These verses contain the first prophetic oracle of the book. The only other one in which God speaks is in 21:5-8.
1:7 "Behold"(Gr. idou) indicates special divine intervention. This verse summarizes the main features of the revelation to follow. It is in this sense the key verse in the book.
"The theme of the book is the ultimate victory of Jesus Christ over all enemies and the establishment of His earthly kingdom."28
Jesus Christ will return physically to earth as He ascended into heaven (1:4, 8; 2:5, 16; 3:11; 4:8; 16:15; 22:7, 12, 20 [twice]); Acts 1:9-11). "Every eye"of those alive at His second coming will see Him (Matt. 24:30; cf. Num. 11:25; Ps. 104:3; Isa. 19:1; Dan. 7:13). "Those who pierced Him"evidently refers to Jews particularly (Zech. 12:10, 12, 14; cf. John 19:37).29Another possibility is that these people stand for Jesus' enemies.30Representatives from all tribes on earth then will mourn (wail) because then the earth will be in rebellion against Him (cf. Matt. 24:30). These tribes represent all human beings, not just Jews.31
This great text announces the climactic event in Revelation, namely, the return of Jesus Christ to the earth at His second coming (19:11-16). All that intervenes between this verse and 19:11-16 leads up to that event. This verse does not refer to the Rapture as is clear from what John said will happen when it takes place. The Second Coming is a public gradual manifestation, but the Rapture will be a secret instantaneous coming (1 Cor. 15:52).
"The promise combines Daniel 7:13 with Zechariah 12:10 . . . Daniel 7 provides a key focus for John throughout the whole book (there are no fewer than thirty-one allusions to it)."32
"Even so, amen,"provides firm assurance that the coming of Christ will happen as prophesied in this verse.
1:8 God confirmed the preceding forecast with a solemn affirmation of His eternity and omnipotence. Alphaand omegaare the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet and signify here God's comprehensive control over all things including time.33John strengthened this point further with present, past, and future references (cf. 4:8; 11:17; Heb. 13:8). He is the originator and terminator of all things. God is not only Lord of the future. He is also powerful enough to bring what John just predicted to pass. He is the "Almighty."
"A weighing of evidence, especially in light of the OT flavor' of the expression and a recollection that the Father in the OT refers to Himself as I am' (i.e., the Tetragrammaton, Ex. 3:14; cf. Isa. 48:12), tips the balance ever so slightly to the side of concluding that God the Father speaks in v. 8. . . .
"God's declaration in v. 8 thus ends with a note of authority. The omnipotent one will surely implement what His prophet has predicted by way of future judgment."34
"Almighty is a key name for God in Revelation (Rev. 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7, 14; 19:6, 15; 21:22)."35
This whole introduction points to the main event of the following revelation, the return of Jesus Christ at His second coming (19:11-16). It also presents the triune God as Lord of time (past, present, and future), faithful to His promises, and powerful enough to bring these events to pass. In Genesis, Moses also emphasized God's power and faithfulness more than any other of His attributes. The last Bible book stresses these qualities of God as does the first Bible book.
