Bible Commentaries
Revelation 1

Verses 1-20

The theme of this Book is found in its opening sentence, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ." This should be borne in mind from first to last, and our object should be to see Him as He is here revealed.

John opens with a greeting to the seven churches in Asia, employing the words "grace" and "peace." He then emphasized that the words were from God through Christ, who claims to be "the Alpha and the Omega."

The first Revelation of Jesus Christ is of Him in His glory as John beheld Him in the isle that is called Patmos. He is seen as "a Son of man," nevertheless, in His Person removed from all others in the amazing splendor of His glory. Human were breasts, and head, and hair, and eyes, and feet, and voice, and hands, and mouth. Superhuman was the golden girdle, and pure wool-whiteness, the flame of fire, the burnished brass, the many waters, the holding of the stars, the activity of the sword, and the splendor of the sun.

The effect produced on John by the vision was to make him appear "as one dead." In that condition he heard the voice saying, "Fear not; I am the First and the Last, and the Living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades." The touch of that Hand, and the sound of that Voice equipped John to receive the unveiling which through him was to be given to the churches. Immediately following, the commission to write was given to John, and the relation between the Lord, His ministers, and the churches was set forth.