To describe God the Father, John uses words that originate from Exodus 3:14, where God describes himself as “I AM WHO I AM.” Those words indicate that God would always be faithful to the promise he gave to Abraham (see Genesis 17:7). Now God says that that is who he still is, who he has always been, and who he always will be. Though the churches may experience many difficulties in changing times, their God is real, he is,
unchangingly so. This is the God who in Christ is coming, as soon as the things that must soon take place have occurred.
4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia:Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,