Revelation 1:10-11; A Great Voice
Revelation 1:10-11 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
When our Lord Jesus entered human history, He spoke at the beginning of His ministry in by the Sea of Galilee. This address, commonly known as “The Sermon on the Mount,” is recorded in Matthew 5 to 7, consisting of 107 verses. The multitudes that followed Jesus came from as far as Syria and beyond Jordan, and as near as the vicinity of Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem and Judaea (Matt 4:23-25).
Matthew 5:1-2 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying…
Why did Matthew record that Jesus“opened his mouth”? I believe it is to emphasize the importance of Jesus’ speech and to mark the sacredness of the words that will proceed out of His mouth. God is speaking (Jn 1:18, 10:30, 14:9)! And behold what tremendous blessings are proceeding! This is the longest recorded speech of our Lord in His entire earthly ministry. Contrast this with the close of our Lord’s earthly ministry when He remained silent amidst betrayal and tremendous persecution, “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth” (Isa 53:7 cf. Matt 26:63; 27:12-14). It is as if to say: “Whatever you need to know with regard to matters of your eternal blessings, I have already given you! Will you not receive it for your blessing?” We can observe here the hardness of the unregenerate human heart! Our Lord had to go the way of the cross (to suffer and to die) in order to seal the promises of His words that whosoever will come may inherit the Kingdom of God.
The great voice of our Lord Jesus speaking to the Apostle John may be deemed His final words to His disciples, the church. It was given after He was ascended to heaven and seated at the right hand of the Father in Majesty. Jesus first identified Himself as John’s Master, the one whom Jesus entrusted His mother, Mary, to his care. A most responsible trust accorded to him by our Lord. This was the close bond His servant has with his Master. It is no wonder in that closeness of spiritual ties that John was chosen to received this revelation.
Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer to thee!
E’en though it be a cross
That raiseth me.
Amen.