Revelation 1:1 kjv

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:

Revelation 1:1 nkjv

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants?things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,

Revelation 1:1 niv

The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

Revelation 1:1 esv

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

Revelation 1:1 nlt

This is a revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants the events that must soon take place. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant John,

Revelation 1 verses

Revelation 1 1 Meaning

Revelation 1:1 introduces the book as "The Revelation of Jesus Christ," signifying it is an unveiling by and about Jesus Christ. It originates from God the Father, who gave it to Jesus to disclose future events to His bond-servants. These events are divinely determined to unfold with urgency. The message was then communicated through an angel to John, God's chosen servant, who served as the human scribe. This verse establishes the book's divine authority, central subject (Jesus Christ), intended audience (believers), and the manner of its transmission.

Revelation 1 1 Context

Revelation 1:1 serves as the foundational opening statement for the entire book. It immediately informs the reader about the nature and source of the following apocalyptic vision, asserting its divine origin and absolute authority. This verse sets the stage for John's personal testimony in Revelation 1:2 and the profound blessing pronounced upon those who read, hear, and heed its words in Revelation 1:3. The broader chapter context reveals John's vision of the glorified Christ amidst seven lampstands, representing the churches, setting the stage for the specific messages to these churches in chapters 2-3 and the subsequent visions of heavenly worship and eschatological events. Historically, the Book of Revelation was written during a time of intense persecution of Christians, likely under the Roman Emperor Domitian, in the late 1st century AD. John, the author, was exiled on the island of Patmos precisely "because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus." The letter's initial recipients were the seven churches in the Roman province of Asia, who faced not only external imperial pressure to worship the emperor but also internal challenges from false teachings and spiritual complacency. This verse, by declaring the revelation's divine source and urgent relevance, provided assurance, warning, and encouragement, offering a powerful polemic against the ultimate power and dominion of Rome, emphasizing God's ultimate sovereignty through Jesus Christ over all earthly powers.

Revelation 1 1 Word analysis

• "The Revelation" (Gk: Apokalypsis / ἀποκάλυψις): This is the very first word of the book and provides its Greek title. It literally means "an unveiling," "a disclosure," or "a revealing"—taking off a cover to make something visible that was previously hidden. It refers to divine truth being laid bare. It emphasizes that the contents are not human speculation but a divine disclosure. This term contrasts with many human efforts to gain knowledge, emphasizing God's initiation.
• "of Jesus Christ" (Gk: Iesou Christou / Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ): This phrase carries dual significance. It is a revelation from Jesus Christ (subjective genitive, He is the source, receiving it from the Father) and a revelation about Jesus Christ (objective genitive, He is the central subject of the revelation, particularly in His triumph, rule, and final victory). The entire book, therefore, centers on Him: His glory, His return, and His ultimate reign.
• "which God" (Gk: ho theos / ὁ θεός): Refers to God the Father. This identifies the ultimate, absolute source and origin of this profound unveiling. It highlights the Father's sovereignty and His role as the author of all revelation, establishing the supreme authority of the book's message.
• "gave Him" (Gk: edoken auto / ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ): God the Father gave this revelation to His Son, Jesus Christ. This illustrates the divine economy of revelation within the Godhead—the Father transmits His divine will to the Son. It emphasizes Christ's mediatorial role as the recipient and then conveyor of divine truth.
• "to show" (Gk: deixai / δεῖξαι): Means "to make known," "to display," "to exhibit." The purpose of this revelation is for His servants to comprehend these truths clearly, not obscurely. It's intended to enlighten and reveal, rather than conceal.
• "His bond-servants" (Gk: tois doulois autou / τοῖς δούλοις αὐτοῦ): The direct recipients of this revelation are God's devoted followers. Douloi means "slaves" or "bond-servants," signifying complete dedication, loyalty, and obedience to a master. It implies not just ownership but deep, intimate service and submission. This is not for a general, curious audience, but for those dedicated to the Lord, whom God chooses to reveal His plans.
• "things which must" (Gk: ha dei / ἃ δεῖ): "Must" (dei) expresses divine necessity or destiny. These events are not arbitrary but are part of God's predetermined, sovereign plan. They are divinely appointed and therefore inevitable and certain to occur. This gives absolute assurance to the fulfillment of the prophecies.
• "soon take place" (Gk: genesthai en tachei / γενέσθαι ἐν τάχει): The phrase en tachei means "speedily," "quickly," or "shortly." This indicates an urgent imminence, or that once the events begin, they will unfold rapidly. It communicates a sense of readiness and alert expectation for believers, reinforcing the book's practical call to watchfulness and perseverance. This refers more to the swiftness of execution rather than a precise chronological short timeframe, maintaining the message's relevance across generations.
• "and He sent and communicated it" (Gk: kai esemanen / καὶ ἐσήμανεν): This single Greek verb (esemanen) means "to signify," "to indicate by signs," or "to make known." It suggests that the communication was largely through signs, symbols, and visions, fitting the apocalyptic nature of the book. This term confirms the visionary and symbolic method of revelation.
• "by His angel" (Gk: dia tou angelou autou / διὰ τοῦ ἀγγέλου αὐτοῦ): An angel served as the divine messenger in this chain of transmission (God → Jesus → Angel → John → Servants). This highlights the orderly and authoritative process of divine revelation and the role of angels as conduits of God's messages.
• "to His bond-servant John" (Gk: to doulo autou Ioanni / τῷ δούλῳ αὐτοῦ Ἰωάννῃ): John is identified as the human instrument chosen by God. As a "bond-servant," he stands in the tradition of Old Testament prophets (e.g., Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah) who were uniquely chosen and commissioned by God to receive and relay His divine messages. This confirms John's authority as the human author and eyewitness of these divine visions.

Revelation 1 1 Bonus section

• The singular "Revelation" underscores that the entire book is one unified, cohesive disclosure, not a collection of disconnected visions. It is focused on the complete picture of God's plan through Christ.
• The phrase "things which must soon take place" reflects an ancient prophetic tension of imminence: the promise that God's plan is certainly near in the divine timeline, emphasizing a constant state of readiness for believers throughout history rather than pinpointing an exact human calendar date.
• The emphasis on "bond-servants" implicitly challenges any claims of authority or special knowledge by false teachers, as it asserts that God's truth is given to those who faithfully serve Him, providing true spiritual discernment in an age of deceit.

Revelation 1 1 Commentary

Revelation 1:1 is the divinely inspired roadmap to the entire prophetic book, unveiling its profound authority, Christocentric focus, and intended audience. Far from being a hidden or confusing enigma, it is God's deliberate "unveiling" of ultimate reality, designed for clarity. It asserts that the ultimate source of this grand vision is God the Father, who then delegated it to His Son, Jesus Christ, emphasizing Christ's central role as both the Revealer and the Subject of the revelation. The message's distribution flows down a divine hierarchy: Father to Son, Son to an angel, and finally, through that angel, to John, who serves as God's trusted scribe, akin to an Old Testament prophet. The urgency of "things which must soon take place" demands a constant posture of spiritual alertness and perseverance from believers. The nature of the communication, described as "communicated... by signs," prefigures the rich symbolism that permeates the subsequent chapters. This foundational verse sets Revelation apart as a unique and urgent message, intended to equip God's dedicated followers ("bond-servants") with understanding, hope, and resilience in the face of escalating spiritual conflict and final triumph.