Definition: 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:
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Revelation 1:1. It's a pretty complex passage, but we can understand it in simpler terms. Here’s what it means: Basically, this verse is saying: “This is a message from God about something very important that is going to happen soon." Let’s unpack it piece by piece: "Revelation of Jesus Christ..." – This means God is revealing or showing us about Jesus. Jesus was the central figure in the Old Testament, and now, according to this verse, God is giving us a special message about him. "...which God gave unto him..." – This is a bit tricky. It’s not saying Jesus received this message from God. Instead, it means God ordained or gave this message to Jesus. Think of it like a gift passed down through history. "...to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass..." – This is where the “soon” part comes in. "Showeth" means to reveal or explain something. So, this verse tells us that God is giving us information about events that are going to happen very quickly. "...and he sent and signified [it] by his angel unto his servant John:" – This is the key part! “Sent” means God instructed Jesus to do something. “Signified” means to show or indicate something. Jesus, through this message, was sending a sign (an indication) to his follower, John. In short, it’s saying that God is preparing for a significant event in the future and is giving a specific instruction – about Jesus – to one person. What does this all mean for us today? This verse often gets used as a kind of foreshadowing, meaning it's hinting at events yet to come. It’s a message of hope and preparation because God is working towards something important. It’s a reminder that we are part of a larger plan set by God. Important Note: The meaning of this verse has been debated throughout history. Different interpretations exist, but the core idea remains: God is preparing for an event that will significantly impact the future. --- Do you want me to: Explain any of these parts in more detail? Give a little context about what “soon” means in this verse? Talk about how this verse connects to other biblical passages?