REVELATION CHAPTER
ONE- describes a vision of the Lord
Jesus Christ, unveiling aspects of the Savior’s power and eternal mission,
including the reassuring truth that the Lord labors among and with His faithful
servants.
Vs. 1 – The JST informs
us that the revelation was given to John, from Jesus by means of an angel.
The
term “signify” is from Gk. “Semaino”& means not only to foretell but also
to give a sign or identifying token. (Draper, p. 26) "John confirmed the
authenticity of the vision by attesting that the angel presented him a heavenly
sign as validation that his visit was authorized from God. (Brandt p. 8)
John is the Beloved, the
son of Zebedee, the author of the Gospel of John and the 3 Epistles named after
him. Modern scripture affirms him as author. (1 Nephi 14:18-27; Ether 4:16;
D&C 77:1-2.)
Vs.
2 – “word of God” a title for Jesus Christ. Is it here? “Christ’s Titles in the Book of Mormon and
the Book of Revelation- (Another handout)
Vs.
3 – This verse is the first of 7 “Beatitudes” in Revelation. 14:13; 16:15;
19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 22:14
Note
the additional requirement from the JST- "understand" and the pattern
of the synagogue, “He that readeth and they that hear” (Jesus in Nazareth) “The time is at hand” means “time
is limited or short. See D&C 64:23 (now is called today until the coming of
the son of man.) JST -"for the time of the coming of the Lord draweth
nigh." (2 Peter 3:8)
Shows
the pattern of the synagogue, one reads the scripture while the congregation
listens.
Vs.
4 - A good time to introduce the #7- Used at least 54 times in the Book of
Revelation. Look for 7 churches, candlesticks, stars, angels, thunders, seals,
trumpets, persons, vials, judgments on the Harlot and 7 great events.
Where
is Asia? We’ll look at the location of the 7 cities in chapter 2. Note
the titles for Christ
"Him
which is, and which was, and which is to come, is a reference to the Divine
Name (YHWH) which carries the meaning, I was, I am, I will be." (Ogden, p.
341-2)
The
JST clarifies the seven spirits and says that they are the leaders of the 7
churches.
The
throne is located in heaven and is a symbol of God’s divine kingship
Vs.
5-7- These verses describe the Savior's 2nd coming!
Vs.
5 – Note the names of Christ in this verse and that in the JST it is John – not
Jesus who is the faithful witness. Note the reference to Christ's blood washing
us from our sins. The ordinance of washing as performed anciently (Ex. 29:4;
Lev. 16:26-28; Num. 19:7; TG Wash) and today in our temples point to Jesus'
atoning blood, which serves as a cleansing agent from sin.
Vs.
6 – “The object of our earthly existence is that we may
have a fulness of joy, and that we may become the sons and daughters of God, in
the fullest sense of the word, being heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ
[see Romans 8:14–17], to be kings and priests unto God, to inherit glory, dominion,
exaltation, thrones and every power and attribute developed and possessed by
our Heavenly Father. This is the object of our being on this earth. In order to
attain unto this exalted position, it is necessary that we go through this
mortal experience, or probation, by which we may prove ourselves worthy,
through the aid of our elder brother Jesus” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith [1998], 150; see Exodus 19:5–6; 1 Peter 2:9).
John
alludes to the concept of our becoming like God throughout the book. 3:12, 21; 14:1; 22:4-5.
God
and his Father – Joseph Smith used this passage when he taught about the
plurality of Gods. See TPJS p. 369-76-"This does not refer to Elohim and
his Son, Jesus, who is already spoken of in the previous verse. It refers to
Elohim and his Father."
Vs.
7 – Clouds represent the (1) glory of God, (2) act as the chariot of God for
travel through heaven & (3) symbolize a veil that conceals God from mortals.
See symbol sheet for a definition of 10,000s
When
Christ comes he will be clothed in Red Garments
- see Is. 63:1-2 & D&C 133:48.
They
also which pierced him – See Zechariah 12:10; D&C 45:53
Even
so is from the GK &Amen from the Hebr. representing a double affirmation to
John’s testimony.
Vs.
8 – Note the names of the Savior in this verse. They are John's &Jesus' way
of saying, "Don't worry, I have always been here, I always will be & I
know what is going on." D&C 1:35-38; 1Nephi 9:6.
Vs.
9 - John, no stranger to tribulation,
writes to people who are going through a very tough time. (2:4, 10, 14-15; 3:16;
6:9) The persecution seems to come at the hands of Roman official during the
later stages of the reign of Domitian (81-96 AD) who had revived the practice
of emperor worship and persecuted those who did not worship state approved
Gods.
He
has a message from the One who knows the most about tribulation and it is,
"I love you. I know what is going on and what will go on; I have been and
will always be with you, and you will be ok."
Isle
of Patmos - Picture in new Bibles - An island about 60 miles southwest from Ephesus,
among the Spor’ades (stars not included in any constellation=sporadic) in the
Aegean Sea (Named after King Aegeus, whose son Theseus promised to hoist a
white sail on his voyage home to Athens from Crete, to signal that he was
alive. Theseus forgot to do this & Aegeus, thinking his son was dead,
committed suicide by throwing himself into the sea that was later named for
him.) A Roman prison camp used for banishment. 398 square miles. 10 X 5 miles.
Rocky and barren. Population 2,500. Many churches and a monastery.
From John, their brother and companion in
tribulation. For the testimony of Jesus.
Deportatio= a permanent exile
consisting of the loss of rights and property. Only the emperor could impose
it.
Relegatio=from ½ to 10 years & involved
no loss of rights or property. The Roman senate, a city prefect or other
official could impose it. John seems to
have suffered relagatio.
Good things happen to good people when they
are incarcerated. Help me with my list; Joseph in Egypt, Daniel, Joseph Smith,
Alma and Amulek, Nephi and Lehi...
Vs.
10 – the Lord ’s Day was Sunday, see Bible Dictionary, "Lord's Day"
The
word “as” is used 56 times in Revelation, almost always to introduce a symbol.
A
trumpet was used to awaken, proclaim, introduce and call to arms. See Alma
29:1.
Vs.
11 – “Write in a book” – If Revelation had been written on a scroll it would
have been about 12 feet long. Three scrolls are mentioned in the Book: 1) This
one; 2) 5:1-the one the Lamb of God opens & 3) 10:2- the little book an
angel opens.
The 7 churches symbolize ALL of the Churches.
The 7 churches symbolize ALL of the Churches.
Vs.
12 – The voice appears to be the voice of the Savior- “The word candlesticks reflects the King James
translators’ familiarity with wax candles. What John actually saw, however, was
a 7 branched menorah with a bowl at the top of each branch. Each bowl held
olive oil into which a wick was placed and then lit, providing light. Lamps
might be a better translation. (See Matt. 5:15)
Olive oil was a source of light and also of healing. (Luke 10:34 –Good
Samaritan parable) (Wilcox, p. 21)
We have the responsibility to hold up the
light just as a candlestick holds up the candle.
Vs. 13 – the image of Jesus in the midst of
the churches is significant. See Matt. 18:20; D&C 38:7.
“Like unto the Son of man” – Many
versions way “like a son of man or one who looked like a man. See Moses 6:57
where Jesus is described as the son of the Man of Holiness. Son of Man is the
title he most often uses to refer to himself in the Gospels.
John is about to describe what it
is like to look upon the Savior. Daniel 10:5-9; Ezekiel 1:26-28; and D&C
110:2-4 are other attempts.
Paps=chest, girdle=sash
"Sometimes the reader of
Revelation is startled by some of the imagery and symbolism used by John. They
seem almost bizarre at times in their unusual nature. This is due, however, to
a basic difference in cultural background and the use of language. Most members
of the Church today are products of Western (Occidental) civilization. The
occidental peoples tend to use language like a contractor uses building
materials; he builds structures which are concrete in detail and form. but the
oriental world, of which the Holy Land was a part, is more artistic with its
use of language. Words are but colors with which the artist paints verbal
pictures. thus, the Oriental is usually more concerned with effect than with
form and detail. Westerners say the sun is rising, while an Arab may say that
it leaps from its bed of sleeping. John,
of course, being Jewish, was a product of Oriental, not Occidental, culture. So
his depiction of the Savior as having a sharp, 2-edged sword protruding from
his mouth is perfectly acceptable, even though the Western mind trying to
picture that image concretely may find it somewhat jarring to the
sensitivities. To the Eastern mind the symbolism is most appropriate, for such
a person is more concerned with the effect of the symbol that with its detail.
Pushing the images and symbols of John's writings for literal interpretation
will lead to baffling & sometimes grotesque pictures. But if one remembers
the Oriental's love of imagery, such things as beasts with 7 heads, and 10
horns, armies compared to locusts, & prophets with fire coming from their
mouths (11:5; 19:15) will become beautiful & profound symbols of eternal
truth."(SM-Life & Teachings of Jesus & His Apostles, p. 451)
Vs.
14 – White=light purity & triumph. Hair=wisdom. Wool=Lamb of God.
Eyes=knowledge. Hair=God’s omniscience. Flame of fire=brilliant glory
Vs.
15 – Fine brass=beauty, permanence. Sound of many waters=Describes power,
uniqueness & intensity in the Lord’s voice
Vs.
16 – Right hand=Covenant hand, associated with righteousness, creation, execution
of justice. Partake of sacrament, administer to sick, baptism, sustain
Seven stars=servants of the 7
churches Shineth=shining in JST
Vs.
17-Fell at his feet – Others who fell – Abraham Gen. 17:3; Joshua 5:14; Peter
James, John, Matthew 17:6; Brother of Jared, Ether 3:6; Nephite multitude, 3
Nephi 11:12; those who partook of the fruit of the tree after continually
holding fast to the rod, 1 Nephi 8:30-31. John fell, even though he spent 3
years in the constant companionship of the Savior, including the Mount of
Transfiguration and the Garden of Gethsemane. He is now seeing the glorified
Lord. Note the Savior's compassion.
Vs.
18 – Keys of hell and of death – See 2 Nephi 9:10-13 – For more on keys see
Rev. 9:1
Vs.
19 – John is commanded to write the things which Nephi was told not to write in
1 Nephi 14:14-28. Write the things which thou has seen=Christ as in
1:10-18 And the things which are=the 7
Churches in Rev. 2-3 And the things
which shall be hereafter=Rev. 4-22
Verse
20 – The word mystery comes from the GK. Musterion
– It means silence imposed by initiation into religious rites. (Smith p. 9)
That which is unknown until it is revealed by God.
This
verse gives the interpretation of symbols previously presented. Note the JST
and the repetition of the Right hand.
