[I will write comments to the reader in brackets like these here. Have fun. Be aware that it is God's Word you are dealing with. Listen to what God has to tell you. I will be using the King James Version for my studies, referring to it by "KJV".
Before you read on, please pray to the Father in Heaven in Jesus' name to speak into your heart and let you know how He means the Bible verses in question. Painting by Jacopo Vignali, 17th century]
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Jesus Christ Speaking
1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: 2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. 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.
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The revelation John is talking about here has its origin from God, the Father, who gave it to His Son, Jesus Christ, who sent an Angel of God to John, his servant, to write it down, so other servants, which means other Christians, can be blessed by reading it or listening to it. It is directed to God's Church, not to unbelievers, who might not really feel blessed and reject the Book of Revelation for this reason. It is a book for people who listen to God.
What is striking is that in verse 1 we get to know something about God from John: It is the Father who is sending out his Word, Jesus Christ, which can also be regarded as evidence that John is identical with the author of the Gospel of John, which starts like this:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." (John 1:1-3 KJV)
The Word was God. Jesus Christ. Sent by the Father. And it is the same here, and it becomes clear that God the Father is the one who is speaking, which is manifested in the Son by who all things are made - you and me inclusively. This time Jesus does not come down from Heaven and leave the Father to dwell as a human among men, but He sends an Angel, a messenger, to John the prophet whom He had chosen. The Apostle John often spoke of himself as the beloved and as a third person narrator like he is doing the latter here in our verses, too. Whom else would Jesus have sent the revelations but him? He had told the Disciples shortly before he left them that He had not told them everything yet: "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." (John 16:12-13 KJV)
And He did...
[It is would be worthwhile to develop this idea, but it might lead away from the topic too much at this point of time, so I will keep this short here, which does not mean to go deeper into that later. For the moment I will listen to the Spirit who tells me that Revelation was written by the same author as the Gospel John, and since God is the real author anyway, it does not matter too much, only with regard to the question when the Book of Revelation was written exactly. I will continue to look for further evidence in the run of this study and come back to it later.]
Verse 1 also says that the events that John foresaw had to come to pass soon, and many of them did. Finding out which of them did and which of them have not yet is the target of this study. But we do know from Revelation 1:1 now that they will all have to take place, disregarding our own desires or decisions. We can see God's plan in that, and God's plan cannot be changed by us. There is a big chance for us Christians in that, because many horrible events will not shock us, but we can see that God is in control of everything, no matter how terrible the events might be that are to come. God is in control, and we do not only know about that, but about being safe in His hands, too, and that we have the promise to have a room in Heaven. Revelation can give us a tiny hint of what it will be like in Heaven. But we cannot imagine that yet, and I envy John for the visions he was allowed to see... I for one like most of you will have to wait, and see God's plan as revealed in this book fulfilled in history meanwhile.
Some people reject the Book of Revelation, and say it is because they find it cruel. But times have been cruel, and still are. People who know that God is yet in control, despite of life abortions, gen technology, bloody wars, hate, murder and times like they were when Noah lived on earth, can lead a much happier life than those who believe they can escape Judgment by ignoring the Book of Revelation. They act like an ostrich by digging their heads into the sand when danger is ahead. But we who read Revelation are blessed, because we are warned, and we are blessed for our hope of this beautiful world to come, which John describes for us. Since Revelation was written for believers only, those who hate it may keep their eyes and ears shut if they think they can prevent things to happen by that. I am sure they consist of unbelievers, backsliders and apostates or those who want to keep on living in sin without repentance, just as Revelation 1:3 says that they are blessed who read or hear Revelation and keep the things written in it.
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What does it mean for me now?
If I read the Book of Revelation or listen to it, I will be blessed because I will be well informed of the things that have taken place, are in progress or are to come. God did not send John all the visions to be passed on to just a few believers, but God wants His Church to be informed, about what they will have to face, so they can stand it, but also to strengthen our faith in Him when we find out that Scripture as in Revelation is the truth.
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