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I. Opening (1:1–20)
A. Prologue (1:1–3)
1This is the Revelation[1a] that God[1b] gave to Yeshua HaMashiachThe Anointed One, The Messiah,[1c] so that He could show His servants the things which must happen very soon.[1d] He sent His angel[1e] to His servant, Yochanan, 2who testified to God’s word, and of the testimony of Yeshua HaMashiach, about everything that he saw.[2]
3Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy and and blessed are those who hear[3a] of the words of this prophecy, provided they obey the things that are written in it,[3b] for the time is near.[3c]
B. John Greets the Seven Messianic Communities (1:4–8)
4From Yochanan, to the seven Messianic Communities that are in Asia:[4] Grace to you and shalom, from God, Who is and Who was and Who is to come; and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne; 5and from Yeshua HaMashiach, the Faithful Witness, the Firstborn of the Dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us, and washed us from our sins by His blood; 6and He made us to be a Kingdom, that is, kohanimpriests to His God and Father; to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Omein.
7Hinneh,[7] He is coming with the clouds.
Every eye will see Him,
including those who pierced Him,
and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him.
Yes! Omein!
8“I am the Alef and the Tav,”[8a] says Yehovah,[GN]
God of heaven’s armies,
the one Who is, Who was and Who is coming.[8b]
C. Yeshua among the Seven Messianic Communities (1:9–20)
9I Yochanan, your brother and your partner in persecution, in the Kingdom, and in patient endurance in Messiah Yeshua, was[9] on the isle that is called Patmos because of God’s Word and the testimony of Yeshua the Messiah. 10In the Spirit I was in the Day of Yehovah,[10a] and I heard behind me a loud voice, like a shofar[10b] 11saying,[11a] “What you see, write in a book and send to the seven Messianic Communities:[11b] to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
12I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. Having turned, I saw seven golden menorahs. 13And among the lamp stands was one like a Son of Man,[13a] clothed with a robe reaching down to his feet, and with a golden sash around his chest.[13b] 14His head and his hair were white as white wool, like snow.[14] His eyes were like a flame of fire.[14b] 15His feet were like burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace. His voice was like the voice of many waters. 16He had seven stars in his right hand. Out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword.[16] His face was like the sun shining at its brightest. 17When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man.
He laid his right hand on me, saying, “Don’t be afraid. I am the First and the Last, 18and the Living One. I was dead, and hinneh, I am alive forever and ever. Omein![18a] I have the keys of Death and of Sheol.[18b] 19Write therefore the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will happen hereafter.[19] 20The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden menorahs is this: The seven stars are the angels (pastors?)[20] of the seven Messianic Communities. The seven menorahs are seven Messianic Communities.
Other commentaries on Revelation 1
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
Pulpit Commentary
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
Digging DeeperNaked Bible 353: Rev 1:4 Dec 7, 2020 Listen to the discussion | Duration: 43:35 | Download the transcript Our series on the Old Testament in the book of Revelation opens with Rev 1:4a, where we find the phrase “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” The phrase is repeated in Rev 1:8 where parts of it are defined in an important way. Scholars are in general agreement that John gets the phrase from the Septuagint (LXX) Exod 3:14, but that verse accounts for only one-third of John’s wording. Where does the remainder come from? Why would John draw on Exod 3:14? What point was he trying to make? |
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Digging Deeper Naked Bible 354: Rev 1:4-6 Dec 12, 2020 Listen to the discussion | Duration: 1:03:51 | Download the transcript This episode continues our series on John’s use of the Old Testament in the book of Revelation. We resume with material in Rev 1:4 not covered in the previous episode and move the discussion into verses 5-6. What is the relationship of the seven churches to the seven spirits before God’s throne? How do they relate to the seven lampstands and stars in verses 12-16? What passages from the Old Testament is John alluding to and why? |
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Digging Deeper Naked Bible 355: Rev 1:7-20 Dec 20, 2020 Listen to the discussion | Duration: 1:03:51 | Download the transcript This episode in our series on John’s use of the Old Testament in the book of Revelation looks at Rev 1:7-20. In these verses John repurposes the divine council scene in Daniel 7, specifically the descriptions of the Ancient of Days and the Son of man. He also takes readers to Isaiah 11 and 49 and Zechariah 4. John seeks to remind his readers that Jesus is the risen divine warrior, God in flesh, risen and victorious on their behalf. |
1a. The Greek word behind the English word “Revelation” is ἀποκάλυψις (apokaloopsis), apocalypse, which simply means a revealing or disclosure of truth and instruction concerning things previously unknown. The vision “reveals” the Glory (Shekinah) of Yeshua HaMashiach that was temporarily hidden or “veiled” during the time He “Tabernaled among us” (the Hebrew behind John 1:14). The vision also discloses information about the End Days that was previously unknown, and provides us with instructions on how to prepare ourselves for that event. Since He is telling us how to prepare, it seems apparent that this is something that we will experience. Because of the events Yochanan describes in his vision, the English word apocalypse has taken on the idea of an event involving destruction or damage on an awesome or catastrophic scale, or the expectation of an imminent cosmic cataclysm, and is sometimes used interchangeably with “Armageddon.” This has led to a lot of theological and doctrinal error, particularly in the Gentile Church. [BACK]
1b. “God” translates the Hebrew word אֱלֹהִ֑ים ('Elohim). [BACK]
1c. Mashiach, Hebrew מָשִׁיחַ, anointed. When used with the definite article “the” (Hebrew “ha”) it is “The Anointed One.” The Jews anointed three classes of people: prophets, priests, and kings. Since Yeshua eternally functions in all three offices, He is The Mashiach. [BACK]
1d. Notice the immediacy. These things are to happen very soon, not in two thousand years! [BACK]
1e. Angel: Greek ἄγγελος, (angelos); Hebrew מַלְאָ֥ךְ, (mal'ak); a messenger, an envoy, one who is sent; a proclaimer; a messenger from God; sometimes that “messenger” is the pastor/teacher who serves as God’s messenger to His people. [BACK]
2. The events of the Book of Revelation are not in chronological order. They are in the order of what John saw. John saw bits and pieces of the events that had already happened in John’s past, events that were happening in John’s present, and events that would be happening soon in John’s future (not necessarily in our future). See verse 19. [BACK]
3a. Reader and hearers. “Hear” — Hebrew שְׁמַ֖ע (shamà), Greek ἀκούω (akouo) means not just perceive with the ear the sound of the words being spoken, but to attend to, consider what is or has been said, to comprehend, to understand, to hear with attention or interest, to be obedient to what is said. Thus, the blessing which follows to those who obey these words. This letter was obviously intended to be circulated among the Messianic Communities, particularly those in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey), and read aloud in the synagogues. Today’s churches and Messianic synagogues are missing a great blessing if they do not read and study this letter in their assemblies. [BACK]
3b. God promises a special blessing — not fear — for both those who read and those who listen to what is written in this book, provided they also obey those things written. Since God promises a blessing for both readers and hearers, He obviously intended for it to be read, taught, and obeyed in our assemblies, not avoided out of irrational fear. If we are to obey, it logically follows that we are about to be given instructions that we are expected to follow. Believers should not fear the events described, but are rather to obey the instructions by preparing for those events through our faith in Yeshua! (Watch Rabbi Dr. Robitshek’s message.) Don’t be expecting to escape this time in history, but have faith in Him Who will bring you through to the end and to your eternal reward. There are those who claim that an apostate “Gentile Church” will be caught up in the air and escape this period of history while “the Jews who killed the Lord” will be left to suffer. This is a relatively new and terribly antisemitic teaching that was developed in the mid-19th century and which cannot be supported without taking Scripture out of context. See “Is the ‘Rapture’ for Real?” [BACK]
3c. “The time is near.” Believers have been saying that the End Times are “at hand” for two thousand years. They say, “Where is this promised ‘coming’ of His? For our fathers have died, and everything goes on just as it has since the beginning of creation.” (2Pet 3:4) What most forget is that we are here referring to HaShem’s timing, not man’s timing. “Dear friends, do not ignore this: with the Lord, one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day.” (2Pet 3:8) From HaShem’ perspective, this vision was delivered to Yochanan only two days ago! However, if this letter was written just a few years before the Temple was destroyed, as I believe it probably was, then the destruction of the Temple, the Levitical system, the capital city, the nation, and the very identity of the Jewish people was literally at hand. [BACK]
4. The seven Messianic Communities in Asia
Minor. Notice their proximity to Patmos and to each other. These were very likely
seven Communities with whom Yochanan had served during the “active” years of his
ministry and maintained constant contact during his exile on Patmos.
[BACK]
7. Hinneh, behold: Hebrew הִנֵּה; Greek ἰδού (idou); “Look! Pay close attention, because this is really important.” Likewise v. 18. [BACK]
8a. The first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The Greek text uses “Alpha and Omega,” the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Textus Receptus (TR) adds “the Beginning and the End” as an explanation. There are two possibilities how this occurred. Perhaps it was intentionally inserted into the text by Erasmus, or it could have been a copyist marginal notation that was later inadvertently added to the text. [BACK]
8b. Notice that when Messiah returns, it is Yehovah who is returning! [BACK]
9. Notice this is it the past tense. This letter was not written from Patmos, but after John was released and returned to his pastoral role among the Messianic Communities of Asia Minor, probably at Ephesus. [BACK]
10a. There is a problem with the traditional translation, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day…” Only in this verse, the phrase י֣וֹם יְהוָֹה, “Yom (Day) of Yehovah,” is translated in most English Bibles as “the Lord’s Day,” most certainly suggesting Sunday to most Gentile Christians. This is the only place in all of Scripture that the Hebrew phrase י֣וֹם (yom) יְהוָֹה (Yehovah) or Greek ἡμέρᾳ (hēmera) κυριακῇ (Kyriakē) is ever translated as “Lord’s Day.” In every other instance, the phrase is translated in Christian Bibles as “Day of the LORD,” clearly referring to the time that the wrath of Yehovah will be poured out upon the Gentile nations.
The apparent intent of the Christian translators is to indicate Sunday, to lend support to the false idea that early Messianic Believers abandoned God’s Sabbath and met for worship on Sunday instead.
There is absolutely no indication anywhere in all of the Apostolic Writing that HaShem changed His mind and moved the designated day of worship from Shabbat, the seventh day, to the first day of the week [read that discussion here and here], or that Messianic Believers ever established Sunday as “the Lord’s Day” in honor of the Resurrection of Yeshua. A careful reading of the Resurrection text clearly indicates that Yeshua was actually resurrected in the final hours of Shabbat (Saturday evening immediately after sunset) rather than on Sunday morning as the Church teaches. [Read that discussion here.]
See the following passages: Isa. 13:6, Isa. 13:9, Lam. 2:22, Ezek. 13:5, Joel 1:15, Joel 2:1, Joel 2:11, Joel 2:30-31, Joel 3:14, Amos 5:20, Obad. 1:15, Zeph. 1:7-8, Zeph. 1:14-18, Zeph. 2:2-3, Mal. 4:5, Acts 2:20, 1Cor. 5:5, 1Thess. 5:1-2, 2Thess. 2:2, 2Pet. 3:10.
When read in the context of the entire letter, it is abundantly clear that Yochanan’s vision did not occur on a Sunday, but rather his vision placed him in “the day of the Yehovah’s wrath” (Zeph. 1:18). [BACK]
10b. A shofar is ram’s-horn trumpet used by
ancient and modern Jews in religious ceremonies and as a battle signal.
[BACK]
11a. English Bibles based on the TR add the phrase “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last.” See note 8a. [BACK]
11b. TR adds “which are in Asia” [BACK]
13a. Daniel 7:13 [BACK]
13b. These are the garments of a judge. When Yeshua returns it will not be as the Baby in a manger or as a Suffering Servant. He is returning as the Judge of all creation and as the reigning King of Kings. And He is furious at the nations who have abused His Bride, Israel! [BACK]
14a. White hair is the symbol of knowledge and wisdom. [BACK]
14b. He is returning to wreak vengeance upon the nations who have abused His beloved Bride, Israel. See Isa. 34:8; Isa. 61:2; Jer. 46:10.
For that day belongs to the Lord GOD
[יְהוָֹה, YeHoVaH] of Hosts,
A day of vengeance, so as to avenge Himself on His foes;
And the sword will devour and be satiated
And drink its fill of their blood;
For there will be a slaughter for the Lord GOD of Hosts,
In the land of the north by the river Euphrates.
(Jeremiah 46:10,
NASB95)
[BACK]
16. Is His “sword” the Word of God? Hebrews 4:12. [BACK]
18a. TR adds Omein, Gk. Ἀμήν (Amēn); Heb. אָמֵ֕ן (’ā·mên); trustworthy, verily, truly; Truth! [BACK]
18b. Sheol (Hebrew שְׁאוֹל) is the dwelling place of the dead, not hell. The Greek equivalent is ᾍδης (Hades), which is likewise not to be confused with the place of eternal punshment, γέεννα (Gehenna) or “Gehenna of fire.” Gehenna was originally Gei-Hinnom, the valley of Hinnom, south of Yerushalayim, where the filth and dead animals of the city were cast out and burned; a fit symbol of the wicked and their future destruction. Unfortunately, most English translations inaccurately render both words as “hell.” [BACK]
19. The vision has three sections: (1) “the things which you have seen,” that is, events in John’s past; and (2) “the things which are,” events happening in John’s present; and (3) “the things which will happen hereafter,” events in John’s future. We therefore know that part of the vision was fulfilled before John was on Patmos, part of the vision was fulfilled during his lifetime, and part was yet to be fulfilled in John’s fufure. [BACK]
20. The “angel” (Greek ἄγγελος, angelos, messenger, proclaimer) of a community very probably refers to the rabbi/pastor of that community. True rabbis and pastors should take great comfort in knowing that they are being held in Yeshua’s right hand, His hand of power. [BACK]
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ANXIOUSLY WATCHING FOR MASHIACH’S RETURN,
SPEEDILY AND IN OUR DAY. MARANA, TA!
