Bible Strands
Revelation 1:4
John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from Him who is and was and is to come, and from the seven spirits before His throne,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — John addresses the seven churches in the Roman province of Asia, opening the letter that follows the blessing for readers in 1:3.
The words — ἐκκλησὶαις (ekklēsiais) is the standard Greek term for "churches," literally "those called out," and Ἀσίᾳ (Asiā) pins the recipients to a specific Roman province in western Anatolia.
The thread — "Him who is and was and is to come" parallels Hebrews 13:8 ("the same yesterday and today and forever"), and "seven spirits" echoes the sevenfold Spirit in Isaiah 11:2.
Why it lands — The salutation places the reader under the authority of the eternal God and His Spirit before any content is delivered, framing what follows as divine communication rather than human instruction.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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;
Cross-references
- Isaiah 11:2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD.
- John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
- Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
- Psalms 90:2 Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God.
- Revelation 5:6 Then I saw a Lamb who appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
- Revelation 4:5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder. Before the throne burned seven torches of fire. These are the seven spirits of God.
- Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and was and is to come—the Almighty.
- Revelation 3:1 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of the One who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation for being alive, yet you are dead.
- James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.
- Zechariah 4:10 For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven eyes of the LORD, which scan the whole earth, will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.”