Revelation 1:1 The revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave to him to show to his servants what things are necessary to happen in a soon time, and he communicated by sending through his angel to his servant John,
Ἀποκάλυψις Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἣν ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ὁ θεὸς δεῖξαι τοῖς δούλοις αὐτοῦ ἃ δεῖ γενέσθαι ἐν τάχει, καὶ ἐσήμανεν ἀποστείλας διὰ τοῦ ἀγγέλου αὐτοῦ τῷ δούλῳ αὐτοῦ Ἰωάννῃ,
I will begin a new study of the book of Revelation. I have not studied this book in great detail, verse by verse. Revelation scares some people because of the esoteric language and symbols. There have been many people over the ages who have tried to see its fulfillment in their time. As time progresses onward, we may naturally raise many questions about if the prophecies of Revelation are being fulfilled in our own time. We want to know how this part of the Bible is a word of God to us.
This verse tells us that this is God’s revelation of Jesus Christ. The phrase “of Jesus Christ” can be taken in two ways: objective: a revelation about Jesus Christ, or subjective: a revelation from Jesus Christ. Both are possible. Jesus mediates this revelation and also it is a revelation about him.
The key topic is the things to take place in the future. It is difficult to know what to do with the phrase, “soon time.” How soon? Did this revelation take place in John’s time? Is the word “soon” relative to eternity, thus we live with a sense or urgency?
Could our time be the soon time? This revelation would be given through an angel or messenger. In literature like this called apocalyptic, it is common to have the revelation mediated or interpreted by an angel. This angel would speak to John. John is described as a servant, someone who faithfully follows the Master, Jesus. In this verse we have a significant insight into the contents of this document. What is missing is the purpose. This purpose will appear in verse 3.
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