The Study of Revelation (Rev. 1:1) Part 5: The Mediation of the Apocalypse

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"and he sent and signified it
by his angel unto his servant John"
Rev. 1:1

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Consider for a moment the power of symbols. They transcend language barriers, resonating with people across cultures and generations. Symbols have a unique ability to convey profound meanings beyond the constraints of words. In the tapestry of Revelation, God uses symbols to convey the depths of His truths. God doesn't merely speak; He paints pictures for our hearts to behold. He communicates through a language of symbols that transcends the limitations of ordinary words. This symbolic communication invites us into a deeper, more profound understanding of divine truths. The question that naturally arises is, why symbols? Why not straightforward language? The answer lies in the richness and depth that symbols offer. They engage our imagination, evoke emotions, and linger in our minds. Symbols have a way of embedding themselves in our consciousness, inviting us to reflect and seek a deeper understanding. Moreover, God's choice to communicate through symbols emphasizes His desire for relationship. He doesn't just want us to know about Him; He desires that we know Him intimately. Symbols invite us to ponder, to explore, and to seek revelation through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. As we delve into the Book of Revelation, may we approach it with a heart open to the symbolic language God has chosen. Let us seek the Holy Spirit's guidance, knowing that He is our interpreter. God beckons us, through the mediation of his angel,  into a journey of discovery, a journey where symbols become windows into the mysteries of His divine plan.

John states that God sent and signified this revelation by his angel unto his servant John (Rev. 1:1) Some argue that this angel is Christ as God's messenger (The Greek word for angel can simply mean messenger). According to this interpretation, Christ serves as the messenger conveying the revelation to John. Advocates for Christ as the angel understand the personal pronouns "he" and "his" in the phrase "and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John" as referring to God the Father. Thus, in this interpretation, the text reads "and he [the Father] sent and signified it by his [the Father's] angel [Christ] unto his [the Father's] servant John" (Rev. 1:1). Aune acknowledges the ambiguity of the subject of the verb "he made known" and notes, "it could be either God or Jesus Christ, though the latter is logically more probable since the revelation was transmitted by God to Jesus Christ, and it must be Jesus Christ who then further communicates the revelation" (Aune, Revelation 1-5, 15). Considering the angelic mediation prevalent throughout the book, it appears most fitting to interpret "angel" as an angelic being tasked with relaying God's message to John and not Christ (see our post on the transmission of the book here). As discussed above, the term "signified" is derived from the Greek word σημεῖον (sēmeion), indicating communication through symbols or signs. Various mediums mediate meaning, such as pixels for images, phonemes for spoken sound, letters for written language, or sememes for symbols. John specifies that the book of Revelation employs the latter. While some may find Revelation daunting due to its symbolic nature, the advantage lies in the clarity attained when symbols are rightly interpreted. With that in mind, may we ponder every word, search the Scriptures with humility, lean upon the guidance of the Divine Teacher and He will guide us into all truth.