THE VISION OF THE SON OF MAN St. John addresses 'the seven churches which are in Asia,' telling them of a vision of Christ, who bade him, write in a book what he saw and send it to them. 1-3. Introduction, describing the book as an 'apocalypse,' the Gk. word which signifies 'unveiling' or 'revelati... [ Continue Reading ]
OF] i.e. Christ is the real author. SHORTLY] the events were in the near future.... [ Continue Reading ]
RECORD] RV 'witness.' WORD OF GOD] i.e. the revelation which God gave to Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:1). TESTIMONY OF JESUS] i.e. the witness which Jesus bore, the word of God which Jesus communicated: cp. Revelation 6:9; Revelation 12:17; Revelation 19:10. AND OF ALL] RV 'even of all.'... [ Continue Reading ]
READETH] i.e. aloud, before the congregation. PROPHECY] The writer is a prophet, i.e. his utterances proceed from the illumination of the Holy Spirit: cp. Revelation 22:7; Revelation 22:10; Acts 13:1; 1 Corinthians 12:28; 1 Corinthians 13:2; 1 Corinthians 14:3; Ephesians 4:11. An Apostle could be a... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN] We know of no John, except the Apostle, who had authority to address seven Churches. SEVEN] the number which signifies completeness. These seven Churches stand also for the whole Church of Christ. ASIA] i.e. the Roman province of that name, which was the western part of what is now called Asia... [ Continue Reading ]
WITNESS] cp. Revelation 1:2; Revelation 3:14; Psalms 89:37; John 18:37. FIRST BEGOTTEN] RV 'firstborn,' i.e. the first of the dead to enter life: cp. Colossians 1:18; Psalms 89:27. WASHED] RV 'loosed,' i.e. as the Redeemer of slaves. IN HIS OWN] RV 'by his.'... [ Continue Reading ]
KINGS] RV 'to be a kingdom,' i.e. a society under His kingship: cp. Exodus 19:6; 1 Peter 2:9. PRIESTS] to offer spiritual sacrifices: cp. Hebrews 13:15; 1 Peter 2:5. UNTO GOD, etc.] i.e. belonging to God and engaged in His service. RV'unto his God and Father'; spoken of Christ in His humanity: cp. R... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, ETC.] from Daniel 7:13. COMETH] i.e. at the Judgment: cp. Matthew 24:30; Matthew 26:64. EVERY EYE, etc.] from Zechariah 12:10 : cp. John 19:37. KINDREDS, etc.] RV 'the tribes of the earth': contrasted with the 'saints,' the people of Christ. WAIL BECAUSE OF]RV 'mourn over.'... [ Continue Reading ]
ALPHA AND OMEGA] RV 'the Alpha and the Omega'; i.e. the Eternal One: cp. Revelation 2:16; Isaiah 44:6. In Revelation 22:13 the title is applied to Christ. Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Gk. alphabet. LORD] RV 'Lord God.' THE ALMIGHTY] i.e. He who rules over all. The Gk. word i... [ Continue Reading ]
COMPANION] RV 'partaker with you.' TRIBULATION, etc.] RV 'the tribulation and kingdom and patience,' PATIENCE] i.e. brave endurance. Of JESUS CHRIST] RV 'which are in Jesus.' Tribulation, kingdom, and patience are all found in union with Christ, and as such are to St. John the characteristic elemen... [ Continue Reading ]
SPIRIT] RV 'Spirit.' John was in a prophetic trance: cp. Acts 10:10; 2 Corinthians 12:2. LORD'S DAY] the earliest known use of the term for 'Sunday': cp. Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2. AS OF A TRUMPET] Archbp. Benson pointed out ('The Apocalypse') that this voice is that of the herald angel who call... [ Continue Reading ]
I.. LAST: AND] RV omits.... [ Continue Reading ]
CANDLESTICKS] see on v.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHITE] denoting the purity and majesty of God: cp. Daniel 7:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
FINE] RV 'burnished': cp. Ezekiel 1:7; Daniel 10:6. WATERS] cp. Ezekiel 1:24;... [ Continue Reading ]
STARS] see on Revelation 1:20. SWORD] A comparison with Isaiah 11:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:8 shows that this probably signifies that Christ has but to 'speak the word' and His enemies will be destroyed. He has absolute authority. 18. _I am_ HE THAT, etc.] RV 'and the Living one; and I was dead'; 'Living... [ Continue Reading ]
HAST SEEN] RV 'sawest,' i.e. this vision. WHICH ARE] i.e. the state of the Churches. BE] RV 'come to pass.' 20, THE MYSTERY] i.e. concerning the mystery; 'mystery' = a hidden thing now revealed. STARS] i.e. lights in heaven. CANDLESTICKS] lights on earth. The Churches are represented by candlest... [ Continue Reading ]
13. THE SON] RV 'a son': see on Revelation 14:14; Daniel 7:13. TO THE FOOT] i.e. of kingly or priestly dignity. GIRDLE] cp. Daniel 10:5.... [ Continue Reading ]