Bullet Point Bible - Revelation 1

Prologue: The Revelation's Source and Blessing

¹ The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must happen very soon. He made it clear by sending his angel to his servant John,² who then testified to everything that he saw concerning the word of God and the testimony about Jesus Christ.³ Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy aloud, and blessed are those who hear and obey the things written in it, because the time is near!

The book's title, "Revelation" (Greek: *apokalypsis*), means an unveiling or disclosure of something hidden.
The ultimate source of the revelation is God the Father, mediated through Jesus Christ, an angel, and finally John. Revelation 1:1
The intended recipients are God's "servants," indicating believers.
The phrase "what must happen very soon" emphasizes the imminence of the events described, a common feature in apocalyptic literature. Revelation 1:1
John acts as a faithful witness, testifying to what he saw, specifically identified as "the word of God and the testimony about Jesus Christ." Revelation 1:2
A unique blessing (beatitude) is pronounced on those who publicly read, hear, and obey the prophecy. This highlights the book's practical and liturgical purpose in the early church. Revelation 1:3
The urgency is reiterated: "because the time is near!" This likely refers to the culmination of God's plan. Revelation 1:3
This prologue establishes the divine authority and importance of the book's message.

Greeting to the Seven Churches and Doxology

⁴ From John, to the seven churches that are in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from "he who is," and who was, and who is still to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,⁵ and from Jesus Christ-the faithful witness, the firstborn from among the dead, the ruler over the kings of the earth. To the one who loves us and has set us free from our sins at the cost of his own blood⁶ and has appointed us as a kingdom, as priests serving his God and Father-to him be the glory and the power for ever and ever! Amen.⁷ (Look! He is returning with the clouds ,⁷ and everyeye will see him,⁷ eventhose who pierced him ,⁷ and all the tribes on the earth will mourn because of him.⁷ This will certainly come to pass! Amen.)⁸ "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God-the one who is, and who was, and who is still to come-the All-Powerful!

John addresses seven specific churches in the Roman province of Asia (modern-day western Turkey). Revelation 1:4
The greeting "Grace and peace" combines standard Greek and Hebrew salutations, rooted in God's favor. Revelation 1:4
The source of grace and peace is triune: God the Father ("{{he who is, and who was, and who is still to come}}"), the "seven spirits" (likely representing the Holy Spirit in fullness, cf. Isaiah 11:2, or possibly chief angels), and Jesus Christ. Revelation 1:4-5
Jesus Christ is described with three key titles: "the faithful witness" (confirming his testimony), "the firstborn from among the dead" (signifying his resurrection and preeminence), and "the ruler over the kings of the earth" (asserting his ultimate authority). Revelation 1:5
A doxology praises Jesus for His love, redemption ("{{set us free from our sins at the cost of his own blood}}"), and establishing believers as a "kingdom" and "priests." Revelation 1:5-6
Verse 7 quotes/alludes to Daniel 7:13 and Zechariah 12:10, foretelling Christ's visible, universal return and the world's reaction.
God the Father affirms His eternal nature and omnipotence using the title "{{Alpha and the Omega}}" (the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet) and reiterating the description from verse 4. Revelation 1:8
The title "Lord God... the All-Powerful" (Greek: *Pantokrator*) emphasizes God's sovereign control over all things. Revelation 1:8

John's Vision Begins on Patmos

⁹ I, John, your brother and the one who shares with you in the persecution, kingdom, and endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony about Jesus.¹⁰ I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day when I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,¹¹ saying: "Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches-to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea."

John identifies himself not primarily as an apostle, but as a "brother" sharing in the common Christian experience of suffering ("persecution"), future hope ("kingdom"), and present perseverance ("endurance"). Revelation 1:9
His location, Patmos, was a small Aegean island used by Rome for exile, likely due to his Christian witness ("{{because of the word of God and the testimony about Jesus}}"). Revelation 1:9
"In the Spirit" describes a state of spiritual ecstasy or prophetic trance necessary for receiving divine revelation. Revelation 1:10
The "Lord's Day" most likely refers to Sunday, the day Christians gathered for worship, commemorating Jesus' resurrection. Revelation 1:10
The initial revelation was auditory: a "loud voice like a trumpet," signifying clarity, authority, and importance. Revelation 1:10
The voice (later identified as Christ's) commands John to record the vision and send it to the seven specific churches previously mentioned. Revelation 1:11
These seven churches were located along a major Roman postal route in Asia Minor.

Vision of the Glorified Son of Man

¹² I turned to see whose voice was speaking to me, and when I did so, I saw seven golden lampstands,¹³ and in the midst of the lampstands was one likea son of man . He was dressed in a robe extending down to his feet and he wore a wide golden belt around his chest.¹⁴ His head and hair were as white as wool, even as white as snow, and his eyes were like a fiery flame.¹⁵ His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters.¹⁶ He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp double-edged sword extended out of his mouth. His face shone like the sun shining at full strength.

John turns and sees "seven golden lampstands," later identified as symbols for the seven churches (Revelation 1:20).
Standing among the lampstands is a figure "like a son of man," a title Jesus used for himself, drawn from Daniel 7:13, signifying both humanity and divine authority. Revelation 1:13
The figure's attire—a long robe and golden belt—suggests priestly and royal status. Revelation 1:13
His features evoke divine attributes seen in Old Testament theophanies (divine appearances): white hair like the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:9) signifies purity and eternal wisdom; fiery eyes suggest penetrating insight and judgment. Revelation 1:14
Polished bronze feet indicate stability and judgment (refined by fire); a voice like many waters conveys immense power and authority. Revelation 1:15
He holds "seven stars" (the angels/messengers of the churches, Revelation 1:20) in his right hand, symbolizing his control and care over them. Revelation 1:16
The "sharp double-edged sword" from his mouth represents the power and judgment of God's Word (cf. Hebrews 4:12, Ephesians 6:17). Revelation 1:16
His face shining like the sun depicts overwhelming divine glory and majesty (cf. Matthew 17:2). Revelation 1:16
This composite image portrays the glorified Christ in his role as Lord, Judge, Priest, and sustainer of the Church.

Christ's Commission to John

¹⁷ When I saw him I fell down at his feet as though I were dead, but he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid! I am the first and the last,¹⁸ and the one who lives! I was dead, but look, now I am alive-forever and ever-and I hold the keys of death and of Hades!¹⁹ Therefore write what you saw, what is, and what will be after these things.²⁰ The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

John's reaction to the vision—falling down "as though dead"—is a typical human response to overwhelming divine glory (cf. Daniel 8:17, 10:9; Ezekiel 1:28). Revelation 1:17
Jesus offers comfort and reassurance: "{{Do not be afraid!}}" followed by a declaration of His divine identity and authority. Revelation 1:17
He identifies Himself using titles associated with God in the Old Testament: "{{the first and the last}}" (cf. Isaiah 44:6, 48:12), signifying His eternality and sovereignty. Revelation 1:17
He emphasizes His victory over death: "{{I am the one who lives! I was dead, but look, now I am alive—forever and ever}}". Revelation 1:18
His authority extends even over the realm of the dead: "{{I hold the keys of death and of Hades!}}" (Hades being the Greek term for the underworld or realm of the dead). Revelation 1:18
The command to write is reiterated, specifying the content: past visions ("{{what you saw}}"), present realities ("{{what is}}", likely the state of the churches), and future events ("{{what will be after these things}}"). Revelation 1:19
Jesus Himself interprets the initial symbols: the seven stars are the "angels" (Greek: *angeloi*, meaning messengers, possibly referring to heavenly guardians or human leaders/messengers) of the churches, and the seven lampstands represent the churches themselves. Revelation 1:20
This interpretation establishes a pattern for the book: symbolic visions followed by divine explanation.
Christ's presence among the lampstands (churches) shows His intimate involvement and oversight of His people.

The Bullet Point Bible

Revelation 1