INTRODUCTION TO REVELATION 1 This chapter contains the preface and introduction to the book, and the first vision in it. The preface begins with the title of the book, in which the subject matter of it is pointed at, a Revelation; the author of it, Jesus Christ, who had it from his Father; the mini... [ Continue Reading ]
THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST,.... Either of which he is the author: for it was he that sent and showed it by his angel to John; it was he, the lion of the tribe of Judah, that took the book, and opened the seals of it, and which is a very considerable proof of his deity; since none but God could f... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO BORE RECORD OF THE WORD OF GOD,.... Of the essential and eternal Word of God, his only begotten Son; as John the apostle did in his Gospel, and in his epistles, and also in this book; and which is a clear evidence of his being the writer of it. AND OF THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST; that is, the... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED [IS] HE THAT READETH,.... This book the Revelation, privately, in his closet or family, carefully and diligently, with a desire of understanding it; or publicly in the church of God, and endeavours open and explain it to others; and may allude to the reading of the law and the prophets in th... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES WHICH ARE IN ASIA,.... In lesser Asia; their names are mentioned in Revelation 1:11; GRACE [BE] UNTO YOU, AND PEACE; which is the common salutation of the apostles in all their epistles, and includes all blessings of grace, and all prosperity, inward and outward: Romans 1... [ Continue Reading ]
AND FROM JESUS CHRIST,.... Who, though the second Person in the Trinity, is mentioned last, because many things were to be said of him; and who is described in all his offices: in his prophetic office, THE FAITHFUL WITNESS; as he is of his Father, of his mind and will, with respect to doctrine and... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HATH MADE US KINGS AND PRIESTS,.... The Alexandrian copy, and Complutensian edition, read, "a kingdom, priests"; and the Vulgate Latin version, "a kingdom and priests"; and the Arabic version, "a kingdom of priesthood"; reference seems to be had to Exodus 19:6: "and ye shall be unto me a kingdom... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD HE COMETH WITH CLOUDS,.... John carries on the account of Christ in his kingly office, one branch of which is to execute judgment; and describes him by a future coming of his, which cannot be understood of his coming to take vengeance on the Jews, at the time of Jerusalem's destruction, thoug... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM ALPHA AND OMEGA,.... These are the words of Christ himself, appearing at once, and confirming what John had said of him, concerning his person, offices, and future coming: Alpha is the first letter, and Omega the last in the Greek alphabet, and signifies that Christ is the first and the last, a... [ Continue Reading ]
I, JOHN, WHO ALSO AM YOUR BROTHER,.... Here begins the narrative of the visions and prophecies of this book, the former verses containing a general preface to the whole; and this, and the two following verses, are the introduction to the first vision, which John saw; who describes himself by his nam... [ Continue Reading ]
I WAS IN THE SPIRIT ON THE LORD'S DAY,.... Not on the Jewish sabbath, which was now abolished, nor was that ever called the Lord's day, and had John meant that, he would have said on the sabbath day; much less the Jewish passover, but the first day of the week is designed; so the Ethiopic version re... [ Continue Reading ]
SAYING, I AM ALPHA AND OMEGA, THE FIRST AND THE LAST,.... These characters, which are repeated here, Revelation 1:8; are left out in the Alexandrian copy, the Complutensian edition, the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions; but are very fitly retained, to point out the person that speaks; to... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I TURNED TO SEE THE VOICE THAT SPAKE WITH ME,.... The Complutensian edition reads, "and there I turned": and so the Arabic version; that is, to see who it was that spoke, from whom the voice came, and by whom it was uttered; see Exodus 20:18; AND BEING TURNED, I SAW SEVEN GOLDEN CANDLESTICKS; w... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IN THE MIDST OF THE SEVEN CANDLESTICKS [ONE] LIKE UNTO THE SON OF MAN,.... By whom is meant not an angel, for he speaks of himself as a divine Person, as the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, phrases not applicable to any created beings; and of himself also as having been dead, which ange... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS HEAD AND [HIS] HAIRS [WERE] WHITE LIKE WOOL, AS WHITE AS SNOW,.... In allusion to the white head and hairs of old men, said to be hoary, or like the hoar frost, and compared to an almond tree in bloom, Ecclesiastes 12:5; and here to wool and snow for whiteness; see Ezekiel 27:18; and according... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HIS FEET LIKE UNTO FINE BRASS, AS IF THEY BURNED IN A FURNACE,.... By which is meant, not his human nature in a suffering state; or his people, the meaner and lower parts of his mystical body, in a like state; or his apostles and ministers, who are supporters of his church, and run to and fro wi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE HAD IN HIS RIGHT HAND SEVEN STARS,.... The angels or pastors of the seven churches, Revelation 1:20. The ministers of the Gospel are compared to stars, because of their efficient cause, God, who has made them, and fixed them in their proper place, and for his glory; and because of the matter... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN I SAW HIM,.... The glorious person here described, who was just behind him, and of whom he had a full view, being so near him: I FELL AT HIS FEET AS DEAD; through consternation and fear, the sight was so amazing and terrible; the appearance of a divine person in any degree of majesty and g... [ Continue Reading ]
I [AM] HE THAT LIVETH,.... As the eternal God, who has life in himself, originally, essentially, and inderivatively, and is the fountain and author of life to others; and who ever lived as the Mediator and Redeemer, and still does, and ever will, yea, even when he was dead as man: AND WAS DEAD; he... [ Continue Reading ]
WRITE THE THINGS WHICH THOU HAST SEEN,.... The Alexandrian copy and some others, and the Complutensian edition, read, "write therefore the things", c. meaning what he had now seen, the vision of one like to the son of man, amidst the golden candlesticks, with seven stars in his right hand, and as ab... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MYSTERY OF THE SEVEN STARS WHICH THOU SAWEST IN MY RIGHT HAND,.... The sense is, that John was to write the mystery of these stars, or the mystical sense of them: AND THE SEVEN GOLDEN CANDLESTICKS; the mystery, or mysterious sense of them also; for the words are in a continued connection with R... [ Continue Reading ]