Revelation 1:1-3 (NKJV) 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, 2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. 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.
(Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary) Revelation: A Study and Teaching Outline
Part One: “The Things Which You Have Seen” (1:1–20)
Introduction 1:1–8
Revelation of Christ 1:9–20
Part Two: “The Things Which Are” (2:1—3:22)
Message to Ephesus 2:1–7
Message to Smyrna 2:8–11
Message to Pergamos 2:12–17
Message to Thyatira 2:18–29
Message to Sardis 3:1–6
Message to Philadelphia 3:7–13
Message to Laodicea 3:14–22
Part Three: “The Things Which Will Take Place after This” (4:1—22:21)
Person of the Judge 4:1—5:14 The Throne of God 4:1–11
The Sealed Book 5:1–14
Prophecies of Tribulation 6:1—19:6 Seven Seals of Judgment 6:1—8:5
Seven Trumpets of Judgment 8:6—11:19
Explanatory Prophecies 12:1—14:20
Seven Bowls of Judgment 15:1—19:6
Prophecies of the Second Coming 19:7–21
Marriage Supper of the Lamb 19:7–10
Second Coming of Christ 19:11–21
Prophecies of the Millennium 20:1–15 Satan Is Bound 1000 Years 20:1–3
Saints Reign 1000 Years 20:4–6
Satan Is Released and Leads Rebellion 20:7–9
Satan Is Tormented Forever 20:10
Great White Throne Judgment 20:11–15
Prophecies of the Eternal State 21:1—22:5 New Heaven and Earth Are Created 21:1
New Jerusalem Descends 21:2–8
New Jerusalem Is Described 21:9—22:5
Conclusion 22:6–21
Note the flow of this Revelation. God the Father→God the Son→angel→Apostle John→7 churches→humanity (especially believers in Jesus).
I believe God tells the truth, so all Scripture is not allegorical or symbolic unless obvious from the context. All future prophecy is to be in the plain, normal sense, too. I am premillennial and premillennial.
This revelation was given to the Apostle John, not any other John. The Apostle John had apostolic authority; any other does not. John was banished to Patmos according to history, and he speaks of the Lord Jesus as he did in his other letters and book. Compare Revelation 1:1, 4, 9, Revelation 21:2, and Revelation 22:8. For pros and cons, consider: https://www.gotquestions.org/who-wrote-the-book-of-Revelation.html as well as other introductions.
V1 “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…” Revelation is singular, not plural. It is one prophetic revelation. Jesus Christ is the giver of this message which He delegated to an angel to bring to God. God is a delegator, not a micromanager. God refers to God the Father, His servants of all church believers in Jesus Christ. Shortly take place means the first 3 chapters and imminency for the rest of the book. It could happen at any time, so we must be ready. We will not experience the wrath of God which He revealed in chapters 4-19 (1 Thessalonians 1:10 and 1 Thessalonians 5:9). God’s wrath is found in these verses—Luke 21:23, Romans 1:18, Romans 2:5, and Revelation 14:19. Since Jesus is King of all kings, we are His servants, and so, John is described as such.
V2 “…who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.” John saw this revelation and faithfully recorded it. The book of Revelation is the Word of God and the testimonial witness. John saw all these, and all that he saw, he recorded faithfully. Compare Jeremiah 23:28.
V3 “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.” There is a blessing for reading and/or hearing these words. Many in our day will not read or study this book. Many pastors in our day refuse to teach or preach on it because “it is controversial.” There is a blessing from the Lord Jesus for reading and/or hearing this revelation. There is also the command to obey the words. It is not enough to just read it, for we must also trust it, believe it, and teach it. We can read it and be blessed by God, or we can listen to those pastors who tell us not to. I choose God’s way, and pray you do likewise.
Why should I read it? A link –
https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/why-do-we-avoid-reading-revelation.html
We learn:
- Why we must read Revelation
- Who gave this revelation