Understand Revelation At Last – Advent 19. You’ll get the first week of my daily devotional The Revelation Devotional in this blog post. Try it out in January 2026 or right now! This free sample is my gift for you on the 19th day of Advent. Merry Christmas!
Understand Revelation At Last – Advent 19
January 1 – Revelation 1:1-2
This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things which must happen soon, which he sent and made known by his angel to his servant, John, 2 who testified to God’s word and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, about everything that he saw.
What is the origin of the book of Revelation?
How did John get the book of Revelation? Through which Persons did the Revelation pass?
What is the purpose of the Revelation?
Who is the intended audience of Revelation?
What is in the Book of Revelation?
Prayer: Thank You, Almighty God, for giving us the book of Revelation, directly from You through Jesus Christ our Lord. Thank You for using Your created angels and sons of men to spread Your truth through all the world. Amen.
God gives us the name of the book: the Revelation of Jesus Christ. He gives us the topic, things which must happen soon, and shows the provenance of the book as the knowledge flows from His throne through Jesus, to His angel, to John, and then to the whole church.
Understand Revelation – Day 2
January 2 – Revelation 1:3-4
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written in it, for the time is at hand. 4 John, to the seven assemblies that are in Asia.
Who is blessed by this book?
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Why are these groups blessed?
What time is at hand?
To whom is John writing this book?
Prayer: Thank You, Holy Father, for blessing us for reading Your book, for blessing everyone who hears of the book, and for encouraging us to keep the things written within it. We’re delighted to hear of our brethren, the seven churches of Asia Minor, preserving this book and passing it on to us today. Amen.
We need encouragement, especially in difficult times. God gives us His blessing for reading or hearing the book of Revelation, and more, for keeping what He says. This means not only obeying the commands written within it but also keeping the words and promises within our minds for meditation and hope.
Understand Revelation – Day 3
January 3 – Revelation 1:4-5
Grace to you and peace from God, who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits who are before his throne; 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
How does John salute the seven churches?
In Whose Names does John salute the seven churches?
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Prayer: We praise You, Holy Father, Faithful Jesus Christ, and the sevenfold Holy Spirit given to Christians and with us to the end. You have given us Your grace, Your gifts, eternal life, and all that we need in this life. You give us Your peace in the violence, war, and chaos that is in this world. We know that Jesus Christ is Ruler over all the rulers of the Earth, and we have hope in You, now and forever. Amen.
Grace to you and peace from God. Grace, charis in Greek, means unmerited love. These are gifts to us from the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, along with peace from the eternal God, Who has always existed and is outside of time. Jesus is the faithful witness of these things and the firstborn of the dead. He died in our place, so that we may be forgiven and live forever. Jesus was the ruler of the Earth. He still is and will be forever.
Understand Revelation – Day 4
January 4 – Revelation 1:5-6
To him who loves us, and washed us from our sins by his blood— 6 and he made us to be a Kingdom, priests to his God and Father—to him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
How does Jesus Christ feel about His church?
What has Jesus Christ done for His church?
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To Whom is the church presented by Jesus?
How is God praised by John?
Prayer: Thank You, Lord Jesus Christ, for making us into a kingdom of priests and kings for Your Father and our Father in heaven. All glory and dominion is Yours forever and ever. Amen.
The focus is on Jesus, the Author of the book of Revelation, in this verse and throughout the book. We must keep that perspective as we read through the book. Every verse is what Jesus wants us to know.
Understand Revelation – Day 5
January 5 – Revelation 1:7
Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, including those who pierced him. All the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. Even so, Amen.
How will Jesus return?
Who on Earth will see Him?
Who are those who pierced Him?
What will the tribes (ethnos, ethnic groups) of the Earth do when He returns? Why?
Prayer: Just as You said, our Lord Jesus Christ, You will return with clouds. You will ensure that every person on Earth sees You, including all of us responsible for Your piercing. Every nation and race will mourn over Your death for our sake. Your will be done. Amen.
Behold, he is coming with the clouds. Jesus’s second coming is described. As He returns, every living person will see Him in the clouds. That event fulfills many prophecies. Seeing Jesus will also convict many people of their sins, leading to mourning and repentance. This great repentance transcends all races and nations. Through Jesus, the world finally becomes united.
Understand Revelation – Day 6
January 6 – Revelation 1:8
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Who is speaking?
What are His Names mentioned here?
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Why is He speaking?
Prayer: O Great God Almighty, ever living One Who is the first and the last, we are in awe of You just by reading Your words. How much more will we tremble when we see You face to face? Even so, come quickly. Amen, says the Lord God. Jesus speaks directly to us here. If you have a red-letter Bible, which indicates Jesus’s spoken words, this is a direct quote in red. Since the book is written to His Church, Jesus begins the book by reminding us Who He is.
Understand Revelation – Day 7
January 7 – Revelation 1:9
I John, your brother and partner with you in the oppression, Kingdom, and perseverance in Christ Jesus, was on the isle that is called Patmos because of God’s Word and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
How does John identify himself to the church?
Why does he identify this way?
Where was John?
Why was he there?
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Prayer: How gentle You are, Holy Father! You work through human beings like Moses and John to other human beings. You know our frame and how we cannot bear Your direct Presence. How wise and how great You are to accomplish Your infinite purpose through fallible people like us! Amen.
John tells us how he received the book. John doesn’t claim his apostleship, nor his role as an elder and pastor of Ephesus, but simply as a fellow Christian suffering in exile for the sake of Jesus. He was imprisoned on Patmos because he was a leading pastor and the last living apostle in the 90s of the first century and because he testified of Jesus Christ. Christians today still suffer imprisonment for the same reasons.
Understand Revelation At Last – One Last Thing
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Jeffry Smith