Journeying Through Revelation

Greetings and Doxology (1:4–8)

As I mentioned earlier, Revelation is basically a long letter containing seven short letters addressed to seven specific churches. These seven letters are contained in chapters 2 and 3. From there the letter moves things up a notch—chapters 4–22—providing information relevant to all of the churches and in fact, to all believers. This doesn’t mean that the content of the specific letters isn’t relevant to all—of course it is. The difference seems to be that in the seven letters we are given encouragement and instruction in how to live our lives daily. The subsequent chapters provide insight, perhaps, into heavenly battles taking place while we go through our day-to-day routines as well as providing a higher-level perspective on the battle between good and evil both in the heavenly realm and in the day-to-day lives of those of us who live in this current church age.

This opening to the letter and letters within is similar in style to other letters included in the New Testament. We are told here to whom the letters are addressed and from whom they are being sent.

“To the Seven Churches” (v.4)

As we will learn in verse 11, the seven churches in the province of Asia include Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.

At the time, Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey, was divided into seven postal districts. These cities were at the center of the districts and as such were responsible for the dissemination of information to their districts. By writing to the main churches in each of these cities, John could be assured that the information in his letters would be passed on throughout the districts.

It is probably relevant as well that there are seven churches—again the number that represents completeness—and as such we can be assured that the messages in these letters can be applied to all Christians.

“From Him Who Is, and Who Was, and Who Is To Come” (v.4)

Here in verses 4–5a, we are basically being told that John is speaking on behalf of our triune God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Each entity is described in interesting and unique ways.

It begins with a three-tiered name of God: who is (currently existing), who was (always has been) and who is to come (will always be). It echoes Exodus 3:14 where God calls himself “I AM WHO I AM”. This phrase is another one of those concepts that is repeated here in this chapter (see verse 8) and elsewhere in Revelation (4:8), so it is obviously a point that we are intended to remember. Later in Revelation (11:17 and 16:5) we will see the name change to who is and who was. No longer will He be called the one who is to come because by then He will have already come.

These names for God serve as a reminder that He was there at creation, that He is here now as I live my life, and that He will be there eternally. God is a constant that we can always turn to, that we can always depend on.

“From the Seven Spirits Before His Throne” (v.4)

The phrase, “the seven spirits before his throne” is repeated four times in Revelation (1:4, 3:1, 4:5, 5:6). Each time it is repeated there is a little more information added, but the information remains cloaked in metaphors and analogies. Most scholars agree that the phrase refers to the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Some refer to Zechariah 4:2–6 for clarification, and some to Isaiah 11:1–2 where the seven-fold spirit is described as: Spirit of the LORD; Spirit of wisdom; Spirit of understanding; Spirit of counsel; Spirit of might (or power); Spirit of knowledge; and Spirit of the fear of the LORD. This description is a wonderful reminder of the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

“From Jesus Christ” (v.5)

Just as we had three names to describe God, here in verse five we see that three names are also used to describe Jesus Christ. These names remind me of the story of salvation. As the faithful witness Jesus stood before people who were in fact, false witnesses in Pilate’s court. As a result of His faithful witness, He faced death on the cross and was raised from death—firstborn from the dead—to prove His lordship over the material world—ruler of the kings of the earth. So already we are beginning to learn about who Jesus is. I find it interesting that the description here moves from a faithful, humble carpenter through death to become a ruler of all!

I think it’s pretty cool that in a verse and a half we are reminded of God’s omnipresence, the gift of the Holy Spirit and the story of Salvation!