Seven Churches, Seven Seals, One King

"Behold, He is coming with clouds"(Revelation Ch1v7) This is the grand climax of the Revelation and from then on also for the redeemed, whose names are written in the book of life, because there are rewards to enjoy. The glorious second coming of Christ is implicit in all the messages to the churches as the pattern of every message is for Jesus to compliment His people on the things that are good in their lives, rebuke them for the things that need correcting and reveal to them the rewards that await those who are obedient. The unity of the whole of Revelation is clearly seen in this as everyone is exhorted to be an overcomer and it is overcomers that are portrayed in the chapters that follow the messages to the churches. In the messages to the churches there are struggles against Satan, agasinst Jezebel, against false teaching, against those who say they are Jews and are not and against materialism, and these themes also are portrayed on a grander scale in the rest of the book.

Every eye shall see Him, even those who pierced Him, and all the tribes of the earth shall mourn because of Him even so Amen. What a wonderful event this will be for the saints but how awful for those with the mark of the beast, Satan's seal. Revelation Ch.14v11 says, "And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever, and they shall have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name."

John finishes this section by repeating the statement made in verse four concerning God being the beginning anf the end, who is, who was and who is to come, the Almighty. Contained in these four verses are all the major themes of the rest of the book, all the major themes of the gospel are there from beginning to end, the alpha and omega of truth for time and eternity.

John ends this revelation of Jesus Christ with the benediction that is so treasured by the Lord's people for they know that they owe all they have and all that they are to the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."(Revelation Ch.22v21) For to the church in Ephesus that had left the primary love, the agape love of God, to the church in Smyna that would endure trubulation ten days, they would overcome by the grace of the Lord Jesus. The church at Pergamos that was infiltrated by sexually immoral and greedy people, and the church at Thyatira that was similarly contaminated with idolatry as well, would only walk in white on the new earth by the grace that flows from God and the Lamb. The church at Sardis whose works were incomplete and at Philadelphia where the saints were weak and insignificant, but were battling through and persevering, they would all drink of the crystal clear water flowing from the throne of God. The luke warm church at Laodicea, even they by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ would make it to stand before the throne of God and see Jesus face to face. By the grace of our Lord Jesus, all those who are God's children will stand with them, all the saints, prophets, martyrs, overcomers all, who comprise the holy city, the bride of the Lamb.