Revelation 1:4-8

JOHN’S GREETING TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES

 Revelation 1:4-8

Because of all the interpretation the Revelations verses will be highlighted.

We run immediately into the number 7 which means completeness.  Who were the seven churches that God told John to send the letter to? they were.

1. Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7) - the church that had forsaken its first love (2:4).
2. Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11) - the church that would suffer persecution (2:10).
3. Pergamum (Revelation 2:12-17) - the church that needed to repent (2:16).
4. Thyatira (Revelation 2:18-29) - the church that had a false prophetess (2:20).
5. Sardis (Revelation 3:1-6) - the church that had fallen asleep (3:2).
6. Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7-13) - the church that had endured patiently (3:10).
7. Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22) - the church that was lukewarm and insipid (to God) (3:16).

So why would these churches receive the letter and not others? The letter was addressed so that it could be read and passed on in a systematic fashion, following the main Roman road clockwise around the province of Asia (now called Turkey.  These churches and already had seen letters from John, Rev_1:9; Rev_1:11 Revelations 1:11 names the churches outright. There are only theories as to why only these churches but as you can see in the list they all had issues that needed to be addressed.  

 Rev 1:4  This letter is from John to the seven churches in the province of Asia. Grace and peace to you from the One who is, who always was, and who is still to come; from the sevenfold Spirit before His throne;

 

Life Application New Testament Commentary

 notes: "The Trinity—the Father (the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come), the Holy Spirit (the sevenfold Spirit), and the Son (Jesus Christ)—is the source of all truth (Joh_14:6-17; 1Jn_2:27; Rev_19:11)." I have noted that when you go to the suggested verses  that there  may need  to have explanations within the explanations. If they are in Revelations I will get to those. If they are not I urge you to seek out the answer so you may have a better understanding. Below is the explanation for the sevenfold spirit. The web page for The Cracked Door is a good place to go for additional information

Isaiah 11:1-2American Standard Version (ASV) ^11:1 And there shall come forth a shoot out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots shall bear fruit.^11:2 And the Spirit of Jehovah shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Jehovah.

The sevenfold Spirit refers to these seven spirits. From the website The Cracked Door 

These spirit are in you if you have the Holy Spirit within you

 1. The Spirit of Wisdom
 2. The Spirit of Understanding
 3. The Spirit of Counsel
 4. The Spirit of Might
 5. The Spirit of Knowledge
 6. The Spirit of Reverential Fear of The Lord
 7. The Spirit of Obedient Fear of The Lord

Rev 1:5  and from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world. All glory to Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding His blood for us.

 

Colossians 1:18 NIV ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy
Philippians 2:10-11 NIV ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

These two verses reverberate Rev 1:5 We should all know that Jesus has freed  us and given us a pathway to have our sins forgiven.  It was by the shedding of his blood.

referring to the phrase "first to rise" Jesus did raise others from the dead, but, that is the point HE raised them from the dead they did not do that on their own. Jesus was raised by no human intervention.

Rev 1:6  He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God His Father. All glory and power to Him forever and ever! Amen. Rev 1:7  Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see Him—even those who pierced Him. And all the nations of the world will mourn for Him. Yes! Amen! Rev 1:8  "I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end," says the Lord God. "I am the One who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One."

Prior to Christ's death and resurrection Israel had been the priests of all nations.  Exo_19:6 ⁶ you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

After Christ's death the obligation of being a priest for Jesus was passed on to the Gentiles and I would also think the messianic Jews also. The first two verses apply and you can click on them to see their content but 1Peter 2:9 spells it out completely. Heb_13:15; 1Pe_2:5; 1Pe_2:9 NIV ^"9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."

He is the beginning and the end of everything. If anyone asks you where did God come from Revelations 1:8 is an excellent answer.

We as humans always need a start and a finish. We have never known anything else we are clock driven. The concept that there is life without time is foreign to us. But when it comes it will be marvelous. Praise God

Agape

      Dave