Revelation Chapter One, God's Blessing

Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

The book of Revelation comes with a special blessing for those who first read, and then hear the words of this prophecy. There are two camps identified here: those who read Revelation, and those who listen. First there is a blessing to the reader of this prophecy. Bible teachers are flatly told that there is a blessing in reading this prophecy to others. Readers are informed that hearing these words–hearing and genuinely listening–is also a blessing.

Revelation Chapter One, Witnessing

Revelation 1:2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.

I first want to direct our mutual attention to the beginning and end of this verse, “who bore witness…to all things that he saw.” The who of course is the Apostle John. The idea of witnessing is of utmost importance both here and in all of Scripture. Why?

Revelation Chapter One, Authorship

 Revelation 1:1 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,

I have in my possession a copy of the original AV, or King James Version of the Bible. Its title for this book is as such: “The Revelation of St. John the Divine.” The title carries with it a fundamental error in understanding. It is not a revelation of John; it was a revelation TO John, vouchsafed by Jesus Christ.

A (Premature) Year in Review

My blog began back on June 26th, 2009. Now, seventeen years later, I am happy to be posting my 1000th article. The last year has been, from a work perspective, quite rough. Managing my store has been a difficult affair since hiring and training competent employees is growing ever harder as the work force changes. I had changed to a larger store two years prior as well, which brings with it its own challenges.

Two Brothers

Cain and Abel. The first two sons of Adam and Eve, in order of their birth after they were expelled from the garden. Cain’s name means “acquire,” while Abel’s had the less affectionate meaning of “breath or nothing.” It would seem that Eve believed Cain was the promised deliverer that God spoke of in the garden directly after their sinful fall. To that end, she named him in a manner that meant she acquired the man God would send–the Seed of the woman–to overthrow the serpent.