In the remaining part of this Chapter Six (Age of Pisces) we will encompass Revelation Chapter One through Five. Another thing added is the column arrangement of the six world views of men on what the Revelation verses mean. Anyone of these views could be accurate if read through complete and compared, as well as the one presented in this book in relation to the Age of Pisces.
These six views were researched by a friend and co-worker Jake Van Dyke. Although all of mankind’s view could be inaccurate, please subjectively review them for their worth and acknowledge the complexity of this subject. These six world views are shown below in columns with a description of content or general belief of each one.
Revelation Chapter Six through Twenty-two will be covered later in Chapter Eight of this book regarding the Age of Aquarius.
Rev. 1:1 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:
[Comment: Revelation or apocalypse or unveiling of those things which had been veiled, since Daniel was told to seal and shut up till the time of the end. It is also a guide of the kingdom of Christ, and of the Church for the Gentile Christian times. It is not a detailed history of the future, but only represents great epochs and powers to be. The book is in a series of parallel groups, not in chronological order. The author is actually Jesus Christ, about His second advent and the events preliminary to it, which God revealed to His Son, to show things close at hand (shortly), in the future, and between the two.]
Rev. 1:2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
[Comment: Here he testifies to the word of God, by the Spirit of prophecy.]
Rev. 1:3 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.
[Comment: How many of us really read, hear, or keep the words of this prophecy? The answer is very few.]
Rev. 1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
[Comment: Revelation is addressed to seven churches in Asia, a province of the Roman Empire (Phrygia, Mysia, Caria and Lydia), located on the western end of modern Turkey. The number seven is fixed and signifies completeness (totality), as if the seven churches may represent all churches (universal Church of all times), or possibly seven eras of church history. If things come in threes, then its possible that it represents 7 churches in Asia, 7 church ages over time, and 7 future churches in the last days, a total of 21. A reference to God’s constant and unchanging nature, is noted here as He is, was, and is to come, another way to present the incommunicable name of JEHOVAH, the self existing One. The seven Spirits could mean the Holy Spirit, or in the presence of the sevenfold, perfect, complete, and universal energy.]
Rev. 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
[Comment: Here we find a focus on Jesus Christ the faithful witness, who was resurrected with a body equipped for eternity (fulfilled the scripture Psalm 2:7), like no one before Him had done. This is the assurance to Christian believers. Jesus as prince (ruler) of the kings of the earth in that his power extends to all realms of reality, because of the price paid for our sins.]
Rev. 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
[Comment: We love and serve Jesus because He loved us, and washed away our sins, which made us kings and priests, although some manuscripts read "a kingdom," which is unto the ages.]
Rev. 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
[Comment: Since Christ was received by a cloud "out of their sight" at His ascension (Acts 1:9), this corresponds to the manner of His coming again (Acts 1:11). Clouds are the symbols of wrath to sinners. When Christ returns every one will witness the event, even those who killed Him and then persecuted His followers. "They also," definitely refers to His pre-millennial advent, at which point the Jews, who shall "look upon Him whom they have pierced." Even the Antichristian confederacy (Zech. 12:3-6, 9; 14:1-4; Matthew 24:30) shall wail in regard to Him.]
Rev. 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
[Comment: This implies that Jesus created the universe and will also bring its present form to an end in judgment. The phrase "the beginning and the ending" is omitted in the oldest manuscripts, inserted later to show that the Alpha of the Old Testament and the Omega of the Revelation of the New Testament meet together. The Lord (or the Lord God, Almighty, as the Hebrew Shaddai, and Jehovah Sabaoth of the hosts) who commands all the host or powers in heaven and earth, has overcome all His Church"s foes in all times.]
Rev. 1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
[Comment: In verse 9, John promotes himself as the brother (apostle, the disciple whom Jesus loved) and companion of those undergoing persecution (loss of property, homes, imprisonment, exile, and execution) in the mid 90’s of the first century by the Roman emperor Domitian. John was exiled to Patmos (now Patmo or Palmosa) under Domitian, and later released under Nerva. Although restrained to a small spot, it was here that John was permitted to penetrate the wide realms of heaven and its secrets.]
Rev. 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
[Comment: Here John had a unique experience with God, in that he was taken into a state of ecstasy, with the outer world being shut out, and the inner and higher life or spirit being opened, and then after being taken full possession of by God’s Spirit so that an immediate connection with the invisible world is established. This which occurred on the Lord’s Day, the last day of the week, the Sabbath. Christians at present moved and worship the holy day on Sunday.]
Rev. 1:11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
[Comment: The seven churches were key cities on the Roman province of Asia. Although there were other churches such as Miletus, Magnesia, Tralles, the number seven here is fixed for mystical significance in expressing totality and universality, as the chief spiritual characteristic of the Church, in all ages.
Rev. 1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
[Comment: "Seven … candlesticks," or lamp-stands, the stand holding the lamp, as the one seen in Exodus 25:31, 33, the seven are united in one candlestick or lamp-stand, six arms and a central shaft; so Zechariah 4:2, 11. Here in verse 12, the seven are separate candlesticks, no longer as the Jewish Church.]
Rev. 1:13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
[Comment: Seven candlesticks are seven churches, with Jesus (Son of man, the form that endured the agony of Gethsemane, and the shame and anguish of Calvary, but now glorified) centrally located in the life of all churches. His clothes were symbolic of dignity and nobility, "down to the foot," a mark of high rank, garment and girdle are emblems of His priesthood, "after the order of Melchisedec."]
Rev. 1:14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
[Comment: Some sources say the color white is purity and glory, while others promote the white hair as a symbol of age and wisdom; fiery eyes were symbols of insight, all-searching and penetrating like fire, and consuming indignation against sin.]
Rev. 1:15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
[Comment: Feet of brass are symbols of power and strength. The Greek word is chalkolibanon, which means whiteness or brilliancy, burnished copper, it is derived from two Greek words, brass and frankincense (libanos, the incense-tree), possible from the Hebrew libben, to whiten. Glowing brass burned in a furnace.]
Rev. 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
[Comment: He holds the seven stars in His right hand as a star-studded "crown of glory," or "royal diadem." He is their Possessor and Upholder. His word will execute the punishment, by a sword (Greek Romphaia, the Thracian long and heavy broadsword) with two edges, as one edge the Old Testament and the other the New Testament.]
(In the next verse Jesus tells us that the seven stars are the angels (messengers) of the seven churches. Thus here it states that the seven candlesticks are the seven churches which makes them a menorah.)
Rev. 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
Rev. 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore (living unto the ages of ages), Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
[Comment: Hell, Greek, "Hades," Hebrew, "Sheol," not actually a place of torment, but a death which came in by sin, robbing man of his immortality. Keys are emblems of authority, open and shutting at will "the gates of Hades."]
Rev. 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
[Comment: Things which are about to come to pass.]
Rev. 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
[Comment: In regard to the mystery, that signifies the hidden truth, veiled under this symbol, and now revealed. Stars symbolize lordship (Num. 24:17; cf. Daniel 12:8 of faithful teachers; Jude 13).]