Revelation 1:1-9

1: The Revelation about Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His servants (doulos), the things which must soon take place (ginomai); and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His servant (doulos) John.

doulos - a slave - literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary; frequently, therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency: bondservant servant.

ginomai - ; a prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be ("gen"- erate), i.e. (reflexively) to become (come into being), arise, be assembled, be brought (to pass), (be) come (to pass), continue, be divided, draw, be ended, fall, be finished, follow, be found, be fulfilled.

Note: The genitive “ Iesou “ (of, about Jesus) is translated as an objective genitive since the Bible is about Jesus, this appears to be the best translation. Therefore, we should be learning about Jesus“ or to put it in other words as important as prophecy is concerned it is meaningless without telling us about Jesus.

2 who testified (martureo) to the word of God and to the testimony (martureo) of Jesus Christ and of all things that he saw.

martureo - to be a witness, i.e. testify, charge, give evidence, bear record.

Note: This is the first use of the testimony of Jesus Christ defined as the Spirit of Prophecy in Revelation 19:10 (See below). Here the Spirit of Prophecy is the Holy Spirit and John is the prophet or instrument that the Revelation is given to. First usage of a term is always vital and sets the stage for understanding further usage of a phrase.

Rev 19:9-10

9 Then he said to me, "Write, "Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.'" And he said to me, "These are true words of God."

10 Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony (martureo) of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony (martureo) of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

martureo - to be a witness, i.e. testify, charge, give evidence, bear record.

Note: The Spirit of Prophecy is the Holy Spirit who is the One who inspires the prophet. The phrase does not speak of any individual prophet but of the One who inspires all who have the gift of prophecy from Moses to the final prophet because Note: The concept behind the Testimony of Jesus which is the Spirit of Prophecy does not apply to any one individual but to the prophetic gif from the Holy Spirit which is given as He sees fit. The test of the gift is simply they testify (martureo) about Jesus. The entire Bible is the testimony (martureo) about Jesus No matter what the prophet speaks or writes it has to be about Jesus, to make it anything else is to make it good advise but totally lacking in the message that Jesus saves and there is nothing humanity can do to be saved or help God in the salvation plan. It is Jesus and Jesus only. Any prophet that adds anything to this is not a prophet of God, because he is not giving the testimony (martureo) about Jesus. The church or Spiritual Israel will never lack Spiritual Gifts, but the test for all gifts remains the same; it is about Jesus. Luke records Peter's words in Acts 4 to sum up the witness in:

Acts 4:8-12:

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers and elders of the people, if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead -- by this Name this man stands here before you in good health." He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief cornerstone. "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:4-8:

(4) I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, (5) that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, (6) even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, (7) so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, (8) who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Finally Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:3-7

3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus is accursed"; and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

In summary: All gifts are given by the Holy Spirit and all of them must be about or testify of Jesus or they are false gifts. The church is about Jesus we are the living testimonies about Jesus.

3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near (eggus):

eggus - at hand, near, nigh at hand, ready.(the double gammas are pronounced as engus the word is therefore pronounced engus.)

Note: The message to the reader (Preacher); the hearer (Congregation) and those that heed (All of God's people). The preacher preaches first to himself and then to the congregation so that all are responsible to heed the message. The emphasis of the verse is on the urgency of the message because the time is near.

4 John to the seven churches (ekklesia) that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,

ekklesia called out ones. a calling out, a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation a Synagogue or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both.

Note: “ Seven denotes perfection so the message is to the seven churches in the Roman province of Asia “literal churches- and to Spiritual Israel or the Covenant Church throughout history that is the body of Christ. The Seven Spirits is the perfect Spirit of God“ The Holy Spirit. All are pictured before the throne of God. How is this possible because in Christ we stand in the Presence of God, therefore we stand before His Throne, and the Holy Spirit, being God is always before the Throne. The descriptive phrase, Him who is and who was and who is to come, emphasizes that God is omnipresent“ that is present in all time and space.

5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful (pistos) witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler (archon) of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released (luo) us from our sins by His own blood -

pistos - trustworthy; trustful, sure, true.

archon - present participle first (in rank or power): chief (ruler), magistrate, prince, ruler.

luo - a primary verb; to "loosen" break (up), destroy, dissolve, loose, melt, put off.

Note: By the blood of Jesus we are released from our sins. The penalty has been paid, it is Jesus’ death that is ours. In Him we live victorious and without sin, Praise Him.

6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father -- to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Note: We are not naturally King and priests but are made King and priests in Him.

7 Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every (pas) eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn (kopto) because of Him even so (nai). Amen.

pas - all, any, every, the whole.

kopto - to "chop"; specially, to beat the breast in grief, cut down, lament, mourn, wail.

nai - a primary particle of strong affirmation; yes, even so, surely, truth, verily, yea, yes.

Note: This depicts the Coming of Jesus in Judgment every eye, all the tribes of the earth and those who pierced Him, all inclusive there only is mourning for the lost of all ages. In contrast to the joy for those who are saved in Christ.

8 "I Myself am (Ego eimi) the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

Note: ego eimi ego I eimi I am. It is and emphatic statement I Myself Am the only Alpha and Omega there is no one else He s the Omnipresent One the Almighty again there is no one else.

9 I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony (martureo) of Jesus.

martureo - to be a witness, i.e. testify, charge, give evidence, bear record.

Note: This is the second time the phrase testimony of Jesus is used. Again, it is defined as the Spirit of Prophecy (Revelation 19:10). According to the Gospel of John 15:26and 27:

26 "When the Comforter (parakletos) comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify (martureo) about Me, 27 and you will testify (martureo) also, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

parakletos - Literally One who stands beside, an intercessor, consoler, advocate, comforter.

martureo - to be a witness, i.e. testify, charge, give evidence, bear record.

And in John 5:36:

36 "But the testimony (martureo) which I have is greater than the testimony (martureo) of John (the Baptist); for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish -- the very works that I do -- testify (martureo) about Me, that the Father has sent Me.

Rev 12:17

17 So the dragon was enraged (orgizo) with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest (loipoy)of her children (sperma), who keep the commandments (entole) of God and hold to the testimony (martureo) of Jesus.

orgizo - to provoke or enrage, i.e. (passively) become exasperated: be angry (wroth).

loipoy - remaining ones: other, which remain, remnant, residue, rest.

sperma - something sown, i.e. seed (including the male "sperm"); by implication, offspring; specifically, a remnant (figuratively, as if kept over for planting): issue, seed.

entole - injunction, i.e. an authoritative prescription, commandment, precept.

martureo - to be a witness, i.e. testify, charge, give evidence, bear record.

Note: The third use of the phrase Testimony of Jesus, shows that the prophetic gift that was with the church in the beginning - Moses will be with the church until Jesus comes, the final members of the church. To emphasize this I again quote Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 1:7 and 8:

(7) so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, (8) who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Note: Who keep the commandments of God entole - commandments The Jews define 613 commandments; which can be digested into Ten Commandments, which can be digested to two commandments Love of God and Love of humanity; which Jesus further digested into one commandment: AGAPE love.

Rev 20:4

4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony (martureo) of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

martureo - to be a witness, i.e. testify, charge, give evidence, bear record.

Note: The final usage of the term Testimony of Jesus applies to those who died for the gifts and the word of God throughout history. What a glorious picture of grace, love and revelation of God in Christ. God's people will always have the Holy Spirit with them and he will continue to give the gifts to His church. The church will be identified by the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, All are about Jesus. A church where agape rules. Imagine if you will a church whose leaders have the necessary gifts to lead; whose preachers and teachers proclaim Jesus; where there is no distinction in its membership there no distinctions between blacks and whites, male and female, rich and poor, ut a

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