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 1:5-6 (ESV)
The last book in our Bibles begins with these words, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants— things which must shortly take place” (Revelation 1:1). While all Scriptures ultimately reveal Jesus, this last testimony concerning Him points forward prophetically to that time when Jesus will fulfil His promise and come again to establish His kingdom and bring everything under His dominion.
John is given this vision and told to write down “the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this” (v. 19) and send copies to the seven churches in Asia (v. 11).
In his greetings to these churches, John blesses them with grace and peace from the Triune God but gives special emphasis to the Lord Jesus with an extended description of who He is and what He has done (vv. 5-7).
He describes Him first as “the faithful witness” (v. 5), that is, the One who always faithfully represented the Father on earth, sharing God’s words with His disciples, and speaking the truth even before Pilate. So, we know that we can trust Him fully.
Then He is described as “the firstborn from the dead”. “Firstborn” can mean the first one born in a family, but the primary meaning is that of position. As the author of life, Jesus has the preeminent place. God promised to make David “My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth” (Psalm 89:27), even though he was the youngest in his family. Now David’s long-promised Son (2 Samuel 7:12-13, Matthew 1:1), the Lord Jesus, is described as having the highest place as “the ruler over the kings of the earth”.
John gives a wonderful benediction, a tribute of praise to the Lord Jesus, asking that glory and dominion be ascribed to Him. And what words! “To him who loves us.” How wonderful to know we are loved! “And has freed us from our sins by his blood.” How wonderful to know that “in him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:7)! But He provides so much more: “He has made us a kingdom of priests to his God and Father.” Friend, are you enjoying this love and freedom and privileged position through trusting in God’s Son?
DNW