Revelation 1
20 verses
The Apocalypse of Jesus Christ, the revelation given to John while exiled on Patmos because of his faithful witness to the word of God, unfolds a vision of the glorified Son of Man standing among seven golden lampstands, his appearance drawing together imagery from Daniel 7 and Ezekiel 1. The risen Christ presents with hair white as wool, eyes blazing like fire, feet burnished like bronze refined in fire, and a voice like the roar of many waters—imagery emphasizing his transcendent holiness, penetrating judgment, and authoritative word. From his mouth proceeds a sharp double-edged sword, the weapon of his word that judges and executes God's righteous will, while his face shines with the brightness of the sun in its strength, overwhelming all created light. The self-identification—I am the first and the last, and the living one, I was dead and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades—establishes Christ's absolute sovereignty over time, existence, and the realm of the dead. The vision is transmitted through an angel to John for communication to the churches, establishing the apostolic mediation of this revelation. The command to write what John sees and hears frames the entire apocalypse as testimony to be communicated to the seven churches, establishing the authority and reliability of the visions that follow.
VERSES IN THIS CHAPTER
1
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
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2
Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
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3
Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
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4
John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
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5
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
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6
And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
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We bring nothing; He provides everything.. God meets us exactly where we are — broken, uncertain, yet chosen. God is fai...
7
Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
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Reading the Psalms alongside this gives a fuller picture of what the author was experiencing — both the anguish and the ...
8
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
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9
I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
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10
I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
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11
Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What 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.
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12
And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
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13
And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
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14
His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
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The early church would have heard this very differently than we do today. The early church would have heard this very di...
15
And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
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16
And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
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17
And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
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Now I understand why — it's a daily declaration of dependence on God.. Their context of persecution gives these words a ...
18
I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
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19
Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
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20
The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
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