“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)
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