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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 1:9-20

We have now come to that glorious vision which the apostle had of the Lord Jesus Christ, when he came to deliver this revelation to him, where observe, I. The account given of the person who was favoured with this vision. He describes himself, 1. By his present state and condition. He was the brother and companion of these churches in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Christ. He was, at their time, as the rest of true Christians were, a persecuted man, banished, and perhaps... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 1:10-11

1:10-11 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a great voice, like the sound of a trumpet, saying: "Write what you see in a book, and send it to the seven Churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna, and to Pergamos and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea." Historically this is an extremely interesting passage for it is the first reference in literature to the Lord's Day. We have often spoken of the Day of the Lord, that day of wrath and judgment... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 1:12-13

1:12-13 And I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me; and, when I had turned, I saw seven golden lampstands, and, in the midst of the lampstands, one like a son of man, clothed in a robe that reached to his feet, and girt about the breasts with a golden girdle. We now begin on the first of John's visions; and we shall see that his mind is so saturated with Scripture that element after element in the picture has an Old Testament background and counterpart. He says that he turned... 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

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

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

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