THE REVELATION (αποκαλυψις). Late and rare word outside of N.T. (once in Plutarch and so in the vernacular _Koine_), only once in the Gospels (Luke 2:32), but in LXX and common in the Epistles (2 Thessalonians 1:7), though only here in this book besides the title, from αποκαλυπτω, old verb, to unc... [ Continue Reading ]
BARE WITNESS (εμαρτυρησεν). First aorist active indicative of μαρτυρεω, which, along with μαρτυς and μαρτυρια, is common in all the Johannine books (cf. Revelation 22:18; Revelation 22:20), usually with περ or οτ, but with cognate accusative as here in Revelation 22:16; Revelation 22:20; 1 John 5... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED (μακαριος). As in Matthew 5:3. This endorses the book as a whole.HE THAT READETH (ο αναγινωσκων). Present active singular articular participle of αναγινωσκω (as in Luke 4:16). Christians in their public worship followed the Jewish custom of public reading of the Scriptures (2 Corinthian... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES WHICH ARE IN ASIA (ταις επτα εκκλησιαις ταις εν τη Ασια). Dative case as in a letter (Galatians 1:1). John is writing, but the revelation is from God and Christ through an angel. It is the Roman province of Asia which included the western part of Phrygia. There were churches... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO IS THE FAITHFUL WITNESS (ο μαρτυς ο πιστος). "The witness the faithful," nominative in apposition like πρωτοτοκος and αρχων with the preceding ablative Ιησου Χριστου with απο, a habit of John in this book (apparently on purpose) as in Revelation 2:13; Revelation 2:20; Revelation 3:12, etc. See... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE MADE (κα εποιησεν). Change from the participle construction, which would be κα ποιησαντ (first aorist active of ποιεω) like λυσαντ just before, a Hebraism Charles calls it, but certainly an anacoluthon of which John is very fond, as in Revelation 1:18; Revelation 2:2; Revelation 2:9; Revela... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, HE COMETH WITH THE CLOUDS (ιδου ερχετα μετα των νεφελων). Futuristic present middle indicative of ερχομα, a reminiscence of Daniel 7:13 (Theodotion). "It becomes a common eschatological refrain" (Beckwith) as in Mark 13:26; Mark 14:62; Matthew 24:30; Matthew 26:64; Luke 21:27. Compare the... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA (το Αλφα κα το Ο). The first and the last letters of the Greek alphabet, each with its own neuter (grammatical gender) article. This description of the eternity of God recurs in Revelation 21:6 with the added explanation η αρχη κα το τελος (the Beginning and the End) and of... [ Continue Reading ]
I JOHN (Εγω Ιωανης). So Revelation 22:8. In apocalyptic literature the personality of the writer is always prominent to guarantee the visions (Daniel 8:1; Daniel 10:2).PARTAKER WITH YOU (συνκοινωνος). See already 1 Corinthians 9:23. "Co-partner with you" (Romans 11:17). One article with αδελφος... [ Continue Reading ]
I WAS IN THE SPIRIT (εγενομην εν πνευματ). Rather, "I came to be (as in Revelation 1:9) in the Spirit," came into an ecstatic condition as in Acts 10:10; Acts 22:17, not the normal spiritual condition (εινα εν πνευματ, Romans 8:9).ON THE LORD'S DAY (εν τη κυριακη ημερα). Deissmann has proven (_B... [ Continue Reading ]
WRITE IN A BOOK (γραψον εις βιβλιον). First aorist active imperative of γραφω for instantaneous action. The commission covers the whole series of visions which all grow out of this first vision of the Risen Christ.SEND (πεμψον). First aorist active imperative of πεμπω. Part of the commission fr... [ Continue Reading ]
TO SEE THE VOICE (βλεπειν την φωνην). The voice put for the person speaking.HAVING TURNED (επιστρεψας). First aorist active participle of επιστρεφω, from which also επεστρεψα, just before, for which verb see Acts 15:36; Acts 16:18.SEVEN GOLDEN CANDLESTICKS (επτα λυχνιας χρυσας). See Matthew 5... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE LIKE UNTO A SON OF MAN (ομοιον υιον ανθρωπου). Note accusative here with ομοιον (object of ειδον) as in Revelation 14:14 and not the associative-instrumental as is usual (Revelation 1:15; Revelation 4:3; Revelation 4:6). Charles holds that ομοιον here has the sense of ως (as) and compares Reve... [ Continue Reading ]
AS WHITE WOOL (ως εριον λευκον). Εριον (wool) in N.T. only here and Hebrews 9:19, though old word. The person of the Lord Jesus is here described in language largely from Daniel 7:9 (the Ancient of Days).WHITE AS SNOW (ως χιων). Just "as snow," also in Daniel 7:9. In N.T. only here and Matthew... [ Continue Reading ]
BURNISHED BRASS (χαλκολιβανω). Associative-instrumental case after ομοιο. This word has so far been found nowhere else save here and Revelation 2:18. Suidas defines it as an ηλεχκτρον (amber) or a compound of copper and gold and silver (_aurichalcum_ in the Latin Vulgate). It is in reality an unk... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE HAD (κα εχων). "And having," present active participle of εχω, loose use of the participle (almost like ειχε, imperfect) and not in agreement with αυτου, genitive case. This is a common idiom in the book; a Hebraism, Charles calls it.IN HIS RIGHT HAND (εν τη δεξια χειρ). For safe keeping... [ Continue Reading ]
I FELL (επεσα). Late form for the old επεσον (second aorist active indicative of πιπτω, to fall). Under the over-powering influence of the vision as in Revelation 19:10.HE LAID (εθηκεν). First aorist active indicative of τιθημ. The act restored John's confidence.FEAR NOT (μη φοβου). Cf. Luke... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WAS DEAD (κα εγενομην νεκρος). "And I be came dead" (aorist middle participle of γινομα as in Revelation 1:9; Revelation 1:10, definite reference to the Cross).I AM ALIVE (ζων ειμ). Periphrastic present active indicative, "I am living," as the words ο ζων just used mean.FOREVERMORE (εις... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE (ουν). In view of Christ's words about himself in verse Revelation 1:18 and the command in verse Revelation 1:11.WHICH THOU SAWEST (α ειδες). The vision of the Glorified Christ in verses Revelation 1:13-18.THE THINGS WHICH ARE (α εισιν). Plural verb (individualising the items) thoug... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MYSTERY OF THE SEVEN STARS (το μυστηριον των επτα αστερων). On the word μυστηριον see on Matthew 13:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:7; Colossians 1:26. Here it means the inner meaning (the secret symbol) of a symbolic vision (Swete) as in Revelation 10:7; Revelation 13:18; Revelation 17:7; Revelation 17... [ Continue Reading ]