14 The Revelation of Jesus Christ of God. Therefore, we are not left to lean upon our own understanding and wisdom in regard to the meaning of these symbols. Other passages from the Holy Scriptures show us that the Spirit of God has given us the key that unlocks and makes known to us the meaning of the symbols which set forth the return of the Lord Jesus Christ in glory. Therefore, those who neglect it are without excuse.
THE GREETING TO THE CHURCHES
'"John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which ls 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'" (Rev. 1:4, 5). The greeting. "Grace be unto you. and peace," is really not from John; he is only the messenger; it is from the three Persons in the Trinity........-Father, Son. and Holy Spirit. The vvords, "the seven Spirits which are befor,e his throne," represent the Holy Spirit in His fulness, as presented in Isaiah 11 :2: "The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him (the promised Redeemer). the spirit of wisdom and understand ing. the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord." Seven is the number that speaks of completion; and these seven descriptive terms give to our finite minds some conception of the eternal power and deity of the third Person of the Holy Trinity. "The seven churches which are in Asia" are particularly mentioned in John's greeting. and are named in Rev. 1: 11. 0 f course, there were other churches in those days. but we shall see later why these particular seven were mentioned. We shall see how they not only represent the church from the beginning to the end of this age. but how they set forth also the seven periods of church history (rom apostolic times to the rapture of the church. Here again "seven" speaks of completion. 1n· verse 5 our Lord is called ·"the faithful witness," reniinding us of His earthly life; "the flrst begotten .of the dead," referring to His resurrection; and "the prince of the kings of the earth," pointing on to His coming glory, when
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