THIS LETTER IS FROM JOHN TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES IN THE PROVIDENCE OF ASIA.GRACE AND PEACE FROM THE ONE WHO IS,WHO ALWAYS WAS,AND WHO STILL TO COME;FROM THE SEVENFOLD SPIRIT BEFORE HIS THRONE;AND FROM JESUS CHRIST,WHO IS THE FAITHFUL WITNESS TO THESE THINGS,THE FIRST TO RISE FROM THE DEAD,AND THE COMMANDER OF ALL RULERS.(nlt)

The churches it refers to in these verses were literal churches in literal cities.The letters was addressed so it could be read and passes in a systematic fashion,following the main Roman road clockwise around the providence od Asia (now called Turkey). Now these were not the only churches in asia at that time Troas(acts20:5),Colosse(colosians1:2),and Hierapolis(colosians 4:13) also had Churches,Why is it the Lord only wanted these seven in particular to recieve the letter? It is possible that the number 7 as with the other sevens in the book signifies completeness. Not only where these church seven actual churches, but they also signify stages churches throughout the ages would under go. Now lets look at the words Grace and Peace. The word grace is the greek greeting )charis; peace was the hebrew greeting (shalom).The early church used these two greetings together as a way of declaring that God had given these realities to His people. The verse above we have just read speaks also of the Trinity The Father "the one who is,who always was,and who is still to come" The Holy Spirit "the sevenfold spirit" The Son "is the source of all truth" (John 14:6-17; 1 John2:27;Revelation 19:11)
All of time is encompassed in the Father--he is,was,and will be.This Title is used only in Revelations (see also 11:17;16:5) God is eternally present which means He can help his people any age,any situation. Now you note that the present tense comes first (HE is) this is to stress that our God is the same God today as he was of the old testimate and he will also be the same God in the future. Now lets look at the sevenfold spirit Some say it refers to the seven angelic beings or messengers for the churches(1:20), while others insist that it refers to the angels that will accompany Christ at his return (Luke 9:26; 1 Timothy5:21).. But the refernce of the Trinity here gives more weight to interpret the sevenfold spirit as the Holy Spirit.I believe that it refers to the fullness of the Holy spirit because the number 7 is used throughout Revelation to symbolize completeness and perfection (3:1;4:5;5:6). This also pictures the sevenfold ministries of the Holy Spirit as recorder in (Isaiah 11:2) and the seven lamps in (Zechariah 4:1-10). In the verse Jesus is seen in all his sovereignty.He is the Faithful witness of the truth of God,who sent him to die for our sins.Both Jesus and believers are called witnesses.The word martyr comes from the greek word witness.Jesus was a witness as the first to die.This would have comforted believers who were suffering for their faith.Those who would die for their faith in Christ, the martyrs,would witness through their deaths.Jesus is the preeminent faithful witness because he died and was the first to rise from the dead (colosians1:18). Others had risen from the dead-people whom Jesus,prophets and apostles had braught back to life during ministries but later those people died again.Jesus was the first to raise from the dead in an imperishable body,(1corinthians 15:20),never to die again.He is the firstborn from the dead.

WORDS OF TRUTH

We live in a day of conflicting claims for various religions,(they cant all be the one true religion)and the desire to be tolerant of others.Yet how do we as Christians determine what we believe?We regard Jesus Christ as our faithful witness.He is the only religious leader who has risen from the dead.So when you read Johns description of the vision,keep in mind that his words are not just good advice;they are the truth from King of kings.Dont just read his words for their interesting and amazing portrayal of the future.Let the truth about Christ penetrate your life,deepen your faith in Him,and strengthen your commitment to follow him-NO MATTER WHAT THE COST!