1:1
The introduction to the book is quite amazing and quite clear. “The revelation from Jesus Christ”. The message of this book comes from God, through Christ. “Revelation” translates the word “apocalypse”. We tend to associate apocalypse with catastrophic events, but simply means an unveiling or a revealing. Now the Christians at the time were facing very serious persecution, the seven letters will reveal something of the nature of this. When circumstances are very difficult it is hard for us to realise what is actually going on. This book is a revealing of what is going on, both for the Christians of the time, and for Christians throughout the ages who have gone through tribulation, and for Christians at the end of time. “What must soon take place”. This is one of the arguments for the preterist interpretation.
“He made it known ...” John simply gives his first name, though these first three verses could be an introduction added to a letter which begins at v4. As indicated in the introduction, I take this to be John the apostle. If it was any other John it would be likely that some further explanation would have been given.
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