Bible Commentaries
Revelation 1

Verse 1

The . . . Christ. The Divine title of the Book.

The Revelation = Revelation. Greek. apokalupsis, whence our "Apocalypse". App-106 and App-197 .

Jesus Christ. App-98 .

unto = to.

shew = point out. First occurrence Matthew 4:8 . Compare Revelation 22:6 . servants, servant. App-190 . The word is peculiarly appropriated to Israel throughout O.T., and in this Book is used (fourteen times) as the proper title of those who are its subjects. Contrast "servants" and "sons", Romans 8:14-17 . Galatians 1:4 , Galatians 1:1-7 . 1 John 3:1 .

things, &c. = what things must needs come to pass. See Daniel 2:29 (Septuagint)

shortly = with (Greek. en) speed.

sent = having sent. App-174 .

Verse 2

record = witness. See p. 1511. The verb Occurs only here and Revelation 22:16 , Revelation 22:20 in Rev.

the word of God. Thus a direct prophetic communication, as 1 Samuel 9:27 . 1 Kings 12:22 . 1 Chronicles 17:3 . Yet Compare Revelation 1:9 ; Revelation 6:9 ; Revelation 19:13 ; Revelation 20:4 .

word. App-121 .

testimony = witness. See John 1:7 and p. 1511.

and, &c. Not merely "heard" but saw in vision.

all things that = whatsoever things.

saw. App-133 .

Verse 3

Blessed = Happy. Greek. makarios, by which the Septuagint renders the Hebrew 'ashrey. See App-63 . First of seven occurance in Rev. (fifty in N.T.)

this = the.

prophecy. Occurs seven times ( App-10 ) in Rev.

keep. See Luke 2:19 , Luke 2:51 . Occurs eleven times in Rev.

those = the.

therein = in (Greek. en) it.

time. Greek. kairos. Compare App-195 .

Verse 4

seven. See App-10 and App-197 .

churches. Greek. ekklesia. App-120 and App-186 .

in. App-104 .

Asia. Not Europe, and consequently not Christendom.

Grace. App-184 .

from. App-104 .

Him. . . come. Greek paraphrase of "Jehovah". See App-4 .

Which = Who, and so throughout Revelation.

Spirits. App-101 .

Verse 5

faithful. App-150 . Compare Isaiah 55:4 .

Witness. Greek. martus. See Revelation 3:14 and p. 1511.

First Begotten. See Romans 8:29 . Hebrews 1:6 . Compare Psalms 2:7 . Acts 13:33 . 1 Corinthians 15:20 . Colossians 1:18 .

of the dead. App-139 . The texts omit ek.

Prince = Ruler. See John 12:31 .

kings, &c. See Revelation 6:16 and Psalms 89:27 , Psalms 89:37 .

earth. App-129 .

loved. The texts read "loveth". App-135 .

washed. The texts read "loosed". App-95 .:1; note 2, p 138.

from. Greek. ek. App-104 .

sins. App-128 . Elsewhere in Revelation 18:4 , Revelation 18:5 .

in = by. Greek. en. App-104 .

Verse 6

hath. Omit.

kings and priests = (to be) a kingdom (so all texts) and (to be) priests. See Revelation 5:10 ; Revelation 20:6 . Exodus 19:6 (Septuagint "a royal priesthood")

Father. See App-98 .

glory = the glory. See p. 1511.

dominion = the dominion. App-172 .

for ever, &c. App-151 . a. First of fourteen occurances: (including Revelation 14:11 ).

Amen = even (the) Amen: See Revelation 3:14 .

Verse 7

Behold. App-133 .

with. App-104 .

clouds = the clouds.

eye. Figure of speech Synecdoche ( App-6 ), for person.

see. App-133 .

they, &c. Allusion to Zechariah 12:10 .

pierced. Compare John 19:34 .

kindreds = tribes, as Matthew 19:28 ; Matthew 24:30 ; &c. Greek. phule.

because of. Greek. epi . App-104 . See Zechariah 12:10 .

Even so = Yea.

Verse 8

Alpha and Omega = The Alpha and the Omega. See Revelation 1:17 ; Revelation 22:13 .

the . . . ending. The texts omit.

LORD. The texts read "LORD God" (see App-4 ).

LORD. App-98 .

Almighty App-98 . The Greek word occurs nine ( App-10 ) times in Rev. Only once elsewhere (2 Corinthians 6:18 ) in N.T.

Verse 9

who also am. Omit.

companion = partaker, as Romans 11:17 . Philippians 1:1 , Philippians 1:7 ; &c.

tribulation = the tribulation. Here; Revelation 2:9 , Revelation 2:10 , Revelation 2:22 ; Revelation 7:14 .

in the. The texts omit.

kingdom and patience. With this "kingdom" the "tribulation" is specially connected. Figure of speech Hendiatris ( App-6 ). See Acts 14:22 .

patience. Occurs seven times in Rev. Compare Luke 21:19 . 2 Thessalonians 3:5 .

of. The texts read "in" (Greek. en) .

Jesus. App-98 .

Christ. The texts omit.

was = came to be.

Patimos. An island (mod. Patino) about thirty miles south-west of Samos.

for. App-104 .Revelation 1:2 . Nothing to indicate that John had been "banished".

for. The texts omit.

Christ. The texts omit.

Verse 10

Spirit. App-101 . See Revelation 4:2 ; Revelation 17:3 ; Revelation 21:10 .

on = in (Greek. en) .

the Lord's day = the day of the Lord (Isaiah 2:12 , &c), the Hebrew terms for which are equivalent to the Greek he kuriake hemera, the Lord's day. Occurances: 1 Thessalonians 5:2 . 2 Thessalonians 2:2 (with texts). 2 Peter 3:16 . Not our Sunday.

trumpet. In O.T. connected with war and the day of the Lord. See Zephaniah 1:14-16 ; &c. This verse (10) is the key to understanding the book of Revelation: John was taken "in the power of The Holy Spirit", from (A.D. 96) on to a time past this present time, to the future ("the day of the Lord"), and shown things both past and that are future.

Verse 11

I am . . . last: and. The texts omit.

seest. App-133 .

in. Greek. eis.

book = roll, or scroll, as Revelation 6:14 .

send. App-174 .

which . . . Asia. The texts omit.

unto. Greek. eis, as above.

Verse 12

voice. The Speaker (Figures of speech Metonymy of Effect, and Catachresis. App-6 ). See Revelation 1:10 .

spake = was speaking.

being = having.

candlesticks = larnpstands. Occurs seven times in Rev.

Verse 13

the. Omit.

Son of Man. See App-98 and App-99 .

about. Greek. pros.

paps = breasts.

Verse 14

His head. Read "And His head".

like. The texts read "as". Compare this and the following verses: with Ezekiel 1:7 . Daniel 7:9 ; Daniel 10:6 .

Verse 15

fine brass. Only here and Revelation 2:18 .

as . . . burned = as glowing.

furnace. Only here; Revelation 9:2 .Matthew 13:42 , Matthew 13:50 .

voice . . . waters. See Revelation 1:10 ; Revelation 14:2 ; Revelation 19:6 . Ezekiel 1:24 ; Ezekiel 43:2 .

voice. Same word as "sound". Greek. phone.

Verse 16

He had = having.

stars. See Revelation 1:20 .

out . . . sword. For the Figure compare Psalms 55:21 ; Psalms 57:4 ; Psalms 59:7 . The significance is seen in Isaiah 11:4 ; Isaiah 49:2 . 2 Thessalonians 2:8 . See also Revelation 2:12 , Revelation 2:16 ; Revelation 19:15 , Revelation 19:21 .Luke 19:27 .

twoedged. Compare Hebrews 4:12 .

sword. Greek. rhomphaia. Occurs only in Rev. (six times) and Luke 2:35 .

countenance. Greek. opsis . Only here; John 7:24 ; John 11:44 .

strength. App-172 .1; Rev 176:1 .

Verse 17

fell. Greek. pipto. See Revelation 7:16 (light).

at. Greek. pros. App-104 .

dead = one dead. App-139 .

unto me. The texts omit.

I am . . . Last. Compare Isaiah 41:4 ; Isaiah 43:10 ; Isaiah 44:6 ; Isaiah 48:11 , Isaiah 48:12 .

Verse 18

I . . . liveth = And the Living One.

liveth, alive. App-170 .

and. Read "and yet".

was = became.

dead. See App-139 .

I am alive = Living (emph.) am I.

Amen. Omit.

hell. . . death. The texts read "death and of hell".

hell = grave. App-131 . See Revelation 20:13 (margin) 1 Corinthians 15:55 . Revised Version transliterates the Greek word hades .

Verse 19

Write. The texts add "therefore".

hast seen = sawest, as Revelation 1:2 .

the . . . are = what thoy are, i.e. what they signify.

and = even.

shall be = are about to happen.

hereafter. Literally after (Greek. meta.) these things (Greek. tauta) . Hebrew idiom; compare Genesis 22:1 . First of ten occurrences in Rev.

Verse 20

mystery = secret symbol. See App-193 .

stars. Greek. aster, occurs fourteen times in Rev. ( App-10 )

in. Greek. epi.

are = represent, or signify.

the. Omit.

angels. App-120 . Revelation 1:2 .

which . . . sawest. The texts omit.

the. Omit.