Revelation 1:4 Commentary and Bible Study

‘Grace be unto you and peace’ – that is a familiar greeting in the New Testament. But we are called to notice here something a little unusual. It isn’t grace and peace to us as individuals; it’s grace and peace to the churches. Of course it extends to the individuals in the churches, but it’s to the churches. May the churches, the seven churches that are named, know the free unmerited salvation and favour and kindness and blessing of God, the undeserved, unearned favour of God. We receive it at salvation. Salvation must be a gift, unearned, undeserved, from God. May the churches in their undeserving condition, their feeble condition; may they have undeserved blessing poured upon them, because of the love of God.‘And peace’ – union, that means. The word here used for peace means the piece of union as opposed to the hostility of war. It is an active peace between people and the Lord. It’s reconciliation, but in the church too. May you be churches, says the apostle John to the seven churches of Asia, where people are fond of each other, have affection for each other, are kind to each other, pray for each other, and show patience toward each other; constantly. May there be peace – this is the will of God – in the church and between us all. They are very powerful desires, prayers for us too, and so important to us. ‘Churches’ – that needs to be emphasised. The Book of Revelation is written to churches. It’s written in particular to seven churches, and all seven churches – we read elsewhere in the book – received the letters to all of the churches, as well as the rest of the book. Each of the churches received the entire book. It was to the individuals; it was written to all; but it was primarily to churches. They were literal churches, situated in Asia Minor. In fact, they are about 30 to 50 miles apart on a roughly circular route. But although they are literal churches, and although the problems described in the letters are real problems, they are also seven churches and that is significant. The number seven in the Book of Revelation always represents the complete and perfect number. So the churches are literal, but the fact that seven are selected is God’s way of saying these letters are for all churches, throughout the age. The Father here describes himself as, ‘him which is, and which was, and which is to come’, the everlasting, the eternal God. It has been described as a paraphrase of the name of God – ‘I am that I am,’ first given in Exodus 3. ‘I am that I am.’ Here it is extended, the divine name of the Old Testament. But the same terminology is going to be given to Christ in a short while. That is a great comfort to us in introducing this book which is going to explain the age and why things happen as they do. God is above everything; he is everlasting. Men, what can they do? ‘And from the seven spirits which are before his throne.’ The Holy Spirit is described in effect as equally God, all sufficient for everything he desires to do. When he is acting as the Spirit of examination, examining the hearts of men, there is no one left out of his view. Whatever the Spirit does is perfect and complete.