요한계시록 Chapter 1

Translation: ESV

1

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

Key Message

The book of Revelation is not human imagination but the official revelation given by God through Jesus Christ.

▸The first verse of Revelation clearly identifies the character and source of this book.

The first verse of Revelation clearly identifies the character and source of this book. 'Revelation (apokalypsis)' means 'to unveil' or 'to reveal,' and the book declares its purpose as disclosing God's hidden will. The chain of revelation is clearly shown: God → Jesus Christ → angel → John → servants. 'The things that must soon take place' simultaneously emphasizes both the urgency and the certainty of this revelation.

Related Verses

but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days.For the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.
2

who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.

Key Message

John recorded this book as a faithful witness who conveys exactly what he saw and heard.

▸John defines what he received as 'the word of God' and 'the testimony of Jesus Christ.

3

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

Key Message

The blessing of Revelation lies not in the acquisition of knowledge but in the practical obedience of hearing and keeping the word.

▸This is the first beatitude in Revelation (the first of 7 beatitudes).

4

John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,

Key Message

God transcends past, present, and future as the eternal one who protects the church in every age.

▸The sender and recipients of the letter are specified.

5

and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood

Key Message

Jesus Christ is the faithful witness, the firstfruits of resurrection, and the King above all kings.

▸Three titles for Jesus Christ are presented: 'the faithful witness,' 'the firstborn of the dead,' and 'the ruler of kings on earth.

6

and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Key Message

Through Christ's redemption, all saints have become those who participate in the kingdom of God as kings and priests.

▸The identity of redeemed saints is declared: 'a kingdom, priests.

7

Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

Key Message

The Second Coming of Christ is a public and universal event visible to every eye, bringing judgment and salvation simultaneously.

▸This is the central declaration about the Second Coming.

8

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

Key Message

God is the Alpha and Omega—the Almighty who governs the beginning and end of history.

▸This is God's direct self-revelation.

9

I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

Key Message

John is a brother who received and conveys God's revelation from the same position as the suffering saints.

▸John humbly introduces himself as 'brother' and 'partner.

10

I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet

Key Message

God's revelation comes through the inspiration of the Spirit in the place of worship.

▸'The Lord's day' refers to Sunday, the day the early church gathered to worship in commemoration of the resurrection.

11

saying, "Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea."

Key Message

God's word is recorded and delivered to the church, applying not only to specific churches but to the universal church as a whole.

▸John receives the command to record the vision and send it to the seven churches.

12

Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands,

Key Message

The church is a community called to shine light in the darkness of the world, like golden lampstands.

▸When John turned toward the voice, the first thing he saw was 'seven golden lampstands.

13

and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.

Key Message

The risen Christ is personally present among the churches as high priest and king.

▸'One like a son of man' is a quotation from Daniel 7:13, presenting the glorious form of the risen Christ.

14

The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire,

Key Message

The eyes of the risen Christ are like flame, the all-knowing one who perceives everything in the church.

▸'White hair' corresponds to the appearance of the 'Ancient of Days' in Daniel 7:9 (God the Father) and represents the divinity and eternity of Christ.

15

his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters.

Key Message

The voice of Christ possesses majestic divine authority like the roar of many waters that overwhelms all things.

▸'Feet like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace' describes feet that shine like fire, pure and strong.

16

In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

Key Message

Christ holds the church in his right hand, judges with the sword of the word, and appears in glory more radiant than the sun.

▸Three symbols are combined.

17

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last,

Key Message

To those who have prostrated before God's glory, Christ places his right hand and says 'Fear not.'

▸John's response to seeing the glorious Christ is complete prostration.

18

and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

Key Message

The risen Christ holds the keys of Death and Hades; saints have no reason to fear death.

▸This is one of the most powerful of Christ's self-declarations.

19

Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.

Key Message

Revelation is God's comprehensive revelation encompassing the past vision, the present church situation, and the future end times.

▸This is the key verse that presents the structure of Revelation.

20

As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Key Message

Christ holds the churches in his right hand and governs their light shining into the world.

▸The interpretation of the two symbols presented earlier is given.