Now all you Bible scholars should be able to tell me what this verse in Revelation 1:1 says to us.  What should we realize about this important verse?  Or better, what is it's significance?

I will put forth this verse, and tantilize you into a proper perspective: Isa 45:3 And I will give the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.

KW

Hi austin,

Your close but that verse is a statement of revelation, I was hoping of some more meat (from you) into the actual conclusion from the verse.  So since there isn't a whole lot of replies here I can but decode the mystery a bit for you and others here.  I am hoping that this would spark a study into God's word by revealing the mystery..

In verse Rev 1:1, it states, "to show unto his servants things, which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:".  When Jesus Christ had this "Revelation", we should pay attention to the words which shine interpretation and understanding.  Things which must shortly come to pass means, "events" which come to pass shortly from when the book was made.  And the book of Revelation is incoded in sign language, hence the "signified it" stance in the verse.

Now you can align up the book through out history, (forget the interpretations that line up events now, in this time period).  For example, you can read another verse in 'Revelation 6:2 - And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer'.. Which directly relates to the Roman Empire of the Caesars, in how they went forth with a white horse, conquering, (even on their coins it has a horse).  The next horse is a red one which makes men fight with one another, but that depicts the Roman Empire in the civil war period of it's day.  If you would get an Encyclopedia of the Romen Empire you can directly fit what Revelation "signifies" in code words right down through history to our day.

I hope you will be greatly blessed by this information and grounded well into the word.  These few examples above can open your eyes to history and that Christians which were given the knowledge of Revelation actually knew what was to "come to pass".  The whole book of Revelation is in sign language and only sign language.  It is never to be taken literally, even in the word to the Churches, they signify "Church" periods where you can relate in time to those era's.

If what you say is true, then the entire book of revelation would be open to private interpretations, wouldn't it? If not, why not? And also, what about the epistles of Paul, are they not for those specifc churchs at that time but also applicable to our lives as God's people today?

Well, interpretations should be prayed about and diligently searched through to be sure of it's meaning.  If you feel my interpretations about Revelation is a "private" matter, I would not want this at all.  So with anything from the Bible, keeping in mind the Law of first mention, you will ground yourself to the Lord Jesus Christ.  Revelation is such a hard book to understand and you need to pray about it rather than just take me at my word.  Many people do not understand Revelation and it requires you to go beyond the norm to master it's truth. 

When I was 19 I had a hard time with some scriptural views, especially "the rapture".  And after many years I have come to the conclusion that if there is a rapture I should not look for it in the first place.  I would not worry on it but rather build up my faith to go through adversity then think that at any sign of trouble I need God to take me out because I couldn't handle it!  Even before Christ's death he prayed that those which were given to him were not taken out of the world.  John 17:15  That the Father would keep them, going thru their troubles.  So I only teach you to diligently search!  And pray to the Holy Spirit that He should give you understanding of these views.

I'm just a Bible student, not a scholar, but you should just sit down and study the word because the more Christlike you become, the more God reveals himself to you.

Amen to that

I like this topic, or at least the way it is going.

According to the Word scripture interp scripture.  We recieve understanding by revelation.  Since you can not "learn" the Word less God allow it to be revealed to you as it was to Peter when he told Jesus who he thought Jesus was.  Jesus told him that man had not shown him this but it came from his Father in Heaven.