Revelation 1:4 - Part One

Who and Where Are The Seven Churches? What Is Grace And Peace? What Does 'Is,
Was, And Is To Come,' Mean?

Introduction
Rev 1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and
which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
This verse involves 1) the seven churches in Asia, 2) grace and peace, 3) Him which is, was, and
is to come, 4) and the seven Spirits which are before Christ's throne. We will comment on each
of these in order.

1) Who and where are these seven churches in Asia?

Many Christian scholars who do not know that "the holy spirit teaches comparing spiritual things
with spiritual," actually believe that there will be seven Christian churches in the old Roman
province of Asia, with the same names given in Revelation 2 and 3. That area is in the western
part of the modern day country of Turkey. It is presently very much a Moslem country. But the
holy spirit really does "teach comparing spiritual things with spiritual," and these seven churches
are spiritual, and they are within all "who have ears to hear."

'Asia' represents each of us in the state in which the church is described in the next two chapters.
I will cut and paste what Rob Jones has written on this verse:
"Asia symbolizes that which is turned away from Christ.
So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the
great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all
Asia and the world worshippeth. (Act 19:27)

And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him
in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, Crying out, Men of Israel, help:
This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this
place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place. (Act
21:27-28)

This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are
Phygellus and Hermogenes. (2Ti 1:15)"
'John to the seven churches which are in Asia,' is preparing us to deal with all that is within us
that is turned away from Christ. The seven churches of Asia, are "that great city wherein our
Lord was crucified." The seven churches of Asia are nothing less than "Babylon the great the
mother of harlot and of abominations of the earth." It is what is in these seven churches that we
must yet 'come out of.'
We will see in this study that the "seven churches" and "those Jews which believed on Christ,
yet wanted to kill Him," are spiritually one and the same. Who are these seven churches? They
are the bondwoman mother part of the revelation of Jesus Christ in each of us. "Those who have
ears to hear," must hear that it is they who spend many years as a babes in Christ," and as
such"differ nothing from a bondservant... until the time appointed of the Father."
Gal 4:1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant,
though he be lord of all;
Gal 4:2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
Gal 4:3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the
world:
So where are these seven churches? They are, in their appointed time, within us all. At the
appointed time, these seven churches, with all their strengths and weaknesses are within both the
called and the chosen. All men of all time will, at their appointed time, be in "the seven churches
of Asia." These churches are part of the words of Christ which "will never pass away."
Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every
word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be
fulfilled.
Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
"All these things" are "every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." Those words are
Christ, "the Word," and "this generations" which "reads and understands" will keep and live by
these "is, was, and will be," words which are "written therein."
Rev 1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from
him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are
before his throne;

2) What is grace and peace?

There are a few very basic things which, if we do not see and know, will keep us from ever
understanding the revelation of Jesus Christ. One of the greatest obstacles to knowing Christ and
His Father is a misunderstanding of what is God's "grace and peace." It is through only God's
grace that we are able to see Him, and yet the entire orthodox church is unaware of what is grace.
That deception, as always is perpetrated by misapplying the Word of God, and in the process
"turning grace into a license to do evil."

Ephesians 2:8 is constantly quoted, by the orthodox Christian churches as if grace were nothing
more than a dead, inoperable noun. The Greek word for 'grace' is 'charis,' and the root of this
word means 'favor.' Armed with this little bit of knowledge, most Christians take Paul's
statements contrasting the proper understanding of the function of grace, with the mistaken
concept that our works somehow earn us God's favor, and draw the erroneous conclusion that
grace has no function in the daily life of the believer, except to simply believe that God forgives
and forgets sin whether we continue in sin or not. Nothing could be farther from the truth of
God's Word. Here is what grace does in the life of the believer. Here is what brings peace in the
life of the believer:
Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching [Greek, paidueo - chastening] us that, denying ungodliness and worldly
lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and
our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto
himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Tit 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise
thee.
So grace is indeed 'favor with God." But what is missing in the minds of the orthodox scholars is
the ability to see that "Who the Lord loves, He chastens and scourges." Who does He chasten and
scourge? "Every son whom He receiveth." Why does He do this? "To deny ungodliness and
worldly lusts and to live soberly, righteously and godly, in this present world.
The very definition of loving God is obeying God.
1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments
are not grievous.
Yes indeed, the Greek word translated 'keep' is that pesky word 'tereo' again. Apparently Christ
actually expects us to do what He commands us.
Luk 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;
but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
So what happens when we do not the things which I say? Here is what God does to those He
loves:
Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he
receiveth.
Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he
whom the father chasteneth not?
Heb 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards,
and not sons.
There it is. "Grace and peace" come through "chastening and scourging." You might say, 'Well I
will just obey God and He will not need to chasten and scourge me." Those are the very words of
many babes in Christ. It has not yet been given to them to see the words "every son whom He
receiveth... Whereof all are partakers."

By the way, that word 'chastens,' here in Hebrews 12:6, is that same Greek word 'paideuo' which
was translated "teaching" earlier in Titus 2:12. It is only through God's chastening and scourging
of "every son" that we have the "grace and the peace... that passeth all understanding." There is
no way to separate grace from chastening us to obey God, and there is no way to separate peace
or love from obedience to God:
Psa 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
So it is made clear that both 'grace and peace,' are ours only if we are recipients of God's
chastening and scourging which He gives to "every son He receives," and thus we are learning
to "obey His commandments."

3) What is the spiritual significance of "is, was, and is to come?"

Twelve times in the book of Revelation alone, we are reminded that Christ is the beginning and
the end; that He is, was, and is to come. That is an incredible number of times to say the same
thing. Nothing is more oft repeated in the revelation of Jesus Christ.
1) John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which
is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his
throne; (Rev_1:4)
2) I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which
was, and which is to come, the Almighty. (Rev_1:8)
3) Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book,
and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and
unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
(Rev_1:11)
4) And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying
unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: (Rev_1:17)
5) I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the
keys of hell and of death. (Rev_1:18)
6) Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be
hereafter; (Rev_1:19)
7) And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last,
which was dead, and is alive; (Rev_2:8)
8) And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within:
and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is,
and is to come. (Rev_4:8)
9) Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come;
because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. (Rev_11:17)
10) And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and
shalt be, because thou hast judged thus. (Rev 16:5)
11) And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will
give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. (Rev_21:6)
12) I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. (Rev_22:13)
Why is this such an important point in the mind of Christ , that He twelve times reminds us that
He is the beginning and the end; the He is, was, and will be? Here is why this is such and
important point in the mind of our Lord and His Father:
Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be
fulfilled.
Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Christ's words are "all these things," and "this generation shall not pass till" Christ's words have
all been lived in each and every man who has ever been born.
Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every
word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
The Old Testament prophets knew that the Messiah was to be "the son of David."
Mat 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Hebrews tells us :
Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself
likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of
death, that is, the devil;
Heb 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Heb 2:16 For verily he took not on [him the nature of] angels; but he took on [him] the seed of
Abraham.
Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto [his] brethren, that he
might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things [pertaining] to God, to make reconciliation
for the sins of the people.
Heb 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them
that are tempted.
Flesh and blood are indeed corruptible and flesh and blood is temporary. Nevertheless, the part
played by "flesh and blood" are as integral to knowing Christ and His Father, as is the spirit
itself. Here is the Biblical reason this is so true:
1Co 15:12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that
there is no resurrection of the dead?
1Co 15:13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
1Co 15:14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

1Co 15:15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God
that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
1Co 15:16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
1Co 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
1Co 15:18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
I am the first to tell you that there is a spiritual application to every word in these verses, but I am
also the last to deny the truth of this verse in this same chapter:
1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Co 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and
there is a spiritual body.
1Co 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam
[was made] a quickening spirit.
1Co 15:46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and
afterward that which is spiritual.
1Co 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
Again I ask the question, Why are we told so many times that Christ is both the beginning and
the end? The answer is that God is calling light out of darkness. Not vice versa, as the gnostics
would have you believe. The answer is that Christ "emptied himself," and came in the flesh so he
could could truthfully be "the beginning Adam, and the end Adam." He came in the flesh so He
could be the first Adam and the last Adam. If He was not a literal man born of the seed of David
and Abraham and of the first Adam, then He could not possibly identify with us as such. But that
is exactly what He is, was, and will be
Heb 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them
that are tempted.
Any doctrine which denies either that Christ came in the flesh, or that He is come in our flesh, is
antichrist.
1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because
many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come
in the flesh is of God:
1Jn 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of
God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even
now already is it in the world.
2Jn 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is
come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

Conclusion
We will not get to "the seven spirits before His throne" this week, but we have seen that the
seven churches are suffering the the exact same symptoms as the Great Harlot of Revelation 17
and 18.
Both think they are in very good spiritual condition:
Rev 3:17 a) Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of
nothing...
Rev. 18:7 b) ...for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
But in reality both are spiritually bankrupt:
Rev. 3:17 b) ...and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and
naked:
Rev 18:7 a) How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and
sorrow give her:
We have seen that this is each of us at our appointed time, and it is all men at their appointed
time, because we will all "keep the things that are written therein," and "live by every word that
proceeds out of the mouth of God."

We have seen that the revelation of Jesus Christ comes only by God's chastening grace, which
even, when needed scourges us to forsake ungoldliness and worldly lusts and to obey God's
sayings and commandments, and we have seen that God's chastening grace brings peace of mind
even in the midst of that chastening grace.
Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Finally we have seen that the reason Christ repeats 12 times that He is the beginning and the end,
and that He is, was, and will be, is because we are just naturally blinded the the fact that He is
not only the last Adam, but He is prefigured by the first, and that Christ cannot be attained to
without experiencing the natural first.
1Co 15:46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and
afterward that which is spiritual.
Without fail, someone will always point out that Christ was a spirit before becoming a man. That
is true, and it is for this very reason that we are told that "He emptied himself," and "took on Him
the seed of Abraham.
Php 2:5 For, let this mind be in you that is also in Christ Jesus,
Php 2:6 who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal to God,
Php 2:7 but did empty himself, the form of a servant having taken, in the likeness of men
having been made,
Php 2:8 and in fashion having been found as a man, he humbled himself, having become
obedient unto death--death even of a cross,
Php 2:9 wherefore, also, God did highly exalt him, and gave to him a name that is above every
name,
Php 2:10 that in the name of Jesus every knee may bow--of heavenlies, and earthlies, and what
are under the earth--
Php 2:11 and every tongue may confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Heb 2:16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of
Abraham.
The revelation of Jesus Christ reveals that he truly is the beginning and the end, the first and the
last. A point which the holy spirit sees fit to repeat to us a dozen times in this book alone.