revelation-1:8-16-web

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 1:9

Your brother - A Christian, begotten of God, and incorporated in the heavenly family. Companion in tribulation - Suffering under the persecution in which you also suffer. In the kingdom - For we are a kingdom of priests unto God. And patience of Jesus - Meekly bearing all indignities, privations, and sufferings, for the sake and after the example of our Lord and Master. The isle that is called Patmos - This island is one of the Sporades, and lies in the Aegean Sea, between... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 1:10

I was in the Spirit - That is, I received the Spirit of prophecy, and was under its influence when the first vision was exhibited. The Lord's day - The first day of the week, observed as the Christian Sabbath, because on it Jesus Christ rose from the dead; therefore it was called the Lord's day, and has taken place of the Jewish Sabbath throughout the Christian world. And heard behind me a great voice - This voice came unexpectedly and suddenly. He felt himself under the Divine... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 1:11

I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and - This whole clause is wanting in ABC, thirty-one others; some editions; the Syriac, Coptic, Ethiopic, Armenian, Slavonic, Vulgate, Arethas, Andreas, and Primasius. Griesbach has left it out of the text. Saying - What thou seest, write in a book - Carefully note down every thing that is represented to thee. John had the visions from heaven; but he described them in his own language and manner. Send it unto the seven Churches - The... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 1:12

And I turned For he had heard the voice behind him. To see the voice; i.e., the person from whom the voice came. Seven golden candlesticks - Ἑπτα λυχνιας χρυσας· Seven golden lamps. It is absurd to say, a golden silver, or brazen candlestick. These seven lamps represented the seven Churches, in which the light of God was continually shining, and the love of God continually burning. And they are here represented as golden, to show how precious they were in the sight of God. This is a... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 1:13

Like unto the Son of man - This seems a reference to Daniel 7:13 . This was our blessed Lord himself, Revelation 1:18 . Clothed with a garment down to the foot - This is a description of the high priest, in his sacerdotal robes. See these described at large in the notes on Exodus 28:4 , etc., Jesus is our high priest, even in heaven. He is still discharging the sacerdotal functions before the throne of God. Golden girdle - The emblem both of regal and sacerdotal dignity. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 1:14

His head and his hairs were white like wool - This was not only an emblem of his antiquity, but it was the evidence of his glory; for the whiteness or splendor of his head and hair doubtless proceeded from the rays of light and glory which encircled his head, and darted from it in all directions. The splendor around the head was termed by the Romans nimbus, and by us a glory; and was represented round the heads of gods, deified persons, and saints. It is used in the same way through almost... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 1:15

His feet like unto fine brass - An emblem of his stability and permanence, brass being considered the most durable of all metallic substances or compounds. The original word, χαλκολιβανον , means the famous aurichalcum , or factitious metal, which, according to Suidas, was ειδος ηλεκτρου, τιμιωτερον χρυσου , "a kind of amber, more precious than gold." It seems to have been a composition of gold, silver, and brass, and the same with the Corinthian brass, so highly famed and valued;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 1:16

In his right hand seven stars - The stars are afterwards interpreted as representing the seven angels, messengers, or bishops of the seven Churches. Their being in the right hand of Christ shows that they are under his special care and most powerful protection. See below. Out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword - This is no doubt intended to point out the judgments about to be pronounced by Christ against the rebellious Jews and persecuting Romans; God's judgments were just now... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 1:1-20

Revelation 3:1-22 THE INTRODUCTION . Most writers agree that the first three chapters are introductory. They may be thus subdivided: Revelation 1:1-3 , the superscription; Revelation 1:4-8 , the address and greeting; Revelation 1:9-20 , the introductory vision; Revelation 2:1-29 ; Revelation 3:1-22 , the epistles to the seven Churches of Asia. The earliest systematic commentator on the Apocalypse in the Greek Church, Andreas of Caesarea, in Cappadocia... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 1:4-8

The address and greeting. Of this section only Revelation 1:4-6 are, strictly speaking, the salutation; Revelation 1:7 , Revelation 1:8 constitute a kind of summary, or prelude— Revelation 1:7 being more closely connected with what precedes, Revelation 1:8 with what follows. The salutation proper ( Revelation 1:4-6 ) should be compared with the salutations in St. Paul's Epistles. read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 1:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 1:10

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 1:11

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 1:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 1:13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 1:14

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 1:15

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 1:16

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 1:1-20

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 1:4-8

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