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What follows here is a teaching outline of Revelation 1:1-6 from the appendix of an exegetical paper that I wrote on the passage.

Introduction – What comes to mind when you think of the Book of Revelation? Chaos? Date setting? Prophecy conferences? Perhaps a certain book series from the 90s? Sadly, some of the most popular methods of reading and interpreting the Book of Revelation in our day and our place in the world are the most skewed. This brief teaching will set out to bring some clarity to how exactly to understand the book. These opening verses show that this book’s aim is not to be confusing or to instill fear in the people of God. Rather, it aims to plainly reveal truth in a way that comforts and challenges Christ’s church, and its primary theme is the person and work of Jesus Christ in history.

This Book is A Revelation of Jesus Christ (1:1-3) – The book opens with a statement of the book’s nature and purpose. This is a revelation. The idea of a revelation is that something that was once hidden is now being revealed. We should take from this opening that the book of Revelation is not about keeping secrets. We should thus be weary of anyone who seems to gatekeep some sort of special knowledge from the book that is only attainable through this week’s favorite TBN prophet. Our first point here is that the purpose of this book is to openly and plainly reveal the truth.

• This Revelation is From and Of Jesus Christ (1:1a) – The ESV reads, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.” This is a fine translation, but there is some debate as to the preposition that is used here in our English translations. Is this a Revelation “of Jesus Christ,” i.e., about Him? Or is this a Revelation “from Jesus Christ,” i.e., He is the source of it? Some scholars propose a concept that is difficult to capture in English and suggest that both are in view. This is a Revelation from Jesus Christ and about Jesus Christ.
• This Revelation is Given by God the Father to Jesus Christ (1:1b) – Jesus Christ received this revelation from God the Father. We see here that the process of revelation is deeply Trinitarian.
• This Revelation is Given To Show the Things Which Must Soon Take Place (1:1c) – The book of Revelation contains what some have called a “contemporary expectation.” The events described here are predicted to take place soon. Soon means soon. The vast majority of the events described in the book should be expected to take place within the first century.
• This Revelation is Made Known Through Symbols (1:1d) ­– It’s important to note that the word translated here as “made it known” carries the connotation of being made known through symbols. This should serve as an interpretive hint. We shouldn’t interpret this book literally, but symbolically. These symbols are primarily rooted in the Old Testament. Therefore, to understand the book of Revelation, you must know your Old Testament, especially the imagery and symbolism found in apocalyptic writings such as Ezekiel and Daniel.
• This Revelation was Given to His Servant John (1:1e-2) – This revelation was relayed from the Father, to the Son, to this angel, and then to John. Now John’s task is to make it known to the servants of Jesus, that is, all believers. Considering we are here reading the book today, I would say that this has been fairly successful.
• The One Who Reads, Hears, and Keeps this Revelation will be Happy (1:3a) – There is a promise contained here in this statement. The word translated “blessed” here is the same word used in the sermon on the mount. The idea is “happy.” Satisfied in God’s provision and providence. This promise is to those who read, hear, and obey what is written in this book.
• The Time of the Fulfillment of this Revelation is Near (1:3b) – Here we receive the reason that one is blessed for reading, hearing, and keeping the words of this prophecy. It is because the time is near. As mentioned earlier, the opening verses of this book set a contemporary expectation for the fulfillment of most of the events in the book. The reason that is so important for the hearer and reader of this book to take heed is because the expectation is that these events will take place in their generation.

The Person and Work of Jesus is a Comfort for Suffering Churches and Christians (1:4-6)

• This Book is Written to Seven Historic Churches which also Symbolize the Universal Church (1:4a) – We learned here in verse four that John is writing to a real historic audience, the seven churches in Asia Minor. These are churches that are suffering. As we will learn later, some of them are doing quite well and others are not. It is important to note here that these seven churches symbolize the universal church. This is a message for all believers in all places at all times.
• These Seven Churches Receive Grace and Peace from the Triune God (1:4b) – John gives these seven churches a customary New Testament greeting, “Grace and peace.” This is a significant message to churches that are suffering. This is also a greeting that unifies Jewish and Gentile Christians. The Greeks would greet one another with the Greek chaire, which is related to charis or “grace.” The Hebrews would greet one another with shalom or “peace.” John, and other New Testament authors combine these greetings to show that in teh church, there is unity between Jew and Gentile…We learn in the following verses that this grace and peace flows from the Triune God.
• This Grace and Peace is from God the Father (1:4c) – First, this grace and peace flows from the first person of the Trinity, God the Father. This description is rooted in Old Testament descriptions of the nature of God such as Exodus 3:14. The point is that God has always been and will always be.
• This Grace and Peace is from God the Spirit (1:4d) – Second, the text says that this grace and peace flows from the seven spirits before the throne of God. This can be a bit confusing, but note that the number seven in the Bible, and especially in the book is symbolic for wholeness and completion. This is a reference to God the Spirit, the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity.
• This Grace and Peace is from God the Son (1:5a) – Third, this grace and peace flows from God the Son, Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity. Jesus is then identified as the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. This description of Jesus is rooted in a messianic passage found in Psalm 89:27-37.
• Jesus Christ is the Faithful Witness in His Death (1:5b) – This description of Jesus as the faithful witness has to do with His death on the cross. The word for witness here, specifically when used in the book of Revelation, has to do with martyrdom. Jesus was faithful unto death.
• Jesus Christ is Firstborn from the Dead in His Resurrection (1:5c) – This second description of Jesus has to do with His resurrection from the dead. He is the leader of the resurrection of the dead in which we all will participate.
• Jesus Christ is the Ruler of the Kings of the Earth in His Ascension (1:5e) – This third description of Jesus has to do with His ascension and enthronement at the right hand of God. Jesus rules from heaven today over all kings and authorities.
• To Jesus Christ (1:5f-6) – Here, John begins a doxology, praising Jesus Christ for who He is, what He has done, and who He has made us.
• Jesus Christ Loves Us (1:5f) – What a comfort to Christians who suffer. Jesus loves us.
• Jesus Christ Has Freed Us by His Blood (1:5g) – Jesus’ work to free us from our sins by His blood in His death and resurrection is at the center of this book.
• Jesus Christ Has Made Us a Kingdom and Priests (1:6a) – This is past tense. In His work in the incarnation, Jesus has made us a kingdom and priest to God the Father. We participate in the kingdom of God today. We are priests who call a dying world to repentance and faith in Christ.
• Jesus Christ is Worthy of All Glory and Honor (1:6b) – To this Jesus, who loves us, has freed us from our sin by His blood, and has made us a kingdom and priests, to Him be glory and dominion forever. Amen.

Conclusion – From this brief dive into the opening of the book of Revelation, we learn that the first and primary theme of the book is the person and work of Jesus Christ. Keep this in mind as we read and discuss things that may be hard to understand through the rest of the book, Jesus is at the center of all of it.