Revelation 1
Big idea: The book names itself in its first three words and then does something no other New Testament book does: it pronounces a blessing on whoever READS IT ALOUD and on those who hear. It was written for a congregation and a reader, not a study. Then John — exiled, and careful to call himself a brother and PARTNER in oppression rather than an authority — turns to see a voice and describes a figure entirely out of Daniel: white hair, burning eyes, feet like furnace-bronze, a sword coming out of his mouth.
Chapter 1 supplies the descriptions. Each of the seven letters in chapters 2–3 opens by quoting one of them back.
1:1–8 — The time is near
A prologue that establishes a chain of custody — God to Christ to an angel to John to the servants — and a blessing aimed at a room rather than a reader: one person reads, many hear. Then the greeting, from a God described by a verb sequence that will not sit still, and a doxology that names what the readers already ARE: a kingdom, and priests. And a coming that every eye sees.
1 This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things which must happen soon, which he sent and made known by his angel to his servant, John, 2 who testified to God’s word and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, about everything that he saw. 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written in it, for the time is near. 4 John, to the seven assemblies that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from God, 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 of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us, and washed us from our sins by his blood— 6 and he made us to be a Kingdom, priests to his God and Father—to him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, including those who pierced him. All the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. Even so, Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
1:9–20 — I have the keys of Death and of Hades
John introduces himself in the flattest possible terms — your BROTHER and PARTNER, in three things he lists together: oppression, kingdom, and endurance. Then the vision, and it is assembled almost entirely from Daniel 7 and 10. What is worth noticing is the reaction and the response: he falls down as though dead, and the figure with a sword in his mouth reaches out a hand and says don't be afraid.
9 I John, your brother and partner with you in the oppression, Kingdom, and perseverance in Christ Jesus, was on the isle that is called Patmos because of God’s Word and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, like a trumpet 11 saying, “What you see, write in a book and send to the seven assemblies: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.” 12 I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. Having turned, I saw seven golden lamp stands. 13 And among the lamp stands was one like a son of man, clothed with a robe reaching down to his feet, and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 His head and his hair were white as white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire. 15 His feet were like burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace. His voice was like the voice of many waters. 16 He had seven stars in his right hand. Out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest. 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. He laid his right hand on me, saying, “Don’t be afraid. I am the first and the last, 18 and the Living one. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever and ever. Amen. I have the keys of Death and of Hades. 19 Write therefore the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will happen hereafter. 20 The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lamp stands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven assemblies. The seven lamp stands are seven assemblies.
Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).