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Since the book of Revelation was never sealed (as the book of Daniel was), it has been a helpful guide 
for all people since John wrote it almost 2000 years ago. Part of understanding the book is realizing that Jesus is the heart of the revelation, the one from whom the revelation stems. The book is even called "The Revelation of Jesus Christ" (Revelation 1:1).

Establishing the Authority of the Book

The number seven is very prominent in the book. There are seven churches, seven letters, seven stars, seven candlesticks, seven lamps, seven seals, seven trumpets, seven horns, seven thunders, seven heads, seven crowns, seven angels, seven vials, and seven kings. Amidst these symbols stands Jesus Christ the great High Priest, the Supreme Judge, the King of kings. The sanctuary symbols are also prominent throughout the book, revealing Christ as Intercessor, Judge, and King.

Jesus stands in the midst of the seven lampstands. He is the light of the world, and this light is to be spread to the entire world by His Church. The fact that He walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands (Revelation 2:1) is a promise of His presence in the Church throughout the ages.

Jesus is not only revealed as our great High Priest, but as God Himself in Revelation 1. John uses an epanados (a repetition of sentences in inverse order) to identify Jesus Christ as the great I AM. John quotes the Old Testament prophets in this sequence to bring to light a salient feature—the divinity of Christ—and in this way to give the highest stamp of authority to that which is to be revealed.

The epanados is as follows:


Revelation 1:5 Witness (Isaiah 55:4)

Revelation 1:7 Coming with the Clouds (Daniel 7:13)
Revelation 1:7 Pierced (Zechariah 12:10)
Revelation 1:8 I AM, Alpha and Omega (Isaiah 41:4; 44:6; 48:12)

Revelation 1:11 I AM, Alpha and Omega (Isaiah 41:4; 44:6; 48:12)

Revelation 1:12 Golden Lampstands (Zechariah 4:2)
Revelation 1:13-15 Heavenly High Priest (Daniel 10:5-6)
Revelation 1:16 Mouth like a Sword (Isaiah 49:2)



The first and the last quotes are from Isaiah, the second and second last from Daniel, the third and third last from Zechariah, and the double quote in the middle is from Isaiah. This feature is repeated to highlight it. Christ is the great I AM. Sadly, some modern translations leave out the second "I AM" quote in Revelation 1:11, thus nullifying the epanados.



Christ, the great I AM, is thus the central theme of the book of Revelation. The Church through all the ages is the besieged bride, through whom Christ disseminates His truth to call people out of the world.

The book depicts Satan, the great foe, as the one bent on destroying Christ’s work. It describes the unfolding battle, the final destruction of sin, and the establishment of the kingdom of righteousness. The messages are not given to instill fear, but to encourage.



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 death (Revelation 1:17-18).

Ahead to A Study of Revelation 2-3: Letters to Seven Churches