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The revelation [apokalypsis] of Jesus Christ came to John from God through an angel. This heavenly chain of reception imparts authority to John’s message. An apocalypse is a disclosure sent from heaven to earth in story form that transmits a vision of salvation to a besieged church and pronounces judgment upon the oppressor. Repetition, a literary trait of apocalyptic literature, appears in John’s emphasis on the lateness of the hour (1:1, 3, 7). Repetition signals significance. The beatitude in v.3 is the first of seven beatitudes in Revelation (1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14). It indicates that Revelation was to be read aloud and accents the imminent end of time.
Vv.4-8 introduce key words and themes and greet the churches. The number seven appears fifty-one times in Revelation. Seven symbolizes completion because it combines the heavenly number three with the earthly number four. John’s seven churches represent all churches; we know there were more than seven churches in Asia Minor (Col 4:13). Yet John addresses specific situations in seven local churches (chs. 2-3).
John defines God temporally in terms of present, past, and future existence (1:4; 4:8). Later on, this contrasts with the Beast whose life will end on a day (17:8-11).
Revelation is a tale of two thrones dueling for the allegiance of humanity. The word throne appears forty-six times. John pits the throne of the Roman Empire against the throne of Christ, who is the true Ruler of the kings of the earth. Revelation presents the kingdom of God as the alternative to human political dominions. John had given up on human political institutions. Thus Revelation contains strong political overtones.