Verse By Verse Through Revelation: Made Simple Through The Lens Of A Lay Person

By Alex Ruiz

The Verse by Verse Through Revelation took two years to complete, and every verse has a commentary explaining the passage connecting some of the symbols to the book of Daniel for clarity. It also contains references written down in the commentary section so that the person doesn’t need to look them up. All of the explanations are very easy to comprehend. It will help the reader to get a much better understanding of the Book of Revelation.

Each numbered verse is visible and bold so that the reader can see it with the explanation underneath. The chapter and verse are colored red, making it easier to locate the chapter and verse one is searching. The book contains lots of references for a deeper study.

The American Standard Version was the translation used for accuracy and availability.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jul 27, 2021
• ISBN: 9781300218500

Book preview

Revelation (1:1-5)

American Standard Version

1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show unto his servants, even the things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John; 

The Greek word for Revelation is apokalupsis which means: an unveiling, uncovering, revealing. The Book of Revelation or the unveiling comes from Jesus Christ Himself to reveal to the saints God’s judgments on earth and the last chance for humanity to repent before it’s too late. It is vital to evangelize when led by the Spirit of God knowing what’s coming. Verse 1 clearly reveals Jesus as being God, where it says, The Revelation of Jesus Christ then it says, "God gave him," clearly making Jesus and God synonymous with each other. Jesus sent this revelation to John through an angel.

2 who bare witness of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, even of all things that he saw. 

John is the one who witnessed and recorded everything that the angel from Jesus showed him in this Book being God’s Word and Jesus’ testimony. The Author of God’s Word is God, not men as seen in verse 2 and also in 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

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

The Book of Revelation is the only Book that mentions a blessing. The blessing  is for those who read, share, and hear it. keep the things that are written means to believe what it says by first putting your trust and faith in Jesus Christ and living according to His will because the time is closer than one might think, which will make one ready for the events that are about to take place.

4John to the seven churches 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 that are before his throne;

The seven churches were under the power of Rome and were located where modern day Turkey is. They were about 40 miles from each other and John sent them the letters to the churches and the rest of the Book of Revelation. Grace to you and peace means to have God’s favor, where in the midst of tribulations, one can have peace. from him who is and who was and who is to come means that He is eternal (Revelation 1:8) and affirms His second coming. the seven Spirits refers to the Holy Spirit (Revelation 4:5) because the number seven in Genesis means completion and refers to God (Genesis 2:3).

5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loveth us, and loosed us from our sins by his blood;

Jesus Christ is trustworthy, that’s why we can trust and hold tight to the Word of God. the firstborn of the dead means the resurrection of Christ, which is a prelude to what’s going to happen to those who believe in Him as Lord and Savior. Jesus is above all those who rule on earth.

Revelation (1:6-10)

American Standard Version

6 and he made us to be a kingdom, to be priests unto his God and Father; to him be the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

When a person puts their faith in Jesus Christ, the person is sanctified and prepared for service for God’s kingdom. Only those with the Holy Spirit can bring Him glory. For God is good and deserves glory and power forever.

7 Behold, he cometh with the clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they that pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth shall mourn over him. Even so, Amen.

Behold, he cometh with the clouds alludes to Daniel 7:13-14 which says, "I saw in the night-visions, and, behold, there came with the clouds of heaven one like unto a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.  14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed."

Daniel saw God the Son, Jesus Christ in his vision and like John, he witnessed His second coming that is going to occur in the future. Everyone who was ever created will see this event. shall mourn over him refers to remorse and repentance as prophesied in Zechariah 12:10 which says, "And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication; and they shall look unto me whom they have pierced; and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first-born."

8 I am the Alpha and the Omega, saith the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

The Lord God declares that He is the Alpha and the Omega and is coming. Jesus applies the same title to Himself in Revelation 1:17-18; 22:12-13 and is the One coming.

9 I John, your brother and partaker with you in the tribulation and kingdom and patience which are in Jesus, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

John, as a fellow believer, is suffering for the cause of Christ and His glory like all believers. John patiently endures this suffering because he knows that God has a purpose for all believers. In his case, it was to reveal to the seven churches and all of us in the future what will take place and that we need not worry because at the end, the Lamb of God will be victorious. The word Patmos refers to an island that the Roman government used to banish their prisoners and make them work the mines.

10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet

on the Lord’s day could be referring to the day of Jesus' resurrection which happened on the first day of the week (Sunday). The voice that John heard was like a trumpet. Trumpets in the Old Testament were used to get people’s attention and readiness. In the same way, Jesus was getting John ready to pay close attention to the Lord’s words to write them down so that upon completion, it can be dispersed to the seven churches.

Revelation (1:11-15)

American Standard Version

11 saying, What thou seest, write in a book and send it to the seven churches: unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamum, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

The revelation of Jesus Christ was to be distributed to the seven churches. All seven churches were located where modern day Turkey is at today. Chapters 2 thru 3 are dedicated to these seven churches. Most of the churches are in bad shape. Jesus gives them a warning to repent and get right with Him before He judges them.

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

seven golden candlesticks represent the seven churches that the Book of Revelation was going to be dispersed to (see verse 20).

13 and in the midst of the candlesticks one like unto a son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about at the breasts with a golden girdle.

son of man is a title that Jesus used to describe His human side and is also connected to the son of man who is referred to in the Book of Daniel. John saw Jesus full of glory and honor. God's "garment" in Isaiah 61:10 refers to salvation and righteousness and in Isaiah 6:1, the LORD is mentioned as having a long robe that fills His throne.

14 And his head and his hair were white as white wool, white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

This description points back to Daniel’s vision of God which is found in Daniel 7:9 which says, "I beheld till thrones were placed, and one that was ancient of days did sit: his raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and the wheels thereof burning fire."

This is another verse that clearly identifies Jesus as God.

15 and his feet like unto burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace; and his voice as the voice of many waters.

Jesus was reflecting the Father's glory (Matthew 16:27). his feet like unto burnished brass and his voice as the voice of many waters reveal tremendous power which is heard and seen.

Revelation (1:16-20)

American Standard Version

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

The seven stars represent seven angels, see verse 20. They are assigned to the churches mentioned in verse 11. The angels can be literal or may mean human messengers who are sent to the churches as the Greek word for angels could mean. I personally believe that it refers to real angels because of Hebrews 1:14 which says, Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to do service for the sake of them that shall inherit salvation?

and out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword refers to His word as seen in Hebrews 4:12 which says, For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart.  Through God’s Word, Jesus defeated Satan in the wilderness (Matthew 4) and likewise in the future, see Revelation 19:15-21.

Jesus’ face shining like the sun reveals His divine nature because it is attributed only to God. An example of this is seen in Psalm 84:11 which says, For Jehovah God is a sun and a shield: Jehovah will give grace and glory; No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

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

Jesus’ presence is so powerful that it shows how weak we really are. It is also a picture of our sinful nature that only Jesus can make us alive again through faith in Him. I am the first and the last Jesus is declaring to be God, see the commentary on verse 8.

18 and the Living one; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.

Jesus identifies Himself as the one who died on the cross, and proclaims His resurrection so that we may know that our faith in Him is not based on a dead man, but on one who lives and is eternal. We can be assured that after we die, believing in Jesus, we will live because He lives. and I have the keys of death and of Hades means that Jesus is the only one with the authority to send someone to heaven or hell, depending if the person has trusted in Him or not.

19 Write therefore the things which thou sawest, and the things which are, and the things which shall come to pass hereafter;

Jesus tells John to write down the vision that He is showing him so that the churches may know where their spiritual standing is at, and what will take place in the future.

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 are seven churches.

Jesus is the only one who can reveal mysteries and give one understanding of His Word. The angels are sent to God’s churches to protect those who have eternal life, see Matthew 18:10 and Hebrews 1:14.

Revelation (2:1-5)

American Standard Version

1 To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, he that walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks:

The seven stars are angels who are under Christ’s authority and who are sent to the churches. his right hand means great power as seen in Isaiah