Revelation 1

Revelation 1 introduces the divine revelation given to John on Patmos concerning future events, emphasizing a blessing for those who read and keep its prophecy. John addresses the seven churches in Asia, conveying grace and peace from God, the seven Spirits, and Jesus Christ, who is described as the faithful witness and ruler. He then experiences a powerful vision of "one like unto the Son of man" amidst seven golden candlesticks. This majestic figure identifies himself as the living Christ, the Alpha and Omega, holding the keys of death and hell, and commissions John to write what he has seen.

The chapter begins by stating that it is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, given by God to show future events to His servants through John, who bore record of all he saw. A blessing is pronounced upon those who read, hear, and keep this prophecy, as the time is at hand. John addresses the seven churches in Asia, conveying grace and peace from God, the seven Spirits, and Jesus Christ, who is identified as the faithful witness, the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of earthly kings, who has redeemed humanity by His blood and made them kings and priests. The text prophesies Christ's coming with clouds, visible to all, and His declaration as Alpha and Omega, the Almighty. John, exiled on Patmos for his faith, recounts being in the Spirit on the Lord's day when he heard a trumpet-like voice commanding him to write to the seven churches. Turning, he beheld a majestic figure "like unto the Son of man" standing amidst seven golden candlesticks, possessing striking features such as white hair, fiery eyes, and a two-edged sword from His mouth. This figure, holding seven stars, identifies Himself as the First and the Last, who lives, was dead, and is now alive forevermore, possessing the keys of hell and death. He then instructs John to write the past, present, and future events, revealing that the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven candlesticks are the churches themselves.

Revelation 1 commences by declaring itself the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God granted Him to reveal to His servants things that must "shortly come to pass," communicated through an angel to John. John, in turn, bore record of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ, detailing all that he saw. A beatitude is pronounced upon those who read, hear, and keep the words of this prophecy, emphasizing that "the time is at hand." John then addresses a salutation of grace and peace to the seven churches located in Asia, originating from God, described as "him which is, and which was, and which is to come," from the "seven Spirits which are before his throne," and from Jesus Christ. Christ is further characterized as "the faithful witness," "the first begotten of the dead," and "the prince of the kings of the earth," who "loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood," and has "made us kings and priests unto God and his Father." The chapter then foretells the dramatic return of Christ, stating that "he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him," including those who pierced him, leading to universal lamentation. The Lord Himself proclaims, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending... the Almighty." John recounts his personal circumstances, identifying himself as a brother and companion in tribulation, exiled on the isle of Patmos "for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ." On the Lord's day, he was "in the Spirit" and heard a loud, trumpet-like voice behind him, which commanded him to write what he saw in a book and send it to the seven specific churches in Asia. Upon turning to identify the voice, John witnessed a profound vision: seven golden candlesticks, and "in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man." This figure was clothed in a long garment, girt with a golden girdle, possessed hair as white as wool or snow, eyes like a flame of fire, and feet like fine brass. His voice resonated "as the sound of many waters," and in His right hand, He held seven stars, while a sharp two-edged sword proceeded from His mouth, and His countenance shone "as the sun shineth in his strength." Overwhelmed, John fell at His feet as dead, but the figure laid His hand upon him, instructing him not to fear. He then declared Himself "the first and the last," "he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore," holding "the keys of hell and of death." Finally, the divine figure commanded John to "Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter," and revealed the symbolic meaning of the vision: the seven stars represent the angels of the seven churches, and the seven golden candlesticks symbolize the seven churches themselves.