The Revelation of Jesus Christ

The Revelation of Jesus Christ

Contrary to what men have titled the last book John wrote to the seven churches in Asia; the title of the book is “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.” John is not the author he is the scribe. The Revealer of the things that are and the things that will take place is God. God revealed these events to our Lord Jesus and He sent and communicated them by His angel to John, the Lord’s bondservant and testifier of all that he heard and saw.

The command to write in a book the things seen and the things which are and the things which will take place after these things was given to John by our Lord Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:11, 19). John is told to send what he has seen to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea (Revelation 1:11), seven churches of Asia chosen from all other churches for their characteristics that will be found in churches in succeeding ages of the church.

The Greeting

Revelation 1:4-8

John begins the greeting with a common practice of that day, “grace to you and peace.”

Grace and peace reveal the attitude of God toward the believer in Jesus Christ and the relationship between God and the believer in Jesus Christ. Since John was well known and accepted as one of the apostles it was not necessary for him to identify himself as an apostle or defend his apostleship.

The phrase, “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, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth” identifies the source of all grace and peace. Because of the subsequent reference to the “seven Spirits” and Jesus Christ, the One “who is and who was and who is to come,” is considered a reference to the first Person of the Trinity, the Father.

Some scholars believe the “Seven spirits” represent the Holy Spirit. Others believe the “Seven spirits” are angels in places of high privileges and authority. Those claiming the “Seven spirits” refer to the Holy Spirit use Isaiah 11 to justify their claim.

“Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first born of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth,” refers to His ministry here on earth, His resurrection and His authority. In contrast to those previously restored to life only to die, again Jesus did not return to the dead but to His place in heaven.

Through the shedding of His blood, Jesus releases us from our sins and makes us to be a kingdom and priests to His God and Father. Because we have been released from our sins there is now no condemnation (Romans 8:33-34), we are free and guiltless.

The Apostle Paul told the Romans, “For by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through One, Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:17). Paul told the Colossians, “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transformed us to the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Colossians 1:13).

To Him belong all glory and dominion forever and ever.

The good news – Revelation 1:7

Jesus is coming, the Alpha and the Omega is coming. He who is and who was, and who is to come, is coming. He is coming in clouds, clouds of glory as when He was seen upon the Mount of Transfiguration, and His garments were shining as the power of God enfolded Him, and every eye shall see Him. That means this is not the Rapture. This is when He comes to take His rightful place on the throne of David and rule the nations from Jerusalem. Those who have pierced Him with their swords, creeds and denominational doctrines shall see and mourn, and all the people shall wail in terror because of Him.

The Alpha and Omega, the Prophet, Priest, and King, the Lord of hosts, the one and only eternal God is coming soon, even so Lord Jesus come.