Kress Biblical Resources :: Part One—The Past Preparatory Vision of the Prophet (Rev 1:1-20)

The Past Preparatory Vision of the Prophet (Rev 1:1-20) ¹

1. The Prophet’s Prologue for the Revelation (Rev 1:1-8)
   1. The Preface of the Revelation Announced (Rev 1:1-3)
      1. The Title of the Revelation – “The Revelation” (Rev 1:1a)
      2. The Transmission of the Revelation – Generally (Rev 1:1b)
         1. The Source – God Gives (Rev 1:1b)
         2. The Stipulation – Christ Shows (Rev 1:1b)
         3. The Slaves – Believers Receive (Rev 1:1b)
      3. The Things in the Revelation (Rev 1:1c)
         1. Things to Happen Surely – “must” (Rev 1:1c)
         2. Things to Happen Shortly – “soon” (Rev 1:1c)
      4. The Type of Revelation – Words and Symbols (Rev 1:1d) ²
      5. The Transmitters of the Revelation (Rev 1:1be; Rev1:2a)
         1. God Reveals (Rev 1:1b)
         2. Jesus Receives (Rev 1:1b)
         3. The Angel Reiterates – “communicated it by His angel” (Rev 1:1e) ³
         4. John Writes (Rev 1:1e, Rev 1:2a)
      6. The Transmission of the Revelation – Specifically (Rev 1:2)
         1. John’s Witness for Jesus – “testifies” (Rev 1:2ab)
            1. To the Words of God (Rev 1:2a)
            2. To the Witness of Jesus (Rev 1:2b)
         2. John’s Eyewitness for Jesus – “all that he saw” (Rev 1:2c)
      7. The Target of the Revelation (Rev 1:3)
         1. The Blessed Reader (Rev 1:3a)
         2. The Blessed Hearer (Rev 1:3b)
         3. The Blessed Heeder (Rev 1:3c)
      8. The Timing of the Revelation – “time is near” (Rev 1:3d)
   2. The People Addressed in the Revelation (Rev 1:4-5c)
      1. The Author – Servant John (Rev 1:4a)
      2. The Addressees – Seven Churches (Rev 1:4a)
      3. The Appeal – Sincere Greetings (Rev 1:4b-5c)
         1. The Substance of It Anticipated in the Greeting (Rev 1:4b)
            1. Grace for the Churches (Rev 1:4b)
            2. Peace for the Churches (Rev 1:4b)
         2. The Source of It Announced in the Greeting (Rev 1:4c-5c)
            1. Grace and Peace from God the Father (Rev 1:4c)
            2. Grace and Peace from God the Spirit (Rev 1:4d) ⁴
            3. Grace and Peace from God the Son (Rev 1:5abc)
               1. His Surety – “faithful witness” (Rev 1:5a)
               2. His Superiority – “firstborn of the dead” (Rev 1:5b)
               3. His Sovereignty – “ruler of the kings” (Rev 1:5c)
   3. The Praise Ascribed in the Revelation (1:5d-6)
      1. The Direction of the Doxology (Rev 1:5d-6a)
         1. To the Son Who Prizes Us – “loves us” (Rev 1:5d)
         2. To the Son Who Pardoned Us – “released us” (Rev 1:5e)
         3. To the Son Who Promoted Us – “made us” (Rev 1:6a)
      2. The Devotion of the Doxology (Rev 1:6b)
         THE 1^ST PSALM: Praise the Love of Christ ⁵
         “To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood –
         and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father –
         to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
         1. For the Son’s Perpetual Splendor (Rev 1:6b)
         2. For the Son’s Perpetual Strength (Rev 1:6b)
   4. The Premise of the Revelation Asserted (Rev 1:7-8)
      1. The Vindication of the Son (Rev 1:7)
         1. In His Cloud Coming – “with the clouds” (Rev 1:7a)
         2. In His Clear Coming – “every eye will see Him” (Rev 1:7b)
         3. In His Comprehensive Coming – “the tribes of the earth” (Rev 1:7c)
         4. In His Convicting Coming – “mourn over Him” (Rev 1:7d)
         5. In His Confirmed Coming – “So it is to be. Amen” (Rev 1:7e)
      2. The Verification of the Father (Rev 1:8)
         1. By His Immutability – “Alpha and Omega” (Rev 1:8a)
         2. By His Eternality – “is and who was and who is to come” (Rev 1:8b)
         3. By His Potency – “the Almighty” (Rev 1:8c) ⁶
2. The Prophet’s Preparation for the Revelation (Rev 1:9-20)
   1. The Designation of John – “I John” (Rev 1:9a)
   2. The Affliction of John (Rev 1:9)
      1. The Partaker in Our Affliction (Rev 1:9ab)
         1. Fellow Partaker in Tribulation (Rev 1:9a)
         2. Fellow Partaker in The Kingdom (Rev 1:9b)
         3. Fellow Partaker in Jesus (Rev 1:9b)
      2. The Place of His Affliction – “Patmos” (Rev 1:9c)
      3. The Purpose of His Affliction (Rev 1:9d)
         1. Because of the Word of God (Rev 1:9d)
         2. Because of the Witness of Jesus (Rev 1:9d)
   3. The Condition of John (Rev 1:10a)
      1. In the “spirit" (Rev 1:10a)⁷
      2. On a Sunday (Rev 1:10a)
   4. The Commission of John – Generally (Rev 1:10b-11)
      1. The Individual Giving the Commission (Rev 1:10b)
         1. His Declaration – “like the sound of a trumpet” (Rev 1:10b; cf. Rev 4:1)
         2. His Designations – “first... last... living One,” (cf. Rev 1:17-18a)
      2. The Instructions Given in the Commission (Rev 1:11)
         1. Pen the Vision (Rev 1:11a)
         2. Post the Vision (Rev 1:11b)⁸
   5. The Vision of Jesus (Rev 1:12-16)
      1. Jesus Encircled by Seven Lampstands – The Churches (Rev 1:12-13a; cf. Rev 1:20)⁹
      2. Jesus Exposed as Son of Man – Messiah (Rev 1:13b-16)¹⁰
         1. His Sonship Title – “a son of man” (Rev 1:13b)¹¹
         2. His Stately Clothing – Dignity (Rev 1:13c)
         3. His Splendid Girdle – Messenger (Rev 1:13d)
         4. His Snow-like Head – Wisdom (Rev 1:14a)
         5. His Searing Eyes – Omniscience (Rev 1:14b)
         6. His Shining Feet – Purity (Rev 1:15a)
         7. His Sounding Voice – Omnipotence (Rev 1:15b)
         8. His Sword-like Tongue – Victorious (Rev 1:16b)
         9. His Sun-like Appearance – Glory (Rev 1:16c)
      3. Jesus Embraced Seven Stars (Rev 1:16a, cf. Rev 1:20)
   6. The Trepidation of John – “like a dead man” (Rev 1:17a)
   7. The Consolation of Jesus (Rev 1:17b-18)
      1. The Comfort of Jesus’ Hand – “right hand on me” (Rev 1:17b)
      2. The Command for John’s Heart – “Do not be afraid” (Rev 1:17b)
      3. The Continuance and Confirmation of Jesus’ Help (Rev 1:17c-18)
         1. Jesus, the Eternal One – “the first and the last” (Rev 1:17c)
         2. Jesus. the Ever-abiding One – “the living One” (Rev 1:18a)
         3. Jesus, the Ever-present One – “alive forevermore” (Rev 1:18b)
      4. The Control of Jesus over Hades (Rev 1:18c)
   8. The Commission of John – Specifically (Rev 1:19)¹²
      1. Write the Past Vision – “which you have seen” (Rev 1:19a)
      2. Write the Present Condition – “which are” (Rev 1:19b)
      3. Write the Prophetic Revelation – “which will take place” (Rev 1:19c)
   9. The Interpretation of John’s Vision (Rev 1:20, cf. Rev 1:16)
      1. Stars – Messengers (Rev 1:20a; cf. Rev1:16a)¹³
      2. Lampstands – Churches (Rev 1:20b; cf. Rev 1:12-13a)

¹ Things to note for the use of this outline: 1. All Scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible (Lockman Foundation, 2003). 2. The biblical texts quoted are italicized and appear in “double quotes.” 3. Some points in the outline have more than one Scripture reference (e.g., 1:1a, c, 2a). 4. On occasion, the references to the biblical texts are not placed in chronological order. This is purposely done in order to organize certain themes and subjects within the outline. 5. This outline is intended to be used alongside of an open Bible.

² Though symbols are used throughout the Revelation, it is to be interpreted using the same literal, grammatical, historical, geographical and theological method used to interpret the rest of the Bible.

³ The word “communicated” renders a verb in the Greek, which basically means signified (sign-i-fied). Cf. Rev 1:2, “all that he saw.”

⁴ The “Holy Spirit” is represented by 7 “spirits” (Rev 1:4; 3:1; cf. Isa 11:1-2), 7 “lamps of fire” (Rev 4:5), 7 “horns” and 7 “eyes” (Rev 5:6), and 7 “lampstands” (Zech 4:1-10). Also note the end of each letter to the 7 churches, where the Spirit speaks to each one (Rev 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 21).

⁵ The theme of “worship” is often overlooked by many who study the Revelation. In addition to the intriguing visions of future events, glorious descriptions of Jesus Christ appear. There are times when the 4 “living creatures,” the 24 “elders,” “an angel,” “angels,” people and / or creatures break out in praise. The texts of 15 Psalm-like passages (songs, doxologies, prayers or proclamations) are included in this outline for emphasis on worship (Revelation 4:8d; 4:11; 5:9-14; 7:10a; 7:12; 11:15; 11:17-18; 12:10-12; 15:3-4; 16:5-6, 7; 19:1-2; 19:6-8). The Psalms appear in Bold Italics, e.g. “to Him be glory.”

⁶ The title “Almighty” refers to the LORD’s omnipotence.

⁷ Some translations have “Spirit.” In light of the context, “spirit” is preferable (cf. Rev 4:2; 17:3; 21:10). John was evidently transformed into some altered state, since his normal senses would be inadequate to see Christ and comprehend the incredible vision of the future (cf. Rev 4:2; 17:3; 21:10).

⁸ The Revelation was to be posted to the “seven churches” named in chapters 2 - 3.

⁹ Revelation 1:20 interprets “lampstands” as “the seven churches” addressed in chapters 2 - 3.

¹⁰ Notice the words “like” and “as.” These likenesses may refer to attributes of Christ as John attempts to describe his heavenly vision of Jesus in earthly terms.

¹¹ See Daniel 10:5-6 for a similar description.

¹² Rev. 1:19 establishes 3 major parts of the book, which this outline follows: PART 1 – “the things which you have seen,” namely, the vision of Christ (Rev 1:10-20), PART 2 – “the things which are,” particularly, the condition of the churches being addressed (Rev 2:1-3:22), and PART 3 – “the things which will take place,” obviously, the contents of the body of the book that reveal future events (Rev 4:1-22:11). PART 4, mercifully includes an invitation from Jesus (Rev 22:6-21).

¹³ Some translate angeloi as “angels.” It may be best translated as “messengers,” referring to human representatives from each church who may have had leadership responsibilities.