Revelation 1 explained: John's Vision of the Risen Jesus

Where the message comes from (vv. 1-3)

The book calls itself a message God gave to Jesus, sent through an angel to his servant John, whom tradition identifies as Jesus' disciple, though scholars debate this. It was meant to be read aloud when churches met, with a blessing on those who hear it and live by it, because the time is close.

Greeting to seven churches (vv. 4-6)

Grace and peace go to seven real churches in the Roman province of Asia, now western Turkey, from the eternal God, from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus. Many read the seven spirits as God's Spirit in its fullness, since seven signals completeness, while some read them as seven angels; Jesus is praised as the first to rise from death for good and ruler over earth's kings, a bold claim under Rome, who has made his people a royal priesthood, as God once said of Israel (Exodus 19:6).

He is coming (vv. 7-8)

Verse 7 combines two older prophecies, Daniel 7 (one coming with the clouds) and Zechariah 12 (mourning over one who was pierced), and applies them to Jesus returning in full view of everyone. In verse 8 God calls himself the Alpha and the Omega, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, meaning the beginning and end of all things.

John on Patmos (vv. 9-11)

John writes as a fellow sufferer, on the small Aegean island of Patmos for the sake of God's word and his witness to Jesus, which early tradition takes to mean exile by Rome. The Lord's Day most likely means Sunday, when Christians met to remember Jesus rising, and the seven named cities were real, though many also read seven as standing for the whole church.

The figure among the lampstands (vv. 12-16)

The figure who looks like a son of man, a phrase from Daniel 7 for a human figure given God's authority, stands among seven golden lampstands, which verse 20 says are the churches. His long robe and golden sash may picture a priest, a king, or both, his hair white as wool and snow recalls God in Daniel 7, his fiery eyes suggest he sees everything, and the sword from his mouth most likely pictures the cutting power of his words.

Fear and reassurance (vv. 17-20)

John falls down as if dead, but the figure touches him, tells him not to be afraid, and names himself as the one who died and now lives forever, holding the keys, meaning authority, over death and Hades, the realm of the dead. The stars are the angels of the seven churches, and since the word can also mean messenger, some read them as heavenly guardians and others as human leaders, and scholars are unsure which is meant.

Key verse: Revelation 1:18

Where Christians differ

Christians differ on how to read the book these verses introduce, especially the claim in verses 1 and 3 that its events are close: some see it as mainly fulfilled in the Roman era, some as still to come before Jesus returns, some as a map of church history, and some as timeless pictures of the struggle between good and evil.

Something to think about

This chapter was written to small communities under pressure from a powerful empire, so what kind of message, if any, do you think genuinely helps people in that position?