Revelation scares a lot of people. Both the complexity of the content and the multitude of possible interpretations combine to prevent people from delving into this book. But what if there was an assurance at the very beginning, even in the greeting, that could serve as an anchor as we navigate our way through?
Revelation 1:1-8 is densely packed with information about what kind of book this is and the theology of who it is from. Verse 1 tells us directly that this is “the revelation of Jesus Christ.” The word revelation is apokalypsis in Greek and means to reveal. This kind of literature uses symbols and metaphors to help interpret earthly realities through a heavenly lens. Examples of apocalyptic literature are also found in portions of Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel, parts of the Old Testament that also confuse us. But verse 4 sounds familiar:
“John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace..”
New Testament letters, or epistles, follow a standard pattern. John is greeting his original readers here, just like Paul does in many of his letters, but things get a little bit extra after this:
…from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.
Every other similar greeting in Paul or the epistles of John mention the Father and the Son. Here we have what may be called a super-sized Trinitarian greeting.
The Father is the one who is and who was and who is to come. This appellation calls to mind the scene in Exodus 3 with Moses at the burning bush, when the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob identifies himself as YHWH, the being one, the ever-living, promise keeping God who covenants with his people and is for his people.
The Spirit is described with this sevenfold symbolism, underlining his fullness and presence with the Father before the throne, proceeding from the Father and the Son and doing his will.
And finally the Son, Jesus Christ, who is described here with three titles which encompass his work on earth and now in heaven. He is the faithful witness, the one who always tells the truth about God. We can trust what he will say in this book. He is also the firstborn from the dead. This doesn’t mean he was created, it means he is the forerunner of the new creation, the preeminent of those who have been resurrected. And then he is the ruler of kings on earth. The original audience of this letter were under threat from the ruler of the Roman Empire. Christians throughout history have also faced opposition from their earthly rulers. But John wants all of us to know that Christ is ruling and reigning – right now!
Why does John expand on the usual greeting? I think he knows what is coming and he knows his audience will need a spiritual ballast, a theological anchor as they hear the words of this book with all its apocalyptic imagery and symbolism. That anchor is the doctrine of God. Who God is in all his Trinitarian glory will strengthen and comfort them as they are called to patiently endure.
If that were not enough to encourage John’s audience and us, he adorns the anchor with praise. After the super-sized greeting chock full of Trinitarian glory and beauty, John’s choice of words should pierce our hearts in the sweetest way. Don’t rush past this!
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Both Paul and Peter broke out in doxology in the middle or at the end of their letters. At the end of 2 Peter, Peter says, “To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.” In 1 Timothy 1 Paul says, “To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” Both of these would be appropriate ways for John to proceed. Or what about Jude? At the end of Jude he breaks out in praise to God: “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy.” The original hearers of Revelation would definitely be encouraged by those words. But John begins by highlighting the love of God. Is that what you would expect?
To him who ____________ us. How would you fill in that blank? If you were listening to this letter being read for the first time, what would you want to know? What would enable you to endure patiently through this present evil age and on to eternity?
God loves us.
Read that again, but preach it to your soul this time.
Have we become so accustomed to those words that we’ve lost the wonder of them? The gloriously beautiful, all powerful, Sovereign Lord, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, loves us. There’s more to this doxology – blood bought freedom from our sin and union with Christ as a kingdom of priests – but sit back and meditate on the truth John deliberately puts at the beginning.
This book of Revelation tells us the end of the story where God will bring redemptive history to an end and every sin to light. What John’s audience needs to know at the beginning of this letter is that the God who is, and who was, and who is to come soon both to save and to judge, this God, first of all, loves them with an unbreakable covenant love, and that love has brought freedom from sin and a kingdom that cannot be shaken.
I can’t think of a better or more secure anchor.
Women Studying the Word 