Revelation 22:8; Heard and Seen

Revelation 22:8 (KJV)  And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. 

John resumes the speaker’s role for the first mite since chapter 1 where he named himself three times (Revelation 1:1, 4, 9) – And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. 

Revelation 1:1 (KJV)  The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: 

Revelation 1:4 (KJV)  John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; 

Revelation 1:9 (KJV)  I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 

The writer adds his human guarantee to the superhuman words of authentication scattered through v6-17 (Beckwith). This recalls a similar technique utilised by Daniel in his prophecy (Daniel 12:5; cf. Daniel 8:15) (Charles). Without using his name, John provides a similar authentication in his earlier description of the crucifixion (John 19:35).

John 19:35 (KJV)  And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. 

“I John” is the same two-word designation as occurs in Revelation 1:9.

The two participles “heard” and “seen” reflect the two avenues through which he received his prophetic revelation – the ears and the eyes. This too is reminiscent of the emphasis on hearing and seeing by the same author in 1 John 1:1-3, 4:14 (cf. John 1:14; 19:35; 21:14).

1 John 1:1-3 (KJV)  That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 

1 John 4:14 (KJV)  And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. 

John 1:14 (KJV)  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 

John 21:14 (KJV)  This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. 

The use of the autobiographical assertion (cf. Romans 16:22, 1 Corinthians 16:21; Galatians 6:11; Colossians 4:18; 2 Thessalonians 3:7; Philemon 19) indicates the author’s endorsement of what he has written and his opinion that not is true and useful.

[Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8-22 – An Exegetical Commentary, Moody, 1995, 499]