Revelation 1:4 Study Bible: John, to the seven churches that are in Asia: 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;

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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,

Study Bible

John,

John the apostle, one of the original twelve disciples and an eyewitness of Jesus’ ministry, identifies himself as the messenger of Revelation. Exiled on Patmos during Domitian’s reign about AD 95, John wrote with apostolic authority to churches facing pressure from pagan society, false teaching, and persecution.

Gal 2:9 And recognizing the grace that I had been given…
Act 4:13 When they saw the boldness of Peter and John…
Act 8:14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that…

To the seven churches in the province of Asia:

Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea were actual congregations in the Roman province of Asia, in present-day western Turkey. Their locations formed a natural postal route, and the messages addressed to them in Revelation 2–3 confront real conditions within each church. Seven also conveys completeness, showing that Christ’s words extend to His Church in every place and generation.

1Co 16:19 The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings.…
Act 19:10 This continued for two years, so that everyone who lived…
Col 4:16 After this letter has been read among you,…

Grace and peace to you

Grace brings God’s undeserved favor to sinners through Christ, and peace brings reconciliation with God and spiritual stability amid hardship. John’s greeting joins the familiar Greek and Jewish forms of blessing while directing both gifts to their divine source.

Rom 1:7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints…
1Co 1:3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father…
2Pe 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge…

from Him who is and was and is to come,

God eternally exists, rules over the past and present, and will openly accomplish His purposes in the future. The description recalls God’s self-revelation to Moses as the great “I AM” and assures suffering believers that history remains under the authority of the unchanging Lord.

Rev 4:8 And each of the four living creatures had six wings…
Psa 90:2 Before the mountains were born or You brought forth…
Exo 3:14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are”…

and from the seven spirits before His throne,

The seven spirits portray the Holy Spirit in the fullness and perfection of His divine presence and work. Revelation later connects the seven spirits with seven lamps before God’s throne and the seven eyes of the Lamb, reflecting the Spirit’s perfect knowledge and active ministry throughout the earth. Together with the Father and the Son named in the following verse, the Spirit gives grace and peace to Christ’s people.

Rev 4:5 From the throne came flashes of lightning…
Rev 5:6 Then I saw a Lamb who appeared to have been slain,…
Isa 11:2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him—the Spirit of wisdom…

Persons / Places / Events

1. John
The apostle and author of the Book of Revelation, traditionally believed to be John the Apostle, one of the original twelve disciples of Jesus. He is writing from the island of Patmos.

2. Seven Churches
These are specific congregations located in the Roman province of Asia (modern-day Turkey). They are Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.

3. Province of Asia
A Roman province in what is now western Turkey. It was a significant area for early Christianity and the location of the seven churches addressed in Revelation.

4. Him who is and was and is to come
A reference to God, emphasizing His eternal nature and sovereignty over time.

5. Seven Spirits
This phrase is often interpreted as a symbolic representation of the Holy Spirit in His fullness and perfection, possibly alluding to Isaiah 11:2, which describes the Spirit of the Lord with seven attributes.

Teaching Points

Understanding God's Eternal Nature
Reflect on the eternal nature of God, who transcends time and is sovereign over past, present, and future. This understanding can bring comfort and assurance in times of uncertainty.

The Role of the Holy Spirit
Consider the fullness and perfection of the Holy Spirit's work in the life of believers and the church. Seek to be open to His guidance and empowerment.

Grace and Peace
Embrace the grace and peace offered by God through Jesus Christ. These are foundational gifts for living a life of faith and should be actively received and shared with others.

The Importance of the Church
Recognize the significance of the local church as part of the universal body of Christ. Engage actively in your local congregation, contributing to its mission and growth.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does the description of God as "Him who is and was and is to come" influence your understanding of His character and your relationship with Him?

2. In what ways can you experience and share the grace and peace mentioned in this verse in your daily life?

3. How does the concept of the "seven Spirits" enhance your understanding of the Holy Spirit's role in your life and the church?

4. What lessons can we learn from the specific mention of the seven churches, and how can these lessons be applied to modern-day congregations?

5. How can the eternal nature of God provide comfort and guidance in the face of life's challenges and uncertainties?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Exodus 3:14
The phrase "who is and was and is to come" connects to God's self-identification as "I AM" in the burning bush, emphasizing His eternal existence.

Isaiah 11:2
The "seven Spirits" may relate to the sevenfold description of the Spirit of the Lord, indicating the completeness and perfection of the Holy Spirit.

Zechariah 4:10
The number seven often symbolizes completeness or perfection in the Bible, as seen in the vision of the lampstand and the seven eyes of the Lord.

Sermons

Man Divinely Dignified	D. Thomas	Revelation 1:4, 5
The Apostolic Salutation	R. Green	Revelation 1:4-7
A Glorified Christ	J. R. Miller, D. D.	Revelation 1:4-9
A Ministerial Salutation and a Sublime Doxology	J. S. Exell, M. A.	Revelation 1:4-9
A Threefold Description of Christ	T. Horton, D. D.	Revelation 1:4-9
Christ and the Soul	David Thomas, D. D.	Revelation 1:4-9
Christ as Mediator	Homilist	Revelation 1:4-9
Christ for Ever	F. Ferguson, D. D.	Revelation 1:4-9
Christians a Royal Priesthood	W. Nixon.	Revelation 1:4-9
Christians are Kings		Revelation 1:4-9
Christ's Eternal Sacrifice	E. Mason, D. D.	Revelation 1:4-9
Christ's Love to Us in Washing Us from Our Sins	T. Horton, D. D.	Revelation 1:4-9
Christ's Measureless Love	John Adam, D. D.	Revelation 1:4-9
Christ's Present Love, and its Great Outcome	A. Maclaren, D. D.	Revelation 1:4-9
Grace	B. Hoffmann.	Revelation 1:4-9
How Wonderful that Christ Should Love Us	H. W. Beecher.	Revelation 1:4-9
Jesus His Own Witness	A. C. Dixon.	Revelation 1:4-9
John's First Doxology	C. H. Spurgeon.	Revelation 1:4-9
John's Song of Praise to Christ	J. J. Brown.	Revelation 1:4-9
Kings and Priests	A. Maclaren, D. D.	Revelation 1:4-9
Living Love	John Robertson.	Revelation 1:4-9
Loved and Laved	C. H. Spurgeon.	Revelation 1:4-9
Omnipotence, Omniscience, Omnipresence	James Young.	Revelation 1:4-9
Praise to Christ	R. Watson.	Revelation 1:4-9
Thanksgiving	J. R. Miller, D. D.	Revelation 1:4-9
The Believer's Acknowledgment of Christ's Love	W. Cunningham, D. D.	Revelation 1:4-9
The Dedication	G. Rogers.	Revelation 1:4-9
The Filthy Can be Made Clean	Silas Jones.	Revelation 1:4-9
The Gifts of Christ as Witness, Risen and Crowned	A. Maclaren, D. D.	Revelation 1:4-9
The Humility and Dignity of the Christian Life	J. S. Exell, M. A.	Revelation 1:4-9
The Love of Christ	T. McCrie, D. D.	Revelation 1:4-9
The Love of Christ	James Buchanan.	Revelation 1:4-9
The Love of Christ in Redemption	J. Witherspoon, D. D.	Revelation 1:4-9
The Measureless Love of Christ	W. Hannay, D. D.	Revelation 1:4-9
The Proper Object of All Religious Worship is the Living and True God	James Young.	Revelation 1:4-9
The Redeemed Ascribing Glory to Christ	G. Campbell.	Revelation 1:4-9
The Resources of Christianity	Wayland Hoyt, D. D.	Revelation 1:4-9
The Responsibility of Exaltation	T. de Witt Talmage.	Revelation 1:4-9
The Risen Christ the Only Revealer of Immortality	E. L. Hull, B. A.	Revelation 1:4-9
The Trustworthiness of Jesus Christ	W. Hay Aitken, M. A.	Revelation 1:4-9
The Work of Works	David Thomas, D. D.	Revelation 1:4-9
Views of Christ	David Thomas, D. D.	Revelation 1:4-9

People

John

Places

Ephesus, Laodicea, Patmos, Pergamum, Philadelphia, Sardis, Smyrna, Thyatira

Topics

Asia, Assemblies, Churches, Evermore, Grace, Granted, Greetings, John, Peace, Province, Seat, Sends, Seven, Spirits, Throne

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Revelation 1:4

     1653   numbers, 6-10
     4195   spirits
     5581   throne
     7026   church, leadership

Revelation 1:4-5

1511 Trinity, relationships in
1512 Trinity, equality of

Revelation 1:4-7

8634 amen

Library

May 10. "I am Alive Forevermore" (Rev. I. 18).
"I am alive forevermore" (Rev. i. 18). Here is the message of the Christ of the cross and the still more glorious and precious Christ of the resurrection. It is beautiful and inspiring to note the touch of light and glory with which these simple words invest the cross. It is not said I am He that was dead and liveth, but "I am He that liveth and was dead, but am alive forevermore." Life is mentioned before the death. There are two ways of looking at the cross. One is from the death side and the other …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

The Glorious Master and the Swooning Disciple
If our conceptions of the Lord Jesus are very enlarged, they will only be his due. We cannot exaggerate here. He deserves higher praise than we can ever render to him. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high is be above our loftiest conceptions. Even when the angels strike their loudest notes, and chant his praises most exultingly on their highest festal days, the music falls far short of his excellence. He is higher than a seraph's most soaring thought! Rise then, my brethren, as on …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 18: 1872

10Th Day. Dying Grace.
"He is Faithful that Promised." "I have the keys of hell and of death."--REV. i. 18. Dying Grace. And from whom could dying grace come so welcome, as from Thee, O blessed Jesus? Not only is Thy name, "The Abolisher of Death;" but Thou didst thyself die! Thou hast sanctified the grave by Thine own presence, and divested it of all its terrors. My soul! art thou at times afraid of this, thy last enemy? If the rest of thy pilgrimage-way be peaceful and unclouded, rests there a dark and portentous …
John Ross Macduff—The Faithful Promiser

Swooning and Reviving Christ's Feet.
AN ADDRESS DELIVERED AT THE CLOSE OF ONE OF THE PASTORS' COLLEGE CONFERENCES. "And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold. I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."--Revelation i. 17, 18. SWOONING AND REVIVING AT CHRIST'S FEET. WE have nothing now to think of but our Lord. We come to Him that He may cause us to forget all others. …
Charles Hadden Spurgeon—Till He Come

The Fear of God.
And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as one dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying, Fear not; I am the first and the last and the Living one.'--Rev. i. 17, 18. It is not alone the first beginnings of religion that are full of fear. So long as love is imperfect, there is room for torment. That lore only which fills the heart--and nothing but love can fill any heart--is able to cast out fear, leaving no room for its presence. What we find in the beginnings of religion, will hold in varying …
George MacDonald—Unspoken Sermons

Catalogue of his Works.
There is no absolutely complete edition of Eusebius' extant works. The only one which can lay claim even to relative completeness is that of Migne: Eusebii Pamphili, Cæsareæ Palestinæ Episcopi, Opera omnia quæ extant, curis variorum, nempe: Henrici Valesii, Francisci Vigeri, Bernardi Montfauconii, Card. Angelo Maii edita; collegit et denuo recognovit J. P. Migne. Par. 1857. 6 vols. (tom. XIX.-XXIV. of Migne's Patrologia Græca). This edition omits the works which are …
Eusebius Pamphilius—Church History

The First and the Last
This title is used in Rev. i. 11. It is used again in 1. 17, ii. 8, and xxii. 13, but is never found in connection with "the Church of God." On the other hand, it is a title closely associated with "the Jew and the Gentile," as the following Scriptures will testify. Is. xli. 4, 5: "Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I, Jehovah, THE FIRST AND LAST; I am He. The isles saw it, and feared; the ends of the earth were afraid." Is. xliv. 6: "Thus saith the Lord, the …
E.W. Bullinger—Commentary on Revelation

The Lord's Day
In Rev. i. 9 we are told that John saw and received this revelation on "the Lord's Day." Leaving the former part of this verse for the present, let us notice the latter expression, "the Lord's Day." [4] The majority of people, being accustomed from their infancy to hear the first day of the week called the Lord's Day, conclude in their own minds that that day is thus called in Rev. i. 9 because that was the name of it. But the contrary is the fact: the day is so called by us because of this verse. …
E.W. Bullinger—Commentary on Revelation

A Great Voice
This expression links on the book of Revelation to the book of Deuteronomy, especially if we regard it in the connection with the fire, with which it is associated in each case. Ten times is the voice of God speaking "out of the midst of the fire" heard in Deuteronomy: viz., chaps. iv. 12,15,33,36; v. 4,22(19) [36] , 23(20), 24(21), 25(21), 26(23). Here, in Rev. i. 10, John hears "a great voice," and it is connected with fire, for the eyes of the speaker were "as a flame of fire" (ver. 14) and his …
E.W. Bullinger—Commentary on Revelation

Call to China and Voyage Hence
The known facts in regard to John Talmage's boyhood and youthful days are few. Of the known facts some perhaps are too trivial, others too sacred to bear mention. The sapling grew. Of the inner and outer circles of growth there is but brief record. He spent his boyhood at a quiet country hamlet, Gateville, New Jersey. On the ridge swung the toll-gate, and a little beyond might be heard the hum and rattle of the grist-mill. His father kept the toll-gate. John was a fine horseman, and found great sport …
Rev. John Gerardus Fagg—Forty Years in South China

Within the Holiest
Gerhard Ter Steegen Rev. i. 5, 6 His priest am I, before Him day and night, Within His Holy Place; And death, and life, and all things dark and bright, I spread before His Face. Rejoicing with His joy, yet ever still, For silence is my song My work to bend beneath His blessed will, All day, and all night long-- For ever holding with Him converse sweet, Yet speechless, for my gladness is complete. …
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen, Suso, and Others

Moreover, to Give a Fuller Demonstration of this Point...
[2829] Rev. i. 5 [2830] 1 Cor. xv. 23 [2831] 1 Cor. xv. 42-4 [2832] animale. [2833] Phil. iii. 21 …
Various—Life and Works of Rufinus with Jerome's Apology Against Rufinus.

The Fire of Love --Book I
Chapter I Note iii., p. 16--C. reads: for thai vnmanerly wyth warldly mone has armyd tham self.' But L. quia terrenas pecunias immoderate amauerunt'; which is probably correct, and which I have therefore followed. Note iv., p. 17--an omission in C. L., reads: Erumpit enim in ostensione operis feruor amoris.' Note v., p. 18--Another omission L. et qui ad amandum deum semper sunt auidi.' Chapter II Note vi., p. 20 The Bible references are to the Vulgate of Sixtus V and Clement VII, and where the …
Richard Rolle—The Fire of Love

The Source of Power
'And the Angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep, 2. And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold, a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps which are upon the top thereof: 3. And two olive-trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof. 4. So I answered and spake to the Angel that talked with …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

A Sight of the Crowned Christ
(Revelation, Chapter i.) "Since mine eyes were fixed on Jesus, I've lost sight of all beside, So enchained my spirit's vision, Looking at the Crucified." "The Lord Christ passed my humble cot: I knew him, yet I knew him not; But as I oft had done before, I hurried through my narrow door To touch His garment's hem. "He drew me to a place apart From curious crowd and noisy mart; And as I sat there at His feet I caught the thrill of His heart-beat Beyond His garment's hem. "Rare was the bread He broke …
by S. D. Gordon—Quiet Talks on the Crowned Christ of Revelation

Love's Complaining
Hence our Lord's fitness to deal with the churches, which are these golden lamp-stands, for no one knows so much about the lamps as the person whose constant work it is to watch them and trim them. No one knows the churches as Jesus does, for the care of all the churches daily comes upon him, he continually walks among them, and holds their ministers as stars in his right hand. His eyes are perpetually upon the churches, so that he knows their works, their sufferings, and their sins; and those eyes …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 32: 1886

Our Lord Appears after his Ascension.
^F I. Cor. XV. 8. ^f 8 and last of all, as to the child untimely born, he appeared to me also. [Since Paul reckons this among the bodily appearances of our Lord, we have included it in our work; but it borders upon those spiritual appearances which belong rather to apostolic history and may be classed with the vision of Stephen (Acts vii. 55) and John (Rev. i. 9-17), to which it was near kin. Accounts of the appearance will be found in the ninth, twenty-second and twenty-sixth chapters of Acts. For …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Living One
"I am He that liveth, and was dead" (i. 18). (...) (ho zon), THE LIVING ONE. Like the previous title, it is used as a special designation of the One whose unveiling is about to be shewn to John. Its use is peculiar to Daniel and Revelation. The two books thus linked together by it are linked as to their character and subject matter in a very special manner. It is used twice in Daniel:- Dan. iv. 34 (31 [19] ) and xii. 7; and six time in Revelation:- Rev. i. 18; iv. 9,10; v. 14; x. 6; and xv. 7. [20] …
E.W. Bullinger—Commentary on Revelation

Lord God
In i. 8 the title "god" must be added to the word "Lord," according to all the Critical Greek Texts [14] and the R.V. In chap. xxii. 6 we have the same title. Thus at the end of the book and at the beginning we have this peculiar title, which seems to enclose all that the book contains, and stamp it all with that which the title signifies. What is signifies is clear from the place where we first find it, vix., in the second of the twelve divisions of Genesis (chap. ii. 4 - iv. 26). This division …
E.W. Bullinger—Commentary on Revelation

Letter v. Yes, My Dear Friend, it is My Conviction that in all Ordinary Cases the Knowledge...
Yes, my dear friend, it is my conviction that in all ordinary cases the knowledge and belief of the Christian Religion should precede the study of the Hebrew Canon. Indeed, with regard to both Testaments, I consider oral and catechismal instruction as the preparative provided by Christ himself in the establishment of a visible Church. And to make the Bible, apart from the truths, doctrines, and spiritual experiences contained therein, the subject of a special article of faith, I hold an unnecessary …
Samuel Taylor Coleridge—Confessions of an Inquiring Spirit etc

The Royal Priesthood
Gerhard Ter Steegen Jer. xxxiii. 18; Rev. i. 6 The race of God's anointed priests shall never pass away; Before His glorious Face they stand, and serve Him night and day. Though reason raves, and unbelief flows on, a mighty flood, There are, and shall be, till the end, the hidden priests of God. His chosen souls, their earthly dross consumed in sacred fire, To God's own heart their hearts ascend in flame of deep desire; The incense of their worship fills His Temple's holiest place; Their song with …
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen, Suso, and Others

Communion Again Broken --Restoration
Cant. v. 2-vi.10. The fourth section commences with an address of the bride to the daughters of Jerusalem, in which she narrates her recent sad experience, and entreats their help in her trouble. The presence and comfort of her Bridegroom are again lost to her; not this time by relapse into worldliness, but by slothful self-indulgence. We are not told of the steps that led to her failure; of how self again found place in her heart. Perhaps spiritual pride in the achievements which grace enabled her …
J. Hudson Taylor—Union and Communion

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