Prophetic Times To The End- Rev 1:1-8

END TIMES REVEALED

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him.


Rev. 1:1 Revelation is a translation of the Greek word “apokalypsis” meaning an unveiling or a disclosure. The revelation was given to John to communicate to others, His servants (Jesus Christ’s) and tells us what must soon take place. The word soon “en tachei” means that the action will be sudden when it comes, not necessarily that it will occur immediately. But that once the end-times events begin, they will occur in rapid succession [Ref. Luke 18:8; Acts 12:7; 22:18; 25:4; Rom. 16:20). The words, He made known (Jesus Christ), are from the Greek verb “esemanen,” meaning to make known by signs or symbols, the verb also includes communication by words. We do not have the name of the angel messenger given to us here, we do know from other scriptures that Gabriel has been the chosen messenger [Reg. Dan. 8:16; 9:21-22; Luke 1: 26-31). John a bond-servant “doulos” means slave is the term also used by Paul, James, Peter and Jude in speaking of their positions as God’s servants [Ref. Rom. 1:1; Phil. 1:1; Titus 1:1; James 1:1; 2Pet. 1:1; Jude 1]

Rev. 1:3 God the Father provides [*] a blessing on each individual who reads the book as well as on those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it. This applies to all of us as the implication is that a reader will read this message aloud to an audience. Not only is there a blessing for the reader and the hearers, but there is also a blessing for those who respond in obedience.
John concluded this verse with “the time is near.” The word time “kairos” refers to a period of time, that is, the time of the end [Ref. Dan. 8:17; 11:35, 40; 12:4,9). The “end time,” as a time period, is mentioned in Revelation 11:18 and 12:12. In Revelation 12:14 the word “time” means a year [Ref. Dan. 7:25] and the phrase “time, times and half a time,” to explain the meaning one year “time” plus two years “times” plus six months “half a time,” totaling three and one-half years; the length of the time of “the end.” Revelation 1:3 includes the first of seven beatitudes in the book of Revelation. Ref. [*] For the time is near or at hand; the biblical term “at hand” is never a positive affirmation that the person or thing said to be near will immediately appear, but only that the person or thing has the quality of immanency. When Christ appeared to the Jewish people (first advent), the next thing, in the order of revelation as they understood it, should have been the setting up of the Davidic Kingdom. Yet God had predicted the rejection and crucifixion of the king (Jesus Christ) [Ref Psm. 22; Isa.53]. The long period of the secret form of the kingdom, the world wide preaching of the cross, and the out-calling of the church was as yet locked up in the secret counsels of God [Ref. Eph. 3:3-12; Mt. 13:11-17]

Rev. 1:4 John specifies the destination of this book, to the seven churches in Asia Minor a Roman province. The words grace and peace concisely summarize both a Christian’s standing before God and his experience. Grace “charis” and peace “eirene;” grace speaks of God’s attitude toward believers and peace speaks both of their standing with God and their experience of divine peace. John gives us a clue to the nature of the book or outline of the book as grace and peace is from the one who is, and who was and who is to come [Ref. Rev 1:8]; remember in vs. 1 we were told that He made it known by means: of making known by signs or symbols, this last phrase falls into this category which we will get into more a little later. The seven spirits refers to the Holy Spirit and His attributes to the believer [Ref Isa. 11:2-3].

Rev. 1:5 And from Jesus Christ as the source of the revelation to be given. He is the faithful witness the first born from the dead [Ref. Col.1:], referring to His historic resurrection at His first advent; and the ruler of the kings of the earth, indicating His prophetic role after His second coming. We see here that Christ’s resurrection was from out of the dead. As the “firstborn.” He is the first to be resurrected with an everlasting body, there will also be those after; those resurrected at the end of the church age [Ref. Philp. 3:10-12]. The tribulation holy ones [Ref. Rev. 20:5-6], and the wicked dead of all ages [Ref. Rev. 20:12-13] encompass the resurrections. In His dying on the cross Christ who loves us is the One who freed us from our sins by His shed blood.

Rev. 1:6 John is telling us here that believers are now a kingdom of priests with the purpose now and forever of serving God. As John shows us here he demonstrates that we should always be expressing praise and worship to God the Father forever and ever. Amen (literally meaning “so be it”).

Rev. 1:7 Readers of these scriptures are being told to look for His coming in the clouds which will be at His second advent to the earth, this will be during the tribulation period as told to His disciples [Ref. Acts 1:9-11]. We know that the literal executioners and rejecters of Christ are now dead and will not be resurrected until after the Millennium, but the godly remnant of Israel “will look on Him, the One they have pierced [Ref. Zech. 12:10]. This godly remnant will represent the nation Israel during the Tribulation period.
Christ’s second advent, however, will be visible to the entire world including unbelievers, in contrast to His first advent at His birth and in contrast with the future rapture “caught up” “harpazo” Greek word meaning “to siege”, catch away”, “pluck”, “pull”, “take by force” [Ref. 1Thess. 4:14-18; 1Cor. 15:51-53] of the church, which probably will not be visible to the earth as a whole. John expresses “so be it” (amen).

Rev. 1:8 John here tells us that Christ says that He is the “Alpha and the Omega” the eternal One. He is the One who is, and who was, and who is to come, the “Almighty”, “pantokrator” “the all powerful One”. Here in Revelation the all-bountiful and all-sufficient God is none other than our Lord Jesus Christ.