THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST

Revelation 1:1 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,

Let's look at the Amplified for it says: (This is) the revelation of Jesus Christ (His unveiling of the divine mysteries). God gave it to Him to disclose and make known to His bond servants certain thing which must shortly and speedily come to pass in their entirety. And He sent and communicated it through His angel (messenger) to His bond servant John.

This word revelation is awesome! The word is "apokalupsis" in Greek, and means "laying bare, making naked, a disclosure of truth, instruction, concerning things before unknown, manifestation and appearance." It is also "used of events by which things or states or persons hitherto withdrawn from view are made visible to all."

The Lord has revealed Himself to us through His gospel! He is no longer the hidden Lord, but open and made known to all He chooses to reveal Himself.

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 1:7, "So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." This word "coming" is also "apokalupsis"! We see as we wait in the Lord's presence, He will begin to make Himself known to us! Paul wanted above all things to know His Lord.

"That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead" (Phil. 3:10-11).

So, revelation means to unveil, to pull the curtain back, and to see that which has always been there.

The apostle John is seeing things in his century mindset. An example would be if you were trying to explain to the apostle Paul an airplane. You would say it's like a bird, but not with flapping but stationary wings. Revelation is written in apocalyptic language or literature. This book is a revelation by and of Jesus. The phrase "must shortly take place" uses a word indicating rapid execution. The phrase in verse 3 tells us that Revelation was intended for public reading in congregations, a practice the early church adopted from the synagogue.

Revelation 1:1 - The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

Revelation is the Greek word "apokalypsis" which means: revelation, unveiling, uncovering, or manifestation. It is important to note that if something needs to be revealed, then it is hidden. This same word is used in Romans 8:19 concerning the sons of God; meaning that they are hidden.

Because it was signified (to be written or spoken in signs & symbols) the natural mind would not be able to comprehend what it was saying. It has to be revealed, uncovered by the Spirit of God. Only the mind that has the understanding of the keys can understand it. Just as the revelation came to Jesus and to John, so it is also coming to us today. It will be those that love Him, that love light rather than darkness, that will receive the impartation of the Spirit of God concerning the mystery, "Christ in you, the hope of glory" Col. 1:27. When He is through, He shall be our temple (Rev. 21:22).

Revelation is the only book that promises a blessing to those who will read, study, understand and apply the things that are written in it to their lives. There are seven blessings in Revelation including Rev. 1:3.

1. (Rev.1:3) Blessed is he that reads, and they that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written therein: for the time is at hand.

2. (Rev 14:13) And I heard a voice from Heaven saying to me, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they shall rest from their labors, and their works follow them.

3. (Rev 16:15) Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is the one who watches and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.

4. (Rev 19:9) And he said to me, Write, Blessed are those who have been called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me, These are the true sayings of God.

5. (Rev 20:6) Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. The second death has no authority over these, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him a thousand years.

6. (Rev 22:7) Behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he who keeps the Words of the prophecy of this Book.

7. (Rev 22:14) Blessed are they who do His commandments, that their authority will be over the Tree of Life, and they may enter in by the gates into the city.

In saying that, there are many who believe the Book of Revelation is too complicated or difficult. Some are fearful and intimidated with the rhetoric and flood of misinformation that has come from some of the scholars of this book. This overflow of propaganda has kept the human family fearful of reading the Book of Revelation.

Again the fact is it is the Scripture’s only book that declares a built in blessing to those who read it and understand it. The Hebrew understanding of blessing is empowerment to prosper, succeed, obtain objectives and goals, to have more than enough, to enjoy protection, and to enjoy length of days and life.