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Trinity Spirit Day 17
"John, to the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. "(Revelation 1.4,5)
John sends a letter at once to a group of "seven churches," all in a line like a crescent in what is Turkey today. His words to each ancient church address not only current conditions but also the future. He commends their strengths and warns about their failures. Here are directions for us about our own churches and about our own personal lives. Christian churches and Christians themselves can become loveless, immoral or compromising in our faith today just like congregations in the Early Church. Our Lord makes it clear how he feels about their faults. These letters are as relevant today as they were in the first and second centuries A.D.
The Trinity in this passage greets John with the words "Grace and peace to you from him 'who is, and who was, and who is to come.'" The words 'who is, and who was, and who is to come.' represent an ancient version of the three persons of the Trinity and is a paraphrase of the name of God.1 In the next verse, "the seven spirits" refers to the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ as the Son is described as "the faithful witness" and "the first born from the dead." The Father is called "the ruler of the kings of the earth." Again a clear reference to the Trinity. The specific phrase "Trinity" is not found in the Bible, but there are a number of places where the three persons of Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit are linked together. Do you feel reassured by this greeting from the Holy Trinity?
1Exodus 3.14-15
"John and his Revelation of Jesus Christ."
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