The word “revelation” appears 18 times in the New Testament. Luke 2:32, refers to Jesus as “the light of revelation to the Gentiles;” In Romans 8:19, it refers to believers as “the revealing of the sons of God;” 1 Peter 1:7 and 1 Corinthians 1:7, refer to Jesus’ return revealed to us. Here, it refers to Jesus’ revelation of “the things that must soon take place” through His angel. John was to preach what was revealed to him to the seven churches so that they will be blessed when they obey, “the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus.”

The revelation was also a warning to “get their act together” before He returns as it is urgent, “The time is near.” “Time” is used as a season of time. The description, “Him who is, and who was, and who is to come” refers to the Father who is the Source of the “Grace and peace” in the greetings. “The seven spirits who are before His throne” refers to the Holy Spirit and “seven” is the perfection in Him. Christ is described as the faithful witness because He is the first to rise from the dead and the ruler over the world who is calling the seven churches to be faithful to the end despite their persecution.

Smyrna and Philadelphia were the two churches that were faithful, but Ephesus lost her first love, Pergamum and Thyatira tolerated sins, Sardis was spiritually dead, and Laodicea was lukewarm. The problems of the five latter churches are symptomatic of the Church throughout history. So, are we guilty of them as well? Pray that we will not be like these five churches but more like the two other churches.

John praised Jesus for what He did: “To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father.” He said when He comes everyone will see Him coming back. “Behold he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so, Amen.”

“Behold” invokes them to hear, think, and act. “He is coming” can be translated as “The Coming One.” In Greek, “erchomai” (coming) is used 9 times for Jesus. Jesus ends the vision by signing off as “the Alpha and the Omega, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” “Alpha” is the first letter and “Omega” is the final letter in the Greek alphabet. They are symbolic of Him as the beginning and the end, the Finisher and Author of our faith who has perfect knowledge and everything in this world including the future. “Who is, and who was, and who is to come,” attributed to God the Father in verse 4 is now attributed to the Son to show He is equal to God as the Holy Spirit is too. “The almighty” describes His invincibility as nothing can stop Him from what He is coming to do. Thus, we are to remain faithful until He returns!

The benefit of being faithful to the Lord until the end is better than gaining the whole world to lose our souls. This was Jesus’ answer to the rich young ruler when he asked Jesus what he must do to inherit the kingdom of God. For what good will it be if we do not have life in eternity to enjoy. So, let us be ready for Jesus to return by being faithful despite any circumstances we might be in! Let this be our prayers for ourselves and for one another as well. May the Lord bless and keep you faithful until He returns!