June 23, 2025 - Revelation 1:4-6 - "The Reigning Redeemer"

Revelation 1:4-6

"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; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."

This opening benediction grounds this prophetic book in the real-time suffering and spiritual encouragement of the first-century church. Written by the Apostle John to the seven churches of Asia during a time of intense persecution—likely under the reign of Nero—the Revelation is not merely a future forecasting but a divine unveiling of Christ's present reign and redemptive victory already at work in His church. Much of what is revealed in this book pertains to events then unfolding or soon to take place in the first-century world, especially the judgment upon apostate Israel and the vindication of Christ and His people.

In these verses, John exalts the sovereign grace of God in Christ, who “loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood” (v.5). He identifies the LORD Jesus not as a distant king but as “the prince of the kings of the earth,” already reigning, already victorious. This is no hidden grace but a triumphant gospel for a suffering church of Christ's redeemed ones. What follows is not a message of fear, but of hope anchored in Christ’s finished work, His present glory, and His eternal dominion.

The opening of this revelation of Jesus Christ is not a message of dread for the believer, but of triumphant grace in Jesus Christ. Written to the seven churches in Asia, it speaks to a specific people in a specific time, at the end of the Old Covenant age, yet its Truth is eternally relevant. In these verses, we behold the glory of our Redeemer and the Surety of His finished work. "Revelation of Jesus Christ" (Revelation 1:1).

Grace and peace flow not from men or institutions but from “him which is, and which was, and which is to come”—the eternal, unchanging I AM (Exodus 3:14). This is the God of sovereign grace, who rules all things by His immutable counsel. The troubled churches were not left to chance or chaos but were under the care of Him who reigns eternally.

Verse 5 declares, “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.” Christ is the faithful witness—He alone has perfectly declared the Father (John 1:18). In His life, death, and resurrection, He bore witness of God’s righteousness and love in redeeming His elect. As “the first begotten of the dead,” He is the guarantee of the resurrection of His people, having conquered death by His blood shed unto death (1 Corinthians 15:20). And even then, He was already “prince of the kings of the earth,” not waiting for future enthronement, but reigning then and now (Psalm 2:6; Acts 2:36). As King and LORD He came in judgment upon apostate Jerusalem (AD 70) as a manifestation of that reigning power, (Matthew 24:30).

But most gloriously, John breaks into praise: “Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood” (v. 5). Here is sovereign grace in its fullest glory! He loved us—freely, eternally, sovereignly. He washed us—not by law, nor by ritual, but by His own blood. This is by the substitutionary Lamb of God. Christ did not make redemption possible—He accomplished it for His people (Hebrews 9:12). And “hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father” (v. 6).

This is not future potential; it is present reality. All believers, united to Christ, reign with Him and have direct access to God. What the Levitical priesthood could never accomplish, Christ has fulfilled in us. “To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” (v. 6b). All glory to Christ! The One who came in the fullness of time, who judged the harlot system of unbelief, now reigns in glory, having saved the church of His elect by grace.

Let every heart given to Him echo this doxology—not in fear of wrath, but in thanksgiving for redemption already accomplished and grace eternally bestowed.