Bible Version: New International Version (NIV)
Application Notes: Life Application Study Bible (NIV)
REVELATION 1
Prologue
1 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
Greetings and Doxology
4 John,
To the seven churches in the province of Asia:
Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
7 “Look, he is coming with the clouds,”
and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him”;
and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”
So shall it be! 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.”
John’s Vision of Christ
9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11 which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”
12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
19 “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. 20 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Application Notes
1:1-3 Revelation is a book about the future and aboµt the present. It offers future hope to all believers, especially those who have suffered for their faith, by proclaiming Christ's final victory over evil and the assurance of eternal life with him. It also gives present guidance as it teaches us about Jesus Christ and how we should live for him now. Through graphic images we learn that (1) Jesus Christ will come again, (2) evil will be judged and its reign of terror on the earth will end, and (3) everyone will be raised from the dead to stand before God for judgment, leading either to eternal life or eternal destruction.
1:1-3 The book of Revelation reveals future events, but without the gloomy pessimism we might expect. While John unfolds the drama of these spectacular events, he assures us that we have nothing to fear if we are on Jesus' side. When you think about the future, walk with confidence because Christ, the ultimate victor. walks with you.
1:1 According to tradition, John, the author of this book, was the only one of Jesus' original 12 disciples who was not killed for the faith. He also wrote the Gospel of John and the letters of 1, 2, and 3 John. When he wrote Revelation, John was in exile on the island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea, sent there by the Romans for his witness about Jesus Christ (For more on John, see his profile on page 1833.)
1:1 This book is the revelation from, concerning, and of Jesus Christ. God the Father gave the revelation of his plan to Jesus Christ, who, in turn, revealed it to John. The book of Revelation unveils Christ's full identity and God's plan for the end of the world, and it focuses on Jesus Christ, his second coming, his victory over evil, and the establishment of his kingdom on earth. As you read and study Revelation, don't focus so much on the timetable of the events or the details of John's imagery that you miss the main thing he wanted us to discover--the infinite love, power, and justice of the Lord Jesus Christ.
1:1 The book of Revelation was written in the apocalyptic genre (the name of which means "uncovered," "unveiled" or "revealed"). This type of ancient literature usually featured spectacular and mysterious imagery, and such literature was often written under the name of an ancient hero. John was acquainted with Jewish apocalyptic works, but his writing differs in several ways: (1) He uses his own name rather than the name of an ancient hero, (2) he denounces evil and exhorts people to keep to high Christian standards, and (3) he offers hope rather than gloom. John was not a psychic attempting to predict the future; he was a prophet of God describing what God had shown him.
1:1 For more on angels, see the note on 5:11.
1:1 Jesus gave his message to John in a revelation (a vision), allowing John to see and record certain future events so they could encourage all believers. The vision included many signs and symbols conveying the essence of what will happen. What John saw, in most cases, was indescribable, so he used illustrations to show what it was like. When reading this symbolic language, we don't have to understand every detail-John himself didn't. Instead, realise that John's imagery reveals Jesus Christ as the glorious and victorious Lord of all.
1:3 Revelation is a book of prophecy that is both prediction (foretelling future events) and proclamation (preaching about who God is and what he calls us to be and do). Prophecy is more than telling the future. Behind the predictions stand important principles about God's character and promises that hold present implications for us. As we read, we will get to know God better so that we can trust him completely day by day.
1:3 Typical news reports--filled with violence, scandal, and political strife--are depressing, and we may wonder where the world is heading. God's plan for the future, however, provides inspiration and encouragement because we know he will intervene in history at the right time to fully conquer evil. John encourages churches to read this book aloud so everyone can hear it, apply it ("take to heart what is written in it"), and be assured of the fact that God will triumph.
1:3 When John says that "the time is near," he is urging his readers to be faithful and ready at all times for the Last Judgment and the establishment of God's kingdom on earth. We do not know when the events he describes will occur, so we must always be prepared. They will happen quickly, and people will have no second chance to change sides.
1:4-6 The Trinity-the Father ("who is, and who was, and who is to come"). the Holy Spirit ("the seven spirits"), and the Son (Jesus Christ)--is the source of all truth (John 14:6, 17; 1 John 2:27; Revelation 19:11). Thus, we can be assured that John's message is reliable and reveals God's word to us.
1:4 Jesus told John to write to seven churches that knew and trusted him and had read his earlier letters (see 1:11). The letters were addressed so that they could be read and passed on in a systematic fashion, following the main Roman road clockwise around the province of Asia (present-day Turkey).
1:4 The "seven spirits" is another name for the Holy Spirit. John uses the number seven throughout Revelation to symbolise completeness and perfection. (For more on the Holy Spirit, see the notes on John 3:6 and Acts 1:5.)
1:5-7 Jesus is the all-powerful King, the one who is victorious in battle, the champion of peace. Far from being just a humble earthly teacher, he is Lord over all. When you read John's description of the vision, keep in mind that his words are more than just good advice; they are truth given by the King of kings. Don't simply read these words for their interesting and amazing portrayal of the future. Let the truth about Christ's power and mercy penetrate your life, deepen your faith in him, and strengthen your commitment to follow him no matter what the cost.
1:5-6 Many hesitate to witness about their faith in Christ because they don't feel like the change in their lives has been spectacular enough. But you qualify as a witness for Jesus because of what he has done for you, not because of what you have done for him. Christ demonstrated his great love by setting us free from our sins through his death on the cross ("free us from our sins by his blood"), guaranteeing us a place in his kingdom, and making us priests to administer God's love to others. The fact that the all-powerful God has offered eternal life to you is nothing short of spectacular.
1:5 Others had risen from the dead--people whom the prophets, Jesus, and the apostles had brought back to life during their ministries--but later those people died again. Jesus was the first who rose from the dead in an imperishable body (1 Corinthians 15:20), never to die again. This is what it means that he is the "firstborn from the dead."
1:7 John is announcing the return of Jesus to earth (also see Matthew 24; Mark 13; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18). Jesus' second coming will be visible and victorious. All people will see him arrive (Mark 13:26), and they will have no doubt it is Jesus. When he comes, he will conquer evil and jµdge all people according to their deeds (Revelation 20:11-15).
1:7 "Those who pierced him" could refer to the Roman soldiers who pierced Jesus' side as he hung on the cross or to the Jewish leaders who were responsible for his death. John saw Jesus' death with his own eyes, and he never forgot the horror of it (see John 19:34-35; also see Zechariah 12:10).
1:8 Alpha and omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. The Lord God himself is the beginning and the end of all things. God the Father is the eternal Lord and ruler of the past, present, and future (also see 4:8; Isaiah 44:6; 48:12-15). Without him you have nothing that is eternal, nothing that can change your life, nothing that can save you from sin. Is the Lord your reason for living, "the Alpha and the Omega" of your life? Honour the one who is the beginning and the end of all existence, wisdom, and power.
1:9 Patmos was a small, rocky island in the Aegean Sea, about 50 miles offshore from the city of Ephesus on the Asia Minor seacoast (see the map on page 2213).
1:9 The Christian church was facing severe persecution. Almost all believers were socially, politically, or economically suffering because of this empire-wide persecution, and some were even being killed for their faith. John had been exiled to Patmos because he refused to stop preaching the gospel. Not all Christians face persecution for their faith as the early Christians did, but even with this freedom few of us have the courage to boldly share God's Word with others. If we hesitate to share our faith during easy times, how will we do during times of persecution?
1:12-13 The seven golden lampstands are the seven churches in Asia (1:11, 20), and Jesus stands among them. No matter what the churches face, Jesus protects them with his all-encompassing love and reassuring power. Through his Spirit, Jesus Christ still lives among the churches today. When any church faces persecution, its people should hold tightly to Christ's deep love and compassion. When a church faces internal strife, conflict, or compromise, they should remember Christ's concern for purity and his intolerance of sin.
1:13-14 The title Son of Man occurs many times in the New Testament and is used by Jesus to refer to himself (see Matthew 12:8; 26:64). John recognized Jesus because he had lived and traveled with him for three years and had seen him both as the Galilean preacher and as the glorified Son of G·od at the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8). Here, Jesus appears as the mighty Son of Man. His white hair indicates his wisdom and divine nature (also see Daniel 7:9); his blazing eyes symbolise judgment of all evil; the golden sash around his chest reveals him as the High Priest, who goes into God's presence to obtain forgiveness of sin for those who have believed in him.
The book of Revelation will challenge how you picture Jesus Christ. What forms your impression of him right now--famous paintings, movies, Sunday school art? Do you ever picture Jesus with a gold sash and snow white, woolly hair? Do his eyes flash fire and his feet glow like bronze? When you imagine Jesus speaking to you, does his voice thunder like mighty ocean waves? Reevaluate the way you think of Jesus as you read and study Revelation. Allow his powerful presence to transform your life.
1:16 The sword in Jesus' mouth symbolises the power and force of his message. His words of judgment are as·sharp as swords, ready to cut through your defences and pretences with his truth (also see Isaiah 49:2; Hebrews 4:12).
1:17-18 As the Roman government stepped up its persecution of Christians, John must have wondered if the church could survive and stand against the opposition. But Jesus appeared in glory and splendour, reassuring John that he and his fellow believers had access to God's strength to face these trials. If you are facing difficult trials, opposition, or persecution, remember that the same power available to John and the early church is also available to you (see 1 John 4:4).
1:17-18 Our sins have convicted and sentenced us, but Jesus holds the keys of death and Hades. He alone can free us from eternal bondage to Satan. He alone has the power and authority to set us free from sin's control. Believers don't have to fear Hades or death. Instead, we must turn from sin and turn to him in faith. When we attempt to control our lives and disregard God, we set a course that leads directly to hell. But when we place our lives in Christ's hands, he restores us now and will resurrect us later to an eternal, peaceful, and vibrant relationship with him.
1:20 Who are the "angels of the seven churches"? Some say that they are angels designated to guard the churches; others say that they are elders or pastors of the local churches. Because the seven letters in Revelation 2 and 3 contain reprimands, these angels are probably not heavenly messengers. More likely, these are earthly leaders or messengers, and they are accountable to God for the churches they represent.
Taken from Life Application Study Bible - Third Edition - (NIV)