Revelation 1:3

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. HE THAT READETH, AND THEY THAT HEAR, [ ho (G3588) anaginooskoon (G314)] - the public reader in church assemblies, and his hearers. Firstly, he by whom John sent the book, from Patmos to the seven churches, read it publicly. A special blessing attends him who reads or hears the apocalyptic "prophecy" with a view to keeping the things (as one article combines 'they that hear and keep:' not two classes, but only one-`they who not only hear, but also keep those things,' Romans 2:13): even though he find not the key, he finds a stimu...

1-3 This book is the Revelation of Jesus Christ; the whole Bible is so; for all revelation comes through Christ, and all relates to him. Its principal subject is to discover the purposes of God concerning the affairs of the church, and of the nations as connected therewith, to the end of the world. These events would surely come to pass; and they would begin to come to pass very shortly. Though Christ is himself God, and has light and life in himself, yet, as Mediator between God and man, he receives instructions from the Father. To him we owe the knowledge of what we are to expect from God, and what he expects from us. The subject of this revelation was, the things that must shortly come to pass. On all who read or hear the words of the prophecy, a blessing is pronounced. Those are well employed who search the Bible. It is not enough that we read and hear, but we must keep the things t...

Verse Revelation 1:3. _BLESSED_ IS _HE THAT READETH_] This is to be understood of the happiness or security of the persons who, reading and hearing the prophecies of those things which were to come to pass shortly, took proper measures to escape from the impending evils. _THE TIME_ IS _AT HAND__._] Either in which they shall be all fulfilled, or _begin_ to be fulfilled. Revelation 1:1. These three verses contain the _introduction_; now the _dedication_ to the seven Churches commences....

BLESSED IS HE THAT READETH - That is, it is to be regarded as a privilege attended with many blessings, to be permitted to mark the disclosures to be made in this book; the important revelations respecting future times. Prof. Stuart supposes that this refers to a public reading, and that the phrase “those who hear the words of this prophecy,” refers to those who listened to the public reader, and that both the reader and hearer should regard themselves as highly favored. It is, however, more in accordance with the usual meaning of the word rendered “read,” to suppose that it refers to the act of one’s reading for himself; to learn by reading. So Robinson (Lexicon) understands it. The Greek word, indeed, would bear the other interpretation (see Luke 4:16; Acts 13:27;...

EXPOSITION THE TITLE. The simplest form of this, as of other books of the New Testament, is the oldest: 'The Revelation of John' (Αποκάλυψις Ιωάννου). Other forms worth noting are: 'The Revelation of John the Apostle and Evangelist;' 'The Revelation of the holy and most glorious Apostle and Evangelist, the virgin, the beloved, that leaned on the breast, John the Divine.' 'The divine' as a title for St. John, which is retained here in both the Authorized Version and the Revised Version, is certainly as old as Eusebius ('Praep. Evan.,' 11.18). Recent discoveries at Ephesus have shown that "divines" (θεολόγοι) was a title of the chief priests in the temple of Artemis at Ephesus. It is possible, but hardly probable, that this suggested the title for St. John. It probably points to his witness to the Divinity of the Logos or Word. Eusebius ('Hist. Eccl.,' III. 24.13) remarks that John omit...

BLESSED [IS] HE THAT READETH,.... This book the Revelation, privately, in his closet or family, carefully and diligently, with a desire of understanding it; or publicly in the church of God, and endeavours open and explain it to others; and may allude to the reading of the law and the prophets in the synagogues, which were not barely read, but expounded; see Acts 13:15; and the rather this may be thought to be the sense of the words, since there is a change of number in the next clause, AND THEY THAT HEAR THE WORDS OF THIS PROPHECY; that listen attentively to the reading and exposition of this book, and have ears to hear, so as to understand the prophecies contained in it: for the whole, when delivered to John, was a prophecy of things to come: but some versions read the number alike in both clauses; as either, "blessed is he that readeth, and he that heareth", as the Vulgate

Revelation 1:1. _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: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw._ John was one who was of the same spirit as his Master. He lived in very intimate communion with his Lord, and, therefore, to him the choicest revelations were made. The Lord does not reveal his secret to uncongenial minds. He that will do his will shall know of the doctrine, and he shall know all secret things. Oh! if we lived nearer to God, if we walked more in the love of Christ, how much more we might know and see; or, if we saw not visions, yet there are inward perceptions to the heart which God would grant us if we lived more in the light of his countenance....

ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS I. THE PATMOS VISION OF THE GLORIFIED SON OF MAN CHAPTER 1 _ 1. The introduction (Revelation 1:1)_ 2. Greeting and benediction (Revelation 1:4) 3. The praise (Revelation 1:6) 4. The testimony of the Almighty (Revelation 1:8) 5. John in Patmos (Revelation 1:9) 6. The vision of Christ in glory (Revelation 1:12) 7. The commission ...

I. THE SUPERSCRIPTION. Revelation 1:1. An introductory paragraph describing the purpose and contents of the book. REVELATION 1:1. REVELATION, _ i.e._ unveiling of the future. GOD GAVE HIM: the Son receives the revelation from the Father (_cf._ John 7:16). SHORTLY COME TO PASS: the writer expected a speedy fulfilment of the prophecies (_cf. Revelation 22:6_). ANGEL: the source of the prophecies in this book is God, who speaks through Christ, who speaks through the angel to His servant John (_cf._...

The opening scenes of Revelation are of the most striking character. Though the apostle is confined upon. lonely rock of the sea and is far away from the saints assembled in the name of Christ, yet be is "in the spirit" upon the Lord's day. This day, rendered sacred by the resurrection of the Savior, the day on which he appeared. second time, and upon which the wonderful scenes of Pentecost occurred, had been observed by the Church from its organization as. time set apart to congregational worship. John, though denied the privilege of joining in the exercises of. Christian assembly, evidently devoted the day to prayer and meditation, thereby setting an example for every lonely saint; and his soul was lifted to. spiritual exaltation that peculiarly fitted him for communion with God. While thus engaged, the silence and loneliness of Patmos were broken by the sound of. mighty voice which ra...