The apostolic salutation.
The servant John, by no other name known, in fulfilment of his duty as the one by whom the great revelation was "sent and signified," hurries to pronounce his salutation to "the seven Churches which are in Asia"—typical examples of the one Church in its sevenfold, universal experience.
I. The salutation INVOKES BLESSINGS:
1. Of the highest character: "grace and peace." The entire revelation is, for the Church, a revelation of "grace and peace." It begins in grace; it terminates in peace. These the alpha and omega of gospel blessings, the origin and end. All is of God's grace; all tends to peace in man—to peace universal.
2. From the Source of all good, the Triune Source of all blessing. From the Eternal—"him which is, and which was, and which is to come"—the I AM—Jehovah; from the sevenfold Spirit; and from Jesus Christ, "the faithful Witness, the Firstborn of the dead, the Ruler of the kings of the earth." These ascriptions have special reference to the condition and necessities of the Church, whose living Head is "all in all." Christ, the Revelation of the Father, becomes prominent.
II. The salutation, therefore, ASCRIBES GLORY AND UNENDING DOMINION unto him; declaring
—a kingdom of which he is the supreme Sovereign; a kingdom of priests, to offer up spiritual sacrifice continually, acceptable unto God.
III. The salutation further PROCLAIMS THE SECOND COMING of that Lord Jesus Christ who is the central theme of all the following revelation.
1. The fact of it.
2. Accompanying circumstances of it: "with the clouds."
3. In view of all: "Every eye shall see him."
4. Special reference to offenders: "And they which pierced him."
5. Consequence—universal mourning: "All the tribes of the earth shall mourn over him."
Our hearts echo the cry, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Amen."—R.G.