Revelation Chapter 1: The Revelation of Jesus Christ

From the Revelation Verse-by-Verse Study

Before We Begin

Before we begin our verse-by-verse study of Revelation, let’s pray together:

Heavenly Father, we ask that You would fill us with Your Holy Spirit, give us wisdom, and guide our understanding as we read Your Word. We thank You for giving us eyes to see and ears to hear what You would have us know at this time. We love You, Father, and we thank You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

This first verse shows us the order in which this Revelation was given. God gave it to Jesus Christ, and Jesus sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John.

John was on the island of Patmos when this prophecy was revealed to him. Why was it given? “To shew unto his servants.”

Are you a servant of God? If you are, then God wants you to understand this Book.

The word revelation is G602 in the Strong’s Concordance. Let’s take a moment to look it up, along with the root word it comes from.

So from the very first verse, God tells us the purpose of this Book. Revelation, the very word itself, means an uncovering, a disclosure, something being revealed.

That means our Father gave it to reveal truth to us. And if He gave it “unto His servants,” then we should never approach Revelation with fear or defeat, as though it is impossible to understand. We approach it with patience, prayer, and faith; trusting that God is able to open His Word to those who seek Him. And He will.

John is the one writing this Book, but always keep in mind that these are not John’s words. This is God’s Word. John is bearing record of the things God showed him, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Revelation is a Book of prophecy, and much of what it reveals concerns events that are still future. God tells us there is a blessing for those who read it, hear it, and keep the things written in it.

To keep means more than simply hearing the words and moving on. It means to guard them, give heed to them, and hold them in your mind and heart. Because these are words of prophecy, keeping them also means remaining spiritually aware and watchful: paying attention to what is happening and recognizing the events God has told us to expect.

By reading and keeping the knowledge within Revelation, we are given an understanding of the events that lead up to the tribulation and what will take place during that time. We also learn what happens when Christ returns at the beginning of the Millennium and what occurs throughout His thousand-year reign.

Revelation then shows us what takes place at the end of the Millennium, including the Great White Throne Judgment, and finally, what eternity will be like.

This knowledge is priceless. It is a true blessing from our Father, given to us, His servants.

Here, John is writing to the seven churches in Asia. Geographically, they form a circuit. They were real churches in real cities, located in what is now western Turkey. The order in which they are named follows a natural route a messenger could have taken, beginning at Ephesus and moving through Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.

But spiritually, these churches teach us something much deeper. As we continue through chapters 2 and 3, we will see that Christ has something to say to each one of them. These seven churches represent types of churches, doctrines, and spiritual conditions that can be found throughout time, even in the churches of today.

Grace, meaning unmerited favor and love, and peace are given “from him which is, and which was, and which is to come.” This describes the eternal nature of our Father. He is not only the God of the past and the present. He is the One who was, who is, and who is to come.

We are also told that this greeting comes “from the seven Spirits which are before his throne.” God will reveal more about these seven Spirits as we continue through Revelation.

For now, notice that grace and peace are sent to all seven churches. But later, we will find that Christ is fully pleased with only two of the seven. Why? Because of what they teach, what they do not teach, what they hold fast to, and what they refuse to compromise.

What does this mean for us today? It should cause us to pay very close attention to what we are being taught in our own church. God does not want us to be deceived, especially in the final generation. We want to make sure we are being taught truth according to God’s Word, not man’s word or tradition. Christ warned us about this when He said:

That is why we stick to what Scripture tells us. No matter how religious, popular, or comforting something sounds, we must always ensure that it lines up with the Word of God.

Jesus Christ is called the faithful witness because everything He testified of is true. He is also called the first begotten of the dead because He was raised in a glorified, eternal body. He defeated death and hell through His crucifixion and resurrection.

He is the prince of the kings of the earth, meaning He is the ruler and chief authority over every earthly kingdom. This title also looks ahead to the Millennium, that thousand-year teaching period, when Christ will reign on the earth. Only this time, He is not coming as the Lamb slain. He is coming to reign over all as King of kings, and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16).

Then we are reminded of His everlasting love for us. Christ was innocent, perfect, and without sin. Yet He willingly gave Himself to be crucified so that, upon repentance, we can have complete forgiveness for our sins. As Jesus said, “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself” (John 10:18). He washed us from our sins in His own blood.

Friends, there is no greater love than the love our Savior showed us.

What does it mean that He has made us kings and priests unto God? As we continue through Revelation, we will learn more about this, but it is referring to God’s elect, those chosen by Him during the first earth age because they remained faithful to Him.

Remember, one-third of our Father’s children followed Satan. But God’s elect took a stand for Him then, and He knows they will do it again during the tribulation of the antichrist. They will not be deceived by the false messiah, but will remain faithful to the true Christ.

For this reason, they will reign with Christ during the Millennium and serve as priests unto God. And what do priests do? They teach God’s Word. What an honor and privilege this will be.

Amen means “that’s that.” This verse ends with a strong declaration: That’s it. It is happening this way, and nobody will add to it, take away from it, or change anything.

This is the beautiful moment every Christian looks forward to: the Second Advent. Jesus Christ will return at the seventh and final trump, and He will not be alone. He will come with an army of angels, including those who died in Christ and are already with Him (Matthew 25:31; 1 Thessalonians 4:14). There is no rapture taking us away before the tribulation. Christ is returning to us as King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16).

When He returns, every single person, without exception, will see Him. In Romans 14, Paul tells us that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess to God:

What does it mean that all the kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him? Scripture tells us that most people will be deceived into worshipping the antichrist during the tribulation (2 Thessalonians 2:3–4, 9–11; Revelation 13:8). They will believe that he is Christ. When they see the true Christ returning, they will instantly realize that they were deceived. They will wail in fear, shame, sorrow, and regret. In fact, God’s Word says that they will wish for the mountains to fall upon them (Revelation 6:15–17).

God’s elect will not wail in fear. They will rejoice because their Savior has returned. They studied God’s Word and knew what to expect. They endured unto the end (Mark 13:13) and were not deceived by the antichrist (Matthew 24:24). Instead of worshipping him, they stood against him and allowed the Holy Spirit to speak through them when they were delivered up before the synagogue of Satan (Mark 13:9–11; Revelation 2:9).

If we want to overcome the tribulation of the antichrist, we must prepare ourselves now by studying God’s Word. That means we cannot simply read over it. We have to rightly divide His Word and study it precept upon precept, chapter by chapter, and verse by verse (2 Timothy 2:15; Isaiah 28:10).

When you know the truth and remain faithful in doing God’s work, you are sealed by God. Then, when Satan appears, nothing he says or does will deceive you (Revelation 7:3; Revelation 9:4).

The seal of God is the opposite of the mark of the beast. Neither the seal of God nor the mark of the beast is a tattoo, a computer chip, or something you can accidentally receive. God’s seal is His truth in your forehead, meaning in your mind (Revelation 7:3). The mark of the beast is Satan’s deception in the forehead, or the work a person does for him, symbolized by the right hand (Revelation 13:16–17).

As we continue studying Revelation, we will learn much more about the subjects mentioned in this section. For now, I have included the relevant Scripture so that you can study them for yourself. It will take time for us to work through the entire Book, but you do not have to wait to begin searching God’s Word on your own. These truths are woven throughout the Scriptures and are documented in more than one place.

What does it mean that He is Alpha and Omega? Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet, and Omega is the last. By calling Himself Alpha and Omega, the Lord is declaring that He is the beginning and the ending, the first and the last. He existed before all things, and He will remain forever. Nothing came before Him, and nothing is beyond His authority. The words “which is, and which was, and which is to come” further emphasize His eternal nature. He has always existed, He exists now, and He always will. He is the Almighty God, possessing all power and authority.

This also brings to mind the name God gave Moses: “I AM THAT I AM” (Exodus 3:14), revealing that He is the eternal, self-existent God who has always been and always will be.

God simply is, and He will always be exactly who He has declared Himself to be.

John identifies himself as a brother and companion in tribulation, showing that he understood and shared in the suffering believers were enduring for their faith in Jesus Christ. He tells us that he was on the isle of Patmos “for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

John may have been exiled to the island because of his faithful witness, but his presence there was because God had a purpose for him being there. What may have appeared to be punishment or isolation became the place where our Heavenly Father revealed this prophecy to him. John was there to receive the Word of God and faithfully record it so that it could be shared with God’s servants, including us today.

There may also be a deeper prophetic meaning in John calling himself a “companion in tribulation.” In the following verses, he is taken in the Spirit and shown the events surrounding the Lord’s Day. He witnesses what will happen before, during, and after that time.

John did not physically live through the final tribulation as the final generation will, but God allowed him to experience those events through the vision. In that sense, he became a companion to the final generation who will live through them, showing us what to expect and preparing us with the truth of God’s Word.

Man may have sent John to Patmos, but God had a greater plan for why he was there.

This verse is critical to understanding the remainder of the Book of Revelation, so we are going to take our time and look closely at exactly what it is telling us.

John says that he was “in the Spirit on the Lord’s day.” In other words, God took John spiritually to the Lord’s Day and showed him the events surrounding that time.

So, when is the Lord’s Day?

The Day of the Lord is spoken of throughout Scripture and refers to the return of Jesus Christ and the beginning of His thousand-year reign, known as the Millennium. Let’s read what Peter tells us:

The Lord is not bound by time as we are. A thousand years to man is as one day with Him. The word millennium means one thousand years, and the Lord’s Day begins when Jesus Christ returns and His millennial reign begins.

God has not forgotten His promises, nor is He slow in fulfilling His Word. He is longsuffering, meaning patient, because He does not desire that any should perish. He wants His children to repent, turn to Him, and receive eternal life. Sadly, not everyone will. Peter continues:

The word translated “elements” can also refer to rudiments. This verse is not teaching that God will destroy all people or completely annihilate the earth. When Christ returns, every evil work, deception, and corrupt system will be exposed and brought to an end. The order of things will change as the Millennium begins.

Peter also tells us that the Day of the Lord will come “as a thief in the night.” However, this does not mean that Christ’s return will overtake all of God’s children unexpectedly. Paul explains that those who are spiritually awake and walking in the light will not be taken by surprise:

Christ’s return will come as a thief to those who are spiritually asleep and deceived. By that time, the antichrist will have already appeared, coming peacefully and prosperously, performing miracles, and claiming to be Christ. Many will believe that he is the true Messiah and will therefore not be expecting Jesus Christ to return.

However, those who are sealed with God’s Word will know that the false Christ must come first. Although we are not given the exact moment of Christ’s return, God has revealed the signs and the order of events leading up to it. His servants are not meant to remain in darkness. By knowing His Word, they can remain spiritually watchful, recognize what is happening, and avoid being deceived by the antichrist.

Returning to Revelation 1:10, John was taken in the Spirit to the Lord’s Day, which begins with Christ’s return and marks the first day of the Millennium.

Understanding this time frame is important because John is shown the events surrounding that day from a future perspective. Without recognizing where God placed him in the vision, the remainder of Revelation becomes much more difficult to understand.

John heard behind him “a great voice, as of a trumpet.” The voice was powerful, clear, and commanding, like the unmistakable sound of a trumpet. This is Jesus Christ speaking to John. In the following verse, we are told what He said.

Christ repeats the declaration He made in verse 8 for emphasis: “I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last.”

Jesus then instructs John to write down everything he sees in a book and send it to the seven churches. Although these were seven literal churches, they also represent the different doctrines and teachings found in churches today.

In the next two chapters, we will learn about each of the seven churches, including what pleased Christ about their teachings and what did not.

Of the seven churches, there were only two with which He found no fault. As we study them, you may recognize the teachings of your own church. Does it teach the same truths as the two churches that pleased Him?

The seven candlesticks are symbolic of the seven churches, as God Himself tells us in verse 20. But why would He use candlesticks to represent churches?

A faithful church should shine with the truth of God’s Word in a dark world. Jesus said, “Ye are the light of the world,” and instructed us to let our light shine before others (Matthew 5:14–16).

In the parable of the ten virgins, the bridegroom represents Jesus Christ. Matthew 25:7 tells us that the virgins “trimmed their lamps” as they prepared to meet Him. In the same way, a church must remain spiritually prepared, tending its lamp and removing anything that hinders the light of God’s truth from shining brightly.

As we move into the next two chapters, we will see that Christ expects His churches to remain faithful, repent when they have gone astray, teach the truth of God’s Word, and continue shining as a light in the darkness.

John sees the One whose voice he heard: “one like unto the Son of man.” This is Jesus Christ in His resurrected, glorified body, standing in the midst of the seven churches. His garment reaching down to His feet and the golden girdle across His chest reflect dignity and authority, revealing Him as our High Priest and the supreme authority over His churches.

Notice that Christ is not standing apart from the churches. He is in their midst, fully aware of what each one teaches and how faithfully it follows Him.

John continues describing Christ in His glorified body. His hair, white like wool and snow, reflects His purity, holiness, and wisdom. This description can also be found in Daniel’s vision (Daniel 7:9).

His eyes were “as a flame of fire,” showing that nothing can be hidden from Him. Christ sees beyond outward appearances and knows the true spiritual condition of every person and every church. His judgment is penetrating, righteous, and completely truthful.

Christ’s feet are described as fine brass refined in a furnace. The blazing appearance shows His purity, strength, and authority as the righteous Judge. Nothing impure can stand before Him.

His voice was like the sound of many waters. Although waters symbolize peoples and nations elsewhere in Revelation, here the phrase describes the absolute power and authority of His voice. Like the roar of a great waterfall or the crashing of the sea, His voice cannot be ignored or drowned out.

This description of Christ’s glorious appearance continues into the next verse. Throughout Scripture, being in the presence of God is often connected with intense brightness. When Jesus was transfigured on the mount, “his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light” (Matthew 17:2). Moses’ face also shone after he had been in the presence of God (Exodus 34:29).

John is seeing the risen and glorified Christ, radiant with power, purity, majesty, and authority.

The seven stars in Christ’s right hand are explained in verse 20 as the angels of the seven churches. Angels are messengers of God, and each of the seven churches has an angel. Christ holding them in His right hand shows that they are under His authority and direction.

The sharp twoedged sword proceeding from His mouth represents the power of His Word. Hebrews 4:12 tells us that the Word of God is “sharper than any twoedged sword.”

His Word is powerful. It cuts through deception, exposes everything hidden, and delivers righteous judgment. Christ does not need an earthly weapon. He speaks, and His Word accomplishes exactly what He declares.

You could say that this twoedged sword, which represents His Word, cuts both ways. It exposes and judges evil, but it also recognizes and rewards faithfulness.

Matthew tells us that the Son of man will come “in the glory of his Father with his angels,” and that He will “reward every man according to his works” (Matthew 16:27).

This is why, if you love and follow Christ, you have nothing to fear when He returns. He is not coming to condemn those who belong to Him.

John then says that Christ’s countenance was “as the sun shineth in his strength.” His face shone with an overwhelming brightness, revealing the glory, majesty, and power of the risen Christ.

Jesus is no longer the suffering servant mocked, beaten, and crucified by man. John is seeing Him as He truly is: glorified, all-powerful, and holding complete authority over His churches and over the judgment to come.

When John saw Christ in His glorified body, he fell at His feet as dead. The sight was so powerful and overwhelming that John could not remain standing.

But look at the love and tenderness our Savior shows him. He placed His right hand, the same hand that held the seven stars, upon him and said, “Fear not.” John loved the Lord and had faithfully served Him. He had nothing to fear from his Savior because Christ’s judgment is always righteous and fair.

The same authority that brings judgment upon evil also brings comfort, protection, and assurance to those who love Him.

Christ then reminds John who He is: “I am the first and the last.” Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh. Scripture calls Him Emmanuel, meaning “God with us.”

Paul also states this truth plainly:

Jesus Himself said:

He is the eternal God, the beginning and the ending, the One who has always existed and always will.

Jesus says that He lives, was dead, and is now alive for evermore. He willingly gave His life upon the cross for us, but death could not hold Him. He rose victorious from the dead and will never die again.

Christ also makes clear that He has “the keys of hell and of death.” He is declaring the authority of God. He alone is our Judge, and everything concerning death, judgment, and our eternal destiny is under His control.

John is instructed to write down the things he has seen, the things that are, and the things that will take place afterward.

Remember, John was taken in the Spirit to the Lord’s Day, the first day of the Millennium. This is the vantage point from which the Book of Revelation should be read. From that future position, John is shown the events leading up to Christ’s return, the events of His millennial reign, and what will take place afterward. Keeping this time frame in mind is essential as we continue through the Book of Revelation.

Christ now explains the symbols John has seen. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven candlesticks are the churches themselves.

This is an important lesson for studying Revelation. When God’s Word explains the symbolic meaning of something, we cannot replace it with our own ideas. Revelation is not impossible to understand when we allow Scripture to interpret Scripture and let God’s Word speak for itself.

As Chapter 1 closes, John stands before the risen and glorified Christ. His countenance shines as the sun, His eyes are as a flame of fire, and His voice is as the sound of many waters. He holds the seven stars in His right hand and stands in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks.

This is the image we should carry with us into the next two chapters. Jesus Christ stands among His churches. Nothing is hidden from Him. He sees every work, every compromise, every false teaching, and every act of faithfulness. He knows the true spiritual condition of each church.

In chapters two and three, He will address each church individually, commending what is right and correcting what is wrong. His words will also show us what we should look for within our own churches.

And now, He is about to speak.