Revelation

Rev. 1 King James Version
(Format and emphasis by the author with original italics removed)

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
2	Who bare record of the word of God and of the testimony of Jesus Christ and of all things that he saw
3	Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written therein for the time is at hand
4	John:
	to the seven churches which are in Asia
	Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; And
5	from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
6	And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father;
	to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
7	Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.
	Even so, Amen.
8	"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending", saith the Lord, "which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."
9	I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
10	I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
11	Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto
	Ephesus, and unto
	Smyrna, and unto
	Pergamos, and unto
	Thyatira, and unto
	Sardis, and unto
	Philadelphia, and unto
	Laodicea.
12	And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw
	Seven Golden Candlesticks;
13	And in the midst of the seven candlesticks
	One like unto the Son of Man,
	clothed with a garment down to the foot, and
	girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
14	His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and
	his eyes were as a flame of fire; And
15	his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and
	his voice as the sound of many waters. And
16	he had in his right hand seven stars: and
	out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and
	his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
17	And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead.
	And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me,
18	"Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold,
	I am alive for evermore,"
	Amen
	"and have the keys of hell and of death."
19	Write
	the things which thou hast seen, and
	the things which are, and
	the things which shall be hereafter;
20	The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks.
	The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches:
	and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches

Introduction to Chapter 1

Saint John experienced mental metamorphosis. After identifying and honoring Jesus as the author of this quintessential text, John describes his transformation from being "in the Spirit on the Lord's day" to having Spirit live him, bringing all things to his understanding. His descriptions become more metaphoric as his consciousness ascends because he has no other way to describe the view. The unity of perfect God and perfect man was passing before him, laying the cornerstone for his scribing of the book.

It is significant that John received this vision while still with us on earth, indicating the grand potential for all men to
be there - alive to Spirit - when the Comforter arrives. When we are prepared, as John was on Patmos, we too will ascend to witness the solution to the problem of being.

The first chapter is Revelation's introduction, including its title, byline, dedication, preface, directive, and key. The key describes the essential element or power that unlocks Scripture enabling us to understand its original inspired purpose and meaning. At first, the symbols may seem puzzling to us, but their meaning becomes clearer as our consciousness ascends.

Revelation 1

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TITLE AND BYLINE

1,2	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: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

THE UNVEILING OF JESUS' PRESENTATION OF CHRIST which was the gift that God gave him to clearly show unto us the PROPHECY AND FULFILLMENT OF MAN

This is an official document authorized by Jesus Christ and presented to his servant John, who acted as a scribe and was Christ's faithful witness in recording all that he saw.

DEDICATION

3	Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

He who reads this message and has the spiritual receptivity to hear and understand it walks forth with joy. The prophecy contained in this book is ready to be and has already been fulfilled. This is NOW!

PREFACE

4	John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

From John: To all those who have been waiting expectantly for the second coming of Christ, it is time to lift up your eyes, awaken your spiritual ears, and prepare to have the Comforter bring all things to your remembrance. As promised, the ever-present Christ that you have witnessed before is about to be restored, but in a more radiant light. All mysteries are about to be resolved - all questions answered. God has confirmed it to me from the seat of authority.

5	And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

And from Jesus Christ: Always knowing his true identity, he was the first to prove to mankind, through the loss and regaining of his own blood, that life supersedes the appearance of death. His supreme sacrifice and sublime example illustrate how living God's Love wins the victory over sin and death in each one of us.

6	And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

As Jesus rose to fill the office of high priest prophesied by Moses and the office of king prophesied by David, so shall we rise to the realization of our eternal, God-present inheritance and be like him. We take off our crowns in humble allegiance to the only true source and put on our crowns of dominion - the All-in-all of infinite good.

Amen.

7	Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

The arrival of Christ appearing with clouds means that even though the potential to understand Jesus' most profound statements is fully available, that understanding is not obvious or immediately accepted when it is first presented to us. Regardless of whether we welcome it or not, we will all be profoundly affected. Weeping and wailing at the funeral of our fondest hopes, we will lose our desire for them as their evil pretense becomes evident. Even our hidden hatred of truth, which would try to destroy the vision, will be forced to submit.

All Good agrees. Amen.

8	I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

The idea of one omnipotent God, presenting itself as Life, Truth, and Love, has neither beginning nor end. Our crude sense of past, present, and future is dissolved and replaced by all-inclusive now!

9	I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

I, John, who have no inherent advantage over you - suffering the same passions as everyone else and finding spiritual serenity amidst the storm - was on the island of Patmos*, where I was placed as a living witness of Jesus Christ for the sake of the Word of God.

* Jesus described the recognition of Christ as the rock upon which he would build his church. Patmos was a rock-quarry prison. It appeared as though evil was attempting to break John's dedication, physically and figuratively, to the one rock - Christ, Truth. John was living that rock in Spirit and, therefore, was unmoved by his internment.

10-11

I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

John had set the physical senses aside and was conscious of Spirit alone, when he heard a great, penetrating voice saying, in substance, 'I am One and All - the Principle of Being.' When there are no distractions, the truth is crystal clear and demands our full attention. Why did he say the voice was behind him? Even Isaiah described the angel message as coming from that vantage point and knew that we would too: "Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it" (Isa. 30:21). It is important to understand that Christ's commanding presence was not actually behind him. John had to turn from the human way of spiritual hearing, as when an angel message appears to arrive from an external source, to seeing Christ broadcast from within his very being radiating outward. Now, as a beacon, he was compelled to share the light! The seven churches in Asia should not be considered as merely locations to send messages. Through metaphor, they illustrate advanced spiritual concepts. Since the book is written in Spirit language, we must seek its meaning from the original source in order to understand the message. On the most basic level, we know that Asia is in the east, where the Magi first saw the star appear that would draw attention to the babe and Christ, Jesus. As the sun rises in the east, so the spiritual day dawns on human thought, not from Asia but from the birth of Jesus. Each of the seven cities had distinctive attributes that help identify areas of spiritual progress and error in the evolving Christian thought. They present universal messages for mankind and are an outline of what is examined in more detail in subsequent chapters.

12	And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

As his thought was lifted up, John changed from being an inspired human to being a transcriber of spiritual symbols. John was beginning to realize the spiritual mechanism through which light shines; metaphorically, it is like seven lamp stands. Seven being the symbol for completeness, these lampstands represent complete enlightenment.

13	And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

In the center of the light bearers is the presence of an intelligent being, manifest as one like the Son of man. Jesus called himself the Son of man. This one has a presence like the Son. A robe down to the foot exemplifies the garment of a high priest and that of a king; symbolically, it is like the seamless garment worn by Jesus. He is girded with a heart of gold - a breastplate of righteousness. This Spirit-lit presence is not identified as a specific person, but is obviously endowed with the grandeur of Christ. Is Jesus' angel presenting the divine prototype representing all ascended consciousness? Logically, if man is the image and likeness of God as stated in the first chapter of Genesis, and there is but one infinite God, then there can be but one image and likeness called man - one manifest infinite. It is clear that John is about to assume the consciousness of that likeness as his thought ascends.

14	His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

John's thought is first drawn to the focal point of intelligence, where he finds exquisite purity. White represents perfect clarity, much like sunlight containing a full spectrum of component colors, but combined into one colorless whole. This sparkling reflection of God is immaculate, innocent, and without shadow - not colored by a material or a limited sense of vision. Eyes as fire are not encumbered by opacity. There are no secrets here. These windows of heaven discern all good. They are not receivers of light; they radiate enlightenment out upon the universe.

15	And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

The resplendent speaker of the Word stands erect on pillars of fire - an incorruptible spiritual structure founded in Truth. Fine brass, as if it were refined in a furnace, is not fragmentary and brittle like the iron mixed with clay that Daniel envisioned in King Nebuchadnezzar's dream. This divine likeness has no Adam-clay component. His voice is broadcast universally. One cannot miss it or be distracted by any other voice.

16	And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

John's vision of man has now expanded to sun-strength radiance. The man of God's creating holds aloft the sevenfold light for all to understand while the two-edged sword of Truth delivers the Word, severing fiction from fact. A single star prophesied the Savior whose dawning light drew attention to the babe and Christ. Now seven stars proclaim the high-noon of universal enlightenment so that all may shine as the Son. There will be no diluting of words any longer, no waiting for a latter day for the Comforter to arrive.

17	And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

It was as if John was saying the following: 'When I realized the wholly spiritual nature of man, my finite sense of self died. My mistaken mortal view followed the path of Satan's fall from heaven, whereupon I witnessed error's demise. Then I was lifted up by the stellar message that touched me and took away my fear. The Christ came to where I thought I had fallen, spoke my language, and lifted me up to behold my spiritual self.' "I am the first and the last" eclipses time. All Revelation expands into fruition the moment it is received.

18	I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

I am has always been alive, even though mankind was dead to the 'I,' did not understand I am. Life is infinite and eternal, and this fact understood holds the key that annuls the persistent beliefs of hell and death. Jesus demonstrated this phenomenon and promised to send the Comforter that would open a way for all men to experience the sublime grandeur of Life, Truth, and Love.

"… My time is at hand; … " (Matt. 26:18).

DIRECTIVE

19	Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

John was told to make a permanent record of Christ Jesus' message including the facts of existence, prophecy, and the fulfillment of man. Jesus' promise to his disciples was about to be consummated; "This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled" (Matt. 24:34). "The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (John 14:26).

KEY

20	The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

When presented with universal light, there are no mysteries. Stars are symbols for enlightenment - the stellar presence that God radiates out upon the universe. Candlesticks, or lamp stands, are the cumulative body from which the light shines. When these concepts are generally understood, mankind's long night of ignorance will be over.