Commentaries
Commentaries for Revelation Chapter 1
The Title
We expect books, stories, articles and poems to have titles...
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The Revelation of Jesus Christ
The word revelation never occurs again in the book that has come to bear that name...
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The Nearness of the End
If Jesus Christ is the giver of the revelation, its content is summed up in the phrase what must soon take place (compare 4:1; 22:6)...
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The Visions and the Angel
The revelation will be given in pictures as well as words, for Jesus will show his servants what is going to happen...
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The Testimony of John
"John" is identified only as one who testifies to everything he saw...
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The Beatitude
The title concludes with the first of seven beatitudes to be found in the book (the other six occurring in 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14)...
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The Greeting
We all like to get letters, preferably letters addressed to us personally, not simply to "Occupant...
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The Sender and the Recipients
John needs no introduction beyond what is given in verses 1-2 (as Jesus' "servant," who "testified to everything he saw"), and beyond what he will give in verse 9 ("your brother and companion")...
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Grace and Peace, Glory and Power
John's grace and peace formula has sometimes been described as trinitarian, centering on Father, Son and Holy Spirit...
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The Voice
As a prophet, John immediately recounts for his readers a prophetic experience, which he is careful to locate as to place and time...
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The Opening Vision
Humility, or "the common touch," is a great asset for anyone aspiring to public life or a position of leadership, on two conditions...
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The Vision
When John turns and looks behind him to see the voice (that is, to see where it was coming from), he sees seven golden lampstands (v...
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The Explanation
Like Daniel, John fell at the angel's feet as though dead (v...
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