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Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

A REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST

CHAPTER ONE:
THINGS THAT MUST SUDDENLY TAKE PLACE

[“Happy Readers”]
Key Word: Signs
Theme Verse: 1

Revelation 1:1-3 – Blessed State of Readers

RV1:1 A revelation of Jesus Christ 1 that The God gave to him 2 to show his slaves 3 those things that are bound to occur suddenly. 4 [Daniel 2:28 LXX] And he showed [this revelation] by signs 5 sent through his angel 6 to his slave John.

1

A revelation of Jesus Christ: Or, unveiling (Apocalypse) [MON]. The Greek is APOCALYPSIS [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #602] and means to un + veil or un + cover. The Book of Revelation – also called the Apocalypse – is a letter from the glorified Master Jesus Christ. The real part of this revelation begins with chapter six when the Lamb begins to open the Little Bible. [Revelation 5:1, 7; 6:1] The revelation then unfolds throughout 7 seals, 7 trumpets, and 7 plagues, ending with the descent of the New Jerusalem and related visions. In Revelation the words of Jesus are in red.

2

The God gave to him: Or, allowed him [KNX]. The Greek is HO THEOS and is the preferred designation for the Creator who is most often called “The God” in the Christian Bible. The revelation was given to Jesus by The God, his Father. Only the Father has absolute knowledge and the Son must receive from the Father whatever knowledge he possesses. [Compare notes on John 5:19.]

3

To show his slaves: Or, servants. The word “slaves” generally refers to disciples of the Nazarene. The word occurs also at Revelation 2:20; 6:11; 7:3; 10:7; 11:18; 19:2, 5; 22:3, 6. The Greek is DOULO. In John’s writings it is sometimes difficult to determine who the “his” or “him” is. When it is clear it is God it will be capitalized [Him]. The introductory language is similar to the concluding phrases. [Revelation 22:6]

4

Things that are bound to occur suddenly: Or, quickly, shortly; quickly take place [BAS]. The Greek for “suddenly” here is TAKHEI and may be rendered several ways. Here it means something that occurs with a suddenness, not something that will happen right away. The whole phrase is the same as that at Daniel 2:28 [LXX]. Whether this is an interpretative paraphrase or just the borrowing of a phrase is left to the reader. The prophetic context of Daniel 2 may refer to those matters which occur near the end of the vision. [See notes on Daniel.]

5

He showed [this revelation] by signs: The Greek for “signs” is ESEMANEN. Some read this and wish to make every single element of Revelation a symbol and thus read far too much into it. The word “sign[s]” occurs only at Revelation 12:1, 3; 15:1. Though many symbols occur in Revelation, most of these are words borrowed from the Hebrew prophets, often in complete phrases, and thus the interpretation often lays in these allusions.

6

Sent through his angel: Most of the language in Revelation comes from the mouth of the apostolic Angel of the Apocalypse. The Angel most often speaks for Jesus Christ, but now and then also for the Almighty. This causes some confusion for some in the final verses. In this work when Jesus speaks it will be in red as it is in the Gospels.

RV1:2 [John] testified regarding the Word of The God and the testimony of Jesus Christ and everything he saw. 7

7	Everything he saw: As explained below these recordings are not all future – some are past and some are contemporary. An illustration of this occurs at Revelation 17:10.

RV1:3 Blessed 8 is the person reading aloud, 9 and those hearing the words of the prophecy, and those observing all those things that have been written – for the season is approaching. 10

8	Blessed: Or, Happy. This is the first of seven apocalyptic beatitudes. [Revelation 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6, 7; 22:14]

9

The person reading aloud: There are three groups here particularly blessed by the book of Revelation: a] one who reads it publicly; b] the one who hears it read; and, c] the one who obeys those things written in Revelation. The reading, understanding, and obedience of Revelation are a must for every Christian disciple.

10

The season is approaching: Or, KJV: for the time is at hand; WEY: the time for fulfillment is now close at hand; KIT: the appointed time is near. The English word “near” may also mean something that approaches. The phrase is repeated at Revelation 22:10. Elements of Revelation will undergo fulfillment in John’s lifetime, but other matters during the end-time which will be explained later. From another perspective, John is carried upward and forward in prophetic time to those moments on the Biblical horizon when these begin to be fulfilled.

Revelation 1:4-6 – Salutation to 7 Congregations

RV1:4 John to the 7 congregations 11 in Asia [Minor] – Unmerited favor and peace to all of you from the One who is 12 [Exodus 3:14, 15] and who was 13 and who is coming, 14 and from the 7 pneumas that are in His presence. 15

11	To the 7 congregations: Though each of these congregations will receive a personal letter, all will receive copies of the whole work.

12

The One who is: In Greek this is HO ON [the one being] and is identical to the same HO ON in 3rd Century BC Jewish Greek Bible called the Septuagint in Exodus 3:14, 15 where the meaning of YHWH is explained. John repeats an elongated form of God’s Name in three parts – is, was, and is coming. [The past, the present, and the future]

13	Who was: The historical God as YHWH.

14	Who is coming: What The God will be in the future. At some point in Revelation this later phrase is dropped as The God has now arrived.

15

7 pneumas that are in His presence: Or, seven spirits. See notes below for details. A Greek phrase here becomes important – ENOPION TOU THRONOU – and will occur often in relation to a position in heaven, in God’s presence. See notes on the phrase below. Regarding the “holy spirit” – the phrase is completely absent from Revelation. The word PNEUMA may be used of a mental disposition or inclination.

RV1:5 And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, 16 [Psalm 89:37] the firstborn of the dead, 17 [Colossians 1:18] and the ruler of the kings of the earth. 18 [Psalm 89:27] To the one who continues to show compassionate affection for us and released us from our sins in his own blood 19 –

16	Faithful witness: A designation used of the moon in the Messianic prophecy of Psalm 89:37.

17	The firstborn of the dead: The phrase only occurs elsewhere at Colossians 1:18 and thus may be an allusion to Paul’s writings. Compare notes on 1 Corinthians 15:22, 23.

18	The ruler of the kings of the earth: Likely an allusion to Messiah at Psalm 89:27. Christ is already King. [Ephesians 1:19-22]

19	Released us from our sins in his own blood: Compare notes on 1 John 1:7.

RV1:6 and he made us a kingdom, 20 priests 21 to his God 22 and Father – to him the glory and the might throughout all future periods of time. 23 [1 Timothy 6:16] Amen!

20	He made us a kingdom: The word “kingdom” in English and Greek may be used of either the seat of sovereignty as well as the realm, domain or territory over which a king reigns. Here the word “kingdom” is used of the latter. Compare notes on Matthew 13:40-43. [Colossians 1:13; 1 Peter 2:5, 9]

21	Priests: Compare notes on 1 Peter 2:9. [Revelation 5:10; 20:4] Christians serve as priests both in the temple courtyard [Revelation 11:2, 3] and in the celestial shrine. [Revelation 3:12]

22	His God: Five times in Revelation the Son is shown to have his own God – the Father. [Revelation 3:12] Compare notes on “The God of our Master” at Ephesians 1:3, 17.

23	To him the glory and the might throughout all future periods of time: See the identical language in 1 Timothy 6:16 and thus this may be a quote or allusion to Paul.

Revelation 1:7 – A Prayer

RV1:7 Behold! He arrives with clouds 24 [Daniel 7:13] and every eye will look to him, even those who pierced him, and all the tribes of the earth beat themselves in grief. [Zechariah 12:10 LXX] Yes! Amen!

24

He arrives with clouds: Or, he is coming on clouds. The phrase is straight from Daniel 7:13. Here there is a hymnal praise which may be viewed as the theme verse for the Apocalypse: ‘Look! He is arriving with the clouds, and every eye will look to him, even those who pierced him. And all earth’s tribes will lament in grief. Yes. Amen!’ This verse is a compound of two Hebrew Bible verses: Daniel 7:13 and Zechariah 12:10 (possibly from Theodotion’s LXX version; compare John 19:37). Verse 7 closes with an “Amen!” which draws particular attention to it, much as the Nazarene said, ‘Amen, amen,’ when introducing an important truth. We view Revelation 1:7 as a praise-hymn, not of the future, but the past, as it highlights the death and enthronement of Messiah. It may also serve as a prophetic reference to the parousia or Second Coming of Christ who returns as redeemer to deliver his own.

Revelation 1:8 – The One Who Is

RV1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” 25 says YHWH The God, 26 the One who is [Exodus 3:14, 15] and the One who was and the One who is coming – the Almighty! 27

25

I am the Alpha and the Omega: Literally “A to Z” in English. A designation only used of God Almighty and never Jesus Christ. [The KJV rendering in verse 11 is not known to be without authority.] The Hebrew God of the Bible is not the cyclic god of Babylon, Egypt and the Hindus valley. YHWH is a linear God who purposefully moves from point A to point Z. Compare notes on Revelation 21:6 and 22:13.

26	Says YHWH The God: The Greek is LEGEI [is saying] KYRIOS [Lord] HO [the] THEOS [God]. Since the article is lacking before KYRIOS it may suggest the Divine Name occurred here. Commentators like Scofield have “Jehovah” often in their margins in similar locations.

27	The Almighty: This is the Absolute God, the Supreme Being who is Sovereign over all, including His own Son. Compare notes on Acts 4:24. The Messiah is only called “Mighty God” at Isaiah 9:6.

Revelation 1:9-11 – Inspired on the Lord’s Day

RV1:9 I, John – your brother and a fellow sharer 28 in the oppression 29 and kingdom 30 and endurance united in Jesus 31 – I came to be on the isle called Patmos 32 because of the Word of The God and the testimony of Jesus.

28	A fellow sharer: Or, companion, partaker, fellow. The Greek is SYNCOINONOS and is rooted in common, communion, community, communism. Compare Romans 11:17; 1 Corinthians 9:23; 2 Corinthians 8:23; Philemon 17; 1 Peter 5:1.

29	Oppression: Or, affliction, tribulation, persecution. The Greek is an important word to make its appearance again – THLIPSEI. The Great Oppression is a major theme of Revelation.

30	Kingdom: First in the realm, domain, or territory of the King Jesus Christ; and, in the future as co-rulers with Christ in the Kingdom of the Father. Compare notes on Matthew 13:40-43 and Revelation 20:4. [Revelation 5:9, 10]

31	Endurance united in Jesus: The word “endurance” occurs in important places in Revelation. [Revelation 2:2, 3, 19; 3:10; 13:10; 14:12] The Greek phrase EN IESOU is also rendered: in, in union with, incorporate with, at one with, in harmony with.

32

Patmos: An island in the Aegean Sea within 150 miles of all the 7 congregations off the coast of Asia [Minor]. According to the church historian of the 3rd Century AD Eusebius John was imprisoned here around 96 AD. [The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. VIII, p. 562, “Acts of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian.”]

RV1:10 I came to be inspired regarding the Master’s Day, 33 and then I heard behind me 34 a great voice like a trumpet, 35

33

Came to be inspired regarding the Master’s Day: Or, KJV: I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day; TCN: I fell into a trance; BEC: I came under the Spirit’s power; MOF: on the Lord’s day I found myself rapt in the Spirit; WEY: on the Lord’s day I was inspired by the Spirit; WMS: I was in the Spirit’s power; BER: I became Spirit-possessed. Some see this as Sunday but this is doubtful. The Greek is unique – EGENOMEN [I came to be] EN [in] PNEUMATI [spirit] EN [in] TE [the] KYRIAKE [regarding Master] HEMERA [day]. The phrase “day of the Master” occurs in several forms in the Christian Bible and always refers to the return or parousia of the King.

34	I heard behind me: Why ‘behind me’?

35	Like a trumpet: We see John startled from his trance by such a sudden noise. It is most curious that the word “trumpet” occurs 12 times. [Revelation 4:1; 8:7, 8, 10, 12, 13; 9:1, 13, 14; 10:7; 11:15]

RV1:11 saying: “Whatever you see write in a Little Bible 36 and send to the 7 congregations 37 – to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.” 38

36

Whatever you see write in a Little Bible: John will both “see” and “hear” and will record these experiences. The phrase “Little Bible” is the Greek BIBLION and is literally the diminutive of bible, book or scroll. Related words will occur over two dozen times. The time of writing of Revelation is thought by many scholars to have been about the end of the 1st Century. Had it been written before the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD one would think another writer would have referenced it as they do other epistles. Consider 2 Peter 3:16 where Peter considers things in Paul’s writings “hard to understand.” These would have paled compared to the Apocalypse. It should also be noted that Revelation with its seven letters were not sent to Jerusalem or Judea but to congregations in Asia Minor. In order to be of benefit to the Christian Church one would think John would have had to compose Revelation contemporary with Paul, and yet Paul never gives a hint of knowledge of such an outstanding book of visions.

37	Send to the 7 congregations: Whether the whole book was sent to seven churches, or only the personal letter and the remaining chapters from 4 to 22 is a point of speculation. We can imagine the work involved in making seven or more copies of Revelation.

38	Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea: Likely all of these congregations were formed by Paul in his missionary tours. Tradition has it that John retires to Ephesus after his release from prison.

Revelation 1:12-17a – A Son of Humankind with 7 Stars

RV1:12 And I turned around to look at the Voice that was speaking to me. And having turned around I saw 7 golden lampstands, 39

39	7 golden lampstands: Curiously the word occurs exactly seven times. [Revelation 1:12, 13, 20; 2:1, 5; 11:4] The original tabernacle lampstand contained seven flames, while Solomon’s Temple had a ten-candle lampstand.

RV1:13 and among the lampstands someone like a Son of Humankind, 40 [Daniel 7:13] clothed in a garment reaching his feet and girded around the chest with a golden girdle.

40	Someone like a Son of Humankind: That is, similar to a human being. Exactly the same in Greek as Daniel 7:13, indicating the verse has already been fulfilled upon the ascension of Christ to heaven. See notes on Daniel 7:13 in the 21st Century Version of the Hebrew Scriptures©

RV1:14 His head and hair were white as white-wool like snow 41 [Daniel 7:9] – and his eyes like a flame of fire 42 –

41

His head and hair were white as white-wool like snow: The phrase is straight out of Daniel 7:9 in the LXX. We would expect that the Son of Humankind would look similar to his Father. [Compare notes on Colossians 1:15 and Hebrews 1:2, 3] The appearance suggests great age like his Father who is called “the Ancient of Days.” Such would suggest Christ’s pre-existence. Otherwise, Jesus would still be no older than John himself.

42	His eyes like a flame of fire: Compare notes on Revelation 19:12. Suggesting his vision in judgment is completely pure and than nothing escapes his notice.

RV1:15 and his feet like fine copper as though in a fiery furnace. 43 And his Voice was like the sound of great waters. 44

43	Feet like fine copper as though in a fiery furnace: Compare Revelation 2:18. A suggestion that his walk or life-course has always been judged righteously.

44	Sound of great waters: One must stand by the seashore in a great storm, or beneath a great water fall, to imagine this roar. Compare also Revelation 14:2.

RV1:16 Now in his right hand 45 he had 7 stars, 46 and out of his mouth protruded a sharp double-edged sword. [Isaiah 49:2] His countenance was as the sun shining in its power. 47

45	Right hand: The hand of favor and participation. [Galatians 2:9] “Right hand” will occur seven more times. [Revelation 1:17, 20; 2:1; 5:1, 7; 10:5; 13:16]

46	He had 7 stars: The seven stars are the seven angels of the seven congregations and they are under the control and authority of Jesus Christ. These seven stars will be explained to be the presiding officers or overseers of congregations. See notes on Revelation 2:1.

47	His countenance was as the sun shining in its power: Compare Matthew 17:2. [Daniel 12:3] The image of Christ is not that of both ancient and contemporary Christian art. The whole image is frightening in its aspect.

RV1:17a And when I saw him I collapsed at his feet like a dead body.

Revelation 1:17b-20 – Write Down the Mystery

RV1:17b Now he put his right hand upon me, 48 saying: “Do not be frightened. I am the First and the Last, 49

48	Now he put his right hand upon me: Surely a most calming feeling.

49

First and the Last: The Greek is not the same as that occurring in Isaiah 40-44 when YHWH speaks of Himself in a similar manner. For details see the phrase in Error of the Trinity. The Son – as “only begotten son” – was the first to be begotten or created and also the “last” in that all other things came into being through the Son’s agency. [John 1:1-3, 10; Colossians 1:15-19] Christ was also the first to be resurrected by God and as well as the last. All others gain the resurrection through the agency of the Son. [John 5:19-30; 1 Corinthians 15:20-23]

RV1:18 and the Living One 50 [Luke 24:5] – and I became a dead person, and, behold, I am living throughout all future periods of time – and I possess the keys of the Death and of the Hades. 51

50	The Living One: Compare Luke 24:5 which this may echo.

51	Keys of the Death and of the Hades: Both Death and Hades are associated with “gates” and thus there is a key to open such gates to release those imprisoned. [Revelation 20:13, 14] Christ went to Hades. [Acts 2:31] The inhabitants of Hades are judged after coming out and not before.

RV1:19 Therefore, record 52 whatever you saw, and whatever occurs, and whatever is yet to occur after these things. 53

52	Record: Or, write. Note the three things John is to write or record.

53

Whatever you saw, and whatever occurs, and whatever is yet to occur after these things: Three elements are listed: a] whatever is seen; b] whatever has already occurred; and, c] whatever is yet future. All three occur at Revelation 17:10 – past, present, and future. Some things John beholds have already occurred while others are contemporary and future.

RV1:20 The mystery of the 7 stars that you saw in my right hand and the 7 golden lampstands – the 7 stars are angels 54 of the 7 congregations, and the 7 lampstands are 7 congregations.”

54	7 stars are angels: The symbols refer to the presiding presbyter of each individual church, just as there was a “messenger” of the Jewish congregations. See notes on Revelation 2:1.

Review Questions on Chapter One