PART FIRST OF THE CHURCH Revelation 1:1 to 3:22 SECTION ONE GENERAL Revelation 1:1-20 1. PURPOSE STATED AND Revelation 1:1-3 1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ,--This expression evidently is a title for the entire book, being comprehensive enough to include all its contents. The Greek word Apocalypse --here rendered "Revelation"--properly means the uncovering of anything; an unveiling, so that what is hid may be known. Spiritually it denotes the making known of divine truth that had not before been understood, as the following passages indicate: Romans 16:25; Galatians 1:12 Ephesians 3:3. If it had not been intended that the contents of this book should in some measure be understood, it would not have been called a Revelation. It does not mean a revealing of things concerning Christ, but a revelation which Christ himself made of things involving his church. The book is often referred to by its Greek name--Apocalypse. As its contents clearly show, the revealing is done through words, signs, and symbols, and includes things both present and future at the time John wrote. which God gave him to show unto his servants,--These words clearly indicate that God is the original source or fountain of truth. Notwithstanding the unexplained unity between God and Christ (John 17:20-21), as mediator between God and man, Jesus recognizes his dependence upon the Pathen He said: "My teaching is not mine, but his that sent me." (John 7:16.) Again he said: "For I spake not from myself; but the Father that sent me, he bath given me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak." (John 12:49.) In John 5:20 he said the Father "showeth" all things to the Son. Paul shows that a dependence upon the Father still exists by saying that when all things were put under Christ it is evident that God was excepted. (1 Corinthians 15:27.) Hence, though at God's right hand, he is represented as receiving from the Father the revelation he was to communicate to man. All Christians are "servants" of God in some sense (1 Peter 2:16), and the revealing here promised was intended, doubtless, for all God's children. All would need the encouragement which such a disclosing of events would produce. It would also serve as a protection against being overcome by the disasters that were certain to come upon the church. even the things which must shortly come to pass:--The words "must shortly come to pass" indicate that the things to be revealed to John in vision would most certainly take place. It does not mean that all the things would "shortly" come to pass, but that they would begin to transpire soon after the time John wrote. This must be the correct view since the seals, trumpets, and vials necessarily imply a series of events. To imagine all the things depicted as occurring at exactly the same time is out of the question. The thousand-year period (chapter 20) would prevent any such theory. Since there was to be a succession of events, they began to transpire when the first one commenced. The period covered by the word "shortly" varies according to the nature of the subject in question. A short time could be a few hours, a few days, a few years, or even many years if compared with several centuries. and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John;--He (Christ) signified the things shortly to come to pass, sending them to John by his angel. The term "signify" comes from the word "sign" and indicates that the things to be revealed to John would be presented through signs and symbols. This word is used in the same sense by John in the following passages: John 12:33; John 21:18-19. It is an appropriate word to express a revelation which was to be made largely through symbols. The symbolic nature of much of the book is evident from even a casual reading of it. The word "angel" means messenger, and this shows that the visions were conveyed to John through the medium of some heavenly messenger. How this was done is a matter that must be left to the secret things known only to divine wisdom. (Deuteronomy 29:29.) It is a matter of first importance in the study of God's word to stop where Revelation ends. In no part of the sacred record is this more important than in the study of the Apocalypse. 2 who bare witness of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, even of all things that he saw.--This language shows that John regarded himself simply as a witness of God's revelation. In general God's word means any declaration or truth coming from him. But here he means that John was giving a true record of the things recorded in this book. This is evident from the explanatory clause "even of all things that he saw." Of course, John was a witness of the things he had seen in the personal ministry of Christ. (John 19:35; John 21:24.) The "testimony of Jesus Christ," as indicated in verse 1, was the witness that he bore to the word of God; or, that this revelation came through Christ and was delivered by John. 3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear--In that early time copies of the sacred writings were scarce and doubtless much truth was imparted through public readings. Many think the language here refers to that custom, because he that readeth and they that hear imply that one read while many listened. This did not exclude individual and private reading ; but, since the other was probably more common, the blessing was pronounced on both reader and hearers. No special blessing is mentioned, but there are always benefits to come to those who are obedient. Nothing is more conducive to hearty obedience than a faithful hearing of God's word. the words of the prophecy,--The word "prophecy" here is synonymous with "Revelation" in verse 1 and the "things saw" in verse 2. It is 'used in its narrow sense of disclosing future events, for the main part of the book is devoted to such matters. John did not say that all who read the book would understand it, for that is not true of any part of the Bible written in literal language. But there would be no point in saying a blessing would come to those who heard it unless some degree of understanding were possible; at least enough to make the study profitable. and keep the things that are written therein: for the time is at hand.--To keep things written meant that they should not forget what related to the future as a matter of encouragement and warning, and they should obey any duty that the book required. Present-day Christians should maintain the same attitude toward the teachings of this divine volume. It came from God through Christ and was delivered through an inspired apostle. No book of the Bible has stronger claims for its authority. Disobedience is inexcusable when God speaks. Since the visions presented to John unquestionably cover a long period of time, the expression "at hand" cannot mean that the completion of all the events was near. The thought must be then that the things that were to come to pass would begin to transpire in a relatively short time. "At hand" should be understood in the same sense as "shortly," verse 1.