John addresses seven churches and invokes grace and peace from the Father, the seven Spirits, and Jesus Christ who is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
Notice the titles. Faithful witness means Jesus testified even unto death. Firstborn of the dead means he conquered death and now rules over it. Ruler of the kings of the earth means earthly kings are ultimately subordinate to him. These aren't metaphorical. They're claims about who has actual authority.
John adds that Jesus loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood. He made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father. The Revelation isn't a threat to the faithful. It's a reminder of who they belong to and what they've been made. That shapes how you read what follows.
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