Revelation 1:8-18
1599 Geneva Bible
8 [a]I (A)am [b]Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, Which is, and Which was, and Which is to come, even the Almighty.
9 [c]I John even your brother and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the [d]Isle called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the witnessing of Jesus Christ.
10 And I was ravished in [e]spirit on the [f]Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as it had been of a trumpet,
11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, that first and that last: and that which thou seest write in a book, and send it unto the seven Churches which are in Asia, unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
12 [g]Then I turned back to [h]see the voice that spake with me: [i]and when I was turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks,
13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks, one like unto the son of man, clothed with a garment down to the feet, and girded about the paps with a golden girdle.
14 His head and hairs were white as white wool, and as snow, and his eyes were as a flame of fire,
15 And his feet like unto fine brass burning as in a furnace: and his voice as the sound of many waters.
16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two edged sword, and his face shone as the sun shineth in his strength.
17 [j]And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead: [k]then he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not: [l]I am that (B)first and that last,
18 And am alive, but I was dead: and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen: and I have the keys of hell and of death.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Revelation 1:8 A confirmation of the salutation aforegoing, taken from the words of God himself: in which he avoucheth his operation in every single creature, the immutable eternity that is in himself, and his omnipotence in all things: and concludeth in the unity of his own essence, that Trinity of persons, which was before spoken of.
- Revelation 1:8 I am he before whom there is nothing, yea, by whom everything that is made, was made and shall remain though all they should perish.
- Revelation 1:9 The narration opening the way to the declaring of the authority and calling of Saint John the Evangelist in this singular Revelation, and to procure faith, and credit unto this prophecy. This is the second part of this Chapter consisting of a proposition and an exposition. The proposition showeth, first who was called unto this Revelation, in what place, and how occupied, verse 9. Then at what time and by what means, namely, by the spirit and the word, and that on the Lord’s day, which day ever since the resurrection of Christ, was consecrated for Christians unto the religion of the Sabbath: that is to say, to be a day of rest, verse 10. Thirdly, who is the author that calleth him, and what is the sum of his calling.
- Revelation 1:9 Patmos is one of the isles of Sporas whither John was banished as some write.
- Revelation 1:10 This is that holy ravishment expressed, wherewith the prophets were ravished, and being as it were carried out of the world were conversant with God, and so Ezekiel saith often that he was carried from place to place of the Lord’s Spirit and that the Spirit of the Lord fell upon him.
- Revelation 1:10 He calleth it the Lord’s day, which Paul calleth the first day of the week, 1 Cor. 16:2.
- Revelation 1:12 The exposition, declaring the third and last point of the proposition (for the other points are evident of themselves) wherein is spoken first of the author of his calling unto verse 17. Secondly of the calling itself unto the end of the Chap. And first of all the occasion is noted in this verse, in that S. John turned himself towards the vision: after is set down the description of the author in the verses following, Rev. 1:13–16.
- Revelation 1:12 To see him whose voice I had heard.
- Revelation 1:12 The description of the Author, which is Christ: by the candlesticks that standeth about him, that is the Churches that stand before him, and depend upon his direction, in this verse: by his properties, that he is one furnished with wisdom and dexterity to the achieving of great things, verse 13, and ancient gravity and most excellent sight of the eye, verse 14, with strength invincible and with a mighty word, verse 15. By his operations, that he ruleth the ministry of his servants in the Church, giveth the effect thereunto by the sword of his word, and enlightening all things with his countenance, doth most mightily provide for everyone by his divine providence, verse 16.
- Revelation 1:17 A religious fear that goeth before the calling of the Saints, and their full confirmation to take upon them the vocation of God.
- Revelation 1:17 A divine confirmation is this calling partly by sign and partly by word of power.
- Revelation 1:17 A most elegant description of this calling contained in three things, which are necessary unto a just vocation: first the authority of him that calleth, for that he is the beginning and end of all things, in this verse, for that he is eternal and omnipotent, verse 18. Secondly, the sum of this prophetical calling, and revelation, verse 19. Lastly a declaration of those persons unto whom this prophecy is by the commandment of God directed in the description thereof, verse 20.
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