1: 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, wherein the Heir of all
things declares that all power is given him in heaven and
earth, and that he will in the end gloriously exercise that
power, maugre all the opposition of all his enemies. Of Jesus
Christ - Not of "John the Divine," a title added in latter ages.
Certain it is, that appellation, the Divine, was not brought
into the church, much less was it affixed to John the apostle,
till long after the apostolic age. It was St. John, indeed,
who wrote this book, but the author of it is Jesus Christ.
Which God gave unto him - According to his holy, glorified
humanity, as the great Prophet of the church. God gave the
Revelation to Jesus Christ; Jesus Christ made it known to his
servants. To show - This word recurs,(Re 22:6); and in many places the parts of this book refer
to each other. Indeed the whole structure of it breathes the
art of God, comprising, in the most finished compendium, things
to come, many, various; near, intermediate, remote; the greatest,
the least; terrible, comfortable; old, new; long, short; and
these interwoven together, opposite, composite; relative to each
other at a small, at a great, distance; and therefore sometimes,
as it were, disappearing, broken off, suspended, and afterwards
unexpectedly and most seasonably appearing again. In all its
parts it has an admirable variety, with the most exact harmony,
beautifully illustrated by those very digressions which seem
to interrupt it. In this manner does it display the manifold
wisdom of God shining in the economy of the church through so
many ages. His servants - Much is comprehended in this
appellation. It is a great thing to be a servant of Jesus
Christ. This book is dedicated particularly to the servants of
Christ in the seven churches in Asia; but not exclusive of all
his other servants, in all nations and ages. It is one single
revelation, and yet sufficient for them all, from the time it
was written to the end of the world. Serve thou the Lord Jesus
Christ in truth: so shalt thou learn his secret in this book;
yea, and thou shalt feel in thy heart whether this book be
divine, or not. The things which must shortly come to pass - The
things contained in this prophecy did begin to be accomplished
shortly after it was given; and the whole might be said to come
to pass shortly, in the same sense as St. Peter says, "The end
of all things is at hand;" and our Lord himself, "Behold, I
come quickly." There is in this book a rich treasure of all
the doctrines pertaining to faith and holiness. But these are
also delivered in other parts of holy writ; so that the
Revelation need not to have been given for the sake of these.
The peculiar design of this is, to show the things which must
come to pass. And this we are especially to have before our
eyes whenever we read or hear it.
It is said afterward, "Write what thou seest;" and again, "Write
what thou hast seen, and what is, and what shall be hereafter;"
but here, where the scope of the hook is shown, it is only said,
the things which must come to pass. Accordingly, the showing
things to come, is the great point in view throughout the whole.
And St. John writes what he has seen, and what is, only as it has
an influence on, or gives light to, what shall be. And he - Jesus
Christ. Sent and signified them - Showed them by signs or
emblems; so the Greek word properly means. By his angel
- Peculiarly called, in the sequel, "the angel of God," and
particularly mentioned, (Re 17:1,21:9,22:6,16).
To his servant John - A title given to no other single person
throughout the book.
2: Who hath testified - In the following book. The word of
God - Given directly by God. And the testimony of Jesus - Which he
hath left us, as the faithful and true witness. Whatsoever
things he saw - In such a manner as was a full confirmation of the
divine original of this book.
3: Happy is he that readeth, and they that hear, the words
of this prophecy - Some have miserably handled this book. Hence
others are afraid to touch it; and, while they desire to know
all things else, reject only the knowledge of those which God
hath shown. They inquire after anything rather than this; as if
it were written, "Happy is he that doth not read this prophecy."
Nay, but happy is he that readeth, and they that hear, and keep
the words thereof - Especially at this time, when so considerable
a part of them is on the point of being fulfilled.
Nor are helps wanting whereby any sincere and diligent inquirer
may understand what he reads therein. The book itself is written
in the most accurate manner possible. It distinguishes the
several things whereof it treats by seven epistles, seven seals,
seven trumpets, seven phials; each of which sevens is divided
into four and three. Many things the book itself explains; as
the seven stars; the seven candlesticks; the lamb, his seven
horns and seven eyes; the incense; the dragon; the heads and
horns of the beasts; the fine linen; the testimony of Jesus:
and much light arises from comparing it with the ancient
prophecies, and the predictions in the other books of the New
Testament.
In this book our Lord has comprised what was wanting in those
prophecies touching the time which followed his ascension and
the end of the Jewish polity. Accordingly, it reaches from the
old Jerusalem to the new, reducing all things into one sum, in
the exactest order, and with a near resemblance to the ancient
prophets. The introduction and conclusion agree with Daniel;
the description of the man child, and the promises to Sion, with
Isaiah; the judgment of Babylon, with Jeremiah; again, the
determination of times, with Daniel; the architecture of the holy
city, with Ezekiel; the emblems of the horses, candlesticks, &c.,
with Zechariah. Many things largely described by the prophets
are here summarily repeated; and frequently in the same words.
To them we may then usefully have recourse. Yet the Revelation
suffices for the explaining itself, even if we do not yet
understand those prophecies; yea, it casts much light upon them.
Frequently, likewise, where there is a resemblance between them,
there is a difference also; the Revelation, as it were, taking
a stock from one of the old prophets, and inserting a new graft
into it. Thus Zechariah speaks of two olive trees; and so does
St. John; but with a different meaning. Daniel has a beast with
ten horns; so has St. John; but not with quite the same
signification. And here the difference of words, emblems,
things, times, ought studiously to be observed.
Our Lord foretold many things before his passion; but not all
things; for it was not yet seasonable. Many things, likewise,
his Spirit foretold in the writings of the apostles, so far
as the necessities of those times required: now he comprises
them all in one short book; therein presupposing all the other
prophecies, and at the same time explaining, continuing, and
perfecting them in one thread. It is right therefore to compare
them; but not to measure the fulness of these by the scantiness
of those preceding.
Christ, when on earth, foretold what would come to pass in a
short time; adding a brief description of the last things. Here
he foretells the intermediate things; so that both put together
constitute one complete chain of prophecy. This book is
therefore not only the sum and the key of all the prophecies
which preceded, but likewise a supplement to all; the seals being
closed before. Of consequence, it contains many particulars not
revealed in any other part of scripture. They have therefore
little gratitude to God for such a revelation, reserved for the
exaltation of Christ, who boldly reject whatever they find here
which was not revealed, or not so clearly, in other parts of
scripture. He that readeth and they that hear - St. John probably
sent this book by a single person into Asia, who read it in the
churches, while many heard. But this, likewise, in a secondary
sense, refers to all that shall duly read or hear it in all ages.
The words of this prophecy - It is a revelation with regard to
Christ who gives it; a prophecy, with regard to John who delivers
it to the churches. And keep the things which are written
therein - In such a manner as the nature of them requires;
namely, with repentance, faith, patience, prayer, obedience,
watchfulness, constancy. It behoves every Christian, at all
opportunities, to read what is written in the oracles of God;
and to read this precious book in particular, frequently,
reverently, and attentively. For the time - Of its beginning to
be accomplished. Is near - Even when St. John wrote. How much
nearer to us is even the full accomplishment of this weighty
prophecy!
4: John - The dedication of this book is contained in the
fourth, fifth, and sixth 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 each were
joined with the gentile believers in one church. Grace be unto
you, and peace - The favour of God, with all temporal and eternal
blessings. From him who is, and who was, and who cometh, or,
who is to come - A wonderful translation of the great name JEHOVAH:
he was of old, he is now, he cometh; that is, will be for ever.
And from the seven spirits which are before his throne - Christ is
he who "hath the seven spirits of God." "The seven lamps which
burn before the throne are the seven spirits of God." " The
lamb hath seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits
of God." Seven was a sacred number in the Jewish church: but it
did not always imply a precise number. It sometimes is to be
taken figuratively, to denote completeness or perfection. By
these seven spirits, not seven created angels, but the Holy
Ghost is to be understood. The angels are never termed spirits
in this book; and when all the angels stand up, while the four
living creatures and the four and twenty elders worship him
that sitteth on the throne, and the Lamb, the seven spirits
neither stand up nor worship. To these "seven spirits of God,"
the seven churches, to whom the Spirit speaks so many things,
are subordinate; as are also their angels, yea, and "the seven
angels which stand before God." He is called the seven spirits,
not with regard to his essence, which is one, but with regard
to his manifold operations.
5: And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first
begotten from the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth
- Three glorious appellations are here given him, and in their
proper order. He was the faithful witness of the whole will of
God before his death, and in death, and remains such in glory.
He rose from the dead, as "the first fruits of them that slept;"
and now hath all power both in heaven and earth. He is here
styled a prince: but by and by he hears his title of king; yea,
King of kings, and Lord of lords." This phrase, the kings of
the earth, signifies their power and multitude, and also the
nature of their kingdom. It became the Divine Majesty to call
them kings with a limitation; especially in this manifesto from
his heavenly kingdom; for no creature, much less a sinful man,
can bear the title of king in an absolute sense before the eyes
of God.
6: To him that loveth us, and, out of that free, abundant
love, hath washed us from the guilt and power of our sins with
his own blood, and hath made us kings - Partakers of his present,
and heirs of his eternal, kingdom. And priests unto his God and
Father - To whom we continually offer ourselves, an holy, living
sacrifice. To him be the glory - For his love and redemption.
And the might - Whereby he governs all things.
7: Behold - In this and the next verse is 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 it is not
said, He cometh again: for when he came before, it was not like
himself, but in "the form of a servant." But his appearing in
glory is properly his coming; namely, in a manner worthy of the
Son of God. And every eye - Of the Jews in particular. Shall see
him - But with what different emotions, according as they had
received or rejected him. And they who have pierced him - They,
above all, who pierced his hands, or feet, or side. Thomas saw
the print of these wounds even after his resurrection; and the
same, undoubtedly, will be seen by all, when he cometh in the
clouds of heaven. And all the tribes of the earth - The word
tribes, in the Revelation, always means the Israelites: but
where another word, such as nations or people, is joined with
it, it implies likewise (as here) all the rest of mankind.
Shall wail because of him - For terror and pain, if they did not
wail before by true repentance. Yea, Amen - This refers to, every
eye shall see him. He that cometh saith, Yea; he that testifies
it, Amen. The word translated yea is Greek; Amen is Hebrew: for
what is here spoken respects both Jew and gentile.
8: I am the Alpha and the Omega, saith the Lord God - 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 the Lord God is both the Alpha, or beginning, and the
Omega, or end, of all things. God is the beginning, as he is the
Author and Creator of all things, and as he proposes, declares,
and promises so great things: he is the end, as he brings all
the things which are here revealed to a complete and glorious
conclusion. Again, the beginning and end of a thing is in
scripture styled the whole thing. Therefore God is the Alpha
and the Omega, the beginning and the end; that is, one who is
all things, and always the same.
9: I John - The instruction and preparation of the apostle
for the work are described from the ninth to the twentieth
verse. (Re 1:9-20)
Your brother - In the common faith. And companion in the
affliction - For the same persecution which carried him to
Patmos drove them into Asia. This 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 church, after the time of
Constantine; but highly valued by all the African churches, as
it has been since by all the persecuted children of God. In the
affliction, and kingdom and patience of Jesus - The kingdom stands
in the midst. It is chiefly under various afflictions that
faith obtains its part in the kingdom; and whosoever is a
partaker of this kingdom is not afraid to suffer for Jesus,(2Ti 2:12).
I was in the island Patmos - In the reign of Domitian and of
Nerva. And there he saw and wrote all that follows. It was a
place peculiarly proper for these visions. He had over against
him, at a small distance, Asia and the seven churches; going on
eastward, Jerusalem and the land of Canaan; and beyond this,
Antioch, yea, the whole continent of Asia. To the west, he had
Rome, Italy, and all Europe, swimming, as it were, in the sea;
to the south, Alexandria and the Nile with its outlets, Egypt,
and all Africa; and to the north, what was afterwards called
Constantinople, on the straits between Europe and Asia. So he
had all the three parts of the world which were then known, with
all Christendom, as it were, before his eyes; a large theatre for
all the various scenes which were to pass before him: as if this
island had been made principally for this end, to serve as an
observatory for the apostle. For preaching the word of God
he was banished thither, and for the testimony of Jesus - For
testifying that he is the Christ.
10: I was in the Spirit - That is, in a trance, a prophetic
vision; so overwhelmed with the power, and filled with the
light, of the Holy Spirit, as to be insensible of outward
things, and wholly taken up with spiritual and divine. What
follows is one single, connected vision, which St. John saw in
one day; and therefore he that would understand it should carry
his thought straight on through the whole, without interruption.
The other prophetic books are collections of distinct prophecies,
given upon various occasions: but here is one single treatise,
whereof all the parts exactly depend on each other.
