<p>1:5- see on Jn. 7:38.</p><p><i>And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him that loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood</i>- The Lord's faithful witness unto death is to be the pattern for all the Lord's people. Although the kings of the earth persecute the Lord's people, He is their ruler. Events have not get radically out of control; all is under His rulership.</p><p>It will be observed that Revelation frequently hints that it is a message specifically addressed to those under persecution. Phrases like &quot;Jesus Christ the faithful witness&quot; (:5) should be read in the context of encouraging the readers to continue <i>their</i> witness, even on pain of death, just as Jesus did (see too 13:8). For this reason, an understanding of the book of Revelation is vital for those who will experience the latter day tribulation, in whatever form we feel it will take.</p><p>&quot;The kings of the earth&quot; is a phrase and idea which we will encounter later. If we enquire what they refer to, it depends upon what scale we wish to investigate at. The &quot;earth&quot; often refers to the land promised to Abraham, and the futurist interpretation of the later chapters in Revelation must bear that in view.</p><p>The love of the Lord Jesus is again interpreted as specifically His death on the cross, as often in the New Testament. His command to love as He loved us means that we too are to love unto the death of a cross (Jn. 13:32). That death means we are freed from our sins- despite being ruled over by the kings of the earth / land. It is freedom from sin which is the ultimate freedom rather than political freedom, which was always attractive to the Jewish readership of the first century.</p>