John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
John the apostle None but he (supposing the writer honest) would sign himself nakedly without addition John - the apostle. None but he (supposing the writer honest) would sign himself nakedly without addition. As sole surviving representative of the apostles and eye-witnesses of the Lord, he needed no designation except his name to be recognized.
Seven churches - not that there were not more churches in that region, but seven expresses totality. These seven represent the universal Church of all times and places. See Trench's 'Epistles to Seven Churches,' note, Revelation 1:20, on seven. It is the number signifying God's covenant relation to mankind, especially to the Church. Thus, the seventh day, Sabbath, Genesis 2:3; Ezekiel 20:12. Circumcision, sign of the covenant, after seven days, Genesis 17:12. Sacrifices, Numbers 23:1; Numbers 23:14; Numbers 23:29; 2 Chronicles 29:21. Compare God's directions, Joshua 6:4; Joshua 6:15-16; 2 Kings 5:10. The feasts by sevens of time, Deuteronomy 15:1; Deuteronomy 16:9; Deuteronomy 16:13; Deuteronomy 16:15. It is a combination of three-the divine number (the Trinity: the thrice Holy, Isaiah 6:3; the blessing, Numbers 6:24-26) - and four: the organized world in its extension (thus the four elements, four seasons, four winds, four corners or quarters of the earth, four living creatures, emblems of redeemed creaturely life, Ezekiel 1:5-6; Revelation 4:6, with four faces and four wings each; the four beasts, and four metals, representing the four world-empires, Daniel 2:32-33; Daniel 7:3; the four-sided Gospel, designed for all quarters; the sheet tied at four corners, Acts 10:11; the four horns-the world's forces against the Church, Zechariah 1:18). In the Apocalypse, where God's covenant reaches its consummation, appropriately seven recurs more frequently than elsewhere.
Asia - proconsular, governed by a Roman proconsul: Phrygia, Mysia, Caria, and Lydia: the kingdom which Attalus III bequeathed to Rome.
Grace ... peace - Paul's apostolical greeting. In his pastoral letters, 'mercy' in addition: so John 2:1-25.
Him which is ... was ... is to come - a periphrasis for the incommunicable name Yahweh (H3068), the self-existing, unchangeable. [apo ho oon kai ho een kai ho erchomenos (G2064).] The indeclinability implies His unchangeableness. Perhaps 'He which is to come' is used instead of 'He that shall be,' because Revelation's grand theme is the Lord's coming (Revelation 1:7). Still, THE FATHER (Revelation 1:5) is here meant. But so one are the Father and Son, that the designation, "which is to come," special to Christ, is used here of the Father.
The seven Spirits which are before his throne, ['Aleph (') A read toon (G3588) for ha (G3739) estin (G2076)] - literally, 'in the presence of.' The Holy Spirit in His sevenfold (i:e., perfect and universal) energy. Corresponding to "the seven churches." One in His essence, manifold in His influences. The seven eyes resting on the stone laid by Yahweh (Zechariah 3:9; Revelation 5:6). Four is the number of the creature world (cf. the fourfold cherubim); seven, that of God's revelation.