Can you explain Revelation, chapter 1?
As we read, this book was written by the Apostle Paul while banished to the Isle of Patmos. Verse 9 tells us that he was there “for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” It was because of his testimony for the Lord that he was banished there. This book is the revelation of Jesus Christ. First and foremost, we should look for Christ in this book.
In verse 6 we see that we, the church of Christ, have been made ‘kings and priests’ or literally a kingdom of priests. That is a wonderful revelation that we need to realize…all believers are priests! We read in 1 Peter 2:5 that we are all HOLY PRIESTS, and in verse 9 we see that we are all ROYAL PRIESTS. This is a precious truth that all believers need to dwell on and learn how we should operate as priests of God.
Verse 7 speaks of the Lord’s return to the earth. We learn that ‘every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him’. Every eye refers to the entire world, while those which pierced Him refers to the Jewish nation. The people of ‘all kindreds of the earth’ that have rejected the Lord Jesus as their savior ‘shall wail because of Him.’ When He comes at this time, He does not come to save. He comes to judge. We know our Lord to be a merciful and gracious God. On this day, there will be no mercy, no grace. There is coming a day when the Lord shall return in holy righteousness, passing judgment on all those who rejected Him. 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 speaks of Christ coming “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.”
In verse 10 we are told that John received this revelation on the ‘Lord’s Day’. This is different than the Sabbath, which is the last day of the week. This is the day of the week that points us to Christ…it is the first day of the week. It is pointed out in all four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John that Christ was raised from the dead on ‘the first day of the week.’ The Lord’s Day!
Evidently, the Lord came up behind John and announced that He is the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. He instructs John to write a letter to the seven churches in Asia. In chapters 2-3, we have the different letters he wrote to those churches. It is profitable to notice that in each letter, a different character of the Lord is mentioned. Each one pertains to the different nature of each church written to. John turns to ‘see the voice that speaks to me’ and He sees the Lord Jesus in a way he had never seen Him before. Instead of the young loving Messiah he had known, he now sees the Lord in His role as judge. His appearance scares John. We read in verses 17-18, “And 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: I am HE THAT LIVETH, and WAS DEAD; and, behold, I am ALIVE FOR EVERMORE, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” This is a grand truth. Christ in the one who lived in past eternity, He is the one who died for our sins, and He is the One who will never die again. He is alive for evermore!
Christ tells John in verse 19, “Write the things which thou HAST SEEN, and the things WHICH ARE, and the things which SHALL BE HEREAFTER.” The things John has seen is found in this chapter. The things ‘which are’ is found in chapters 2-3. The things ‘which shall be hereafter’ (prophetic things) are found in the remainder of this book.
And so begins this wonderful book of the revelation of Jesus Christ. I encourage you to spend time reading and studying this most important book. This prophetic book is unique in that it promises a blessing to those who read it and keep it. Verse 3 says, “Blessed 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.” Indeed, ‘the time is at hand.’ Are you ready to face the Lord, or are you still in your sins? You DO NOT want to face Him and receive His righteous judgment without mercy or grace. Hebrews 10:31 warns us, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” You may wonder, “What must I do to be saved?” We have the answer in Acts 16:31, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” (210.8)