twenty-four elders fall down before the One seated on the throne, and they worship Him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying: each of them was given a white robe and told to rest a little while longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers, were killed, just as they h i. The things which you have seen : This means that Jesus wanted John to write the things he had just seen in his vision of the glorious, heavenly Jesus.

I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and power forever and ever! Amen.up and strengthen what remains, which was about to die; for I have found your deeds incomplete in the sight of My God. b. For the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ : Most scholars assume that John was on Patmos because he was arrested and imprisoned in persecution from the Romans. This is probably the case, especially because John said that he is your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ . However, it is also possible that John was on Patmos as a missionary to the prisoners there.

ii. Some would say that we should not be concerned with prophecy, that it is a frivolous exercise – but if God was concerned enough to talk about it, we should be concerned enough to listen. “Some tell us that what is yet future ought not to be examined into till after it has come to pass. I can hardly realize that this is seriously meant.” (Seiss) c. And has made us kings and priests to His God and Father : This is status Jesus gives to those whom He loved in His work on the cross and who are washed… in His own blood . It would have been enough just to love them and cleanse them. But He goes far beyond, and makes us kings and priests to His God and Father . This is more than Adam ever was. Even in the innocence of Eden we never read of Adam among the kings and priests of God. This is worth praising Jesus about.i. Clarke on the phrase as of a trumpet : “This was calculated to call in every wandering thought, to fix his attention, and solemnize his whole frame.” iv. Jesus is the ruler over the kings . Before the Book of Revelation is over, Jesus will take dominion over every earthly king. At the present time, Jesus rules a kingdom, but it is a kingdom that is not yet of this world. b. Blessed is he who reads… and keep those things which are written in it : This promise gives more reasons to know John believed this book was Holy Scripture. First, the words he who reads and those who hear show that this book was intended to be read publicly, just as other books of accepted Scripture. Second, the promise of blessing itself shows that John regarded this book as Holy Scripture. In the Jewish world, such a blessing could never be pronounced on a merely human book. i. Brass is a metal connected with judgment and sacrifice. Israel’s altar of sacrifice was made of brass (Exodus 27:1-6), and it was called the “brazen altar.”

I looked and saw a white horse, and its rider held a bow. And he was given a crown, and he rode out to overcome and conquer.i. The idea of it coming out of His mouth is not that Jesus carries a sword in His teeth. The idea is that this sword is His word. His weapon – and ours also – is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17). I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.” A. The introduction and prologue to the Book of Revelation. 1. (1-2) The writer of the Book of Revelation.