Abstract
A detailed examination of divine references in Revelation demonstrates that “God” consistently refers to the Father, while Jesus Christ is presented as the Son of God. The text shows Christ addressing the Father as “my God,” receiving revelation from Him, and sharing His throne. Evidence indicates that the “Spirit” speaking to the churches is Christ Himself. This theological framework remains consistent throughout Revelation, from its opening declaration to its final prophecies.
- The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
The very first verse of the Revelation, identifies God as the Father
- 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;
- And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
- And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
God who sits at the throne is the Father. John is speaking in the name of believers about Christ who “hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father”. The God spoken here is clearly the Father.
- I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Description of “which is, and which was, and which is to come” is referencing the Father. See Revelation 4:9, but it is also important that description of “Alpha and Omega” is description of Christ as well. See Revelation 1:10-11, 17-18. Also see Revelation 11:15-18 and Revelation 21:5-6.
- I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
- Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
- And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
- I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Here Christ is speaking being present in the Holy Place.
- And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
- And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
Christ is speaking to churches. He is being described as having “eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass”. See Revelation 1:14-15.
- And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
- And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
- And I will give him the morning star.
- He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
The Spirit of Christ
To every church, Christ is being introduced as one speaking. When finishing the message, Christ speaks “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches”.
The Spirit that speaks to the churches is no one other than Christ Himself.
- Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
- He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Christ is speaking, addressing His Father as God, as one who possesses angels. The God of Revelation is the Father.
- Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
The Father is God even to Jesus Christ, His Son.
- And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
Christ is speaking, identifying His Father as God.
- To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Christ speaking, of His throne, and the throne of the Father.
- And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
- And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
…- And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
…- And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
The one set on the throne, and the one Whom four beasts worship is God Almighty, the Father. This is seen in the context of Revelation 5.
- The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
- Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
The twenty four elders are worshiping the Father, the One who sits on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, the creator of all things.
- And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
…- And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
- And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
- And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
- And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
- And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
- And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
- And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
- Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
- And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
- And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
Christ “came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne” - the Father. And twenty four elders are worshiping the Christ, saying that He has redeemed them to their God, speaking of the Father, as their God. Every creature worship Him that sitteth upon the throne, and the Lamb. This is the God of the book of Revelation - the Father, and Christ - His Son.
- And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
…- And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
- For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
The Lord that sitteth on the throne is God the Father. The Lamb is Christ.
- And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
- Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
The seal of the living God is the seal of the Father, for the Father’s name is written in the foreheads of His children. The God whom angels are calling as their God is the Father.
- And cried [great multitude] with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
- And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
- Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
Clearly, the God whom the inhabitants of Heaven are calling as their God, is the Father
- They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
- For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
The Lamb is Christ. he is in the midst of the throne.
- And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
The angel with the open book is Christ. The One Who created everything is the Father.
Todo
Give quotation that this angel with an open book is Christ.
- These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
The God of the earth, is the Father. If it were someone else, the book of Revelation would have explained it at this point, or on later point.
- And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
- And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
- Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
- And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
These voices in heaven are identifying the Father as “our Lord”, and Jesus as “His Christ”. He is God the Father. Twenty four elders are worshiping the Father, calling him “Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast and art to come”.
- And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
The child is Christ. God is the Father, and God’s throne is the Father’s throne.
- And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
The God of holy angels, is God the Father.
- And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.
…- These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
144k are sealed, with the Father’s name, indicating that they posses the character of the Father. They are firstfruits unto God and unto the Lamb - unto the Father and the Son. The identification of God is the Father.
- Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
The God spoken of in the First Angel’s Message, is the Father. See The God of the First Angel’s Message.
- And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
The “voice saying unto me”, is the voice speaking to John, which is Christ. Christ is saying “Blessed are the dead which dies in the Lord”. This is what the Spirit speaks. Again Christ identity is indicated as the Spirit which speaks, just as Christ spoke to the seven churches.
- And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
The wrath of the Father. See Revelation 15:7.
- And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
- Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
…- And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
- And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.
All nations are coming and worshiping the Father. See God of the First Angel’s Message. God who liveth for ever and ever, is the Father. His glory filled the temple.
- And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.
- For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.
- And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.
- For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
The Lord God Almighty, is God the Father.
- These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
The Lord of lords, and King of kings is Jesus. See Revelation 19:16.
- Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
God is identified as the Father.
- And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
- And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
- And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
- And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
- And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
- He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
When the Great Controversy is finished, the One who we will identify as our God will be the Father. See Ezekiel 34:23-24 and Ezekiel 37:22-28.
- And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
- And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
- And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
The Lord God Almighty is identified as the Father. From Him the new holy Jerusalem is descending to earth.
- And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
…- And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
- And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
- And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
- And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
The identification of God in these verses is the Father.
- And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
- I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
- Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
This is Christ speaking about the commandments of His Father.
- I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
…- For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
- And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Conclusion
The book of Revelation consistently identifies God as the Father, with Jesus Christ acknowledged as His divine Son. Christ’s own references to “my God,” His reception of revelation from the Father, and descriptions of their shared throne validate this relationship. The Spirit speaking to the churches is revealed to be Christ Himself. This clear theological framework unifies Revelation’s message from beginning to end.
