REVELATION FROM WHO WAS IS AND IS TO COME

REVELATION

A Verse by Verse Study

A Journey of Studying What's Revealed to Me

 

Revelation 1:4

⁴ John, to the seven churches which 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,

This verse is about history in the making. This is how the Word of God spread.  The writer, inspired by God wrote and then distributed what was written under the Inspiration of the Spirit. Over the course of time, God protected his Word!

At the time of distribution there were seven distinct churches in Asia and these were who this book was originally written for.  

In the seven churches, John addresses problems which are found “in the church” at that time.  These problems appear today among the body of Christ.  Many say these seven churches represent seven eras.  I have no knowledge of that but I do know I, on a personal level can read the seven things written to the seven churches and I can learn the seven lessons and apply them to my life. If I am a leader or pastor, I can teach the seven lessons which will be distributed to various people living with various heart conditions (not physical heart problems, but spiritual problems, having to do with purity in heart!)

John was an apostle and the Word of God says, the body of Christ has been built on the foundation of the apostles.  Jesus is the one that called the original apostles and sent them out with authority. Because he had died didn’t mean the assignment of being sent into the world to establish the gospel of Jesus Christ was over. In fact it had just begun.  Not only the life and death of Jesus was the gospel but the resurrection and the gift of eternal life.  John’s message was part of the establishing and founding of the body of Christ. 

Luke 6:13

And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles:

The very opening message of John establishes the fact this is written, not just for the seven churches in Asia but would be for the times to come as well.  He makes the emphatic statement that Jesus was, Jesus is and Jesus is to come!

The name John means “gracious giver.”  John’s message to be delivered is one of grace and peace, not destruction and misery.  However, as John’s name states gracious giver, it signifies the gift of grace which must be accepted.  For those accepting the gift of Christ, their names will be found “in” the “Lamb’s Book of Life,” but for those who do not receive the free gift, it will not be so. Their end will be the same destruction as Satan and his angels, the antichrist and false prophet receive which will be discussed later.

As stated in earlier verses, “Blessed are those who read and hear” the words of this book.  Reading, hearing and heeding will be the determining factor of which end each person comes to.  The intent is clear: Read, hear, welcome, do and receive the free gift of grace!  What a good God we serve that gives us choice of our own free will but lays out clearly the truth of the results of either choice.  How often are we faced with choices, not knowing what the end will be but God so graciously gives us the choice but also gives us knowledge of the result so we can make the right choice.  Will your choice be “grace and peace,” offered by the “giver of grace,” or will you choose the destination of the other father, the devil? The choice is clear. Choose life that you may live eternally in heaven with the “giver of grace!”

Jesus was!  Jesus, the Son and Word of God, manifested in earth as a baby in the womb of a virgin!  He eternally existed with God the father prior to his earthly entrance.  This same Word of God, was not only with God, but he Was God!  This can only be true IN God as with God all things are possible, yet we live in an earthly, limited realm.  We must not accept him only on earthly terms but on heavenly terms.  He Was with God; He Is God; and through him we have been given the right to be the sons of God!  Just as he came and many did not comprehend what was happening, so today many do not comprehend the truth.  It’s not that the truth hasn’t been given nor has the truth not been well established but in spite of the truth being made plain and details given before their eyes, they choose to remain in darkness.  One has only to read the history of the recording of ancient prophecies and the fulfillment of the same to know the Word of God is true.  The Word of God, above all other books on the earth has been protected and preserved.  Its’ truthfulness has been proven time and again, yet many choose to stay in their sin and question its’ authority.  An honest study of the historical documenting, the fulfillment, the preserving as well as the authenticating and agreement of the God (author) behind the writers and the absolute agreement of all leaves one in awe that such powerful agreement could happen over thousands of years. Throughout the books of the bible runs a common personality, a common original author and a common theme.  Details only possible with Deity are found within the pages of the world’s best seller and an honest study will leave one worshiping the Author and Finisher of our Faith! 

The plan of salvation was “in the beginning,” God having full knowledge that man would be flawed and would fall short of his glory!  He made the way for mankind to be “made holy,” and live eternally, yet he did give the freedom to choose.  Jesus was before the foundation of the world.  We know he has existed eternally and clearly is established in our minds as God himself!

John 1: 1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it......

John 1:10-16 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’” 16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

Revelation 13:8 All who dwell on earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Because of his resurrection he is. Because of his promise he is to come. Because he is eternal, he was and is and is to come.  May we choose the life of grace and peace found in his promises. May we be blessed by reading and hearing his book. May we welcome him with open arms as he has welcomed us. May we choose the paths of life! Amen!

The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.. “Bible Gateway. 2013. 11 May 2013. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%201:4&version=NKJV