An angel brings John, a devoted disciple of Christ, to heaven to see what he is to document and prophesy on earth. John has sought righteousness and to carry the message of the Gospel. That dedication and righteous heart to serve led to this great honor of being tasked with this assignment by God. Notice in verse 19, John calls himself our “brother and companion in tribulation”. Seeking righteousness is not easy. It is a daily, hourly, by the minute type of effort. We choose to sow righteousness in our hearts and actions, and God rewards those decisions. We too have the opportunity to continuously work to be more righteous servants of God, just as John.
Christ sits on a throne at the right hand of God and we are reminded here of who Christ is. He is a “faithful witness” supporting us on earth today from His place in heaven. He is the “first begotten of the dead”. His perfect walk with God on earth and His sacrifice eradicated death for those who choose His salvation. He is the “Prince of the kings of the earth”. No earthly king will EVER have power or authority over Him. And He is the “Alpha and Omega”, “the beginning and the end”, “the first and the last”. (1:8, 1:11, 1:17) When Christ returns, He will bring completion.
Christ tells John to fear not, as He holds the “keys of hell and of death”.
18I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. – Revelation 1:18 KJV
We need not fear the events that will occur on the earth during the last days, as Jesus is with us and God is in control. Whenever it is our time to transition from earth, in whatever way God has planned for us, we do not need to fear or worry. Christ and His angels will be with us. He has been given authority by Father God over hell and death. He will not leave any of His sheep in their time of need. He lived on earth, died on the cross, was buried and three days later rose to bring salvation to those who choose Him. He is following God’s timing and plan from heaven, using His authority given by God.
Chapter 1 contains the first mention of Christ’s return in the Book of Revelation. God always provides hope for His children and beginning this book with the visual of Christ’s beautiful and powerful return in the clouds brings us that hope.
7Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. – Revelation 1:7 KJV
“Every eye shall see”, including those “which pierced him”, and “all kindreds of the earth shall wail”. What is described here is a moment of awareness for all creation. Those who pierced Christ died from an earthly perspective thousands of years ago. The Bible often refers to those who have died on earth as having fallen “asleep”. So, they along with all other dead (asleep) and all who are alive at the time will see Christ when He “cometh with clouds.” “All kindreds of the earth”, those who rejected Christ will realize in an instant the error of their ways and there will be no escaping the fate they have chosen. They have rejected God and Christ, following earthly ways and will see Christ coming in great glory. This will be the moment of completion in Christ, the Omega. Including the living and the dead from times past to present, all will be in awe at the point of Christ’s grand return.
Appendix A
Revelation 1 – Christ Elements to Remember
- Christ will come in the clouds
- Every eye will see:
- Those still alive on earth or who have “fallen asleep”
- Those who pierced Him on earth
- All kindreds will wail – those who rejected Christ from both groups above will all wail
- Jesus Christ is (Revelation 1:5):
- “Faithful witness” for us
- “First begotten of the dead”
- “Prince of the kings of the earth”
- Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last (1:8, 1:11, 1:17) (no one will be after Him)
- Heavenly Symbolism of 7:
- Christ holds 7 stars in His hand representing the 7 angels, each assigned to one of the 7 churches John is told to prophesy to.
- Christ is surrounded by 7 candlesticks in heaven, representing the 7 churches.
- Christ is in the center of the churches operating on earth.