1.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
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 .
2.
Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
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 .
3.
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.
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 .
4.
John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
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 .
5.
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
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 .
6.
And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
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 .
7.
Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
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.
8.
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
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.
9.
I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
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.
10.
I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
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.
11.
Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
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.
12.
And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
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.
13.
And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
the. Omit.
Son of Man. See App-98 and App-99 .
about. Greek. pros.
paps = breasts.
14.
His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
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 .
15.
And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
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.
16.
And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
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 .
17.
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:
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 .
18.
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.
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 .
19.
Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
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.
20.
The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
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.