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Revelation 1:1 - 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.

• The word Revelation is translated from the original Greek word apokalupsis, which means "an uncovering."

• The word apokalupsis consists of two parts: apo (away from) and kalupsis (a hiding or veiling). Therefore, the word apokalupsis means "an unhiding, the taking away of a veil, a revealing."

• In order to understand the symbols that are used in the Revelation, we must have a key. It is necessary that we have keys to everything. Without keys our vaults, our automobiles, and our homes would remain locked. Jesus said in Revelation 1:18,
  "I . . . have the keys of hell and of death." He has the keys to all eternal things. He said in John 13:3 that the Father put all things into His hands. In Revelation 3:7 we read this of Jesus: ". . . he that hath the key of David . . . openeth; and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth."

The above excerpts are from the following study materials:

Preparing to Pour Out the Vials
by Bro. Emerson Wilson
The Book of Revelation Explained, Volume 1
by Earl R. Borders