REVELATION—NOTE ON Revelation 1:4 This greeting identifies the author and recipients. the seven churches that are in Asia. Churches existed in other cities of Roman Asia (e.g., Colossae, Troas). Thus Christ’s selection of “seven” (symbolizing completeness) implies that he addresses the whole church through them. him who is and who was and who is to come. God is eternal. In Christ he will come at the end of history to judge and save. the seven spirits. Revelation teaches that the Holy Spirit is one person (Revelation 3:6, Revelation 3:13; see Ephesians 4:4), but he also appears here as “seven spirits” (compare Revelation 3:1; Revelation 4:5), representing perfection. He is also pictured as “seven torches of fire” (Revelation 4:5) and “seven eyes” (Revelation 5:6). These descriptions show him as all-powerful and all-knowing. from him who is... from the seven spirits... and from Jesus Christ. John’s greeting comes “from” all three persons of the Trinity. the faithful witness. Jesus was a faithful witness even to death (1 Timothy 6:13). His followers must be the same (Revelation 2:13; Revelation 12:11; Revelation 20:4). John comforts his persecuted readers with the truth that Jesus has triumphed over death (the firstborn of the dead). He is the ruler of kings on earth, even Caesar. made us a kingdom, priests. Israel’s roles now belong to all who are freed from sins by Jesus’ blood (Revelation 5:10; see Exodus 19:6).

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