The Seven Churches of Asia

In light of the symbolic nature of this book we have already suggested that seven churches are addressed because it is a perfect number. These seven would seem to stand for all churches and contained a representative sample of all the good and bad characteristics generally found in the churches of that, or for that matter this, day.

The greeting "Grace to you and peace," seems to have been the common Christian greeting of that day (Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:3; etc.). We are dependant upon the riches of God's grace for salvation and long for His indescribable peace (Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 Peter 4:7). The source of these great blessings is God, the Father, the eternal one. Also, they come from the Holy Spirit by whom the message of grace and peace was delivered (John 16:12-14). He is here designated by the symbolic words, "the seven Spirits which are before his throne" because he has perfectly delivered God's message and is the perfect Spirit of God (Revelation 1:4).

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