"THE REVELATION of St. JOHN THE DIVINE"
CHAPTER 1
Verse 1. The Revelation
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened, Eph0118.
And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, Luk0226.
Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets, Amo0307.
of Jesus Christ,
Jesus is the Son of God, 1Jn0415. Christ, the Son of the living God, Jhn0669.
which God
God that made the world and all things therein, Act1724.
gave unto him, (John) to shew unto his servants
The servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, Eph0606.
things
Things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction, 2Pe0316. (The word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it, Heb0402.)
which must shortly come to pass;
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day, 2Pe0308.
and he sent
For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God, Jhn0334.
and signified it by his angel
Are they (angels) not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? Heb0114.
unto his (God's) servant John:
John: meaning, the grace, gift, or mercy of the Lord.
2. Who bare record
What thou seest, write in a book, Rev0111.
of the word of God,
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, Jhn0101.
and of the testimony of Jesus Christ,
The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy, Rev1910.
and of all things that he saw.
I was in the Spirit, Rev0110. e.g. And he (Peter) became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, Act1010.
3. Blessed
Highly favoured, Luk0128.
is he that readeth,
Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand, Eph0304. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, 1Jn0520.
and they that hear
Blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them, Mat1316,17.
the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written therein:
Meditate upon these things, 1Tm0415.
for the time is at hand.
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed, Rom1311. Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time, 1Jn0218. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) 2Co0602.
4. John to the seven churches
(God) hath put all things under his (Christ's) feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all, Eph0122,23.
which are in Asia: Grace
The free gift, Rom0515.
be unto you, and peace,
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you, Jhn1427.
from him which is, and which was,
Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God, 1Pe0120.
and which is to come;
For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment but after the power of an endless life. For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec, Heb0714-17.
and from the seven Spirits
And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire, Heb0107.
which are before his throne;
Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool, Act0749.
5. And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness,
I (Jesus) can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true, Jhn0530,31.
and the first begotten of the dead,
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren, Rom0828,29.
Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures, Jas0118. (That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit, Jhn0306-08. It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life, Jhn0663)
and the prince of the kings of the earth.
Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, Rom0103,04.
Unto him that loved us,
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you, Jhn1512-14.
and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation, Heb0922-28.
6. And hath made us kings
If we suffer, we shall also reign with him, 2Tm0212.
and priests
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years, Rev2006.
By him (Jesus Christ) therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name, Heb1315.
unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God, Pss5023. I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images, Isa4208.
7. Behold, he cometh with clouds;
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Heb1201.
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation, Jhn0528,29.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words, 1Th0414-18.
and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him:
But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water, Jhn1933,34.
and all kindreds of the earth
As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy. 1Co1548. (Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things, Phl0319.)
shall wail
The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear, Mat1341-43.
because of him.
I (Jesus Christ) can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me, Jhn0530.
Even so, Amen.
8. I am Alpha and Omega (the first and the last letters of the Greek alphabet), the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come,
The LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king, Jer1010. Yea, before the day was I am he; Isa4313. I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he, Isa4104.
the Almighty.
To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth, Isa0425,26.
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, Rom0120-22.
9. I John, who also am your brother,
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren, Rom0829.
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit, Jhn0308. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God, Rom0814.
and companion
Call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used, Heb1032,33.
in tribulation,
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world, Jhn1633.
and in the kingdom
Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein, Mrk1015. We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God, Act1422.
and patience
For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously, 1Pe0219-23.
of Jesus Christ,
Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice, Jhn1837.
was in the isle that is called Patmos (of the Dodecanese), for the word of God,
For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God, Jhn0334.
and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy, Rev1910.
10. I (John) was in the Spirit
e.g. And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, Act1010.
on the Lord's day (the Sabbath day), and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
Lift up thy voice like a trumpet, Isa5801.
11. Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou (John) seest (in the vision, Rev1907), 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.
EPHESUS, desirable. Chief city of Asia Minor.
SMYRNA, myrrh.
PERGAMOS, height, elevation.
THYATIRA, a sweet savour of labour, or sacrifice of contrition.
SARDIS, prince of joy, or song of joy; or, that which remains. Syriac, a pot, or kettle.
PHILADELPHIA, the love of a brother, or fraternity. Greek, a friend.
LAODICEA, just people. Greek.
12. And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
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.
14. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
15. And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea, Pss9304.
16. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword:
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do, Heb0412,13.
and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
e.g. And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them, Mrk0902,03.
And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light, Mat1701,02.
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:
18. I am he that liveth, and was dead;
And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. But God raised him from the dead: And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people. And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption, Act1329-37.
and, behold, I am alive for evermore,
Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Rom0609,10.
As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec, Heb0506.
And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life, Heb0715,16.
Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell, Mat1028.
19. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
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.
At: EPHESUS, SMYRNA, PERGAMOS, THYATIRA, SARDIS, PHILADELPHIA, and LAODICEA.
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e-mail: bryanspencer@precepts.org