Revelation 1
Prologue
1The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
Greetings and doxology
4John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia:
Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits[a] before his throne, 5and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. 7Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.
8"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."
One like a Son of Man
9I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11which said: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea."
12I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man,"[b]dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
17When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
19"Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. 20The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels[c] of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Footnotes:
a. Revelation 1:5 Or the sevenfold Spirit
b. Revelation 1:13 Daniel 7:13
c. Revelation 1:20 Or messengers
6 comments:
Rev 1
Well fellas, buckle down because here we go.
8"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."
Prepare our hearts Father for what we are about to read. Give us the wisdom to understand and help each other have insight into your words.
I suggest trying to truly imagine what you’re reading in v12-16. Close your eyes and try to live the words.
Father, I pray for JG and his family. Lift them up this week and make there hearts reflect your will.
Father I also pray for the other members of this group that are struggling with consistency. Give them time to read and study Your word and fill their tanks with Your fuel.
In Christ,
cas
does anyone know how to interpret the meaning of verse 20? i found it interesting that the word "mystery" is used. I try and decipher and understand so much of the Bible...and at times, it is really hard...to think of it as a mystery was interesting. kind of magical.
20The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels[c] of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Hi timmcd,
In verse 20 the mystery he is talking about is 7 angels. By angels he means the ministers of the Church and the real question is whether or not they are hevanly angels or just the pastors of the 7 churches. I am not sure personally.
cas
Rev 1:
What I find most striking goes back to how Paul mentions that God uses folks in the most strange or hopeless places to give hope to those who are in need. If I remember right, John wrote this while he was imprisoned on Patmos (essentially in exile...correct me if I'm wrong.) Most of us would go crazy or take it easy or have our relationship with God strained, and John puts out one of the most well known non-Gospel book of the bible.
9I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus,
I've been enduring (only slightly patiently) over the past two months with work stuff, and this verse jumped out at me, as its always encouraging to find another brother enduring, even if its John from centuries ago.
Father, thank You for these men, Your word, John, our families and the ability to endure, so that we may find that piece of You that always waits on the other side of our trials. Please encourage us and give us the strength we need. In Jesus' name,
Amen
crb
Sorry guys. I am just back from 3 weeks of travel, and leave to Germany again on Tuesday.
Hard to be consistent. Pray for me to figure out how on the road. Often I don't get any access to the internet for days. I read REv 1-3 while on the road, and will re-read and post this weekend.
Anyway, good to be home. Good to be here.
I am with CAS. I have been really reading the words ssslllllooowwwly, to really imagine this. I have never done that before. I thought of even trying to draw it.
Hard to imagine how John felt when Jesus said. "Hey John, it's me". (v17-18)
Lord, let us see you in a new way these coming weeks. In Jesus' name, Amen
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