"THE BOOK OF REVELATION"

Prologue (1:1-8)

INTRODUCTION
  1. The Book of Revelation begins similar to the Gospel of John...
    1. Both books start with a prologue ("a preface or introduction to a literary work")
    2. The prologue to the Gospel of John is found in Jn 1:1-18
    3. The prologue to the Book of Revelation is found in Re 1:1-8
  2. John's prologue to the Book of Revelation contains four parts:
    1. Introduction and benediction - Re 1:1-3
    2. Greetings to the seven churches - Re 1:4-6
    3. Announcement of Christ's coming - Re 1:7
    4. The self-designation - Re 1:8

[Each part of the prologue is worthy of careful reflection, providing the setting for what is to follow...]

  1. INTRODUCTION AND BENEDICTION (1-3)
    1. INTRODUCING THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST...
      1. Which God gave Him (Jesus) to show His servants - Re 1:1
      2. About things "which must shortly take place" - Re 1:1; cf. 1:3; 22:6,10
      3. Jesus sent and signified it by His angel - Re 1:1; cf. 22:6,16
      4. To His servant John, who bore witness - Re 1:2
        1. To the word of God, to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw
        2. Referring to Revelation itself, or perhaps the gospel of John? - cf. Jn 21:24
        -- Note the process of revelation: God -> Jesus -> Angel -> John
    2. THE BENEDICTION TO READER & LISTENERS...
      1. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear this prophecy - Re 1:3
        1. Alluding to a setting in which one reads while others listen
        2. Suggesting that the Revelation can be understood by careful listening
      2. Blessed are those who keep those things written in it, for the time is near - Re 1:3
        1. The blessings in this book are for those obey it! - Re 22:7; cf. Lk 11:28
        2. The book is mostly about things that would soon happen - Re 1:1; 22:10
        -- While much has already been fulfilled, it is still a blessing to those who read and heed!

      [Following the introduction and benediction, John sends greetings to the recipients for whom the Book of Revelation was initially intended...]

  2. GREETINGS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES (4-6)
    1. FROM JOHN, TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES IN ASIA...
      1. In Asia Minor, the area known today as SE Turkey
      2. Which were located in the following cities: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea - cf. Re 1:8
      -- Specific letters to these seven churches will be noted in chapters 2 & 3
    2. WITH GRACE AND PEACE...
      1. From Him who is and who was and who is to come (God the Father) - Re 1:4a
      2. From the seven Spirits who are before His throne - Re 1:4b; cf. 4:5; 5:6
        1. Most likely the Holy Spirit, described figuratively in sevenfold perfection - cf. Isa 11:2
        2. Or perhaps ministering spirits or presence angels (Moses Stuart) - 1Ti 5:21; cf. Re 8:2; 16:1; 21:9
      3. From Jesus Christ - Re 1:5-6
        1. The faithful witness (who bore witness before Pontus Pilate) - cf. 1Ti 6:13
        2. The firstborn from the dead (He was the first to rise, never to die again) - 1Co 15:20
        3. The ruler over the kings of the earth (the King of kings!) - Mt 28:18; Ep 1:20-22
        4. Who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood - Jn 15:9; Ac 20:28
        5. Who made us kings and priests to His God and Father (a royal priesthood) - 1Pe 2:9
        6. To Whom be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen! - 1Pe 4:11
        -- A beautiful salutation of grace (unmerited favor) and peace (the tranquility which flows from unmerited favor) from the triune Godhead! - cf. Mt 28:19; 2Co 13:14; 1Jn 5:7

      [Following the greeting to the seven churches of Asia, John's prologue includes an...]

  3. ANNOUNCEMENT OF CHRIST'S COMING (7)
    1. HE IS COMING WITH CLOUDS...
      1. Descriptive of Jesus' second coming by angels after He ascended to heaven - Ac 1:9-11
      2. But also descriptive of Jesus' coming in judgment with the destruction of Jerusalem, an event that was to occur within that generation (and which did occur in 70 A.D.) - cf. Mt 24:30,34
      -- A description often used in reference to judgment upon nations - cf. Isa 19:1; Nah 1:1-3
    2. EVERY EYE WILL SEE HIM, EVEN THEY WHO PIERCED HIM...
      1. A visible judgment is pronounced, especially by those who crucified Jesus
      2. Which He also told religious leaders who were about to sentence him to death - Mt 26:63-64
      -- So is this a reference to judgment to come in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.?
    3. ALL THE TRIBES OF THE EARTH WILL MOURN BECAUSE OF HIM...
      1. This may sound like the worldwide judgment at Christ's second coming
      2. But Jesus used this terminology in describing the destruction of Jerusalem - Mt 24:30
      -- Thus this announcement in verse 7 may actually be announcing the judgment to come upon Jerusalem described in Matthew 24, which occurred in 70 A.D.
    4. EVEN SO, AMEN...
      1. A shocking announcement with which to begin, yet John says "so be it" (amen)
      2. Similar to the manner in which he closes: "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" - Re 22:20

      [The prologue to Revelation ends with what has been called...]

  4. THE SELF-DESIGNATION (8)
    1. "I AM THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA, THE BEGINNING AND THE END"...
      1. Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet
      2. Identifying One "who is the beginning of all history (the Creator), and the goal for whom all things are made (all history is made toward glorifying Him)" - ESV Study Bible
      3. Both the Father (Re 21:6) and Jesus (Re 1:11,17; 2:8; 22:12-13) are described this way!
      4. Appropriately for Jesus, in light of the following scriptures - cf. Jn 1:1-3; Co 1:15-18
      -- But Who is speaking, God the Father or Jesus Christ? Consider the following...
    2. "WHO IS AND WHO WAS AND WHO IS TO COME, THE ALMIGHTY"...
      1. Some red-letter translations indicate it as Jesus speaking (e.g., KJV, NKJV)
      2. Other red-letter translations indicate is as God speaking (e.g., ESV, NASB, NIV, NLT, CSB)
      3. The phrase "Who is and who was and who is to come" refers to God the Father in Re 1:4
      4. The "Almighty" consistently refers to God the Father in Revelation and elsewhere in the NT - Re 1:8; 4:8; 11:16-17; 15:3-4; 16:7,14; 19:6,15; 21:22; 2Co 6:18
      5. Remember, the Revelation is that which God gave Jesus to show His servants - Re 1:1
      -- It seems fitting the Revelation begins with a self-designation from God, its ultimate source!
CONCLUSION
  1. The Revelation of Jesus Christ begins with a clear statement of origin and purpose...
    1. Given to Jesus by God to show His servants things which must soon take place
    2. It was designed to bless those who read, hear, and keep the words of the prophecy
  2. John then addressed the seven churches in Asia (SW Turkey)...
    1. Offering grace and peace from each member of the Godhead
    2. With descriptive terms that become more significant later in the epistle
  3. His prologue includes a declaration concerning the Lord's coming...
    1. Coming with clouds (indicative of judgment against nations similar to those in the OT)
    2. To be viewed by those who crucified Him (implying a judgment within their lifetime)
  4. His prologue concludes with a self-designation...
    1. Which many take to be the words of Jesus
    2. But may be those of God the Father, as the ultimate source of Revelation - Re 1:1

In our next study we shall consider "The Vision Of The Son Of Man" (1:9-20), which explains how John came to have a crucial role in the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

In the meantime, have you have been washed from your sins in the blood of Jesus (Re 1:5)? If not...

"...why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord." - Ac 22:16
Or as Peter told his fellow Jews on the first day of Pentecost following the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ:
"Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." - Ac 2:38-39