Revelation 1:4-8 The One Who Is, Who Was, and Who Is to Come

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Revelation #3: Who is, Who Was, Who Is to Come

1. Churches in Asia Minor: Historical Background
   1. Let’s take just a moment to give a explanation of why these letters were written primarily to churches within the province of Asia. This area held a strong pro-Roman stance, of which temple worship of the gods and of the emperor was promoted. This is evident in Acts 19 and the riot in Ephesus that nearly ended Paul’s life.
   2. Grant Osborn in his commentary (Revelation Verse by Verse) offers historical background of Asia during the time of the reign of Domitian (81-96 AD): “They were governed partly by the “Asiarchs” who oversaw civic and religious life and demanded that the populace participate in emperor worship. No one in that time and place could conduct the affairs of everyday existence, even commerce, without recognizing the gods. When Christians refused to participate, the effects were considerable. Persecution may not have been official, but it was widespread at the local level. Social ostracism, slanderous rumors, and loss of jobs were the natural result. It is likely that the social situation behind this book included both internal pressure from prosperity and secularization as well as external opposition and persecution.” 
   3. It is apparent that Christians may have been challenged most by the social pressure rather than governmental edict. The “emperor cult” under Domitian intensified pressure on Christians. Frequent banquets held by the guilds (trade associations that controlled the activities of artisans in a city) were always dedicated to the patron gods—to refuse to attend often meant one would be prohibited from working in the city. This led to tremendous pressure on Christians to participate in emperor worship (Scott’s notes).
   4. In a limited way, we have seen this same kind of persecution today. The persecution was not so much by government edict as it was by corporate fiat that for the most part has been unheard of in American history. (1) Get vaccinated or lose your job. (2) Support Pride month or lose your job. (3) Bake a wedding cake depicting a gay couple or lose your business. Etc. We see this same method used in the book of Acts and in the Roman Empire throughout the 2nd and 3rd centuries. 
      1. When Paul and other Christians were persecuted in Acts, it was local and didn’t come from the emperor.
      2. The same is true with the history of Rome up to the time of Constantine. Not every emperor insisted on being worshiped as a god with the consequence of death if not obeyed. But the culture of the Roman Empire was to insist on Rome-worship above all else.
   5. Therefore, though Jesus made it clear to the Philadelphia church that the “hour trial” coming on the whole world is not yet, this helps us understand the culture in which Christians of the last third of the 1st century were living.
2. Greetings: 1:4-8
   1. The greetings John delivers from God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, is unique in that the brief descriptions and introductory concepts give a us a foundation for how we are to endure in the midst of trial & persecution. 
   2. “Grace and peace from…” Can you hear God saying those words to John, saying, before all else, send them my grace and peace. Who can’t live through anything that comes our way when we hear the words of God, “Grace and peace…” 
   3. “Who is and who was and who is to come…” It is easy to pass over God’s repeated declaration about himself in the book, but this would be a huge mistake when we consider the message that is being sent.
      1. First, notice the occasions in which these declarations are made:
         1. Concerning God, the Father, we see these statements made in 1:4, 8; 21:6.
         2. But then, we also see similar statements concerning Jesus: 1:17; 22:13.
         3. Further, in 1:8, God proclaims that he is the “Alpha and the Omega,” coupled with Jesus’ proclamation in 1:17-18, “Fear not, I am the first and the last…I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever and ever.” 
      2. This linking of the Father with the Son is significant to the message that neither God nor Christ have been defeated and that God in Christ is defeating the dragon and his offspring. Therefore, the upcoming trials should be endured with hope.
      3. Even more encouraging is that these same statements were made by God about himself in Isaiah 44:6; 48:12-13
         1. “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts, ‘I am the first and the last; besides me there is no god.’”
         2. “Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am he; I am the first and I am the last. My hand laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I call to them, they stand forth together.” The Lord goes on in the text to assure his people the he will defeat the Babylon of old. It is beautiful that the same “I am the first and I am the last” declaration made in Isaiah is made by Jesus in 1:17! 
      4. Consider also that the phrase, “Who is and who was and who is to come,” is not just a statement of God’s eternal nature. Saying that he is the one who is to come indicates a coming in judgment and salvation. Repeatedly, Jesus proclaims that “he is coming” (1:7; 22:12). in fact, when judgment is proclaimed as complete in 11:17 and 16:5, God is called, “who is and who was, for you brought these judgments.” He is not called, “who is to come” because his saving and judgment actions are complete.
   4. Now quickly notice the importance of the other descriptions of Jesus:
      1. “The faithful witness” in contrast to those who were cowardly (21:8) and not faithful witnesses (cf. 2:13, Antipas, a faithful witness).
      2. “Firstborn from the dead” indicating that Jesus is the first of many who will be raised from the dead never to die again. 
      3. “Ruler of the kings of the earth” in contrast to the Dragon and the beast who have seduced the kings of the earth.
   5. Verses 5b-6 then extol what Jesus has done for us, loving us and freeing us from our sins by his blood, and making us (or appointing us, NET) a kingdom, priests to his God…” 
      1. This is Daniel 7:23-27 imagery. Appointing us a kingdom is exactly what Daniel was foretold during the time of the fourth beast (kingdom). John and these first century Christians were at the beginning of living out the tribulation seen by Daniel 600 years previous.
      2. Daniel 7:27 states that once the dominion of these beasts are taken away, “the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High.” However, John is shown that before that day comes we have already been made a kingdom. 
      3. The idea is that we may seem powerless at the moment, but we have been granted royal power to participate in bringing God’s dominion on earth. And, we are made priests witnessing to the truth and bringing the nations to worship God.
      4. Connect this to 1:9 where John speaks of himself and the saints as being in tribulation and the kingdom. Therefore, God’s kingdom “patiently endures” and testifies as priests during tribulation until God’s final judgment over the beastly kingdoms of the world. In fact, in verse 9, the very reason John is suffering is because he has been acting as a priest – “on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.”
   6. Verse 7 “Behold is coming with the clouds…” We typically read this and immediately think of the end of time. However, the same language is used for partial judgments (Isaiah 19:1; Matthew 24:29-30; Mark 14:62). Whether this is partial or end time doesn’t matter since the final judgment is a culmination of a series of partial judgments used to alert the world to that final day. This will be evident in the unveiling of the “seals” and the “trumpets.” 
      1. Though this verse begins with judgment, there is a surprising twist with the words, “even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will will mourn on account of him.” These words are a clear allusion to Zechariah 12:10–13:1, where there is a picture of the Jews coming to repentance when they realize what they have done and God offering them salvation. We see the same thing in Matthew 24:27-31.
      2. But there is also another twist. The words, “every eye will see him,” is not in Zechariah, nor is, “all tribes of the earth” shall mourn on account of him. Therefore, the text is including both Jews and the rest of the world, in this context, alluding to the Roman Empire.
      3. We know that the later visions of partial judgments are intended to bring people to repentance (9:20-21; 16:9-11). Ultimately, their wailing may not be because of repentance but because they have refused repentance and now must suffer the consequences.

Berry Kercheville