The letter to the Churches.
John begins the letter to the churches by stating from whom the message is. “From John to the seven churches that are in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from “he who is” and who was, and who is still to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne.” Revelation 1:4, NET. The “he who is, and who was, and who is still to come.” Refers to Jesus. Jesus now Is. He lives. He was dead; now, he is alive and will come as promised. John, throughout Revelation, identifies Jesus in this manner. John repeated what Jesus told him. “…Do not be afraid! I am the first and the last, and the one who lives! I was dead, but look, now I am alive – forever and ever – and I hold the keys of death and of Hades! Revelation 1:17 – 18, NET. The book of Revelation presents Jesus as “he who is,” who was, and who is still to come.” This contrasts the reference to Satan, who was, now is not, and who will be.
In his greeting to the churches and his adoration of Jesus, John announces what kind of Jesus he will present in the book of Revelation. Accordingly, throughout the book of Revelation, John presents Jesus Christ, who, while in the body here on earth, accomplished everything humankind needs for its salvation. The victorious Jesus is the Grace God promised centuries before the birth of the Messiah. Zechariah 12:10. In Jesus Christ, and him alone, the fallen and redeemed humankind has peace with God. The sin in the Garden of Eden made humankind God’s enemy. However, through Jesus Christ, God removed our sin and established peace between heaven and the earth. Our vertical peace with God in Jesus Christ is God’s unilateral and unconditional gift to humankind, with no strings attached. John 14:27.
Jesus Christ, whom John presents to the readers, is “the faithful witness” to the eternal truth: God is love. “For God so loved the world that he sent his one and only Son.” John 3:16. God, because he loved the world with everlasting love, sent his Son, whom he loves, to save the world. 1 John 4:14. Jesus remained faithful to his mission. His faithfulness justified, sanctified, and glorified us in Jesus Christ. “Through whom we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of God’s glory.” Romans 5:2, NET. The same Jesus is also the firstborn from the dead. We were dead in sin because of our sin in the Garden of Eden. “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:56 – 57, NET. By his resurrection, Jesus Christ guarantees that all who accept him as Savior have his perfect and eternal life, here and now and forever.
The presentation of Jesus continued in the next blog.
