I now want to return to Revelation chapter 1. We have noticed a few things here already, but there is a good deal more. The first seven verses of the Book of Revelation are a prologue describing the book's origin, content, and purpose.

The Origin of Revelation

The origin of this book is made clear at the outset (Rev 1:1-2). A revelation was given by God to Christ, who sent his angel to signify it to his servant John, who by inspiration wrote down faithfully for us everything that the angel showed him.

The "John" who introduces himself here (Rev 1:4), is most likely John the apostle who wrote the gospel and the three epistles that also bear his name. Some insist that it is a different John, because the language style differs from the other books. However that is explained in that John is writing a different manner of book, and doing so under the thrall of the visions being shown to him (note Rev 10:4).

The "Asia" here (Rev 1:4), is not what we call Asia today, but rather Asia Minor, the area of which Ephesus is the major city. The seven churches to whom the letter was originally circulated were in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea (Rev 1:11). These towns are listed in clockwise order going north to Pergamum, then southwest to Laodicea.

As we have previously said, it is important to understand that John did not make up these visions. John simply recorded what he saw. The author of the visions was the angel of the Lord. This point is overlooked by most commentators and interpreters of the visions. They seem to work on the assumption that John did not really see the visions, but concocted the whole book by taking bits and pieces of other people's writings. Consequently their commentaries are rendered of very little use.

The Content of Revelation

The first word in the book is "Revelation". The word occurs only this once in the book, however it is used 44 times elsewhere in the New Testament, including the noun and verb forms, apokalupsis and apokalupto. A study of these passages shows that the word is used with reference to two related things...

1. The revealing and preaching of the gospel. For example Paul speaks of the "gospel and the preaching of Jesus according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began but now has been made manifest... known to all nations... for the obedience of faith..." (Rom 16:25-27).

2. The second coming of Christ. For example Peter speaks of "...glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1Pe 1:7,13). Paul says, "The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven in flaming fire..." (2Th 1:7).

The book is a revelation of the gospel with special emphasis on the glory of Jesus now and when he comes at the end of the world. The book of Revelation is like all the other books of the New Testament, in that it presents the gospel or testimony of Jesus Christ, so that people can make themselves ready for his second coming. The prophetic visions, which the angel showed John, and which John recorded for us, present the gospel or testimony of Jesus in a different style and language, certainly. But the same familiar gospel is the essence and topic of those visions. As the angel told John in the final visions, "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" (Rev 19:10). If you know the gospel, then you already understand what the book of Revelation means.

The terms "Apocalypse" and "Apocalyptic"

I would caution you against using words like "apocalypse" and "apocalyptic" when referring to the book of Revelation, because these words have developed a popular meaning which can militate against a right understanding of the book's content and nature. Most importantly, it is said that the Book of Revelation is “apocalyptic literature”. The so-called “apocalyptic literature” is a collection of counterfeit pseudo revelations made up by men. Therefore I object strongly to calling the book of Revelation "apocalyptic literature". The book of Revelation is a genuine revelation from God, through Christ and his angels, to John. John wrote it down, but he did not make it up.

John says that the book portrays things which must soon come to pass (Rev 1:1). These things are related of course to things which are now and things which were, but there is a strong sense of things expected soon and to be prepared for without delay. As we have discussed, Revelation is relevant to our present lives and their short span. There is urgency in the content of Revelation.

In John's case, the revelation was "signified" to him by the angel (Rev 1:1). A revelation can be given in plain words, or it can be signified in dreams and visions. You can see the meaning of the word signified if you put a dash in the middle: sign-ified. Instead of plain words, the message is conveyed in powerful signs and wonders portrayed in a vision or dream. Revelation is a book in which the gospel is "signified".

The Purpose of Revelation

John describes what he writes as bearing witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus (Rev 1:2). What the angel showed John is Christ's testimony of what he received from God the Father. John in turn bears witness, in the form of a written affidavit, to what he saw.

John introduces and summarizes this testimony by making seven declarations about Jesus (Rev 1:5-7). We will look at those after we have discussed the seven spirits (Rev 1:4).

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