Revelation 2:12-13 Devotion

"And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this: 'I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.”

(Revelation 2:12-13)

The sword symbolizes Christ’s judicial power–the power to judge all things according to the truth of God’s word–and it warns the apostates within the church of Christ’s impending judgment upon them.

But the sword is also symbolic of something else. Roman governors were granted the “power of the sword” by the emperor in order to put to death those Christians who refused to acknowledge the divinity of Caesar. While the Satanically inspired beast–the Roman empire–wields the sword against Christians and wages war upon them, Jesus Christ uses the same symbol to remind his church of just who it is who wields the real sword of justice and power. The message is clear: All of those who persecute Christ’s people with the sword in this life will themselves face the judgment of Jesus Christ in the next. The ancient proverb is true, those who live by the sword will die by the sword. But this warning is also aimed at those individuals who seduce Christ’s people through false doctrine. They too will face his sword of judgment. Jesus is a jealous bridegroom who will do everything in his power to protect his bride.

As the Lord of his church, Jesus knows exactly what the Christians in Pergamum are facing. The city is dominated by paganism and emperor worship. This is where Satan lives. This is where he has placed his throne! But despite the deeply rooted paganism, the Christians in Pergamum have remained faithful to their Lord even though one of their own, a man named Antipas, was put to death in this very city–that city dominated by Satan himself.

(Dr. Kim Riddlebarger)

 

Revelation 2:10c-11 Devotion

“..Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.'”

(Revelation 2:10c-11)

Here He indicates that some in their number would die for their faith in Christ. And it happened. Quite possibly at this time, a young man named Polycarp listened to the reading of Revelation. About 20 years later, he was made bishop of Smyrna, faithfully carrying out his responsibilities. As an old man, persecution became acute. Polycarp was brought before the Roman proconsul who told him that he could go free “if he would swear by the emperor and curse Christ”. He replied, “For eighty-six years I have served Him, and He has done me no evil. How could I curse my King, who saved me?” With every threat, Polycarp refused to deny Christ and be set free. After being tied to the post to be burned, he looked to heaven, praying, “Lord Sovereign God… I thank you that You have deemed me worthy of this moment, so that, jointly with Your martyrs, I may have a share in the cup of Christ…. For this…I bless and glorify you. Amen”

Christ commands, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” In other words, the message was for Smyrna but not only Smyrna. Christ is teaching the church in every age about faithfulness unto death. The promise of “the crown of life” is a metaphor for eternal life, evident by the next promise, “He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.” Jesus was not speaking of peripheral issues. He spoke of life and eternity. The call for overcoming is viewed as the only way to life. Overcoming bears evidence of Christ-transformed lives. What does this pose for the many half-hearted, wimpy, worldly-absorbed kind of professing Christians represented in churches across our land? Here is the radical call to authenticity, demonstrated by faithfulness to Christ even in suffering, and if God so wills, in death. 

(Phil A. Newton)

Revelation 2:10b Devotion

“...and you will have tribulation for ten days...”

(Revelation 2:10b)

Because Jesus is the ultimate disposer of history, He is able to reveal that their coming tribulation will be brief. This serves as a further impetus for them to remain faithful, knowing that the time of testing is ultimately in His hands and soon will be over. The identification of the Christians at Smyrna with Israel is enhanced by associating their tribulation with that of Daniel and his three friends, who likewise refused to participate in acts of idolatry ordered by the king (Dan. 1:2; 5:3-4), and who were likewise tested for ten days (Dan. 1:12-15). The ten days persecution does not have to refer to a literal period of ten days because it is an allusion to the ten days when Daniel and his friends were "tested". Daniel was tempted to compromise with idolatry, which was likely the main reason he abstained from eating at the king's table, where the food was probably dedicated to idols. Likewise, whether or not the ten days is literal, the point is that the Christians at Smyrna were also, like Daniel of old, not to compromise with idolatry. The pagan rituals in Asia Minor also included meals dedicated to the local gods and to Cesar (understood as god), so the Smyrneans would have understood the significance of Christ's comparing them to Daniel and his friends. The Smyrneans will undergo this brief but severe period of trial. 

In the period between the resurrection and the return of Christ, Christians can from time to time expect to undergo periods of tribulation, where tribulation refers to the beginning birth pangs of last-day events, which are a regular feature of church life- a fact verified throughout church history and today, when more Christians are dying for their faith than ever before. 

(G.K. Beale)

Revelation 2:10a Devotion

“Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested,..”

(Revelation 2:10a)

The church of Smyrna is exhorted not to fear, Christ tells them to brace for severer punishment. The reason that they are not to fear the imminent trial is that their lives and destiny are in the hands of the eternal Lord of history, who has already experienced persecution, even to death, and yet overcome it through resurrection. Jesus has defeated the devil, and even the devil's rebellious efforts can only fulfill Christ's sovereign plan for history. Therefore, the true saint should not be afraid of the devil's attempts to bring about compromise in the church through persecution. Indeed, Jesus employs the devil's efforts for the purpose (that you may be tested) of strengthening His people through these tests. 

Even the work of the devil is used by God for the furtherance of His plan. As the Devils plans at the cross were used by God to bring salvation to the world so the suffering of the Smyrneans will result in blessing and ultimate deliverance for them. 

(G.K. Beale)

Revelation 2:8-9 Devotion

"And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this: 'I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.”

(Revelation 2:8-9)

The church at Smyrna heard the false accusations of Jews in the city. “I know… the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.” The implication is that, though racially Jewish, spiritually they are not sons of Abraham. As Paul told the Romans, “For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith” (Romans 4:13). And again in Romans 2:28-29, Paul confirms: “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.” 

The Jews of Smyrna railed against the gospel and righteousness through faith in Christ. Jesus calls them “a synagogue of Satan” for their blasphemous opposition to the truth in Christ. In contrast, the church fulfills this promise to Abraham since it stands as the true heir of righteousness by faith, having been circumcised in the heart through regeneration.

(Phil A. Newton)

Revelation 2:7 Devotion

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.”

(Revelation 2:7)

The tree of life is for overcomers. What are we to be overcoming? It is the world of idolatry, immorality, and hostility toward God. And who are the overcomers? John explained in his first epistle. “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (5:4-5) It is faith in Him who overcame the world of sin and rebellion against God, who overcame Satan in all of his hostility that we find our triumph. When John feared that no one could open the book of God’s decrees to unfold its contents, a heavenly elder told him, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals” (5:5). The message of overcoming points directly to the triumph of the Lamb; we overcome by living in the triumph of His death and resurrection.

(Phil A. Newton)

Revelation 2:5 Devotion

“Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place-unless you repent.”

(Revelation 2:5)

Israel had been a lampstand (Zechariah 4:2,11), but when they forsook their call to be a light to the nations (Isaiah 42:6-7,49:6)   their lampstand was removed and the church in Christ continued the role of true Israel. The primary meaning of lampstand is that of witness, as is shown by (Revelation 11:3-7,10), where the lampstands refer to the prophetic witnesses. Jesus talked of the church as a lamp to be put on a lampstand, emphasizing the church's role as witness to the nations. The lampstands also generally represent the power of the Spirit, since this is how they are implicitly identified in (Zechariah 4:6) although we have seen more precisely that John views the "lamps" as the Spirit which burns on the lampstands (the churches), thus is empowering them for witness. Therefore, it is possible that the Ephesians' leaving their first love refers to their lack of dependence on the Spirit, which was necessary for an effective witness. 

If they do not respond, Jesus Himself will come in judgment and the church at Ephesus will be no more. It is interesting to note that a coming of Jesus is referred to here which is definitely not His final return. The actual wording I will remove your lampstand from its place indicates the removal of the church as a light of witness to the world, which points to the removal of it before Christ's final coming, since the churches' witness is a relevant activity only before the final advent, not afterward. If Jesus was ready to come in this way to the Ephesian church he must have come repeatedly throughout history to various churches in similar judgment. Though the Lord will return in a final sense at the end of history, He comes regularly to visit His church in this present age, both to encourage and to judge. 

(G.K. Beale)

Revelation 2:1-4 Devotion

"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: 'I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name's sake, and have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”

(Revelation 2:1-4)

Christ comes to the Ephesians as the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, that is, as One intimately aware of all that is going on in the churches. The Ephesian church is first commended for testing and rejecting false apostles. They had considerable discernment, for false teachers often appeared disguised as Angels of light (2 Cor. 11:13-15). 

They have persevered in guarding the internal doctrinal purity of the church's faith, yet have not grown weary. However, they have lost their first love. This probably means they had lost their passion for the message of the gospel. Their focus was on maintaining the inward purity of the church, for which they are commended, so the rebuke must deal with their focus toward the outside world. The mention that He walks among the seven golden lampstands is intended to remind the introverted readers that the primary role in relation to their Lord should be that of a light of witness to the outside world. A passionate love for Christ leads us to love those outside and seek to win them. This they have lost. That losing their first love was tantamount to becoming unzealous witnesses is suggested further by seeing a link with Matthew 24:12-14, which shows such an end-time expectation: "Most people's love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come." The Ephesians were to remember how far they had fallen in the loss of their first love, and to return to what they had done at first -a reference to those days in which the entire province of Asia heard the word of the Lord through Paul and the Ephesian church (Acts 19:10). Otherwise, their lampstand will be removed. Those who had contained and shed abroad so much light through their possession of truth might lose it entirely. 

(G.K. Beale)

BTW, I'd like to add that this is not to be distorted as "A little less doctrine and more love". No, the road to Christian maturity is 100% doctrine and 100% love. 

Revelation 1:16b Devotion

“In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.”

(Revelation 1:16b)

His Mouth:

'Out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword'. This is not to be taken literally as though a steel blade protruded from the mouth of the Lord. Rather, it means that Jesus fights His enemies (and those of His church), not with material weapons, but with His Word.  Ephesians 6:17 speaks of 'the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.' This word is constantly going forth with supernatural power to execute judgment and to destroy the works of the evil one. One old country preacher in North Carolina once said that the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God, is the only sword that you can stick into a dead man, and he becomes a living man. 

(Douglas F. Kelly)

Revelation 1:16a Devotion

“In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.”

(Revelation 1:16a)

His Right Hand:

The right hand is a place of power and protection. Christ occupies this honored place on the throne with His Father (Psalm 110:1; Heb. 1:3). And in Christ's right hand are the seven stars. Stars could be angels or messengers of the churches. The idea is that Jesus never forsakes His own (for they are in His right hand), even when they pass through 'the valley of the shadow of death'. Every Christian who has died passed through physical death into the fullness of eternal life in the sheltering right hand of God Incarnate. 

(Douglas F. Kelly)

Revelation 1:15b Devotion

“His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters.”

(Revelation 1:15b)

His Voice Like Many Waters:

John on the rocky coast of Patmos could hear the slam of the rough waves beating on the rocks: loud, clear and powerful. So when the Lord of the church comes in judgement, nothing can resist His coming. This imagery takes us back to (Ezekiel 43:2), where the prophet describes the glory of God as many waters: 'and His voice was like the noise of many waters, and the earth shined with His glory.'

That voice, preceded by the sound of the angelic trumpet, will literally raise the dead (1 Cor. 15:53). That same voice is still raising the spiritually dead from sin and selfishness into a life in union with God in Christ (John 10:3). The 'many waters' they hear are those of the river of eternal life, flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb (Rev. 22:1). 

(Douglas F. Kelly)

Revelation 1:15a Devotion

“His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters.”

(Revelation 1:15a)

His Feet Like Bronze:

The idea is that of the brightness of His coming to trample underfoot His church's enemies.  As the old adage goes, 'the heels of God have lead in them, and are slow in coming. But when they come, they crush completely.' It is a bit like the flashing blue lights of a police car behind us, or the ringing siren of a red fire truck: one must get out of the way! God and His coming judgments seem unreal to us now, but one day that will be the most real thing we ever faced. Nothing else then will matter. 

(Douglas F. Kelly)

Why do I "thank" God for my faith in Christ?

Why do I "thank" God for my faith in Christ?

Because all through Scripture we read that God was entirely responsible for it. 

"Salvation belongs to the LORD!"

(Jonah 2:9)

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, FAITH,”

(Galatians 5:22)

"It has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for His sake."

(Philippians 1:29)

This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father." 

(John 6:65)

"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all."

(John 6:63)

"Our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction."

(1 Thessalonians 1:5)

"To all who did receive him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

(John 1:12-13)

"Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ HAS BEEN born of God,"

(1 John 5:1)

"No one can say "Jesus is Lord" except in the Holy Spirit. 

(1 Corinthians 12:3)

Jesus Christ gets ALL the glory. "For what do you have that you did not receive"(1 Cor. 4:7).

Would you rather tell God that you thank Him for everything else, but that your faith is something you came up with on your own??? Jesus Christ is the "author and perfecter of our faith" (Heb. 12:2). 

Why did I believe and not others?

What makes me differ?

Was it Jesus or something else?

I prefer to trust in what God's Word has reveled to us, that:

 “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins” 

(Colossians 2:13)

Revelation 1:14 Devotion

“His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire.”

(Revelation 1:14)

His White Hair:

Again this bright, shining whiteness takes us back to Daniel, where we see a throne upon which 'the Ancient of Days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool...(Daniel 7:9). This speaks of antiquity and absolute purity. The One who is in charge of all of the events of the rise and fall of the events of nations is eternal (not subject to the limitations of space and time as are merely earthly kings), and He is absolutely pure in heart and character, so that He is always to be trusted. 

(Douglas F. Kelly)

Revelation 1:12-13 Devotion

“Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands; and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash.”

(Revelation 1:12-13)

His Priestly Robe. 

Then the stunning appearance of the glorified Christ is presented by pictures taken from the Old Testament. He had and ankle length robe with a golden sash. This recalls the garments of the Jewish High Priest. Christ is the final and ultimate High Priest, whom all the earlier ones imperfectly, but truly, represented. Christ is that great High Priest who gets us through to the blessed Throne of the Father, as we see when- upon the earthquake that occurred at the death of Jesus on Calvary- the veil of the Temple was 'torn in two' so that access to 'the holiest of all' was now open (Matt. 27:51). His final blood sacrifice fulfilled all of God's holy requirements for the total forgiveness of all sin, so that no other sacrifice will ever be required for sinners who seek His mercy to be eternally pardoned, and to have immediate fellowship with God Himself. 

(Douglas F. Kelly)

Revelation 1:9 Devotion

“I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.”

(Revelation 1:9)

John is commissioned to write a prophetic revelation. He identifies himself as one with his readers in the tribulation, kingdom, and perseverance that are ours in Jesus. One cannot exercise kingdom rule except through tribulation and endurance. But this is a kingdom unanticipated by the majority of Judaism. The exercise of rule in this kingdom begins and continues only as one faithfully endures tribulation. This is the formula for kingship: faithful endurance through tribulation is the means by which one reigns in the present with Jesus. Believers are not mere subjects in Christ's kingdom. That John uses the word fellow-partaker underscores the active involvement of saints, not only in enduring tribulation, but also in reigning in the midst of it. Their being identified with Christ is the basis for the trials which confront them, as well as for their ability to endure such trials and to participate in the kingdom as kings. This paradoxical form of rule mirrors the manner in which Jesus exercised His authority in His earthly ministry even from the cross, and Christians are to follow in His path. This becomes a major theme as a revelation develops. Believers will conquer by refusing to compromise in the face of trials, by suffering as John himself did, and in general by pursuing Christlike character. Like Jesus' beginning kingship, Revelation reveals that the saints reign consists in "overcoming" by not compromising their faithful witness in the face of trials, ruling over the powers of evil, defeating sin in their lives, as well as having begun to rule over death and Satan through their identification with Jesus. 

The tribulation is a present reality, and will continue among the churches in the imminent future. John himself was enduring this tribulation on Patmos, where he had been exiled due to his witness to Christ: because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. To "testify" could connote to witness in a court of law, which was its primary setting in the Greek world and is the way it is used in John's Gospel. This would mean that the rejection of the "testimony" of Jesus and of Christians by the world and its courts becomes the basis for their judgment in the heavenly court. 

(G.K. Beale)

Revelation 1:7 Devotion

“BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.”

(Revelation 1:7)

This is not the central theme of the book. Yet it constitutes a real source of comfort for afflicted believers. It is the hope of believers and the consternation of the enemies of the Church. He comes (with the clouds) that is with glory (Dan. 7:13; Mark 14:62; Ezk. 1:4-28), and with anguish, wrath, judgment (Zp. 1:16; Ps. 97:2). The Bible knows nothing about an invisible or secret second coming. Nowhere is this taught. On the contrary, "every eye shall see Him". Those who pierced His side shall also see Him. It is possible that the expression "and they that pierced Him" also indicates all others who have pierced the Christ by means of their disobedient lives. The expression is taken from Zechariah 12:10. The Jews who rejected Him are then going to see that Jesus of Nazareth, whom they crucified, is, indeed, the Christ!

(And all the tribes of the earth shall mourn for Him).  This is not the mourning of repentance but that of hopelessness: the expression refers to beating the breast and morning and despair. Unbelievers will hide themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains and will say, " Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb...(Rev. 6:16)

(William Hendriksen)

Revelation 1:5-6 Devotion

“To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood- and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father-to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

(Revelation 1:5-6)

What Christ has done has (made) believers (a kingdom and priest) to serve (His God). Their identification with His kingship means that they too are considered to be resurrected and exercising rule with Him as a result of His exaltation. They have been constituted kings together with Christ and share His priestly office by virtue of their identification with His death and resurrection. The reference here is to Exodus 19:6: "You shall be a to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." Notice how significant is the change of tense. What was prophesied as Israel's role as in Exodus, and never fulfilled by Israel, is now stated as accomplished by John, for the verb (has made) is in the past tense. 

(Kingdom) here can mean "kingship" or "royal power." Believers do not merely live within a kingdom; they exercise it's kingly power (albeit under Christ). Believers have already entered into this role as priest and as kings even though the manner of their performance is still incomplete. 

Christ exercised His role as priest through His sacrificial death ("released us from our sins by His blood") and "faithful witness"(v.5), and exercised His role as king by spiritually defeating sin and death on the cross and subsequently being raised from the dead ("firstborn" and "ruler,").   

The church is identified also with Christ as a priest and now exercises its role as priests by maintaining a faithful witness to the world and willingness to suffer for Christ. It defeats the strategies of the enemy even while suffering apparent defeat, yet still ruling in a kingdom (as Christ did on the cross). 

Like OT priests, the entire people of God now have free, unmediated access to God's presence, because Christ has removed the obstacle of sin by His substitutionary blood. It is the light of God's presence that they are to reflect to the world. That John sees Exodus 19:6 as fulfilled in the church indicates that the church now continues the true Israel as the inheritor of God's promises and as His covenant people, while unbelieving Jews are described not as true Jews but as a synagogue of Satan (Rev. 2:9). This accomplishment of God's redemptive plan will bring eternal (glory) and culminate in His eternal (dominion). 

(G.K. Beale)

Revelation 1:5 Devotion

“and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth...”

(Revelation 1:5)

John's greeting comes from (Jesus Christ), who is described as (the faithful witness, the first born from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.) John is quoting Ps. 89:27,37, where all three phrases are used. The Psalm speaks of the king who will rule over his enemies and who seed will sit on his throne forever (vv. 19-29) "Firstborn" from the Psalm is defined clearly as (firstborn from the dead). Christ has gained a sovereign position over the cosmos. This is not to be understood in the sense that He is recognized as the first created being of all creation nor even as the origin of creation, but rather that He is the inaugurator of the new creation by means of His resurrection (Rev. 3:14). John thinks of Jesus as the seed of David, whose resurrection has resulted in the establishment of His eternal kingdom. 

The (kings of the earth) are not the loyal subjects of the kingdom but those earthly kings who oppose Christ's rule. This includes not only the kingdoms and peoples represented by them but also the satanic forces behind these kingdoms. That Christ now rules over these kings shows again that the events unfolded in the visions refer to present realities throughout the church age, not just to events of the future immediately preceding the Lord's return. 

(G.K. Beale)

Revelation 1:4b Devotion

“John to the seven churches that 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,”

(Revelation 1:4)

(Grace to you and peace)

The Christian readers need "grace" to persevere in their faith in the midst of tribulation, especially pressures to compromise. And in the midst of such external turmoil, they need the inner "peace" which only the eternal God who is sovereign over and above the trials and struggles of the day-to-day realities believers face can give. 

The purpose of this revelation is to give the eternal perspective of (Him who is and who was and who is to come) which can enable the readers to understand his commandments and so motivate them to obedience. 

The prophetic message is not only from God and Christ, but also from the (seven spirits) before the throne. The reference here is to the Holy Spirit, the number "seven" again representing fullness. The Holy Spirit is needed to bring to believers the grace and peace John greets them with here, and the Holy Spirit's work will be needed if believers are to respond obediently to the prophetic words shortly to come. 

(G.K. Beale)

Revelation 1:4 Devotion

“John to the seven churches that 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,”

(Revelation 1:4)

John now addresses (the seven churches). His choice of the number "seven" is no accident. "Seven" is the favorite number of Revelation. Biblically, it signifies completion or fullness and is originally derived from the seven days of creation. In Lev. 4:6,17 the sevenfold sprinkling of the blood signified a completed action, as did the seven-day duration of the festivals, services of ordination, the march around Jericho, and the length of periods of cleansing from uncleanness. The significance of the number here is that the seven churches represent the fullness of the church. John's prophetic message is actually addressed to the entire body of Christ, the church in every age. 

(G.K. Beale)