Revelation Commentary – Introduction to
the book of Revelation Verses 1:1 through 1:20

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The net effect is this:

 

Because the book of Daniel has been unsealed, we know that we are living at the time of the end. Therefore, the things written in Revelation will “soon,” that is, imminently transpire. So, ready or not, believe it or not, the revelation of Jesus will soon start. The predicted events are about to start and the drama will be more fascinating and more dramatic than anything the world has ever experienced!

 

And this brings us to verses 3-6:

 

Revelation 1:3   Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

 

Revelation 1:4   John, to the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before the throne.

 

Revelation 1:5   and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood.

 

Revelation 1:6   and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father – to him be the glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

 

I would like to reread this and insert some words for the sake of clarity:

 

Revelation 1:4   (From) John, (This message is directed) To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him (the Father) who is (alive),and who was (alive through all ages past), and who is (alive through all ages) to come, and from the seven spirits (angels that stand) before his throne.

 

Revelation 1:5   and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness (of the Father), the firstborn (the preeminent one) from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth (Jesus is King of kings). To him (Jesus, glory and honor is due) who loves us and has freed us from (the curse) our sins by his blood.

 

Revelation 1:6   and has made us (believers in Him) to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father – to him (Jesus Christ) be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

 

Commentary:

First, John exalted God the Father and God the Son in these verses. It is important to notice that in verse 5 Jesus is called a faithful witness of the Father. (Jesus said, John 14:9 … Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father…”)

 

Some people distort this verse to mean that Jesus is the Father. Not true. Jesus is not the Father. Why is Jesus called a faithful witness of the Father? Jesus is a true reflection of the Father because the Father has never been seen! (John 6:46)

 

Second, in Revelation 1:6 John positions the Son lower than the Father by saying, “(Jesus) has been made to us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father….” In other words, the believers will serve the same Father that Jesus serves! This will occur after Jesus returns the throne to His Father. (1 Corinthians 15:24-28)

 

Third, notice John’s expression: “and he (Jesus) has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve His God and Father…” This may sound very sweet and tasty to Christians, and we may think that we are special to God after reading from Revelation but…. These are not sweet and tasty words in John’s day. These words from Jesus were a direct insult to non-Christians (and they remain an insult). To understand these words, look at the words spoken to Moses while he was on Mt. Sinai with God:

Exodus 19:5   Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine,

 

Exodus 19:6   you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

 

Throughout their history, the Jews have been convinced that they are THE ONLY holy nation, which God has chosen. (Many Christians today are also convinced the Jews are God’s people and they have created an end-time schematic that revolves around the nation of Israel.) But there are two things that Jews and many Christians do not understand:

 

First, the member of the Godhead who spoke to Moses at the burning bush was Jesus.

 

It was Jesus who spoke these words to Moses on Mt. Sinai.

 

It was Jesus that called Abraham and gave him His covenant.

 

It was Jesus who led Israel out of Egypt.

 

It was Jesus Himself who spoke the law from Mt. Sinai.

 

It was Jesus who blessed Israel to be a light for all nations.

 

It was Jesus who twice sent destroyers to destroy Jerusalem.

 

And it was Jesus who spoke to John.

 

Without going into further detail, when Jesus came to Earth and was rejected by Israel, the Father redefined Israel.  Galatians 3:29 “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

 

When John wrote, Jesus “has made us (that is, us believers in Christ) to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father…” You can imagine the grief of these words caused between Christians and Jews. Christian beliefs and Jewish beliefs are perpetually antagonistic because both groups of people claim to be God’s special people. Ah, religious quarreling…. It never ends.

 

The point here is that the word spoken by Jesus confirm that a profound change has taken place. Plan A had been abandoned and Plan B had been put in place. (Plan A and Plan B have been discussed at length in several of these series articles.

 

Bottom line: God has redefined Israel and believers in Jesus are now the heirs of Abraham. Believers in Jesus are the kingdom, a nation of priests that will serve the Father and Jesus throughout eternity. The saints will serve God as priests throughout eternity. They will serve the angels as representatives of God. Hebrews 5:4  “No one takes this honor upon himself (serving as a priest); he must be called of God, just as Aaron was.”   

 

Continuing with verse 7:

 

Revelation 1; 7   Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.

 

Again, with my inserted words:

Revelation 1:7   Look, he (Jesus) is coming with the clouds (of angels), and every eye will see him (as Earth rotates beneath His appearing), even those who pierced him (will be resurrected to behold the Second Coming); and all the peoples of the earth will mourn (suffer anguish) because of him. So shall it be! Amen.

 

Whether Plan A or Plan B, the appearing of Jesus at the end of sin’s drama is a horrible day.

 

Joel 2:1   “…Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming. It is close at hand –

 

Joel 2:2  a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army comes, such as never was of old nor ever will be in ages to come.

 

Joel 2:3   Before them fire devours, behind them a flame blazes. Before them the land is like the Garden of Eden, behind them, a desert waste – nothing escapes them.

 

Joel 2:4   They have the appearance of horses; they gallop along like cavalry.

 

Joel 2:5   With a noise like that of chariots they leap over the mountaintops, like a crackling fire consuming stubble, like a army drawn up for battle.

 

Joel 2:6   At the sight of them, nations are in anguish, every face turns pale.

 

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