Author: Rev. Lek Aik Wee

Revelation 1:5-6 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

The work of Christ upon earth is the supreme demonstration of God’s love for mankind. In Jesus’ first coming, His love is demonstrated in the pain and suffering that He eudured. The scars and wounds on His body attested to His love in bearing our sins upon the cross. It was a personal salvation that He wrought for each one of His own. It was His own blood that was shed for the remission of our sins. Only by that willingness of Jesus to suffer on our behalf can we be made kings and priests unto God.

Revelation 1:5-6 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Jesus Christ is the prince of the kings of the Earth. His political authority of supremacy among all the rulers on earth is being highlighted here. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

The prophet Daniel speaks of Christ’s coming rule on earth in Daniel 2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

The prophet Isaiah speaks of the rule of Jesus Christ in His coming kingdom in Isaiah 2:1-4 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, thatthe mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Jesus Christ is the Faithful Witness of the way to God. The word “witness” means “martyr”. A “martyr” is a person who is killed because of his beliefs. Jesus testified that He is the Son of God, the One who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.

The Bible says that no one is good enough and that every one of us failed. That why we call ourselves sinners. The word sin is from a Greek archery term that means to miss the mark – the centre of the target. [Don Miller, Cecil, Murphey] We are sinners because we have broken God’s laws as summarized in the Ten Commandments. Jesus bore our sins on the cross, shed His blood to wash away our sins. After Jesus died, three days later, He rose from the dead, conquering sin and death on our behalf – 2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

The message that the Apostle John sends to the churches is from God the Father, God the Holy Spirit, and God the Son, Jesus Christ. The Son is called the faithful witness. A witness is one who witness to ascertainable facts. Jesus Christ is the final revelation of God to mankind. Who is Jesus Christ? Jesus Christ is God.

His Deity is well attested by the writer of Hebrews, who gave a most complete description of Jesus Christ’s Person and work when he said in Hebrews 1:1-4 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Revelation 1:4-5 John 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; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.

The Holy Spirit is God. The fullness and perfect description of the Holy Spirit’s presence in the giving of this message to the churches is presented here as the Seven Spirits which is before the throne of God.

The prophet Isaiah provides a fitting description of the Spirit’s work when he explains in Isaiah 11:2 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 of the fear of the LORD;

Revelation 1:4-6 John 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; 5 And from Jesus Christ, who isthe faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

The believers shall reign with Christ in the kingdom of His dominion at His return on earth for 1000 years for receive his eternal inheritance from the Lord in the new heaven and new earth for all eternity.

Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I sawthe souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Revelation 21:5-8 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

God’s plan is to blessed His people with the vision of their blessed eternal abode in heaven. And the Book of Revelation describes that transition from earth to heaven. What is heaven like for God’s afflicted people?

Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Jesus’ words of His return to bring His church to their peronsalised heavenly mansion will be a blessed reality – John 14:1-4 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, thereye may be also.And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. All belonging to Christ has this assurance of His peace given to us as we make this transition from earth to heaven – John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.