Revelation 1:4-5: Greetings from God, Holy Spirit & Christ to Seven Churches
Memory Verse
John, to the seven assemblies in Asia, grace to you and peace from God, the one who is and the one who was and the one coming, and from the seven Spirits, who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn out from the dead, and the rulers of the kingdoms of the earth, Revelation 1:4–5.
John opens the book of Revelation and addresses the seven assemblies in Asia. These seven assemblies represent the seven periods of the Church on earth. John sends greetings to the assemblies from God the Father, who is described as the one who was, the one who is, and the one who is to come. He is the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:9). The one who knows the beginning from the end (Isaiah 46:10). Along with God the Father, John includes the seven Spirits before the throne, who represent the seven ministries of the Holy Spirit to the Church.
Throughout the New Testament, titles are given to the Holy Spirit that describe His ministries to the Church. He is the Spirit of Holiness (Romans 1:4), the Spirit of the Life (Romans 8:2), the Holy Spirit of the Promise (Ephesians 1:13), the Spirit of the Truth (1 John 4:6; John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13), the Spirit of the Grace (Hebrews 10:29), the Spirit of the Glory (1 Peter 4:14), and the Spirit of the Prophecy (Revelation 19:10). Thus, His ministries to the saints of the Church are Regeneration (Titus 3:5), Immersion (1 Corinthians 12:13), Indwelling (1 Corinthians 3:16), Sealing (Ephesians 1:13), Firstfruits (Romans 8:23), Earnest (Ephesians 1:14), and Anointer (1 John 2:20).
John also includes Jesus Christ in his greeting. He is the one who washed us from our sins through His blood. Christ is the firstborn out from the dead. The term firstborn relates to position, not creation (Hebrews 1:6). Since He is the first to be resurrected from the dead, He is the first of many brethren, and we see what the Church will be like in her resurrection (1 John 3:2; Romans 8:29). Thus, we see the work of both Christ and the Holy Spirit in salvation.
Note: some translations read “loosed” us from sins rather than “washed” us. In the original text, these two words are very similar in spelling; thus, the textual evidence is split between them. To determine which one is correct, we must also examine the context and the whole of Scripture. “Loosed” is not used in relation to sin anywhere else in Scripture, while “washed” is regularly used concerning sin (John 13:10; Ephesians 5:26; Titus 3:5). Based on the copies we possess of the original writings and the context of Scripture, it is reasonable to understand that the original reading was “washed.”
John describes Jesus, who washed us from our sins, as the ruler of the kingdoms of the earth. When God raised Christ from the dead, He set Him above the principalities and authorities of this world (Colossians 2:15; Ephesians 1:21). Therefore, Christ is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16). When He returns to earth a second time, He will take what rightfully belongs to Him (Revelation 10:1–3; Psalm 2:8).