Apocalipsis 1:4

To the seven churches which are in Asia

(ταις επτα εκκλησιαις ταις εν τη Ασια). Dative case as in a letter (Gálatas 1:1). John is writing, but the revelation is from God and Christ through an angel. It is the Roman province of Asia which included the western part of Phrygia. There were churches also at Troas (Hechos 20:5) and at Colossal and Hierapolis (Colosenses 1:1; Colosenses 2:1; Colosenses 4:13) and possibly at Magnesia and Tralles.

But these seven were the best points of communication with seven districts (Ramsay) and, besides, seven is a favorite number of completion (like the full week) in the book (Apocalipsis 1:4; Apocalipsis 1:12; Apocalipsis 1:16; Apocalipsis 4:5; Apocalipsis 5:1; Apocalipsis 5:6; Apocalipsis 8:2; Apocalipsis 10:3; Apocalipsis 11:13; Apocalipsis 12:3; Apocalipsis 13:1; Apocalipsis 14:6).From him which is

(απο ο ων). This use of the articular nominative participle of ειμ after απο instead of the ablative is not due to ignorance or a mere slip (λαψυς πενναε), for in the next line we have the regular idiom with απο των επτα πνευματων. It is evidently on purpose to call attention to the eternity and unchangeableness of God. Used of God in Éxodo 3:14.And which was

(κα ο ην). Here again there is a deliberate change from the articular participle to the relative use of ο (used in place of ος to preserve identity of form in the three instances like Ionic relative and since no aorist participle of ειμ existed). The oracle in Pausanias X. 12 has it: Ζευς ην, Ζευς εστι, Ζευς εσσετα (Zeus was, Zeus is, Zeus will be).Which is to come

(ο ερχομενος). "The Coming One," futuristic use of the present participle instead of ο εσομενος. See the same idiom in verse Apocalipsis 1:8; Apocalipsis 4:8 and (without ο ερχομενος) in Apocalipsis 11:17; Apocalipsis 16:5.From the seven spirits

(απο των επτα πνευματων). A difficult symbolic representation of the Holy Spirit here on a par with God and Christ, a conclusion borne out by the symbolic use of the seven spirits in Apocalipsis 3:1; Apocalipsis 4:5; Apocalipsis 5:6 (from Zacarías 4:2-10).

There is the one Holy Spirit with seven manifestations here to the seven churches (Swete, The Holy Spirit in the N.T., p. 374), unity in diversity (1 Corintios 12:4).Which are

(των article Aleph A, α relative P).Before his throne

(ενωπιον του θρονου αυτου). As in Apocalipsis 4:5.