Revelation 1:5-18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 1:9

I, John, who also am your brother ,.... Here begins the narrative of the visions and prophecies of this book, the former verses containing a general preface to the whole; and this, and the two following verses, are the introduction to the first vision, which John saw; who describes himself by his name, "I John", the evangelist and apostle, a servant of Christ, and a beloved disciple of his; one that was well known to the seven churches to whom he writes, and who had no reason to doubt of his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 1:10

I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day ,.... Not on the Jewish sabbath, which was now abolished, nor was that ever called the Lord's day, and had John meant that, he would have said on the sabbath day; much less the Jewish passover, but the first day of the week is designed; so the Ethiopic version renders it "on the first day"; and is so called just as the ordinance of the supper is called the Lord's supper, being instituted by the Lord, and the Lord's table, 1 Corinthians 10:21 , and that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 1:11

Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last ,.... These characters, which are repeated here; see Gill on Revelation 1:8 ; are left out in the Alexandrian copy, the Complutensian edition, the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions; but are very fitly retained, to point out the person that speaks; to express his dignity, deity, and eternity; to excite the attention of John, and to give weight to what he said: and, what thou seest, write in a book ; that it might remain,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 1:12

And I turned to see the voice that spake with me ,.... The Complutensian edition reads, "and there I turned": and so the Arabic version; that is, to see who it was that spoke, from whom the voice came, and by whom it was uttered; see Exodus 20:18 , and being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks ; which represented the seven churches, Revelation 1:20 ; in allusion to the seven lamps in the candlestick of the sanctuary, Exodus 25:37 ; compared to "candlesticks", for the use of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 1:13

And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the son of man ,.... By whom is meant not an angel, for he speaks of himself as a divine Person, as the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, phrases not applicable to any created beings; and of himself also as having been dead, which angels are not capable of, and of living again, and of living for evermore, and having power over death and the grave, which no creature has; yea, he calls himself expressly the Son of God, ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 1:14

His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow ,.... In allusion to the white head and hairs of old men, said to be hoary, or like the hoar frost, and compared to an almond tree in bloom, Ecclesiastes 12:5 ; and here to wool and snow for whiteness; see Ezekiel 27:18 ; and according to the Jews F16 T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 54. 1. Maimon. & Bartenora in Misn. Sabbat, c. 5. sect. 2. , צמר לבן , "white wool", is the wool of a lamb just born, about which a cloth... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 1:15

And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace ,.... By which is meant, not his human nature in a suffering state; or his people, the meaner and lower parts of his mystical body, in a like state; or his apostles and ministers, who are supporters of his church, and run to and fro with spiritual knowledge, for which, though they suffer much, are permanent and glorious; but either the power of Christ in bearing up and supporting his people, in the care and government and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 1:16

And he had in his right hand seven stars ,.... The angels or pastors of the seven churches, Revelation 1:20 . The ministers of the Gospel are compared to stars, because of their efficient cause, God, who has made them, and fixed them in their proper place, and for his glory; and because of the matter of them, being the same with the heavens, so ministers are of the same nature with the churches; and because of their form, light, which they receive from the sun, so preachers of the Gospel... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 1:17

And when I saw him ,.... The glorious person here described, who was just behind him, and of whom he had a full view, being so near him: I fell at his feet as dead ; through consternation and fear, the sight was so amazing and terrible; the appearance of a divine person in any degree of majesty and glory, has had some considerable effect upon men, even upon the best of men; but John seems to be more affected with it than any, as the vision was the more grand and illustrious: Manoah was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 1:18

I am he that liveth ,.... As the eternal God, who has life in himself, originally, essentially, and inderivatively, and is the fountain and author of life to others; and who ever lived as the Mediator and Redeemer, and still does, and ever will, yea, even when he was dead as man: and was dead ; he died the death of the cross, for the sins of his people, in due time, and but once; and it was but a short time he was held under the power of death, and will never die any more: and... read more

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