Revelation 1:9-20

The Prologue gives an account of the vision of the Son of Man, and the manner in which the messages to the seven churches came to the seer.

Revelation 1:9. John your brother: the term brother in the NT is used to signify fellow-Christian, the members of the same Christian community (cf. the phrase our brother Paul, 2 Peter 3:15; see Harnack, Mission and Expansion of Christianity 2, i. 405 f.). tribulation refers to the persecutions. The order of the words is significant, kingdom coming after tribulation and before patience, and reminds us of the words, Through much tribulation we must enter the kingdom (Acts 14:22). patience: i.e. patient endurance. We must not only enter the kingdom through the gate of tribulation, but we must maintain our place in the kingdom by patient endurance. Patmos: a small island off the coast of Asia Minor, about 15 miles from Ephesus. The wild scenery of Patmos and the neighbouring volcanic islands doubtless suggested some of the imagery in the book. for the word. and testimony: the obvious meaning is that John had been exiled to Patmos for preaching the Gospel.

Revelation 1:10. in the spirit: i.e. in a prophetic trance. on the Lord's day: i.e. the day consecrated to the Lord, the first day of the week, the day of the Resurrection (cf. Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2). as a trumpet: cf. Ezekiel 3:12.

Revelation 1:12. seven golden candlesticks: or lampstands; the imagery is suggested by Exodus 25:31; Zechariah 4:2.

Revelation 1:13. like a son of man: Daniel 7:13 *, but the phrase is misapplied here.

Revelation 1:14. his head, etc.: from the description of the Ancient of Days in Daniel 7:9.

Revelation 1:15. his eyes. his feet: from the description of the angel in Daniel 10:6. many waters: cf. Ezekiel 1:24; Ezekiel 43:2; Revelation 14:2.

Revelation 1:16. a two-edged sword: cf. Revelation 2:12; Revelation 2:16, Revelation 19:15. Compare also Hebrews 4:12. The whole description is thus made up of classical phrases mostly borrowed from the OT.

Revelation 1:17. the first, etc.: the same phrase is applied to God in Revelation 1:8 and Revelation 21:6. death and Hades: the two words stand for the same thing. Hades is the abode of the dead. For the combination, cf. Revelation 6:8, Revelation 20:13; to have the keys (Revelation 3:7 *) means to possess authority over.

Revelation 1:20. mystery: the inner meaning of a symbolical vision (2 Thessalonians 2:17 *). angels of the seven churches: The meaning of this expression has been much disputed. It has often been interpreted as referring to the presbyters or bishops of the churches. But this explanation is contrary to the invariable usage of the word in the book. The word occurs some sixty times, and always in the sense of a superhuman being employed in the service of God or Satan. The phrase can, therefore, only mean the guardian angels of the churches. The angels are represented as personifying the spirit and genius of the different churches, as in Dan. different angels personify the characteristics of different nations. [For connexion with the idea of the Fravashi, see note on Matthew 18:10. A. S. P.]