70. Since the Lord alone is acknowledged as God of heaven and earth by people who are members of His New Church in heaven and by people who will be members of it on earth, therefore the Lord alone is the subject of the first chapter of the book of Revelation, and it is He alone who speaks to the churches in these two chapters, and He alone who will bestow the felicities of eternal life.

That it is He alone who speaks to the churches is apparent from these passages:

To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, "These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands." (Revelation 2:1)

To the angel of the church of the people of Smyrna write, "These things says the First and the Last...." (Revelation 2:8)

To the angel of the church in Pergamum write, "These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword." (Revelation 2:12)

To the angel of the church in Thyatira write, "These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass." (Revelation 2:18)

To the angel of the church in Sardis write, "These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars." (Revelation 3:1)

To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, "These things says He who is holy, He who is true, He who has the key of David...." (Revelation 3:7)

To the angel of the church in Laodicea write, "These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God." (Revelation 3:14)

These characterizations are taken from the first chapter, which has as its subject the Lord alone, and they are all means of describing Him there.