The Transition to the Main Theme of the Book. Vss. 4-11
"John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea."
This passage
contains a presentation of some of the main features of the book necessary to
prepare the reader for the main theme of the book. In a rising crescendo of
emotion the writer moves from salutation, to adoration, to anticipation, and
finally to finishing with the situation of this revelation.
The Salutation of the book of Revelation. 4-5a "John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;" "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth."
The address is quite regular. 4a "John to the seven churches which are in Asia:"
It begins with the name of the writer. John is a name so well known among Christians of this day that it is unnecessary for him to say anything further of himself for the sake of identification. All the other apostles are dead. John is now between 90 and 100 years old. He is the patriarch of the churches to whom he is writing. No need for any other designation.
It continues with the destination.
The Immediate destination: seven churches in proconsular Asia. Asia does not mean the whole continent as we know it. Nor does it mean Asia Minor as a whole, but the eastern province of Asia Minor of which Ephesus was the center and the capital. There were other churches in this district, but they are omitted.
Ultimate destination: seven church periods in the whole course of the church through history. The mention of seven rather than more carries the idea of completeness. Three marking the completeness of the divine elements—four marking the completeness of the human elements. The two together marking the completeness of the human and the divine in the church.
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