Read & explore together
Prologue
These opening verses introduce Revelation as a message from God, centred on Jesus Christ and shown to John. They also tell readers how to approach the book: read it, hear it, and keep what is written.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
In these verses, the book begins by identifying its source, its purpose, and the way it was made known. The message is called a revelation, given through Jesus Christ and an angel to John. The passage also calls the book prophecy and speaks a blessing over those who respond rightly to it.
Revelation 1:1–3Main takeaway
Revelation 1:1–3 presents this book as a revealed message from God through Jesus Christ that is meant to be read, heard, and obeyed.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A revelation from God through Jesus ChristThe passage opens by naming the book as “the Revelation of Jesus Christ”. It says God gave this revelation to Jesus Christ to show his servants what must happen soon.
Explanation
The passage opens by naming the book as “the Revelation of Jesus Christ”. It says God gave this revelation to Jesus Christ to show his servants what must happen soon. This means the message is not presented as John’s own invention. It is a revealed message with a clear purpose: to show God’s servants what is coming.
02Made known by an angel to JohnVerse 1 explains how the revelation was delivered. Jesus Christ “sent and made known” these things by his angel to John.
Explanation
Verse 1 explains how the revelation was delivered. Jesus Christ “sent and made known” these things by his angel to John. The verse does not describe extra events beyond this chain of communication. It simply tells readers that the message came from God, through Jesus Christ, by an angel, to John, who is called God’s servant.
03John’s faithful witnessJohn is described as one “who testified to God’s word and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, about everything that he saw”.
Explanation
John is described as one “who testified to God’s word and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, about everything that he saw”. The words “testified” and “saw” fit the book’s vision setting. John’s role here is to bear witness to what was shown to him, linking God’s word, Jesus Christ’s testimony, and John’s report together.
04A blessing for reading, hearing, and keepingThe final verse gives a blessing. It is for the one who reads, for those who hear, and for those who keep what is written in this prophecy.
Explanation
The final verse gives a blessing. It is for the one who reads, for those who hear, and for those who keep what is written in this prophecy. The response is active, not merely curious. The reason given is that “the time is near”, which gives the message urgency within the passage itself.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01According to these verses, how does the message move from God to John?
Trace the order named in the passage: God gave it to Jesus Christ, who sent and made it known by his angel to John.
02What does John say he testified about?
Look for the three linked ideas in the verse: God’s word, the testimony of Jesus Christ, and everything he saw.
03Who is called blessed, and what are they told to do?
Notice the three responses in the verse: read, hear, and keep the words of the prophecy.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Revelation 1:1–3
1This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things which must happen soon, which he sent and made known by his angel to his servant, John,
2who testified to God’s word and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, about everything that he saw.
3Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written in it, for the time is near.