Post by boraddict on Dec 26, 2020 12:23:50 GMT -6
Have you ever noticed the twists and turns in Revelation Chapter 1; especially those in Verses 4 and 5.
I was bored on a snowy 26th of December and wondered what might yet be found in this marvelous book. So considering that I spend very little time in the first three chapters I am doing a close look to try and find any further information that might be applicable to our period of time here in the last days. That something of value might be hidden in these passages that is yet to be found. So I am setting the Chapter to a chiasmus as follows:
v. 1
v. 2
v. 3
v. 4
v. 5
v. 6
v. 7
v. 8
v. 9
v. 10-11
v. 12
v. 13
v. 14
v. 15
v. 16
v. 17
v. 18
v. 19
v. 20
Since Chapter 1 has 20 Verses then I am splitting it into two halves with the center two verses as the emphasis of the Chapter. So let's see if that works.
THE CENTER) Rev. 1:10-11 as the center of the chiasmus; and that works because in these two verses we see John telling us that he was in the spirit on the Sabbath day and he heard the Savior speaking behind him. The Savior instructs John to write a book about what he (John) is seeing and send that book to the seven churches. So there we go, and the center was quite easy to identify. Now let's look at the first parallel that is Verses 9 and 12.
THE 1ST PARALLEL) Rev. 1:9, John tells us that he is our brother and companion in tribulation. These words are reassuring, that we in tribulation are not alone but have this brother as a companion in our tribulation. I am sure that when the saints of the early church read this they felt emboldened and reassured by these words from John that are so personal. Next John tells us that he is in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ. So at this point in the verse we have been given four items as follows:
1) John is our brother
2) he is our companion in tribulation
3) he is in the kingdom
4) he is in the patience of Jesus Christ
After the above introductory phase of Verse 1:9 John now tells us the following details concerning his location and why he is there:
5) he is at the island Patmos
6) he is there for the Savior
7) and lastly he is there for the testimony of Jesus Christ. This last portion of Verse 1:9 has several associative links the most revealing of which is Rev. 19:10 that states the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. So John is at the isle of Patmos for the spirit of Prophecy and this is stated quite clearly at Rev. 10:11 wherein he is told by the angel that he must prophesy again to peoples, nations, tongues, and kings. Please consider that John's first book of prophecy is stated in Rev. 1:2 that is the Gospel According to John. So, if John is to prophecy again then it is that he is to write his second book that is the Book of Revelation. Thus, the Book of Revelation is to peoples, nations, tongues and kings and this is reinforced multiple times throughout the book (ie: Rev. 13:7, 14:6, etc.).
The second part of the first parallel is Rev. 1:12 and so we should see some connections between Verse 9 and Verse 12. And how beautiful is that? At Verse 12 we are introduced to the seven lampstands that have some direct association to those of whom John is writing his prophecy from Verse 9. That is, the seven lampstands of Verse 12 have a direct association to the peoples, nations, tongues, and kings to whom John is writing the Book of Revelation. One side note is that the metals often denote a classification level; gold being the highest. Thus, golden lampstands are the very best of the lampstands. Not that there are more lampstands, but if there were then the golden are the very best.
THE 2ND PARALLEL) Next is the second parallel of the Chapter 1 chiasmus that is the association between Verses 8 and 13. Again, how beautiful is that, Rev. 1:8 directly links to Rev. 1:13 showing that the chiasmus parallels are thus far correct.
THE 3RD PARALLEL) Next is the third parallel that is Verses 7 and 14. Isn't it interesting that in Rev. 1:7 we are told that every eye shall see him and then in Rev. 1:14 we are told what he looks like? Clearly the chiasmus parallels are correct at this parallel as well.
THE 4TH PARALLEL) Next is the fourth parallel that is Verses 6 and 15. Wow! Do you know what it means to burn in the furnace? That sin is being removed from you like a smelting and purifying process. It is for this reason that Jesus is shown in Gen. 15:17 as the smoking furnace and another example is that Satan mimics the Savior as the smoking furnace in Rev. 9:2. So here in Rev. 1:15 when we see the Savior having feet as if they burned in a furnace, and this links to Rev. 1:6 wherein Jesus has made kings and priests, then it is clear (IMO) that the saints of Verse 6 were made through a purifying process of tribulation via the Savior as indicated in Verse 15.
THE 5TH PARALLEL) Next is the fifth parallel that is Verses 5 and 16. I love Verse 5 and want to show it in it's chiasmus form as follows:
Rev. 1:5,
"and from Jesus Christ
the faithful witness,
the firstborn of the dead,
and the ruler of kings on earth.
To him who loves us
and has freed us from our sins
by his blood"
Please notice that the emphasis of Verse 5 is that Jesus is ruler of kings on the earth. In fact, the entire verse is about Jesus, but the emphasis is that he rules his kings.
1) Jesus is the firstborn of the dead to him who loves us (the Father)
2) Jesus is the faithful witness who has freed us from our sins
3) and all this was done from Jesus Christ and by his blood
Please notice how Rev. 1:5 links to Rev. 1:16 that Jesus rules over the Christian kings and that they are the seven stars in his right hand. This is evidenced by Rev. 1:20 that the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and he addresses each angel in Chapters 2-3. Secondly, that each angel represents you and I. That is, Jesus is speaking to everyone who reads the Book of Revelation as the seven angels; addressing them seven times throughout Chapters 2 and 3; this is supported via Rev. 22:16-17.
THE 6TH PARALLEL) Next, parallel six, that is Rev. 1:4, 17 that are the beautiful hallmark verses of the chapter (IMO). We are given the greetings from John to us, the seven churches, and he includes peace from Jesus as well as those whom are before his throne; including that he (John) fell down when he seen the Savior. Although the distinctive linking are not so obvious between these two verses it does exist and the chiasmus remains cohesive.
THE 7TH PARALLEL) Next is parallel number seven that is Rev. 1:3, 18. John tells us in Verse 3 that the blessing is upon those who read, hear, and keep the prophecy of the book and this is reinforced in part at Rev. 22:18, while Jesus tells us in Verse 18 that he lives.
THE 8TH PARALLEL) Next is parallel number eight that is Rev. 1:2, 19. And this is so beautiful that John tells us in Verse 2 that it is he who wrote the Gospel According to John, and then in Verse 19 Jesus is telling John that which is to be written in this book; his second prophecy that is the Book of Revelation.
THE 9TH PARALLEL) Lastly is the association between Rev. 1:1, 20 and we need to look at both of these verses in their chiasmus forms:
Rev. 1:1,
The revelation of Jesus Christ,
which God agave him
to show to his servants
the things that must soon take place.
He made it known
by sending his angel
to his servant John,
Rev. 1:20,
As for the mystery
of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand,
and the seven golden lampstands,
the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches,
and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
The first thing that really jumps out is the association between the mystery and the seven lampstands that are the seven churches. Please notice from Rev. 1:13 that Jesus is in the midst of the seven churches. Thus, the mystery of God that is finished (Rev. 10:7) has an association to the seven churches that are referenced in Verse 1:20. That is, the mystery and the churches have an association that pertains to the seven stars that are the angels of the churches. Better stated, the angels of the churches that are the Christian readers of the Book of Revelation have an association to the mystery. Said mystery is the thing that is about to take place as is referenced in Rev. 1:1. Basically what it means is that the saints are in Jesus' right hand as the tribulation progresses. Be of good cheer.
Post Script: Some details of how Chapter 19 relates to Chapter 1.
1) Rev. 19:11 links to Rev. 1:11-13 wherein the heavens are opened
2) Rev. 19:12 links to Rev. 1:14 in that the eyes are a flame. Please notice that this link extends to Rev. 1:7 via the Chapter 1 chiasmus; however, in this verse the reference is to the eyes of all the world and especially the enemies of Jesus that pierced (attacked) him.
3) Rev. 19:13-14 link to Rev. 1:15 (the Savior), and Rev. 1:6 from the Chapter 1 chiasmus (the armies of God).
4) Rev. 19:14-17 links to Rev. 1:16 that has three parts as follows:
a) the seven stars that are the angels of Chapters 2-3 links to the armies of God in Rev. 19:14
b) the sword that comes from the Savior's mouth linking to Rev. 19:15-16
c) the countenance as the sun that links to the angel with a loud voice in Rev. 19:17
I was bored on a snowy 26th of December and wondered what might yet be found in this marvelous book. So considering that I spend very little time in the first three chapters I am doing a close look to try and find any further information that might be applicable to our period of time here in the last days. That something of value might be hidden in these passages that is yet to be found. So I am setting the Chapter to a chiasmus as follows:
v. 1
v. 2
v. 3
v. 4
v. 5
v. 6
v. 7
v. 8
v. 9
v. 10-11
v. 12
v. 13
v. 14
v. 15
v. 16
v. 17
v. 18
v. 19
v. 20
Since Chapter 1 has 20 Verses then I am splitting it into two halves with the center two verses as the emphasis of the Chapter. So let's see if that works.
THE CENTER) Rev. 1:10-11 as the center of the chiasmus; and that works because in these two verses we see John telling us that he was in the spirit on the Sabbath day and he heard the Savior speaking behind him. The Savior instructs John to write a book about what he (John) is seeing and send that book to the seven churches. So there we go, and the center was quite easy to identify. Now let's look at the first parallel that is Verses 9 and 12.
THE 1ST PARALLEL) Rev. 1:9, John tells us that he is our brother and companion in tribulation. These words are reassuring, that we in tribulation are not alone but have this brother as a companion in our tribulation. I am sure that when the saints of the early church read this they felt emboldened and reassured by these words from John that are so personal. Next John tells us that he is in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ. So at this point in the verse we have been given four items as follows:
1) John is our brother
2) he is our companion in tribulation
3) he is in the kingdom
4) he is in the patience of Jesus Christ
After the above introductory phase of Verse 1:9 John now tells us the following details concerning his location and why he is there:
5) he is at the island Patmos
6) he is there for the Savior
7) and lastly he is there for the testimony of Jesus Christ. This last portion of Verse 1:9 has several associative links the most revealing of which is Rev. 19:10 that states the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. So John is at the isle of Patmos for the spirit of Prophecy and this is stated quite clearly at Rev. 10:11 wherein he is told by the angel that he must prophesy again to peoples, nations, tongues, and kings. Please consider that John's first book of prophecy is stated in Rev. 1:2 that is the Gospel According to John. So, if John is to prophecy again then it is that he is to write his second book that is the Book of Revelation. Thus, the Book of Revelation is to peoples, nations, tongues and kings and this is reinforced multiple times throughout the book (ie: Rev. 13:7, 14:6, etc.).
The second part of the first parallel is Rev. 1:12 and so we should see some connections between Verse 9 and Verse 12. And how beautiful is that? At Verse 12 we are introduced to the seven lampstands that have some direct association to those of whom John is writing his prophecy from Verse 9. That is, the seven lampstands of Verse 12 have a direct association to the peoples, nations, tongues, and kings to whom John is writing the Book of Revelation. One side note is that the metals often denote a classification level; gold being the highest. Thus, golden lampstands are the very best of the lampstands. Not that there are more lampstands, but if there were then the golden are the very best.
THE 2ND PARALLEL) Next is the second parallel of the Chapter 1 chiasmus that is the association between Verses 8 and 13. Again, how beautiful is that, Rev. 1:8 directly links to Rev. 1:13 showing that the chiasmus parallels are thus far correct.
THE 3RD PARALLEL) Next is the third parallel that is Verses 7 and 14. Isn't it interesting that in Rev. 1:7 we are told that every eye shall see him and then in Rev. 1:14 we are told what he looks like? Clearly the chiasmus parallels are correct at this parallel as well.
THE 4TH PARALLEL) Next is the fourth parallel that is Verses 6 and 15. Wow! Do you know what it means to burn in the furnace? That sin is being removed from you like a smelting and purifying process. It is for this reason that Jesus is shown in Gen. 15:17 as the smoking furnace and another example is that Satan mimics the Savior as the smoking furnace in Rev. 9:2. So here in Rev. 1:15 when we see the Savior having feet as if they burned in a furnace, and this links to Rev. 1:6 wherein Jesus has made kings and priests, then it is clear (IMO) that the saints of Verse 6 were made through a purifying process of tribulation via the Savior as indicated in Verse 15.
THE 5TH PARALLEL) Next is the fifth parallel that is Verses 5 and 16. I love Verse 5 and want to show it in it's chiasmus form as follows:
Rev. 1:5,
"and from Jesus Christ
the faithful witness,
the firstborn of the dead,
and the ruler of kings on earth.
To him who loves us
and has freed us from our sins
by his blood"
Please notice that the emphasis of Verse 5 is that Jesus is ruler of kings on the earth. In fact, the entire verse is about Jesus, but the emphasis is that he rules his kings.
1) Jesus is the firstborn of the dead to him who loves us (the Father)
2) Jesus is the faithful witness who has freed us from our sins
3) and all this was done from Jesus Christ and by his blood
Please notice how Rev. 1:5 links to Rev. 1:16 that Jesus rules over the Christian kings and that they are the seven stars in his right hand. This is evidenced by Rev. 1:20 that the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and he addresses each angel in Chapters 2-3. Secondly, that each angel represents you and I. That is, Jesus is speaking to everyone who reads the Book of Revelation as the seven angels; addressing them seven times throughout Chapters 2 and 3; this is supported via Rev. 22:16-17.
THE 6TH PARALLEL) Next, parallel six, that is Rev. 1:4, 17 that are the beautiful hallmark verses of the chapter (IMO). We are given the greetings from John to us, the seven churches, and he includes peace from Jesus as well as those whom are before his throne; including that he (John) fell down when he seen the Savior. Although the distinctive linking are not so obvious between these two verses it does exist and the chiasmus remains cohesive.
THE 7TH PARALLEL) Next is parallel number seven that is Rev. 1:3, 18. John tells us in Verse 3 that the blessing is upon those who read, hear, and keep the prophecy of the book and this is reinforced in part at Rev. 22:18, while Jesus tells us in Verse 18 that he lives.
THE 8TH PARALLEL) Next is parallel number eight that is Rev. 1:2, 19. And this is so beautiful that John tells us in Verse 2 that it is he who wrote the Gospel According to John, and then in Verse 19 Jesus is telling John that which is to be written in this book; his second prophecy that is the Book of Revelation.
THE 9TH PARALLEL) Lastly is the association between Rev. 1:1, 20 and we need to look at both of these verses in their chiasmus forms:
Rev. 1:1,
The revelation of Jesus Christ,
which God agave him
to show to his servants
the things that must soon take place.
He made it known
by sending his angel
to his servant John,
Rev. 1:20,
As for the mystery
of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand,
and the seven golden lampstands,
the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches,
and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
The first thing that really jumps out is the association between the mystery and the seven lampstands that are the seven churches. Please notice from Rev. 1:13 that Jesus is in the midst of the seven churches. Thus, the mystery of God that is finished (Rev. 10:7) has an association to the seven churches that are referenced in Verse 1:20. That is, the mystery and the churches have an association that pertains to the seven stars that are the angels of the churches. Better stated, the angels of the churches that are the Christian readers of the Book of Revelation have an association to the mystery. Said mystery is the thing that is about to take place as is referenced in Rev. 1:1. Basically what it means is that the saints are in Jesus' right hand as the tribulation progresses. Be of good cheer.
Post Script: Some details of how Chapter 19 relates to Chapter 1.
1) Rev. 19:11 links to Rev. 1:11-13 wherein the heavens are opened
2) Rev. 19:12 links to Rev. 1:14 in that the eyes are a flame. Please notice that this link extends to Rev. 1:7 via the Chapter 1 chiasmus; however, in this verse the reference is to the eyes of all the world and especially the enemies of Jesus that pierced (attacked) him.
3) Rev. 19:13-14 link to Rev. 1:15 (the Savior), and Rev. 1:6 from the Chapter 1 chiasmus (the armies of God).
4) Rev. 19:14-17 links to Rev. 1:16 that has three parts as follows:
a) the seven stars that are the angels of Chapters 2-3 links to the armies of God in Rev. 19:14
b) the sword that comes from the Savior's mouth linking to Rev. 19:15-16
c) the countenance as the sun that links to the angel with a loud voice in Rev. 19:17
