Revelation 1:4a - Grace to you and Peace!

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“John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace.” -Revelation 1:4a

In the greeting of Rev 1:4, John writes to the seven churches and opens with a message from God of “Grace to you and Peace.” The seven churches were in Asia, which included Ephesus and those surrounding it. John lived in Ephesus after Paul’s martyrdom in Rome (about 67 AD), and he spent about 30 years overseeing the churches in that general area. John was the last known surviving apostle and was exiled on the small, barren island of Patmos, where Romans often banished criminals. He was exiled “on account of the word of God the testimony of Jesus” (Rev 1:9) indicating he was persecuted for his faith in Christ.  John was on the island when he received the extraordinary visions of the end times, and he wrote about them in a letter to circulate to his seven churches who were also suffering persecution under the reign of Domitian. Both Nero and Domitian demanded emperor worship, and Christians were martyred for not complying. As a result, some of the churches were struggling in spiritual decline.

John opens his greeting immediately with comforting words to the suffering believers that God sends His grace and peace to them. Grace is favor that is undeserved yet poured out from God’s heart of love and kindness. John knew the believers in the seven churches were struggling and he wanted to first tell them that God is with them even in these hard circumstances. In fact, God sends grace to us continually. Grace is God’s love in action in every circumstance of life, and it continues for us today. Everyone has both joy and hardship in life, and God in heaven is smiling, giving grace in every part of our lives for His purposes and our sanctification. Our part is to receive it and believe that is true.

John says God also sends His peace to them. The churches were in strife because believers were threatened with imprisonment (Rev 2:10), and were being attacked for their faith. But John says God sends His peace, which is peace with God Himself. Because believers in Christ are no longer under the war that God has with sin, they have peace with God and are united and safe with Him despite their circumstances. Paul explains in Romans 5:1 that we have peace with God because we have been justified by faith. God’s declaration of righteousness has brought us into a relationship of love with God. 

In the OT, the Hebrew word for peace is shalom which means wholeness or completeness. This type of wholeness was only possible through God, as the Aaronic blessing explains (“…the Lord give you peace.” - Num 6:22-27). In the New Covenant Jesus provides us access to God, who is everything we need for true peace. In Christ, believers are reconciled to God, and all the longings and cravings of life won’t produce true peace or happiness, but in Jesus we have wholeness and true and lasting peace with God. We have everything we need from God to fight sin and live for Him even in the hardest circumstances. Have you trusted in Christ, and do you believe that Jesus is everything for you?

Revelation 1:1-3 - Joy in the Revelation of Jesus Christ! - Revelation 1:1-3

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God's ultimate purpose in the Book of Revelation is to bless us and bring us JOY in knowing the end of the story. When we know there is victory in the end, we are joyful about the future even though we suffer hardships in this life. Often we despair in our circumstances just like many did when they saw Jesus put to death on the cross and thought it was a failure. But we know that the cross is actually victory for us, and the Book of Revelation details how that victory will continue to unfold in the future. Knowing that God is working every detail of life together to bring about that ultimate victory of Christ should encourage us to face trials, trusting that His glory will be revealed.

The Book of Revelation, recorded by the Apostle John while exiled on Patmos, is shaped like a Nike "swoosh." John's greeting and background information and letters to the churches serve as background information. The storyline starts in heaven in chapters 4 and 5, then proceeds downward in judgment until chapter 19, and then quickly returns back up to heaven in glorious victory. We believe the events of Revelation are coming in the future, even though John wrote it in the past. Also, we believe the events are historical and literal and are not just allegories and symbols unless the text explicitly states it's an allegory. Rev 12:1-2 is an example of an allegorical reference in which the word "sign" informs us its allegorical.

The purpose of the book is in the word "revelation" which means to uncover and reveal something to make it known. The revelation of Jesus Christ means the message comes from Jesus Christ Himself, and He wants to show His slaves how the world will end. Jesus wants to give us a glimpse into the future of the world. The book is divine communication from God and is recorded so that we know this is God's word to us. In Rev 1:1, the communication comes first from God, the Father, to Jesus; and then from Jesus to the angel, then from the angel to John (the apostle); and John records it for the church of all ages.

John also states the book is prophecy (1:3), a divine foretelling of the future so that we know the events that will come about and we won't worry when we see these things develop. John's duty in writing it is to testify to the word of God (v2). He is the witness and speaker for Christ and his writing is divinely revealed Scripture by Jesus Himself (2 Ptr 1:19-21). In Rev 1:19. John is commanded to write these things down for us. Our duty in response is to "read", "hear", and "heed" (v3) the things that are written. Reading implies both public and private reading and study, and hearing means listening to what is being said with an open heart. Heed means to keep or obey the things written oy trusting God that it is true and will happen. and to not doubt His word. Our duty is to obey His word and persevere in trusting God despite our circumstances (Rev 22:7). Because God has lovingly revealed His final victory to us, we can serve Him in joyful obedience in our current circumstances!