Revelation 1:4-8 "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 Y'shua HaMashiach (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 G-d and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the L-rd, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. (KJV)
John is writing to 7 groups of believers. This is one of our many Menorah's (Groups of Sevens) we will uncover. These 7 groups were located in what is today western Turkey.
He gives a very Jewish greeting "Grace and Shalom" in vs. 4
The 7 spirits represent the omnipresent "Spirit of G-d" In Isaiah 11:1-2 7 spirits are listed. 1) Spirit of the L-rd, 2) Spirit of Wisdom, 3) Spirit of Understanding 4) Spirit of Counsel 5) Spirit of Strength 6) Spirit of Knowledge, and 7) Spirit of "Fear of the L-rd"
In vs. 5-7 Y'shua is spoken of His trustworthiness, His power over death, His L-rdship over earthly Kings, and His salvation in washing away our sins by dying on the cross.
In vs. 5 Y'shua is described as the "first begotten of the dead". This is not saying that Y'shua was born. It is saying that He is the first to be resurrected from the dead never to die again.
Colossians 1:18 - And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (KJV)
He is also described this way in Acts 26:23; 1 Cor. 15:20-23; and Ps 2:7.
Y'shua declares himself as the Alpha and Omega. In other words, He has always been and always will be. He also declares Himself to be Almighty G-d. John also confirms this in vs. 4.
Even so, Amen Means: This is true. It will happen exactly as stated.
When he ascended in to heaven He was taken up in the clouds. When He returns, He will come in the clouds.
We are told every eye see will see Him. This may be possible through television or on the Internet. It could be that G-d will reveal Himself to all people as he returns to Jerusalem.
The expression "He makes us a kingdom of priests" tells us that we are a now able to come directly to G-d in prayer because of Y'shua's finished work. We need no other human priests.
How does this relate to the office of the High Priest in the Tanakh (Old Testament)? At that time only the High Priest had the right of access to G-d. Today we can go directly to G-d (see Heb 4:16)