. What can we learn from the role of angels in Revelation about God's communication with humanity?

5. How can you apply the example of John's faithful servanthood in your daily walk with Christ?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Daniel 2:28-29
Similar to Revelation, Daniel receives a vision of future events, emphasizing God's sovereignty in revealing mysteries.

John 1:1-14
Highlights the divinity of Christ and His role as the Word, connecting to His authority to reveal God's plans.

Hebrews 1:1-2
Discusses how God has spoken through His Son, aligning with the revelation given to Jesus Christ.

Matthew 24:3-31
Jesus speaks of future events, paralleling the themes of prophecy and revelation found in Revelation.

Acts 1:7
Jesus tells His disciples that the Father has set times and dates by His own authority, relating to the timing of events in Revelation.
Sermons
RevelationS. Conway Revelation 1:1
Advantage of RevelationBp. Williams.Revelation 1:1-3
Aspects of Human HistoryD. Thomas, D. D.Revelation 1:1-3
Aspects of Human HistoryD. Thomas Revelation 1:1-3
Christ's Cabinet CouncilJ. Trapp.Revelation 1:1-3
Divine RevelationsJ. S. Exell, M. A.Revelation 1:1-3
Keeping the Word of GodJames Young.Revelation 1:1-3
Prophecy, Though Difficult to Understand, Must Yet be StudiedH. A. Buttz.Revelation 1:1-3
Reading the RevelationCanon Furse.Revelation 1:1-3
The Apocalypse to be ReadJ. Trapp.Revelation 1:1-3
The Christianity of St. JohnJ. Foxley, M. A.Revelation 1:1-3
The Design of the Book and Reward for its StudyD. C. Hughes.Revelation 1:1-3
The PrefaceG. Rogers.Revelation 1:1-3
The RevelationR. Green Revelation 1:1-3
The Revelation of Jesus ChristJames Young.Revelation 1:1-3
The Seven Blesseds in the RevelationT. L. Cuyler, D. D.Revelation 1:1-3
Three Aspects of RevelationJames Young.Revelation 1:1-3
Timely WarningJas. Wells.Revelation 1:1-3
People
John
Places
Ephesus, Laodicea, Patmos, Pergamum, Philadelphia, Sardis, Smyrna, Thyatira
Topics
Angel, Behoveth, Bondman, Bondmen, Bond-servant, Bond-servants, Christ, Clear, Communicated, Events, Granted, John, Messenger, Pass, Quickly, Revelation, Sending, Servant, Servants, Shew, Shortly, Signified, Signify
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Revelation 1:1

     4112   angels, messengers
     5263   communication
     5408   messenger
     6696   necessity
     7142   people of God, NT
     7160   servants of the Lord
     7944   ministry, qualifications

Library
May 10. "I am Alive Forevermore" (Rev. I. 18).
"I am alive forevermore" (Rev. i. 18). Here is the message of the Christ of the cross and the still more glorious and precious Christ of the resurrection. It is beautiful and inspiring to note the touch of light and glory with which these simple words invest the cross. It is not said I am He that was dead and liveth, but "I am He that liveth and was dead, but am alive forevermore." Life is mentioned before the death. There are two ways of looking at the cross. One is from the death side and the other …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

The Glorious Master and the Swooning Disciple
If our conceptions of the Lord Jesus are very enlarged, they will only be his due. We cannot exaggerate here. He deserves higher praise than we can ever render to him. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high is be above our loftiest conceptions. Even when the angels strike their loudest notes, and chant his praises most exultingly on their highest festal days, the music falls far short of his excellence. He is higher than a seraph's most soaring thought! Rise then, my brethren, as on …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 18: 1872

10Th Day. Dying Grace.
"He is Faithful that Promised." "I have the keys of hell and of death."--REV. i. 18. Dying Grace. And from whom could dying grace come so welcome, as from Thee, O blessed Jesus? Not only is Thy name, "The Abolisher of Death;" but Thou didst thyself die! Thou hast sanctified the grave by Thine own presence, and divested it of all its terrors. My soul! art thou at times afraid of this, thy last enemy? If the rest of thy pilgrimage-way be peaceful and unclouded, rests there a dark and portentous …
John Ross Macduff—The Faithful Promiser

Swooning and Reviving Christ's Feet.
AN ADDRESS DELIVERED AT THE CLOSE OF ONE OF THE PASTORS' COLLEGE CONFERENCES. "And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold. I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."--Revelation i. 17, 18. SWOONING AND REVIVING AT CHRIST'S FEET. WE have nothing now to think of but our Lord. We come to Him that He may cause us to forget all others. …
Charles Hadden Spurgeon—Till He Come

The Fear of God.
And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as one dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying, Fear not; I am the first and the last and the Living one.'--Rev. i. 17, 18. It is not alone the first beginnings of religion that are full of fear. So long as love is imperfect, there is room for torment. That lore only which fills the heart--and nothing but love can fill any heart--is able to cast out fear, leaving no room for its presence. What we find in the beginnings of religion, will hold in varying …
George MacDonald—Unspoken Sermons

Catalogue of his Works.
There is no absolutely complete edition of Eusebius' extant works. The only one which can lay claim even to relative completeness is that of Migne: Eusebii Pamphili, Cæsareæ Palestinæ Episcopi, Opera omnia quæ extant, curis variorum, nempe: Henrici Valesii, Francisci Vigeri, Bernardi Montfauconii, Card. Angelo Maii edita; collegit et denuo recognovit J. P. Migne. Par. 1857. 6 vols. (tom. XIX.-XXIV. of Migne's Patrologia Græca). This edition omits the works which are …
Eusebius Pamphilius—Church History

The First and the Last
This title is used in Rev. i. 11. It is used again in 1. 17, ii. 8, and xxii. 13, but is never found in connection with "the Church of God." On the other hand, it is a title closely associated with "the Jew and the Gentile," as the following Scriptures will testify. Is. xli. 4, 5: "Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I, Jehovah, THE FIRST AND LAST; I am He. The isles saw it, and feared; the ends of the earth were afraid." Is. xliv. 6: "Thus saith the Lord, the …
E.W. Bullinger—Commentary on Revelation

The Lord's Day
In Rev. i. 9 we are told that John saw and received this revelation on "the Lord's Day." Leaving the former part of this verse for the present, let us notice the latter expression, "the Lord's Day." [4] The majority of people, being accustomed from their infancy to hear the first day of the week called the Lord's Day, conclude in their own minds that that day is thus called in Rev. i. 9 because that was the name of it. But the contrary is the fact: the day is so called by us because of this verse. …
E.W. Bullinger—Commentary on Revelation

A Great Voice
This expression links on the book of Revelation to the book of Deuteronomy, especially if we regard it in the connection with the fire, with which it is associated in each case. Ten times is the voice of God speaking "out of the midst of the fire" heard in Deuteronomy: viz., chaps. iv. 12,15,33,36; v. 4,22(19) [36] , 23(20), 24(21), 25(21), 26(23). Here, in Rev. i. 10, John hears "a great voice," and it is connected with fire, for the eyes of the speaker were "as a flame of fire" (ver. 14) and his …
E.W. Bullinger—Commentary on Revelation

Call to China and Voyage Hence
The known facts in regard to John Talmage's boyhood and youthful days are few. Of the known facts some perhaps are too trivial, others too sacred to bear mention. The sapling grew. Of the inner and outer circles of growth there is but brief record. He spent his boyhood at a quiet country hamlet, Gateville, New Jersey. On the ridge swung the toll-gate, and a little beyond might be heard the hum and rattle of the grist-mill. His father kept the toll-gate. John was a fine horseman, and found great sport …
Rev. John Gerardus Fagg—Forty Years in South China

Within the Holiest
Gerhard Ter Steegen Rev. i. 5, 6 His priest am I, before Him day and night, Within His Holy Place; And death, and life, and all things dark and bright, I spread before His Face. Rejoicing with His joy, yet ever still, For silence is my song My work to bend beneath His blessed will, All day, and all night long-- For ever holding with Him converse sweet, Yet speechless, for my gladness is complete. …
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen, Suso, and Others

Moreover, to Give a Fuller Demonstration of this Point...
[2829] Rev. i. 5 [2830] 1 Cor. xv. 23 [2831] 1 Cor. xv. 42-4 [2832] animale. [2833] Phil. iii. 21 …
Various—Life and Works of Rufinus with Jerome's Apology Against Rufinus.

The Fire of Love --Book I
Chapter I Note iii., p. 16--C. reads: for thai vnmanerly wyth warldly mone has armyd tham self.' But L. quia terrenas pecunias immoderate amauerunt'; which is probably correct, and which I have therefore followed. Note iv., p. 17--an omission in C. L., reads: Erumpit enim in ostensione operis feruor amoris.' Note v., p. 18--Another omission L. et qui ad amandum deum semper sunt auidi.' Chapter II Note vi., p. 20 The Bible references are to the Vulgate of Sixtus V and Clement VII, and where the …
Richard Rolle—The Fire of Love

The Source of Power
'And the Angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep, 2. And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold, a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps which are upon the top thereof: 3. And two olive-trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof. 4. So I answered and spake to the Angel that talked with …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

A Sight of the Crowned Christ
(Revelation, Chapter i.) "Since mine eyes were fixed on Jesus, I've lost sight of all beside, So enchained my spirit's vision, Looking at the Crucified." "The Lord Christ passed my humble cot: I knew him, yet I knew him not; But as I oft had done before, I hurried through my narrow door To touch His garment's hem. "He drew me to a place apart From curious crowd and noisy mart; And as I sat there at His feet I caught the thrill of His heart-beat Beyond His garment's hem. "Rare was the bread He broke …
by S. D. Gordon—Quiet Talks on the Crowned Christ of Revelation

Love's Complaining
Hence our Lord's fitness to deal with the churches, which are these golden lamp-stands, for no one knows so much about the lamps as the person whose constant work it is to watch them and trim them. No one knows the churches as Jesus does, for the care of all the churches daily comes upon him, he continually walks among them, and holds their ministers as stars in his right hand. His eyes are perpetually upon the churches, so that he knows their works, their sufferings, and their sins; and those eyes …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 32: 1886

Our Lord Appears after his Ascension.
^F I. Cor. XV. 8. ^f 8 and last of all, as to the child untimely born, he appeared to me also. [Since Paul reckons this among the bodily appearances of our Lord, we have included it in our work; but it borders upon those spiritual appearances which belong rather to apostolic history and may be classed with the vision of Stephen (Acts vii. 55) and John (Rev. i. 9-17), to which it was near kin. Accounts of the appearance will be found in the ninth, twenty-second and twenty-sixth chapters of Acts. For …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Living One
"I am He that liveth, and was dead" (i. 18). (...) (ho zon), THE LIVING ONE. Like the previous title, it is used as a special designation of the One whose unveiling is about to be shewn to John. Its use is peculiar to Daniel and Revelation. The two books thus linked together by it are linked as to their character and subject matter in a very special manner. It is used twice in Daniel:- Dan. iv. 34 (31 [19] ) and xii. 7; and six time in Revelation:- Rev. i. 18; iv. 9,10; v. 14; x. 6; and xv. 7. [20] …
E.W. Bullinger—Commentary on Revelation

Lord God
In i. 8 the title "god" must be added to the word "Lord," according to all the Critical Greek Texts [14] and the R.V. In chap. xxii. 6 we have the same title. Thus at the end of the book and at the beginning we have this peculiar title, which seems to enclose all that the book contains, and stamp it all with that which the title signifies. What is signifies is clear from the place where we first find it, vix., in the second of the twelve divisions of Genesis (chap. ii. 4 - iv. 26). This division …
E.W. Bullinger—Commentary on Revelation

Letter v. Yes, My Dear Friend, it is My Conviction that in all Ordinary Cases the Knowledge...
Yes, my dear friend, it is my conviction that in all ordinary cases the knowledge and belief of the Christian Religion should precede the study of the Hebrew Canon. Indeed, with regard to both Testaments, I consider oral and catechismal instruction as the preparative provided by Christ himself in the establishment of a visible Church. And to make the Bible, apart from the truths, doctrines, and spiritual experiences contained therein, the subject of a special article of faith, I hold an unnecessary …
Samuel Taylor Coleridge—Confessions of an Inquiring Spirit etc

The Royal Priesthood
Gerhard Ter Steegen Jer. xxxiii. 18; Rev. i. 6 The race of God's anointed priests shall never pass away; Before His glorious Face they stand, and serve Him night and day. Though reason raves, and unbelief flows on, a mighty flood, There are, and shall be, till the end, the hidden priests of God. His chosen souls, their earthly dross consumed in sacred fire, To God's own heart their hearts ascend in flame of deep desire; The incense of their worship fills His Temple's holiest place; Their song with …
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen, Suso, and Others

Communion Again Broken --Restoration
Cant. v. 2-vi.10. The fourth section commences with an address of the bride to the daughters of Jerusalem, in which she narrates her recent sad experience, and entreats their help in her trouble. The presence and comfort of her Bridegroom are again lost to her; not this time by relapse into worldliness, but by slothful self-indulgence. We are not told of the steps that led to her failure; of how self again found place in her heart. Perhaps spiritual pride in the achievements which grace enabled her …
J. Hudson Taylor—Union and Communion

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