Greeting the Christians
Lesson 2 Bobby Stafford

Greeting the Christians

Revelation greets the churches with an unveiling from God through Jesus Christ, given “in signs,” near in its beginning, and sure in its comfort. It blesses those who hear and keep its words and anchors faith in the risen Lord who reigns and returns (Revelation 1:1–8).

The Nature of the Revelation
John opens by declaring that what he writes is “the revelation of Jesus Christ” given by God, through His angel, to His servant John (Revelation 1:1–2). The term revelation means an unveiling. God lifts the cover so the churches can see Christ’s rule and their hope. This message was “signified,” that is, communicated in symbolic visions. Apocalyptic symbolism fills the book by design, linking Revelation with earlier prophetic visions and training the church to read carefully with Scripture as its guide. John assures his readers that he has faithfully recorded what God revealed; the report is accurate and reliable, and its authority is the very Word of God (Revelation 1:2; 22:18–19).

The Blessing and the Nearness
Revelation begins with a promise: “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it” (Revelation 1:3). God blesses listeners who become doers, echoing the call of James 1:22. The blessing is joined to urgency: “the time is at hand.” The term “shortly” in verse 1 can carry the sense of events beginning soon and proceeding swiftly. The original hearers needed strength now, and the churches today still need the same holy alertness, confident that God’s purposes move with certainty under Christ’s rule.

The Salutation to the Seven Churches
John writes to seven churches in Asia—real congregations in a real place, representative of congregations everywhere (Revelation 1:4). Their pressures were intense. Public life often demanded emperor reverence, and disciples faced penalties for faithful confession. Into this pressure, the greeting announces grace and peace from the triune God.

Grace and Peace from Father, Spirit, and Son
Grace and peace come first “from Him who is and who was and who is to come,” the eternal I AM, God the Father whose life is not bounded by time (Revelation 1:4). They also come from “the seven Spirits who are before His throne,” a symbolic fullness pointing to the Holy Spirit’s complete ministry among God’s people (Revelation 1:4; Isaiah 11:2). And they come from Jesus Christ, whose reliability secures every promise: He is the faithful witness whose testimony never fails (Revelation 1:5; Hebrews 6:10).

Who Jesus Is in the Greeting
Jesus is “the firstborn of the dead,” the One raised never to die again, the pledge of our own resurrection life (Revelation 1:5; 1 Corinthians 15:20). He is “the ruler of the kings of the earth,” a title that steadies suffering saints. Earthly thrones are temporary; the Son of Man receives everlasting dominion and a kingdom that will not pass away (Revelation 1:5; Daniel 7:13–14). This greeting lifts anxious eyes to the throne and gives courage to endure.

What Christ Has Done for His People
“He loved us and loosed us from our sins by His blood” (Revelation 1:5). Sin’s guilt is removed when we unite with Christ in obedient faith and have our sins washed away (Acts 22:16). By this grace He “made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father” (Revelation 1:6). Every Christian belongs to the kingdom that the Father transfers us into through redemption (Colossians 1:13–14). Every Christian serves as a priest, offering spiritual sacrifices through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:5). Worship rises directly to the Father, and daily lives become living offerings of gratitude.

The Certain Coming of Christ
“Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him” (Revelation 1:7). His return is personal, public, and universal. The ones who pierced Him will see Him, and all tribes will respond with mourning or joy. Scripture unites this witness: the ascended Lord will return as He went (Acts 1:9–11); the resurrection summons will reach every grave (John 5:28–29). The narrow way is life, though few find it (Matthew 7:13–14). Revelation’s greeting presses each heart to readiness.

Alpha and Omega—Our Assurance
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8). The Son shares the eternal identity confessed of the Father earlier in the greeting. He was present at the beginning and stands at the end. By Him all things were made, and in Him life holds together (John 1:1–3). His surpassing power strengthens the church to persevere without compromise, for His authority exceeds every ruler and dominion (Ephesians 1:19–23). This is the greeting weary saints needed in Asia, and it is the greeting the church needs in every age: grace and peace from the eternal God, full salvation in the blood of Jesus, priestly access in His kingdom, and the certain hope of His return.

First-Century Lens and Present Application
Reading these verses through first-century eyes clarifies the purpose of the symbols and the urgency of obedience. The language of nearness met real danger in real cities. The titles of Christ confronted real idols. The promises emboldened real congregations to live in holiness and hope. That same lens serves the church today. Wherever pressure rises and false worship seeks our allegiance, Revelation’s greeting steadies the soul. Jesus is faithful. Jesus reigns. Jesus comes. Until that day, the church hears, keeps, and worships.

Greeting the Christians Sermon Outline:

• Text: Revelation 1:1–8

• Aim: To receive Revelation’s greeting with obedient faith, seeing Christ’s identity, work, and return, and to stand firm as a kingdom of priests.

• I. The Unveiling and Its Method (Revelation 1:1–2; 22:18–19)

  • God gives the revelation of Jesus Christ through His angel to John.

  • The message is “signified” in symbols; Scripture interprets Scripture.

  • John bears faithful witness to the Word of God.

• II. The Blessing and the Nearness (Revelation 1:3; James 1:22)

  • Blessing promised to readers, hearers, and keepers.

  • “Time is at hand” calls for readiness and steadfast obedience.

• III. Grace and Peace to the Churches (Revelation 1:4)

  • To seven churches in Asia, representative of Christ’s people.

  • From the eternal Father—“who is and who was and who is to come.”

  • From the Spirit in His fullness—“the seven Spirits before His throne” (Isaiah 11:2).

• IV. The Glory of the Son (Revelation 1:5; Hebrews 6:10; 1 Corinthians 15:20; Daniel 7:13–14)

  • Faithful Witness—utterly trustworthy.

  • Firstborn from the dead—resurrection that never ends.

  • Ruler of kings of the earth—encouragement under persecution.

• V. What Christ Made Us (Revelation 1:5–6; Acts 22:16; Colossians 1:13–14; 1 Peter 2:5)

  • Loved and loosed from sins by His blood.

  • A kingdom, priests to His God and Father—people of worship and service.

• VI. The Certain Return (Revelation 1:7; Acts 1:9–11; John 5:28–29; Matthew 7:13–14)

  • Coming with the clouds; every eye will see Him.

  • A universal summons that divides by response—mourning or joy.

• VII. Alpha and Omega—Assurance to Endure (Revelation 1:8; John 1:1–3; Ephesians 1:19–23)

  • Christ’s eternal identity secures present faithfulness.

  • His authority strengthens perseverance and worship.

Call to Action
Receive Revelation’s greeting with an obedient heart. Read these verses aloud in your home this week and pray for grace to hear and keep them. Confess Jesus as the faithful Witness in every decision. Offer yourself to God as a priest in His kingdom, and live today in readiness for the Lord’s certain return.

Key Takeaways

• Revelation is God’s unveiling of Jesus Christ for His churches, given “in signs” and faithfully recorded (Revelation 1:1–2; 22:18–19).

• Blessing belongs to those who read, hear, and keep the prophecy, since the time is at hand (Revelation 1:3; James 1:22).

• Grace and peace flow from the eternal Father and the Spirit’s fullness (Revelation 1:4; Isaiah 11:2).

• Jesus is the faithful Witness, firstborn from the dead, and ruler of kings (Revelation 1:5; 1 Corinthians 15:20; Daniel 7:13–14).

• Christ loved and loosed His people from sins by His blood (Revelation 1:5; Acts 22:16).

• The church is a kingdom of priests who worship and serve God (Revelation 1:6; 1 Peter 2:5; Colossians 1:13–14).

• The return of Christ will be visible to all, summoning every person to account (Revelation 1:7; Acts 1:9–11; John 5:28–29).

• Jesus is Alpha and Omega, eternal and almighty, securing the church’s endurance (Revelation 1:8; John 1:1–3; Ephesians 1:19–23).

Scripture Reference List

• Revelation 1:1–2 — Source, transmission, and symbolic character of the visions.

• Revelation 1:3 — Promise of blessing for reading, hearing, and keeping; urgency of nearness.

• Revelation 1:4 — Greeting to the seven churches; grace and peace from the eternal Father and the Spirit’s fullness.

• Revelation 1:5–6 — Titles of Christ; His love and liberating blood; the church made a kingdom of priests.

• Revelation 1:7 — The certain, visible return of Christ.

• Revelation 1:8 — Alpha and Omega; Christ’s eternal sovereignty.

• Revelation 22:18–19 — Solemn affirmation of the book’s authority.

• James 1:22 — Hearers become doers.

• Isaiah 11:2 — The Spirit’s manifold fullness as a background for symbolic “seven Spirits.”

• Hebrews 6:10 — God’s faithfulness undergirds Christ’s faithful witness.

• 1 Corinthians 15:20 — Christ the firstfruits of resurrection.

• Daniel 7:13–14 — Son of Man receiving everlasting dominion.

• Acts 22:16 — Sins washed away in obedient faith.

• 1 Peter 2:5 — Holy priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices.

• Colossians 1:13–14 — Transfer into the kingdom of the Son.

• Acts 1:9–11 — The Lord’s promised, visible return.

• John 5:28–29 — Universal resurrection and judgment.

• Matthew 7:13–14 — The narrow way that leads to life.

• John 1:1–3 — The eternal Word through whom all things were made.

• Ephesians 1:19–23 — Christ exalted above every power for the church.

Prepared by Bobby Stafford of the church of Christ at Granby, MO