Revelation 1:4-8 – Bible Study & Exploration
The Seven Churches of Revelation
(Verses 4-6) The people of the Roman Empire were a letter writing society. They had no pagers, cellphones or even telephones for that matter. In order to communicate to people across far distances, their only option was to write letters. Twenty-two of the twenty-seven New Testament books were written as letters.
John uses a common letter writing practice of his day by beginning with who the letter is written by. Thus the reason for beginning with his own name.
Then John addresses who the letter is being written to. In this case, John is writing to the seven churches of Asia Minor. This area is known today as Turkey.
Each of the seven churches will have the benefit of not only receiving a divine perspective on their specific church, but they will also hear what Jesus has to say to the other six churches. This is a great benefit to each church as they can use Jesus’ divine conviction to make corrections to their own church practices.
How blessed we are today to have a wealth of divine perspective through God’s word in understanding how we can live to please Him and do according to His will.
Blessings From the Holy Trinity
Being led by the Holy Spirit, John begins most appropriately with a benediction coming from all three persons of the Trinity. First, the Father, “Him who is, and who was, and who is to come.” The Holy Spirit, “the Seven Spirits, (meaning the sevenfold Spirit).” Then, “Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth.”
What Is the Book of Revelation About?
If you were to ask a group of Christians what the book of Revelation was about, you’d likely get a number of different answers. They may say things like, “it’s about the end of the world, the really bad things that are going to happen on earth before Jesus returns, or simply, it’s about God dealing with those who’ve sinned and rejected Him during their lives.” All of these answers would be correct.
John is the one putting pen to paper in the writing of this letter to the seven churches of Revelation. The intended recipients of the letter are the seven churches. But, we must always remember that Revelation is all about Jesus Christ. It comes from Him, through Him and is for Him. Jesus Christ is the main theme of this book.
Just as we see in the very first verse of John’s gospel, he wastes no time describing Christ as being fully God present before all of creation. We witness again as John compiles this letter to the seven churches of Revelation, he once again wastes no time in giving the attention to the Rightful One. Only three words into the first verse of the first chapter, there is Jesus Christ. Clearly indicating who is dictating this all so powerful and important book.
There are many subjects covered in this book from the rapture, the four horsemen, the tribulation, Israel, the battle of Armageddon to the new heaven and earth. The focus and main theme rests firmly on the Lord of lords, the King of kings, the Lion of Judah and the perfect and unblemished sacrificial lamb, Jesus Christ.
The Theme of the Letter to the Seven Churches of Revelation
(Verse 7) Here, John presents the resounding theme of this entire book. The return of the King of kings, Jesus Christ. The judging of the nations that have come against his people and the establishment of his ruling over the kingdom.
John says, “Look, He is coming in the clouds.” The word “coming” is the English translation of the Greek word paruosia (pronounced pair-oo-see-ah). In the original Greek text it is defined as the Second Coming of Christ. This is not to be confused with the coming of Christ to gather His believers and remove them from the world before the tribulation. The Second Coming is when Christ will physically return after the tribulation to the same place He ascended after His resurrection on the Mt. of Olives.
When studying the Bible, it’s always best to look at the text that surrounds any description of Jesus’ coming in order to understand which return the Bible is speaking of.
The Second Coming
In this verse, John begins with the same words that Daniel spoke of in describing Jesus’ Second Coming to rule His kingdom over 500 years before Christ was born.
“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:13-14)
All Will See Him
Then John says, “every eye will see Him.” This echoes the words of Jesus’ Olivet Discourse. The very words that Jesus taught on the Mt. of Olives about the events that would take place during the last days that are now described in Revelation.
“For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:27)
The key word here is “visible.” In other words, everyone alive on earth at the time of His return will witness His coming back to the world.
All Will Mourn For Him
Then he says, everyone on earth “will mourn because of Him,” just as was spoken by Zechariah 500 years before the birth of Christ.
“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.” (Zechariah 12:10)
They will mourn because they will come to realize that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and has returned just as was spoken by the prophets.
He Is the Beginning and the End
(Verse 8) Jesus describes Himself as the Alpha and the Omega. These are the first and last letters in the Greek alphabet. This is meant to describe that His power is all inclusive. He is the beginning and the end as well as the Beginner and the Ender. Christ existed before the creation of this age and will be after the end of this age. He will usher in the new age. An age that will be experienced by those who have chosen to believe in Him and have put their faith and trust in Him.
What a glorious age it will be. We will live the way God meant for His creation to live, but even greater so. It’ll be in full communion with Him in our presence. “So shall it be, Amen.”