and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us, and washed us from our sins by his blood Revelation 1:5 WEB
This scripture about Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, is a portion of the opening of the Book of Revelation. The revelation given to John speaks of the events surrounding and preceding the second coming of Christ. John reports being on the island of Patmos in the service of spreading the gospel when he received the message. He writes of a blessing given to those who read the prophecy and keep the message it reveals.
John, who faithfully followed Christ for three years prior to his crucifixion, addresses the document to the seven churches of Asia Minor. The verse from Revelation 1:5 is part of a greeting offering grace to the reader from God, the seven spirits of the churches, and Jesus Christ himself.
The Firstborn of the Dead
In the scripture, John refers to Jesus as, “the faithful witness.” This identifies Jesus Christ as the truthful, reliable source of the revelation itself. His words, “the firstborn of the dead,” describe the death and resurrection of Christ, Jesus being the first person to rise from the dead and given a glorified and eternal body.
Jesus’ resurrection is our evidence of life after death in this new church age. John, being witness to the risen Christ, firmly believed in rebirth and eternal life. This is in stark contrast to the belief of many religious leaders of the prior age.
Further, John calls Christ the ruler of the kings of the earth. This points to Jesus returning one day to rule over the nations of the world. John’s final words from this passage reminds us that the future leader of the kings of the earth is our redeemer who loved us to the point of freeing us from sin on the cross.
Prayer: “Father God, thank you for the faithful who reveal your word through prophecy. Thank you for the faithful witness of Jesus Christ. Give me wisdom to understand your word. Give me strength and courage to keep the message it reveals. In Jesus’ name – Amen”
Yesterday’s Devotional: The Whole Armor of God
