Revelation 1:4-6:

4 John, to the seven churches which 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, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.

To Him who [b]loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us [c]kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Meditation:

Our text this morning identifies John as the author of this Revelation of Jesus Christ and he is writing to seven specific churches in Asia. Why seven? Simply, seven is the number of completeness. While John is writing to seven specific churches in the 1st century, this letter should be read, internalized and meditated on by the whole church- the church universal.

Notice that John greets the churches with grace and peace 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 from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth." This is a Trinitarian greeting and we shouldn't move past it too quickly.

First John greets in the name of the eternal Father who will return with Christ Jesus in Christ's second advent. Secondly, John greets in the name of the "seven spirits". Again, the number seven represents completeness. When John refers to the seven spirits he is referring to the Holy Spirit. (see for example 3:1; 4:5). Finally, John's greeting comes in the name of Jesus, the sovereign ruler over the kings of the earth.

Then comes this beautiful reminder of the gospel. Think about this for a moment. John first lifts our minds toward our co-eternal, co-equal Triune God. Then he reminds us of what God accomplished for us in the gospel. In the gospel God 'loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood" (italics mine). Praise God this morning for how comprehensive Christ's blood was for us. Not only this, but Christ has made us kings and priests through this comprehensive washing.

After a short meditation of this, John ends his greeting by breaking out into praise: "to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." And we should follow suit. Praise the Lord today for who He is and what is has accomplished for us.