Revelation: The Lord of our Past, Present, and Future

Revelation 1:4-8

“I am reading the book of Revelation, and it is hard to understand.” That’s what someone told a friend of mine last week. So, he invited her to join our study. 

I agree that many parts of this book are difficult to understand, but we will work through it together. My goal in this study is to explain the profound theological truths without getting lost in the details. Another friend has reminded me that Revelation can be summed up in five words: In the end, we win!

The Revelation is the message Jesus shared with the apostle John through an angel (Rev. 1:1). We’ll learn more about John next time. Today’s passage shows that John wrote these words directly to the “seven churches that are in Asia” (Rev. 1:4). In the New Testament, Asia always refers to the Roman province of the same name. These seven churches are Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea (Rev. 1:11). We are not told why these specific churches were chosen. Still, as we study Jesus’ words to them in Revelation 2-3, we will find many important lessons that are applicable to us today.

John begins his letter with this greeting to the churches: 

Revelation 1:4-5a
Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ….

“Grace to you” and “peace from him” are common, yet meaningful, greetings that emphasize God’s free and undeserved gifts. Here, John shows that believers receive grace and peace through the work of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. 

God the Father is described with the words, “who is and who was and who is to come.” This seems to reference Exodus 3:14, where God told Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” “I AM” is the phrase we translate as Yahweh. This characterizes God’s self-existence from eternity past to eternity future. He has always been and always will be. 

This allusion to Exodus 3:14 is reiterated at the conclusion of today’s passage, where the Lord God declares, “I am the Alpha and the Omega . . . who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (Rev. 1:8). “Alpha” and “omega” are literally the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. God is the beginning, the end, and everything in between. He is sovereign over all that happens throughout human history.  

The name “Almighty” signifies God’s omnipotence, power, and universal authority, emphasizing these traits to anyone who might doubt that he can and will accomplish all that is written in the Revelation. 

In my view, God, the Holy Spirit, is depicted as “the seven spirits who are before his throne.” Several translations support this, as indicated by the capitalization of “Spirit” or “Spirits.” Although there is some debate, I believe this refers to the Holy Spirit as described in Isaiah 11:2-3, where the Spirit’s sevenfold work is outlined.[1] This phrase also points to the Holy Spirit, given its position between references to God the Father and God the Son.[2] 

In our passage today, John presents seven descriptions of Jesus. We will learn so much about Jesus throughout this study. Here is John’s overview. Let’s list these one by one. 

1. Jesus is the faithful witness (Rev. 1:5a).
   “No one has ever seen God,” John told us in his Gospel, but “the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known” (John 1:18). The Greek word for witness is martus, from which we get the word “martyr.” Jesus is the ultimate example and model of someone who stands firm and never compromises the truth, even in the face of death.
   
   
2. Jesus is the firstborn of the dead (Rev. 1:5b).
   Jesus was the first to rise from the dead, never to die again (Rom. 8:29). All believers follow Jesus into resurrected eternal life.
   
   
3. Jesus is the Ruler of the kings of the world (Rev. 1:5c).
   Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 17:14; 19:16). Granted, it may seem like world leaders are in charge, but as one writer wisely says, “Behind the chaotic events of history the believer recognizes that Jesus Christ…has in fact been exalted to God’s right hand where he sits as Lord, ruling over the rulers of the earth.”[3] 
   
   
4. Jesus loves us (Rev. 1:5d).
   The word “love” (Grk: agape) is in the present tense, meaning that he continues to love us; his love is an ongoing fact. Think about it! The Ruler of the kings of the world loves you and will keep loving you.
   
   
5. Jesus has freed us from our sins by his blood (Rev. 1:5e).
   Jesus’ love isn’t just words. He demonstrated the full extent of his love by paying the penalty for our sins on the cross (Rom. 5:8). The word “freed” in this verse is in a tense that signifies a once-and-for-all, finished work. We cannot add anything to Jesus’ completed work.  
   
   
6. Jesus has made us a kingdom and priests (Rev. 1:6).
   Jesus has placed us in his kingdom—the Body of Christ, composed of every believer throughout history. And he has made us priests. We don’t need to go through another person to reach God. Through Jesus, every believer has direct access to the eternal, all-powerful Creator.
   
   
7. Jesus is coming again! (Rev. 1:7).
   Many people go through life without ever seriously considering who Jesus is and what he did on the cross. But one day, all that will change. He will return, and “every eye will see him.” Even those who pierced and rejected him will not miss Jesus “coming with the clouds.” For believers, that day will be filled with inexpressible joy. But those who have rejected Jesus “will wail on account of him.” 

Let’s close today with John’s benediction: 

To him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen (Rev. 1:6b). 

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Time in the Word: Read and reflect on Revelation 1:4-8. Take time to focus on the seven descriptions of Jesus in Revelation 1:5-7.

Talking to God: How do these descriptions of Jesus strengthen your faith when life feels uncertain and challenging?

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