VERSE 1 “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John.”

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him

“The introductory words of this prophecy have unusual force and character. At the very outset God is identified as the author of this book. Although it does say “the Revelation of Jesus Christ,” note the qualifying clause “which God gave unto him.” Jesus’ role is that of the revelator.”

To show His servants—things which must shortly [begin to] take place.

The title of this last book of the Bible, “Revelation,” comes from the Greek word apokalupto, signifying an uncovering or revealing. God provided these revelations to enlighten His covenant (consecrated) people on things needful and helpful for them to know. Designed to be gradually revealed and progressively understood by the Lord’s people, the Book of Revelation concerns the earthly experience and pilgrimage of the nominal (or professing) Church as prophetically seen and portrayed throughout the Gospel Age, a period of almost two thousand years. Prior to his death, Jesus instructed his disciples to both anticipate and be on the alert for information of this very nature pertaining to “things to come” (John 14:16–18; 16:12–15).

The extent to which Divine Providence in the past has permitted a measure of odium or indifference to attach itself to the investigation of the Book of Revelation has merely served to enhance its value. By covering these truths in symbolic and dark sayings, as well as by permitting contempt or ridicule, God has purposely obscured the subject to all but the class for whom it was intended, thus hindering the worldly-wise (or nominal professor) from apprehending it (Matt. 11:25).

And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John

God sent and signified this message (transmitted it in His own secret code language of signs, symbols, and visions to prevent any untimely disclosure of its mysteries) through His angel Jesus, the messenger of the covenant, unto His servant the Apostle John (Mal. 3:1; Heb. 1:1,2; Rev. 5:9; 20:1,2; 22:6,7).

Some brethren as here suggested by Brother Shallieu are inclined to imagine the “angel” (or messenger) spoken of here is the Lord Jesus himself, on the surface this seems to makes sense, viz.

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him (Jesus) to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He (God) sent and signified it by His angel (His Chief messenger, our Lord Jesus Christ) to His servant John, who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.”

However if can be seen another way too, viz.

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him (Jesus) to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He (Jesus) sent and signified it by His angel (His messenger, most likely Gabriel) to His servant John, who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.”

This second thought appears to be supported by our Lord’s concluding remarks made in Rev 22:16 viz.

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you these things in the churches…”

VERSE 2 “Who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.”

Here, again, is a reminder that God is the author of the Book of Revelation, “the word of God.” Jesus (as suggested by Brother Shallieu), as the revelator, dictated or testified the message to John in an audible manner. John, in turn, acted as recording stenographer and faithfully “bare record” of the message, which he transcribed into writing.

VERSE 3 “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.”

“Although it has been generally understood that a blessing will attend those who reverently examine and obey (“keep”) the things written in the Book of Revelation, a further and deeper meaning is alluded to in the words

“Blessed is he [singular] that reads [aloud], and they [plural] that hear the words of this prophecy [read aloud].”

This text is a picture of or reference to a common practice in the apostles’ day, namely, the Sabbath-day reading of the Law in the synagogues (Matt. 4:23; Mark 1:21,22; Luke 4:14–21; Acts 15:21). According to custom an individual appointed as scribe or reader was given portions of the Torah to read in a clear, audible voice to the congregation in the synagogue; in addition, he could expound upon these excerpts. The Master and his apostles frequently utilized this privilege to preach the glad tidings of the coming Kingdom.

Verse 3, therefore, implies that just as God in olden times appointed or “raised up” various individuals as His mouthpieces, such as the prophets in the former Jewish dispensation, so likewise during the Gospel Age He would provide some apostles, some prophets, and some evangelists for the perfecting of the saints and for the edifying of the body members of Christ (Eph. 4:11, 12). Subsequent verses will show that God has appointed seven readers to the nominal Church throughout the Gospel Age—one servant for each of the seven periods of the Church’s development. These seven individuals, used by God as special stewards or mouthpieces, have the more honorable office and the more blessed experience. Also blessed are those who come within range of the voice of these readers (within range of the message of the one doing the reading or interpreting of God’s communication for each of these respective periods). God has used these servants to declare dispensational truths appropriate to time and place, “meat in due season,” for the household of faith (Psa. 145:15).

Divine truth is found in divinely appointed channels; sense is derived by realizing that God is the author, Jesus Christ is the revelator, the Apostle John is the recording stenographer, and the seven messengers are the favored readers or expounders of the message to the hearing Church (Verse 20). Verse 3 signifies that the commencement of events about to be depicted was concurrent and had already been set in motion; fulfillment’s began in the days of the apostles and continue to this day.”

Verses 4 to 6 serve as a greeting or salutation.

We will continue with Verse 4 in our next post.