God the Father
Note how John starts with the present: one who is, retreats to the past: one who was, and advances to the future: one who is to come. See how the Holy Scripture touches the eternal existence of God? Not only does he possess all truth, that is, to show it to Jesus Christ (see lesson 1), but also he exists in all ages.
On January 8th, 2017 the famed Sequoia known as the Pioneer Cabin tree fell shattering as it hit the ground. Its base was carved out in the 1880’s at some point even allowing cars to drive through it. CNN had posted a photo of some of the original carvers of that tree. Each of those men has long ago passed on and to dust they have long returned. Well, God the Father knew each of those men. He is the God who was. You and I might have a nostalgic wonder of what it was like to be among those fellows carving out the tree. We might even be able to find a narrative about it, but that is not the same as knowing the ways and means of these fellows. God, though, knew it because God was with that era like he is with ours.
Just as God knew them and knew us will relay to John features and allegories of the future. John wrote those down to the best of his ability. God will be there, and will be arranging it just as he sees fit.
God the Holy Spirit
“…and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,” (Revelation 1:4–ESV)
Some versions say, “sevenfold spirit.” I think that is a better way to phrase this for the scriptures do not support seven separate spirits each with the role unto humanity. Church history relates this to Isaiah 11:2 where facets of the Holy Spirit are strung together one after the other.
2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. (Psalm 2:7-9–ESV)
So grace and peace are from God the Father, but also from his Spirit. How can we have or appropriate grace for our sins? Peace for our souls? By adiding in the ways of God as taught us through his Spirit. Through wisdom and understanding. Via counsel and via Power. Through knowledge and through fear. Remember David’s question: “How can a young man keep his way pure?” The answer is important: “By living according to [God’s] word.” The sevenfold spirit, the Holy Spirit is before the throne and we receive the ways of godly living through God given support.
God the Son
Jesus was the faithful witness, meaning that he was faithful to God the Father. He was obedient and submissive. He was faithful in the telling. We need a reliable, truth telling witness in spiritual matters. We have that through God the Son. In Greg Laurie’s book on Heaven it is stated, “…not every witness is faithful of course.” He goes on to share how being a faithful witness is important on the earth. Imagine how much more important it is in heaven. So Jesus is that and so much more. Many other things can be derived from this passage, but it is time to draw this verse and a half to its conclusion.
Thanks for reading and I hope God and you have been able to come to useful viewpoints that will spur you on to love, good deeds and maturity as you are purified by God into a person his very own.
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