Previous Verse       Revelation Chapter 1 Verse 4 (NIV)       Next Verse

Home        New American Standard Bible       New King James Version     God's Word       Español       Deutsch

   4John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne,
    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 11:25-32). 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.
    GRACE and PEACE to you
"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 14:25-27 . It removes trouble and fear.

    from HIM who is, and who was, and the who is to come,
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 .

    and from the SEVEN spirits before 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 14:25-27 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.
 "Scripture taken from the The Holy Bible, New International Version, Copyright ) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

References to the Revelation of Jesus Christ are in bold italics. All other references are in bold only. Return from cross-references by using the BACK button.