Revelation 1:1-12 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 1:6

And hath made us kings and priests ; rather, as in the Revised Version, and he made us (to be) a kingdom, (to be) priests. "Made us" is not coordinate with "loosed us;" the sentence makes a fresh start. "Kingdom," not "kings," is the right reading. Christians are nowhere said to be kings. Collectively they are a kingdom—"a kingdom of priests" ( Exodus 19:6 ), or, as St. Peter, following the LXX ., gives it, "a royal priesthood" ( 1 Peter 2:9 ). Each member of Christ shares in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 1:7

He cometh . He who loveth us and cleansed us and made us to be a kingdom will assuredly come. While interpreting the verse of the second advent, we need not exclude the coming to "those who pierced him" in the destruction of Jerusalem, and to "the tribes of the earth" in the breakup of the Roman empire. With the clouds. This probably refers to Mark 14:62 , "Ye shall see the Son of man … coming with the clouds of heaven" (comp. Daniel 7:13 , "Behold, one like the Son of man came with... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 1:7

The outlook: the second coming of our Lord. £ There are one or two more introductory themes presented to us, before we are fairly launched on the exposition of the visions and scenery of this book. In this verse we have a summing up of its specific outlook. The apostolic seer beholds the Son of man enthroned in heaven, and unfolds, in symbol, the movements on earth till the Lord returns again. Hence the view which bounds the scene is this—"he cometh." We propose in this homily to set... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 1:7

The mourning at the coming of the Lord. "Behold, he cometh with clouds," etc. For the parallels and explanations of this mourning, we must turn to Zechariah 12:10 , and to our Lord's words in Matthew 24:30 . These show that the mourning will be of very varied kind. There will be that contrasted sorrow of which St. Paul tells when he speaks of the "godly sorrow" and "the sorrow of the world." The former, that which will be the result of the outpouring of "the Spirit of grace and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 1:7-8

It is difficult to determine the exact connexion of these verses with one another, and with what precedes and follows. It seems best to make Revelation 1:7 a kind of appendix to the salutation, and Revelation 1:8 a kind of prelude to the whole book. They each give us one of the fundamental thoughts of the Apocalypse; Revelation 1:7 , Christ's certain return to judgment; Revelation 1:8 , his perfect Divinity. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 1:8

A prelude to the book. In the simple majesty of its solemn language it reminds us of the opening of St. John's Gospel and of his First Epistle. "I am the Alpha and the Omega" is here not followed by "the Beginning and the End," which the Vulgate and some other authorities insert from Revelation 21:6 and Revelation 22:13 . Who is "the Lord," that utters these words? Surely the Christ, as seems clear from Revelation 22:17 ; Revelation 2:8 ; Revelation 22:13 . To attribute them to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 1:8

The August Speaker declaring his Name from the throne. One theme alone remains before we enter on the visions of this book. Ere we are told what is said, we have once more to be assured—Who says it? An all-important question, on the answer to which the value of what follows entirely depends, inasmuch as the Speaker declares himself, as if it were from him that the revelation proceeds, and as if it were from his lips that the words went forth. This being the case, since, according to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 1:8-9

A transcendent Being, and a remarkable character. "I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending," etc. Hero we have two objects arresting our attention and demanding thought. I. A BEING WHOSE EXISTENCE IS TRANSCENDENT . "I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come." Although these words are considered of doubtful authority, and probably an interpolation, they are a representation of the Infinite One.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 1:9

In the tribulation and kingdom and patience. The order of the words is surprising; we should have expected "kingdom" to have come first or last. But "and patience" seems to be added epexegetically, to show how the tribulation leads to the kingdom (comp. Revelation 2:2 , Revelation 2:3 , Revelation 2:19 ; Revelation 3:10 ; Revelation 13:10 ; Revelation 14:12 ). "In your patience ye shall win your souls" ( Luke 21:19 ). "Tribulation worketh patience" ( Romans 5:3 ); and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 1:9-19

The Saviour's revelation of himself. We may divide our Saviour's teaching about himself into three parts, in chronological order. There are As stage succeeded stage, the words became richer in glory. During the forty days after the Resurrection, the teachings concerning himself were in advance of those which preceded it (cf. Luke 24:46 , Luke 24:47 ). And those on "the Lord's day" to the exile were greater than all the rest. What a Lord's day that was for the prisoner! Many would... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 1:6

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 1:7

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 1:7

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 1:7

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 1:7-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 1:8

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 1:8

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 1:8-9

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 1:9

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 1:9-19

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