Revelation
Chapter 1
Introduction
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave it to him to let his servants know what is soon to take place. He sent his angel to make it known to his servant John,
who reports everything he saw, for this is the word of God and the declaration of Jesus Christ.
Blessed is the one who reads aloud these prophetic words, and blessed are those who hear them, and treasure everything written here, for the time is near.
Message to the Seven Churches: Greeting
From John to the seven churches of Asia: receive grace and peace from him who is, who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits of God, which are before his throne,
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us, and has washed away our sins with his own blood,
making us a kingdom and priests for God his Father, to him be the glory and power, for ever and ever. Amen.
See, he comes with the clouds,
and everyone will see him,
even those who pierced him;
on his account, all the nations of the earth
will beat their breast. Yes. It will be so.
I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, “the one who is, and who was, and who is to come: the Almighty.”
Vision of Jesus Christ
I, John, your brother, who shares with you in Jesus the sufferings, the kingdom, and the patient endurance, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and my witness to Jesus.
On the Lord’s day, the Spirit took control of me, and I heard a voice behind me that sounded like a trumpet,
“Write down everything you see in a book, and send it to the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”
I turned to see who was speaking to me; behind me were seven golden lampstands
and in the middle of them, I saw someone like a son of man dressed in a long robe, tied with a golden girdle.
His head and hair are white as wool, or snow, and his eyes are like flames of fire.
His feet are like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice is like the roar of the waves.
I saw seven stars in his right hand and a sharp, double-edged sword coming out of his mouth; his face shone like the sun in all its brilliance.
Seeing him, I fell at his feet as though I were dead. But he placed his right hand on me and said:
“Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last.
I am the living one; I was dead; and now I am alive, for ever and ever; and mine are the keys of death and the netherworld.
Now write what you have seen, both what is and what is yet to come.
Know the secret of the seven stars you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lamp stands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lamp stands are the seven churches.
Commentaries
Introduction.
‘Apocalypse’ in Greek means ‘unveiling’ or ‘revelation’ of something hidden. The reading begins with these two words: “The revelation that God entrusted to Jesus Christ.” The central focus on Jesus Christ and the depth of his mystery are emphasized from the start (1:1) to the end (22:21). The proclamation of a beatitude, or blessing, follows the presentation of the book. It is the first of seven beatitudes that highlight the book (1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7; 22:14). This shows that Revelation is not a scary book, a list of bad events, but rather a message from God of great joy (seven symbolizes totality) for the Church. The first beatitude involves proclaiming the Word of God, listening to it with an open heart, and keeping its message. The Christian community already seems to be the book’s primary audience.
Message to the Seven Churches: Greeting.
Divine grace and peace are extended to the entire Church (the seven churches of Asia symbolize the universal Church). The God who greets and blesses is not an impersonal force, but the Christian God par excellence—namely, the Holy Trinity. Jesus Christ is honored with three main titles. He is the “faithful witness” because, through his life, death, and resurrection, he fully expresses everything God intended to reveal to us. He is the ‘firstborn of the dead’ because of his resurrection. He is the “Lord of the kings of the earth” because, as the risen Lord, empowered by his Spirit and with our cooperation, he guides history toward its complete human and Christian fulfillment. Who is Jesus Christ for the Church? The community recalls three great blessings that the Lord has abundantly given: love, redemption, and sharing in the royal priesthood. The Church exists because of this love of Jesus Christ, which it gratefully experiences throughout its history.
Vision of Jesus Christ.
This vision is one of the most remarkable in the New Testament. John references the exact circumstances in which it takes place. He is on Patmos, a small island in the Aegean Sea, where he is imprisoned for courageously preaching the Word of God and bearing witness to Jesus. Although he is far away, he does not feel abandoned; he knows he is our brother and fellow sufferer; he shares with all persecuted Christians the hardships for the kingdom of God. This is the first time the words ‘Sunday’ or ‘Lord’s Day’ appear in the New Testament. The prophet observes a mysterious figure (13), a human form (cf. Dan 7:13). This figure has the power and authority to judge humanity. The prophet, who refused to bow before the emperor of Rome, falls to the ground and worships Jesus Christ as his only God and Lord. But Jesus Christ does not threaten him; instead, in a gesture of profound kindness, he places his right hand on John’s head and comforts him. The Church can trust in the providence of her Lord, who will never forsake her.