Revelation 1:1-2 - Things Which Must Take Place

© 2003-2004 Tony Garland - contact@SpiritAndTruth.org

COURSE COMMENTARY

Background

• Background Preparation
  Necessary in order to appreciate the issues involved as we come to verse-by-verse exposition of the text. From this point onward, alternate views will receive less focus and exposition of the text will be the priority.
• Previous Lessons
  

  Study Resources	Familiarization with study aids available with this course.
  Introduction	Goals of the course, attacks upon the book, and how to approach the study of Revelation.
  Audience	Audience, purpose, and theme.
  Anti-supernatural Bias	Anti-supernatural bias of some interpreters, the style of writing, and the genre of Revelation.
  Authorship	Issues related to authorship.
  Canonization	Canonization and literary structure.
  Date	When was Revelation written?
  Symbols	How to interpret symbols.
  Interpretations	Systems of interpretation applied to Revelation.
  Related Passages	Passages and themes from other parts of the Bible.

1:1 - The Revelation

• Revelation = Apocalypsis = unveiling
  Revelation was written to reveal rather than conceal. From apocalupto : a compound of apo (away from) and kalupto (cover or hide). To remove a cover to reveal something. To unveil.
• Perspicuity of Scripture
  The clearness and lucidity of Scripture is its consistent theme (Deu. 29:29; Isa. 5:24; Mat. 11:25; 24:15; 2Ti. 3:16; 2Pe. 1:19).
• Revelation and Mystery
  Revelation is intended to unveil mystery. They are opposites (Rom. 16:25).

1:1 - of Jesus Christ

• Of Jesus Christ
  Is this the subjective or objective genitive? Is the verse saying the revelation is about Jesus or from Him?
  1) Jesus provides revelation (Gal. 1:12).
  2) Revelation is about Jesus (Rev. 1:11-18).
  3) Jesus reveals the Father in His incarnation (Heb. 1:1-2).
  Context favors Jesus as the source (subjective genitive).
• Revelation Initiated by God
  Biblical revelation is not by human insight, instruction, or discovery. These are things beyond finding out.
  Example: Peter's declaration of Jesus as "the Christ" (Mat. 16:17).
  The "veil is done away in Christ" (2Cor. 3:14).

1:1 - which God gave Him

• Did Jesus not Know?
  In the mystery of the incarnation, Jesus grew in wisdom, learned , and said, "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father" (Mark 13:32).
• Role Distinctions within the Trinity
  The members of the Trinity are equal but voluntarily occupy different roles (John 5:20-23; 1Cor. 15:28).

1:1 - to show His servants

• servants
  His servants (doulos ) are those who know Him, not unbelievers. Faith is required for spiritual revelation.

1:1 - must shortly take place

• must
  God's predictions are guaranteed to come to pass! (Mat. 26:54; John 10:35).
  That these things "must... take place " indicates they were predicted elsewhere in Scripture. See the lesson on Related Passages.
• shortly
  What does "shortly" mean in this context?
  1) Within the lifetimes of John's immediate readers?
  2) Events in distant future, but rapid once begin?
  3) Closeness in time from God's perspective, "imminent"? 

1:1 - imminency

• Imminency - What is it?
   "The quality or condition of being about to occur." 
  The coming of Jesus is an imminent event (Mat. 24:42-48; Luke 12:37-39; 1Th. 4:15-17).
• Motivation for Godly Living
  Ongoing expectation that the event is "about to happen!" 
  A motivation for godly living (2Pe. 3:10-14).
• The Tension between Certainty and Uncertainty
  1) The event is certain to take place (not "if" but "when").
  2) The timing is uncertain (may be immediate or delayed indefinitely).
  
   "Imminent" is the same as "soon" from a human perspective.
• Other Events cannot be known to Precede Imminent Events
  As soon as we say that some other non-imminent event must precede an imminent event, then imminency is destroyed!
  If the 70th week of Daniel (Dan. 9:27) or the Abomination of Desolation (Mat. 24:15) must precede the Rapture, then the Rapture is no longer "imminent" and the church should be watching for Antichrist instead of Christ!
• 'Soon' from God's Perspective
  Scriptures predict that scoffers will ridicule the eschatological understanding of "soon" as denoting imminency (2Pe. 3:1-10).
  God's delay is an indication of His great mercy .

1:1 - signified it

• Communication Utilizes Symbol or Analogy
  Communication by comparison and with the use of symbols. The word esemanen is used by John elsewhere to describe how Jesus described His death:
   "This He said, " signifying by what death He would die (John 12:33). Jesus used the symbol of Moses' serpent on the pole (see Num. 21:8) to communicate this truth.
• Golden Rule Still Applies
  This word does not indicate normative interpretation is to be jettisoned when interpreting Revelation. The symbols are either explained in the immediate context or in other passages ("Scripture interprets Scripture")
  See the lesson on Interpreting Symbols.
  
  

1:2 - word of God

• Evidence of John the Apostle as Author
  Referring to Jesus as the "word of God" is a characteristic of John (John 1:1; 1Jn. 1:1, 1:14; Rev. 1:2, 19:13).
  See the lesson on Authorship.

1:2 - testimony of Jesus

• Testimony born by Jesus
  The context (revelation which God gave Jesus to show ) argues for the subjective genitive.
• From Jesus about Jesus
  The "Spirit of Christ testified" to the prophets concerning "the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow" (1Pe. 1:11).
  
  For additional information on this topic, see the commentary.