Revelation 1:1-9 NIV

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 1:6

And hath made us kings and priests unto God - In 1 Peter 2:9 the same idea is expressed by saying of Christians that they are “a royal priesthood.” See the notes on that verse. The quotation in both places is from Exodus 19:6; “And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests.” This idea is expressed here by saying that Christ had made us in fact kings and priests; that is, Christians are exalted to the dignity and are invested with the office, implied in these words. The word “kings,” as applied... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 1:7

Behold he cometh with clouds - That is, the Lord Jesus, when he returns, will come accompanied with clouds. This is in accordance with the uniform representation respecting the return of the Saviour. See the notes on Matthew 24:30. Compare Matthew 26:64; Mark 13:26; Mark 14:62; Acts 1:9, Acts 1:11. Clouds are appropriate symbols of majesty, and God is often represented as appearing in that manner. See Exodus 19:18; Psalms 18:11 ff; Isaiah 19:1. So, among the pagan, it was common to represent... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 1:8

I am Alpha and Omega - These are the first and the last letters of the Greek alphabet, and denote properly the first and the last. So in Revelation 22:13, where the two expressions are united, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” So in Revelation 1:17, the speaker says of himself, “I am the first and the last.” Among the Jewish rabbis it was common to use the first and the last letters of the Hebrew alphabet to denote the whole of anything, from beginning... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 1:9

I John, who also am your brother - Your Christian brother; who am a fellow-Christian with you. The reference here is doubtless to the members of the seven churches in Asia, to whom the epistles in the following chapters were addressed, and to whom the whole book seems to have been sent. In the previous verse, the writer had closed the salutation, and he here commences a description of the circumstances under which the vision appeared to him. He was in a lonely island, to which he had been... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 1:1

Revelation 1:1. The book opens with the title or inscription of the book itself, and an account of the scope and design of it, namely, to foretel things which should shortly begin to be fulfilled, and should succeed in their due season and order till all were accomplished. The Revelation Properly so called; for things covered before, are here revealed, or unveiled. No prophecy in the Old Testament has this title; it was reserved for this alone in the New. It is, as it were, a manifesto,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 1:2-3

Revelation 1:2-3. Who bare record of, or testified, the word of God That is, who, being honoured with so important a message, did not fail faithfully to declare it; and the testimony of Jesus That which Jesus, as the faithful and true Witness, appointed to be declared; and all things that he saw Was made acquainted with in such a manner as was attended with the fullest and most satisfactory evidences of their truth and importance. Blessed Μακαριος , happy; is he that readeth Some... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 1:4-6

Revelation 1:4-6. John The dedication of this book is contained in the 4th, 5th, and 6th verses; but the whole Revelation is a kind of letter. To the seven churches which are in Asia That part of the Lesser Asia, which was then a Roman province. There had been several other churches planted here; but it seems these were now the most eminent. And it was among these that St. John had laboured most during his abode in Asia. In these cities there were many Jews. Such of them as believed, in... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 1:7

Revelation 1:7. Behold In this and the next verse are the proposition and the summary of the whole book. He cometh Jesus Christ. Throughout this book, whenever it is said He cometh, it means his glorious coming. The preparation for this began at the destruction of Jerusalem, and more particularly at the time of writing this book, and goes on without any interruption, till that grand event is accomplished. Therefore it is never said in this book, He will come, but, He cometh. And yet... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 1:8

Revelation 1:8 . I am Alpha and Omega, saith the Lord Alpha is the first, Omega the last letter in the Greek alphabet. Let his enemies boast and rage ever so much in the intermediate time, yet he is both the Alpha, or beginning, and the Omega, or end, of all things. Grotius and Bengelius read, λεγει Κυριος ο θεος , saith the Lord God a reading with which the Vulgate accords, having, it seems, understood the verse as spoken by the Father. Accordingly Bengelius’s note is, “God is the ... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 1:9

Revelation 1:9. I John The instruction and preparation of the apostle for the work are described from the 9th to the 20th verse: your brother In the common faith: and companion in tribulation For the same book peculiarly belongs to those who are under the cross. It was given to a banished man; and men in affliction understand and relish it most. Accordingly, it was little esteemed by the Asiatic churches after the time of Constantine; but highly valued by all the African churches; as it... read more

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 1:6

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 1:7

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 1:8

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 1:9

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 1:1

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 1:2-3

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 1:4-6

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 1:7

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 1:8

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 1:9

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