Authentic Christian Presence | 365

Revelation Chapter 1

“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that
hear the words of this prophecy, and
keep those things which are written
therein: for the time is at hand.”
Revelation 1:3

Author: John – penned in PATMOS, a small rocky island in the Aegean, about 15 miles West of Ephesus.
Theme: Consummation
Time of Writing: Century A.D 95

Chapter One is an introduction, and contains the letters written to the seven churches. It is a general preface to the whole book.

Revelation is to teach us to understand the times. In this book all the other books of the Bible end and meet. John's Revelation fills up the intermediate period, and describes the millennium and final state beyond the Antichrist; Christ taught many things before His departure; but those which were unsuitable for announcement at that time He brought together into the Apocalypse.

The title of the book - “Revelation” means, “Disclosure of that which was previously hidden or unknown.” The book is a record of what the Apostle John saw and heard - The curtain of the future is lifted!

Revelation is the only book in all the Bible, which begins by promising a special blessing on those who study it, and ends by promising a special curse on those who add or take away from it.
“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” Revelation1:3 - The Greek translation of “readeth” is:- repetition, intensity, can speak, be sure, and understand.

Christ himself prophesied of the destruction of Jerusalem; and, about the time in which that was accomplished, he entrusted the apostle John with this book of revelation, to deliver it to the church;
1. As a prediction of the most important events that should happen to it to the end of time.
2. For the support of the faith of his people.
3. For the direction of their hope.

It is called the Revelation, because God therein discovers those things which could never have been sifted out by the reasonings of human understanding, those deep things of God which no man knows, but the Spirit of God, and those to whom he reveals them.

Revelation is totally a book about God's Lamb. The Witnesses of the Lamb are instructed throughout the first and second chapters.

Personal Observation
As I read through the first chapter, I circled eight titles used for the Savior. I then learned that Revelation contains more titles used for the Savior, than any other book in the Bible.

Chapter 1 is broken up as follows;
a. Titles and Address

Titles for the Savior:
1. Jesus Christ – 1:1
2. The Faithful Witness – 1:5
3. The First Begotten of the Dead – 1:5
4. The Prince of Kings of the Earth – 1-5
5. The Alpha and Omega – 1:8
6. The Almighty – 1:8
7. The Son of Man – 1:13
8. The Keeper of the Keys of Hell and Death – 1:18

b. Vision of Jesus and His Message to the Seven Churches of the Province of Asia 1:9-20

Visions of Jesus
The things to come;
1st Vision - THE SEALS AND TRUMPETS
2nd Vision - THE WOMAN AND THE RED DRAGON; THE TWO BEASTS; THE BOWLS AND LAST PLAGUES.

The No.7 is important to God. Seven is predominant throughout Revelation. There are 4-references made to the No.7 in our first Chapter.
7 Spirits – 1:4
7 Churches – 1:4
7 Golden Candlesticks – 1:12
7 Stars – 1:16

All scripture is written for our learning, and we are to beg spiritual wisdom from God to make a right use and holy improvement of what is written.

When I studied John's surrounding circumstances during the time of writing Revelation, I observed the following characteristics;
a. He was a companion in patience - called the patience of Jesus Christ.

b. God requires patience, as we read the repetitions, and varied examples of patience being exercised - His word requires it, His Spirit produces it, and in His very own example He gave us a pattern of it. I really believe that the present state of the kingdom of Christ in this world calls for patience?

c. John was very near an hundred years old, when he was by that bloody emperor banished into Patmos, for preaching the word of God, and for bearing testimony for this truth - that Jesus Christ was the Saviour of the world.

d. How Christ owned his own day, and encouraged John in his religious and strict observation of it, by the influence of his Holy Spirit upon him, and by communicating extraordinary revelations to him; “I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice.”

• Don't be afraid to embrace Revelation;
  1. I am resolved to study the Bible prayerfully – every day!
  2. The author of “the book” is willing to act as interpreter of it. He does so when we ask Him to.
  3. The one who prays with earnestness and faith, the Psalmist's prayer (119:18), "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law," will get his eyes opened to see beauties and wonders in the Word that he never dreamed of before.
  4. Be very definite about this! Each time you open the Bible to study it for a few minutes or many, ask God to give you the open and discerning eye, and expect Him to do it!
  5. Every time you come to a difficulty, lay it before God and ask an explanation and expect it!

How often we think, as we puzzle over hard passages, "Oh if I only had so and so here to explain this." God is always present. Take it to Him!

Personally, until most recently, I avoided Revelation and remained fairly ignorant of its content. I am resolved to change this (I want that blessing), and so therefore, this is my very first step in a pathway of understanding this amazing book.

God demonstrates His great kindness to us each and every day. He assures us that it won't be long before He comes again. Are you looking forward to His return?

I Love You,
Deborah