BOOK 66 OF 66 · PROPHECY · KING JAMES BIBLE

Revelation 1

Revelation book home•Chapter 1 of 22•20 verses

Chapter overviewAt a glance + deeper study

REVIEWED OVERVIEW

Revelation 1 Overview

John receives the Revelation of Jesus Christ while exiled on Patmos. The book blesses those who read, hear, and keep its words, announces Christ’s coming with clouds, and presents the risen Lord in overwhelming glory among seven golden candlesticks. Jesus identifies Himself as the First and the Last, the One who was dead and is alive for evermore, and interprets the seven stars and candlesticks.

RevelationBook

1Chapter

20Verses

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Before you read Revelation 1

Coming from

Jude closes by urging believers to contend for the faith while resting in God’s power to keep and present His people faultless.

In this chapter

Leads into

Jesus addresses Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, and Thyatira. He commends perseverance, suffering, faithfulness, service, and love where present, but rebukes loss of first love, doctrinal compromise, idolatry, fornication, and toleration of corrupt teaching. Each church hears a specific call to overcome and to hear what the Spirit says.

Key understandingExplore deeper

The book opens by calling itself revelation, not concealment. Symbolism should be interpreted from Scripture, especially where the text itself gives meanings.

Jesus explicitly interprets the seven stars as angels/messengers of the seven churches and the seven candlesticks as the seven churches.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Jesus Christ is the center of the revelation

The vision begins with His glory, authority, death, resurrection, and coming.

Christ is present among His churches

He walks among the seven candlesticks.

The risen Christ has authority over death

He holds the keys of hell and death.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Daniel 7:13

The Son of man coming with clouds stands behind Revelation’s opening imagery.

Daniel 10:5–6

John’s vision of the glorious figure echoes Daniel’s heavenly vision.

Matthew 24:30

Jesus also speaks of the Son of man coming in the clouds with power and glory.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not treat every symbol as undefined

The chapter itself interprets major symbols.

Do not reduce Revelation to future events only

The book begins with real first-century churches and present exhortation.

Do not miss the deity and resurrection glory of Christ

He shares divine titles and declares Himself alive forevermore.

Read Revelation 1 watching for…

The book’s stated source and purpose.

The blessing on readers and hearers.

Christ coming with clouds.

The details of the Son of man vision.

The interpreted stars and candlesticks.

Chapter outline5 sections

1-3The revelation is given to John, and blessing is promised to those who read, hear, and keep its words 4-8John greets the seven churches and praises Jesus Christ, who is coming with clouds 9-11John on Patmos hears a great voice telling him to write to the seven churches 12-16John sees one like the Son of man standing among seven golden candlesticks 17-20Jesus tells John not to fear, declares himself alive for evermore, and explains the stars and candlesticks

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

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.

John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

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Revelation 1:5

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