“And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.”
“Revelation… is a book of signs: the angel sign-ified this message to John. It is a book that communicates in signs.” [3] It is the Word of God. It testifies to JESUS!
“To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” [4]
“Loved us” refers to the cross. Jesus always loves us, but He especially revealed His love for us by dying on the cross for our sins. Besides taking away our sin stains, which we could never do, Jesus made us kings and priests to God His Father. He took away that which condemned us, and He gave us a new identity, namely kings with authority and priests to serve.
“Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.” [5]
Just as Jesus ascended into the clouds after His appearance to His disciples, He will return to earth with the clouds. This time every eye will see Him.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” [6]
Jesus is not just a good man, a prophet or miracle worker. He identifies Himself as the Almighty who started and ends all things. He exists in the past, present, and future.
“When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, ‘Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.” [7]
The appearance of Jesus to John is so overwhelming that he falls as though dead. Jesus gives John assurance that he need not be afraid. He is the resurrected one whom John saw on Easter morning. He is now in His glorified state, but His intentions have not changed. He has the keys to Hades (the unseen realm) and death, and He intends to use them. His will get those who believe in Him past the unseen realm and past death so we can be with Him in paradise.
Revelation! If Jesus Christ was concerned enough to give it, we should heed it.
“Thank You Lord Jesus for revelation, especially that You removed our sin and made us Your kings and priests. Thank You that by faith in You we shall get past death and be with You forevermore.”
[1] Revelation 1:1
[2] Enduring Word Commentary (Walvoord)
[3] Enduring Word Commentary
[4] Revelation 1:5-6
[5] Revelation 1:7
[6] Revelation 1:8
[7] Revelation 1:17-18
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