Revelation 1:4
What does Revelation 1:4 mean?
A plain-English look at Revelation 1:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Revelation 1:4 means
John greets seven churches in Asia with grace and peace from the eternal God, from the seven Spirits before His throne, and implicitly from Jesus Christ in the next verse. The phrase describing God as the One who is, was, and is to come highlights His unchanging, sovereign presence. The “seven Spirits” likely signifies the fullness and perfection of the Holy Spirit’s work, fitting the symbolic use of seven in Revelation. This greeting assures the churches that their help flows from the triune God. Amid trials, grace sustains and peace steadies. The sender is the God of history and eternity, actively ruling from His throne.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from him who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits that are before his throne;
KJV
King James Version · 1611John 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;
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from him who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits that are before his throne;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from him who is and was and is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his high seat;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862John to the seven assemblies that <FI>are<Fi> in Asia: Grace to you, and peace, from Him who is, and who was, and who is coming, and from the Seven Spirits that are before His throne,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752John to the seven churches which are in Asia. Grace be unto you and peace, from him that is and that was and that is to come: and from the seven spirits which are before his throne:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890John to the seven assemblies which [are] in Asia: Grace to you and peace from [him] who is, and who was, and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits which [are] before his throne;
Context
Moving from the blessing, John adopts the form of a letter to real churches facing pressure. Verse 4 begins the salutation, naming the recipients and invoking divine grace and peace. It centers their hopes in God’s eternal nature and nearness. The greeting will expand in verse 5 to name Jesus Christ with royal and redemptive titles and in verse 6 to respond with doxology. This places the churches’ struggles in the larger frame of God’s throne and Spirit-given strength, preparing them to hear the Lord’s evaluation and promises.
v.3Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written therein: for the time is at hand.
v.4This passage
v.5and from Jesus Christ, who isthe faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loveth us, and loosed us from our sins by his blood;
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Revelation 4:5
And out of the throne proceed lightnings and voices and thunders. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God;
- Psalms 90:2
Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
- James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning.
- Romans 1:7
to all that are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Revelation 1:11
saying, What thou seest, write in a book and send it to the seven churches: unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamum, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
- Revelation 3:1
And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars: I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and thou art dead.
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