Triads and Revelation 1:4-6

I get a little naches (joy) when I discover patterns or poetic structures in the Bible. I know that some commentaries find them too easily and I agree we need a little reticence when it comes to identifying such poetic structures. For example, some people are convinced the Hebrew Bible is a maze of chiasms within chiasms, and so chiastic charts can go on and on (look up chiasm on google if it is a new word for you).

But I am delighted and moved by the poetic structure of Revelation 1:4-6. It is a set of triads, all quite meaningful. For now I will simply lay out the triads. Perhaps after Shabbat, I will connect the triads with some of their meaning (I wouldn’t want to completely give away my Shabbat message before I deliver it, now would I?):

who IS
who WAS
who IS TO COME

from the ONE who is, who was, and who is to come
from the seven SPIRITS
and from YESHUA the Messiah

the FAITHFUL WITNESS
the FIRSTBORN OF THE DEAD
the RULER OF KINGS

who LOVES US
who RELEASED US FROM OUR SINS
who MADE US A KINGDOM OF PRIESTS

Amen