THE SOURCE OF REVELATION
Revelation 1.1
"Revelation of Jesus Christ which GOD (Father) gave Him..." When Jesus Christ spoke of His Father He always put His Father first and above Himself and also teach that everything He (Christ) saying and doing, all of it comes from His Father GOD through Him.
Here John revealed similar pattern declaring that the Revelation he writes is not from him, it is not even from Christ, but from the God Father Who gave it to Christ and the Christ gave it to John, to him to write.
It is also consisted and in harmony of description of the Day of the Lord's coming when Jesus said that about the precise time of His Second Coming no one knows, angels do not know, and even He Himself does not know, but only His Father alone knows this special time: (Zechariah 14.17) (Matthew 24.36) (Mark 13.32). In other words, the Source of everything and of anything is always come from the GOD Father of Christ.
SEVEN CHURCHES
Revelation 1.4.11-13.20
Seven Churches, as indicated in verse 4 were in Asia Minor, the territory of modern Turkey. Why these churches were chosen to be addressed by GOD is not known, but certainly they might have important significance for the Revelation of GOD. Perhaps they are among the first churches that truly became the Christian churches in which Christianity was born.
The word "Christian" was first originated among Christians in their church, but not of any of the Seven Churches, but in the church of Antioch (Acts 11.25-26). Concerning Antioch, there are quite a number of Antiochs around; Antioch of Syria, Antioch of Picidia, and some other Antiochs that are mostly located in Asia Minor.
SEVEN SPIRITS - SEVEN STARS
Revelation 1.4.16.20
It may look at first as very unusual description of the pastors of the Seven Churches, but it is actually very true. John (inspired by GOD to write GOD'S Revelation) counted them as spirits and as stars and not like the ordinary human beings. In this sense we are all spirits, the spirits that drive our thoughts and emotions, and also drive our body to produce certain physical actions of our thoughts and keeps our body alive and functioning.
Our souls-spirits are the Property of GOD Who gave it first to Adam and then passed from Adam to all his generations to come. So, in the eyes of GOD we are spirits, but our bodies He count for nothing, because flesh is made from Earth and to the Earth it shall return, but the spirit will return back to GOD Who gave it.
Beside calling them as spirits, here John also called these pastors as stars (16.20). Concerning stars, in the Bible very little written about them and the meanings of the stars are different in some places of the Bible. (Genesis 49.10) (Numbers 24.17) (Isaiah 14.12) (Daniel 8.10, 12.3) (Acts 7.43) (Matthew 2.1-2.7) (2Peter 1.19) (Revelation 1.16.20, 2.26-28, 22.16).
But under this context, the stars mean spirits who will shine in heavenly glow, just like the face of Moses, and just like the glory of GOD shines then it appears for those who seen it. It is also mean that such people are holy to GOD.
KINGDOM OF PRIESTS
Revelation 1.6
Nation of priests of GOD (Revelation 1.6, 5.10, 20.6) also mentioned and in the OT and referring only to Hebrews.
~ Treasured possession, holy nation, consecrated people, holy people, priestly nation: (Exodus 19.5-6, 40.13-15) (Numbers 25.10-13) (Isaiah 61.6, 66.21) (Deuteronomy 7.6, 14.2.21, 26.18-19).
John here now referring to all faithful to Christ Gentiles who are also, "to be a kingdom of priests to His (Christ's) GOD and Father..." (6).
Indeed, those who are faithful to the end, suffered and persecuted, and even beheaded because of Christ and His Gospel, will be very special people to GOD and will serve Him as His priests.
"Kingdom of priest" may also be understood as His most dedicated worshippers, because the real Priesthood of GOD in the Temple of GOD already had been given perpetually to the generations of Aaron.
Not all of course will deserve such great honor, just like among Hebrews not all deserve to be the priests of the All-Mighty GOD, but only selected group of people will serve their GOD in the Heavenly Temple and in the glory of His Being.
PATMOS
Revelation 1.9
"A small rocky island to which the Apostle John was banished and where he wrote the Book of Revelation. The island, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) long and 6 miles (10 kilometers) wide, lies off the southwest coast of Asia Minor (modern Turkey).
Because of its desolate and barren nature, Patmos was used by the Romans as a place to banish criminals, who were forced to work at hard labor in the mines and quarries of the island.
Because Christians were regarded as criminals by the Roman emperor Domitian (ruled 81-96 A.C), the Apostle John probably suffered from harsh treatment during his exile on Patmos. An early Christian tradition said John was in exile for 18 months."
Nelson's Compact Bible Dictionary. Ronald F. Youngblood, F.F. Bruce, R.K. Harrison.