The author of the book of Revelation is the apostle John. The church fathers (Justin the Martyr, Irenaeus and others) thought that John was its author. Although the bishop of Alexandria thought the Gospel of John and Revelation were vastly different, I think it is a probable estimation with high certainty that John wrote this epistle. It is addressed to seven churches in Asia Minor. The churches receive rebukes and encouragements from our Lord Jesus Christ.
1The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: 2Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. 3Blessed 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 special revelation from Jesus Christ and God Himself; that is, there is a distinction between the Son and the Father. It is the testimony of Christ but it came from the will of the Father. The book of revelation clearly has a Trinitarian message, because the Son is distinct or separate from the Father; however, they are one in essence or substance or nature. This book is a special book of divine prophecy, because it is about what to tell his servants that shortly comes to pass in John’s time. The book is created through angels sent and signified it to God’s slave, John. “Servant” here would be better translated as “slave.” God works in all times and places, but He remains unseen. That is, God bears record of His Word through the revolutionary work of the Spirit of the Father and the Son. The record is the special revelation of the Word of God; that is, it is the testimony of Jesus Christ. John saw and described the things he has seen. Faith has become sight, and one day our faith will be transformed into our eyes. The reading and keeping of these words means the written things contained in Divine Scripture. This was about the revelation given to John for the churches. The time range was “which must shortly come to pass.” It was in John’s timing “and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John. The Word of God was recorded and it is the testimony of Christ “and of all things that he saw.” There is a blessing that attains to the reading and obeying of this book of prophecy. Notice it refers to a short timing: “for the time is at head.”
Horatius Bonar (1808—1889) wrote in The REVELATION of Jesus Christ of Revelation verses 1 and 3,
The TITLE of this last and most wondrous of inspired books is 'the revelation (uncovering, unveiling) of Jesus Christ'. It is He who "unveils," and it is He who is here unveiled to us, and who shines out with transfiguration-brightness before the Church's eye. The spirit and sum of this book is 'testimony to Jesus' (ch. 19:10). He is its Alpha and its Omega. We find Him everywhere—in description, in song, in symbol, in prediction; in things past, present, and to come. Here Christ is all and in all. This last book completes the "unveiling" which was begun in the Gospels and carried on through the Epistles. The last fragment of the veil is here taken from His face. We see Him as He is, on the Father's right hand, on the throne, through the rent veil. The heavens are opened, and we see Him (as Stephen did) in His present glory and in the glory of His second coming.
Which God gave unto Him. This unveiling is given to Him by the Father that He may give it to us; for even on the throne is He subject to the Father (1 Corinthians 15:28), waiting on His will and doing it. This revelation is God's gift to Him, and it is His gift to us; becoming thus doubly precious, as a gift worthy of God—worthy to be given to Him, and worthy to be given by Him to us.
To show unto His servants. "Show" is the word used in the case of Moses—'the pattern showed to you in the mount' (Exodus 25:40; Hebrews 8:5); and is almost always used in reference to things submitted to the eye. They are sons, yet servants also; both of these names of honor belonging to Him who was both the Son and the Servant of the Father (Romans 1:1; Philippians 1:1; Revelation 7:3, 22:3). This book, then, consists of the things shown by Christ to His servants.
The things that must shortly come to pass. He had said, "This generation shall not pass away until all these things happen". The word is the same, signifying, not to be fulfilled, but to be or begin to be. So here it is the things that must shortly (or quickly) be—the things just about to be, that the Lord shows to His servants. And what He has shown to us it becomes us to study. These things are the unveiling of Christ, and of earth's future, in connection with Him, both in grace and glory, both in love and wrath. These are some of the things which the angels desire to look into, and in carrying out which they are specially 'ministering spirits;' and it does not become us, whom they chiefly concern, to slight them. Seeing that God has revealed them, we may conclude that they are neither too high nor too low for us, but worthy of most earnest thought. The tendency of the present age is to set aside prophecy as specially belonging to the supernatural, and therefore incredible and impossible to comprehend. Let us stand aloof from this incredulity, and welcome the prophetic word as all the more precious because supernatural and specially divine.
And He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John. More exactly the words run, 'and He signified it (having sent it by His angel) to His servant John.' This 'unveiling' is of no common importance; for mark the steps by which it reaches us. The Father gives it to the Son; the Son summons His angel (perhaps the angel who once and again ministered to Him on earth, as in Gethsemane); this angel descends from heaven with it, and makes it known to the prophet (ch. 22:16). All the agencies in heaven and earth are thus brought into connection with it. How valuable its contents must be when such pains are taken with its transmission! Shall we slight that book which has been thus attested and honored?
Here being those references to angelic agency of which this book is full. God takes us (as in Daniel) behind the scenes, and shows us the living instrumentality through which the movements of earth and the judgments of divine righteousness are wrought. We look into the inner and invisible world, and see angels there at work, executing God's purposes—the 'angels who excel in strength;' who 'do His commandments, hearkening to the voice of His word;' His 'hosts;' His 'ministers that do His pleasure' (Psalm 103:20-21). ANGELS have far more to do in the affairs both of the Church and the world than we generally conceive. Ever at hand, ever waiting and watching, ever working, they help, they protect, they strengthen, they deliver, or they smite, they destroy, the inflict the judgments of God. In this last book of the Bible there is more of angelic ministry, both for good and evil, than in any other; as if men would need more to be reminded of this in the last days; and as if, when Satan comes down with his hosts, having great wrath, Michael and his hosts were to have more to do than ever; as if, in the battle of the great day, their numbers required to be reinforced, and their reserves brought up, to meet the multitudinous foe.
Who bore record of the word of God. It is the same JOHN who said, 'In the beginning was the Word,' that now is written to by his Lord. He who testified of his Lord on earth now testifies of Him as He sits in heaven. And we know that his testimony is true. The Word spoken of in the Gospel, and the Word revealed in the Apocalypse, are one (Revelation 9:13); both of them revealing wonderfully the Son of the Father, the one in His grace, and the other in His glory. To believe this 'record' is to become a son of God; for it is faith that introduces us into the heavenly family. He who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.
And of the testimony of 'Jesus Christ'. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy, no less than of the four Gospels. To make known the divine contents of these two glorious names—Jesus and Christ—was John's special mission, both at the beginning and at the close of his life. He is a witness for Jesus from first to last. It is not merely of the eternal Word that he testifies, but of the 'Word made flesh,' 'God manifest in flesh,' the bearer of sin, the 'Savior of the world,' the Anointed of the Holy Spirit.
And of all things that he 'saw'. Here also the Gospel and the Revelation are similar. In the former we have what John saw of Jesus on earth (John 19:35 'he who saw bore record') in the latter, what he saw of Jesus in heaven. The earthly grace and the heavenly glory are thus proclaimed to us on like sure authority—that of an eye-witness, an inspired eye-witness, whose testimony has in it all that is true and certain, both in God and man. It is all true. Not only do the water and the blood bear witness, but 'the Spirit bears witness' (1 John 5:6); the testimony of God is greater than all the testimony of man (1 John 5:9). The reception of this testimony by the sinner, is life eternal.
Blessed is he who 'reads'. What God calls blessedness must be great; and that word 'blessed' is used by Him very frequently in the Old Testament and New. In this book it occurs seven times (1:3, 14:13, 16:15, 19:9, 20:6, 22:7, 22:14), as if the fullness or perfection of blessedness were contained in what this book reveals. The word "reads" refers to the public reading in the church (Luke 4:16; Acts 15:21; Colossians 4:16; Revelation 5:4). The reader even in his public reading finds blessing. God blesses him in so doing. Into him as well as out of him flow rivers of living water. Most wondrous book! It begins and ends with blessing on those who read it and give heed to it. How much has the Church of God lost by her neglect of it! It may be hard to be understood; but the privilege of reading it and keeping its sayings remains the same. Surely the Holy Spirit knew what He wrote, when He pronounced blessings on its readers and its observers! Not to gratify the curious; not to suit itching ears; not to encourage human speculation or restless guesses; not to excite the excitable, or furnish materials for poetry; but to feed the Church of God; to be a light in a dark place; to set up a line of beacons along the rocky and stormy coast of the Church's perilous voyage; to be her chart and compass in the last days; to make man wakeful, happy, and blessed; to bring us into sympathy with the mind and purpose of God—these are the objects of a book in which Father, Son, and spirit are all engaged.
And those who 'hear' the words of this prophecy. Those who are but listeners receive the blessing too. To hear the voice of God speaking to us in grace, though to the world in judgment, is blessedness. 'Open ears' are the least that God can expect when He speaks. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! The words spoken are so full of God, so full of Christ, so full of the Spirit, that in listening we are blessed. His doctrine drops as the rain, and distills as the dew. 'Blessed are those who hear,' are among the opening words of this wondrous Revelation; and 'let him who hears say, Come,' are among its closing ones. The result produced upon the hearer by the reading of these prophecies should be to make him say, "come!" 'Even so, come, Lord Jesus!'
And 'keep' those things that are written therein. 'If you know these things, happy are you if you DO them.' The 'keeping' and the 'doing' are the consequent of the 'hearing.' The 'keeping' of Christ's word is what is specially enforced here. For the Revelation is a thoroughly practical book, meant to bear upon our daily life, to guide the Church, to warn kings and kingdoms, to lift us out of the region of the visible into that of the invisible! 'Keep the words of this book' is Christ's message to the Church and the Churches. But how shall we 'keep' them if we do not study the book? Whether we fully comprehend it or not, let us study it. Each perusal will give a new insight into its visions; we shall take on the mold and impress of its truths, even unconsciously, in the simple childlike reading of it.
For the time is at hand. Coming judgments, coming glories, a coming Judge, and a coming kingdom—these are some of the things held up before our eyes. In regard to all these we are bidden to 'watch.' When and how they are to burst upon our world, and to awaken the slumbering church, we know not. The time has always been concealed. It is uncertain. It may be soon. "Of that day and hour knows no man." "Awake you who sleep," for the time is at hand. The trumpet is always ready to sound; the last storm is always just on the point of breaking. Christ is always 'coming.' The end of all things is at hand. Whether we are able to reconcile these words with the delay of so many centuries, it matters not. The words were meant to be words of warning, on account of the suddenness of the final crisis. In looking forward from a human view-point, and measuring the times and seasons by a human standard, the above expression may seem 'hard to be understood;' looking back upon it hereafter from the eternal view-point, we shall see how it was always near.
Here let us stop short and gather up the following LESSONS, taught us in these verses by the Spirit of God—
I. God wishes us to study Christ. Again and again He opens out His 'unsearchable riches,' and gives us another and another view of the 'unspeakable gift.' Study His person; study His work—the wisdom, and the power, and the love of God are there! Study all His fullness, and, as you study it, drink it in! Study the cross; study the resurrection; study the present majesty of the ascended and interceding Christ; study His coming glory as Judge, and King, and Bridegroom. There is none like Him—neither shall ever be. He is the chief among ten thousand; the only perfect One; the all-perfect One; the representative of the invisible Godhead; the doer of the Father's will; the accomplisher of the Father's purpose—both of vengeance and of grace.
II. Christ wishes us to study Himself. 'Look unto me,' He says in this book. Jesus showed to His servant John the things concerning Himself, that the Church in all ages might see and know these things. He unveils Himself in His glory, and says, Look on me! Here Christ is all and in all; and He would gladly teach us here what that all is, and what that in all implies.
III. Christ uses 'human' messengers. He is head over all things to the Church, and He makes use of all things as His servants, saying to one, 'Go,' and he goes, to another, 'Come,' and he comes. Though invisible now and in the heaves, He uses human agencies still. He speaks through men; He teaches through men; He comforts through men; He warns through men. 'We beg you, in Christ's stead be you reconciled to God,' are words which show us how He stands towards us.
IV. God uses 'angelic' messengers. In the government both of the church and of the world He makes use of angels. They are ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who shall be heirs of salvation. Jesus comes Himself to John; yet the Revelation comes to John by an angel. How the angel communicated with John we know not. Who he was, whether Michael or Gabriel, we know not. But it is an angelic messenger that is made use of here. This whole book is full of angelic agencies and ministries. God lifts a little of the veil, and shows us angels at work in conducting the affairs of earth. This is the book of ANGELS—for the word occurs in it seventy-six times. They minister to man; they execute God's judgments; they do His will here; excelling in strength, and able to counteract the power of Satan and his angels.
V. God annexes a 'special blessedness' to the study of this book. Few believe this; fewer act upon it. The Apocalypse is too many like the Sibyl's books, or the Iliad of Homer. The so-called philosophy of the age is undermining the prophetic word, reducing it to a mere collection of figures, or symbolic representation of principles or abstract truths. Prophecy as the direct prediction by God of what is to come to pass on earth is set aside, and the prophetic books are studies merely in reference to their poetry or their lofty ideas. Blessedness in studying them is seldom thought of, even by many Christians. Yet the word of God here stands true. Prophecy is a sure word, and it is as blessed as it is sure. Woe to him who slights it! Blessed are all those who meditate on it, seek to know it, and take it for guidance and counsel in the evil day!
4John 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;
Here John is an instrument of God’s will. We are used as instruments of His will. He uses us according to His awesome, blessed and wonderful will. He was appointed to write to the seven churches in Asia. Each had a different message but the essence of the writing of John is from Jesus our God and Redeemer about rebukes and encouragement. This is the mission of the Reformed elder; that is, we proclaim the Gospel but it comes with rebukes and encouragements. We ought to seek correction and having a spirit of humility we will please the good Lord. We ought to welcome rebukes and encouragements from our pastors. The rebukes show us our sin and the encouragements help us continue on in the Christian piety of divine truth. It also shows that we ought to welcome help from fellow believers in Christ in fellowship of the Beloved. We also ought to recognize communion of the saints in the acknowledgement of the seven churches, but that we are sinners in need of correction. Do we have a willing spirit that submits to repentance and faith? Do we have the spirit of humility to await correction from our beloved fellowship and beloved elders? We ought to recognize that grace comes from the Father through His Son by His Spirit; however, grace produces peace. This is why the apostle says like in so many instances of the Divine Word “grace be unto you, and peace.” This grace and peace did not come from man but from him which is, and which was, and which is to come. It is the Lord Christ who gives this salutation through John of grace and peace. There is no other grace and peace but that which comes from Christ. There is a grace that is not a true grace of God. Different professing religions confess a peculiar grace, but there is only one grace and peace of God. This grace comes from Christ because it is the essence of divine redemption. Grace and peace is something not of this world. It comes from God Himself but not from the world. Grace gives peace and peace is a positive consequence of grace. The Spirit is the Spirit of grace and peace; that is, He is described as the seven Spirits because it is a matter of perfection and fullness of divine truth. The Spirit precedes from the Father and the Son; however, the Eastern churches do not recognize that the Spirit precedes from the Father and the Son, but the Father only. This is an error and it is clearly seen as such. The throne of Christ is where obedience is personified and where faith is protected. It is at His throne where all petitions come and where He grants His people treasonable gifts. We ought to go before His throne of grace and come boldly to communicate to Him the desires of our hearts. Too many approach the throne of grace with a request of blessing upon them, but we ought to come before Him with thanksgiving, praises, and blessings in worship of Him to thank Him who He is. We lack a grateful heart; however, we commend believers in Christ who thank God for who He is in His beloved holiness.
5And 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,
Jesus is the faithful witness. He faithfully represents us to His Father in heaven to plead His work of divine satisfaction in our places. He was faithful from conception to 10 years old to 20 years old to 30 years old. He was faithful in His teachings. He was faithful in His relationships with men and women. He was faithful in the submitting to the death of the Cross and the life He lived in utter perfection. The essence of Jesus Christ in spiritual redemption for His people is pure Word of God in His faithfulness to the cause of His awesome plan of redemption. Jesus was the first person to rise from the dead; that is, He rose bodily from the dead. He rose for our justification; that is, how we are right with God. We see in the Gospels that only Jesus could rise from the dead and accomplish redemption for His people.
He is the prince of the kings of the earth; that is, He has sovereign control over the kings of the earth and He rules over them as King of kings and Lord of lords. All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Christ Jesus.
Jesus loved us with an eternal and profound love; that is, this love was seen in His love in His life, in His death, in His burial, in His resurrection, in His ascension, in His intercession. He washed us from our sins in His own blood. That is, at the Cross He freely died to take away our sins as if He became sin Himself to bear the wrath of God upon Him to set His people free.
6And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Jesus has made us kings and priests unto our God and Father. The born again of God enjoy an intimate fellowship with Him. We are in the royal family of Christ and we are called to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to Him. The Lord Jesus has all glory and dominion forever and ever. God is our Father who we cry “Abba, Father.” There is no greater glory then the glory of Jesus Christ. 7Behold, 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.
I think this refers to the Second Coming of our Lord and God Jesus Christ. He comes with the Shekinah glory clouds from heaven. Every eye will see Him and all will bow the knee to Him in heaven and on earth. Those who pierced Him are everyone of His people, but especially those who remain unrepentant. Jesus cried to His Father to forgive those who crucified Him, because He followed His own teaching of forgiving His enemies. The reprobate people will wail because of Him, because they know of the judgment of the Lamb of God. “Even so, Amen” refers to let it be Lord. 8I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Jesus refers to Himself as divine, because He is the beginning and the ending. That is, He always is, was and forever shall be. He refers to Himself as the Almighty. This is a powerful verse for the deity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He was in the beginning with God because He was God. He became flesh and dwelt among us, but He did not give His deity but His glory. He is coming again with great clouds of glory. 9I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
John here speaks of himself as a brother and companion in tribulation. The tribulation of John is the end times. The tribulation will get worse as time goes by but the days will be shorter. John and God’s people reside in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ. John was on the isle of Patmos, and it was for the word of God and the testimony of Christ. We should ask ourselves if we are a brother and companion with the church of Christ in this day. We should examine ourselves if we been in His kingdom and wait for Jesus Christ at His timing. We should ponder that the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ is this book of revelation.
Are you a fellow brother and companion in tribulation? Are you in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ? Do you believe the word of God and the testimony of Christ set forth herein? These are questions to think long on.
10I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
John was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day; that is, he was in the Spirit on Sunday. Sunday is the Christian Sabbath. The voice was the voice of Christ that occurred behind him with a great voice, as of a trumpet. It means it is a voice to be noticed by us because He has something to tell us in His divine message. 11Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
Jesus is the Alpha and Omega and the first and the last. It is a statement of deity. It is interesting that Jesus commands John to write in a book a message to seven churches. It is a basis for sola scriptura because I believe the Divine Scriptures were commanded by God to be written. I do not mean in the King James Only sense, but in the sense of the perpetration of His divine Word. The churches John wrote to were in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. Each divine message was special to that church. It had something to do with repentance and renewed obedience. 12And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
We are called to turn from our sin to Jesus. We are called to have eyes of faith. The voice that John heard was the voice of Christ. We ought to have repentance be our Christian life. The seven golden candlesticks are the seven churches; that is, Jesus walks amongst the seven churches and the church ought to be complete in every good work and doctrine.
13And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
The Son of Man is a divine title and He walks in the midst of the seven candlesticks; but He also has a garment clothed about Him down to His feet. He wears the robes of righteousness which is given to us by grace alone through faith in Him. 14His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
His head was white as wool and snow; that is, this represents the purity of Him who sits on the throne and walks in the midst of the seven candlesticks. His eyes were as a flame of fire; that is, this represents His vengeance, wrath and fury against sin because of the rebellion of man.
15And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
Here we see His majesty with fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace. He speaks as the sound of many waters. We see here is great majesty and power as the divine Son of Man. It speaks of His holiness and His majestic presence. 16And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
He is right hand is a position of power and He holds the seven stars in His hand. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches. From His mouth comes a sharp two-edged sword; that is, this is the Word of God and He shines like the sun in its full strength. The sword also represents absolute power. This refers to His awesome purity and righteousness. 17And 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:
John was overcome with this greatness of the glory of Christ. He laid His right hand which speaks of His power and authority of righteousness. He says “Fear not” which occurs frequently in the Divine Word. He is the Alpha and Omega and the first and the last. This is proclaiming His deity. He begins His message with grace and end with His deity; that is, God is in control of all things. 18I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
He speaks of His life and death; that is, His perfect life and His perfect death. He speaks of His resurrection, for He proclaimed He was the resurrection and the life. He has the keys to hell and of death; that is, all authority is in the hands of Jesus Christ. 19Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; 20The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
He commands John to write the things He has seen; that is, things that are and come hereafter. Jesus accomplishes His good pleasure; that is, He commands John to write. Sometimes Roman Catholics say there was never a time when God commanded the authors of the Bible to write; however, we see here that He did indeed command them to write.
