The Revelation Revealed, Chapter 1 · Verse 1-3 – Verse 2
Chap. I. Verſe 1, 2, 3.
Ver. 1. The Revelation of Jeſus Chriſt, which God gave unto him, to ſhew unto his ſervants things which muſt ſhortly come to paſs, and he ſent and ſignified it by his Angel unto his ſervant John.
Ver. 2. Who bare Record of the word of God, and of the Teſtimony of Jeſus Chriſt, and of all things that he ſaw.
Ver. 3. Bleſſed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this Propheſie, and keep thoſe things which are written therein; for the time is at hand.
HAving formerly by way of Introduction premiſed ſome things, and amongſt the reſt, who is the Author of this Revelation, and that is Jeſus Chriſt; and therefore here it is called, The Revelation of Ieſus Chriſt; becauſe he, as the Mediator of his Church, received it from the boſome of the Father, in an unſpeakable manner, and made it known by his ſervant Iohn, for the good and comfort of his ſervants, the Church and Saints of God, from this word or Title, foreign, or Revelation, you may obſerve,
Obſerv. 1. That this is a book of Truths and Propheſies not hidden and ſealed, but made known and revealed for the comfort and edification of the church of Chriſt. It is a Revelation of things and paſſages which muſt ſhortly come to paſs, verſe 3. And how with reaſon could a bleſſing be promiſed to the keeping of the words of this Propheſie, if it were not known what was to be read, heard, and kept? We have further the teſtimony of the Spirit for it, cap. 10. v 8. That the little book was an open book, wherein is contained the great revolutions of the Church, until the end of all; and in chap. 22. v. 10. there is a poſitive command not to ſeal the propheſies of this book, for the time is at hand.
Obſerv. 2. From the Author of the Revelation, Jeſus Chriſt, obſerve; That all good things that God hath in his counſel determined to beſtow and give unto his Church, he doth give and beſtow them in, by, and thorow Jeſus Chriſt. He is the Lamb ſlain from the foundation of the world; the ſame yeſterday, to day, and for ever: He was the Angel of the Covenant, and the keeper of Iſrael of old, and is the ſame to us for ever: It was he that bruiſed the Serpents head in the beginning, upon our parents firſt tranſgreſſion, and it is he that is more then conqueror over all the powers of darkneſs, now, and for ever. He was the ſame ſpiritual rock and way of ſalvation to the Patriarchs of old, as he is now unto us, and none ever did or ſhall come to the father, or receive good from him, but in, by, and thorow the Son, who is the true light, that lightneth every one that cometh into the world; ſo that if Chriſt be yours, then all is yours, whether things preſent, or things to come, for Chriſt is God's. 1 Cor. 3.22, 23. Laſtly, he is the high Steward, and great Diſpenſer in God's Kingdom; All power is given unto him in heaven and in earth.
Obſerv. 3. That that Propheſie which comes from ſo ſure an Author as Jeſus Chriſt, muſt infallibly be true, and come to paſs: for he is, and always was the great Prophet of his Church; it was he that gave viſions and Propheſies to the Prophets, Iſaiah, Ieremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel; ſomtimes by his miniſtring ſpirits, the Angels; ſomtime by himſelf, in the appearance of the likeneſs of the ſon of man, Ezek. 1. v. 26. And all know, that their propheſies ſtood ſure, and were accompliſhed in their reſpective ſeaſons: But as unto the ſtedfaſtneſs and faithfulneſs of this book of Propheſies, ſee what Chriſt himſelf teſtifies in Rev. 3.7. & 14. and in ch. ult. v. 6. Theſe things ſaith the Son of God, who is the faithful and true witneſs; therefore of moſt ſure performance in God's appointed ſeaſons.
From the words, which God gave unto him, to ſhew unto his ſervants things which muſt ſhortly come to paſs, Obſerve.
1. That Chriſt's ſervants are very privie to Gods counſels, and knows much of his deſignes. This Chriſt hath verified, Firſt, From that ground of union which is between Chriſt and his members; for being once become his members or ſervants, then they in Chriſt, and Chriſt in them; and according to that, 1 John 2.20. They have an unction from him that is holy, and they know all things; ſo that they that have the Son, have the Father alſo; for they both are one in will, counſel, power, and eſſence, John 17.21, 22. And the ſecrets of the Lord are with thoſe that fear him.
2. They know much of the mind of God in all the combuſtions, changes, and revolutions of this world. Many think that they come by chance, ill fortune, or for want of foreſight in management of State affairs; but the ſervants of God know, that the hand of God is in all thoſe revolutions and State-ſhakings, and that there can no evil befal unto the City, but that there is the providence of God in it, directing and over-ruling it unto its end; ſo that they do foreſee, that this change, and that alteration in the world will come too, and can rightly conclude, that all tend (as in a chain of providences) to bring about God's great end, in the exaltation of Chriſt's Throne, and the pulling down his enemies.
Obſerv. 2. God reſerved the more full revelation of all things concerning the changes and revolutions of the Church and State, and the end of all, unto the day of Chriſts exaltation in glory. Chriſt on earth, was not ſo glorious as Chriſt in heaven; he had not ſo full commiſſion to ſend out ſo much of his Spirit while he was on earth, as when he was in heaven, John 7.39. So in like manner, it is no ſin to ſay, that God had not communicated unto Chriſt's manhood, whiles here on earth, the compleat knowledge of times and ſeaſons, and the end of all; for he is ſaid to grow in knowledge; and therefore according to his manhood, whiles here on earth, might be ignorant in ſome things: But yet it is clear, the Father revealed it to him when he aſcended into heaven, that he might reveal it to his Church, as the due reward of all his ſufferings, chap. 5. 9. Thou art worthy to take the Book, and open the Seals thereof, for thou wast ſlain, &c.
Which muſt ſhortly come to paſs. See verſ. 3. on theſe words, The time is at hand.
And he ſent and ſignified it by his Angel unto his ſervant John.
From theſe words you may obſerve, That God reveals theſe Propheſies, not immediately from himſelf, but mediately, and by inſtruments.
Firſt, God gives this Revelation to Chriſt, Chriſt gives diſcovery, partly himſelf, and partly gives commiſſion to his Angels for the ſame. Thirdly, The Angels inſtruct John. Fourthly, John directeth the ſame to the ſeven Churches. And fifthly, From the ſeven Churches, they are left to all the Churches of Chriſt, for information, unto the end of the world. The infinity of God, and the finiteneſs of creatures are not compatible, therefore God uſes inſtruments ſutable to our capacities, for diſcovery of his mind.
Obſerv. 2. From the Meſſenger or Angel, by whom partly this propheſie was ſent, Obſerve, That Chriſt employs Angels in great ſervices for his Church. Angels were the firſt publiſhers and preachers of Chriſts birth, an Angel tells the Apoſtles that Chriſt ſhould return in that manner they had ſeen him go up to heaven, Acts 1.11. Angels tells Abraham and Lot what God would do to Sodom; Chriſt tells John, Rev. 22.16. That he ſent his Angels to teſtifie thoſe things in the Churches. The Angels are made miniſtring ſpirits for the ſervice of the church, and their ſervice is more manifeſt in theſe particulars.
1. They inform us of God's will, and God of our ways; they aſcend and deſcend, Zac. 1.11. Gen. 18.19.
2. They oppoſe the enemies of Chriſt and his Church, Rev. 12.7. Dan. 10.20. Numb. 21.22.
3. They execute the judgements of God upon his enemies, Exo. 12.23. Gen. 19.11.13. &c. Iſa. 37, 36. Rev. 16. throughout.
4. They defend the godly, both againſt wicked men, wicked ſpirits, and wicked practiſes, Rev, 7.1, 2, 3, &c. Pſal. 34.7. and 91.11. Gen. 32.1, 2. 2 King. 6.14, 15, &c.
5. Next after the ſpirit of Chriſt, they comfort the afflicted in their diſtreſſes, Luke 1.30. Acts 10.4. and 27.24. Dan. 6.10, 11, 12. Luke 22.43.
6. They are God's reapers, and gatherers of God's elect at the end of the world, Mat. 24.31.
From the perſon to whom this propheſie was ſent, and revealed by the Angel, under this relation of his ſervant John; what this Iohn was, is made fully to appear in the preliminary diſcourſe unto the Title, it was Iohn the brother of Iames, our Lord's kinſman, the beloved diſciple, a great Pillar and Apoſtle in the Church of Chriſt, and yet he is here deſcribed under the title and relation of ſervant, not only ſo by right of creation, but of redemption, ſpecial right, covenant, and ſervice.
From which obſerve, That to be related to Chriſt by way of ſervice, is a higher priviledge then any outward relation to him. Better be Chriſt's bondman, then his kinſman; inward priviledges are more honourable then carnal; Mary was happier in carrying Chriſt in her heart, then in her womb. Iohn glories more to be Chriſt's ſervant then his coſin, Mat. 12.47, 48, &c. Chriſt profeſſeth, that they are his kindred, who ſhall do the will of his father: and he that is related to Chriſt in grace and faith, is as ſure of his love and acceptation, as any of his neareſt friends or kinſmen.
Obſerv. 2. It is man's greateſt honour to be Chriſt's ſervant. It was a curſe upon Cain, Gen. 9. to be a ſervant of ſervants; but to be Chriſt's ſervant, is not only free, but noble: Iohn, though he was a great pillar, a prophetical Apoſtle, the darling Diſciple, yet Chriſt calls him but his ſervant: Paul, though he were the great Apoſtle of the Gentiles, and ſo calls himſelf, and glories in the priviledge, and that he was an Hebrew of the Hebrews, Phil. 3.5. that is, born of the ancient Hebrew race and linage, and one mighty in the Law, brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, yet how often doth Paul inculcate in his Epiſtles, Paul the ſervant of Ieſus Chriſt? Rom. 1.1. Phil. 1.1. &c. Tit. 1.1. &c. David, a King, ſhould rather glory to be a ſervant unto God, and a door-keeper in his houſe, then to live in the courts of Princes.
Obſerv. 3. If the higheſt in repute and office in Chriſt's church be but ſervants, then not lords; the grave Apoſtles, Paul, James, John, are but ſervants, and would be accounted but as the Miniſters of Chriſt, 1 Cor. 4.1. and not as lords and maſters over the churches faith, 2 Cor. 1.24. 1 Pet. 5.3. Chriſt alone is the great Dictator and Impoſer of Tyes and Rules upon the conſcience of his people, Matth. 23.13. The greateſt Apoſtle, Biſhop, Paſtor, or Elder, deſerves but the honour of a Servant, Miniſter, or Steward in the church, not of a Lord and Maſter; their work is a work of ſervice, to perſwade, entreat, convince by reaſons, not to impoſe, dictate, and compel: In ſhort, they can impoſe nothing as neceſſary to be believed, done, and practiſed, which is not according to the mind of God; and that, neither in their own name, or for their own ends; for they are ſervants, not at their own diſpoſe, but at the call, beck, and direction of another, even of their Lord and Maſter, Chriſt.
There is alſo ſomwhat to be conſidered in that, when Chriſt preciſely ſets down, and takes notice by name to whom he gives this Propheſie, His ſervant John.
Whence note, 1. That the truth of a Propheſie depends much for credit, on the credit and reputation of the Relator. John was Chriſt's beloved Diſciple, moſt highly illuminated in the myſteries of the Eternal Word of God, John was a Prophet, and the laſt that had prophetical Viſions, to a full diſcovery of the ſtate of things to the end of the world, and therefore there is an Anathema gone forth againſt all perſons that ſhall add or diminiſh from the words of this propheſie, in the 18 and 19 verſes of chap. 22. for there is no other diſcovery of the ſtate of affairs, then what is in this preſent book, to be expected until the end of all; and therefore the Spirit of God, in the ſecond verſe, the better to gain belief and credit unto the Truth of this propheſie, and unto the ſubordinate Inſtrument and Author thereof, deſcribes his Excellencies, Offices, Gifts, and Qualities, in theſe words.
Verſe 2. Who bare Record of the Word of God, and of the Teſtimony of Jeſus Chriſt, and of all things that he ſaw.
You have in the words foreign, Who witneſsed a Record, or bare a ſure Teſtimony; and that of three things. Firſt, Of the Word of God. Secondly, Of Jeſus Chriſt. Thirdly, Of All things that he ſaw. Wherein two ſenſes or Interpretations offer themſelves to the view: Whether this Record be to be taken ſingly, as Iohn was an Evangeliſt, and bare teſtimony of the Divinity of the Word, as one with God, and that Word was God, Iohn 1.1. and this Word was made fleſh in the perſon of Jeſus Chriſt, and ſo bare record of all the acts and miracles which he ſaw this divine perſon do, and perform, through the whole courſe of his life here beneath. Or ſecondly, Whether this Record of the Word of God, and the Teſtimony of Jeſus Chriſt, and of the things which he ſaw, be to be underſtood of the Truth of the Word of God in this book of Propheſies, which Jeſus Chriſt did teſtifie unto, and was made apparent by Viſions unto John. Indeed I ſhall willingly admit of both ſenſes; and I am of opinion, the Spirit of God in this verſe aims at both, for adding the better authority and credit to the truth of this book of Propheſies; and though the Goſpel of Iohn was not written when this Revelation was given, yet by his conſtant preaching, he might well be ſeen to bear Record of the Word of God, and of Jeſus Chriſt, and of all things that he ſaw.
1. From the firſt ſenſe, Note, That they that are the faithful Publiſhers or Preachers of the Word of God, and of Jeſus Chriſt, gets beſt credit and reputation to all other their relations.
2. Another Note is, That they are fitteſt to receive Viſions, or Propheſies from God, that bears the faithfulleſt Record of the Word of God, and of Jeſus Chriſt. Iohn was now a priſoner, and under baniſhment, for the Teſtimony of Jeſus, when he received thoſe Revelations. Paul as a reward of his faithfulneſs in his Miniſtery, and Apoſtleſhip, had even here an irradiation, and taſte of the heavenly glory, when he was wrapt up in the third heavens. The Prophets of old, Ezekiel, Daniel, Ieremiah, &c. received thoſe viſions of God, high and excellent ones, becauſe they were faithful witneſſes of the Word of God, and publiſhers of it unto others; and the reaſon hereof is, becauſe they whoſe minds are moſt converſant with God, and exerciſed in his Word, are fitteſt Inſtruments to receive and know the mind of God; for omne ſimile, gaudet ſimili: Every like deſires communication with its like.