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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Rev_1:1-3
1The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John , 2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.
Rev_1:1 "The Revelation" This Greek term apocalypsis is found only here in the book. It came from two Greek terms which meant "from a hiding place" or "to reveal or unveil something." It was used in several senses (BAGD p. 92).
1. the revelation of truth – Luk_2:32; Rom_16:25; 1Co_14:6; 1Co_14:26; Gal_1:12; Eph_1:17
2. a secret made known – Eph_2:11 to Eph_3:13
3. a revelation by vision/dream – 2Co_12:1; 2Co_12:7; Gal_2:2
4. secrets related to the end-times – Luk_17:30; 1Co_1:7; 2Th_1:7; 1Pe_1:7; 1Pe_1:13; 1Pe_4:13; 1Pe_5:1
In this book it means truth from God through Jesus Christ mediated by visions and angelic interpretation. It focuses on the evil present and the coming victory of righteousness through God's supernatural intervening. God will set things straight!
▣ "of Jesus Christ" This is either an objective genitive relating the message about Jesus Christ (cf. Gal_1:12), or subjective genitive, relating the message given by Jesus Christ.
▣ "Jesus" This Hebrew name meant "YHWH saves," "YHWH is salvation," "YHWH brings salvation." It is the same as the OT name "Joshua." "Jesus" is derived from the Hebrew word for salvation, "hosea," suffixed to the covenant name for God, "YHWH" (see Special Topic: Names for Deity at Col_1:3). It was the name designated by God through an angel of the Lord (cf. Mat_1:21).
▣ "Christ" This was the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew term "messiah," which meant "an anointed one." It implied "one called and equipped by God for a specific task." In the OT three groups of leaders: priests, kings, and prophets, were anointed. Jesus fulfilled all three of these anointed offices (cf. Heb_1:2-3). See Special Topic: Messiah below.
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▣ "which God gave Him" Jesus neither taught nor did anything without revelation or permission from the Father (cf. Joh_3:11-13; Joh_3:31-36; Joh_4:34; Joh_5:19-23; Joh_5:30; Joh_6:38; Joh_7:16; Joh_8:26; Joh_8:28-29; Joh_8:40; Joh_12:49-50; Joh_14:10; Joh_14:24; Joh_15:15). Theologically this is characteristic of John's writings.
▣ "to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place" Notice how this opening paragraph is mirrored in Rev_22:6-21. This was a literary technique of the first century.
NASB, NKJV "the things which must shortly take place"
NRSV "what must soon take place"
TEV "what must happen very soon"
NJB "what is now to take place very soon"
The time element is very important for interpretation of the whole book because it specifically states that John's message had a relevance for his day as well as the future. The term "must" (dei) meant "that which is binding, which is morally necessary, which is proper, or inevitable" (cf. Rev_22:6). See Special Topic: Soon Return, below.
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▣ "communicated it" This is literally "signified" (semainô) (cf. NKJV). "Signs" are one of the literary structures that John uses to communicate his message in his Gospel (semeion, cf. Joh_12:33; Joh_18:32; Joh_21:19). This may have an OT link to the OT prophets (cf. Isa_7:11; Isa_7:14; Isa_8:18; Isa_19:20; Isa_20:3; Isa_37:30; Isa_38:7; Isa_38:22; Isa_55:13; Isa_66:19; Jer_10:2; Jer_32:20-21; Jer_44:29 and Eze_4:3; Eze_14:8; Eze_20:12; Eze_20:20). The fact that this book is called "a revelation" through "signs" and "prophecy" gives us a clue to the literary genre of this book. The modern literary term "apocalyptic" used to describe a genre was unknown to John.
▣ "to His bond-servant" In this introductory verse, this phrase refers to the book's Apostolic author. Other places in the book the plural is used of God's prophets/messengers/preachers (cf. Rev_10:7; Rev_11:18; Rev_22:6).
However, in other places in the book the title is used of all believers (cf. Rev_7:3; Rev_19:2; Rev_19:5; Rev_22:3), which implies all believers should be witnesses (cf. Mat_28:18-20; Col_4:6; 2Ti_2:24-25; 1Pe_3:15). Jesus is the model to follow (cf. Rev_1:5; Rev_3:14; Joh_20:21)! Many will be killed, as Jesus was (cf. Rev_6:9; Rev_12:17; Rev_17:6; Rev_18:24; Rev_20:4). Remember the theme of the book is be faithful unto death! I (Jesus) have overcome!
▣ "John" Unlike most apocalyptic authors, John identified himself and structured the opening of his prophetic witness in the form of seven letters (chapters 1-3). Some have denied John the Apostle's authorship of the book of the Revelation because he is anonymous in his other writings (he calls himself "the beloved disciple" in his Gospel and "elder" in II and 3 John), but names himself in Rev_1:4; Rev_1:9; Rev_22:8.
Rev_1:2 "the testimony of Jesus Christ" Like Rev_1:1, this can be either an objective, the testimony about Jesus, or subjective genitive, the testimony given by Jesus. Sometimes in John's writings there is purposeful ambiguity which combines both connotations.
Rev_1:3 "Blessed" This is the first of seven blessings in this book (cf. Rev_1:3; Rev_14:13; Rev_16:15; Rev_19:9; Rev_20:6; Rev_22:7; Rev_22:14). The fact that those who read it were blessed shows not only its inspired nature but also its relevance to the people of that day and every day.
▣ "he who reads" The NRSV adds "aloud," implying a public reading (cf. 1Ti_4:13). Congregational reading of the Scripture was done originally by specially trained members of the Church as in the synagogue (cantor). The Church adopted the worship forms of the early synagogue (cf. Luk_4:16; Act_13:15; Col_4:16; 1Th_5:27). We have a historical confirmation of the public reading of Scripture from Justin Martyr, a.d. 167, who mentioned that the Church read a portion from the Gospels and a portion from the Prophets.
▣ "who hear. . . and heed it" This hearing and doing (both present active participles) are the essence of the Hebrew term "Shema" (cf. Deu_5:1; Deu_6:4-6; Deu_9:1; Deu_20:3; Deu_27:9-10; Luk_11:28). Notice the conditional nature of the blessing. Those who hear must respond. This "if. . .then" covenantal pattern is both OT and NT. Blessing is connected not only to knowledge but also to lifestyle.
▣ "of this prophecy" This term addresses both the divine content of this book and the literary genre. This book is a combination of a letter (chapters 1-3), an apocalyptic presentation (seals, trumpets, bowls), and a prophecy (cf. Rev_22:7; Rev_22:10; Rev_22:18-19). It is important to remember that "prophecy" had two connotations: (1) to address the current hearers with God's message and (2) to show how current faith effected future events. It is both proclamation and prediction. See Introductory Article.
▣ "for the time is near" This again shows the relevancy of the prophecy to its own day (cf. Rev_22:10, another example is in Rom_16:20). See Special Topic: Soon Return at Rev_1:1