John 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 who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:4-6 ESV).
Revelation is unique in the mix of the Bible’s 66 books. It comes as a surprise, a gift, a “revelation” from the same Jesus who came to be the Savior of the world (cf. John 3:16-17). The timing of Revelation is important to its story. Revelation is a gift to the first-century churches at a time when believers were feeling isolated and apart. Perhaps an example can help us appreciate this timing. When my grandparents immigrated from Sicily to the United States in the late 1800’s, they thought they might never see their family or close friends again. Letters from home became the ties that held loved ones together across a huge distance. When a letter came, everyone stopped what they were doing so they could read and savor what their loved ones far away had written.
Revelation is like a “letter from home” to church communities living in challenging times. At times the early church wondered why Jesus seemed so far away, especially as opposition and persecution increased in the Roman Empire. It shouldn’t surprise us that much of the language is difficult to understand. Even when John sees it for himself, he finds it difficult to adequately explain the wonder of it all. He was awestruck. So, the circumstances of life for these early believers and the difficulty of the message make it important to look at for us who live in these days 2,000 years later.
First, we must see it in its simplicity. It is a greeting. Into this uncertainty Jesus sent his family members a message through an angel, who visited John, one of Jesus’ closest followers. This letter sends greetings to everyone with “grace and peace” from him who is and was and is to come. Today, listen to this greeting from the Lord, our Savior. We are not alone. He surrounds us with grace and peace and the promise of life with him forever. Greetings from the home He is specifically preparing for us! It is meant to encourage us with great hope. Take it that way as we look further in the coming days.