Revelation 1:4-8

Rev. 1:4   John to the seven churches that are in Asia: 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,  5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood —  6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father — to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.  7 BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.

Rev. 1:8   “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Q&A:

Who is writing the letter?

·      John (1:4) – Most likely, the reference is to the Apostle John.

To whom is the epistle addressed?

·      “To the seven churches that are in Asia” (1:4).

From whom does John pray for grace and peace to come? (1:4)

·      “from Him who is and who was and who is to come”

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·      “from the seven Spirits who are before His throne”

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·      “from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth.”

To whom does “the seven Spirits who are before His throne” refer (1:4)?

Is the adjective “seven” referring to seven Spirits or seven attributes of the

Spirit? What seven attributes describe the Spirit of the LORD in Isaiah 11:2?

·      The reference to “the seven Spirits who are before His throne” could refer to the Holy Spirit, with “seven” alluding to the seven attributes of the Spirit, described in Isaiah 11:2: (1) Spirit of the LORD; (2) Spirit of wisdom; (3) Spirit of understanding; (4) Spirit of counsel; (5) Spirit of strength; (6) Spirit of knowledge; (7) Spirit of the fear of the LORD.

How is Jesus described in 1:5? Give a brief explanation of each phrase.

·      “the faithful witness” – Jesus is the faithful Prophet of the LORD (John 18:37).

·      “the first born of the dead” ­– Jesus is the first Begotten of the LORD, referring to His resurrection (John 3:16; Rom 8:29; Col 1:15).

·      “the ruler of the kings of the earth” – Jesus sits at God’s right hand, exalted to the highest position of authority over the kings of the earth (Ps 2; Rev 19:16).

Who has made “us” a kingdom, priests to His God and Father? (1:6)

·      “Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood —” (1:5).

How will He come? Who will see Him? How will the tribes of the earth respond? (1:7-8)

·      “Behold, He is coming with the clouds” (1:7).

·      “Every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him” (1:7).

·      “All the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him” (1:7).

What might be the theme verse of the book of Revelation?

            “Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen” (1:7).

How does the Lord God describe Himself?

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (1:8).

•       “Alpha and Omega” – The first and the last letter of the Greek alphabet, signifying the beginning and the end. The Eternal God reigning at the beginning will reign at the end. God began a good work. God will bring it to completion.
•       “Who is and who was and who is to come” — the Eternal God of all ages.
•       “the Almighty” – Familiar Old Testament reference to God.

Map Created in Accordance Bible Atlas 2.2

Glorious God of all ages, the One Who is and Who was and Who is to come, Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End, the Almighty, King of glory, Immutable, Immortal, God of ages past, God of the present age, and God of the age to come. Forever and always.  God at the beginning and God at the end. The God Who knows the end at the beginning, and the beginning at the end. The God Who begins a good work and also brings it to completion. You breathe prophecy into existence, and You fulfill it. Perfectly. Powerfully. Providentially. You watch over Your Word to fulfill it, and not one word falls to the ground void. Your Word endures forever, for You are the forever God. You reveal. You disclose. Wisdom and understanding come from You. May You give wisdom and understanding to those who seek to know what You have made known in the Revelation of Jesus the Messiah. In the powerful Name of Jesus, Amen.