Revelation Chapter 1
Verse 4 (God's WordTM)

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4 From John
to
the seven
churches in the province of Asia. Good will and peace to you from the
one
who is, the one who was, and the one who is coming, from the seven
spirits
who are in front of his throne,
From John to the SEVEN churches in the province of Asia.
Seven is the number of completeness or perfection. So while this book (Revelation
1:11) is to seven churches - each with their own individual
"letters"
in Revelation chapters 2 and 3, it is in a broader sense to all
churches
and believers (Revelation
1:1). The area "ASIA" was
the
region of greatest missionary activity to both Jews and Gentiles. Paul
explains why the Gentiles accepted the gospel while the Jews didn't (Romans
11:23-32). It will be interesting to discover how much of
Revelation,
especially the middle chapters, is based upon the Jewish tabernacle and
traditions. Yet it is the Gentiles who receive the Word most readily.
GOOD WILL and PEACE to you
GOOD WILL can be translated as GRACE. "GRACE" was the Greek way of
greeting
someone; "PEACE" the Hebrew way. Both can only come from God; man is
only
capable of receiving them.
It is GRACE which allows us to participate in and have God's
riches.
PEACE results from a close fellowship with Jesus Christ (see verse
5); He leaves it with us - John
14:25-28.
It removes trouble and fear.
from the ONE who is, the ONE who was, and the ONE who is
coming,
This is a label for God, the Father. It is found in these Revelations (Revelation
1:8, Revelation 4:8, Revelation
11:17, Revelation 16:5).
It is a
paraphrase
of the Hebrew word, YWYH, and equivalent to "I AM WHO I AM" - Exodus
3:13-14.
We find God, the Son, described similarly in John
1:1-2.
from the seven spirits who are in front of His Throne; and
The completeness of the Holy Spirit is shown here. There is only one
Spirit
(Ephesians 4:1-6),
yet He has several
ministries.
Some believe they are listed in Isaiah
11:1-2.
In any case, the placement of this phrase between God, the
Father
and
God, the Son (verse 5),
clearly makes this God, the
Holy
Spirit. He has a prominent position before God's Throne meaning that
the
peace He brings is directly from God. See John
14:25-28 that the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, and Jesus Christ work
closely together.
The Old Testament, in Zechariah 4:1-7,
prophesied of the sevenfold nature of the Holy Spirit and this close
relationship
to Jesus Christ, the Top Stone.
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