📜 An In-Depth Study On Revelation’s Prologue
1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His slaves the things which must soon happen; and He indicated this by sending it through His angel to His slave John,
2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the witness of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.
The Greek word for slaves is δοῦλος (doulos), and is pronounced 🔊 doo’-los.[BLB] In a spiritual sense, the connotation of the word slaves in this context is one who has voluntarily sold himself into slavery to Jesus Christ. A good translation is the word “bondservant”, in that it often indicates one who sells himself into slavery to another.[NET]
The New Testament uses doulos to describe an individual who is totally subordinate to a master (cf. Mt 8:9; 24:46; 2Pe 2:19) and even owned by that master (Phile 1:16-19). Jesus is our Lord and master (2Co 4:5), and we are His slaves (Ro 1:1; Ph 1:1).[Site]
The word does not bear the connotation of a free individual serving another.[NET] This underscores His great redemption in buying believers from slavery to sin (Ro 6:16, 1 Co 6:20; 7:23). This also underscores the believer’s absolute surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ (Ro 6:16-17).[Site]
The term “Revelation” comes from the Greek word Ἀποκάλυψις (Apokalypsis, sometimes transliterated as apokalupsis), and is pronounced 🔊 ap-ok-al’-oop-sis. It means “Unveiling” or “Disclosure” and can often be found in the epistles (Ro 2:5; 8:19; 1Co 1:7; 2Th 1:7; 1Pe 1:7,13; 4:13; Lk 2:32). Sources for transliteration below:
- Schwandt, John, and Dr. C. John Collins. The English-Greek Reverse Interlinear New Testament: English Standard Version. 28th Revised Edition, Crossway Bibles, (2006, 2016 ESV).
- Harris, Dr. W. Hall, et al. The Lexham English Bible English-Greek Reverse Interlinear New Testament: With Strongs Greek-English Glossary. Logos Bible Software, 2010.
- Mounce, Dr. William D. Mounce Reverse Interlinear New Testament, and Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary of the New Testament. Zondervan, 2011.
With our newfound understanding of the underlying meaning of the word Revelation, we can conclude that The Book of Revelation is about the unveiling of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ (2Pe 1:1; Tit 2:13). This unveiling takes place at the rapture (Re 4:1), as well as at the hour of His return to the earth when every eye shall see Him (Re 1:7).
Jesus is simultaneously the One revealed and the Revealer. God The Father gives this Revelation (the unveiled truth) to Jesus (Mt 11:27; Re 5:7). This truth was then sent by Jesus to John (Re 10:9) through His angel to show His slaves in the Churches what will happen soon (Re 1:1), because the time is near (Re 1:3). This certainly pictures the present hour when signs pointing to Jesus’ return are beginning to appear with alarming frequency.
The Book of Revelation is a study of signs. From the sign of the Holy Spirit presented as seven spirits (Re 1:4), to the sign of the seven golden lampstands and the seven stars (Re 1:20). Thus, through signs, we come to an understanding of this gloriously revealed portion of Scripture.
In the epilogue, John, unlike Daniel, is told not to seal his prophecy (Re 22:10; cf. Dan. 12:4). John’s visions are important for his first-century readers as well as for later generations of believers.
3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy and keep the things which are written in it, for the time is near.
The Greek word for Blessed is μακάριος (makarios), and is pronounced 🔊 mak-ar’-ee-os. This word can alternately be translated as happy.[NET/EXB/MOUNCE]
This is the first of seven blessings which are given to those who read or hear (as well as obey[NET/EXB/NLT]) God’s Word. The remaining six blessings (Rev. 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14) commend purity and perseverance, even to the death.[ESVSB]
Verse three demonstrates that the apocalypse is not some impossible to understand, esoteric book. In fact this verse proves the complete opposite. God is giving blessings to those who read, hear, and obey. If people were unable to comprehend what was written, there would be no one who could read or hear this book.[JVI]
Blessed Are Those Who Hear And Obey[NET]
Please refer to our article How Do You Know If You’re Saved?.
For The Time Is Near
When the bible says that the time is near, or that it is at hand, this is telling us that the Return of Christ is imminent. Christ’s return is the next event on Father God’s calender and could happen at anytime. It could happen right now while I type this commentary, or in a few days from now when you’re reading it, or decades from now, etc.
The Bible teaches us that only the Father in heaven knows the day and hour, not even the Son, or His angels (Mt 24:36). We are instructed to be alert and disciplined unto prayer, because the end of all things is at hand (1Pe 4:7 ESV). The Bible warns us that the day of the Lord will come suddenly, like a thief in the night! (1Th 5:2–4; 2Pe 3:10)
This fast approaching time is compared to the dawn of a new day, from a night that is almost gone (Ro 13:12). Christians should fix their gaze heavenwards, as a crown of righteousness awaits those of us who watch for our God’s return (Tit 2:13; 2Tim 4:8).
Let your considerate spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. — Phil 4:5 LSB
Since the Lord is near, it is important that we let others observe our conduct as gentle, kind, considerate, and patient. This includes being able to teach with patience and kindness (2Tim 2:24 NLT; 1Jn 4:7-8,11-12; Gal 5:14; Jn 15:12; Ph 2:3; Heb 13:1-2 NET).
A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. — 2 Timothy 2:24 NLT
If people are causing divisions among you, consider these verses (Tit 3:10 NLT; 2Ti 3:1-5 ESV; 2Th 2:3).
4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from the One who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,
The Seven Churches
John now focuses his attention on seven local churches.[JVI] Seven symbolizes completeness (God’s number of perfection) and implies that Christ addresses the whole church through these seven churches.[ESVSB] The number also pictures seven different sets of conditions reflecting the history of God’s people through the church age.[JVI] Asia was a Roman province in what is now part of western Turkey,[EXB/NLT] and is not referring to the continent of Asia.[NET]
The Roman province of Asia made up about one-third of modern Asia Minor and was on the western side. Asia is situated to the west of the region of Phrygia and Galatia.[NET]
Grace To You And Peace
God’s salutation, found in 19/27 books in the NT is presented in this verse as well: Grace be unto you and peace, as the KJV puts it. Notice how Grace comes before peace, this is the order God shows his unmerited favor. Sinners cannot have peace without first receiving grace. This grace was shown at Calvary and is freely bestowed upon all who believe and receive Christ (Ep 2:8-9; Tit 2:11; Rom 5:1; Col 1:20; Rom 15:13).[JVI]
John’s greeting (the message of grace and peace) comes “from” all three persons of the Trinity.[ESVSB] First, the Father who is, and who was, and who is to come; then from the seven Spirits which are before the throne (a designation of the blessed Holy Spirit in all of His holiness, for seven means perfection).[JVI]
The One Who Is And Who Was And Who Is To Come
These three descriptions function like titles for God; Ex. 3:14–15.[EXB]
The passage appears to be an allusion to Exod 3:14 (in the LXX) where God refers to himself as “he who is” (ὁ ὤν), the same wording in Greek as here in Rev 1:4. Thus, it appears that John is wanting to leave the divine name untouched (perhaps to allude to God’s immutability, or as a pointer to the Old Testament as the key to unlocking the meaning of this book), irrespective of what it “looks” like grammatically.[NET]
BDAG (A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament) 106 s.v. ἀπό 5.d states: “The expr. εἰρήνη ἀπὸ ‘ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὁ ἐρχόμενος’ Rv 1:4 is quite extraordinary. It may be an interpretation of the name Yahweh already current, or an attempt to show reverence for the divine name by preserving it unchanged, or simply one more of the grammatical peculiarities so frequent in Rv.”[NET]
The Seven Spirits
This is referring either to angels or to the “sevenfold Spirit”—the Holy Spirit portrayed in his perfection (the number seven indicating completeness).[EXB]
The Holy Spirit is presented as one person in Revelation (Re 3:6, 13; cf. Eph. 4:4), but that he also appears as “seven spirits” (cf. Rev. 3:1; 4:5) which represent perfection, and as “seven torches of fire” (Re 4:5) and “seven eyes” (Re 5:6) to express his omnipresence and omniscience.[ESVSB]
5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood—
The Faithful Witness
In much the same way that Jesus was the faithful witness even unto death (1Ti 6:13), Christians are called to be faithful witnesses as well (Re 2:13; 12:11; 20:4).[ESVSB] The Greek term translated witness can mean both “witness” and “martyr.”[NET] Jesus is “the” quintessential faithful witness.
The Firstborn Of The Dead, And The Ruler Of The Kings Of The Earth.
The firstborn of the dead, means Jesus has overcome or triumphed over death itself and that he is sovereign over all earthly powers (cf. Re 19:16). This fact was meant to comfort John’s persecuted readers.[ESVSB]
The Lord Jesus Christ is also called the “ruler of the kings of the earth”. This is referring to the future when the “Prince of Peace” of Is 9:6 returns to earth as the “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Re 19:16). This glorious event will be the fulfillment of Psalm 2:6 ESV which states “… I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” At that time the Lord Jesus shall “have dominion from sea to sea And from the River to the ends of the earth.” (Ps 72:8)[JVI]
What about Lazarus?
So the next question you might ask is, “Why is Christ the first begotten of the dead, when Lazarus and others were raised first?” The answer is that others were raised from physical death to physical life only to eventually die again. Christ Jesus is the first to have been resurrected with a new immortal glorified body — never to die again! This is why Christ is the “first of the resurrection from the dead” (Ac 26:23).[JVI]
Beware The Cults “Firstborn”
The firstborn or first begotten is referring to the Resurrection of Christ Jesus.
Educated scholars and professors of ancient Hebrew and Koine Greek have revealed that the word for firstborn in Heb 1:6; Col 1:15,18; Rom 8:29 is the Greek word πρωτότοκος (prōtotokos), pronounced 🔊 pro-tot-ok’-os, which means: superior, preeminent in rank, and above.
Let’s look at a few examples of how the cults have abandoned science, facts, and reason and denied sound scholarship by seeking out false teachers as the Bible foretold would happen (2Tim 4:3 ESV).
The cults have twisted (2Pe 3:16) the underlying meaning of the word firstborn, from its true meaning as superior, or preeminent in rank when referring to the Resurrection of Jesus, to the ridiculously false meaning “first created” in a failed effort to strip Jesus of his deity and conform the holy scriptures to their unholy false doctrines.
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. — Colossians 1:15
In this first example the word “firstborn” in Colossians 1:15 is the Greek word “prototokos.” It does not mean “first created” as the cults say. There’s another Greek word for ‘first created’ (protoktistos) and Paul did not use that word.
📖 The context makes that clear. And that’s why it’s so important to always examine the context and allow Scripture to interpret Scripture. Why is Jesus superior over all creation? Well, the very next verse explains, that Jesus is superior to everything, because He is the One who made everything!
- Colossians 1:16-17
16 “For in Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.” 17 “And He is before all things, And in Him all things hold together.”
⚠️ To deal with the implications of these two verses (Col. 1:16–17) some cults have added four words (“other”) into their false bible translations that are not in the original Greek to give people the impression that Jesus only made some things—not ALL things. They have been reproved and proved to be liars according to the Bible (Proverbs 30:5-6)
Further, we can add insult to injury by observing that Jesus is God because only God created all things!
Thus says Yahweh, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb, “I, Yahweh, am the maker of all things, Stretching out the heavens by Myself And spreading out the earth all alone,
Jesus made all things (Jn 1:3; Col 1:16-17), and Yahweh made all of those very same things. You better believe Jesus is Yahweh God! It’s as plain as day. Undeniable, irrefutable, Indisputable proof that JESUS IS GOD.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. … 14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Is it any wonder that the Apostle John went through great lengths stating just that.
So, if the cults try to tell you that the term “firstborn” means Jesus was the first being God created, gently tell them that they’re mistaken and that the passage (Colossians 1:15) is actually teaching that Jesus is superior or above creation.
Beware The Cults “Only Begotten”
Only begotten is referring to the incarnation of Christ Jesus.
In an act of unparalleled bias, the cults have deliberately changed the underlying Greek manuscripts to conform to their false doctrines. Some of these cults have attempted to twist (2Pe 3:16) the meaning of the word begotten and force it to erroneously mean that Jesus was somehow “created” in a feeble attempt to strip Jesus of his deity. Consider John 3:16 where Jesus is speaking to a Pharisee by the name of Nicodemus:
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
Educated scholars and professors in ancient Koine Greek reveal the word for only begotten to be μονογενής, transliterated as monogenés, and pronounced 🔊 mon-og-en-ace’. It means “unique,” “only,” or “one of its kind.” and it comes from two Greek terms: monos meaning “one” and the noun genes which means “kind” or “type.”
This is why over 100 scholars who translated the English Standard Version were justified in removing the traditional label of “only begotten Son” and going with the more literal “only Son”.[ESV/EXB/NET/NLT]
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. — English Standard Version
That’s what Jesus is talking about in John 3:16. He is not saying that God the Father created Him. He’s saying that He is God’s only, unique, one of a kind Savior! This is why only He has immortality (1Ti 6:16), and why Peter could boldly pronounce to the Sanhedrin in Acts 4:12:
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
Jesus is the “monogenes,” the only, one of a kind Savior! There is salvation in no one else. Christ is “from everlasting” (Mi 5:2). Jesus is prophesied to be Mighty God in Isaiah 9:6.
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
God the Father, in the Old Testament, is also called “Mighty God” in Isaiah 10:21 and Jeremiah 32:18, the same title that is ascribed to the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Remember that there is only ONE God (Is 43:10;44:6,8,24)! Do not let the cults deceive you.
6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the might forever and ever. Amen.
He Made Us A Kingdom Of Priests
Israel’s roles now belong to those of all nations who are freed from sins by Jesus’ blood (Re 5:10; Ex. 19:6). From the outset, Jesus’ death is central to the message of Revelation.[ESVSB]
7 BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and EVERY EYE WILL SEE HIM, EVEN THOSE WHO PIERCED HIM; and all the tribes of the earth will MOURN OVER HIM. Yes, amen.
This verse announces the Lord’s return to earth (the Coming King)[JVI/ESVSB]
Coming With The Clouds
Jesus will come as the Son of Man with universal dominion (cf. Dan. 7:13–14).[ESVSB]
Probably not earthly rain clouds but the clouds of glory that surround the presence of God (cf. Ex. 13:21; 33:9–10; 40:38; Num. 12:5; 1 Kings 8:10–11; Ps. 97:2; Dan. 7:13; Matt. 17:5; Mark 13:26; Acts 1:9; Rev. 14:14). [ESVSB]
Every Eye Will See Him
Notice that every eye sees Him. That is why this great event is described as the “revealing” or “revelation” of Christ and occurs when He comes as the “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Re 19:11-16). This serves as a preview of what will happen when He returns with His saints in Revelation Chapter 19.[JVI]
Isn’t it thrilling to know that when “the lightning comes from the east and appears even to the west” (Mt 24:27 NET), that every eye will witness the spectacle of the ages?[JVI]
Those Who Pierced Him
“EVERY EYE WILL SEE HIM, EVEN THOSE WHO PIERCED HIM” is a reference to a prophecy made in the Old Testament (Zechariah 12:10).
“And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.
The very first verse in Zec 12:1 reveals that Yahweh is the one who is talking. Verses 2 through 12 are a single discourse tied to the “Thus declares the LORD [Yahweh]”.
The oracle of the word of Yahweh concerning Israel. Thus declares Yahweh who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him,
The Hebrew term בְּכוֹר (bekhor, “firstborn”), translated usually in the LXX by πρωτότοκος (prōtotokos), has unmistakable messianic overtones as the use of the Greek term in the NT to describe Jesus makes clear (cf. Col 1:15, 18). Thus, the idea of God being pierced sets the stage for the fatal wounding of Jesus, the Messiah and the Son of God (cf. John 19:37; Rev 1:7). Note that some English translations supply “son” from the context (e.g., NIV, TEV, NLT).[NET]
We can conclude that Jesus is Yahweh God and that they pierced Yahweh on the cross! since Jesus is Yahweh God made manifest in the flesh (Jn 1:1-3,14; Ph 2:5-8; Co 2:9).
Mourn Over Him
Most scholars think the wailing is a reaction to judgment instead of the kind of grief that leads to salvation.[ESVSB]
When He comes in power and great glory to smite the nations “and all the tribes of the earth will MOURN OVER HIM.” This is because He comes for judgement and none will escape. As John envisions the hour when “Behold, the Lord came with *many thousands of His holy ones,” (Jude 1:14-15), he victoriously cries, “Amen! Amen!” (Re 1:7 KJV) The Greek for “even so” is “Amen,” and “Amen” is the Hebrew for “even so”. John is literally shouting the praise or praises of God in two languages.[JVI]
Beware The Cults “EYE”
Some cults falsely teach that Jesus’ Second Coming occurred spiritually and invisibly. Yet, the Bible preaches that the entire world will see this event, “EVERY EYE WILL SEE HIM”. That the return of Christ will be “as the lightning flashes in the east and shines to the west” (Mt 24:27 NLT).
Jesus warned about future cults that might try to teach that he was hiding or invisible when he said “So if someone tells you, ‘Look, the Messiah is out in the desert,’ don’t bother to go and look. Or, ‘Look, he is hiding here,’ don’t believe it!” (Mt 24:23-27 NLT).
The Apostle John warned us as well when he said “For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.” (2Jn 1:7)
These same cultists will try to tell you falsely that the “EYE” in “EVERY EYE WILL SEE HIM” means ‘eyes of understanding’ or that these are ‘spiritual eyes’… This is incorrect. The word “EYE” (Rev. 1:7) in Greek is ὀφθαλμός (ophthalmós), and pronounced 🔊 of-thal-mos’.
This is the same Greek word used for the literal physical eyes of the blind people Jesus healed (Mt 20:34). The word “EVERY” is the Greek word “pas” and it means just what it says: “every” or “all.”
Jesus’ return is also described “His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives” (Zec 14:4). So not only will every physical eye see His return, but Christ’s literal physical feet will stand on the Mount of Olives.
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
It’s important to note the alternate reading of this verse, so as to be thorough, and that this alternative reading is likely a later addition. As the WEB Bible notes, both the Majority Text & Critical text disagree with the Textus Receptus. TR adds “the Beginning and the End” and omits “God”.
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. — King James Version
The shorter reading “Omega” (ὦ, ō) has superior ms evidence (א1 A C 1611) to the longer reading which includes “the beginning and the end” (ἀρχὴ καὶ τέλος or ἡ ἀρχὴ καὶ τὸ τέλος, archē kai telos or hē archē kai to telos), found in א*,2 1854 2050 2329 2351 MA lat bo. There is little reason why a scribe would have deleted the words, but their clarifying value and the fact that they harmonize with Re 21:6 indicate that they are a secondary addition to the text.[NET]
Jesus Is The Alpha And The Omega
The coming one is the Lord God, Alpha and Omega (first and last letters of the Gk. alphabet) (see Rev. 1:17; 22:13). Jesus is the beginning of all history (the Creator) and also the goal for whom all things are made (all history is moving toward glorifying him).[ESVSB]
There is no doubt that the title of “Alpha and Omega” belongs to Almighty God. There is also no doubt that the title of “the first and the last” is Jesus (Re 1:17-18).
And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not fear; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever and ever, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.
The Father never died, the Holy Spirit never died, “the first and the last” is Jesus. This can also be found in other key verses (Re 2:8).
“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: This is what THE FIRST AND THE LAST, who was dead, and has come to life, says:
Now here’s the profound part, the “Alpha and the Omega” is “THE FIRST AND THE LAST” (Re 22:12-16).
12 “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, THE FIRST AND THE LAST, the beginning and the end.” 14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the authority to the tree of life and may enter by the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the sexually immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying. 16 “I, Jesus, sent My angel to bear witness to you of these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
🤯 Jesus is Almighty God who is speaking in Re 1:8. The covenant name Yahweh (Ex 3:14-16; Jn 8:56-59) is also identified as the first and the last (Is 41:4; 44:6; 48:12; Jn 1:49+Is 44:6). Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, Lord God, the Almighty, Yahweh, made manifest in the flesh (Jn 1:1-3,14; Ph 2:5-8; Co 2:9).