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.” vss. 4b-5a
Revelation 1:4-5a
John begins his letter to the seven churches with a greeting of grace and peace from the Eternal God and from Jesus Christ. His threefold description of God is familiar and reflects a common belief that God transcends time: God is, was, and shall be forevermore. The phrases he uses to describe Jesus Christ appear to be a precreedal declaration: Jesus faithfully proclaimed the truth about God, was raised from the dead, and now reigns over all the earth. John uses this description to set the stage for the apocalyptic vision which makes up the bulk of the book of Revelation.
Believers through the centuries have had varying reactions to these writings. Some, particularly in the last century, have pored over the symbols and have claimed that they are predictions of actual events. A few have made fortunes writing books and making movies. In reality the writing arises out of John’s own time and place and when properly interpreted gives a picture of what life was like for Christians in the first and second centuries. Above all, John wanted his readers to be hopeful. No matter how arrogant or cruel national rulers could be, God would give them life – Jesus Christ was their forever source of salvation.
Thought for the Day: How do I use the book of Revelation?
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