Revelation 1 - Introduction
_JOHN WRITETH THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES OF ASIA, SIGNIFIED BY THE SEVEN GOLDEN CANDLESTICKS. THE APPEARANCE OF CHRIST: HIS GLORIOUS POWER AND MAJESTY._ _Anno Domini 96._... [ Continue Reading ]
_JOHN WRITETH THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES OF ASIA, SIGNIFIED BY THE SEVEN GOLDEN CANDLESTICKS. THE APPEARANCE OF CHRIST: HIS GLORIOUS POWER AND MAJESTY._ _Anno Domini 96._... [ Continue Reading ]
THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST,— The book opens with the title, or inscription, the scope and design of it; to foretel things, which should shortly begin to be fulfilled, andsucceed in their due season and order, till all were accomplished; and with the blessing pronounced on him who should read and... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO BARE RECORD— _"Who,_ being honoured with so important a message, failed not faithfully to declare it, but _testified the word of God,_ which, in those prophetic visions, came unto him; _and the testimony of Jesus Christ,_ (whose messenger the angel was,) exactly reporting _whatever he saw."_... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES— The apostle dedicates his book, Revelation 1:4 to the seven churches of the Lydian or Proconsular Asia, wishing them grace and peace from God the Father, as the author and giver; from the _seven spirits,_ the representatives of the Holy Ghost, as the instruments; and from... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FAITHFUL WITNESS,— In the original the nominative case is again used by St. John, contrary to the analogy of grammar, to signify, that, as he had intimated the immortality of the Deity, so likewise Christ was no less immutable in his kingdom and in his testimony. Christ is called _the Prince of... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, HE COMETH WITH CLOUDS, &C.— This verse contains the great moral which the whole book is designed to illustrate; namely, that, though there should be great opposition made against the cause and kingdom of Christ, yet it should be utterlyin vain, and his kingdom should triumph in the most illu... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM ALPHA AND OMEGA,— "I was before all worlds, and shall continue the same, when all the revolutions of this world are over, and the final scenes relating to it shall be concluded." This verse affords us a glorious attestation to the Divinity of our great Lord and Saviour; and, though some have en... [ Continue Reading ]
I JOHN,— The apostle, in this and the subsequent verses, mentions the place where the _Revelation_ was given, and describes the manner and circumstances of the first vision: the place was Patmos. Ecclesiastical history tells us, that St. John was here employed in digging in a mine, being banished hi... [ Continue Reading ]
I WAS IN THE SPIRIT ON THE LORD'S DAY,— That is, the day which we in general call Sunday; denominated the _Lord's day,_ in memory of his resurrection from the dead. That the primitive Christians set this day apart for religious worship, appears both from St. Paul's Epistles, and from Justin Martyr's... [ Continue Reading ]
SAYING, I AM ALPHA AND OMEGA,— Dr. Doddridge's note here deserves to be particularly remarked: "That these titles (says he) should be repeated so soon, in a connection which demonstrates that they are given to Christ, will appear very remarkable, whatever sense be given to the 8th verse; and I canno... [ Continue Reading ]
SEVEN GOLDEN CANDLESTICKS;— The original word here used for _candlesticks,_ answers almost constantly to the Hebrew one used for the golden candlesticks, or chandeliers, in the tabernacle and temple.... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE LIKE UNTO THE SON OF MAN, CLOTHED, &C.— The clothing here mentioned, is something like the Jewish high-priest's; and Christ is described much in the same manner as the divine appearance in Daniel's vision; Daniel 7:9. The girdles were a kind of sash, which went over the neck like a tippet, were... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS HEAD AND HIS HAIRS WERE WHITE LIKE WOOL,— _The hairs of his head,_ &c. The word Λευκος, which we translate _white,_ properly signifies "of great lustre." Thus ch. Revelation 20:11. _I saw a great white throne,_ that is, "a throne with glorious lustre." This being an appearance of the _Shechinah,... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO FINE BRASS,— The original word χαλκολιβανον, signifies some kind of fine copper or brass; the inferior kind of _auri chalcum,_ in use among the Romans. See Daniel 10:6 and Parkhurst on the word.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HAD IN HIS RIGHT HAND SEVEN STARS:— The _candlesticks,_ or _churches,_ were round about him: he, in the midst of them, held in his right hand the _stars;_ that is, the angels or bishops of the churches: _stars_ are the hieroglyphics used to express both rulers and teachers. They may therefore, wi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN I SAW HIM, I FELL AT HIS FEET, &C.— "I have just been describing the appearance of Jesus Christ to me, with which I was favoured on the Lord's day, while I was engaged in such devout sentiments as were suitable to the time and occasion: and I now add, that when I saw him in this awful, this... [ Continue Reading ]
AMEN;— This seems to have been the exclamation of St. John, testifying his joyful assent to the nobletruths which precede; after which the discourse is continued in the person of Christ. We have often observed that the word Αδης, here rendered _hell,_ signifies, "The unseen world." Our English, or r... [ Continue Reading ]