The 'Chain of Revelation' in Revelation 1:1-3. Part 2: "Jesus Christ"

[Continuing a review of some notes taken during my M.Div. Greek Syntax and Exegesis class over Revelation 1-3, and some thoughts I've had while meditating over the passage since then.]

The 'Chain of Revelation' in Revelation 1:1-3.

1. God-> 2. Jesus Christ-> 3. His angel-> 4. John-> 5. The one reading-> 6. Those hearing

2. "Jesus Christ."

To adapt a statement from 9Marks: God has always been known by His Word. From creation in Genesis 1 to the call of Abram in Genesis 12, from the vision of the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37 to the coming of the Word in flesh, God has always been known by His Word.

Knowledge of God, who is spirit (John 4:24), is always mediated to His creation by His Word. This is one reason why the New Testament identification of Jesus Christ as the "Word," who is with God and who is God (John 1:1), is so fundamental to a right understanding of who God is. Again, that our knowledge of God is a mediated knowledge is one reason why it is so important for us to acknowledge and proclaim that there is "one Mediator between God and Man" (1 Timothy 2:5b), that is, Christ Jesus, who is both fully God and fully Man.

In Revelation 1:1, God gives the "revelation"- the "words of prophecy" (v. 3)- to Jesus Christ, His primary agent of revelation, in order "to show His servants [the things] that must happen quickly." What the author makes explicit in Revelation 1:1- God giving revelation to Jesus Christ for the benefit of His servants- is not an unusual process, but it is how God has always revealed spiritual truths.