Revelation 1:4
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;
Word-by-Word Analysis
Analysis
This verse begins the formal epistolary greeting to the seven churches of Asia Minor. The trinitarian formula is striking and unique: the eternal Father ("who is, who was, and who is to come"), the sevenfold Spirit "before his throne," and Jesus Christ (fully described in v.5).
The description of God as "who is, who was, and who is to come" (ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὁ ἐρχόμενος) forms a deliberate adaptation of God's self-revelation in Exodus 3:14. While Greek would normally render the divine name with "who was, who is, and who will be," John alters the final element to emphasize not just God's future existence but His active coming to establish His kingdom.
The "seven Spirits before his throne" has been interpreted in several ways: (1) the sevenfold manifestation of the Holy Spirit based on Isaiah 11:2-3, (2) the seven archangels of Jewish apocalyptic tradition, or (3) the perfection and completeness of the Holy Spirit. The context strongly suggests this refers to the Holy Spirit in His perfect fullness, as this forms part of the trinitarian greeting. The number seven appears 54 times in Revelation, consistently symbolizing divine completeness and perfection.
Historical Context
The seven churches addressed—Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea—were actual congregations in Asia Minor (modern western Turkey). They existed along a natural circular mail route approximately 100 miles in diameter.
Each city had distinctive characteristics:
• Ephesus: A major commercial center with the Temple of Artemis (one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world)
• Smyrna: A beautiful port city known for emperor worship and fierce loyalty to Rome
• Pergamum: The provincial capital with an enormous altar to Zeus and a temple to Asclepius (god of healing)
• Thyatira: Known for trade guilds that posed idolatry challenges for Christians
• Sardis: Former capital of Lydia, known for wealth and textile industry
• Philadelphia: The youngest and smallest city, subject to earthquakes
• Laodicea: A banking center known for eye medicine and black wool
These churches represented the spectrum of faith communities, facing various challenges: persecution, false teaching, moral compromise, spiritual apathy, and economic pressure to participate in trade guild idolatry. Though historically specific, they also represent the complete church throughout history (seven symbolizing completeness).
Questions for Reflection
- What does the description of God as 'who is, who was, and who is to come' reveal about divine nature and how does this differ from Greek philosophical conceptions of deity?
- How does John's adaptation of the divine name from Exodus 3:14 emphasize God's active involvement in human history?
- What theological significance might the order of the Trinity in this greeting have (Father, Spirit, Son) compared to more common formulations?
- How might the believers in these seven diverse churches have found comfort in being addressed collectively under divine blessing?
- What might the image of the 'seven Spirits before his throne' suggest about the Holy Spirit's relationship to both the Father and the churches?