Revelation 1:4-9 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be to you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come… We have Christ here in three aspects — I. IN RELATION TO TRUTH. "He is a witness." What is truth? Reality. Christ came to bear witness of the reality of realities. As a witness of God. Christ was a competent witness — 1. Intellectually competent. "No man hath seen God at any time, the only-begotten of the Father." He alone knew the Absolute. 2. Morally competent. He had no motive to misrepresent Him. You must be pure to represent purity, just to represent justice, loving to represent love. II. IN RELATION TO IMMORTALITY. "First begotten of the dead." How was He first begotten of the dead? Did not Lazarus rise from the grave? Not in time, but in importance. 1. He rose by His own power. No one else ever did. 2. He rose as the representative of risen saints. III. IN RELATION TO EMPIRE. "The Prince of the kings of the earth." "All power is given unto Him." (David Thomas, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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; |
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