Revelation 1:4

 

John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from Him who is and was and is to come, and from the seven spirits before His throne,
Revelation 1:4 Berean Standard Bible (BSB)
 
John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
Revelation 1:4 King James Bible (KJV)
 
From John, to the seven churches that are in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from "he who is," and who was, and who is still to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,
Revelation 1:4 New English Translation (NET)
 
John
The author of Revelation is traditionally understood to be John the Apostle, also known as John the Beloved. His authorship is significant as he was a direct disciple of Jesus Christ, providing him with unique authority and insight. The name "John" is derived from the Hebrew "Yohanan," meaning "Yahweh is gracious," which is fitting given the message of grace and peace he delivers.
 
To the seven churches
The number seven is symbolic in biblical literature, often representing completeness or perfection. The seven churches mentioned are literal congregations in Asia Minor, but they also symbolize the universal Church throughout history. This duality emphasizes the timeless relevance of the message.
 
in the province of Asia
This refers to the Roman province of Asia, located in what is now modern-day Turkey. The historical context is crucial, as these churches were situated in a region known for its diverse cultures and religious practices, often facing persecution and challenges to their faith.
 
Grace and peace to you
This greeting is a common apostolic salutation found in the New Testament, combining the Greek "charis" (grace) and the Hebrew "shalom" (peace). It reflects the dual heritage of the early Church and underscores the unmerited favor and wholeness that come from God.
 
from Him who is and was and is to come
This phrase emphasizes the eternal nature of God, echoing the divine name revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14, "I AM WHO I AM." It reassures believers of God's sovereignty and unchanging presence throughout time.
 
and from the seven Spirits
The "seven Spirits" is a complex phrase that has been interpreted in various ways. It may refer to the fullness of the Holy Spirit, as seven signifies completeness. This interpretation aligns with Isaiah 11:2, which describes the Spirit of the Lord with seven attributes. It highlights the active and perfect work of the Holy Spirit in the Church.
 
before His throne
The throne symbolizes God's ultimate authority and majesty. The imagery of the throne room in Revelation is rich with Old Testament allusions, particularly from the books of Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. It serves as a reminder of God's supreme rule and the heavenly reality that underpins earthly events.
 
Berean Study Bible
 
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Author and Recipients:
 
John: Traditionally identified as John the Apostle, the author introduces himself. He is writing to the Christian communities.
 
Seven churches in Asia: These refer to specific Christian congregations in what is now western Turkey. The cities mentioned later in Revelation are Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.
 
Greeting:
 
Grace and peace: This is a common Christian greeting, combining the Greek concept of "grace" (charis) with the Hebrew "peace" (shalom), reflecting the dual cultural influence in early Christianity.
 
Source of Grace and Peace:
 
From him which is, and which was, and which is to come: This is a description of God as eternal, transcending time. It emphasizes God's timeless nature - past, present, and future. This phrase is a unique way to describe the divine, focusing on God's unchangeable nature.
 
From the seven Spirits which are before his throne: This is more enigmatic. The "seven Spirits" could be a symbolic number representing completeness or perfection (since seven often symbolizes completeness in biblical numerology). Some interpretations link this to the sevenfold Spirit of God mentioned in Isaiah 11:2 or to the seven angels who stand before God as described elsewhere in Revelation. Others see it as a way to describe the Holy Spirit in its fullness or manifold functions.
 
The verse sets the stage for the rest of the Book of Revelation by introducing the divine sender of the message and the recipients. It also establishes a tone of reverence, linking the message to the divine nature of God and the spiritual authority of the text.
 
This passage, like much of Revelation, is rich with symbolic language, intended to convey complex theological truths about God's nature, the spiritual state of the churches, and the ultimate victory of good over evil.
 
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John to the seven churches which are in Asia,.... In lesser Asia; their names are mentioned in Rev_1:11,
 
grace be unto you, and peace; which is the common salutation of the apostles in all their epistles, and includes all blessings of grace, and all prosperity, inward and outward: See Gill on Rom_1:7. The persons from whom they are wished are very particularly described,
 
from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; which some understand of the whole Trinity; the Father by him "which is", being the I am that I am; the Son by him "which was", which was with God the Father, and was God; and the Spirit by him "which is to come", who was promised to come from the Father and the Son, as a Comforter, and the Spirit of truth: others think Christ is here only intended, as he is in Rev_1:8 by the same expressions; and is he "which is", since before Abraham he was the "I am"; and he "which was", the eternal Logos or Word; and "is to come", as the Judge of quick and dead. But rather this is to be understood of the first Person, of God the Father; and the phrases are expressive both of his eternity, he being God from everlasting to everlasting; and of his immutability, he being now what he always was, and will be what he now is, and ever was, without any variableness, or shadow of turning: they are a periphrasis, and an explanation of the word "Jehovah", which includes all tenses, past, present, and to come. So the Jews explain this name in Exo_3:14,
 
"Says R. Isaac (k), the holy blessed God said to Moses, Say unto them, I am he that was, and I am he that now is, and I am he that is to come, wherefore אהיה is written three times.
 
And such a periphrasis of God is frequent in their writings (l),
 
And from the seven spirits which are before his throne; either before the throne of God the Father; or, as the Ethiopic version reads, "before the throne of the Lord Jesus Christ"; by whom are meant not angels, though these are spirits, and stand before the throne of God, and are ready to do his will: this is the sense of some interpreters, who think such a number of them is mentioned with reference to the seven angels of the churches; or to the seven last "Sephirot", or numbers in the Cabalistic tree of the Jews; the three first they suppose design the three Persons in the Godhead, expressed in the preceding clause, and the seven last the whole company of angels: or to the seven principal angels the Jews speak of. Indeed, in the Apocrypha,
 
"I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels, which present the prayers of the saints, and which go in and out before the glory of the Holy One.'' (Tobit 12:15)
 
Raphael is said to be one of the seven angels; but it does not appear to be a generally received notion of theirs that there were seven principal angels. The Chaldee paraphrase on Gen_11:7 is misunderstood by Mr. Mede, for not "seven", but "seventy angels" are there addressed. It was usual with the Jews only to speak of four principal angels, who stand round about the throne of God; and their names are Michael, Uriel, Gabriel, and Raphael; according to them, Michael stands at his right hand, Uriel at his left, Gabriel before him, and Raphael behind him (m). However, it does not seem likely that angels should be placed in such a situation between the divine Persons, the Father and the Son; and still less that grace and peace should be wished for from them, as from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ; and that any countenance should be given to angel worship, in a book in which angels are so often represented as worshippers, and in which worship is more than once forbidden them, and that by themselves: but by these seven spirits are intended the Holy Spirit of God, who is one in his person, but his gifts and graces are various; and therefore he is signified by this number, because of the fulness and perfection of them, and with respect to the seven churches, over whom he presided, whom he influenced, and sanctified, and filled, and enriched with his gifts and graces,
 
(k) Shemot Rabba, sect. 3. fol. 73. 2. (l) Targum. Jon. in Deut. xxxii. 39. Zohar in Exod. fol. 59. 3. & in Numb. fol. 97. 4. & 106. 2. Seder Tephillot, fol. 205. 1. Ed. Basil. fol. 2. 2. Ed. Amsterd. (m) Bemidbar Rabba, sect. 2. fol. 179. 1.
 
John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible
 
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Cross References:
 
Daniel 7:9-10
As I continued to watch, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence. Thousands upon thousands attended Him, and myriads upon myriads stood before Him. The court was convened, and the books were opened.
 
Zechariah 4:10
For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven eyes of the LORD, which scan the whole earth, will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.”