The Revelation [α π ο κ α λ υ ψ ι ς]. The Greek word is transcribed in Apocalypse. The word occurs only once in the Gospels, Luke 2:32, where to lighten should be rendered for revelation. It is used there of our Lord, as a light to dispel the darkness under which the heathen were veiled. It occurs t... [ Continue Reading ]
Bare record [ε μ α ρ τ υ ρ η σ ε ν]. See on John 1:7. Rev., bear witness. The reference is to the present book and not to the Gospel. The aorist tense is the epistolary aorist. See on 1 John 2:13, and compare the introduction to Thucydides' "History :" " Thucydides, an Athenian, wrote [ξ υ ν ε γ ρ α... [ Continue Reading ]
Blessed [μ α κ α ρ ι ο ς]. See on Matthew 5:3. He that readeth [ο α ν α γ ι ν ω σ κ ω ν]. See on Luke 4:16. The Reader in the Church. See 2 Corinthians 3:14. They that hear, the congregation. The words imply a public, official reading, in full religious assembly for worship. The passage is of some... [ Continue Reading ]
John. Note the absence of all official titles, such as are found in Paul; showing that John writes as one whose position is recognized. Seven. Among every ancient people, especially in the East, a religious significance attaches to numbers. This grows out of the instinctive appreciation that number... [ Continue Reading ]
Jesus Christ. The Son. Placed after the Spirit because what is to follow in verses 5 - 8 relates to Him. This is according to John's manner of arranging his thoughts so that a new sentence shall spring out of the final thought of the preceding sentence. Compare the Prologue of the Gospel, and verses... [ Continue Reading ]
Kings [β α σ ι λ ε ι ς]. The correct reading is, basileian a kingdom. The term King is never applied in the New Testament to individual Christians. The reigning of the saints is emphasized in this book. See chapter Revelation 5:10; Revelation 20:4; Revelation 20:6; Revelation 22:5. Compare Daniel 7:... [ Continue Reading ]
He cometh with clouds [ε ρ χ ε τ α ι μ ε τ α τ ω ν ν ε φ ε λ ω ν]. The clouds are frequently used in the descriptions of the Lord's second coming. See Daniel 7:13; Matthew 24:30; Matthew 26:64; Mark 14:62. Compare the manifestation of God in the clouds at Sinai, in the cloudy pillar, the Shekinah, a... [ Continue Reading ]
Alpha and Omega [τ ο α κ α ι τ ο ω]. Rev., rightly, gives the article, "the Alpha," etc. The words are explained by the gloss, properly omitted from the text, the beginning and the ending. The Rabbinical writers used the phrase from Aleph to Tav, to signify completely, from beginning to end. Thus on... [ Continue Reading ]
I John. Compare Daniel 7:28; Daniel 9:2; Daniel 10:2. Who am also your brother [ο κ α ι α δ ε λ φ ο ς υ μ ω ν]. Omit kai, also, and render as Rev., John your brother. Companion [σ υ γ κ ο ι ν ω ν ο ς]. Rev., better, partaker with you. See Philippians 1:7, and note on partners, Luke 5:10. Koinwnov,... [ Continue Reading ]