4. EXPOSITION

Verses 1-3. The revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave Him to show unto His servants the things which must quickly come to pass, and signified, sending by His angel, unto His servant John, who bare witness to the Word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, whatsoever things he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear, the words of the prophecy, and keep the things which are written therein; for the time is near.

1. "The revelation of Jesus Christ," signifies predictions from the Lord respecting the last times of the church (n. 5); "which God gave Him to show unto His servants," signifies for those who are in truths from good (n. 6); "the things which must quickly come to pass," signifies which will certainly be (n. 7); "and signified, sending by His angel, unto His servant John," signifies which are revealed out of heaven to those who are in the good of love (n. 8, 9);

2. "who bare witness to the Word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ," signifies to those who in heart acknowledge Divine truth, and the Divine of the Lord in His Human (n. 10); "whatsoever things he saw," signifies having their understanding enlightened (n. 11);

3. "Blessed," signifies those in whom is heaven (n. 12); "is he that readeth" signifies that they have perception (n. 13); "and they that hear the words of the prophecy," signifies that they live according to the doctrine of heaven (n. 14); "and keep the things which are written therein," signifies from the delight of the love of truth (n. 15); "for the time is near," signifies such an interior state n. 16.