Revelation 1:1-A The Revelation of Jesus Christ, Which God Gave unto Him, To Show unto His Servants

Revelation 1:1-A TheGreat Revelation to God’s Servants

Revelation 1:1-A
I.            The Great Revelation to God’s Servants, 1:1–8
A.    The Great Revelation, 1:1–3
1.      The Revelation was given by Christ Himself 2.      The Revelation concerns things that must soon take place 3.      The Revelation was given to John	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:
a)      It was given by an angel b)      It was accurately reported by John	2 Who bare record of the Word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
4.      The Revelation blesses the man who reads, hears, & obeys the message	3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.[1]

Revelation was given by Christ Himself (1.a.).

The first chapter of Revelation is mostly introductory to the entire book. This is the introduction of the introduction of the book. It gives such things as the plan and purpose of the book, who was the writer, to whom it was written, and what its major theme is.^[2] 

Moreover, the book of Revelation unveils Christ’s full identity and God’s plan for the end of the world, as its focus is on Jesus Christ, His second coming, His victory over evil, and the establishment of His kingdom. As you read and study Revelation, don’t focus so much on the timetable of the events or the details of John’s imagery that you miss the main message—the infinite love, power, and justice of our Lord Jesus Christ.^[3] 

The Plan in the Preface (Revelation 1:1)

The plan of the book of Revelation is given in capsule form here in the first few words of the book.

• The subject in the plan. “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 1:1). This is not a revelation of Saint John the Divine which is the title used in many Bibles. It was a revelation TO the Apostle John OF Jesus Christ. One who reads this book knows that the book is compiled of the events that come in the end times. But all the events are related to the vindication and glory of Jesus Christ. He is the prominent One. “The book of the Revelation, above all other books, directs our whole being to the one grand Person of history, the preeminent and peerless Christ” (Strauss). So, the book is a revelation OF Him.^[4] 

This is the Great Revelation of Jesus Christ. The word “revelation” (apokalupsis) means to uncover and unveil, from which the word “apocalypse” is derived.^[5] It means to pull back a covering or a veil that is hiding something. It means to make known something; to reveal something that a person could not find out for himself. It is a revelation of truth that man could never discover for himself. This is what the book of Revelation is: it is the great Revelation of Jesus Christ to His servants or followers. This means a most wonderful fact: it means that there are some things that God wants us to know, some things that we could never know if we were left on our own. It means that God cares about us and that He loves us enough to reveal some things to us. And note: God cares so much for us that He has revealed a whole book of events to us. What are these events? They are events or truths that lie out in the future, which concern the end of the world.^[6] 

The Revelation was given by Jesus Christ Himself. Jesus Christ is the Author of The Revelation. But note: it was given to Jesus Christ by God the Father. When Jesus Christ was upon the earth, He said the following about His return and the end of the world: 

V  “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father” (Mk. 13:32). 

However, when Jesus Christ ascended into heaven, God the Father revealed these things to Christ. This is significant, for it means that the things we are about to learn did not come from man, but from God Himself. The Revelation concerns things that God Himself wants us to know; therefore, He gave them to His Son and His Son has now revealed some of the things to us. 

Thought 1. This is a stark contrast from the prophets, soothsayers, astrologers, and religionists of the world. Think of the thousands and thousands of self-proclaimed prophets and religionists upon earth. Each claims to know about God and to have some revelation from Him. But here in the Bible, in the very Word of God itself, is a whole book that has come from the Son of God, a whole book that He Himself has authored. The book concerns some very special things that God wants us to know. What are the things? This is the subject of the next point. 

V  “I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him” (Jn. 8:26).

V  “For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak” (Jn. 12:49).

V  “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you” (Jn. 15:15).

V  “For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me” (Jn. 17:8).^[7] 

THE NAME GIVEN TO THE BOOK

“The Revelation (ἀποκαλύψις¹⁰).” At the forefront of the book, is its statement. It declares itself to be nothing less than the disclosure of what was behind a veil, and so invisible to mortal sight until the veil was drawn aside and unseen things were thereby disclosed. That there are other realms than our globe, peopled with moral and spiritual beings, is, again and again, declared in Scripture; that there are mysterious forces of good and of evil in the distant places of creation is also told us. That there is many a contest over man in these far-off realms; that there is a Divine Being who watches over the conflict, and who will “bring forth judgment unto victory;” that the theatre on which the issue is to be fought out is this globe; and that at the consummation the direst enemies of the world and of man will be put to an utter shame;—all this could no philosophy forecast, nor any science teach; all this lies behind an impenetrable veil. If we are to know these things, they must be revealed to us, and this can be done only by our God! Note: As this is declared at the outset concerning this book, as it must be regarded; until its claims are disproved, they should be reverently accepted.^[8] 

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, Which God Gave unto Him, To Show unto His Servants.

Prayer: Father God, thank you for revealing your plans for your and our future. We thank you and praise you that we are a part of your plans. We praise you that we are not to be judged and condemned to the flames of hell for all eternity only because of your love, grace, and mercy, not because of anything we have done or could ever do. We do not deserve any mercy; we deserve judgment, as the unveiling in your book that Christ gave us to read and understand tells us. Thank you, Father God, that we can plan and prepare for your soon return to take us home, your church, the body of believers to be with you in glory. We look forward to that day soon, and we pray for that day to come quickly. However, Father God, we also recognize the awesome, terrible day that it will be when you come to judge the world, and we do not want to see the many souls on this planet destroyed for lack of not knowing you. We want to see everyone come to faith and believe in you for their salvation, but sadly we know not everyone will. Thus, Father God, we beg you for continued opportunities to share your Word, your love, grace, and mercy so that many will come to faith and escape the coming judgment. Help us, Father, to remain faithful as we walk in this dark world. Help us, Father, to trust you to live out the rest of our days to the best of your abilities that reside in each of us your children. All praise, honor, and glory belong to you, Father God; in Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

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Revelation 1:1-A The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants

Pic 1, by Relentless Jess, Anchorage, Alaska 

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^[1] Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 1996. Revelation. The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.

^[2] Butler, John G. 2010. Analytical Bible Expositor: Revelation. Clinton, IA: LBC Publications.

^[3] Barton, Bruce B. 2000. Revelation. Edited by Grant R. Osborne. Life Application Bible Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

^[4] Butler, John G. 2010. Analytical Bible Expositor: Revelation. Clinton, IA: LBC Publications.

^[5] Barton, Bruce B. 2000. Revelation. Edited by Grant R. Osborne. Life Application Bible Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

^[6] Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 1996. Revelation. The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.

^[7] Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 1996. Revelation. The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.

¹⁰ See Grimm’s ‘New Testament Lexicon’ on this word (Dr. Thayer’s edit.,1888).

^[8] Spence-Jones, H. D. M., ed. 1909. Revelation. The Pulpit Commentary. London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company.