John's Preparation for the Revelation Commission
The Apostle John's preparation for receiving and recording the Revelation involved a series of divine encounters and a specific calling to prophesy. The book itself identifies its author as "John" multiple times (Revelation 1:1, 4, 9; 22:8), and scholarly consensus generally attributes it to John the Apostle, the evangelist [1, 2, 10]. This identification is supported by both the author's self-description and historical tradition [2].
The opening verses of Revelation establish the divine origin and purpose of the message: "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to point out unto his servants the things which must needs come to pass with speed,—and he shewed them by signs, sending through his messenger, unto his servant John" (Revelation 1:1 Rotherham) [3]. This indicates that John was a recipient of a revelation intended for God's servants, communicated through a messenger.
John's initial preparation involved being "in the Spirit on the Lord's day" (Revelation 1:10), where he heard a loud voice "as of a trumpet" [8]. This experience led to his first vision of Christ, described with imagery such as "his feet like unto burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace; and his voice as the voice of many waters" (Revelation 1:15 ASV) [6]. This vision served as an introduction to the messages Christ delivered to the seven churches [9].
Following the messages to the churches, John received a second significant vision, which served as a further preparation for the unfolding prophecies of the book [7, 9]. This vision began with a call: "After this I looked, and behold, a door opened in heaven, and the first voice that I heard, a voice as of a trumpet speaking with me, one saying, Come up hither, and I will show thee the things which must come to pass hereafter" (Revelation 4:1 ASV). John Gill notes that this second vision was preparatory to the sealed book and its opening [7]. Matthew Henry describes this as a reward for John's faithful improvement of previous divine discoveries, suggesting that those who respond well to initial revelations are prepared for more [9].
The concept of "making ready" or "preparation" is also seen in other biblical contexts. For instance, John the Baptist was sent "to make ready" for Jesus' coming (Luke 9:52) [13], and he proclaimed "an immersion of repentance" before Jesus' arrival (Acts 13:24 Rotherham) [5]. While John the Baptist prepared the way for Christ's first advent, John the Apostle was prepared to receive and record revelations concerning Christ's future actions and kingdom [8]. The name "Chun" itself means "making ready" [4].
John's commission to prophesy was not a one-time event but involved stages. After recording the messages to the churches, he was told, "Thou must prophesy again before many peoples and nations and tongues and kings" (Revelation 10:11 ASV). Jamieson, Fausset & Brown interpret this as a fresh stage in his prophetic office, following the "eating of the book" which symbolized his inauguration to this role [12]. This continuous call to prophesy underscores the ongoing nature of his preparation and commission.
The integrity of John's record was paramount, as indicated by the solemn declaration at the end of Revelation, warning against altering its contents (Revelation 22:18-19) [11]. This emphasis on authenticity highlights the importance of John's faithful reception and transmission of the divine message, reinforcing the idea that his preparation was for a task of immense spiritual significance.
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Revelation, Book of — =The Apocalypse, the closing book and the only prophetical book of the New Testament canon. The author of this book was undoubtedly John the apostle. His name occurs four times in the book itself (1:1, 4, 9; 22:8), and there is every reason to conclude that the "John" here mentioned was the apostle. In a manuscript of about the twelfth century he is called "John the divine," but no reason can be assigned for this appellation. The date of the writing of this book has generally been fixed at A.D. 96, in the reign of Domitian. There are some, howev”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Revelation Of St. John — the last book of the New Testament. It is often called the Apocalypse, which is its title in Greek, signifying "Revelation," + Canonical authority and authorship.--The inquiry as to the canonical authority of the Revelation resolves itself into a question of authorship. Was St. John the apostle and evangelist the writer of the Revelation? The evidence adduced in support of his being the author consists of (1) the assertions of the author and (2) historical tradition. (1) The author's description of himself in the 1st and 22d chapters is certai”
- Revelation of John “Revelation of John 1:1 (Rotherham) — The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to point out unto his servants the things which must needs come to pass with speed,—and he shewed them by signs, sending through his messenger, unto his servant John;”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Chun — making ready”
- Acts “Acts 13:24 (Rotherham) — John, beforehand proclaiming, before the face of his coming in, an immersion of repentance, unto all the people of Israel.”
- Revelation of John “Revelation of John 1:15 (ASV) — 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.”
- Revelation (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Revelation 4 (introduction): INTRODUCTION TO REVELATION 4 This chapter contains an account of the second vision John saw, as preparatory to the sealed book, and the opening of it, as the first vision was to the epistles to the seven churches. The preface to this vision, or the introduction to it, and preparation of John for it, are in Rev 4:1, which declare the time of it, the position John was in, what he saw and heard, a call to him to come up, and the effect it had upon him; and then follows the vision itself, which is of a throne, described by the place where it was set, in ”
- Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 1 (introduction): 1TITLE: SOURCE AND OBJECT OF THIS REVELATION: BLESSING ON THE READER AND KEEPER OF IT, AS THE TIME IS NEAR: INSCRIPTION TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES: APOSTOLIC GREETING: KEYNOTE, "BEHOLD HE COMETH" (Compare at the close, Rev 22:20, "Surely I come quickly"): INTRODUCTORY VISION OF THE SON OF MAN IN GLORY, AMIDST THE SEVEN CANDLESTICKS, WITH SEVEN STARS IN HIS RIGHT HAND. (Rev. 1:1-20) Revelation--an apocalypse or unveiling of those things which had been veiled. A manifesto of the kingdom of Christ. The travelling manual of the Church for the G”
- Revelation (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Revelation 4:1: We have here an account of a second vision with which the apostle John was favoured: After this, that is, not only "after I had seen the vision of Christ walking in the midst of the golden candlesticks," but "after I had taken his messages from his mouth, and written and sent them to the several churches, according to his command, after this I had another vision." Those who well improve the discoveries they have had of God already are prepared thereby for more, and may expect them. Observe, I. The preparation made for the apostle's having this vision. 1. A door”
- Revelation (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Revelation 1:9: I, John, who also am your brother,.... Here begins the narrative of the visions and prophecies of this book, the former verses containing a general preface to the whole; and this, and the two following verses, are the introduction to the first vision, which John saw; who describes himself by his name, "I John", the evangelist and apostle, a servant of Christ, and a beloved disciple of his; one that was well known to the seven churches to whom he writes, and who had no reason to doubt of his fidelity in the account he gives them; and also by his relation to them as ”
- Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 22:18: 22:18-19 I solemnly declare: John issues an oath to protect the integrity of the book of Revelation. He declares a curse upon anyone who alters the contents of the book or its message (cp. Deut 4:2; 12:32). The curse contrasts with the statement of blessing on all who read aloud, listen to, and obey the prophecy (Rev 1:3). At the time Revelation was written, scribes would sometimes alter books to suit their own views. Early Christians quickly developed means of authenticating both messages and messengers (see John 21:24; 1 Cor 16:21; Gal 6:11; Col 4:18; 2 The”
- Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 10:11: he said--A, B, and Vulgate read, "they say unto me"; an indefinite expression for "it was said unto me." Thou must--The obligation lies upon thee, as the servant of God, to prophesy at His command. again--as thou didst already in the previous part of this book of Revelation. before, &c.--rather as Greek (epilaois), "concerning many peoples," &c., namely, in their relation to the Church. The eating of the book, as in Ezekiel's case, marks John's inauguration to his prophetical office--here to a fresh stage in it, namely, the revealing of the ”
- Luke (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Luke 9:52: messengers before his face . . . to make ready for him--He had not done this before; but now, instead of avoiding, He seems to court publicity--all now hastening to maturity.”