Wake Up People
The Revealing! (Revelation)
Annotation in "black bold & italic"
Chapters 1-3 & 6
Rev 1:1 The Revelation of the Savior the Anointed One which the Father gave unto him, to shew unto his followers the things which will shortly come to pass; and he sent and made it known by his angel unto his servant John:
Definition: REVEAL (theology) disclose directly or through prophets
The last book of Gods word by very definition of the “title”, is a book to be understood. God revealed to us what His plans were for us. As He himself said: “Joh 18:20 Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.
The Revelation is a revealing of the plan of salvation; it draws from the Old Testament just as it draws from the New Testament. It covers the Christian Era from the beginning right down to the end of this age. There is NOTHING hidden within the Revelation, but in order to understand this prophetic book, one has to read the prophecies of the Old Testament, especially the book of Daniel from chapters 1-12. Then read the Revelation from chapters 1-22, then re-read Daniel again, and re-read the Revelation the second time and you will understand the book. Research the times recorded of the ancient world empires, and their coming into being, as well as their demise, and you will know the truth, and then you will be set free “from error.”
Rev 1:2 [John] Who bore record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, ["which is the “Spirit of Prophecy”or the ability to understand the prophecies"] and of all things that he saw.
John had first hand information of Jesus life, death, and resurrection, and ascension. There can be no greater witness than this. As he was moved by the Holy Spirit, he recorded what he personally witnessed in the visions given to him on Patmos.
Rev 1:3 Blessed is the person that reads, and they that hear [read and hear what is being revealed here] the words of this prophecy, [what the prophecy is saying] and keep those things [live what you hear here] which are written here: for the time [end time] is at hand.
This is the first blessing pronounced. You are “blessed” if you read and comprehend to the degree that you “hear understand and obey”, what the prophecy has revealed to you.
Rev 1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: [Gods] Grace is towards you, and peace, from [the Father] him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
A greeting from the totality of the Godhead is what John is recording here. God is letting us know WHO is revealing this information.
Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, [our Savior] who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him [Jesus] that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Question: Was Jesus the first one to rise from the dead? What about Lazarus? What about the son of the widow of Nain? What about those of Elijahs’ time, or those like DORCUS, whom Peter prayed over and she came forth from the dead?
So what is this verse saying then?
Answer: It’s saying that Jesus is the firstbegotten from the dead humanity, that He came to save. In this regard He is the “firstborn human being”, from the “dead in sin humanity”, to come forth on His own. Therefore He is the “first begotten of the dead.”
Rev 1:6 And [by this life, death, and resurrection] hath made us [made a way back to God] kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
It is through the sacrifice of Jesus, that mankind can discover a way back to God. It was this that the Godhead determined, should be a reconciliation between God and Man.
Rev 1:7 Behold, he [Jesus] cometh with clouds; [of Angels] and every eye shall see him, [at the Third coming, after the 1000 years are finished] and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds [Nations] of the earth shall wail [be in sorrow] because of him. Even so, Amen. [The word "wail" tells you that this is the "Third" coming of Jesus]
Jesus is coming again, surrounded by a cloud of angels the Second time. Only those resurrected and the living saints, along with the living wicked will see Him at the Second coming. Those wicked alive are slain by His glory, the wicked dead remain in the grave until the 1000 years are finished. So what is the verse saying when it says “every eye shall see Him?” It is in this verse, speaking of the Third coming, when every redeemed saint within the Holy city, as well as the resurrected dead, are ALL alive at the same time. This is when every eye shall see Him, even those who pierced Him. It's also at this time that every nation on Earth will “wail”, because they will have realized that they missed eternity.
Rev 1:8 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.
Here is a verse often overlooked by many today, especially modern Protestant churches. This verse clearly identifies Jesus as God, and refers to Him as the “Almighty”, ABSOLUTE DIETY!
Rev 1:9 I John, who also am your brother, [a fellow Christian] and companion in tribulation, [a fallen human being] and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, [acting or imitating the Lords walk by FAITH] was in the isle [banished to a prison island] that is called Patmos, for the word of God, [because I believed Gods word] and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
John here wants everyone to know who he is, [a fellow Christian saved by Grace through Faith] where he is, [in prison for his faith] and why he is writing [because he believes Jesus.] There can be in that way, NO mistake as to who is the writer of this book. Jesus is the author!
Rev 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
John even tells us what day it is, that he received this vision, he said it was the Lords day.
What day did John recognize as the Lords Day, did he know the Lord personally? YES he did!
Did he know what Jesus said about which day was the Lords day? Yes again he did indeed!
Luk 6:5 And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
Isa 58:13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
There’ only one day that Jesus called His holy day, and that’s the Sabbath day, the seventh day of the week, the day following Friday the sixth day, and the day before Sunday the first day of the week. There can be NO mistake as to which day is the Lords Day. Only to the willfully BLIND, is any other day called the Lords’ day!
Trumpets were used in Israel to sound the alarm, or to charge into Battle. They were used in holy service as well. The trumpet was a herald to pay attention, there’s something important to act upon. Such as when Joshua had the priest march around Jerico seven times, blowing the trumpets, or Gideon using the same. The voice was calling John to pay close attention to what he saw.
Rev 1:11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: [the introduction] and, What you see, write it in this book, and send it [what you see and hear] to the seven churches which are in Asia; [ALL the then established churches] unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
These seven churches were literal churches, established in Asia at that time, but this revelation also encompassed the churches throughout history from that time until Jesus comes again. Each church covered a period of church history. God is telling us that this revelation is to everyone from that time until He comes back. Each church was addressed, and in each church era throughout history reveals the condition of the church at that time and as it grew, and either digressed or progressed.
Rev 1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
Note: John heard a voice other than directly in front of him, either it was to one side or behind him, because he says that he “turned” to see who was speaking to him, and what he saw was a vision of the heavenly Sanctuary, in which he saw the seven golden candlesticks rendered in the KJV, but should say seven golden lamps. A direct implication, to the seven golden lamps, in the earthly Sanctuary. John here saw the heavenly sanctuary in which the earthly was patterned after, there he saw Jesus our high priest officiating.
Rev 1:13 And in the midst [middle] of the seven [lamps] candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, [Jesus] clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. [High Priest attire]
There can be no mistake that John saw Jesus our great High Priest in vision in the heavenly sanctuary, and knew this was who spoke to him. He even describes His attire. Now he John describes Jesus Himself.
Rev 1:14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; [Purity] and his eyes were as a flame of fire; [A searing ability to see all]
Rev 1:15 And his feet like unto fine brass, [or refined gold] as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. [multiple ability to speak simultaneous voices, a great communicator, a revealer]
Rev 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: [the seven churches spoken of encompasses ALL churches for ALL time] and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: [the Word of God] and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. [from His GLORY]
Daniel has a similar experience here: Dan 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
These two prophets and more ALL explain in their best words what they witnessed while in vision. Jesus is revealed ALL throughout the scripture in His Deity, and so with John. John however gives a little more personal detail description. This was done to verify the authenticity of the one given the vision, so as to remove ALL possibility of doubt.
Rev 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: [Jesus confirms that it is He, in whom John speaks with. There can be no mistake who gave John this vision]
Rev 1:18 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. [Jesus holds the keys to the eradication of evil, when there will be NO more death and the grave. Hell the word used here means the grave. Jesus has the power of life and death. He will grant life to those who believe and obey, and award eternal death to those who dis-believe and dis-obey.]
Rev 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, [Past] and the things which are, [Present] and the things which shall be hereafter; [Future]
Rev 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels [Ministers over] of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
So this revelation is for ALL time for Gods people the church. It began at the beginning of the Christian era, and would continue until the Second Coming of Jesus. It is a revealing of CHURCH history, and end time events. Now that Jesus has revealed to John what the seven stars, and the seven candlesticks were, He proceeds to identify the condition of the churches and wants John to record the results, and circulate it through the then, seven literal churches of Asia. But this admonition is to concern every church stage throughout history, beginning with the fledgling church at Ephesus, through the corruption that will come into the church from Johns time until the end of time in the church of Laodicea. Jesus identifies the churches and their condition.
Rev 2:1 Unto the angel [leader, i.e. messenger] of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he [Jesus] that holdeth the seven stars [Church Leadership] in his right hand, who walketh in the midst [or among] of the seven golden candlesticks; [or the Seven Churches]
