Revelation 1:1-3 - Introduction

The introduction is often overlooked when considering Revelation, but it is vital to understanding the book and remaining firmly grounded. 

First we are told that this is a revelation from Jesus Christ. Revelation is the same as apocalypse. We tend to associate apocalypse with dramatic and disastrous events, but its actual meaning is "unveiling". So we have a revelation from Jesus Christ, and this revelation was given to Him by the Father so that His servants would know what would soon take place. Soon in God's terms has a rather different meaning than we tend to associate with it, but in comparison with eternity any time is soon. Note that we are servants of the Lord.

So how was John to know what this revelation was? An angel was sent to him to give him the revelation. Zechariah also received his visions from an angel.

John testifies to what he saw and to the testimony he received from Jesus Christ.

Then we are told that we are blessed if we read the words of this prophecy aloud, and if we hear it and take it to heart because the time is near. Revelation is to be read and is to be heard, it is not meant to be a hidden or obscure book. Nor is it weird. And we need to hear it in order to understand the times we live in.