REVELATION 1:4-5
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 1:4).
The number seven is mentioned over and over throughout this prophecy.
Seven is sometimes called God's perfect number because it represents completeness or totality. Seven days make a complete week, seven notes comprise the musical scale, and seven colors are in the rainbow. Thus, seven churches would indicate the complete church.
Geographically, these churches complete a small circle.
There were many more churches in Asia Minor than these seven; one of the major churches, Colosse,
was not addressed here. But, because seven is the number of completeness, these seven present us with the complete history of the church. In this prophecy here also have the seven seals, the seven trumpet judgments,
the seven thunders, and the seven vials of God's wrath - all of which demonstrate God's complete judgment on the earth.
was not addressed here. But, because seven is the number of completeness, these seven present us with the complete history of the church. In this prophecy here also have the seven seals, the seven trumpet judgments,
the seven thunders, and the seven vials of God's wrath - all of which demonstrate God's complete judgment on the earth.
It is also worth noticing that the number eight is the number of new beginnings.
The eighth day starts the new week; after seven musical notes the eighth note starts the new upper scale. Since each letter of the Greek alphabet carries a numeric equivalent, it is interesting that the total numeric value of the names for Jesus in the Greek are all divisible by eight - Jesus, Christos, Kurios. He is the
new beginning, and we have a new beginning in Christ.
new beginning, and we have a new beginning in Christ.
"Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is
to come."
to come."
This is God's eternal character. God is past, He is present, and He is future. He was, He is, and He is to come. He's all these at the same time. Everything is the "eternal now" with God.
"And from the seven Spirits which are before his throne."
Here (and in Revelation 3, 4, and 5) we read of the seven Spirits before the throne of God. Again, the number seven indicates the completeness of the work of the Holy Spirit. The prophet Isaiah, speaking of the ministry of Jesus Christ declared, The spirit of the LORD 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 the LORD (Isaiah 11:2).
understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD (Isaiah 11:2).
Thus, the seven-fold working of the Holy Spirit is defined and described.
John sends the blessings from God, from the Holy Spirit,
"and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness" (Revelation 1:5).
Jesus Christ is the faithful witness of what God is. He came to reveal the Father.
The night in which He was betrayed, Jesus was talking with His disciples. Philip cried to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us." Jesus said, "Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?" (John 14:8-9).
Today, God wants to reveal Himself through you.
It is God's purpose that the world sees Him through you. That is a very heavy obligation on our part. Jesus
said, "Ye shall be witnesses unto me" (Acts 1:8). Our lives are to bear witness of
Jesus Christ and who He is.
said, "Ye shall be witnesses unto me" (Acts 1:8). Our lives are to bear witness of
Jesus Christ and who He is.
The word witness in Greek is "martus," from which we get our English word "martyr." "Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness [martyr], and the first begotten of the dead" (Revelation 1:5).
This phrase first begotten doesn't mean the first in time but the first in priority. First begotten is speaking of prominence. It refers to Jesus Christ as the most important one ever raised from the dead.
Also, Jesus was begotten of the dead unto eternal life never to die again. Others had been raised from the dead only to die a second time. But Jesus arose never to die again. In this sense, He is "the first begotten of the dead."
He is "the prince [ruler] of the kings of the earth" (Revelation 1:5). This is the title and position that Jesus will have during the kingdom age. God "has made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor" (Psalm 8:5). We see a world that is in chaos and under the power and dominion
of Satan. But we're looking for that glorious coming Kingdom when Jesus will assume His position as the ruler of the kings of the earth.
Revelation 1:5 describes Jesus and His relationship to you: "Unto him that loved us." Never doubt the love of Jesus Christ for you! Satan will seek to have you doubt that love. He'll whisper, "You've been bad! God certainly doesn't love you now. You've failed! You haven't lived up to His standards. Jesus doesn't love bad
little boys." That isn't true. Jesus loves you no matter what your condition.
"While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Jesus died for the ungodly. And if, while you were a sinner and rebelling against Him, He loved you enough to die for you, how much more shall you experience the fullness of that love and grace now that you've opened your heart to Him and sought to walk
after Him.
after Him.
Unto him that loved us, and [because He loved us] washed us from our sins in his own blood (Revelation 1:5)
For the blood of Jesus Christ, God's son, cleanses a man from all sin. In His love, Jesus shed His blood and washed you from all of your sins. For "all we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6).
He died in our place.
